The study investigated the behaviour of asphalt concrete mixes for aggregate gradations, according to the Iraqi specification using the Bailey method designed by an Excel spreadsheet. In mixing aggregates with varying gradations (coarse and fine aggregate), The Bailey method is a systematic methodology that offers aggregate interlocking as the backbone of the framework and a controlled gradation to complete the blends. Six types of gradation are used according to the bailey method considered in this study. Two-course prepared Asphalt Concrete Wearing and Asphalt Concrete binder, the Nominal Maximum Aggregate Sizes (NMAS) of the mixtures are 19 and 12.5 mm, respectively. The total number of specimens was 240 for both layers (15 samples) for each Chosen Unit Weight (CUW). The Marshall Test results show the increase in stability and decrease in flow and bulk density when the rise in CUW for both courses. In volumetric properties, VMA increases when the increase in CUW. When an increase in CUW air void increases gradually. The permanent deformation for the coarse aggregate (95, 100, 105% CUW) has more resistances than the fine aggregate (80, 85, 90%) wearing and binder coarse. The CUW (105%) blend of wearing, and binder course has a high value of stability and resistance to permanent deformation (11.9, 11.1 kN). The CUW above mentioned is considered a good design aggregate structure and produces improvement to the Marshall properties, leading to better performance for pavement roads and higher resistance to distresses.
Market share is a major indication of business success. Understanding the impact of numerous economic factors on market share is critical to a company’s success. In this study, we examine the market shares of two manufacturers in a duopoly economy and present an optimal pricing approach for increasing a company’s market share. We create two numerical models based on ordinary differential equations to investigate market success. The first model takes into account quantity demand and investment in R&D, whereas the second model investigates a more realistic relationship between quantity demand and pricing.
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
... Show MoreThe application of the test case prioritization method is a key part of system testing intended to think it through and sort out the issues early in the development stage. Traditional prioritization techniques frequently fail to take into account the complexities of big-scale test suites, growing systems and time constraints, therefore cannot fully fix this problem. The proposed study here will deal with a meta-heuristic hybrid method that focuses on addressing the challenges of the modern time. The strategy utilizes genetic algorithms alongside a black hole as a means to create a smooth tradeoff between exploring numerous possibilities and exploiting the best one. The proposed hybrid algorithm of genetic black hole (HGBH) uses the
... Show MoreBiodiesel as an attractive energy source; a low-cost and green synthesis technique was utilized for biodiesel preparation via waste cooking oil methanolysis using waste snail shell derived catalyst. The present work aimed to investigate the production of biodiesel fuel from waste materials. The catalyst was greenly synthesized from waste snail shells throughout a calcination process at different calcination time of 2–4 h and temperature of 750–950 ◦C. The catalyst samples were characterized using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR). The reaction variables varying in the range of 10:1–30:1 M ratio of MeOH: oil, 3–11 wt% catalyst loading, 50–
... Show MoreCassava, a significant crop in Africa, Asia, and South America, is a staple food for millions. However, classifying cassava species using conventional color, texture, and shape features is inefficient, as cassava leaves exhibit similarities across different types, including toxic and non-toxic varieties. This research aims to overcome the limitations of traditional classification methods by employing deep learning techniques with pre-trained AlexNet as the feature extractor to accurately classify four types of cassava: Gajah, Manggu, Kapok, and Beracun. The dataset was collected from local farms in Lamongan Indonesia. To collect images with agricultural research experts, the dataset consists of 1,400 images, and each type of cassava has
... Show MoreTo ensure that a software/hardware product is of sufficient quality and functionality, it is essential to conduct thorough testing and evaluations of the numerous individual software components that make up the application. Many different approaches exist for testing software, including combinatorial testing and covering arrays. Because of the difficulty of dealing with difficulties like a two-way combinatorial explosion, this brings up yet another problem: time. Using client-server architectures, this research introduces a parallel implementation of the TWGH algorithm. Many studies have been conducted to demonstrate the efficiency of this technique. The findings of this experiment were used to determine the increase in speed and co
... Show MoreThe recent emergence of sophisticated Large Language Models (LLMs) such as GPT-4, Bard, and Bing has revolutionized the domain of scientific inquiry, particularly in the realm of large pre-trained vision-language models. This pivotal transformation is driving new frontiers in various fields, including image processing and digital media verification. In the heart of this evolution, our research focuses on the rapidly growing area of image authenticity verification, a field gaining immense relevance in the digital era. The study is specifically geared towards addressing the emerging challenge of distinguishing between authentic images and deep fakes – a task that has become critically important in a world increasingly reliant on digital med
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