Optimization is the task of minimizing or maximizing an objective function f(x) parameterized by x. A series of effective numerical optimization methods have become popular for improving the performance and efficiency of other methods characterized by high-quality solutions and high convergence speed. In recent years, there are a lot of interest in hybrid metaheuristics, where more than one method is ideally combined into one new method that has the ability to solve many problems rapidly and efficiently. The basic concept of the proposed method is based on the addition of the acceleration part of the Gravity Search Algorithm (GSA) model in the Firefly Algorithm (FA) model and creating new individuals. Some stan

Background: Nursing interventions tailored to the smoking triggers in patients with non-communicable chronic diseases are essential. However, these interventions are scant due to the nature of factors associated with smoking cessation and the poor understanding of the effect of nurse-led intervention in Iraq.Purpose: This study aimed to determine the dominant smoking triggers and examine the effects of a tailored nursing intervention on smoking behavior in patients with non-communicable chronic diseases.Methods: Convenience samples of 128 patients with non-communicable chronic diseases, male and female patients, who were 18-70 years old, were recruited in this quasi-experimental, randomized comparative trial in the outpatient clinic

Many carbonate reservoirs in the world show a tilted in originally oil-water contact (OOWC) which requires a special consideration in the selection of the capillary pressure curves and an understanding of reservoir fluids distribution while initializing the reservoir simulation models.
An analytical model for predicting the capillary pressure across the interface that separates two immiscible fluids was derived from reservoir pressure transient analysis. The model reflected the entire interaction between the reservoir-aquifer fluids and rock properties measured under downhole reservoir conditions.
This model retained the natural coupling of oil reservoirs with the aquifer zone and treated them as an explicit-region composite system

Background: The first and second choice for vascular access in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) is radio cephalic and brachio cephalic arteriovenous fistula (AVF).In patients with failed previous AVF e or poorly visualized or impalpable cephalic veins, the basilic vein can be mobilized and superficialized to create an AVF with the brachial artery.Objective: The aim of this study is to report our experience at the Vascular Surgery Department/ Surgical Specialty Hospital in brachio-basilic (BB) vascular access for hemodialysis.Methods: From January 2006 to December 2009, 31 patients with ESRD whose cephalic veins were thrombosed or impalpable or had previous unsuccessful vascular access procedures were referred to the Vascular

In many industries especially oil companies in Iraq consumed large quantities of water which will produce oil-contaminated water which can cause major pollution in agricultural lands and rivers. The aim of the present work is to enhance the efficiency of dispersed air flotation technique by using highly effective and cost-efficient coagulant to treating gas oil emulsion. The experimental work was carried out using bubble column made of Perspex glass (5cm I.D, 120cm height). A liquid was at depth of 60cm. Different dosage of sawdust +bentonite at ratio 2:1 (0.5+ 0.25; 1+ 0.5 and 2+1) gm and alum at concentration (10,20and30mg/l) at different pH ( 4 and 7) were used to determine optimum dosages of coagulant. Jar test exper

      In this paper, a numerical analysis was carried out using finite element method to analyse the mechanisms for streamer discharges. The hydrodynamic model was used with three charge carriers equations (positive ion, negative ion and electron) coupled with Poisson equation to simulate the dynamic of streamer discharge formation and propagation. The model was tested within a 2D axisymmetric tip-plate electrodes configuration using the transformer oil as the dielectric liquid. The distance between the electrodes was fixed at 1 mm and the applied voltage was 130 kV at 46 ns rising time. Simulation results showed that the time has a clear effect on the streamer propagation along the symmetry axis. In addition, it was observed that t

Orthophoto provides a significant alternative capability for the presentation of architectural or archaeological applications. Although orthophoto production from airphotography of high or lower altitudes is considered to be typical, the close range applications for the large-scale survey of statue or art masterpiece or any kind of monuments still contain a lot of interesting issues to be investigated.

In this paper a test was carried out for the production of large scale orthophoto of highly curved surface, using a statue constructed of some kind of stones. In this test we use stereo photographs to produce the orthophoto in stead of single photo and DTM, by applying the DLT mathematical relationship as base formula in differenti

The present study was conducted to induce mutations by UV- light in Trichoderma harzianum for tolerance of Bavistin fungicides which are commonly used to control soil born phytopathogens. The mycelium growth of T. harzianum T1, T2 was inhibited completely by 30 μg (a.i.) /ml PDA of Bavistin. Two isolates of Trichoderma harzianum T1 and T2 conidia suspensions 104 conidia / ml were irradiated by UV lights at 254, 320, 365nm wavelength for 10, 20, 40, 80, 160 min using UV dark room cabinet and spectrophotometer and cultured on PDA media containing 50, 60, 75, 100, and 150 μg (a.i) / ml Bavistin. A thirty one unstable mutants tolerant to Bavistin were obtained after irradiation the T. harzianum T1, T2 conidia suspension 104 conidia / ml by