Background: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a common health problem that has a worldwide distribution. Apart from the direct effect of the virus on the liver, there are many extrahepatic manifestations among which the probable effect on bone turnover associated with low bone mineral density (BMD). Objectives: This study aimed to determine the association between treated and untreated chronic HBV infection with BMD. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study which included a total of 48 patients with chronic HBV (28 patients treated with tenofovir-disoproxil-fumarate [TDF] antiviral drug and 20 patients have not yet started treatment). Other age- and sex-matched 30 apparently healthy individuals were recruited to represent the healthy controls. BMD was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry on the anteroposterior lumbar spine (L1–L4 spine) views, from which T-score was calculated. Liver function tests were also evaluated from serum samples. Results: Treated patients showed a lower T‑score (−0.48 ± 0.72) than either healthy individuals (1.08 ± 0.84) or untreated patients (0.78 ± 0.51), with highly significant differences. In multivariate regression, only disease duration (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 9.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.8–16.68) and TDF treatment (adjusted OR = 6.4, 95% CI = 4.18–97.05) were significantly associated with BMD. Conclusions: Prolonged use of TDF in the treatment of HBV infection can significantly reduce BMD. Moreover, BMD can also be inversely affected in long-standing HBV, regardless of treatment regimen.
Recently, environmental noise has arisen from various sources, such as those from exhaust mufflers of combustion engines found in cars, trucks, or power generators, which produce significant noise during their operation. Controlling the radiated noise from these mufflers is a major factor in improving acoustic comfort and minimizing the impact on the surrounding communities. Numerous research has been presented for this reason by modification of the internal structure of the exhaust muffler. The main objective of this work is to reduce the noise level emitted from exhaust mufflers. This can be achieved by adjusting structure parameters to attenuate the surrounding environment's radiated noise. Analysis of pressure-wave propagation h
... Show MoreThe purpose of this research is to highlight the relationship between the administrative investigation and the improvement of institutional performance, and the research sought to achieve a set of cognitive and applied goals. the administrative investigation is the modern trend of managing the offices of the general hginspectors and the main source to build the necessary standards to manage and invest its resources efficiently and effectively required to achieve the goals it seeks. The institutional performance is the cornerstone for the implementation of all tasks and duties carried out by institutions operating within the borders of a particular country, The significant change
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The aim of the research is to demonstrate the impact of the salary localization service in enhancing banking competitive advantage. In order to achieve this goal, salary localization was chosen as an independent variable and its impact was studied on the dependent variable, which is the competitive advantage. The research problem lies in the fluctuation of the salary localization service from one bank to another and the impact of this on the competitive advantage. The study sample included five private Iraqi banks, namely (the National Bank of Iraq, the International Development Bank, Assyria International Bank, Al Khaleej Commercial Ban
... Show MoreEvaluation was carried out on the existing furrow irrigation system located in an open agricultural field within Hor Rajabh Township, south of Baghdad, Iraq (latitude: 33°09’ N, longitude: 44°24’ E). Two plots were chosen for comparison: treatment plot T1, which used subsurface water retention technology (SWRT) with a furrow irrigation system. While the treatment plot T2 was done by using a furrow irrigation procedure without SWRT. A comparison between the two treatment plots was carried out to study the efficiency of the applied water on crop yield. In terms of agricultural productivity and water use efficiency, plot T1 outperformed plot T2, according to the study’s final fin
Waveform transport of Pseudo plastic fluid in complaint symmetric channel with culvature properties has designed. The efforts of magnetic force, which has applied by radiate direction in the analysis, is considered by using the influence of Hartmann number. Walls properties with slip conditions on velocity distribution as well as stream function are used. The analysis of" heat and mass transfer" has taken into account. More popularized factual constraints known by the convective conditions are applied. The partial differential equations of motion, temperature and concentration is reduced under the simulation of low quantity of wave number and Reynolds number and then transformed to or
Objective(s): The aim of this study is to compare the impact strength of a heat cured denture-base acrylic resin
reinforced with metal wire and glass fibers.
Methodology: Forty five specimens were prepared from pink heat cure acrylic resin. Specimens were grouped into;
group-I (control group) which consists of 15 specimens with no reinforcement, group-II which consists of 15 specimens
reinforced with metal wire, and group-III consists of 15 specimens reinforced with glass fibers. Specimens were tested
by using charpy impact machine.
Results: The result showed that there was a highly significant difference in impact strength value among the testing
groups at (P < 0.001).
Conclusion: The impact str
... Show MoreThis study presents an investigation about the effect of fire flame on the punching shear strength of hybrid fiber reinforced concrete flat plates. The main considered parameters are the fiber type (steel or glass) and the burning steady-state temperatures (500 and 600°C). A total of 9 half-scale flat plate specimens of dimensions 1500mm×1500mm×100mm and 1.5% fiber volume fraction were cast and divided into 3 groups. Each group consisted of 3 specimens that were identical to those in the other groups. The specimens of the second and the third groups were subjected to fire flame influence for 1 hour and steady-state temperature of 500 and 600°C respectively. Regarding the cooling process, water sprinkling was applied directly aft
... Show MoreIn today’s competitive environment, organizational efficiency and sustained growth are crucial for survival. The performance of an organization is intricately connected to strategic planning, prompting firms to gather and leverage competitive information for a competitive advantage. Senior managers, recognizing this, initiate actions accordingly. This study aims to investigate the relationship between foresight, vision, strategic partnerships, motivation, system thinking, and organizational performance. Data, gathered through a self-administered questionnaire from various textile units, were analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM). The findings indicate that sub-constructs of strategic intelligence positively impact organizatio
... Show MoreAlO-doped ZnO nanocrystalline thin films from with nano crystallite size in the range (19-15 nm) were fabricated by pulsed laser deposition technique. The reduction of crystallite size by increasing of doping ratio shift the bandgap to IR region the optical band gap decreases in a consistent manner, from 3.21to 2.1 eV by increasing AlO doping ratio from 0 to 7wt% but then returns to grow up to 3.21 eV by a further increase the doping ratio. The bandgap increment obtained for 9% AlO dopant concentration can be clarified in terms of the Burstein–Moss effect whereas the aluminum donor atom increased the carrier's concentration which in turn shifts the Fermi level and widened the bandgap (blue-shift). The engineering of the bandgap by low
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