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Determination of pile bearing capacity from the in-situ tests has developed considerably due to the significant development of their technology. The project presented in this paper is a combination of two approaches, artificial neural networks and main component analyses that allow the development of a neural network model that provides a more accurate prediction of axial load bearing capacity based on the SPT test data. The retropropagation multi-layer perceptron with Bayesian regularization (RB) was used in this model. This was established by the incorporation of about 260 data, obtained from the published literature, of experimental programs for large displacement driven piles. The PCA method is proposed for compression and suppression of the correlation between these data. This will improve the performance of generalization of the model.

Nowadays, medical rehabilitation system has become a requirement due to increment in national rehabilitation centres and medical hospitals. An assistive rehabilitation orthosis becomes essential and was used for rehabilitation therapy, condition monitoring, and physical strengthening. This study focused on the lower limb assistive rehabilitation orthosis development using pneumatic artificial muscle. To successfully control this orthosis system which consists of antagonistic mono- and biarticular muscle actuators, it is necessary to construct a reliable control algorithm. The suitable control scheme and strategy to manoeuvre this orthosis system similar to human musculoskeletal system have yet to be fully developed and established. Based on the review study, it is said that the co-contraction controls of anterior-posterior pneumatic muscles was able to improve the joint stiffness and stability of the orthosis as well as good manoeuvrability. Therefore, a characterization model of an antagonistic mono- and bi-articular muscles activities of human's lowerlimb during walking motion will be necessary. A healthy young male subject was used as test subject to obtain the sEMG muscle activities for antagonistic mono- and bi-articular muscles (i.e., Vastus Medialis-VM, Vastus Lateralis-VL, Rectus Femoris-RF, and Bicep Femoris-BF). The tests were carried out at different speeds of 2km/h, 3km/h, and 4km/h for one minute walking motion on a treadmill. Then, the patterns of the sEMG muscle activities were modelled and characterised using fifth order polynomial equation. Based on the results, it is shown that the anterior and posterior muscles were exhibited a muscle synergy in-between multiple anterior or posterior muscles and muscle co-contraction between anteriorposterior muscles in order to control the movements at the joints during walking motion. As conclusion, it is proven that the sEMG muscle activities of the antagonistic mono- and bi-articular muscles were follow a certain contraction-expansion patterns during walking motion even when it were tested at different gait cycle speeds.

A review study was conducted on existing lower-limb orthosis systems for rehabilitation which implemented pneumatic muscle type of actuators with the aim to clarify the current and on-going research in this field. The implementation of pneumatic artificial muscle will play an important role for the development of the advanced robotic system. In this research a derivation model for the antagonistic mono- and bi-articular muscles using pneumatic artificial muscles of a lower limb orthosis will be verified with actual human’s muscle activities models. A healthy and young male 29 years old subject with height 174cm and weight 68kg was used as a test subject. Two mono-articular muscles Vastus Medialis (VM) and Vastus Lateralis (VL) were selected to verify the mono-articular muscle models and muscle synergy between anterior muscles. Two biarticular muscles Rectus Femoris (RF) and Bicep Femoris (BF) were selected to verify the bi-articular muscle models and muscle co-contraction between anterior-posterior muscles. The test was carried out on a treadmill with a speed of 4.0 km/h, which approximately around 1.25 m/s for completing one cycle of walking motion. The data was collected for about one minute on a treadmill and 20 complete cycles of walking motion were successfully recorded. For the evaluations, the mathematical model obtained from the derivation and the actual human muscle activation patterns obtained using the surface electromyography (sEMG) system were compared and analysed. The results shown that, high correlation values ranging from 0.83 up to 0.93 were obtained in between the derivation model and the actual human muscle’s model for both mono- and biarticular muscles. As a conclusion, based on the verification with the sEMG muscle activities data and its correlation values, the proposed derivation models of the antagonistic mono- and bi-articular muscles were suitable to simulate and controls the pneumatic muscles actuated lower limb orthosis.

In this paper, digital image processing techniques are applied to measure some of the quality parameters of the durum wheat semolina. One of these parameters is the semolina colour value in the lab colour space L*a*b*, which is the commonly employed colour space in food field. Several numerical methods are developed and analysed for mapping the RGB digital images to L*a*b*. These methods are direct, polynomial regression, and neural network methods. The accuracy of each method is obtained with respect to the measured L*a*b* values captured with a Chroma-Meter instrument. The numerical models outcomes showed lowest colour deviations of 0.72. The results also demonstrated a significant effect of the training data set on the numerical L*a*b* outputs. Moreover, a partial least-squares regression model was developed to numerically predict the β–carotene content in semolina, as another important quality parameter. The model proved a correlation coefficient of 0.94 between numerical predictions and experimental measurements according to the ICC standard method 152 for extracting the durum carotenoids, thus bears a high potential for facilitating carotene detection in durum.

