Frost Hardiness of Iraqi Wheat genotypes

Frost hardiness level in winter cereals is especially temperature dependent. The low temperature which kills 50% of plants (LT50) is considered to be a standard indicator of frost hardiness level of plant. Frost hardiness is considered the most important parameter for the field survival which is the ultimate measure of winter-hardiness of a cultivar. This study aimed to determine the genetic level of frost hardiness of five Middle Eastern varieties (Abu-Ghraib, Fatah, IPA 95, IPA 99, and Sham 6) in comparison to the European cultivar (Claire). All of the Middle Eastern varieties tested showed very similar LT50’s in the nonacclimated state, whilst when of acclimated they responded in different ways to freezing temperatures. Abu-Ghraib and Claire showed more tolerance than the other cultivars

Broadly tunable L-band multiwavelength BEFL utilizing nonlinear amplified loop mirror filter.

We demonstrate a widely tunable L-band multiwavelength Brillouin-erbium fiber laser utilizing a nonlinear amplified fiber loop mirror filter (AFLMF). By manipulating polarization controllers placed in the fiber loop, the erbium peak gain spectrum is able to be shifted. The nonlinear AFLMF induces wavelength-dependent cavity loss and serves as an amplitude equalizer. In addition, it provides flexibility on controlling the amount of light reflected and transmitted into and out of the laser's cavity. By utilizing 100 mW 1480 nm pump and 1.1 mW Brillouin pump power, an average of 24 stable output channels are generated by the proposed structure that could all be tuned over the whole L-band window from 1570 nm to 1610 nm

Widely tunable linear-cavity multiwavelength fiber laser with distributed Brillouin scattering.

We demonstrate a multiple wavelength Brillouin/erbium fiber laser in a linear cavity configuration. The laser cavity is made up of a fiber loop mirror on one end of the resonator and a virtual mirror generated from the distributed stimulated Brillouin scattering effect on the other end. Due to the weak reflectivity provided by the virtual mirror, self-lasing cavity modes are completely suppressed from the laser cavity. At Brillouin pump and 1480-nm pump powers of 2 and 130 mW, respectively, 11 channels of the demonstrated laser with an average total power of 7.13 dBm can freely be tuned over a span of 37-nm wavelength from 1530 to 1567 nm

A Study of Reconfigurable Multiband Antenna for Wireless Application

In This study an introduction to the reconfigurable antenna technology is presented. After that a discussion about the main advantages and disadvantages of the reconfigurable antennain addition to the most important applications that can be used with the reconfiguring techniques, studyingthe history of this technology with a brief literature survey is explained. A detailed description for this technique with examples and background information are specified, reviewing the different reconfigurable antenna components,which can be used in an antenna to adjust its construction and functionality. These reconfigurable antenna techniques are grouped with a different classification methods to explain whichever established on the physical modification of the reconfigurable antenna radiating component, or on the integration of micro-electro-mechanical structures (RF-MEMS), varactors, PIN diodes, photoconductive components, or on the function of smart materials like ferrites and liquid crystals, etc

Evaluation of efficient vehicular ad hoc networks based on a maximum distance routing algorithm

Traffic management at road intersections is a complex requirement that has been an important topic of research and discussion. Solutions have been primarily focused on using vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs). Key issues in VANETs are high mobility, restriction of road setup, frequent topology variations, failed network links, and timely communication of data, which make the routing of packets to a particular destination problematic. To address these issues, a new dependable routing algorithm is proposed, which utilizes a wireless communication system between vehicles in urban vehicular networks. This routing is position-based, known as the maximum distance on-demand routing algorithm (MDORA). It aims to find an optimal route on a hop-by-hop basis based on the maximum distance toward the destination from the sender and sufficient communication lifetime, which guarantee the completion of the data transmission process. Moreover, communication overhead is minimized by finding the next hop and forwarding the packet directly to it without the need to discover the whole route first. A comparison is performed between MDORA and ad hoc on-demand distance vector (AODV) protocol in terms of throughput, packet delivery ratio, delay, and communication overhead. The outcome of the proposed algorithm is better than that of AODV

