Development of roundabout delay models using traffic simulation programs: a case study at Al-Mansour City, Iraq

Due to the increased number of vehicles, shopping centers and rapid growth population of Al-Mansour city, daily trips have been increasing besides generating traffic congestion in major roundabouts in the city. Those will make developing an imperial delay model in roundabouts important due to the traffic and geometric influences. Therefore, two major roundabouts have been selected in the city to be taken as a case study. Geometric features for the selected roundabouts have been measured accurately by satellite images via ArcGIS. Traffic and geometric data analysis indicate that both are significantly important on delay models. The delay time produced by SIDRA and SYNCHRO has been compared with the delay time measured from the field. A significant difference in delay for roundabouts is noticed. This difference could be attributed to the difference in driver behaviour. Ideal saturation flow is the main factor related to driver behaviour, so it adjusted to be the average of the saturation flow measured from the field (2200 vphgpl)

Mineralogical and Geochemical Studies of Tills in South-Western Scotland

Till deposits of the NW Glasgow area and Northern Ayrshire were studied. In Part I, previous research into Quaternary problems in these areas and the nature, origin and classification of till deposits are outlined, followed by a statement of the aims of the project and the techniques used. Part II contains detailed data obtained from grain-size, clay mineralogical and major and trace element analyses of the matrices of three categories of NW Glasgow tills - Red, Weathered Grey and Grey. The Red and Weathered Grey tills have coarser-grained compositions than the Grey till. Mean size and skewness are the most diagnostic grain-size parameters for distinguishing between Red and Weathered Grey till on the one hand and Grey till on the other. All three categories contain kaolinite, illite and vermiculite. Chlorite is present only in the Grey till. The percentage of kaolinite is much lower and the percentage of vermiculite is higher in the Red till than in the Weathered Grey till. Three probable modes of origin of the clay minerals in the tills are proposed: direct inheritance, pre-glacial weathering and pedogenesis since till deposition. All three categories of till have a high SiO2 content, which is consistent with the tills having sources in the local sandstone bedrocks. With the exception of Zr, all the trace elements are preferentially concentrated in the silt and clay fractions. Zr appears to occur both in clay minerals and in the sand fraction as detrital zircon. Sr is concentrated in the calcium minerals and Ba in the K-feldspars. Study of vertical profiles shows that leaching of fine-grained material and weathering of clay minerals are common. Weathering in the Red till is difficult to detect. However, the amount of vermiculite increases upwards in the profile at the expense of illite. In the case of profiles through both Grey, and Weathered Grey till, chlorite disappears, and the amount of vermiculite increases up the profile at the expense of both illite and chlorite. The ratios Ga:Al2O3, MgO:Ni, FeO:Co and Ni:Co can be used to detect weathering trends in both Grey and Red till profiles. Mineralogical and geochemical studies of bedrock in the NW Glasgow area, showing the presence of chlorite in Carboniferous shales and sandstones and its absence in Devonian (O.R.S.) sandstones, indicate that the Grey till was derived largely from Carboniferous shales and sandstones, and the Red till largely from Devonian sandstones. Part III contains detailed data obtained by similar methods applied to the matrices of tills and associated Quaternary deposits in Northern Ayrshire. Marked similarities in the properties of samples of shelly till from five locations suggest similar sources for the shelly till at these locations. The shelly till has a high SiO2 and a low clay content, suggesting that the proportion of shell-bearing marine clay in the shelly till is not nearly as great as previously thought. The high SiO2 content in both the shelly and non-shelly tills of Northern Ayrshire reflects quartz-rich source rocks for these tills. The matrices of the non-shelly tills have higher CaO and CO2 contents than the matrix of the shelly till. This may be due to the presence of finely ground limestone in the non-shelly till matrices. Comparison of the properties of shell-bearing marine clays at Afton Lodge with those of the shelly till of N Ayrshire as a whole and with a shell-bearing deposit at Greenock Mains shows clearly that the last-mentioned is not a shelly till as formerly thought but is a marine sediment similar in composition to the deposit at Afton Lodge. The matrices of Upper and Lower grey tills at Sourlie are similar in composition, indicating similar sources, probably mainly local Carboniferous shales and sandstones. Finally, the thesis applies the results obtained to Quaternary stratigraphy. The properties of the matrices of red and grey facies of the proposed 'Wilderness Till' Formation of the Glasgow area can now be defined. The presence of Weathered Grey till overlain by Red till in the NW Glasgow area suggests at least a short period of exposure of Grey till before deposition of Red till on top of it. In Ayrshire, the discovery of shell-bearing marine deposits (at Greenock Mains) at c. 180m above present sea level and c. 30km inland from the present coast means that recent views regarding the maximum elevation and extent of Quaternary marine incursion in Ayrshire may have to be modified. The presence of these sediments also implies that the shelly till may have been derived from pockets of shell-bearing deposits picked up locally within inland Ayrshire rather than from the Firth, of Clyde. The presence of shelly till at any given location, therefore, may not be indicative of any particular direction of ice movement, as formerly thought

