This paper investigates the issue of surface-type effects on traffic noise in Baghdad. Since the raw materials for both flexible and rigid paving are available from local sources, the decision on selecting the type of paving which depends on the budget of the project and the road's importance and function. Knowing that for high traffic volumes and a high percentage of heavy vehicles, rigid pavement is more suitable compared to flexible pavement. In Baghdad, some highways consist of flexible pavement and others of combined pavement (flexible segments and rigid segments), so the study of the effect of surface type on traffic noise becomes an important matter. This study selected three highways: one with flexible pavement and two with combined pavement. The results showed that the traffic noise generated by traffic on rigid pavement generates more noise than traffic on the flexible pavement by about 2 dBA. A prediction model was generated to predict traffic noise depending on five variables (vehicle speed, traffic volume, skid number, distance between the edge of the inner lane and the sound level meter, and surface type). The measured traffic noise levels ranged from 73.23 to 82.86 dBA, which exceeded the permitted limits compared to the permissible Iraqi standards.
Previous studies indicated that supplementation with antioxidants has a protective effects against oxidative stress–induced damage in type 2 diabetes. In this study we evaluated the antioxidant effects of melatonin on the oxidative stress parameters and microalbuminuria in type 2 DM patients. 30 patients with type 2 DM were treated with 3mg/day melatonin for 90 days. Erythrocytes and plasma MDA and glutathione, fasting plasma glucose, %HbAIC, microalbuminuria, total plasma protein and lipid profile were measured each 30 days and compared with those obtained from 20 healthy controls.
A decrease in MDA levels associated with the elevation in GSH levels were observed, compared with the pre–treatment levels.
... Show MoreNutrient agar medium with various concentrations of cefotaxime was used for isolation spontaneous mutants from wild type strain of P.aeruginosa PHA-1. Eighty-two mutants were successfully isolated with the viable count 52×107 , these mutants were confirmed as spontaneous not physiological adaption mutants by reculture on the same medium. Then, wild type PHA-1 and mutants were examined for production pyocyanin; a blue greenish pigment was clearly noticed on King A medium. Remarkably the mutant strain named S300-8 was distinguished in productivity in comparison with wild type strain PHA-1; the amount of pigment was 56.0667mg/l and 74.53mg/l respectively. In addition, pyocyanin produced by mutant strain S300-8 revealed a potent efficacy again
... Show MoreBackground: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a condition characterized by an elevation of oxidative stress, which has been implicated in diabetic progression and its vascular complications. Aim: Assessing the impact of gliclazide modified release (MR) versus glimepiride on oxidative stress markers, glycemic indices, lipid profile, and estimated glomerular filtration rate in uncontrolled type 2 diabetic patients on metformin monotherapy. Methods: This was an observational comparative study conducted in Thi-Qar specialized diabetic, endocrine, and metabolism center. Sixty-six patients were randomized into two groups based on the addition of the sulfonylureas (SUs). Group 1 (33 patients) was on gliclazide MR, whereas Group 2 (33 patients)
... Show MoreThe study aims to evaluate sustainable traffic management strategies for congested intersections in medium-sized Iraqi cities, with a focus on Al-Sa’a Intersection and Al-Jari Street in Hit City. These nodes face severe traffic congestion, delays, and infrastructure limitations that compromise urban mobility and sustainability. A multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) framework was employed to analyze three categories of interventions—engineering, planning, and administrative—based on five weighted criteria: traffic efficiency (40%), delay reduction (25%), cost (20%), environmental impact (10%), and social acceptance (5%). The methodology combined field data collection (traffic counts, travel time, and delays), GIS-based spatial analysis, an
... Show MoreIn this study, investigations of structural properties of n-type porous silicon prepared by laser assisted-electrochemical etching were demonstrated. The Photo- electrochemical Etching technique, (PEC) was used to produce porous silicon for n-type with orientation of (111). X-ray diffraction studies showed distinct variations between the fresh silicon surface and the synthesized porous silicon surfaces. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis was used to study the morphology of porous silicon layer. AFM results showed that root mean square (RMS) of roughness and the grain size of porous silicon decreased as etching current density increased. The chemical bonding and structure were investigated by using fourier transformation infrared spec
... Show MoreLaser cleaning of materials’ surfaces implies the removal of deposited pollutants without affecting the material. Nanosecond Nd:YAG pulsed laser, operating at 1064 nm and 532nm, was utilized. Different laser intensities and number of pulses were used on metallic and non-metallic surfaces under O2 and Ar environments to remove metal oxide and crust. Cleaning efficiency was studied by optical microscope. The results indicated the superiority of 1064 nm over the 532 nm wavelength without any detectable damage to materials’ surfaces. Marble cleaned in Oxygen gas environment was better than in Ar gas.