In recent years, battery models have become increasingly crucial, particularly with the surge in electric vehicle usage within the transportation sector. Accurate models are essential for assessing battery performance and devising effective battery management systems. Various modeling approaches exist in literature, each carrying its own set of advantages and drawbacks. Typically, more intricate models offer precise results but demand greater computational resources and entail time-consuming, costly laboratory tests for parameter determination. Hence, for first stage assessments and battery managing system designs, models employing simpler parameter documentation procedures are the most viable and suitable options. The presence of a precise battery model within a simulation platform holds immense significance in crafting efficient battery-powered systems. Absolutely! The lithium-ion battery model is a standout option owing to its potential as an energy storage system, particularly for renewable technology applications. This is largely due to its remarkable power compactness and energy storage capabilities.

This study explores the advancement of aluminum-based composite manufacturing through the integration of titanium dioxide (TiO2) reinforcement using the stir casting technique. Aluminum alloy served as the matrix material, combined with ceramic reinforcement particles, melted at approximately 700°C within a muffle furnace. Through continuous stirring at 400 rpm for 10 minutes, ceramic particles were uniformly dispersed into the molten alloy, crucial for enhancing composite properties. The incorporation of 6.5% TiO2 via stir casting resulted in significant enhancements across multiple mechanical properties. Tensile strength improved by 23.67%, while hardness saw a remarkable increase of 38.9%. Additionally, fatigue strength exhibited a notable improvement of 26.67%, and wear resistance showed a substantial enhancement of 24.34%. The uniform dispersion of TiO2 particles throughout the composite material underscores the efficacy of the stir casting technique in achieving consistent improvements across various performance metrics. These findings hold promise for the development of high-performance aluminum-based composites tailored for diverse engineering applications.

This study investigates the heat transfer and fluid flow characteristics of pure water passing through a double tube heat exchanger (DTHX). Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were conducted using ANSYS-FLUENT 22 R1 software. Mathematical models and thermophysical properties of nanofluids and water from existing literature were employed. The comparison focused on pure water and 1% Al2O3/H2O nanofluids. Various operating variables such as Reynolds number and temperature were considered across the inner and outer tubes. The Reynolds number ranged from 2500 to 5500 at 80°C for the inner tube and 2500 at 15°C for the outer tube. Key findings include a 7.69% increase in friction factor for 1% Al2O3/H2O compared to pure water and a 16% increase compared to the Gnielinski correlation at a Reynolds number of 2500. The Nusselt number (Nu) exhibited a 98.42% increase compared to the Gnielinski correlation at a Reynolds number of 5500 and a 39% increase compared to pure water at the same Reynolds number. Heat transfer coefficients (hi) were found to increase by 9.52% compared to pure water and 12% compared to the correlation in existing literature.

The grey mongoose is a mongoose species native to the West Asia and Indian subcontinent. It is listed as the Least Concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. The main objective of this study was to identify the different categories of papillae found in the tongue of Iraqi grey mongoose to investigate the possible differences with other grey mongoose species. This study investigated the position and shape of the Iraqi grey mongoose tongue papillae. A total of six healthy grey mongooses were examined by Scanning Electron Microscope. The results revealed the existence of five different kinds of papillae on the dorsal surface of the tongue in grey mongooses that included 1) Filiform (sharp and cylindrical shape in the cranial and middle part of the tongue), 2) Multifilament (distributed in the cranial third and caudal part), 3) Circumvallate (positioned caudally in the cranial and rear regions of the tongue), 4) Conical (identified in the proximal to the circumvallate), and 5) Fungiform (located in the middle and caudal portions of the tongue). The present study highlights different shapes and distributions of all types of lingual papillae in the Iraqi grey mongoose.

