Self-compacted concrete (SCC) considered as a revolution progress in concrete technology due to its ability for flowing through forms, fusion with reinforcement, compact itself by its weight without using vibrators and economic advantages. This research aims to assess the fresh properties of SCC and study their effect on its compressive strength using different grading zones and different fineness modulus (F.M) of fine aggregate. The fineness modulus used in this study was (2.73, 2.82,2.9& 3.12) for different zones of grading (zone I, zone II& marginal zone(between zone I&II)) according to Iraqi standards (I.Q.S No.45/1984).Twelve mixes were prepared, each mix were tested in fresh state with slump, V-Funnel and L-Box tests, then 72 concrete cubes of (100*100*100) mm for different mixes were tested for compressive strength after 7 and 28 days of water curing. Results indicated that the combined effect of fineness modulus and grading zone were clear on the passing ability and little effect of grading zone on flow ability and viscosity of fresh SCC properties. Compressive strength decreases with increasing F.M and no effect of grading zone for F.M higher than 2.90.
Combining ultrasonic irradiation and the Fenton process as a sono-Fenton process, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) in refinery wastewater was successfully eliminated using response surface methodology (RSM) with central composite design (CCD). The impact of two main influential operational parameters (iron dosage and reaction time) on the COD removal from wastewater generated by an Iraqi petroleum refinery facility was explored. Removal of 85.81% was attained under the optimal conditions of 21 minutes and 0.289 mM of concentration. Additionally, the results revealed that the concentration of has the highest effect on the COD elimination, followed by reaction time. The high R2 value (96.40%) validated the strong fit of the mo
... Show MoreBiologically active natural compounds are molecules produced by plants or plant-related microbes, such as endophytes. Many of these metabolites have a wide range of antimicrobial activities and other pharmaceutical properties. This study aimed to evaluate (in vitro) the antifungal activities of the secondary metabolites obtained from Paecilomyces sp. against the pathogenic fungus Rhizoctonia solani. The endophytic fungus Paecilomyces was isolated from Moringa oleifera leaves and cultured on potato dextrose broth for the production of the fungal metabolites. The activity of Paecilomyces filtrate against the radial growth of Rhizoctonia solani was tested by mixing the filtrate with potato dextrose agar medium at concentrations of 15%,
... Show MoreThe temperature control process of electric heating furnace (EHF) systems is a quite difficult and changeable task owing to non-linearity, time delay, time-varying parameters, and the harsh environment of the furnace. In this paper, a robust temperature control scheme for an EHF system is developed using an adaptive active disturbance rejection control (AADRC) technique with a continuous sliding-mode based component. First, a comprehensive dynamic model is established by using convection laws, in which the EHF systems can be characterized as an uncertain second order system. Second, an adaptive extended state observer (AESO) is utilized to estimate the states of the EHF system and total disturbances, in which the observer gains are updated
... Show MoreAutomated detection of Dubas palm infestation by image processing techniques has practical significance as it can improve agricultural efficiency, increase crop yield and quality, protect the environment, and provide data-driven insights. It also reduces the human effort required for pest control and enhances sustainability. In this study, we aimed to automate the detection of Dubas bug infestation in palm trees using deep learning with transfer learning residual neural networks. Based on four models: InceptionResNetV2, ResNet18, ResNet50, and ResNet101, the data used in this study were obtained by drone photography, many images were taken, and then the infected area was extracted. Using two types of data, 185 infected images and 185 health
... Show MoreBackground: Cyclophosphamide is an alkylating agent that is effective against a broad spectrum of tumors, with nephrotoxicity as a side effect. Irigenin is a natural isoflavonoid isolated from the rhizome of Belamcanda chinensis that has been reported to exert antioxidant activities. Objective: Evaluating the possible protective effects of irigenin on cyclophosphamide-induced nephrotoxicity in male rats. Methods: Fifty apparently healthy male albino rats were divided into five groups: (control, induction, irigenin, irigenin with cyclophosphamide, and vitamin E with cyclophosphamide. At the end of the experiment (day 29), all rats were sacrificed. Different parameters were evaluated, including urea and creatinine serum concentration,
... Show MoreSurface runoff is considered one of the most significant water resources in arid and semi-arid environments. Estimating the volume of surface runoff through the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), along with maps detailing the geomorphological and geological characteristics of the Wadi Haran basin, is an essential process. This estimation is supported by mathematical equations based on the Soil Conservation Service Curve Number method (SCS-CN), which is among the most widely used approaches for calculating runoff volume. The study area, Wadi Haran basin, covers approximately 1,895 km². The Curve Number (CN) was found to be 92, with runoff volume (QV) values ranging between 582.71 m³ and 12.85 m³. The total surfa
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