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Moisture damage in asphalt mixtures poses significant challenges to infrastructure durability, necessitating accurate modeling for effective mitigation strategies due to the complex nature of moisture susceptibility. Current tests, such as those utilizing general indicators like the indirect tensile strength ratio, examine moisture susceptibility in asphalt mixtures. However, these tests incur substantial costs and require considerable time. Therefore, this study aims to develop moisture susceptibility prediction models using Multi-Gene Genetic Programming (MGGP). The research utilized four types of aggregates (two limestone and two granite types) and eight different Performance Grade (PG) bitumen types. The modified Lottman test method (AASHTO T283) was employed for moisture susceptibility assessment, with samples subjected to specific conditioning protocols including vacuum saturation (13-67 kPa absolute pressure), freeze-thaw cycles (-18°C for 16 hours), and hot water conditioning (60°C for 24 hours). Indirect tensile strength tests were conducted under controlled loading conditions (2 Hz frequency, 0.1s loading time, 0.4s rest period) at 25°C. The dataset comprised 34 samples and 11 variables to predict two key indicators: Inflection Stripping Point (ISP) and Stripping Slope (SS). The MGGP model demonstrated remarkable performance in predicting both ISP and SS, achieving R² values of 0.981 and 0.974 for the test data, respectively. Several crucial parameters were analyzed, including the apparent film thickness (AFT) calculated using aggregate specific surface area, permeability measured through falling head test method (ASTM PS 129-01), and surface free energy components. The surface energy analysis incorporated both cohesive free energy (CFE) and adhesive free energy (AFE), with special attention to the acid-base theory components: Lifshitz-van der Waals (LW), Lewis acid (Γ⁺), and Lewis base (Γ^-) components. For ISP prediction, the MGGP model identified key variables including the ratio of base to acid surface free energy (SFE), asphalt-water adhesion (Γ_{Asphalt-Water}), cohesive free energy (CFE), adhesive free energy (AFE), permeability of asphalt mixture (PAM), asphalt film thickness (AFT), and degree of saturation (DS). The model for SS prediction emphasized the importance of Γ_{Asphalt-Water}, aggregate-water adhesion (Γ_{Aggregate-Water}), wettability, specific surface area (SSA), PAM, and DS. The study employed various performance metrics to evaluate the MGGP models. For ISP predictions, the model achieved RMSE, MSE, and MAE values of 5.228, 27.337, and 3.843, respectively. For SS predictions, these values were 0.294, 0.086, and 0.231, respectively, indicating high accuracy and low error rates. These results surpass those of previous studies employing traditional Genetic Programming (GP) methods, highlighting the potential of MGGP as a powerful tool in modeling asphalt moisture susceptibility. The practical implications of this research are significant for improving asphalt mixture durability, reducing maintenance costs, and enhancing road safety. Future research could focus on validating the models across a broader range of asphalt mixtures and environmental conditions.
 

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Hippodamia variegata is an efficient and most abundant predatory coccinellids in many countries. Understanding the ability of long-term low temperature survival in beneficial insects can be used to make better predictions about subsequent abundance and hence the biological control potential in the next spring and summer. So in this study, effects of long-term temperatures were investigated on mortality and supercooling point (SCP) of field collected (pre-diapausing) and overwintering aggregations of H. variegata adults. Unlike the pre-diapausing insects, aggregated coccinellids could easily survive at -3 and 0 °C for one month. One month acclimation at 10 °C caused more than 80% mortality in overwintering adults, indicating the higher temperatures were not appropriate for overwintering aggregated coccinellid. In December and January, when diapause was in its highest level, changing the habitat temperature did not affect SCP. Acclimation at 5 and 0 °C for one month decreased SCP of pre-diapausing adults, collected from aphid infested plants in October. Our study revealed that exposure to temperatures below 0 °C happened usually in natural condition for a long term period, may be necessary for overwintering of the coccinellid.

