The conception and experimental assessment of a removable friction-based shear connector (FBSC) for precast steel-concrete composite bridges is presented. The FBSC uses pre-tensioned high-strength steel bolts that pass through countersunk holes drilled on the top flange of the steel beam. Pre-tensioning of the bolts provides the FBSC with significant frictional resistance that essentially prevents relative slip displacement of the concrete slab with respect to the steel beam under service loading. The countersunk holes are grouted to prevent sudden slip of the FBSC when friction resistance is exceeded. Moreover, the FBSC promotes accelerated bridge construction by fully exploiting prefabrication, does not raise issues relevant to precast co

Positron annihilation lifetime (PAL) technique has been employed to
study the microstructural changes of polyurethane (PU), EUXIT 101
and epoxy risen (EP), EUXIT 60 by Gamma-ray irradiation with the
dose range (95.76 - 957.6) kGy. The size of the free volume hole and
their fraction in PU and EP were determined from ortho-positronium
lifetime component and its intensity in the measured lifetime spectra.
The results show that the irradiation causes significant changes in the
free volume hole size (V_h) and the fractional free volume (F_h), and
thereby the microstructure of PU and EP. The results indicate that
the γ-dose increases the crystallinity in the amorphous regions of PU
and increas

In the present work, a d.c. magnetron sputtering system was designed and fabricated. The chamber of this system was includes from two copper coaxial cylinders where the inner one used as a cathode (target) while the outer one used as the anode with Solenoid magnetic coil located on the outer cylinder (anode). The axial profile of magnetic field for various coil current (from 2A to 14 A) are shown. The plasma characteristics in the normal glow discharge region are diagnostics by the 2.2mm diameter Langmuir probe with different length along the cathode and located at different radial positions 1cm and 2cm from the cathode surface. The result of this work shows that, the electron energy distributions at different radial positions along the

The research aims to measure the impact of the quality of the audit on the Earnings Quality, for a sample of private joint stock companies listed on the Iraq Stock Exchange, as the research sample included (14) private and listed joint stock companies in issuing their financial statements for the period from (2010-2018), as well as companies The audit offices in charge of auditing these companies, which number (18) companies or an audit office, and the research relied on two main models for measurement, as the first model reflects the assumed relationship between independent variables represented in the characteristics of external audit quality and measuring the extent of its impact on the dependent variable represented in the Ea

The research aims to study the effect of adding (Li2O) to an alkaline glaze containing (K2O, Na2O). Although all the alkaline oxides have common properties, each oxide has something that distinguishes it. The molecular weight of (Li2O) is two times less than that of (Na2O) and three times that of (K2O). Therefore, it is added in small proportions. In addition, it is a very strong flux, so it is not used alone, but rather replaces a part of other alkaline oxides. It was added to an alkali glass that matured at a temperature of 980CO in proportions (2.0,1.4,1.2,0.8,0.4%) instead of (Na2O), using lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) as an oxide source. The glazes mixtures were applied to a white pottery body, and the samples were fired and cooled acc

This study evaluated the influence of administering different levels of L-arginine into eggs of 0-day-old Japanese quail embryos. On day 0 of incubation, 480 eggs (120 for each treatment group) were injected with 0% arginine (C group), 1% arginine (T1), 2% arginine (T2) or 3% arginine (T3). After hatching, 336 quail chicks (84 chicks produced from each in ovo injection treatment) were placed in an experimental quail house and allocated to four treatment groups of three replicates, with 16 quail chicks for each replicate. Traits involved in this study were hatchability rate, initial body weight (7 days of age), final body weight (42 days old), feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio and blood serum glucose, protein, cholesterol, tota

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common inflammatory disease that associated with increased morbidity and mortality due to accelerated atherosclerosis. Rosuvastatin is a unique hydroxy methyl glutaryl Co A (HMGCoA) reductase inhibitor that has anti inflammatory effects.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of rosuvastatin as adjuvant therapy to methotrexate (MTX) on lipid profile and its possible cardioprotective effect in RA patients. A double blinded placebo controlled clinical trial with 8 weeks follow up periods at which 40 patients with active RA using MTX were randomized into 2 groups to receive either rosuvastatin 10mg or placebo as adjuvant therapy to MTX. In addition to twenty healthy subjects as control group.

A modified chemical method was used to prepare titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs), which were diagnosed by several techniques: X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, field emission scaning electron microscopy, energy disperse X-ray, and UV-visible spectroscopy, which proved the success of the preparation process at the nanoscale level. Where the titanium oxide particles have an average particle size equal to 6.8 nm, titanium dioxide particles were used in the process of adsorption of Congo red dye from its aqueous solutions using a batch system. The titanium oxide particles gave an adsorption efficiency of Congo red dye up to more than 79 %. The experimental data of the adsorption process were analyzed with kinetic models and

This competition between competing forces, organized into axes with conflicting objectives, is reflected in all regional affairs and the goals and interests of countries within them, including Iraq. Among the most important aspects impacted by the repercussions of international and regional competition in the region is Iraqi national security, based on its vital importance in preserving the sovereignty and entity of the Iraqi state, protecting the interests and cohesion of the state and people, ensuring and defending their present and future, and interacting with various regional and international activities. The Kurdistan Region, as an important part of Iraq with its own unique characteristics, may be one of the most important regi

This study is to evaluate plasma levels of several cytokines in preeclamptic pregnancies compared to those of healthy pregnancies. Ninety pregnant women with preeclampsia (37 mild & 53 severe) and thirty healthy pregnant women were enrolled in the study. Blood samples were taken and plasma levels of IL-8, IL-10, and IFN-? were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Preeclamptic women and their severe cases but not mild cases had significantly (P<0.05) increased levels of plasma IL-8, and IFN-? as compared with healthy pregnancies. By contrast, plasma levels of IL-10 was significantly (P<0.05) increased in healthy pregnant women as compared to all groups of preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is associated with an imbalance betwe