Lower extremity exoskeletons can assist with performing particular functions such as gait assistance, and physical therapy support for subjects who have lost the ability to walk. This paper presents the analysis and evaluation of lightweight and adjustable two degrees of freedom, quasi-passive lower limb device to improve gait rehabilitation. The exoskeleton consists of a high torque DC motor mounted on a metal plate above the hip joint, and a link that transmits assistance torque from the motor to the thigh. The knee joint is passively actuated by spring installed parallel with the joint. The action of the passive component (spring) is combined with mechanical output of the motor to provide a good control on the designed exoskeleton while walking. The results show that muscles' efforts on both the front and the back sides of the user's leg were decreased when walking using the exoskeleton with the motor and spring.
Advancing the multi-scale performance of asphalt pavements requires innovative binder modifications that address limitations in rutting resistance, fatigue resistance, and durability across the binder, mixture, and structural levels. This study evaluates the performance of asphalt cement, mixtures, and pavement systems modified with a combination of polyethylene (PE) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The binder was modified using 4% PE and varying CNT contents (0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2% by weight of the modified binder). Binder performance was assessed through conventional and rheological tests, including penetration, softening point, viscosity, performance grade (PG) evaluation, and master curve analysis. Mixture-level performance was eval
... Show MoreThis research aimed to predict the permanent deformation (rutting) in conventional and rubberized asphalt mixes under repeated load conditions using the Finite Element Method (FEM). A three-dimensional (3D) model was developed to simulate the Wheel Track Testing (WTT) loading. The study was conducted using the Abaqus/Standard finite element software. The pavement slab was simulated using a nonlinear creep (time-hardening) model at 40°C. The responses of the viscoplastic model under the influence of the trapezoidal amplitude of moving wheel loadings were determined for different speeds and numbers of cycles. The results indicated that a wheel speed increase from 0.5Km/h to 1.0Km/h decreased the rut depth by about 22% and 24% in conv
... Show MoreGroundwater quality deterioration due to anthropogenic natural activities and its immense utilization in various sectors is considered a great concern. The aim of this study is to determine the groundwater quality parameters at various sources in and around Dhaka city and compare them with Bangladesh drinking water standards. In this study, six groundwater quality parameters (pH, DO, COD, TS, TDS, and arsenic) and ten groundwater samples are analyzed to determine the water quality. The collected samples have maximum and minimum pH values of 6.9 and 6.4, respectively. Maximum and minimum DO values are 0.3 and 0.1 mg/L, respectively. The arsenic concentration is 0 mg/L for all collected groundwater samples. The maximum and minimum COD
... Show MoreBackground: EOS (encoded by the IKZF4 gene) is a member of the zinc finger transcription factor IKaros family, and plays a critical role in Treg suppressor functions, and maintaining Treg stability. IL-6 is a soluble mediator with a pleiotropic effect on inflammation, immune response, and hematopoiesis. Aim: To estimate serum IL-6 level and EOS gene expression in Iraqi patients with psoriasis. Method: Twenty-two patients with psoriasis (8 females, 14 males) with age ranged 18-72 years, were recruited from Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Dermatology Clinic, Baghdad, and 24 healthy donors. The serum levels of IL-6 by ELISA and the gene expression of IKZF4 (EOS gene) by RT-qPCR technique. Results: The results showed a non-significant diffe
... Show MoreIn this study, synthesis of polymer Nanocomposites through the blending of prepared polymers with polyvinyl alcohol (a synthetic polymer) or chitosan (a natural polymer) then mixed with nano oxide silica by many steps. The new compound [I] was obtained via reaction of 3,3’-dimethoxybiphenyl-4,4’-diamine as starting material with malic anhydride in DMF then treatment with ammonium persulfate (NH4 )2 S2 O8 (as the initiator) in order to produce polymer [II]. Also, we prepared new polymers [III-V] by using the same starting material (3,3’-dimethoxybiphenyl-4,4’-diamine) with glutaric acid or adipic acid or isophthalic acid in DMF and pyridine. In this study, new polymer blending [VI-IX] and [X-XIII] were synthesized from a prepared pol
... Show MoreA new series of 5-methoxy-2-mercapto benzimidazole derivatives were synthesized by the reaction of 5-methoxy- 2-mercaptobenzimidazole with chloroacetic acid and affords 2-((5-methoxy-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)thio) acetic acid (1),which on cyclization with acetic anhydride and pyridine gives 7- methoxybenzo[4,5]imidazo[2,1-b]thiazol- 3(2H)-one(2), which on condensation with different aryl aldehydes in the presence of anhydrous sodium acetate in glacial acetic acid, furnishes a arylidene thiazolidinone. The purity of the synthesized compounds was confirmed by melting point and TLC.The structures were established by different spectral analysis such as FTIR,1HNMR, and CHN analysis. The newly synthesized compounds (3a-d) were in vivo evaluated f
... Show MoreAn extensive program of laboratory testing was conducted on ring footing rested on gypseous soil brought from the north of Iraq (Salah El-Deen governorate) with a gypsum content of 59%. There are limited researches available, and even fewer have been done experimentally to understand how to ring footings behave; almost all the previous works only concern the behavior of ring footing under vertical loads, Moreover, relatively few studies have examined the impact of eccentric load and inclined load on such footing. In this study, a series of tests, including dry and wet tests, were carried out using a steel container (600×600×600) mm, metal ring footing (100 mm outer diameter and 40 mm inner diameter) was placed in the m
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