This research proposes the application of the dragonfly and fruit fly algorithms to enhance estimates generated by the Fama-MacBeth model and compares their performance in this context for the first time. To specifically improve the dragonfly algorithm's effectiveness, three parameter tuning approaches are investigated: manual parameter tuning (MPT), adaptive tuning by methodology (ATY), and a novel technique called adaptive tuning by performance (APT). Additionally, the study evaluates the estimation performance using kernel weighted regression (KWR) and explores how the dragonfly and fruit fly algorithms can be employed to enhance KWR. All methods are tested using data from the Iraq Stock Exchange, based on the Fama-French three-factor model. The results show that the dragonfly algorithm, particularly when using MPT and APT, demonstrates superior performance in improving the accuracy of Fama-MacBeth estimates and enhancing the effectiveness of the KWR approach.
Recently, young people have shown a desire to keep cats as pets, despite being threatened with health problems including toxoplasmosis. Therefore, the current study was aimed to detect toxoplasmosis infections among of volunteers students as well as spreading health awareness among students and knowledge about the importance of this disease. Prevalence rate and effects of liver functions were tested by measured levels of Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) enzymes while the OnSiteToxo IgG/IgM combo rapid test was used in the diagnosis of the disease. The blood samples were collected from 76 volunteers (35 male and 41 female). The results showed that, the total percentage of infections was 27.6% and all infect
... Show MoreNanocomposite films of silver-polyvinyl alcohol (Ag/PVA) with varying silver nanoparticle concentrations (1-5 wt%) were synthesized via a solution casting technique. The films were characterized by understanding the influence of Ag content on their structural, optical, mechanical, and electrical properties. UV-Vis spectroscopy (300-800 nm) revealed a red shift in absorption peaks and a significant decrease in the optical band gap from 5.39 eV to 1.06 eV with increasing Ag concentration, indicating the formation of additional energy states within the PVA matrix. FTIR and SEM analyses confirmed the successful incorporation of nanoparticles and revealed changes in surface functionalities and morpholog
Glass fiber–reinforced polymer (GFRP) reinforcement provides an effective alternative to conventional steel in concrete structures due to its corrosion resistance. Nevertheless, the lower elastic modulus of GFRP necessitates careful consideration of serviceability behavior in GFRP-reinforced concrete members. This study presents a numerical sectional analysis model for predicting the flexural response and ultimate capacity of hybrid reinforced concrete beams incorporating embedded GFRP profiles in combination with either mild steel or GFRP reinforcement bars under monotonic static loading. The proposed model employs realistic nonlinear stress–strain relationships for concrete and steel, together with secant moduli of elasticity
... Show MoreBackground: Since carbapenems are currently the preferred treatment for severe infections brought on by multidrug-resistant bacteria which can create Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamases (ESBLs), it is extremely concerning that Gram-negative bacteria are becoming resistant to carbapenem. It has been demonstrated that Klebsiella pneumoniae produces a beta-lactamase that hydrolyses the β-lactam ring in antibiotics, making it one of the few bacteria which are currently exhibiting a high value of resistance because of changing in the organism's core genome. Methods: For the current study, 50 samples were gathered from different water sources, and based on morphological and biochemical testing, 10 isolates were determined to be K. pneumoniae. Accord
... Show MoreIn recent years, the attention of researchers, governments and international non-governmental organizations has focused on the aggressive practices adopted by companies with the aim of evading the tax burden or from paying the tax obligations imposed on them by law, as the results of these practices are negatively affected by tax revenues. And that companies are part of the society in which they work, and they have rights and obligations, including paying taxes. The research community is the Iraqi private shareholding companies, and the research sample was 4 companies within the private sector and in the field and finance - banking, insurance, industrial and service, which are Ashur Bank, Al-Ahlia Insurance Company, Baghdad Soft
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Focused research aims to provide a framework cognitive analytical nature of real estate investments and how they evaluated in the light of the assessment tools of modern theory of real options, and the possibility to rely on that theory in the detection of the true value of projects, real estate investments that would maximize the value of the investment decision taken, and the analysis of those projects that arise in the real estate markets and environments is the organization, which she was to make sure cases and high-risk, compared with entrances techniques, discounted cash flow (net present value). Based on the assumption lies in the possibility of the application of the implic
... Show MoreThe aim of the research is to test the effect of outsourcing human resources activities (independent variable) with its dimensions (outsourcing of staffing, outsourcing of training and development, outsourcing of wages and compensation, outsourcing of human resources information systems) on organizational winning (dependent variable) with its dimensions (the culture of winning, successful organizational change, continuous improvement, and adoption of risk). The research problem was the questions posed by the researcher, the most important of which is the extent to which the research sample realizes the importance of applying outsourcing to human resources activities and its role in organizational vi
... Show MoreBackground: One of the drawbacks of vital teeth bleaching is color stability. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of tea and tomato sauce on the color stability of bleached enamel in association with the application of MI Paste Plus (CPP-ACPF). Materials and Methods: Sixty enamel samples were bleached with 10% carbamide peroxide for two weeks then divided into three groups (A, B and C) of 20 samples each. After bleaching, the samples of each group were subdivided into two subgroups (n=10). While subgroups A1, B1 and C1 were kept in distilled water, A2, B2, and C2 were treated with MI Paste Plus. Then, the samples were immersed in different solutions as follow: A1 and A2 in distilled water (control); B1 and B2 in black
... Show MoreRuthenium-Ruthenium and Ruthenium–ligand interactions in the triruthenium "[Ru3(μ-H)(μ3-κ2-Hamphox-N,N)(CO)9]" cluster are studied at DFT level of theory. The topological indices are evaluated in term of QTAIM (quantum theory of atoms in molecule). The computed topological parameters are in agreement with related transition metal complexes documented in the research papers. The QTAIM analysis of the bridged core part, i.e., Ru3H, analysis shows that there is no bond path and bond critical point (chemical bonding) between Ru(2) and Ru(3). Nevertheless, a non-negligible delocalization index for this non-bonding interaction is calculated
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