Purpose: The aim of this study was to gain insight into causes of time delays and cost overruns in a selection of thirty case projects in Iraq. Delay factors have been studied in many countries/contexts, but not much data exists from countries under the conditions characterizing Iraq during the last 10-15 years.Design/methodology/approach: A case study approach was adopted, with thirty construction projects selected from the Baghdad region, of different types and sizes. For the case of the study, the participants in the projects provided data about the projects through the data collection tool distributed through the questionnaire directed to them. Statistical data analysis was used to build statistical relationships between time and cost delay ratios and delay factors.Findings: Major delay factors identified were contractor failures resulting in schedule overruns, re-designs, poor planning and frequent change orders, security issues, low bid selection, weather factors, and owner failures.Originality/value: While many studies have looked into factors causing delays and cost overruns, few have studied projects in conditions such as have dominated Iraq the last decade and a half during pandemic as external factors. As such, this study offers unique insights into factors that need to be taken into account when implementing projects in such a context
This paper presents a comparison between the electroencephalogram (EEG) channels during scoliosis correction surgeries. Surgeons use many hand tools and electronic devices that directly affect the EEG channels. These noises do not affect the EEG channels uniformly. This research provides a complete system to find the least affected channel by the noise. The presented system consists of five stages: filtering, wavelet decomposing (Level 4), processing the signal bands using four different criteria (mean, energy, entropy and standard deviation), finding the useful channel according to the criteria’s value and, finally, generating a combinational signal from Channels 1 and 2. Experimentally, two channels of EEG data were recorded fro
... Show MoreThis work studies the impact of input machining parameters of Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) on the machining process performance. Tool steel O1 was selected as the workpiece material, copper as the electrode material, and kerosene as the dielectric medium. Experimental runs have been carried out with a Design of Experiment (DOE) technique. Twenty tests are accomplished with the current range of (18 to 24 Ampere), a pulse duration range of (150 to 200 µs), and a pulse-off time range of (25 to 75 µs). Based upon the experimental study's output results, the EDM parameter's effect (voltage of power supply, discharge current, pulse duration, and pulse pause interval) on the responses of the process represented by sur
... Show MoreThis study investigated the impact of lime stabilization on the fate and transformation of AgNPs. It also evaluated the changes in the population and diversity of the five most relevant bacterial phyla in soil after applying lime-stabilized sludge containing AgNPs. The study was performed by spiking an environmentally relevant concentration of AgNPs (2 mg AgNPs/g TS) in sludge, applying lime stabilization to increase pH to above 12 for two hours, and applying lime-treated sludge to soil samples. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were used to investigate the morphological and compositional changes of AgNPs during lime stabilization. After the application of lime stabilized sludge to
... Show MoreThe current study performs an explicit nonlinear finite element simulation to predict temperature distribution and consequent stresses during the friction stir welding (FSW) of AA 7075-T651 alloy. The ABAQUS® finite element software was used to model and analyze the process steps that involve plunging, dwelling, and traverse stages. Techniques such as Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) formulation, adaptive meshing, and computational feature of mass scaling were utilized to simulate sequence events during the friction stir welding process. The contact between the welding tool and workpiece was modelled through applying Coulomb’s friction model with a nonlinear friction coefficient value. Also, the model considered the effect of nonlin
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Social networking sites have become very popular since the beginning of the current decade and have become linked to our daily life. We follow the news, Analyses and opinions on the one issue in a way that attracts millions of users and the number grows every secon On Twitter, one of the most important social networking sites, all social groups rushed from the president to the last citizen to open accounts when they found themselves forced to do so . During the recent Gulf crisis, Twitter was buzzing with Twitter, which achieved the largest circulation globally. Instead of serving the issue and directing it to serve the Arab interest, most of the publications were on th |
The problem of research was to identify after the use of cost technology based on specifications in the validity of determining and measuring the costs of the implementation of contracting, by applying to al-Mansour General Construction Contracting Company as an appropriate alternative to the traditional costing system currently adopted, which is characterized by many shortcomings and weaknesses Which has been reflected in the validity and integrity of the calculations. To solve this problem, the research was based on the premise that: (The application of cost technology based on specifications will result in calculating the cost of the product according to the specification required by the customer, to meet his wishes properly and witho
... Show MoreBackground: Study looking into cardiovascular disorders (CVD) medicines or analgesics cost-saving activities during dispensing process is lacking.
Aim: To determine differences in factors and costs associated with refused CVD medicines or analgesics during dispensing process
Method: This study was approved by Medical Research and Ethics Committee (MREC) (Registration number: NMRR-20-177-53153(IIR)). Participants receiving CVD medicines or analgesics during dispensing process were recruited via convenience sampling technique between February and March 2020 at the Specialist Pharmacy Department of Jerantut Hospital, Malaysia. Refusal to medications and its reasons were asked based on the questionnaire developed by the resea
... Show MoreIn this research, Mn-doped TiO2 thin films were grown on glass, Si and OIT/glass substrates by R.F magnetron sputtering technique with thicknesses (250 nm) using TiO2:Mn target under Ar gas pressure and power of 100 Watt. Through the results of X-ray diffraction, the prepared thin films are of the polycrystallization type after the process of annealing at 600°C for two hour The average crystalline size were 145.32, 280.97 and 261.23 nm for (TiO2:Mn) thin film on glass, Si and OIT/glass substrates respectively, while the measured surface roughness is between 0.981nm and 1.14 nm. The fabricated (TiO2:Mn) thin film on glass sensors have high sensitivity for hydrogen( H2 reducing gas) compared to the sensitivity for hydrogen gas on Si and OIT/
... Show MoreBACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) is considered a highly infectious and life threatening disease. OBJECTIVE: The present paper aims to evaluate various aspects of preventive measures and clinical management of the scheduled visits for orthodontic patients to the dental clinics during the outbreak of COVID-19, and to assess how orthodontists dealt with this challenge. METHODS: Orthodontists in private and public clinics were invited to fill a questionnaire that addressed infection control protocols and concerns about clinical management of patients in the clinics during the pandemic. Frequncies and percentages of the responses were obtained and compared using Chi-square tests. RESULTS: About 77% of those working in private clinics, a
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