Kidney damage in workers within environments of highly expected exposure to toxin, including heavy metals, could be a primary marker to expect hazards in population exposed to low levels of many environmental pollutants. The present study was designed to evaluate the possible effect of environmental exposure to cadmium and zinc on renal function among painters in Sulaimani city. Cross sectional study was performed on 37 male painting workers in Sulaimani city. Each worker was interviewed using structured questionnaire. Twenty five non-exposed healthy subjects were included as control group. Venous blood samples (10 ml) were obtained by vein puncture from both subjects and utilized for estimation of serum urea, creatinine levels, serum levels of cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn), and for the estimation of malondialdehyde. The results show that serum urea levels were significantly elevated in painters; meanwhile, no significant difference was reported in serum creatinine levels. The results indicated that both serum levels of (Cd) and (Zn) were not significantly elevated in painting workers; however, MDA levels were significantly elevated in painters compared to control group. In conclusion, the association of cadmium and zinc levels with the disturbance in renal function is not clear in painters working in Sulaimani city.
Keywords: Painting workers, Cadmium, Zinc, renal function, oxidative stress
Engineered geopolymer composite (EGC) is a high-performance material with enhanced mechanical and durability capabilities. Ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) and silica fume (SF) are common binder materials in producing EGC. However, due to the scarcity and high cost of these materials in some countries, sustainable alternatives are needed. This research focused on producing eco-friendly EGC made of cheaper and more common pozzolanic waste materials that are rich in aluminum and silicon. Rice husk ash (RHA), granite waste powder (GWP), and volcanic pumice powder (VPP) were used as partial substitutions (10–50%) of GGBFS in EGC. The effects of these wastes on workability, unit weight, compressive strength, tensile strengt
... Show MoreFor a given loading, the stiffness of a plate or shell structure can be increased significantly by the addition of ribs or stiffeners. Hitherto, the optimization techniques are mainly on the sizing of the ribs. The more important issue of identifying the optimum location of the ribs has received little attention. In this investigation, finite element analysis has been achieved for the determination of the optimum locations of the ribs for a given set of design constraints. In the conclusion, the author underlines the optimum positions of the ribs or stiffeners which give the best results.
This work concerns the synthesis of two types of composites based on antimony oxide named (Sb2O3):(WO3, In2O3). Thin films were fabricated using pulsed laser deposition. The compositional analysis was explored using Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FTIR), which confirms the existence of antimony, tungsten, and indium oxides in the prepared samples. The hall effect measurement showed that antimony oxide nanostructure thin films are p-type and gradually converted to n-type by the addition of tungsten oxide, while they are converted almost instantly to n-type by the addition of indium oxide. Different heterojunction solar cells were prepared from (Sb2O3:WO
... Show MoreThe study aimed to monitor the concept of reputation in the previous literature, its relationship to mental image and identity, and to reveal recent trends in its measurement Techniques.
The study relied on a descriptive approach using library survey and comparative analysis, and the study reached following conclusions:
Despite the beginning of the first signs of reputation In the fifties of the last century, however, Defining and standardizing the concept with clear and specific dimensions began in the 1990s and the beginning of the third millennium. The concept of reputation refers to the stakeholders’ overall evaluation of organizations, which reflects their perceptions of
... Show MoreUrban land uses are in a dynamic state that varies over time, the city of Karbala in Iraq has experienced functional changes over the past 100 years, as the city is characterized by the presence of significant tourist and socio-economic activity represented by religious tourism, and it occur due to various reasons such as urbanization. The purpose of this study is to apply a Markov model to analyze and predict the behavior of transforming the use of land in Karbala city over time. This can include the conversion of agricultural land, or other areas into residential, commercial, industrial land uses. The process of urbanization is typically driven by population growth, economic development, based on a set of probabilities and transitions bet
... Show MorePolymer electrolytes were prepared using the solution cast technology. Under some conditions, the electrolyte content of polymers was analyzed in constant percent of PVA/PVP (50:50), ethylene carbonate (EC), and propylene carbonate (PC) (1:1) with different proportions of potassium iodide (KI) (10, 20, 30, 40, 50 wt%) and iodine (I2) = 10 wt% of salt. Fourier Transmission Infrared (FTIR) studies confirmed the complex formation of polymer blends. Electrical conductivity was calculated with an impedance analyzer in the frequency range 50 Hz–1MHz and in the temperature range 293–343 K. The highest electrical conductivity value of 5.3 × 10-3 (S/cm) was observed for electrolytes with 50 wt% KI concentration at room
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