Green buildings are considered more efficient than traditional buildings due to the incorporated techniques and the multidisciplinary specializations required to comply with their specifications, in addition to the advanced commissioning, which undergoes before handing over the buildings to the owners to ensure requirements conformance. As a result, the appropriate selection of a project delivery system acts as the essential factor that affects the performance of the project. This research aims at building a system that helps to select the best method to implement green buildings. Through studying the recent research approaches in project delivery systems, the factors that affect the selection of the optimal implementation method for green buildings have been identified; expert interviews have been done to study and analyze the main influential factors that affect the selection of the best method for implementing green buildings. The results of interviews indicate that the main influential factors are as follows: The occurrence of economic crises in the country, availability of financial capacity for the contractor and the owner, the lack of previous experience in similar projects, hiring an incompetent contractor, differences between design drawings among all disciplines, and providing qualified contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and craftsmen with sufficient qualifications early in the project. Depending on these main factors, a software system is built to choose the best delivery system for green building projects. This research encourages future works to focus on the quality and performance of green buildings and lays out the foundation for academic researchers to explore new techniques for evaluating the project delivery systems as well as supporting the decision-makers to choose the best.
Intended for getting good estimates with more accurate results, we must choose the appropriate method of estimation. Most of the equations in classical methods are linear equations and finding analytical solutions to such equations is very difficult. Some estimators are inefficient because of problems in solving these equations. In this paper, we will estimate the survival function of censored data by using one of the most important artificial intelligence algorithms that is called the genetic algorithm to get optimal estimates for parameters Weibull distribution with two parameters. This leads to optimal estimates of the survival function. The genetic algorithm is employed in the method of moment, the least squares method and the weighted
... Show MoreThe durability of asphalt concrete is highly dependent on the geometry and mineralogy of coarse aggregates, yet their combined influence on mechanical and moisture resistance properties is still not fully understood. This study evaluates the effects of coarse aggregate geometry, specifically flat and elongated particle ratios and angularity, as well as mineral composition (quartz versus calcite), on asphalt mixture durability. The durability of mixtures was evaluated through Marshall properties as well as moisture susceptibility indicators, including the tensile strength ratio (TSR) and index of retained strength (IRS). Statistical analyses (ANOVA and t-tests) were also conducted to confirm the significance of the observed effects.
... Show MoreThe objective of this study is to determine the efficacy of class V Er:YAG laser (2940 nm) cavity preparation and conventional bur cavity preparation regarding Intrapulpal temperature rise during cavity preparation in extracted human premolar teeth. Twenty non carious premolar teeth extracted for orthodontic purposes were used and class V cavity preparation was applied both buccal and lingual sides for each tooth .Samples were equally grouped into two major groups according to cavity depth (1mm and 2mm). Each major group was further subdivided into two subgroupsof ten teeth for each (twenty cavities for each subgroup). TwinlightEr:YAG laser (2940 nm) with 500mJ pulse energy, P.R.R of 10 Hz and 63.69 J/cm2 energy density was used. The ana
... Show MoreThis study was conducted on species composition, morphology, ecological characteristics, biotope distribution, ecological groups, biodiversity indicators and zoogeography of leeches and gastropods distributed in the lower Ak-Buura River. According to the results, it was found that 7 species of leeches belonging to 4 families and 6 genera and 10 species of fresh-water gastropods belonging to 3 families and 6 genera live in the lower Ak-Buura River. In the river, it was observed that leeches are mainly distributed in muddy biotopes, and gastropods are widespread in muddy, stony and sandy biotopes with a lot of plants. Biodiversity indices of leeches and gastropods in the Ak-Buura River were analyzed using the Shannon index. As a result, it
... Show MorePvcABCD are cluster of genes found in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The research was designed to examine the relationship between the pvc genes expression and cupB gene, which plays a crucial role in the development of biofilm, and rhlR, which regulates the expression of biofilm-related genes, and to investigate whether the pvc genes form one or two operons. The aims were achieved by employing qRT-PCR technique to measure the gene expression of genes of interest. It was found that out of 25 clinical isolates, 21 isolates were qualified as P.aeruginosa. Amongst, 18(85.7%) were evaluated as biofilm producers, 10 (47.6%), 5 (23.8%), and 3 (14.2%) were evaluated as strong, moderate and weak producers respectively, while, 3 (14.2%) were considered
... Show MoreIn this study, genetic algorithm was used to predict the reaction kinetics of Iraqi heavy naphtha catalytic reforming process located in Al-Doura refinery in Baghdad. One-dimensional steady state model was derived to describe commercial catalytic reforming unit consisting of four catalytic reforming reactors in series process.
The experimental information (Reformate composition and output temperature) for each four reactors collected at different operating conditions was used to predict the parameters of the proposed kinetic model. The kinetic model involving 24 components, 1 to 11 carbon atoms for paraffins and 6 to 11 carbon atom for naphthenes and aromatics with 71 reactions. The pre-exponential Arrhenius constants and a
... Show MoreOver the last few decades, fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) has been increasingly used in strengthening different structural concrete members. The main objective of this research is to study the influence of curvature on the performance of curved soffit reinforced concrete (RC) bridge girders that have been strengthened with carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP). This experimental program was designed to evaluate the effect of concavity and soffit curvature on the CFRP laminate utilization and load capacity, compared to flat soffit RC beams strengthened with the same CFRP system. Accordingly, five beams, 2.7 m in length and having the same degree of soffit curvature (20 mm per 1 meter
Objective: To assess prospectively functional outcome of interlocked intramedullary nailing fixation in management of closed tibia shaft fractures. Methodology: This prospective study included 134 patients with closed shaft tibia fractures with age 18-60 years and isolated closed fracture of shaft of tibia. The fractures were fixed by interlocking intramedullary nail. At follow-up after 12 months postoperatively, the functional outcome was assessed radiographically for the sign of union and clinically according to Klemm-Borner criteria. Results: The mean age was 38.55 years. Out of 134 patients, 55.2% were male. The cause was road traffic accident in 44.8%, majority of the fracture occur in the mid-shaft (41.8%), and oblique fracture was th
... Show MoreBackground: The objective of this study was to investigate the possibility of standardizing the Bolton ratio analysis as a diagnostic measure for both Iraqi and Egyptian orthodontic populations within three Angle' classification groups. Materials and methods: Two hundred forty pretreatment study casts (one hundred twenty of each population) were included in this study and divided into three Angle' classification groups. The mesiodistal crown diameters of all teeth were measured for computing the anterior and total Bolton ratios. Analysis of variance was performed to compare the mean ratios of Bolton analysis as a function of the Angle classification.HSD test was used to specify the classes of malocclusion that have significant differences.
... Show More