The Moisture damage is considered as one of the main challenge for the experts in the field of asphalt pavement design. The aims of the present study is to modify moisture resistance of the asphalt concrete by utilizing ceramic fibers as a type of reinforcement incorporated with hydrated lime. For this purpose, a penetration grade of the asphalt cement (40-50) was utilized as a binder with an aggregate of the maximum nominal size of 12.5mm and mineral filler limestone dust. A series of specimens has been fabricated by utilizing 0.50, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 percentages of ceramic fibers. For each of these contents, another subsequent group of specimens with hydrated lime with 0.0, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 percentages were moulded. For the addition of ceramic fiber and hydrated lime to the mixtures the dry method for ceramic fiber was adopted while for the hydrated lime, the saturated surface dry method was adopted. The results of this study have shown that the addition of 1% ceramic fiber with 1.5% hydrated lime recorded the highest levels of growth. Furthermore, the outputs of the tests used in this study have shown that the use of ceramic fibers resulted in a growth in the value of tensile strength ratio (TSR) and in the index of retained strength (IRS) compared with the control mixture. Maximum values for TSR were achieved at 1% ceramic fibers with 1.5 % hydrated lime.
Metabolic dysregulation and obesity are associated with many metabolic alterations, including impairment of insulin sensitivity and dyslipidemia. Recent studies highlight the key role of phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-triphosphate-dependent Rac exchange proteins (PREX proteins) in the pathogenesis of obesity, advocating further elucidation of their potential therapeutic implications. The present study aimed to estimate the serum level of PREX proteins and its potential association with insulin resistance markers and plasma lipids level in obese and overweight non-diabetic patients. The study included 30 persons classified as obese, 30 as overweight, and 30 healthy individuals of similar age and gender. The levels of PREX1 and PREX2 were
... Show MoreEndothelin-I (ET-I) is one of the potent vasoconstrictors secreted from endothelial cells when needed. Many studies revealed the elevation of serum ET-I with human diabetes and microangiopathies. Since insulin resistance is a case of mixed diabetic and pre-diabetic cases, many risk factors beyond obesity and inflammation are proposed. The current study aims to demonstrate the association between serum ET-I and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Sera of 73 subjects were enrolled currently (control= 35 subjects, and 38 with T2DM for more than 7 years), aged (40-60) years old, with distinct body mass index (BMI) ≤ 25 for control volunteers and (BMI) ≥ 25 for obesity and diabetes
... Show MoreOut of 150 clinical samples, 50 isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae were identified according to morphological and biochemical properties. These isolates were collected from different clinical samples, including 15 (30%) urine, 12 (24%) blood, 9 (18%) sputum, 9 (18%) wound, and 5 (10%) burn. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) assay revealed that 25 (50%) of isolates were resistant to gentamicin (≥16µg/ml), 22 (44%) of isolates were resistant to amikacin (≥64 µg/ml), 21 (42%) of isolates were resistant to ertapenem (≥8 µg/ml), 18 (36%) of isolates were resistant to imipenem (4- ≥16µg/ml), 43 (86%) of isolates were resistant to ceftriaxone (4- ≥64 µg/ml), 42 (84%) of isolates were resistant to ceftazidime (1
... Show MoreUropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) is problematic and still the leading cause of urinary tract infections worldwide. It is developed resistance against most antibiotics. The investigation, surveillance system, and efficient strategy will facilitate selecting an appropriate treatment that could control the bacterial distribution. The present study aims to investigate the epidemiology and associated risk factors of uropathogenic E. coli and to study their antibiotic resistance patterns. 1585 midstream urine specimens were collected from symptomatic urinary tract infections (UTI) patients (225 males and 1360 females) admitted to Zakho emergency hospital, Zakho, Kurdistan Region, Iraq from January 2016 until the end of December 2
... Show MoreGenome sequencing has significantly improved the understanding of HIV and AIDS through accurate data on viral transmission, evolution and anti-therapeutic processes. Deep learning algorithms, like the Fined-Tuned Gradient Descent Fused Multi-Kernal Convolutional Neural Network (FGD-MCNN), can predict strain behaviour and evaluate complex patterns. Using genotypic-phenotypic data obtained from the Stanford University HIV Drug Resistance Database, the FGD-MCNN created three files covering various antiretroviral medications for HIV predictions and drug resistance. These files include PIs, NRTIs and NNRTIs. FGD-MCNNs classify genetic sequences as vulnerable or resistant to antiretroviral drugs by analyzing chromosomal information and id
... Show MoreThe objective of this investigation was to study the effects of amixture of three arbuscular mycorrhizal species : Glomus etunicatum , G. leptotichum and Rhizophagus intraradices on the induced resistance of Lycopersicon esculentum roots infected with Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.lycopersici which is causal agent of wilt in the presence of organic matter peatmose (O). The work was achieved in aplastic house ( Shed) using pot culture planted for 10 weeks. Results indicated significant increase of all mycorrhizal colonization parameters ( F% , M% , m% , a% , A% ) . Highest percentage of mycorrhization was detected in roots infected with the pathogen 4 weeks after mycorrhizal colonization . On the other hand least colonization was shown in the dual
... Show MoreImage of landsate-7 taken by thematic mapper was used and classified using supervised method. Results of supervised classification indicated presence of nine land cover classes. Salt-soils class shows the highest reflectance value while water bodies' class shows the lowest values. Also the results indicated that soil properties show different effects on reflectance. There was a high significant positive relation of carbonate, gypsum, electric conductivity and silt content, while there was a week positive relation with sand and negative relation with organic matter, water content, bulk density and cataion exchange capacity.
Image of landsate-7 taken by thematic mapper was used and classified using supervised method. Results of supervised classification indicated presence of nine land cover classes. Salt-soils class shows the highest reflectance value while water bodies' class shows the lowest values. Also the results indicated that soil properties show different effects on reflectance. There was a high significant positive relation of carbonate, gypsum, electric conductivity and silt content, while there was a week positive relation with sand and negative relation with organic matter, water content, bulk density and cataion exchange capacity.
Nanomaterials, including nanoparticles such as iron oxide nanoparticles, have received great attention from researchers due to their unique properties and applications. There are several diverse methods, including chemical, physical, and green biological methods, to prepare iron oxide nanoparticles. The green method was chosen because it is safer, purer, and less toxic compared to other methods. Therefore, the green method is a promising and environmentally friendly method in the near future. The aqueous extract of Iraqi orange leaves was used to prepare nano iron oxide, it was examined structurally and spectrally by several techniques (X-ray diffraction- XRD, Fourier transform infrared - FT-IR, field emission scanning electron micr
... Show More