The construction sector in Iraq has faced many challenges. One of the major challenges is the lack of productivity of laborers who are working construction sites. Although research studies have been conducted to investigate, explore, and identify factors influencing labor productivity in the Middle-east region, the lack of such research studies to address these challenges in Iraq. This motivates the researcher to explore and identify the key factors affecting labor productivity in construction sites across different organizational structures (Matrix, Projectized, and functional). A survey questionnaire has been conducted using Delphi technique in order to achieve a concrete and reliab
In this paper, the necessary optimality conditions are studied and derived for a new class of the sum of two Caputo–Katugampola fractional derivatives of orders (α, ρ) and( β,ρ) with fixed the final boundary conditions. In the second study, the approximation of the left Caputo-Katugampola fractional derivative was obtained by using the shifted Chebyshev polynomials. We also use the Clenshaw and Curtis formula to approximate the integral from -1 to 1. Further, we find the critical points using the Rayleigh–Ritz method. The obtained approximation of the left fractional Caputo-Katugampola derivatives was added to the algorithm applied to the illustrative example so that we obtained the approximate results for the stat
... Show MoreThis research includes the synthesis of new bis-Schiff bases linked to different imide cycles. There were some steps involved in the synthesis of the novel Schiff bases with succinimide, phthalimide, tetrachlorophthalimide, and tetrabromophthalimide cycles. The first step involved the preparation of 4,4`-bis[(4-aminophenyl) methyl benzylidene]tolidine (1) via the condensation reaction of 3,3'-dimethyl-(1,1'-biphenyl)-4,4'-diamine with 4-amino acetophenone. In the second step, compound 1 reacted with various cyclic anhydrides, affording bis-amic acid Schiff bases 2-5. In the third step, the products 2-5 were dehydrated using the fusion method to prod
... Show MoreThis study has applied digital image processing on three-dimensional C.T. images to detect and diagnose kidney diseases. Medical images of different cases of kidney diseases were compared with those of healthy cases. Four different kidneys disorders, such as stones, tumors (cancer), cysts, and renal fibrosis were considered in additional to healthy tissues. This method helps in differentiating between the healthy and diseased kidney tissues. It can detect tumors in its very early stages, before they grow large enough to be seen by the human eye. The method used for segmentation and texture analysis was the k-means with co-occurrence matrix. The k-means separates the healthy classes and the tumor classes, and the affected
... Show MoreThe use of multimedia technology is growing every day, and it is difficult and time-consuming to provide allowed data while preventing secret information from being used without authorization. The material that has been watermarked can only be accessed by authorized users. Digital watermarking is a popular method for protecting digital data. The embedding of secret data into actual information is the subject of digital watermarking. This paper examines watermarking techniques, methodologies, and attacks, as well as the development of watermarking digital images stored in both the spatial and frequency domains.
Schiff bases, named after Hugo Schiff, are aldehyde- or ketone-like compounds in which the carbonyl group is replaced by imine or azomethine group. They are widely used for industrial purposes and also have a broad range of applications as antioxidants. An overview of antioxidant applications of Schiff bases and their complexes is discussed in this review. A brief history of the synthesis and reactivity of Schiff bases and their complexes is presented. Factors of antioxidants are illustrated and discussed. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The unresolved COVID‐19 pandemic considerably impacts the health services in Iraq and worldwide. Consecutive waves of mutated virus increased virus spread and further constrained health systems. Although molecular identification of the virus by polymerase chain reaction is the only recommended method in diagnosing COVID‐19 infection, radiological, biochemical, and hematological studies are substantially important in risk stratification, patient follow‐up, and outcome prediction.
This narrative review summarized the hematological changes including the blood indices, coagulative indicator
Background: Nursing interventions tailored to the smoking triggers in patients with non-communicable chronic diseases are essential. However, these interventions are scant due to the nature of factors associated with smoking cessation and the poor understanding of the effect of nurse-led intervention in Iraq.Purpose: This study aimed to determine the dominant smoking triggers and examine the effects of a tailored nursing intervention on smoking behavior in patients with non-communicable chronic diseases.Methods: Convenience samples of 128 patients with non-communicable chronic diseases, male and female patients, who were 18-70 years old, were recruited in this quasi-experimental, randomized comparative trial in the outpatient clinic
... Show MoreEcosystems provide humans with services that include benefits from food, fresh water, climate regulation, and socio-economic assets. The Mesopotamian marshlands are among the largest wetlands in the Middle East and they provide various benefits. However, ecosystem services of the Marshlands are consistently undervalued in national economic analysis and decision making. This study focusses on the Central Marshes, the first National Park in Iraq, and is the first attempt at valuing a series of ecosystem services from a valuable natural ecosystem in Iraq. We adopted the Toolkit for Ecosystem Services Site-Based Assessment (TESSA) for the determination of biophysical and economic values of services at the site level. Data on key ecosystem se
... Show MoreAn impressed current cathodic protection system (ICCP) requires measurements of extremely low-level quantities of its electrical characteristics. The current experimental work utilized the Adafruit INA219 sensor module for acquiring the values for voltage, current, and power of a default load, which consumes quite low power and simulates an ICCP system. The main problem is the adaptation of the INA219 sensor to the LabVIEW environment due to the absence of the library of this sensor. This work is devoted to the adaptation of the Adafruit INA219 sensor module in the LabVIEW environment through creating, developing, and successfully testing a Sub VI to be ready for employment in an ICCP system. The sensor output was monitored with an Arduino