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The effect of Artemia urmiana nauplii enriched with flaxseed oil on growth performance, survival and fatty acid composition of severum, Cichlasoma severum, larvae (0.3 mg initial weight) was investigated through a completely randomized block design with two treatments, viz., (1) larvae fed with plain nauplii, (2) larvae fed with nauplii enriched with flaxseed oil, in three replications. Results of the first biometry (day18^th), showed a significantly higher survival rate in treatment 1 (81.87±0.29%) than treatment 2 (68.83±1.62%) (P<0.05), but there were no significant differences in the specific growth rates, the average weight and length gains between treatments (P>0.05). At the end of the second period of the experiment (day36_th), significant differences in growth performance and survival rate was recorded between treatment 1 (97.82 ± 1.09%) and treatment 2 (91.16± 1.34%) (P>0.05).  The larvae was also found to convert n-3fatty acids to EPA and DHA.

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Background: Many comprehensive epidemiological studies have been done about fungal infections, which areone of the publichealth and therapeutic problemsin different communities. Since prevalence rate of fungal diseases and their etiological agents are changing over time,the aim of this study was to provide additional information about visceral fungal infections (VFIs) in order to understand the ways of their dissemination, to prevent disease transmission, to eliminate contamination sources and predisposing factors, and to provide effective ways for their treatment.
Materials and Methods: Samples were taken from the lesion of patients referred to medical mycology laboratory of Tehran University of Medical Sciences from 2014 to 2015. After providing direct wet mount of Potassium hydroxide (KOH) smears from these samples and samples sent from other medical centers, culturing on Sabouraud Dextrose agar with chloramphenicol (SC) and brain heart infusion agar (BHI) media was performed. After growth, species were identified.
Results: From a total of 295 suspected samples, VFI was proved in 69 cases (23%). Aspergillosis was the most prevalent infection among VFIs. Candidiasis, cryptococcosis and mucormycosis were in the late orders, respectively. Two patients were also infected by Trichosporon. The predominant species in aspergillosis infections was Aspergillus flavus, and the predominant species in candidiasis infections was Candida albicans.
Conclusion: According to the obtained results on the prevalence rate and incidence of VFIs between male and female patients in different age groups and also by taking into account the prevalent type of fungi and infectious site of patients’ bodies, it is possible to take appropriate action for the prevention and treatment of these kinds of diseases by using the important keys of these results to research and study etiological and underlying factors involved in these diseases.

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The effect of pistachio green hull (PGH) at 0, 1.5, 4.5, 13.5 and 27% of the diet on the growth, blood biochemical and hematological parameters of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) of 27.03±0.58 g was investigated in a completely randomized design and in three replications with 14 fish individuals in each. At the end of 8 weeks feeding trial, blood samples were randomly taken from 4 individulas in each replication. Results showed significant differences (p<0.05) in SGR and FCR between 27% treatment and other treatments. No significant differences in Alb, Glo, Tg, GOT (p>0.05) were observed among treatments. Tp (2.76±0.15 g/dl), LDH (2139±44.26 IU/l), ALP (331.9±21.4 IU/l), GPT (407±17.82 IU/l), Hb (8.73±0.7 g/dl) and Hct (33.33±2.28%) had significant differences in group receiving 27% PGH compared with other group (p<0.05). Results showed that high levels of PGH in the diet of rainbow trout had adverse effects on health and growth factors.