Application of Sobolev inequalities for higher order fractional derivatives

in this paper we study the general uncertainty principal , we obtain the best constant as application of Sobolev inequalities for higher order fractional derivatives

2018 National Soil Science Conference

There is an increasing need to use marginal quality water, including industrial treated wastewater and saline and sodic water for irrigating land in arid and semi-arid regions globally. The use of marginal quality of water potentially increases soil structural degradation, decreasing permeability (Bennett 2012; Shainberg et al. 1981), whereby excess sodium (measured as the sodium adsorption ratio, SAR) can result in both intra- and inter-crystalline swelling leading to eventual dispersion (Dang et al. 2018a; Ezlit et al. 2013). Furthermore, this effect can be enhanced or reduced depending on electrical conductivity (EC) of the irrigation water (Dang et al. 2018b). The effect of SAR and EC on saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) was classically studied by Quirk and Schofield (1955), with the body of work since identifying that the Ks reduction due marginal quality water depends on soil clay content and mineralogy, soil organic matter, and the electrolyte composition and concentration (Bennett and Raine 2012). However, the effects of marginal water pH and alkalinity on the extent of Ks reduction are less well understood, especially in relation to a soils initial pH and alkalinity. Naturally formed soils usually have a pH ranging from 4 to 10 (Szabolcs 1989), and the soil pH in a specific soil is basically a function of the soil clay minerals, organic portion, associated ion exchange, and hydrolysis reactions (Sumner et al. 1991). The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of different pH and EC of treatment solutions at SAR 20 and 40 on Ks reduction for Kaolinitic soils with different original pH values, enhancing the current understanding of Australian soils

Variability and inheritance of okra leaf- shape of cotton cv. Sudac-k in different genetic backgrounds

   Okra leaf- shape is an important trait in cotton. Sudac-k is the only cotton variety with okra leaf type in the Sudan. The objectives of the study were to analyze the inheritance of the okra leaf of Sudac-k and its expression in different genetic backgrounds. The experiment was carried out for two seasons (2004/05 and 2005/06) and one off-season in 2006 at Gezira Research Farm of the Agricultural Research Corporation (ARC), Wad Medani, Sudan. The plant material consisted of Sudac-k and nine different varieties; B-pima, Barakat-90, G.S, Maryoud, Shambat-B, Acala-M, Acala-H, Barac (67) B and Albar (57)12. Eighteen reciprocal F1s were produced between Sudac-k and respective cultivars. In the second season, F2 ҆s, backcrosses and F3 plants were (Sudac-k X Albar (57)12). At maturity, individual plants were visually scored according to the leaf-shape into okra and normal leaf shape. Okra leaf morphology, lobe length, width and angle were measured in fully expanded 5- lobed leaf. It was observed that the okra leaf of Sudac-k had deep sinuses and narrow lobes while in F1 ҆ s, the sinuses were shorter and the lobes were broader. The okra leaf started at seedling stage with three lobes at the 3rd to 4th node and reached a maximum of 5 lobes at node 6 to 8 in Sudac-k, F1 plants and their progenies. Chi-square test for the segregation of leaf type in F2 indicated no significant differences among all F1 ҆ s between Sudac-k and the varieties in the distribution of okra and normal which followed the ratio of 1:2:1. This indicates that the okra leaf trait is conditioned by a single partially dominant gene. Significant differences were observed among the F1 hybrids for the expression of leaf lobing depth, lobe width and angle, indicating the effect of the genetic background on the expression of these parameters. The information will be useful in designing strategy for breeding of cotton varieties with suitable size of okra leaf to maximize its utilization in integrated insect pest management

