The present study was set to demonstrate the prevalence of toxoplasmosis infection and its effects on patients with systemic  lupus erythematosus (SLE) through determining their serum levels of anti-dsDNA and IL-18 antibodies. For this purpose, the sera from 132 SLE and/or toxoplasmosis patients and 30 healthy women, were collected. The study sample was divided into four groups of SLE, toxoplasmosis, SLE coinfected with toxoplasmosis, and healthy control. Anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies were examined for all the samples using ELISA kit. The results showed a high mean level of anti-Toxoplasma IgG among SLE patients coinfected with toxoplasmosis (104.8792±12.31585pg/ml) in comparison to that in toxoplasmosis patients (91.1705±12.577

The aim of this study is to compare the effects of three methods: problem-based learning (PBL), PBL with lecture method, and conventional teaching on the understanding of thermodynamics, group work and self-directed learning skills among physics undergraduates. The actual sample size comprises of 122 students, who were selected randomly from the Physics Department, College of Education in Iraq, for academic year 2011-2012. In this study, the pre and posttest were done and the instruments were administered to the students for data collection. Inferential statistics were employed to analyze data. The independent variables were the PBL, the PBL with lecture method, and the conventional teaching. Dependent variables of statistical analysis were

Due to the energy crisis and the stringent environmental regulations, diesel engines are offering good hope for automotive vehicles. However, a lot of work is needed to reduce the diesel exhaust emissions and give the way for full utilization of the diesel fuel’s excellent characteristics.

A kind of cetane number improver has been proposed and tested to be used with diesel fuel as                 ameans of reducing exhaust emissions. The addition of (2-ethylhexyl nitrate) was designed to raise fuel cetane number to three stages, 50, 52 and 55 compared to the used conventional diesel fuel whose CN was 48.5. The addition of CN improver results in the decre

Nutrient enrichment of Sawa lake water was made using different nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations during autumn and spring at three stations. Different concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus and N: P ratios were used to test variations in phytoplankton population dynamics. Nitrogen at a concentration of 25 µmole.l-1 and N: P ratio of 10:1 gave highest phytoplankton cell number at all stations and seasons. A total of 64 algal taxa dominated by Bacillariophyceae followed by Cyanophyceae and Chlorophyceae were identified. The values of Shannon index of diversity were more than one in the studied stations.

Background: Fast dissolving oral drug delivery system is solid dosage form which disintegrates or dissolves within second when placed in the mouth without need of water or chewing. In present investigation, an attempt has been made to develop oral fast dissolving film of calcium channel blocker lacidipine. Method: Five formulas were prepared by solvent casting method using HPMC (METOLOSE)® as a film forming polymer and evaluated for their physical characteristics such as thickness, weight variation, folding endurance, drug content, disintegration time and in vitro drug release. The compatibility of the drug in the formulation was confirmed by FTIR and DSC studies. Result and Conclusion: The optimized formula F1 showed minimum in vitr

High-rise structures are a significant indication in contemporary urban improvement, mainly in areas characterized by accelerated urban growth and dense population. This type of building should be designed to withstand severe load conditions. Therefore, using composite structural elements in such structures is required for stronger and durable elements. This paper introduces a finite element analysis model for Concrete Filled Stainless Steel Tubular Columns (CFSST) of (100x100) mm cross-section and (1250) mm length to inspect the impact of concrete compressive strength on the response of (CFSST). The generated model was first evaluated through a comprehensive comparison with experimental research. Then, after the model was used to s

Abstract:
The prose poem of the 1990s is considered one of the important
contributions of the Iraqi poetic scene. The poem found a position in the Iraqi
poetry because of the favor of a group of youth poets who lefty clear traces.
Their linguistic techniques often violate the domain o9f language, significance
and image.
The poems of those youth poets moved the verse towards reality to
drink from its abundant springs in order to stand on a rigid ground. Their
linguistic traces are characterized by paradox and astonishment that are used
by the poet to construct his poem.

The paradox was considered an ideal means for constructing a
poem by some of them. The poem moved towards definitions and these
de

This work describes the weathering effects (UV-Irradiation, and Rain) on the thermal conductivity of PS, PMMA, PS/PMMA blend for packaging application. The samples were prepared by cast method at different ratios (10, 30, 50, 70, and 90 %wt). It was seen that the thermal conductivity of PMMA (0.145 W/m.K), and for PS(0.095 W/m.K), which increases by PS ratio increase up to 50% PS/PMMA blend then decreased that was attributed to increase in miscibility of the blend involved. By UV-weathering, it was seen that thermal conductivity for PMMA increased with UV-weathering up to (30hr) then decreased, that was attributed to rigidity and defect formation, respectively. For 30%PS/PMMA, there results showed unsystematic decrease in thermal conduct