A compact microstrip six-port reflectometer (SPR) with extended bandwidth is proposed in this paper. The design is based on using 16-dB multi-section coupled line directional couplers and a multi-section 3-dB Wilkinson power divider operating from 1 to 6 GHz. The proposed SPR employs only two calibration standards: a matched load and an open load. As compared to other dielectric substrates, fabricating the proposed SPR involves using a low-cost (FR4) substrate. A novel algorithm is also proposed to estimate the complex reflection coefficient over the frequency ranges at which the standard performance of the circuit components is not fully satisfied. The new algorithm is based on the circles’ intersection points, which have been de

The degradation performance of aqueous solution of pesticide Alachlor has been studied at solar pilot scale plant in two photocatalytic systems: homogeneous photocatalysis by photo-Fenton and heterogeneous photocatalysis with titanium dioxide. The pilot scale system included of compound parabolic collectors specially designed for solar photocatalytic applications, and installed at University of Baghdad, Department of Environmental Engineering back yard. The influence of different concentrations, H₂O₂ (200-2400 mg/l), Fe⁺²(5- 30 mg/l) and TiO2 (100-500 mg/l) and their relationship with the degradation efficiency were studied.

      The COD removal efficienc

Given the importance of ecology and its entry into various fields in general and the urban environment particularly; ecological cities take wide ranges of application at multiple regional and global levels. However, it repeatedly noted that there was a state of cognitive confusion and overlapping in the term ecology comes from the diversity of implementation within several disciplines. Architects, designers, and planners have instilled biological development directly into the formal principles as well as the social structures of the ecological cities. Therefore, the research presents a rapid review of the most relevant areas that dealt with the ecological cities by research and analysis at various levels, from the concept and definition of

The Internet is providing vital communications between millions of individuals. It is also more and more utilized as one of the commerce tools; thus, security is of high importance for securing communications and protecting vital information. Cryptography algorithms are essential in the field of security. Brute force attacks are the major Data Encryption Standard attacks. This is the main reason that warranted the need to use the improved structure of the Data Encryption Standard algorithm. This paper proposes a new, improved structure for Data Encryption Standard to make it secure and immune to attacks. The improved structure of Data Encryption Standard was accomplished using standard Data Encryption Standard with a new way of two key gene

The Hbl toxin is a three-component haemolytic complex produced by Bacillus cereus sensu lato strains and implicated as a cause of diarrhoea in B. cereus food poisoning. While the structure of the HblB component of this toxin is known, the structures of the other components are unresolved. Here, we describe the expression of the recombinant HblL1 component and the elucidation of its structure to 1.36 Å. Like HblB, it is a member of the alpha-helical pore-forming toxin family. In comparison to other members of this group, it has an extended hydrophobic beta tongue region that may be involved in pore formation. Molecular docking was used to predict possible interactions between HblL1 and HblB, and suggests a head to tail dimer might f

Introduction: Carrier-based gutta-percha is an effective method of root canal obturation creating a 3-dimensional filling; however, retrieval of the plastic carrier is relatively difficult, particularly with smaller sizes. The purpose of this study was to develop composite carriers consisting of polyethylene (PE), hydroxyapatite (HA), and strontium oxide (SrO) for carrier-based root canal obturation. Methods: Composite fibers of HA, PE, and SrO were fabricated in the shape of a carrier for delivering gutta-percha (GP) using a melt-extrusion process. The fibers were characterized using infrared spectroscopy and the thermal properties determined using differential scanning calorimetry. The elastic modulus and tensile strength tests were dete

Quadrupole Q moments and effective charges are calculated for ⁹C, ¹¹C, ¹⁷C and ¹⁹C exotic nuclei using shell model calculations. Excitations out of major shell space are taken into account through a microscopic theory which are called core-polarization effects. The simple harmonic oscillator potential is used to generate the single particle matrix elements of ^9,11,17,19C. The present calculations with core-polarization effects reproduced the experimental and theoretical data very well.