In recent years, various methods have been developed to enhance the characteristics of asphalt pavement in order to face the continuous challenges of increasing traffic loads and changing climate conditions. One of the most popular and successful methods is modifying the asphalt mixtures or asphalt binder with the addition of polymers. Therefore, two types of Polyethylene (PE) polymer, High-Density PE (HDPE) and Low-Density PE (LDPE), are used in this research. Two methods were applied to prepare PE-modified asphalt mixtures: Semi-Wet Method (S-WM) and Dry Method (DM). The findings of the investigation indicated that the addition of PE polymer can reduce the wear loss of aggregate. In general, the experimental results revealed that asphalt mixtures modified with HDPE and LDPE polymers have exceptional performance in comparison with the conventional asphalt mixture. However, HDPE is a better modifier than LDPE in improving the properties of asphalt mixture in terms of Marshall stability, rigidity, Indirect Tensile Strength (ITS), and resistance to moisture damage. In addition, it is recommended to use a 6% addition of HDPE for optimal performance. Finally, S-WM is more effective than DM, attributable to the presence of filler, which prevents the adhesion between the polymer grains and aggregate in DM. Meanwhile, in S-WM, the asphalt binder's adherence to the aggregate particles will enhance since, in this method, the polymer is mixed first with asphalt prior to being added to the aggregate, offering the binder a semi-viscose nature.
This paper proposes a neuro-fuzzy system to model β-glucosidase activity based on the reaction’s pH level and temperature. The developed fuzzy inference system includes two input variables (pH level and temperature) and one output (enzyme activity). The multi-input fuzzy inference system was developed in two stages: first, developing a single input-single output fuzzy inference system for each input variable (pH, temperature) separately, using the robust adaptive network-based fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) approach. The neural network learning techniques were used to tune the membership functions based on previously published experimental data for β-glucosidase. Second, each input’s optimized membership functions from the ANF
... Show MoreSocial media has become an essential educational tool nowadays. Most existing research on digital learning in EFL contexts has primarily focused on traditional classroom-based instruction and less attention has been paid to social media platforms. The present study aims to fill the gap by using social semiotics to analyze four Instagram posts: two from BBC Learning English (@bbclearningenglish) and the other two from Learn English with Emma (@englishwithemma). Instagram posts are classified as multimodal texts with participatory and representational elements. The study adopts Kress and van Leeuwen’s (2005) Social Semiotic Multimodal Framework to analyze four purposely selected posters by answering the following research questions
... Show MoreThis work aimed to investigate the prevalence of pathogenic fungi and evaluate the antifungal activity of Trichoderma orientale FMR12486 crude extract against pathogenic fungi isolated from patients attending the National Center for Thoracic and Respiratory Diseases (having a history of tuberculosis) and consultant of Dermatology of Baghdad hospital, Iraq. A total of 80 clinical specimens were collected: 20 skin scrapings specimens and 60 sputum specimens. The results of direct examination by KOH 10% and culture showed that 11 (55%) cases from 20 skin specimens were positive for fungal infections, while in the sputum specimens, 28 (47%) cases from 60 were positive. Candida albicans represented the most common fungal infection isolat
... Show MoreThis article reveals the first record of the parasitoid wasp, Monodontomerus obscurus Westwood (Hymenoptera, Torymidae) from Iraq. A total of 27 specimens were emerged from mud nests of sphecoid wasp of Sceliphron sp. (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae), that collected from a wall at a residential garden in Dohuk province. A short morphological description is presented.
Recently new and multiple concepts emerged in the sustainability issues ,which transformed into number of planning and designing policies and strategies that must be committed by the designers and the relevant trends in building ,regarding Iraq and the reality of industrial areas ,especially in Baghdad, which helped to sustain few of it & emerged another with bad reflect ,which for that made it clear the importance of implicating sustainable ecological planning and designing strategies provided by the concept of Eco-industrial parks and the concept of Ecotowns and the future potentials provided ,and the easiness of carrying it out which made it flexible and away to provide a base supported by it for rebuilding and rehabilitation and
... Show MoreObjective: To assess of Science Teachers' Awareness towards Communicable Diseases Control in Baghdad City
Primary Schools
Methodology: A descriptive study was conducted, included (100) primary school, (50) in Al-Rassafa sector, and
(50) in Al-Karkh sector, from March 5th 2012 to March 15th 2013, to assess of science teachers' awareness
towards communicable diseases control. A cluster sample of (100) Science teachers (males and females) were
selected, as one teacher from each school. A questionnaire format was used for data collection. The validity of
questionnaire was estimated through a penal of experts related to the field of study, and its reliability was
estimated through a pilot study conducted in (20) schools (
The purpose of this study is to demonstrate a simple high sensitivity vapor sensor for propanol ((CH3)2CHOH). A free space gap was employed in two arms of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer to serve as the sensing mechanism by adding propanol volume (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1) ml and to set the phase reference with a physical spacing of (0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2) mm. The propagation constant of transmitted light in the Mach-Zehnder interferometer’s gap changes due to the small variation in the refractive index inside sensing arm that will further shift the optical phase of the signal. Experimental results indicated that the highest sensitivity of propanol was about 0.0275 nm/ml in different liquid volume while highest phase shift was 0.182×103 i
... Show MoreNot necessarily to be malnutrition is a result of poverty and lack of food, it may be the outcome of the wrong food practices; and the lack of knowledge in nutrition basis and chronic diseases. Some studies have confirmed that the more the knowledge in nutrition basis increased, the more the child has well-balanced food.
Unhealthy eating habits spread among children at an early age, which is one of the negative factors affecting the nutritional status they have causing various disorders as a result of lack or increase of food or lack of balance. The signs and symptoms of these disorders can be simple or can lead to deadly diseases.
Training children on proper eating habits in different fields of life is considered the mos
... Show MoreObjective(s): To measure serum C-reactive protein (CRP) titer as a predictive diagnosis of acute hepatitis C virus (HCV)
infection.
Methodology: Two hundred and ten patients with acute HCV infection and 234 apparently healthy individuals as
control group were enrolled in this study in Baghdad medical city (Teaching Laboratories). The patents include
74(35.2%) females and 136 (64.8%) males with mean age (27±16.5) years. The control group includes 114 (48.7%)
females and 120 (51.3%) males with mean age (26±5.8) years. Blood samples were collected from out patients from
Alfadul in Baghdad city. Sera were separated and stored at 20 0
C. The diagnosis of acute HCV infection was based on
detection of HC Ag and anti- H