Background: Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is an inflammatory, systemic rheumatic condition that mostly affects the axial skeleton. Tenascin-C (TN-C) is a hexameric glycoprotein of considerable size, upregulated in many inflammatory conditions, while Interleukin-17 (IL-17) a cytokine that plays an important role in SpA symptoms. Objective: to investigate the upregulation between the serum levels of TN-C and IL-17 in Iraqi axSpA patients and the disease characteristics. Patients and Methods: Seventy-four axSpA patients and 28 matched controls were studied. Fifty-four patients received a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) and 20 did not. Serum TN-C and IL-17 concentrations were determined using the ELISA technique. The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) was assessed. For statistical tests, Chi Square, Mann Whitney, Independent Samples T, and Pearson's correlation tests are used. Results: Patients mean age was 35.6±0.9 years, 65 males and 9 females, and disease duration was 5.18±0.6 years. 47.4% were smokers, 47% had inflammatory low back pain, and HLA-B27 was present in 91%. BASDAI mean was 6.1±0.4 in non-TNFi and 2.6±0.3 in those on TNFi. The serum TN-C concentration was significantly increased in patients, especially those on non-TNFi (79±9.6 pg/mL) compared to those on TNFi (69.1±3.2 pg/mL) and control (53±3.9 pg/mL) (p=0.003). Serum IL-17 was significantly elevated in those receiving TNFi (877.9±257 pg/mL) compared to non-TNFi (487.2±234 pg/mL) and control (182.4±36.6 pg/mL) (p=0.033). The TN-C significantly correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r=0.27, p=0.02) and with hemoglobin (Hb) concentration (r=0.26, p=0.02). TN-C and IL-17 were non-significantly related (r=0.14, p=0.2). Conclusions: axSpA Patients demonstrated high levels of serum TN-C, particularly in those not receiving TNFi, and high IL-17 levels in those receiving TNFi, suggesting that there is an association with tissue injury from the disease and stimulation of immunological and resident tissue cells. Patients who had not received TNFi showed significantly higher disease activity than others.
Second language learner may commit many mistakes in the process of second language learning. Throughout the Error Analysis Theory, the present study discusses the problems faced by second language learners whose Kurdish is their native language. At the very stages of language learning, second language learners will recognize the errors committed, yet they would not identify the type, the stage and error type shift in the process of language learning. Depending on their educational background of English as basic module, English department students at the university stage would make phonological, morphological, syntactic, semantic and lexical as well as speech errors. The main cause behind such errors goes back to the cultural differences
... Show MoreLead-acid batteries have been used increasingly in recent years in solar power systems, especially in homes and small businesses, due to their cheapness and advanced development in manufacturing them. However, these batteries have low voltages and low capacities, to increase voltage and capacities, they need to be connected in series and parallel. Whether they are connected in series or parallel, their voltages and capacities must be equal otherwise the quality of service will be degraded. The fact that these different voltages are inherent in their manufacturing, but these unbalanced voltages can be controlled. Using a switched capacitor is a method that was used in many methods for balancing voltages, but their respons
... Show MoreThe current study aimed to measure the attitudes of female teachers towards the use of digital learning and the degree of possessing their digital education skills. The study sample consisted of (180) workers with disabilities (mental disability، auditory impairment، visual disability، hyperactivity and distraction. To achieve the goals of the study, the transformation measure was used towards digital education for people with disabilities. The study reached the following results: the availability of digital learning skills among workers with disabilities. The study concluded with a series of recommendations including holding Training courses to keep up with the challenges of educational trends and modern technology in this area.
The indirect monetary policy tools led to financial stability for the period being studied through the use of indicators of financial stability (aggregate) to show the effect of the foreign reserves of the Central Bank of Iraq and its indirect instruments in achieving financial and economic stability, especially after the significant decline in oil prices and dependence of the Iraqi economy on Oil (rent) and lower reserves of the Central Bank of Iraq after 2014 and now compared to previous years, the goal of this research is to achieve financial stability according to selected indicators and achieve an optimal monetary policy to achieve the development goals of The economic policy in the country. Standard models were used to test
... Show MoreThe utilization of artificial intelligence techniques has garnered significant interest in recent research due to their pivotal role in enhancing the quality of educational offerings. This study investigated the impact of employing artificial intelligence techniques on improving the quality of educational services, as perceived by students enrolled in the College of Pharmacy at the University of Baghdad. The study sample comprised 379 male and female students. A descriptive-analytical approach was used, with a questionnaire as the primary tool for data collection. The findings indicated that the application of artificial intelligence methods was highly effective, and the educational services provided to students were of exceptional
... Show MoreObjectives: To identify the impact of the brain consensus model on the acquisition of Arabic grammar concepts among students in the fourth grade, methodology: The pilot curriculum was used, and a partial control pilot design was adopted. There were 30 female students in the pilot group, 30 female students in the control group, and the two researchers were statistically rewarded among the two groups' students in some variables and used appropriate statistical means to analyse the results, including the test for two independent samples, the square (c2) and the Alpha Kronbach equation.Results: The pilot group outperformed the control group. The results showed that there is a significant statistical difference at the indicative level (0.05) for
... Show MoreObjective. This study aimed to evaluate the orthodontic bond strength and enamel-preserving ability of a hydroxyapatite nanoparticles-containingself-etch system following exposure to various ageing methods. Materials and Methods. Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (nHAp) were incorporated into an orthodontic self-etch primer (SEP, Transbond™ plus) in three different concentrations (5%, 7%, and 9% wt) and tested versus the plain SEP (control) for shear bond strength (SBS), adhesive remnant index (ARI) scores, and enamel damage in range-finding experiments using premolar teeth. The best-performing formulation was further exposed to the following four artificial ageing methods: initial debonding, 24 h water storage, one-month water stora
... Show MoreResin-modified glass ionomer cement tends to shrink due to polymerization of the resin component. Additionally, they are more prone to syneresis and imbibition during the setting process. This
In this paper, three tool paths strategies; iso-planar, helical and adaptive have been implemented to investigates their effect on the mechanical properties of Brass 65-35 formed by single point incremental sheet metal forming process. To response this task, a fully digital integrated system from CAD modeling to finished part (CAD/CAM) for SPIF process has been developed in this paper.
The photo-micrographs shows an identical grain formation due to the plastic deformation of the incremental forming process, change in the grain shape and size was observed. It's found that the adaptive tool path play a significant role to increase the hardness of the formed specimen from (48 to 90 HV) and the grain texture of the formed specimen found a