This paper presents a new high-capacity algorithm for audio watermarking for the purpose of embedding a watermark audio signal into an original audio signal. This algorithm uses DCT (discrete cosine transform) in combination with SVD (singular value decomposition), DWT (discrete wavelet transform), and CZT (chirp ztransform). For the purpose of ensuring high levels of imperceptibility and robustness, a low-frequency sub band of 1-level DWT is selected to embed the watermark, followed by DCT, CZT, and SVD. As a result, the proposed algorithm achieves a high capacity of 352800 bits per second while a good quality audio signal is maintained (having an objective difference grade of more than-0.04). It also provides high imperceptibility (a signal to noise ratio of more than 58 dB) and it is extremely resistant to common audio attacks, including requantizing, resampling, additive white Gaussian noise or AWGN, MP3 compression, and low-pass filtering. The proposed algorithm presents much better compared to the audio watermarking algorithms already existent.

Andrographolide (AG) has been shown to have several medicinal and pharmaceutical effects, such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and anti-malarial activities. Moreover, studies to assess the pharmacological effect of AG on the metabolic changes of uninfected red blood cells (uRBCs) have not yet been investigated. This study aims to evaluate the pharmacological effects of AG compared to chloroquine (CQ) on the metabolic variations of uRBCs in vitro using a proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR)-based metabolomics approach coupled with multivariate data analysis (MVDA). Forty-one metabolites were successfully identified by 1H-NMR. The results of the unsupervised data analysis principal component analysis (PCA) showed ideal differentiation between AG and CQ. PC1 and PC2 accounted for 71.4% and 17.7% of the explained variation, respectively, with a total variance of 89.10%. Based on S-plot and VIP values, a total of 28 and 32 metabolites were identified as biomarkers in uRBCs-AG and uRBCs-CQ, respectively. In uRBCs treated with AG, ten metabolic pathways were determined to be disturbed, including riboflavin metabolism, d-glutamate and d-glutamine metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, glutathione metabolism, proline and arginine metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, citrate cycle, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, and pyruvate metabolism as well as alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism. In contrast, in CQ-treated uRBCs, nine affected metabolic pathways were determined, which involved the same metabolic pathways for uRBCs-AG, except for glutathione metabolism. These findings suggest an evident relationship between AG and CQ associated with metabolic changes in intact RBCs after being exposed to the treatment. The metabolomics results could allow useful comprehensive insights into the underlying mechanism of the action of AG and CQ on red blood cells. Consequently, the 1H-NMR-based metabolomics approach was successfully utilized to identify the pharmacological effects of AG and CQ on the metabolic variations of uRBCs.

nitriding is a common method for improving the hardness , mechanical properties, wear and corrosion resistance of metals. Laser nitriding of metals is an efficient process, where the irradiation of surfaces in nitrogen atmosphere leads to the fast take-up of nitrogen in the irradiated surfaces. In this paper laser surface nitriding of carbon steel carried out by melting the surface of substrate using high power CW CO2 laser with nitrogen as shrouding environment. Laser tracks were arranged as single tracks with the use of various laser powers ranging from 0.8kW to 2.0 KW , and laser scanning rates from 120mm/min to 200 mm/min. The influence of laser beam power and laser scanning rates on the microstructure and hardness profiles analysed. The laser nitride layer studied using optical microscope, and scanning electron microscope. The laser surface nitriding of carbon steel led to refinement in the microstructure and the diffusion of nitrogen caused the formation of iron nitrides on the surface. The micro hardness of the nitride surface improved to a maximum of 400HV in the present set of laser processing conditions as compared to 150HV of as received substrate as a result of the appearance of marten site in the melted pool and heat effect zon

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Abstract

Although listening skill plays a significant role in daily communication and

education process in teaching English , listening subject has long been neglected

in second language teaching. This study aims to explore problems, difficulties

and barriers in teaching listening to Libyan students in our case study Alassaba

area, 3rd year secondary science school, Mosab Ben Omer Secondary School

and Omer Ben Alkhtab Secondary school. The participants of our study were 5

teachers. Classroom observation and teacher’s interview are used for data

collection. It is found that all teachers were using grammar translation method

in teaching listening. Most classes were uncomfortable learning atmosphere,

beside the absence of technology which used and facilitate teaching listening.

The findings based on data analysis and discussion may be of a great

significance to find solutions for these problems and improving the way of

teaching listening