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Nonstructural partition walls are usually specified based on the best practice without any structural design calculations. However, given the likely severe earthquake damage to nonstructural components and the substantial cost of repair to such components, it is imperative that we develop an understanding of the seismic response of the nonstructural partition walls when subjected to earthquake loading conditions. The main objective of this investigation is to experimentally evaluate the effectiveness of utilizing low cost damping protection system in improving the seismic performance of the steel stud partition walls. Nine full scale wall specimens of 4.0 ft wide and 8.0 ft high were divided into three groups of different damping systems. Three specimens were constructed with Single Damping System (SDS), three specimens with Double Damping System (DDS) and three wall specimens with No-Damping System (NDS) in order to have a basis for comparison. Wall specimens were subjected to in-plane cyclic loadings for drifts ranging from 0.25" to 2.75" (0.3 to 3% drifts of wall height). Seismic evaluation included both ductility capacity and energy dissipation. Test results revealed that, although, damping does not influence wall capacity, it improves ductility and delays damages to later drifts. Incorporating damping system increased wind load capacity and seismic load capacity by 50 and 700% respectively. Also, ductility factors and cumulated dissipated energy increased by 40 and 112% respectively for SDS and 83 and 137% for DDS. The research study concluded that the low cost protection damping system significantly improved the seismic performance of the partition wall systems.

The research aimed to the level of agricultural extensionist commitment to implementing the awareness-raising extension program supporting wheat cultivation in Iraq, identifying the factors affecting the level of their commitment, and identifying the most important obstacles facing agricultural extensionist in implementing this program. Data were collected during October (2021) until January (2022), by means of a questionnaire and a personal interview for a random sample of agricultural extensionist at the headquarters of the Agricultural Extension and Training Department in the governorate of Baghdad and Salah al-Din. There are (335) respondents, the data were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, Pearson's simple correlation coefficient, regression analysis, arithmetic mean, standard deviation, and weighted average in the presentation and analysis of the data, and the most important results were as follows: (52.8%) of the respondents signed In the medium commitment category, the variables of the workplace, the length of service in the extension work, and the total degree of participation in training and practical activities explain about (41.2%) of the students. Where is the outcome in the dependent variable? The results also showed that the handicapped (inadequate financial allocations) ranked first from the respondents' point of view with a weighted average of (69.9) degrees, and based on these results, the study recommends preparing training programs for agricultural extension workers in the field of implementing various extension programs.

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