The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of body mass index (BMI) on semen parameters, level of sex hormone and sperm DNA integrity. Semen samples were collected from (85) infertile men and (40) healthy fertile men with range of age (38.191 ± 0.84) years during their attendance at High Institute of Infertility Diagnosis and ART, Al-Nahrain University from March to June 2016. Semen samples were obtained by masturbation after 72 hours of abstinence. Seminal fluid analyses included semen volume, sperm concentration, percent sperm motility, percent sperm morphology, and sperm chromatin integrity DNA fragmentation index (DFI]). Serum samples were collected from each subject for determination the level of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Prolactin (PRL), and Testosterone by ELISA method. The results revealed a highly significant (P≤ 0.01) increase in BMI and immotile sperm (%), and significant(P≤ 0.05) increase in semen liquefaction time, non-progressive motility (%), round cells counts and sperm DNA fragmentation in infertile men as compared to control group, while there was a highly significant (P≤ 0.01) decrease in progressive motility (%), and a significant (P< 0.05) decrease in the sperm concentration, sperm motility (%) and normal sperm morphology (%). The results showed statistically significant (P< 0.05) positive correlations between body mass index and sperm motility, progressive motility, non-progressive motility, immotile sperm, normal sperm morphology and sperm DNA fragmentation. No significant correlations were observed between body mass index and semen liquefaction time, semen PH, sperm concentration, round cells counts and age. In respect with level of serum hormones a significant (P< 0.05) decrease in level of FSH ,LH and testosterone was found ,while the level of prolactin showed a significant (P< 0.05) increase in infertile men when compared with control group. Significant (P< 0.05) negative correlation was observed between body mass index and serum level of prolactin and testosterone, while non-significant correlations were observed between body mass index and serum level of FSH and LH. In conclusion, this study has shown that body mass index has major effect on semen characteristics and sex hormones.
In this paper, an experimental study was conducted to enhance the thermal performance of a double-pass solar air heater (SAH) using phase change material (PCM) for thermal storage at climatic conditions of Baghdad city - Iraq. The double-pass solar air heater integrated with thermal storage system was manufactured and tested to ensure that the air heating reserved after the absence of the sun. The rectangular cavity filled with paraffin wax was used as a latent heat storage and incorporated into the lower channel of solar air heater. Experiments were carried out to evaluate the charging and discharging characteristics of two similar designed solar air collectors with and without using phase change material at a constant
... Show MoreThe impact of decorating Fe, Ru, Rh, and Ir metals upon the sensing capability of a gallium nitride nanotube (GaNNT) in detecting chlorine trifluoride (CT) was scrutinized using the density functionals B3LYP and B97D. The interaction of the pristine GaNNT with CT was a physical adsorption with the sensing response (SR) of approximately 6.9. After decorating the above-mentioned metals on the GaNNT, adsorption energy of CT changed from −5.8 to −18.6, −18.9, −19.4, and −20.1 kcal/mol by decorating the Fe, Ru, Rh, and Ir metals into the GaNNT surface, respectively. Also, the corresponding SR dramatically increased to 39.6, 52.3, 63.8, and 106.6. This shows that the sensitivity of the metal-decorated GaNNT (metal@GaNNT) increased by in
... Show MoreIn the current worldwide health crisis produced by coronavirus disease (COVID-19), researchers and medical specialists began looking for new ways to tackle the epidemic. According to recent studies, Machine Learning (ML) has been effectively deployed in the health sector. Medical imaging sources (radiography and computed tomography) have aided in the development of artificial intelligence(AI) strategies to tackle the coronavirus outbreak. As a result, a classical machine learning approach for coronavirus detection from Computerized Tomography (CT) images was developed. In this study, the convolutional neural network (CNN) model for feature extraction and support vector machine (SVM) for the classification of axial
... Show MoreIn this paper, a new class of non-convex functions called semi strongly (
The purpose of this research is to investigate the impact of corrosive environment (corrosive ferric chloride of 1, 2, 5, 6% wt. at room temperature), immersion period of (48, 72, 96, 120, 144 hours), and surface roughness on pitting corrosion characteristics and use the data to build an artificial neural network and test its ability to predict the depth and intensity of pitting corrosion in a variety of conditions. Pit density and depth were calculated using a pitting corrosion test on carbon steel (C-4130). Pitting corrosion experimental tests were used to develop artificial neural network (ANN) models for predicting pitting corrosion characteristics. It was found that artificial neural network models were shown to be
... Show MoreApplying 4K, (Ultra HD) Real-time video streaming via the internet network, with low bitrate and low latency, is the challenge this paper addresses. Compression technology and transfer links are the important elements that influence video quality. So, to deliver video over the internet or another fixed capacity medium, it is essential to compress the video to more controllable bitrates (customarily in the 1-20 Mbps range). In this study, the video quality is examined using the H.265/HEVC compression standard, and the relationship between quality of video and bitrate flow is investigated using various constant rate factors, GOP patterns, quantization parameters, RC-lookahead, and other types of video motion sequences. The ultra
... Show MoreRecently, much secured data has been sent across the internet and networks. Steganography is very important because it conceals secure data in images, texts, audios, protocols, videos, or other mediums. Video steganography is the method of concealing data in frames of video format. A video is a collection of frames or images used for hidden script messages. This paper proposes a technique to encrypt secret messages using DNA and a 3D chaotic map in video frames using the raster method. This technique uses three steps: Firstly, converting video frames into raster to extract features from each frame. Secondly, encryption of secret messages using encoded forms of DNA bases, inverse/inverse complements of DNA, a
... Show MoreThe objective of this study was to compare the sensitivity and specificity of rK39,
ELISA and IFA tests for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis using blood
samples. Samples were collected from 146 suspected patients and 30 healthy
individual as control. The results showed 52 (35.62%), 58 (39.73%) and 71
(48.64%) positive samples by rK39, ELISA and IFA , respectively. IFA test showed
a higher sensitivity (48.63%) than ELISA and rk39 dip stick (39.72%) and (35.61%)
respectively. The highest sensitivity of agreement (K: 0.912) was found between
rK39 dipstick and ELISA. Therefore, we suggest the application of rK39 dipstick
and ELISA methods in endemic areas of visceral leishmaniasis for early and
accurate diag
This study focuses on cation and anion concentrations and their distribution in the Dibdibba aquifer in the Zubair area at Basra city, southern Iraq to assess the groundwater quality for the agricultural purpose. The physicochemical properties (TSS, Ec, pH, cation and anion concentrations) of the groundwater samples through
18 wells was measured. Results showed that the dominant groundwater type is Na, Mg, Ca-Chloride type. The Magnesium Hazard, Sodium Adsorption Ratio, Na%, total dissolved solid, Electrical conductivity and pH were used to assess the suitability of groundwater for irrigation purposes.. The assessment results indicate that the groundwater is characterized by no Mg-harmful, excellent