This paper deals with load-deflection behavior the jointed plain concrete pavement system using steel dowel bars as a mechanism to transmit load across the expansion joints. Experimentally, four models of the jointed plain concrete pavement system were made, each model consists of two slabs of plain concrete that connected together across expansion by two dowel bars and the concrete slab were supported by the subgrade soil. Two variables were dealt with, the first is diameter of dowel bar (12, 16 and 20 mm) and the second is type of the subgrade soil, two types of soil were used which classified according to the (AASHTO): Type I (A-6) and type II (A-7-6). Experimental results showed that increasing dowel bar diameter from 12 mm to 20 mm

In this study, the optimum conditions for COD removal from petroleum refinery wastewater by using a combined electrocoagulation- electro-oxidation system were attained by Taguchi method. An orthogonal array experimental design (L18) which is of four controllable parameters including NaCl concentration, C.D. (current density), PH, and time (time of electrolysis) was employed. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal percentage was considered as the quality characteristics to be enhanced. Also, the value of turbidity and TDS (total dissolved solid) were estimated. The optimum levels of the studied parameters were determined precisely by implementing S/N analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The optimum conditions were found to be NaCl = 2.5

Electromyogram (EMG)-based Pattern Recognition (PR) systems for upper-limb prosthesis control provide promising ways to enable an intuitive control of the prostheses with multiple degrees of freedom and fast reaction times. However, the lack of robustness of the PR systems may limit their usability. In this paper, a novel adaptive time windowing framework is proposed to enhance the performance of the PR systems by focusing on their windowing and classification steps. The proposed framework estimates the output probabilities of each class and outputs a movement only if a decision with a probability above a certain threshold is achieved. Otherwise (i.e., all probability values are below the threshold), the window size of the EMG signa

To damp the low-frequency oscillations which occurred due to the disturbances in the electrical power system, the generators are equipped with Power System Stabilizer (PSS) that provide supplementary feedback stabilizing signals. The low-frequency oscillations in power system are classified as local mode oscillations, intra-area mode oscillation, and interarea mode oscillations. Double input multiband Power system stabilizers (PSSs) were used to damp out low-frequency oscillations in power system. Among dual-input PSSs, PSS4B offers superior transient performance. Power system simulator for engineering (PSS/E) software was adopted to test and evaluate the dynamic performance of PSS4B model on Iraqi national grid. The res

Background: Elastomeric chains are one of the most commonly used force delivery systems. They have the ability to exert a continuous force, convenience of use, compatibility to oral environment and cost effectiveness but one of the inherited disadvantages is force degradation. Materials and methods: This in vitro study was designed to evaluate the effect of alcohol presence in mouthwashes on force decay of different configurations of clear elastomeric chains from (Ortho Technology company) which are: closed , short and long under the effect of time at (Initial, 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks) intervals with exposure to different chemical solutions. A total (540) modules of elastomeric chains of three different types (long, short and closed) trans

Background: Psoriasis is an immune-mediated inflammatory disease with unknown aetiology that may be associated with the defect in proliferation and differentiation of the keratinocytes related to inflammatory cell infiltration. According to published reports, it is universal in occurrence; its prevalence in different populations varies from 0.1% to 11.8%. Receiving Apremilast resulted in a strong reduction in interleukin 17 and interleukin 23, as well as reduced expression of other inflammatory cytokines and improvement of psoriatic lesions. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the impact of Apremilast on levels of IL-17, IL-23, and lipids in obese psoriatic patients. Methods: Thirty obese patients with psoriasis were included in

This study was investigated the role of garlic extracts on the reproductive functions, via the development of immature male mice (25 days old) un l puberty. Immature male mice were divided into 3 groups (n=25). Group 1 "control" was daily administrated with tap water. Group 2 was daily administrated with cold aqueous garlic extract. Group 3 was daily administrated with hot aqueous garlic extract. Each group was randomly consisted of 5 subgroups (n=5/ subgroup) and administrated for different periods i.e, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 weeks respectively. Animals were scarified after 24 h from last treatment. Our findings elucidated that, cold and hot aqueous garlic extracts, when administrated at 25 days old (Immature period) have different impact dep

This study was carried out at Poultry Research Station, State Board of Agricultural Research, Ministry of Agriculture for the period from 27 September 2014 to 9 November 2014 to evaluate the Supplementation of different levels of Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) on productive performance of broiler. Four hundred eighty chicks (Ross-308),one day old were randomly distributed to four dietary treatments for 42 days of age with 3 replicates/vtreatment (40 bird/replicate). Experimental treatments were as follow; T1 (Control diet) without supplement, while the treatment T2,T3 and T4  were Supplemented with 1, 1.5, 2 g CLA /kg diet  respectively. The results showed significant (P ≤ 0.05) increased in mean of body weight, weight gain, ave

  The research addressed the formal functions resulting from the use of various guiding signs in the design of the interior spaces of airports in various pragmatic, expressive and psychological aspects. The aim is to identify the functions the guiding signs perform in facilitating and organizing the travelers' movement and satisfying the needs of the visitors and users of the unfamiliar places which they intend to visit, the nature of the services offered by these signs as one of the important parts within their general design. The research also identified the concept and types of signs as a means of visual communication and how to employ them in the design of the airports public spaces, and what are the criteria of their use and fu