In this paper, an analytical solution describing the deflection of a cracked beam repaired with piezoelectric patch is introduced. The solution is derived using perturbation method. A novel analytical model to calculate the proper dimensions of piezoelectric patches used to repair cracked beams is also introduced. This model shows that the thickness of the piezoelectric patch depends mainly on the thickness of the cracked beam, the electro-mechanical properties of the patch material, the applied load and the crack location. Furthermore, the model shows that the length of the piezoelectric patches depends on the thickness of the patch as well as it depends on the length of the cracked beam and the crack depth. The additio

Background: There are so many evidences that there was antimicrobial resistance, and there were many strains that emerged which were difficult to treat. We are living in a situation that the dissemination of multiple drug resistant bacteria can lead us to the situation, in which no treatment could be offered for bacterial infection in future.

Aim of study: Assessment of nurses’ knowledge, attitude, and practices on antibiotic use and resistance in Fatima Al Zahra hospital in Baghdad.

Subjects and Methods:  A cross-sectional study. The study was carried on from 1st of February to 31st of March 2021.  A questionnaire was constructed by the research team based on literature review and was adapted to asses

A total number of 68 water samples was revealed 20 isolates being Staphylococcus aureus. Irrigation water isolates represented 25% of isolates while wastewater 75%. all isolates were identified by morphological, microscopial, biochemical tests and VITEK®2 Compact. Bacterial isolates were subjected to 16 antibiotics, all irrigation water and wastewater isolates were resistant to penicillin while they were fully sensitive to Ciprofloxcin. Irrigation water isolates showed relatively greater multi-drug resistance than wastewater, wherein irrigation water isolates showed 100% multi-drug resistance while wastewater isolates showed 73.3% multi-drug resistance, indicating the ability of S. aureus MDR to move from one site to another, which means t

Bendable concrete, also known as Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC) is a type of ultra-ductile cementitious composites reinforced with fibres to control the width of cracks. It has the ability to enhance concrete flexibility by withstanding strains of 3% and higher. The properties of bendable concrete mixes (compressive strength, flexural strength, and drying shrinkage) are here assessed after the incorporation of supplementary cementitious materials, silica fume, polymer fibres, and the use of ordinary Portland cement (O.P.C) and Portland limestone cement (IL). Mixes with Portland limestone cement show lower drying shrinkage and lower compressive and flexural strength than mixes with ordinary Portland cement, due to the ratio o

Abstract Background: Multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDR) often contaminate hospital environment and cause serious illnesses. Quorum Sensing (QS) regulates a variety of downstream cellular processes, including antibiotics resistance mechanisms and biofilm formation, and causes harm to the host. This study investigates antibacterial susceptibility and biofilm formation of pathogenic bacteria in hospital environment. Methods: Hundred bacterial isolates were collected from various environments in the Medical City hospital. The antimicrobial susceptibility technique was evaluated through disk diffusion method. Next, biofilms formation was detected by the microliter plate assay. Finally, PCR was used to analyze the frequency of QS system gene

Background: This study was performed to compare the marginal fit changes and facture resistance of metal ceramic crowns constructed from Ceramill Sintron metal coping veneered with three different porcelain veneering materials (Vita Master Koromikos VMK, Willi Geller Creation CC and GC initial MC), also to evaluate the influence of thermocycling on load at fracture. Materials and Methods: Master brass die was scanned ,then metal coping was designed and milled from Ceramill Sintron blank to get 60 metal copings, then divided randomly into three groups(20 sample), then veneered with porcelain: VITA, Creation or GC. The marginal gaps were measured before and after porcelain veneering then marginal fit changes was calculated. Fracture resist

This paper aims to evaluate the reliability analysis for steel beam which represented by the probability of Failure and reliability index. Monte Carlo Simulation Method (MCSM) and First Order Reliability Method (FORM) will be used to achieve this issue. These methods need two samples for each behavior that want to study; the first sample for resistance (carrying capacity R), and second for load effect (Q) which are parameters for a limit state function. Monte Carlo method has been adopted to generate these samples dependent on the randomness and uncertainties in variables. The variables that consider are beam cross-section dimensions, material property, beam length, yield stress, and applied loads. Matlab software has be

This paper reports an experimental study of welding of dissimilar materials between transparent Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and stainless steel 304 sheets using a pulsed mode Nd:YAG laser. The process was carried out for two cases; laser transmission joining (LTJ) and conduction joining (CJ). The former is achieved when the joint is irradiated from the polymer side and the latter when the joint is irradiated from the opposite side (metal side). The light and process parameters represented by the peak power (Pp), pulse duration (τ), pulse repetition rate (PRR), scanning speed (ν) and pulse shape have a significant effect on the joint strength (Fb), joint bead width (b), joint quality and appearance. The optimum parameters were determined