This study investigated the ability of using crushed glass solid wastes in water filtration by using a pilot plant, constructed in Al-Wathba water treatment plant in Baghdad. Different depths and different grain sizes of crushed glass were used as mono and dual media with sand and porcelaniate in the filtration process. The mathematical model by Tufenkji and Elimelech was used to evaluate the initial collection efficiency η of these filters. The results indicated that the collection efficiency varied inversely with the filtration rate. For the mono media filters the theoretical ηth values were more than the practical values ηprac calculated from
the experimental work. In the glass filter ηprac was obtained by multiplying ηth by a factor 0.945 where this factor was 0.714 for the sand filter. All the dual filters showed that ηth was less than ηprac. Whereas the dual filter 35cm porcelanite and 35cm glass showed the highest collection efficiency. To obtain ηprac in the dual filter glass and sand, ηth is multiplied by 1.374, as for the dual filters porcelanite and glass the factor was 1.168 and 1.204.
Clinical keratoconus (KCN) detection is a challenging and time-consuming task. In the diagnosis process, ophthalmologists must revise demographic and clinical ophthalmic examinations. The latter include slit-lamb, corneal topographic maps, and Pentacam indices (PI). We propose an Ensemble of Deep Transfer Learning (EDTL) based on corneal topographic maps. We consider four pretrained networks, SqueezeNet (SqN), AlexNet (AN), ShuffleNet (SfN), and MobileNet-v2 (MN), and fine-tune them on a dataset of KCN and normal cases, each including four topographic maps. We also consider a PI classifier. Then, our EDTL method combines the output probabilities of each of the five classifiers to obtain a decision b
Increasing the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of silicon solar cells by improving their junction properties or minimizing light reflection losses remains a major challenge. Extensive studies were carried out in order to develop an effective antireflection coating for monocrystalline solar cells. Here we report on the preparation of a nanostructured cerium oxide thin film by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) as an antireflection coating for silicon solar cell. The structural, optical, and electrical properties of a cerium oxide nanostructure film are investigated as a function of the number of laser pulses. The X-ray diffraction results reveal that the deposited cerium oxide films are crystalline in nature and have a cubic fluorite. The field
... Show MoreBackground. “Polyetheretherketone (PEEK)” is a biocompatible, high-strength polymer that is well-suited for use in dental applications due to its unique properties. However, achieving good adhesion between PEEK and hydrophilic materials such as dental adhesives or cement can be challenging. Also, this hydrophobicity may affect the use of PEEK as an implant material. Surface treatment or conditioning is often necessary to improve surface properties. The piranha solution is the treatment of choice to be explored for this purpose. Methods. PEEK disks of 10 mm diameter and 2 mm thickness were used in this study. Those samples were divided into five groups (each group has five samples). The first is the control group, in which no
... Show MoreAbstract Bilastine, a second-generation antihistamine, is commonly prescribed for managing allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and urticaria due to its prolonged action. However, its therapeutic potential is constrained by poor water solubility and low oral bioavailability. This study aimed to enhance bilastine dissolution and patient compliance by formulating a nanosuspension-based orodispersible film (ODF). An anti-solvent precipitation method was employed to produce nanosuspension using different hydrophilic stabilizers (Soluplus®, Poloxamer 188, and PEG 6000). The influence of formulation parameters, such as the stabilizer ratio, the anti-solvent ratio, stirring speed, and the stabilizer type, on particle size and polydispersity index (PDI)
... Show MoreThe flexible joint robot (FJR) typically experiences parametric variations, nonlinearities, underactuation, noise propagation, and external disturbances which seriously degrade the FJR tracking. This article proposes an adaptive integral sliding mode controller (AISMC) based on a singular perturbation method and two state observers for the FJR to achieve high performance. First, the underactuated FJR is modeled into two simple second-order fast and slow subsystems by using Olfati transformation and singular perturbation method, which handles underactuation while reducing noise amplification. Then, the AISMC is proposed to effectively accomplish the desired tracking performance, in which the integral sliding surface is designed to reduce cha
... Show MoreAbstract:
The research aims to clarify the impact of adopting the IFRS16 financial reporting standard on lease contracts in insurance companies on audit procedures. The change in the classification of lease contracts in the case of adopting the IFRS16 financial reporting standard necessarily requires audit procedures that are compatible with this change. A proposed audit program was prepared, guided by international auditing standards, based on the study of the client's environment and analysis of external and internal risks in the light of financial and non-financial indicators. The researchers reached a set of concl
... Show More