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Background: Many studies have been conducted on fungal infections which are known as public health and therapeutic problems. Since the prevalence rate of the fungal diseases and their etiological factors are changing over time, the purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence rate of superficial-cutaneous fungal infections (SCFIs) in order to understand the ways of their dissemination, to prevent diseases transmission, to eliminate contamination sources and predisposing factors, and to take appropriate action for their treatment.
Materials and Methods: After referral to medical mycology laboratory of Tehran University of Medical Science from 2014 to 2015, the patients were subjected to mycological examinations, and sampling of patients’ lesions was performed. Directsmears were prepared with Potassium hydroxide. Samples were cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar medium, and species were identified.
Results: From a total of 916 suspected patients, 334 cases (36.5%) had SCFIs. Dermatophytosis was the most prevalent SCFI (55.7%), followed by cutaneous candidiasis (19%), tinea versicolor (14.3%), and non-dermatophytic molds (11%).Tineapedis was the frequent site of involvement. Trichophytonmentagrophytes was the predominant species of dermatophytosis.
Conclusion: According to the obtained results on the prevalence rate of SCFIs between male and female patients in different age groups and also by taking into account the type of the prevalent fungi and the involvement site of the fungal infection, it is possible to take appropriate action for prevention and treatment of these kind of diseases by using important keys of the results to research etiological and underlying factors involved in these diseases.

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The use of genetic engineering tools to produce industrial strains, especially from non-model microorganisms such as cyanobacteria, is always subject to limitations. In this research, a system-oriented method was used to design a culture medium instead of strain designing and its ability to increase ethanol production by Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 was experimentally evaluated. In this method, compounds are added to the medium to regulate the activity of target enzymes not for the purpose of being consumed by the cells, and thus, the designed culture medium eliminates the intracellular constraints on the production. A metabolic model was used to determine the minimum level of ethanol production and to identify genes that increase or decrease of their expression increase this minimum level. Then, regulators of the enzyme expressed by the target genes were extracted from the Brenda database and their effect on the production was evaluated experimentally and design of experiment was performed to optimize the concentration of the selected compounds. Among the compounds identified, two inhibitors (salicylic acid and mercuric chloride) and one activator (pyruvate) were selected to be added to the medium and their concentration was optimized using the central composite design method. The proposed regulatory medium increased the production of ethanol from 352 to 1116 mg/l, indicating the effectiveness of the added regulatory compounds on the cyanobacteria metabolism. The proposed system-oriented method can be used to design medium culture for other important bio-products such as recombinant proteins.

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Several methods are using to collect insects from the environments, they are living in. The sweeping net is one of the commonly used equipment for collecting however the process of picking up the collected insects from net bag is laborious and time consuming job. In the present work we introduced a hand-held battery powered electric aspirator, which made based on a centrifugal fan which adapted into an especial storage bottle (replaceable). Field trials confirmed the efficiency of the new device in collecting insects from different orders, of which Diptera and Hymenoptera were dominant. Additional customization was made on the type of collecting bottle to enhance the applicability of the new device for different purposes. Finally, studies showed that the hand-held electric aspirator can be used successfully for faunistic and ecological studies.

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The Iranian fauna of Eudorylini (Diptera, Pipunculidae) is reviewed. The new material were collected in Western (Kermanshah) and Eastern (North Khorasan, Khorasan-e Razavi, South Khorasan, Sistan-o Baluchestan) provinces during 2015–2016. In total, twenty species of Eudorylini belonging to four genera known from Iran are listed. Four species, Claraeola conjuncta (Collin, 1949), Clistoabdominalis nitidifrons (Becker, 1900), Dasydorylas discoidalis (Becker, 1897) and Eudorylas jenkinsoni Coe, 1966 are newly recorded from Iran. A brief diagnosis is presented for the newly recorded species.

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Background: Chlamydia trachomatis infection is a sexually transmitted disease that its majority infections are asymptomatic and can cause infertility. So, determining its frequency and prevalent genotypes in each zone is necessary to provide clues for clinicians and also to prevent or minimize its complications. The aim of this study was determining the prevalence of   C. trachomatis and related genotypes in infertile women and relation with type of infertility.
Methods: For this purpose, a primary screening based on amplification of cryptic plasmid gene was done on endocervical samples obtained from infertile women referring to two infertility treatment clinics. Genotyping of positive samples was done based on PCR-RFLP of omp1 gene and then DNA digestion with Hpa II, Hinf I and Alu I restriction enzymes. The association of infection with age, abortion and primary and secondary infertility was analyzed by statistical analysis.
Results: As a result of this study, the frequency of C. trachomatis infection in 180 endocervical samples was 10.5 % in infertile women. The PCR-RFLP analysis results showed that E, F and D genotypes are prevalent in this population. There was a significant association between infection and abortion among patients with primary and secondary infertility.
Conclusions: Finally, based on the obtained results it can be concluded that C. trachomatis infection is prevalent in infertile women especially in secondary infertility.  So, it must be regarded in preventive care and control program hence its diagnosis and treatment can reduce infertility rate among women.

