This study aimed to determine the radioactivity and radiation hazard indicators of rice samples potentially for human consumption. Gamma spectroscopy was used to calculate the specific activity of natural and artificial radionuclides (238U, 232Th, 40K, and 137Cs) in local and imported rice samples collected from local markets in Baghdad Governorate, Iraq, in addition to various radiological hazard indices. The radionuclide concentrations in the samples varied from 2.123 ± 1.457 Bq/kg to 13.032 ± 3.610 Bq/kg for 238U, 2.906 ± 1.705 Bq/kg to 17.290 ± 4.158 Bq/kg for 232Th, 55.161 ± 7.427 Bq/kg to 155.897 ± 12.486 Bq/kg for 40K, and 0.840 ± 0.916 Bq/kg to 5.473 ± 2.339 Bq/kg for 137Cs. The average results for the radiological hazard indices were 24.292 ± 4.855 Bq/kg, 11.579 nGy/h, 0.378 nGy/h, 0.057 mSv/y, 0.014 mSv/y, 0.181, 0.082, and 0.066 for Raeq, Dγ, Dγ for 137Cs, AEDEin, AEDEout, Iγ, Hin, and Hex, respectively. The values obtained from the current study indicate that the concentrations of radionuclides and the hazard indices in the rice samples studied are less than globally permissible limits. Therefore, rice consumption is safe from a radiological perspective and does not threaten human health.
The energy requirements of corn silage harvesters and the application of precision agricultural techniques are essential for efficient and productive agricultural practices. The article aims to review previous studies on the energy requirements needed for different corn silage harvesting machines, and on the other hand, to present methods for measuring corn silage productivity directly in the field and monitoring it based on microcontrollers and artificial intelligence techniques. The process of making corn silage is done by cutting green fodder plants into small pieces, so special harvesters are used for this, called corn silage harvesters. The purpose of harvesting corn silage is to efficiently collect and store as many digestible nutrien
... Show MoreThis study aims to remove Cd(II) ions from simulated wastewater by using Chlorophyceae algae (CA). Different parameters were studied to show their effects on the biosorption efficiency of CA. These parameters are: the effect of pH 3-7, initial metal ion concentration 20-200 mg/L, sorbent dos-age 0.05-2 g/L, contact time 5-180 min, and agitation speed 100-300 rpm. We found that both the Langmuir and Freundlich models appropriate for characterizing the metal removal process. The biosorption data fit best with the results of the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, demonstrating that the chemisorption process is the dominant mechanism controlling the removal. CA was char-acterized using the scanning electron microscopy test, prior to and post bi
... Show MoreThis study discusses risk management strategies caused by pandemic-related (Covid-19) suspensions in thirty-six engineering projects of different types and sizes selected from countries in the middle east and especially Iraq. The primary data collection method was a survey and questionnaire completed by selected project crew and laborers. Data were processed using Microsoft Excel to construct models to help decision-makers find solutions to the scheduling problems that may be expected to occur during a pandemic. A theoretical and practical concept for project risk management that addresses a range of global and local issues that affect schedule and cost is presented and results indicate that the most significant delays are due to a
... Show MoreMetal (III) and (II) coordination compounds of o- phenylenediamine, oxalic acid dihydrate and 8-hydroxyquinoline were synthesized for mixed ligand complexes and characterized using FT-IR, UV-Vis and mass spectra, atomic absorption, elemental analysis, electric conductance and magnetic susceptibility measurements. In addition, thermal behavior (TGA) of the metal complexes (1-6) showed good agreement with the formula suggested from the analytical data. The stoichiometric reaction between the metal (III) and (II) ions with three various ligands in molar ratio at aqueous ethyl alchol for (1:1:1:1) (M: O-PDA: OA: 8-HQ) [where M = Cr+3, Mn+2, Co+2, Ni+2. Cu+2 and Zn+2; O-PDA = O-Phenylenediamine; OA = Oxalic acid and 8-HQ = 8-Hydroxyquinoline]. R
... Show MoreCritical buckling and natural frequencies behavior of laminated composite thin plates subjected to in-plane uniform load is obtained using classical laminated plate theory (CLPT). Analytical investigation is presented using Ritz- method for eigenvalue problems of buckling load solutions for laminated symmetric and anti-symmetric, angle and cross ply composite plate with different elastic supports along its edges. Equation of motion of the plate was derived using principle of virtual work and solved using modified Fourier displacement function that satisfies general edge conditions. Various numerical investigation were studied to exhibit a convergence and accuracy of the present solution for considering some design parameters such as edge
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