... Show MoreThis paper demonstrates an experimental and numerical study on the behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) columns with longitudinal steel embedded tubes positioned at the center of the column cross-section. A total of 12 pin-ended square sectional columns of 150 × 150 mm having a total height of 1400 mm were investigated. The considered variables were the steel tube diameters of 29, 58, and 76 mm and the load eccentricity (0, 50, and 150) mm. Accordingly, these columns were divided into three groups (four columns in each group) depending on the load eccentricity (e) to column depth (h) ratio (e/h = 0, 1/3, and 1). For each group, one column was solid (reference), and the other three columns contained steel tubes with hollow rat
... Show MoreIn this study, the circulating fluidized bed was used to remove the Tetracycline from wastewater utilizing a pistachio shell coated with ZnO nanoparticles. Several parameters including, Tetracycline solution flowrate, initial static bed height, Tetracycline initial concentration and airflow rate were systematically examined to show their effect on the breakthrough curve and the required time to reach the adsorption capacity and thus draw the fully saturated curve of the adsorbent. Results showed that using ZnO nanoparticles will increase the adsorbent surface area and pores and as a result the adsorption increased, also the required time for adsorbent saturation increased and thus the removal efficiency may be achieved at mi
... Show MoreMany waste materials can be repurposed effectively within asphalt concrete to enhance the performance and sustainability of pavement. One of these waste materials is sawdust ash (SDA). This study explores the beneficial use of SDA as a substitute for limestone dust (LD) mineral filler in asphalt concrete. The replacement rate was 0%, 15%, 30%, 45%, and 60% by weight of total mineral filler. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to assess the surface morphology of Sawdust (SD), SDA, and LD. In addition, a series of tests, including Marshall stability and flow, indirect tensile strength,moisture susceptibility, and repeated uniaxial loading tests, were conducted to examine the performance characteristics of asphalt mixtures of diffe
... Show MoreWhenever, the Internet of Things (IoT) applications and devices increased, the capability of the its access frequently stressed. That can lead a significant bottleneck problem for network performance in different layers of an end point to end point (P2P) communication route. So, an appropriate characteristic (i.e., classification) of the time changing traffic prediction has been used to solve this issue. Nevertheless, stills remain at great an open defy. Due to of the most of the presenting solutions depend on machine learning (ML) methods, that though give high calculation cost, where they are not taking into account the fine-accurately flow classification of the IoT devices is needed. Therefore, this paper presents a new model bas
... Show Moreobjective: To evaluate the influence of monolithic zirconia brand, thickness, and substrate color on color matching accuracy when optically coupled to abutment substrates. Methods: A total of 180 samples of two brands of monolithic zirconia [Prettau Anterior (PA), Ceramill Zolid FX Multicolor (CZ)] were prepared in three different thicknesses (0.8 mm, 1.5 mm, and 2 mm) with a standardized 10 mm diameter. Color properties of the samples were assessed using spectrophotometry at baseline and after coupling to three substrate types: standard dentin, discolored dentin, and titanium. Color differences (ΔE) were calculated and statistically analyzed by 3-way ANOVA and pairwise comparison ( α=0.05). Results: The brand and material thickness, at
... Show MoreThe utilization of sugarcane molasses (SCM), a byproduct of sugar refining, offers a promising bio-based alternative to conventional chemical admixtures in cementitious systems. This study investigates the effects of SCM at five dosage levels, 0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75%, 1.00%, and 1.25% by weight of cement, on cement mortar performance across fresh, mechanical, thermal, durability, and density criteria. A comprehensive experimental methodology was employed, including flow table testing, compressive strength (7, 14, and 28 days) and flexural strength measurements, embedded thermal sensors for real-time hydration monitoring, water absorption and chloride ion penetration tests, as well as 28-day density determination. Results revealed clear
... Show MoreDental clinicians and professionals need an affordable, nontoxic, and effective disinfectant against infectious microorganisms when dealing with the contaminated dental impressions. This study evaluated the efficiency of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) as an antimicrobial disinfectant by spraying technique for the alginate impression materials, compared with sodium hypochlorite, and its effect on dimensional stability and reproduction of details. HOCl with a concentration of 200 ppm for 5 and 10 min was compared with the control group (no treatment) as a negative control and with sodium hypochlorite (% 0.5) as a positive control. Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were selected to assess the antimicrobi
... Show MoreThis research explores the use of solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) as a conductive medium for sodium ions in sodium‐ion batteries, presenting a possible alternative to traditional lithium‐ion battery technology. The researchers prepare SPEs with varying molecular weight ratios of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and sodium tetrafluoroborate (NaBF4) using a solution casting method with dimethyl formamide as the solvent. Through optical absorbance measurements, we identified the PAN:NaBF4 (80:20) SPE composition as having the lowest energy band gap value (4.48 eV). This composition also exhibits high thermal stability based on thermogravimetric analysis results.
The guava plant, Psidium guajava L., serves as proof of the abundant donations of nature, providing a delicious guava fruit; this plant is rich in groups of medicinal and nutritional benefits. Guava belonging to the Myrtaceae family, many previous studies reported many phytochemical constituents in its leaves that have many pharmacological activities and medicinal properties; this study focuses on the isolation, structural elucidation and calculation concentration of flavonoids, assessment of the cytotoxic activityof hyperin from Psidium guajava leaves newly cultivated in Iraq. The isolation process involved the use of thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (PHPLC) and structural eluci
... Show MoreThe paper aims to build a model that supports organizational sustainability by analyzing the correlations and revealing the impact between the two main variables (entrepreneurial leadership) with its dimensions of proactive outlook, risk, and creativity (Van Zyl & Mathur-Helm, 2007), and (organizational sustainability) with its economic, environmental, and societal dimensions (Hansmann et al., 2012). As well as identifying the level of awareness and informing managers in the General Company for the Automotive and Equipment Industry, of the theoretical implications and performance, and its vital importance to society and the surrounding ecological environment, and drawing attention to that and improving performance, and indicatin
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