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The effects of mucal proteins of sea anemone, Stichodactylahaddoni,on different stages of embryonic development of zebra fish (D. rerio) were examined. The sea anemone samples were collected from the intertidal areas of the Hormuz Island (Persian Gulf), and were frozen at -160 °C. Protein and peptide components were extracted by 100% methanol. Following the total protein assessment by ELISA, three concentrations (2.1, 3.7 and 7.4 mg/ml distil water) were prepared. From each concentration, 2 ml was added to the microplates containing 150 zebra fish eggs each, with 2 replications; microplates with normal aquarium water was also used as control group. The eggs were incubated for 72 hrs and the process of embryonic development was observed every 6 to 12 hours. Results showed that the embryonic development was normal in the control group, while the eggs treated with 3.7 and 7.4 mg/ml ofmucal proteins degenerated and blackened in less than 12 hours. Also a delay in the phase of growth in embryonic development was observed in the group with 1.2 mg/ml of protein. Our results showed that the mucal proteins from this sea anemone can affect embryonic development rapidly, causing delayed growth at low concentration, and cell lysis and embryonic degeneration at high concentrations.

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The effects of dominant shrub species on soil organic matter (SOM), including total soil carbon (SC), total nitrogen (N) and particulate organic matter (POM) were studied in three stands differing in the type of shrub species, i.e. Astragalus microcephalus (shrub), Pteropyrum aucheri (shrub) and Prangus uloptera (non-shrub).The stands were located in arid grasslands of north-western Iran. For this purpose, 18 soil samples from each stand were systematic-randomly collected (by auger) from each depth of 0-15cm and15-30cm, along 6 transect in each stand.The results showed that the stands with the highest abundance of P. aucheriand A. microcephalushad the highest values for SC (0.99% and 0.98%) in both depths, and the highest values for N (0.13% and 0.12%), respectively. The highest POM percentage for carbon (0.24%) and nitrogen (0.03%) were observed in the stands with the highest abundance of A. microcephalus. The proportion of micro-aggregates (28.48%) was significantly higher than macro-aggregates (20.46%) in the upper soil layer of the stand with the highest abundance of A. microcephalus as compared to the others, while no significant difference detected in micro- and macro-aggregate contents of the lower soil layer between the stands. Therefore, the type of shrub species in the grassland communities had important effect on soil organic matter.

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Problem :The design and form of the city in animation films and video games is one of the conceptual design elements that is formed to show the activity space of the characters and the place of events in the story world. Seeing the character in the space in which he acts leads to the recognition of both the characteristics of nature and identity. In this study, the urban design of the animated film Ralph Breaks the Internet is examined as a study example to identify and analyze the indicators of urban form in the interpretation of the film from the virtual space of the Internet and the video games Sugar Rush and Deadly Race.
Target: Therefore, the aim of the research is to know the indicators of urban design used in internet city spaces and games, so that their similarities and differences with realistic urban design for human life can be determined.
Method:A qualitative method with a descriptive-analytical approach was used in the implementation of the research. Also, the theories of Leo Brudy and Jenny Bavidage were taken into consideration in the study of the urban spaces of the games.
Findings:The findings of the research show that Internet City has transformative and disruptive capabilities according to its neighbourhoods, as well as Deadly Race with nostalgic/transformative capabilities and Sugar Rush are evaluated as nostalgic.
Result: In conclusion, considering that exaggeration and caricature are used in the conceptual design of the visual elements of the animation film, urban design in this work is an imaginary and exaggerated interpretation of the zero and one virtual space of the Internet, based on which the image of the Internet city is based on the moving image. It has been shown, while indicators such as physical elements, organization of urban arteries and infrastructures are designed based on responding to the needs of the characters and at the same time visual appeal to the audience, as well as the cultural and commercial goals of selling goods made from the elements and atmosphere of the film.