PERCEPTION OF NURSING STUDENTS ABOUT NURSING PROFESSION

Objective: The study aims to describe nursing students’ changing perception of nursing over 4 years of the nursing program. Methods: A quantitative study with a cross-sectional design was used to assess the nursing students’ perception about nursing profession, with a probability sample of 66 students. Respondents were a random sample of 66 students from four educational cohorts studying baccalaureate nursing program in Jazan University. A questionnaire was administered to assess the demographic information and the perception about nursing profession. The questionnaire was completed by the students voluntarily and anonymously. Results: In demographic variables, among 66 students, majority 59 (89%) were more than 20 years of age and only 7 (11%) were between the age of 18 and 20 years. Reason for enrollment of nursing (40–60.6%) consider nursing as a trusted profession and 15 (22.7%) enrolled to work as 20 A nurse educators. Regarding their school education, most of the students (54, 81.8%) are from science background, 6 (79.1%) are from mathematics, and the remaining 6 (9.1%) are from other streams. The willingness of the family members’ category resulted that 58 (87.9%) students have a positive reaction and 7 (10.6%) has a negative reaction to student enrolment in nursing. Deciding factor for the job preference of 52 students (78.8%) is the influence of others. 8 (12.1%) were influenced by the classmates and 5 (7.6) were self-motivated. One student is not having specific reasons. Conclusion: The results indicated that the students had a positive attitude toward nursing at the beginning and also during the study. Many students had an unrealistic perception of nursing; their perception is changed under the influence of educational programs and clinical experience. It is expected that, during their study program, student acquires the necessary competence for independent, safe, and quality nursing care and that they develop a professional identity

Knowledge and Awareness about Aggravating Factors of the Peptic Ulcer Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Peptic ulcer disease is a gastrointestinal disorder due to the imbalance between the defense mechanism and gastric acid secretion. It affects 5-10% of the population worldwide and induces eight million deaths every year globally. In Sudan, this disease represents one of the major health problems. Limited studies have shown the knowledge level of Sudanese about aggravating factors of Peptic ulcer disease, which lead to more prevalent complications. Therefore, this study aimed to assess awareness about aggravating factors of peptic ulcer disease among the population of Khartoum state, Sudan. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study targeted the general population in Khartoum state during the period from January to June 2022. We used an online survey form to collect data from the study population. The distribution of the questionnaire was done via social media tools. We analyzed the data using SPSS Software version 26. Results: The study included 398 participants, 40.7% of them male and 59.3% female, with mean age equal to 24.9 (SD=8.9), and a range between (18-64). Most of the participants (77.1%) were unmarried and (89.2%) were educated. The type of food was the most known risk factor (79.1%) and the weather changes were the least known risk factor (8.5%) that have effects on peptic ulcers. There also was a significant difference between educated and non-educated people based on the awareness of peptic ulcer risk factors, as the second was higher (p>0.000). Furthermore, people with peptic ulcers and people who have one or more members of their family with peptic ulcers scored more than nonpatients and those who did not have (p>0.000, p= 0.04; respectively). Conclusion: In conclusion, awareness about aggravating factors of peptic ulcers was variable among the population in Khartoum state. Our study findings revealed a high knowledge effect of type of food, helicobacter pylori, analgesic medications, drinking coffee, smoking, and social stress of the majority population. As for other factors, weather changes, genetic factors, and body weight were associated with a poor level of awareness. Lastly, these results need to be affirmed by furthermore research with a large sample among the general population in different regions in Sudan

Implementing formative assessment in Malaysia: Teachers’ viewpoints

The paper aims to study the implementation of one of the dimensions of formative assessment i.e., assessment as learning. It has specifically attempted to investigate the practices of peer- and self-assessment among teachers in schools. Considering the recent growth in implementing formative assessment around the world; both in schools and higher learning institutions, this study aims to shed some light on the practices of it in schools, which can help policymakers adjust their policies in higher learning institutions. This study employed a quantitative method, in which a questionnaire is distributed among teachers in four states in the northern region of Malaysia. This paper offers insights into how teachers attempted to practise peer- and self-assessment in schools in the northern region of Malaysia. As this is a washback study, it not only reports the factors that were discovered, but it also attempts to report the factors mediating the washback. This study can be considered a contribution in terms of shaping the research into assessment as learning at its early stage