Laboratory studies were conducted at the biological control unit, college of Agriculture, University of Baghdad to evaluate some biological aspects of the predator Chilocorus bipustulatus (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), which is considered one of the most important predators on many insect pests, especially the scale insect, Parlatoria blanchardi, (Homoptera: Diaspididae) on date palms. The results showed that biological parameters of the predator were varied according to different degree of temperature. Egg incubation period was significantly different and reached to 7.5 and 5.44 day at 25 and 30°C respectively, Fertility was the same 100% at both temperature degrees. Larval growth periods were 17.41 and 16.12 day as well as the mortality during this stage was also the same 0.0%. Duration rate of pupal stage was 9.62 day at 25°C and reduced significantly to 7.13 day at 30°C. No morality was found, in pupal stage at both temperatures. The adult longevity rates for both males and females were also significantly different that the adult longevity of the male was 80.87 and 66.75 day and less than that of female longevity rate which reached to 90.89 and 67.0 days at both temperature degrees of 25 and 30°C, respectively. Fecundity affected significantly and reached to 254.3 and 316.0 egg female at 25°C and 30°C, respectively. The predator has very high consumption efficiency of scale insect nymphs, this predation was increased as the larva developed from one instar to the following. As average the 1ˢͭ, 2ⁿᵈ, 3ͬ ͩ and 4ᵗͪ instars were consumed 95.12, 171.4, 328.06 and 710.0 scale insect nymphs, and the average of daily consumption of each instar reached to 23.78, 34.28, 65.61 and 140.2 nymph, respectively. The average rate for the whole larval stage consumption was 263.87 and 1295.58. The female of predator consumed more nymphs (127.5 nymph/ day) than that of male (106 nymphs/ day).
In this study, new derivatives of 3-C-spiro ring nucleoside analogues were synthesized. The structures of these derivatives were characterized by infrared spectroscopy,1 HNMR (some of them) and elemental analysis. The nucleoside derivatives were tested for inhibition of E-coli and were all found to be active.
Photonic Crystal Fiber Interferometers (PCFIs) are widely used for sensing applications. This work presents the fabrication and the characterization of a relative humidity sensor based on a polymer-coated photonic crystal fiber that operates in a Mach- Zehnder Interferometer (MZI) transmission mode. The fabrication of the sensor involved splicing a short (1 cm) length of Photonic Crystal Fiber (PCF) between two single-mode fibers (SMF). It was then coated with a layer of agarose solution. Experimental results showed that a high humidity sensitivity of 29.37 pm/%RH was achieved within a measurement range of 27–95%RH. The sensor also showed good repeatability, small size, measurement accuracy and wide humidity range. The RH sensitivity o
... Show MoreA particle swarm optimization algorithm and neural network like self-tuning PID controller for CSTR system is presented. The scheme of the discrete-time PID control structure is based on neural network and tuned the parameters of the PID controller by using a particle swarm optimization PSO technique as a simple and fast training algorithm. The proposed method has advantage that it is not necessary to use a combined structure of identification and decision because it used PSO. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed adaptive PID neural control algorithm in terms of minimum tracking error and smoothness control signal obtained for non-linear dynamical CSTR system.
Multipoint forming process is an engineering concept which means that the working surface of the punch and die is produced as hemispherical ends of individual active elements (called pins), where each pin can be independently, vertically displaced using a geometrically reconfigurable die. Several different products can be made without changing tools saved precious production time. Also, the manufacturing of very expensive rigid dies is reduced, and a lot of expenses are saved. But the most important aspects of using such types of equipment are the flexibility of the tooling. This paper presents an experimental investigation of the effect of three main parameters which are blank holder, rubber thickness and forming speed th
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The aim of this paper is to model and optimize the fatigue life and hardness of medium carbon steel CK35 subjected to dynamic buckling. Different ranges of shot peening time (STP) and critical points of slenderness ratio which is between the long and intermediate columns, as input factors, were used to obtain their influences on the fatigue life and hardness, as main responses. Experimental measurements of shot peening time and buckling were taken and analyzed using (DESIGN EXPERT 8) experimental design software which was used for modeling and optimization purposes. Mathematical models of responses were obtained and analyzed by ANOVA variance to verify the adequacy of the models. The resul
... Show MoreThirty local fungal isolates according to Aspergillus niger were screened for Inulinase production on synthetic solid medium depending on inulin hydrolysis appear as clear zone around fungal colony. Semi-quantitative screening was performed to select the most efficient isolate for inulinase production. the most efficient isolate was AN20. The optimum condition for enzyme production from A. niger isolate was determined by busing a medium composed of sugar cane moisten with corn steep liquor 5;5 (v/w) at initial pH 5.0 for 96 hours at 30 0C . Enzyme productivity was tested for each of the yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus, the fungus A. niger AN20 and for a mixed culture of A. niger and K. marxianus. The productivity of A. niger gave the highest
... Show MorePublic private partnership PPP is a method to procure public projects in order to achieve additional value for money in terms of efficiency and quality of services. This thesis studies the concepts of PPP, advantages and disadvantages of PPP. In addition, current Iraq infrastructure projects situations and needs, as well as, some aspects relating to the Iraq’s construction market, legal and contract systems were discussed. A financial model was carried out and applied to a real-life case study project. Finally, a survey targeted researchers; public and private- sectors were applied.
The purpose of this research is to implement the orthogonal polynomials associated with operational matrices to get the approximate solutions for solving two-dimensional elliptic partial differential equations (E-PDEs) with mixed boundary conditions. The orthogonal polynomials are based on the Standard polynomial (
The experiment was conducted to study the effect of sodium chloride (NaCl) at the concentrations of 0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% on the callus cells. The Iraq wheat variety was grown in vitro for the purpose of knowing the effect of salt stress on some indicators and cellular components of callus by using a randomized complete design, at the laboratories of tissue culture propagation date palm unit in the College of Agriculture / University of Kufa during the period 2014-2015. Fresh and dry weight, the rate of absolute growth, percentage of dry matter of callus, content of the callus cells of proline, total soluble carbohydrates, sodium and potassium ions, effectiveness of the enzymes catalase and peroxidase study shock salt proteins in callus we
... Show MoreIn this research, a low cost, portable, disposable, environment friendly and an easy to use lab-on-paper platform sensor was made. The sensor was constructed using a mixture of Rhodamine-6G and gold nanoparticles also Sodium chloride salt. Drop–casting method was utilized as a technique to make a platform which is a commercial office paper. A substrate was characterized using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV-visible spectrophotometer and Raman Spectrometer. Rh-6G Raman signal was enhanced based on Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy technique utilized gold nanoparticles. High Enhancement factor of Plasmonic commercial office paper reaches up to 0.9 x105 because of local surface pl
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