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In this paper we analyze word Order in four Persian Dialects of Khuzestan, namely Behbahani, Dezfuli, Shushtari and Hendijani, from the typological perspective. The main theoretical framework in this research is Dryer’s word order research (1992). Dabir Moghaddam (1392) has studied 24 features in his research about Iranian languages, which 19 of them are selected from Dryer (1992) and others from Dryer’s Database. In the present research, we also consider the same 24 features. The founded results are compared with the world languages and those of Europe and Asia. The data collection tool and method is a questionnaire based on the features and interviewing the native speakers of these dialects, which were Totally 30. Then, these recordings were transcribed and analyzed on the basis of the mentioned features. The typological behavior of these dialects both in comparison with the world languages and languages of Europe and Asia were studied. Broadly speaking, it was observed that these four dialects have a tendency toward VO languages and in this respect are different from the intermediate type suggested by Dabir Moghaddam (1392) in the case of Persian. It should be noted that these dialects only in 9th and 11th features behave differently and in all other features they share common behavior.

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Aims: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is recognized as an important health problem worldwide. To counteract the human innate immunity, S. aureus produces a number of immune evasion cluster (IEC) including staphylokinase (SAK), staphylococcal enterotoxin P (SEP), staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA), staphylococcal complement inhibitor (SCIN), and chemotaxis inhibitory protein (CHIP) encoded by sak, sep, sea, scn, and chp genes, respectively. These genes are carried by β-hamolysin-converting bacteriophages. The present study was conducted to determine the IEC phage types and antibiotic resistance patterns in 145 clinical MRSA isolates from Khuzestan Province, Iran.
Methods: All the isolates were investigated by disc diffusion method and PCR assay of sak, sep, sea, scn, and chp genes.
Findings: The assessment of antibiotic resistance showed the highest rate of resistance towards penicillin (97.25%), followed by methicillin (95.8%), ceftazidime (81.4%), erythromycin (71.8%), clindamycin (61.4%), ciprofloxacin (60.7%), gentamycin (56%), imipenem (56.55%), and vancomycin (0%), respectively. Also, the frequency of IEC types was as follows: type A (4.8%), type B (9%), type C (13.1%), type D (12.4%), type E (27.6%), type F (1.4%), type G (0.7%), and type H (6.9%). On the other hand, 24.1% of the isolates did not show any of the IEC types.
Conclusion: The findings showed that IEC-carrying bacteriophages are highly prevalent among MRSA strains, resulting in the adaptation and counteraction of bacteria to the human immune system. Therefore, understanding the role of IEC in the virulence of bacteria can improve our knowledge about the evolution, vaccination, and treatment of S. aureus infection.

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In this paper, we analyze the grammatical category of satellite, which was introduced at first by Talmy in his semantic – typological researches. Satellite is a closed – class category that includes any constituent other than a nominal complement that is in a sister relation to the verb root. Talmy categorizes world's languages into two main typological categories: languages, which show framing concepts such as path, aspect, etc. on the verb, are verb – framing languages, and languages, which show framing concepts on the satellites, are satellite – framing languages. In this study, satellite, its formal representations and the semantic concepts expressed by it, are analyzed. It was found that the main form of satellite in Persian has been the verbal prefixes in the past periods, and now it is the verb - assistant element in Persian compound verbs. It can be said that a kind of lexicalization has taken place in this category. That is, the concepts, which were previously expressed by bound morphemes (prefixes), are now expressed by free morphemes (verb assistant in compound verbs). It was also indicated that Persian language in some cases is compatible with satellite – framing and, in some other cases, with verb – framing languages. So it is suggested that this classification works better if defined as a continuum with satellite – framing languages at one end, and verb – framing languages at the other end, and that languages can be anywhere on this continuum or even be moving toward one of the ends of the continuum.