Optimization of output coupling ratio on the performance of a ring-cavity Brillouin–erbium fiber laser

The operation of a single-wavelength Brillouin-erbium fiber laser (BEFL) system with a Brillouin pump preamplified technique for different output coupling ratios in a ring cavity is experimentally demonstrated. The characteristics of Brillouin Stokes power and tunability were investigated in this research. The efficiency of the BEFL operation was obtained at an optimum output coupling ratio of 95%. By fixing the Brillouin pump wavelength at 1550 nm while its power was set at 1.6 mW and the 1480 pump power was set to its maximum value of 135 mW, the Brillioun Stokes power was found to be 28.7 mW. The Stokes signal can be tuned within a range of 60 nm from 1520 to 1580 nm without appearances of the self-lasing cavity modes in the laser system

Performing the Egyptian revolution : origins of collective restraint action in the Midan

This research was supported by a Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland grant.In January/February 2011, the world watched with admiration the Egyptian revolution that toppled President Housni Mubarak. The demonstration in Midan al-Tahrir (Liberation Square in central Cairo), which was the nucleus of the revolution, highlighted a largely spontaneous, civil and peaceful political performance. However, this performance was temporary, contradicting subsequent bloody conflicts in post-revolutionary Egypt. This article examines the socio-political origins of the Midan performance. It argues that the demonstrators exercised collective restraint, which was temporary but necessary, in order to topple Mubarak. Building on Norbert Elias’ civilising process theory and social movements literature, it is argued that the origins of this performance are found in a collective knowledge of regime strategy and narrative, Egyptian socio-political values and existing repertoires of contention. Drawing on primary sources and semi-structured interviews, the article contends that the demonstrators exercised collective restraint to reframe regime narrative and draw public support for the revolution.PostprintPeer reviewe

Protect Your Investment by Eliminating Tillage and Keeping Residue

This fall, field observations with significant amounts of intensive tillage and residue removal provide an opportunity to rethink such practices by considering research proven practices such as no-tillage (NT) and strip-tillage (ST), which have demonstrated their effectiveness in many parts of the state and across the Midwest. Many studies from the Midwest and elsewhere have documented the economic benefits of NT and ST for both corn and soybean, where the conventional tillage input cost was greater than that of NT and ST by $15-25/acre in a study covering 14 years of tillage and crop rotations in Iowa

The Concept of Islamic Religious Education in the Story of Hayy ibn Yaqzan by Ibnu Thufail and Its Relevance to Informal Education

This study aims to examine the concept of Islamic religious education in the story of Hayy ibn Yaqzan Ibn Yaqzan by Ibn Tufail and its relevance to the practice of informal education. The method used is qualitative research with a literature study approach. Data were obtained from the primary text and supporting literature, analyzed descriptively. The results show that Hayy ibn Yaqzan acquired knowledge through observation, experimentation, reasoning, intuition, and habituation—all of which reflect the principles of informal education based on fitrah (natural disposition), experience, and spirituality. This story is relevant as an inspiration for developing a contextual, independent, and life-integrated approach to Islamic religious education

Performance of a local signalized intersection for handling traffic operation in Baghdad City

The inspection of the flexibility and performance of a local signalized intersection in managing traffic op-eration in Baghdad city is the main target of this study. Andalus intersection is one of the important local intersections in Bagdad city which recorded remarkable traffic congestion problem now a days and have been chosen in this study as a part of continuous studies due to its vital location. Smart Traffic Analysis (STA) software is used to give an aspect to the inefficient performance of the Andalus signalized intersec-tion having three approached links and four exit legs while SYNCHRO software is used to simulate the data analysis and offer different alternative solutions to solve the congestion problem. From the obtained data analysis it has been found that the best suggested alteration for handling the current traffic volume of each studied intersection approach is the signalized intersection with optimum cycle time combined with the ad-dition of two lanes, where the mean delay for the entire intersection can be reduced by approximately 26% by applying alteration No.1 while the mean delay for the entire intersection can be reduce approximately by 31% by applying alteration No.2. Furthermore, the queue length for the entire intersection can be reducing by approximately 6% and 17% for alteration No.1 and No.2 respectively