Hard-grade asphalt binders like AC20-30 typically exhibit excessive stiffness, reduced penetration, and compromised workability, necessitating modification before use in paving applications. This study evaluates the efficacy of regular polyalphaolefin (PAO), a synthetic olefin-based lubricant, as a performance-enhancing modifying agent for such binders. AC20-30 was blended with PAO at dosages ranging from 2 wt.% to 10 wt.%, and the modified binders were characterized via penetration, ductility, softening point, and rotational viscosity measurements, alongside advanced rheological and chemical-morphological analyses. Incorporating PAO in AC20-30 asphalt progressively reduced the binder stiffness and enhanced its flexibility, with all modifie

Permanent deformation, fatigue and thermal cracking are the three typical distresses of flexible pavement. Using hydrated lime (HL) into the conventional limestone mineral additive has been widely practiced, including in Europe, to improve the mechanical properties of hot mix asphalt (HMA) concrete and as the result the durability of the constructed pavement. Large number of experimental studies have been reported to find the optimum addition of HL for the improvement on HMA concrete mechanical properties, moisture susceptibility and fatigue resistance. Pavement in service is under complex thermomechanical stress-strain conditions due to coupled atmospheric and surrounding environment temperature variation and the traffic loading. To predic

Diazotization reaction between 1-(2,4,6-trihydroxy-phenyl)-ethanone and diazonium salts produced the ligand 4-(3-Acetyl-2,4,6-trihydroxy-phenylazo)-N-(5-methyl-isoxazol-3-yl)- benzenesulfonamide, which in turn reacted with the metal ions (Ni2+, Zn2+, Pd2+ and Pt4+) forming stable complexes with Octahedral geometry suggest of (Ni2+ and Pt4+), Zn2+ complex Tetrahedral and Pd2+ complex Square planer. The creation of such complexes was detected by employing spectroscopic means involving ultraviolet-visible, which proved the obtained geometries; FT-IR confirmed the formation of the azo group and the coordination with metal ions through it. Thermogravimetric analysis studies demonstrated the coordination of water residues (aqua or hydrate) with m

Performance of gas-solid spouted bed benefit from solids uniformity structure (UI).Therefore, the focus of this work is to maximize UI across the bed based on process variables. Hence, UI is to be considered as the objective of the optimization process .Three selected process variables are affecting the objective function. These decision variables are: gas velocity, particle density and particle diameter. Steady-state solids concentration measurements were carried out in a narrow 3-inch cylindrical spouted bed made of Plexiglas that used 60° conical shape base. Radial concentration of particles (glass and steel beads) at various bed heights and different flow patterns were measured using sophisticated optical probes. Stochastic Genetic

Background: Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a promising implant material due to its superior biomechanical strength. However, due to its hydrophobic nature and lack of cellular adhesion properties, it has poor integration with bone tissue. Methods: A fractional CO2 laser was used with various parameters for surface texturing of PEEK substrate to enhance its surface properties. An optical microscope and field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) were used to examine the surface morphology of untextured and laser-textured samples. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) was performed to determine the effect of the laser on the microstructure of PEEK. Surface microroughness, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and wettability were invest

Gray-Scale Image Brightness/Contrast Enhancement with Multi-Model
Histogram linear Contrast Stretching (MMHLCS) method

The addition of organic-inorganic hybrid nanoparticles presents a promising avenue for enhancing both the ionic conductivity at room temperature and the mechanical resilience of solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs). In this study, a novel nanocomposite solid polymer electrolytes (NSPEs) based on poly(ethylene oxide)-lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate (PEO20-LiDFOB) incorporating polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane-poly(ethylene glycol) (POSS-PEG(13.3)) hybrid nanoparticles were developed. And also reported the effect of POSS-PEG(13.3) hybrid nanoparticles on the structural, thermal, electrical, mechanical, and electrochemical properties of the (PEO20-LiDFOB) SPE. X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry analysis (DSC) and polar

The aim of this study was ‎the‎ discrimination of Salmonella‎‎ isolated from chicken and their feed ‎and drinking water for the epidemiological control of salmonellosis. Totally, 289 samples, ‎including 217 chicken cloaca swabs, 46 water, and 26 feed samples were collected from five ‎different farms in Karbala governorate, Iraq. Conventional bacteriology tests, API 20E, Vitek 2, ‎and serology were used for bacterial identification. Random amplified polymorphic ‎DNA (RAPD)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was applied to analyze the genetic relationships ‎among Salmonella‎‎ isolates. The isolation rate of Salmonella‎‎ spp. was 21.1% (61/289). While the ‎water samples constituted the highest rate (30.4%), a rate of