Characteristics of the amphibolite rocks of Penjween area, Kurdistan Region, northeast Iraq: Genetic implication and association with Penjween Ophiolite Complexes

Amphibolite rocks are found in Penjween ophiolite complexes within the Iraqi Zagros Thrust Zone, northeast Iraq. They appear in a discontinuous outcrops as pods and lenses in a sharp contact with peridotite and serpentinite rocks. Amphibole and plagioclase are the main mineral constituents with minor amount of clinpyroxene and quartz, Fe-Ti-oxides, titanite, apatite, zircon as accessory phases. Two mineral assemblages are recognized in these amphibolites;(1) amphibole+ plagioclase+ clinopyroxene+ iron oxides +titanite ± quartz± apatite± zircon;(2) amphibole+ plagioclase +iron oxide+ titanite± quartz± apatite± zircon, with chlorite, epidote and actinolite as secondary mineral phases. These amphibolites show different textures as granoblastic, granonematobalstic, porphyroblastic, and poikiloblastic. The amphiboles are calcic (Ca>1 apuf) and are of two types; Mg- hornblende and tschermakite. They are characterized by: SiO2 (38.83-47.48%), Al2O3 (7.97-16.02%), TiO2 (0.28-3.04%), MgO (12.03-16.38%), Cao (11.01-12.46%), FeO (8.55-13.4%) and Mg*(0.62-0.76). Plagioclase composition ranges between oligoclase (An23.4-Ab75.9) and albite (An1.7-Ab97.9). Geothermobarometry based on TiO2-Al2O3 isopleths of calcic amphibole show that both Mg-hornblende and tschermakite  have P range (1.5-2.5 GPa) and T range (550-700°C) for Mg-hornblende and (700-900°C) for tschermakite, which are within amphibolite facies grade. Geochemical characteristics of these amphibolites indicate their igneous origin of tholeiitic basalt affinity with sub-alkaline basalt and andesite protoliths that are formed by fractionation of clinopyroxene, plagioclase and Fe-Ti- oxides. Primitive mantle- normalized trace elements diagram show similarity with subduction zone setting with striking variable enrichment of LILE, depletion of HFSE and HREE, and negative Nb-Ta anomalies. Chondrite normalized-REE diagram show LREE enrichment (La/Sm)N= 3.295, (La/Yb)N= 3.919 indicating the existence of garnet as residual phase in the source mantle. Tectonic discrimination diagrams based on immobile elements suggest island arc tholeiite, specifically back-arc basin basalt setting with 5-25% partial melting. The negative Nb-Ta anomalies, high Th and Ba/Yb, and La/Nb< 5, all confirm the back-arc basin setting or supra-subduction zone environment. This is consistent with the proposed idea that these amphibolites are genetically related to Penjween ophiolite and represent oceanic crustal rocks and sea-floor sediments that were detached and emplaced by mantle rocks of the ophiolite onto the Arabian Plate margin during Late Cretaceous. The processes of detachment and emplacement cause metamorphism of the oceanic crustal rocks reaching amphibolite facies grade. Key words: Amphibolite, Penjween ophiolite, SS

Preparing Students to Solve Challenges Related to a Changing Climate

The National Academy of Engineering has identified restoring and improving urban infrastructure as one of the grand challenges for engineering. Urban coastal communities are particularly at risk as their infrastructure is experiencing frequent inundation related to climate change impacts. Rising sea levels in coastal communities create backflow into stormwater systems and deplete capacity. In addition, the increase in rainfall intensity, duration, and frequency related to climate change create additional challenges for aging infrastructure systems. To prepare students to solve these challenges, the Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) and Civil Engineering Technology (CET) programs at Old Dominion University (ODU) are introducing a new minor titled Engineering Solutions for Climate Adaptation and Resilience. This minor ensures that graduates understand how climate is changing, how it will impact society, and what solutions can be adopted to mitigate the impacts of climate change. The minor will incorporate two new classes, Managing the Climate Crisis, which will provide an understanding of climate science, the impacts, the associated hazards, and what solutions can be adopted to mitigate the impacts of climate change, and Adaptation to Sea Level Rise, which will explore solutions at the community and individual property scale to mitigate stormwater impacts related to climate change. The approach balances theory with practical engineering and technology solutions which can be adopted to mitigate the impacts of climate change related to stormwater in coastal communities. The minor is supported by existing courses in both curriculums related to sustainability, pollution prevention and green engineering, hydrology and hydraulics, and coastal engineering. This paper describes the need for the minor, the minor requirements, the methodology for establishing what coursework the minor requires, and the minor\u27s availability to students. Furthermore, the learning objectives and course outlines for the two proposed courses that will be developed to support the minor will be thoroughly discussed. The new minor is part of a broader research, engagement, and education initiative at ODU to support adaptation and resilience for coastal communities