في المنتصف الثاني من القرن التاسع عشر الميلادي، أدّت عوامل حديثة إلي حُدوث تغيير في رؤي المتنوّرين وأفكارهم في إيران؛ يُضاف إلي ذلك الآراء السياسيّة الغربيّة التي أدّت إلي حركات وطنيّة وبالتالي أَنتجت الشعر الوطني في هذا العصر. وأُولي التغيّرات التي شهدَها الشعر في هذا العصر كان في حقل الفكرة حيثُ إنّ التطرّقَ إلي المسائل الاجتماعيّة ومَطالب الشعب والتحرّر من الظلم والتعسّف أخذ حيّزًا كبيرًا من اهتمام الشعراء. والسيّد أحمد الرضَوي الملقّب بالأديب البيشاوَري تطرّقَ أكثر من غيره من الشعراء إلي الشعر السياسي، ويمكن عَدُّه رائدَ الشعر السياسي الفارسي والعربي في إيران المعاصرة. مِن هذا المنطلق، وعبرَ دراستنا لأهمّ الأغراض والموضوعات التي تطرّقَ إليها الأديب البيشاوَري في أشعاره العربيّة، وبيان مَوقفه بالنسبة إلي الحوادث التي وقعت أيّام الثورة الدستوريّة، تتّضح لنا الظروفُ السياسيّة والاجتماعيّة المسيطرة علي إيران في ذلك العصر وكيفيّةُ ظهور غرض شعري عربيّ جديد في إيران أي الشعر السياسي. فبالتالي، يسعي البحث عن طريق المنهج التأريخي ودراسة المصادر المختلفة، الوُصولَ إلي النتائج المطلوبي، وأهمّها: يري الأديب البيشاوَري أنّ مُبتغي الثورة الدستوريّة هو تحقيق مَصالح بريطانيا ويَعُدّ دعمَها ذنبًا كبيرًا. فهو يَدعو أنصار هذه الثورة وحتّي الآخوند الخراساني الذي كان من زُعمائها الدينيّين، كفّارًا وزَنادقة. ويَعتبر الآخوند الخراساني المسؤولَ عن المُجون والتغيّر الناشئ في زَيّ النساء بعد الثورة الدستوريّة.

Rural vernacular building is a traditional dwelling house with the characteristics of the time and regions, which is now greatly impacted by urbanization and modernization. This research takes the rural vernacular building of Yayou Gou Village as the study case and uses document analysis, observation, and interview method to investigate the character and conservation strategies of rural building. The paper suggests that the building site characters are greatly influenced by topography and living conditions, followed by village traffic. The architectural forms represent the rural style of southern Shandong province with the unique roof shale covered. The layout of the building helps to maintain kinship and improve the local microclimate. Under the background of rural tourism development, effective protection methods for traditional buildings include function revitalization, museum transformation, homestay transformation, and local residents’ living are identified. Through the analysis of rural characteristics and conservation methods exploration, it is beneficial to further research on the character of rural architectural elements, promote the utilization and protection of rural building landscape, and provide enlightenment for rural development.

The demand for a precise evaluation of shear wave velocity Vs, is gaining interest in the field of geotechnical engineering due to its importance as a key parameter required to properly evaluate typical characteristics of soils. Nowadays, Vs measurements are performed on the field using different methods, such as SCPT tests and various geophysical methods. However, the effectiveness of these field measurements is not guaranteed and rather depends on how they are analyzed. Furthermore, a proper analysis is critical since the collected data may be used in liquefaction evaluation or earthquake ground response analyses. In these situations, it is recommended to verify the coherence between the obtained geophysical (Vs) and geotechnical (N-SPT, qc-CPT) measurements using alternative methods (e.g., Vs-correlations, H/V method, etc...). In some situations, the correlation between the different measurements makes it easier to unambiguously define seismic wave profiles. In other cases, geophysical and geotechnical tests would provide different resolutions for Vs measurements, an issue that complicates the decision of the practitioner. In this paper, we first demonstrate the importance of the shear-wave velocity in liquefaction potential analysis. A case study performed in eastern Canada is also presented where we show the importance of the method used to calculate Vs profiles (MASW, MMASW).

This paper concerns the subject geodetic networks data in Iraq and the need to put them in specialized spatial databases that can be updated and developed, which makes it much easier for those concerned such as scientific researchers ad surveying engineers to access these data and use them in scientific applications and Engineering projects. The practical aspect of this study was divided into three stages, the first stage was limited to the collection of official data related to the main projects of geodetic networks in Iraq, beginning with the first English network 1934, the second English network 1967, the Polish network 1979, the gravitational networks 1963-1984, and ending with the CORS-HARN networks that have been based in their observations and calculations upon the GPS. The second stage consists of sorting the data obtained from the first stage, and then entering the selected data into spatial databases. The third stage includes the reconnaissance, ground survey and verification of data obtained from the second stage. Furthermore, it also showed that all the English networks, the first 1934 and the second 1967, as well as the points of gravity were almost completely extinct and it became difficult to identify any traces of any of its points within this region.

