In recent years, the search for economic and environmentally friendly alternatives has become a global necessity to achieve sustainability and preserve raw materials. From this concept, natural bitumen (NB) derived from sulphur springs is now one of the most promising alternative energy resources for many applications, especially in asphalt pavement construction. Its low price and abundance characterise NB since sulphur springs produce thousands of tonnes of NB annually and are used in very limited fields. Two main objectives were adopted for this work. The first objective is to examine the virgin NB properties from five sulphur springs and compare them with petroleum asphalt. The second objective is to enhance NB properties by appl

Lower extremity exoskeletons can assist with performing particular functions such as gait assistance, and physical therapy support for subjects who have lost the ability to walk. This paper presents the analysis and evaluation of lightweight and adjustable two degrees of freedom, quasi-passive lower limb device to improve gait rehabilitation. The exoskeleton consists of a high torque DC motor mounted on a metal plate above the hip joint, and a link that transmits assistance torque from the motor to the thigh. The knee joint is passively actuated by spring installed parallel with the joint. The action of the passive component (spring) is combined with mechanical output of the motor to provide a good control on the designed exoskeleton whi

The challenge to incorporate usability evaluation values and practices into agile development process is not only persisting but also systemic. Notable contributions of researchers have attempted to isolate and close the gaps between both fields, with the aim of developing usable software. Due to the current absence of a reference model that specifies where and how usability activities need to be considered in the agile development process. This paper proposes a model for identifying appropriate usability evaluation methods alongside the agile development process. By using this model, the development team can apply usability evaluations at the right time at the right place to get the necessary feedback from the end-user. Verificatio

The performance of a solar assisted desiccant cooling system for a meeting-hall located in the College of Engineering/University of Baghdad was evaluated theoretically. The system was composed of four components; a solar air heater, a desiccant dehumidifier, a heat exchanger and an evaporative cooler. A computer simulation was developed by using MATLAB to assess the effect of various design and operating conditions on the performance of the system and its components. The actual weather data on recommended days were used to assess the load variation and the system performance during those days. The radiant time series method (RTS) was used to evaluate the hourly variation of the cooling load. Four operation modes were employed for perform

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the outcome of long-term results of dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) techniques in specialized eye care center in Iraq.

Subjects and Method: This is a prospective study of 650 patients from July 2014 to July 2019 with nasolacrimal duct obstruction in Ibn Al Haitham Eye Teaching Hospital. A preoperative questionnaire was done, then one month, three months, six months and one year postoperatively. The success of surgery defined as follow; Absence of epiphora completely, Resolve of dacryocele or mucocele or any new attack of daryocystitis, Appearance of fluorescein dye from nose in fluorescein disappearance test, Successful irriga

Recent years have witnessed an increase in the use of composite coatings for numerous applications, including aerospace, aircraft, and maritime vessels. These materials owe this popularity surge to the superior strength, weight, stiffness, and electrical insulation they exhibit over conventional substances, such as metals. The growing demand for such materials is accompanied by the inevitable need for fast, accurate, and affordable nondestructive testing techniques to reveal any possible defects within the coatings or any defects under coating. However, typical nondestructive testing (NDT) techniques such as ultrasonic testing (UT), infrared thermography (IRT), eddy current testing (ECT), and laser shearography (LS) have failed to p

Background: Although various imaging modalities are available for evaluating suspicious breast lesions, ultrasound-based Shear-Wave Elastography (SWE) is an advanced, non-invasive technique complementary to grayscale sonography. This technique evaluates the elasticity of a specific tissue by applying sonic pressure to that tissue.

Objective: The aim is to assess the role of SWE in evaluating solid breast masses in correlation to histopathological study results.

Subjects and Methods: This prospective study was done in a tertiary care teaching hospital from September 2019 to August 2020. A study population of 50 women aged 18 years or above with an