Sustainable Construction Risk Perceptions in the Kuwaiti Construction Industry

Sustainable construction is fundamentally different than traditional construction because it requires whole systems thinking, early collaboration across stakeholders, and core principles like reducing resource consumption, eliminating toxins, and applying life cycle costing. Construction professionals unfamiliar with this mindset and approach may perceive sustainable construction as risky. One of the global regions in need of more sustainable construction is the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) region. The MENA region is one of the fastest developing in the world. However, it is the slowest one in implementing sustainable construction practices. Kuwait, in particular, contributes 53% more carbon emissions per capita than the United States. To understand how the Kuwaiti construction industry perceives risks associated with more sustainable construction, a survey was developed with 52 risk elements in which 131 industry professionals responded. The results indicate that industry professionals perceive a lack of public awareness as the risk element with the highest probability of occurrence. The risk element with the highest possible negative impact on future projects is designers’ and contractors’ inexperience with sustainable construction. Other risks were found to include a high initial cost for materials and overall project costs. Educational interventions, changes in risk allocation, and behavioral science to reframe upfront costs as long-term savings are offered as possible solutions

Removing certainty from the equation: Using choice architecture to increase awareness of risk in engineering design decision making

The mediated model of determinants for risky decision making theorizes that decision making is influenced by a decision makers risk propensity and risk perception. Risk propensity is an individual's tendency to take or avoid risks. Where as risk perception is the decision makers’ assessment of how risky a situation is in terms of probabilistic estimates. Risk perception is also influenced by risk representation, which is the way risk is presented to the decision-maker. Modifications were made to the choice architecture of a trade-off matrix to test whether representing risks as embedded characteristics of design options influences engineering choice. Senior civil engineering students (n=98) were asked to consider trade-off matrices for two design options using criteria provided in a decision scenario. Half of the participants randomly received the control version of the trade-off matrix where risk was shown as an additional sixth criteria. The other half of participants received the modified tradeoff matrix where risk shown as a confidence interval. Illustrating risk as a separate criteria appears to significantly (p=0.04) influence users decision making leading participants to discount risk. Nearly 70% chose the more risky option. Yet, when risk was shown as a confidence interval participants were evenly split between the high and low risky option. The risk representation seems to meditate or counter balance those with a high propensity for risk. When controlling for risk propensity the results are even more significant (p=0.02). Meaning, those with high risk propensity more frequently choose the risky choice given the control version (as expected) but that did not hold true for the modified version, when shown as a confidence interval. Understanding how decisions are influenced by risk representation can lead to designing choice architecture that helps engineers and contractors make decisions that are in their own, or their clients’ best interests

Global attitudes in the management of acute appendicitis during COVID-19 pandemic: ACIE Appy Study

Background: Surgical strategies are being adapted to face the COVID-19 pandemic. Recommendations on the management of acute appendicitis have been based on expert opinion, but very little evidence is available. This study addressed that dearth with a snapshot of worldwide approaches to appendicitis. Methods: The Association of Italian Surgeons in Europe designed an online survey to assess the current attitude of surgeons globally regarding the management of patients with acute appendicitis during the pandemic. Questions were divided into baseline information, hospital organization and screening, personal protective equipment, management and surgical approach, and patient presentation before versus during the pandemic. Results: Of 744 answers, 709 (from 66 countries) were complete and were included in the analysis. Most hospitals were treating both patients with and those without COVID. There was variation in screening indications and modality used, with chest X-ray plus molecular testing (PCR) being the commonest (19\ub78 per cent). Conservative management of complicated and uncomplicated appendicitis was used by 6\ub76 and 2\ub74 per cent respectively before, but 23\ub77 and 5\ub73 per cent, during the pandemic (both P < 0\ub7001). One-third changed their approach from laparoscopic to open surgery owing to the popular (but evidence-lacking) advice from expert groups during the initial phase of the pandemic. No agreement on how to filter surgical smoke plume during laparoscopy was identified. There was an overall reduction in the number of patients admitted with appendicitis and one-third felt that patients who did present had more severe appendicitis than they usually observe. Conclusion: Conservative management of mild appendicitis has been possible during the pandemic. The fact that some surgeons switched to open appendicectomy may reflect the poor guidelines that emanated in the early phase of SARS-CoV-2