This work demonstrated a simple and environmentally friendly method for synthesizing silica-supported copper nanocubes (CuNCs/SiO2). The copper nanocubes, with a size of 15 ± 5 nm, were synthesized using green reagents and conditions. Ascorbic acid, water, and di-n-butyl sulfide were employed as reducing agent, solvent, and stabilizing ligand, respectively. The designed nanoscale catalyst was utilized for the esterification of acetic acid to methyl acetate at room temperature. The catalyst exhibited high efficiency, converting 80% of the reactant to the desired product (methyl acetate) after 24 hours of reaction at room temperature. The size and shape of copper nanocubes were characterized by transmission electron microsco

An integrated GIS-VBA (Geographical Information System – Visual Basic for Application), model is developed for selecting an optimum water harvesting dam location among an available locations in a watershed. The proposed model allows quick and precise estimation of an adopted weighted objective function for each selected location. In addition to that for each location, a different dam height is used as a nominee for optimum selection. The VBA model includes an optimization model with a weighted objective function that includes beneficiary items (positive) , such as the available storage , the dam height allowed by the site as an indicator for the potential of hydroelectric power generation , the rainfall rate as a source of water . In a

The aim of this paper is to design artificial neural network as an alternative accurate tool to estimate concentration of Cadmium in contaminated soils for any depth and time. First, fifty soil samples were harvested from a phytoremediated contaminated site located in Qanat Aljaeesh in Baghdad city in Iraq. Second, a series of measurements were performed on the soil samples. The inputs are the soil depth, the time, and the soil parameters but the output is the concentration of Cu in the soil for depth x and time t. Third, design an ANN and its performance was evaluated using a test data set and then applied to estimate the concentration of Cadmium. The performance of the ANN technique was compared with the traditional laboratory inspecting

This paper proposes a new approach to model and analyze erect posture, based on a spherical inverted pendulum which is used to mimic the body posture. The pendulum oscillates in two directions, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], from which the mathematical model was derived and two torque components in oscillation directions were introduced. They are estimated using stabilometric data acquired by a foot pressure mapping system. The model was quantitatively investigated using data from 19 participants, who were first were classified into three groups, according to the foot arch-index. Stabilometric data were then collected and fed into the model to estimate the torque’s components. The components were statistically proce

The Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is frequently used in pavement engineering
for road pavement inspection. The main objective of this work is to validate
nondestructive, quick and powerful measurements using GPR for assessment of subgrade
and asphalt /concrete conditions. In the present study, two different antennas
(250, 500 MHz) were used. The case studies are presented was carried in University
of Baghdad over about 100m of paved road. After data acquisition and radar grams
collection, they have been processed using RadExplorer V1.4 software
implementing different filters with the most effective ones (time zero adjustment and
DC removal) in addition to other interpretation tool parameters.
The interpretatio

Portland Cement is manufactured by adding 3% gypsum to clinker which is produced by grinding, pulverizing, mixing, and then burning a raw mix of silica, and calcium carbonate. Limestone is the main source of carbonates, while clay collected from arable land is the main source of silica. The marl in the Euphrates Formation was studied as an alternative to arable lands. Nine boreholes drilled and penetrated the marl layer in selected locations at the Kufa cement quarry. Forty-one samples of marl from boreholes and four samples of limestone from the closed area were collected. The chemical content of the major oxides and the hardness of the marl layer was very encouraging as a raw material for Portland Cement as they are SiO2 (17.60),

In this study, cloud point extraction combined with molecular spectrometry as an eco-friendly method is used for extraction, enrichment and determination of bendiocarb (BC) insecticide in different complex matrices. The method involved an alkaline hydrolysis of BC followed Emerson reaction in which the resultant phenol is reacted with 4-aminoantipyrene(4-AAP) in the presence of an alkaline oxidant of potassium ferric cyanide to form red colored product which then extracted into micelles of Triton X-114 as a mediated extractant at room temperature. The extracted product in cloud point layer is separated from the aqueous layer by centrifugation for 20 min and dissolved in a minimum amount of a mixture ethanol: water (1:1) followed