Context: Security issues have increased recently because of the increased use of networking. The researchers have proposed many models, approaches, and models, for example, attack graphs. The attack graph model is a valuable tool for vulnerability analysis as well as for displaying all network paths. In general, attack graphs can be utilized for a variety of purposes, including the calculation of security metrics. Nonetheless, in order to sufficiently safeguard networks, a technique for gauging the security degree provided by these activities is required, as “you cannot improve what you cannot measure.” The security level of a system or network is typically represented by network security metrics in qualitative and quantitative ways. The network security metrics are typically employed to evaluate a system's security level and meet security objectives. Aim: This study aims to present a review of attack graph-based security metrics and analyse the previous work. Provides the limitations and issues the researchers faced to improve this important research area. Methodology: The attack graph security metrics field was thoroughly investigated in all research, and four databases—ScienceDirect, Web of Science (WoS), Scopus, and IEEE—were used to collect data between 2001 and 2022. Results: 46 papers were founded on attack graph security metrics with different methods and techniques based on the exclusion and inclusion criteria. The results of the taxonomy created three significant categories: proposed, implemented, reviewed, and surveyed. We believe this study will aid in highlighting research ability, which will subsequently broaden and establish new research topics.

Globally, the amount of solid waste is constantly increasing, and its disposal is one of the critical issues in recent research studies. Concrete waste includes the rubble of demolished buildings, whether old buildings or those that have been subjected to earthquakes, etc. This research project aims to improve sustainability in the construction industry by recycling and reusing coarse aggregate that was previously used in concrete buildings. The objective is to utilize this recycled material to produce self-compacting concrete (SCC) and assess its performance in its fresh state. By finding new ways to repurpose materials that would otherwise go to waste, this research contributes to developing environmentally friendly practices and reducing the industry's carbon footprint. Furthermore, evaluating the performance of the recycled coarse aggregate in SCC will provide insights into its potential for future use in construction projects, which could ultimately lead to cost savings and improved efficiency in the industry. Recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) was used as a substitute for the natural coarse aggregate (NCA) with volume ratios of 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%, and steel fibers (SF) were added to the concrete with different volumes ratios (0, 0.5, and 1 %). Workability tests such as slump flow, V-funnel, and L-box tests were carried out for the mixtures in their fresh state. In general, the results of the experimental work showed that the fresh properties indicated that almost all SCC mixtures were within the specified range, as stated in EFNARC requirements.

The accumulation of waste materials in landfills without treatment threatens public health and the environment. The quantity of solid waste continually increases, causing environmental pollution. One of these wastes that should receive scientific treatment is concrete waste. The use of concrete waste as fine or coarse aggregate in self-compacting concrete (SCC) is one of the useful solutions to this problem. This study aims to reuse concrete waste as coarse aggregate in the production of SCC and find out the influence of different steel fiber contents on the strength of SCC. The steel fibers (SF) were used to reinforce SCC in three different volumes (0, 0.5, and 1 % of concrete volume), and the recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) was used to replace natural coarse aggregate (NCA) in five replacement levels of 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%. The compressive and tensile strengths of the SCC specimens in the hardened state were determined. The results of the experimental study refer to the steel fiber having a positive effect on the enhancement of mechanical properties, particularly the tensile strength of SCC. The addition of 50% recycled aggregates in the concrete mix contributed to increasing the compressive strength by about 20%. Therefore, it can be said that the dual use of recycled aggregates with steel fibers produced concrete with high specifications compared to ordinary concrete. Another positive effect lies in the disposal of concrete waste, which contributes to an economic return in addition to reducing the effect on the environment.

Nowadays the usage of gasoline as an energy resource is one of the most important subjects in the engineering field. A car is one type of energy consumer. Energy is used to build the cars and to running it. The fuel prices are fluctuate, so it seems sensible to explore every avenue towards saving energy in cars making. and study the factors that affect its consumption. The aim of the present work is to explain theoretically the calculation of fuel saving and cost in a car passengers in a greater detail than it has been done before and to describe statistically the affecting factors upon it. A statistical analysis has been used to study the influence of the weight and acceleration of the car upon the fuel consumption. It was shown that the fuel consumption increases linearly with the increase of a car weight and accordingly, the cost per unit travel of the car will increase.

The construction industry in Iraq became much more difficult than before because of complexities in the diagrams and documentations in the construction projects. Building information modeling (BIM) started to appear with entry the foreign companies to build the large projects in Iraq. It is a bode well technique for the construction industry, it has many benefits in all project phases from planning and scheduling to operation and demolition phase. This paper concentrated on the implementation of BIM technology and identify the benefits desired and challenges that reduce adoption this technique in the Iraqi construction industry. A qualitative approach has been used to collect data from two experts in the construction field in Iraq to show the factors affected on using BIM in the Iraqi construction firms. The results indicate to a rare implementation of BIM technology among construction professionals in Iraq. The study recommended encouraging the investment in the Iraqi construction markets to share the knowledge and experiences related to BIM technology between the construction professionals.