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The present study has been carried out in order to determine the entomofauna of four different agroecosystems from the study area, northwestern Algeria. Regular sampling was done using the Barber pitfall trap and the sweep net in addition to visual observations in the field. Nine (09) taxonomic orders of insects was identified from the four studied environments. It varies from one agroecosystem to another. Coleoptera and Orthoptera were the most represented in terms of both species and numbers. Entomofaunal diversity was more important in un-cultivated fields (diversity index = 4.15 bits, equitability = 0.89) than in arable fields (index ranging from 1.68 to 2.87 and a equitability between 0.41 and 0.72). Limited biodiversity in cultivated areas was the consequence of insect communities’ interactions disturbances caused by agricultural practices in these environments. Therefore, it is important to reduce these disturbances in order to enhance food resources, habitats and overwintering sites for insects. This will ensures sustainable entomological diversity, thereby increasing the role of biological control in pest management systems.

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Aims: Following the emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates, the use of other antibiotics especially vancomycin in S. aureus infections has become inevitable, leading to the emergence of vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA) strains, which is considered as a major public health concern. This study aimed to determine the vancomycin susceptibility patterns of S. aureus clinical isolates in order to evaluate the current status of vancomycin resistance in the southwest of Iran.
Materials & Methods: In this study, 100 S. aureus clinical strains were collected from the hospitals of Khuzestan province in the southwest of Iran. Next, antibiotic susceptibility, vancomycin resistance, and the presence of mecA, vanA, vanB, vanC, and vanD genes were investigated in these isolates.
Findings:  It was found that 1 and 2 isolates were vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (VISA) and VRSA, respectively. All three strains showed methicillin-resistance pattern and carried mecA gene. vanA gene was detected in VRSA strains, whereas vanB, vanC, and vanD genes were detected in none of these isolates.
Conclusion: This study findings could be alarming regarding the emergence and spread of VRSA strains; therefore, the principles of infection control should be employed in the healthcare systems to prevent the spread of VRSA strains in healthcare facilities.
 

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The article investigates the adaptive method of Hayao Miyazaki in using Japanese narratives through his animation filmmaking based on James Dudley Andrew’s theory. Qualitative research method has been applied owing to the nature of the content and the type of analysis. In line with the research aim, the main question is how Miyazaki has adopted Japanese narrative literature in making his animated films (the case). Miyazaki’s admired animated movies were adopted from Japanese narratives. Accordingly, among which Spirited Away was analyzed as the case of the study. The results consist of fundamental points revealing his method of adaptation. Miyazaki has considered the full capacity of Japanese narrative literature and other adaptative approaches in developing drama, characterization, visual and audio elements of his films perfectly. Bringing up the ideas in this way, Miyazaki has created the main elements of narrative aligned with his cinematic expression. Not only did he adapt the texts of Japanese literature, but also benefited from the illustrations of the literary works. Miyazaki's style uncovers the various potentials of narrative sources for idea generation in storytelling, characterization as well as it reveals how to create successfully hit animated feature films. His method can be an effective strategy in making superior and adaptation Iranian filmmakers may consider in animation film production.

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This study aims at analyzing the representation of the tension of Syria in some newspapers and news resources related to the Western world. The theoretical framework in this study is Thompson’s approach (1990) that mentions five general modes of operation of ideology and outlines a number of strategies appropriate to their symbolic expression. In data analysis it was found that the methods used in these texts are legitimation, reification, dissimulation and fragmentation; and the strategies are rationalization, expurgation of the other, euphemism, externalization, passivisation and nominalization. This shows that the newspapers and resources have reported the Syria’s events on the basis of their own opinions and ideologies and purposes; and they have emphasized on the schismatism and difference between people and groups; that is they somehow have distorted the reality and presented it as they themselves perceive it or want to perceive.