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

     In this work, lead oxide (PbO) thin films were deposited using D.C. sputtering method on a surface of glass substrates and then thermally annealed at a temperature of 473K with annealing times of (1,2 and 3) hours. The structural, morphological, and optical properties of films were determined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), FT-IR, and UV-Visible spectroscopy. The structure studies confirmed that PbO films are polycrystalline structures in an orthorhombic phase with average grain size (24.51, 29.64, 46.49, 16) nm with increasing annealing time. From AFM, the roughness of the film surface  (3.26, 1.76, 1.61, 1.79) nm as the film annealing time increases. The optical band gap values of the PbO thin fi

Glass Ionomer Cement (GIC) is one of the important dental temporary filing materials. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of adding 3, 5 and 7 wt. % of TiO₂ microparticles to conventional GIC powder (Riva Self Cure) on mechanical properties and its effect on absorption and solubility processes. TiO₂ particles additives improved compressive strength and biaxial flexural strength, where the compressive strength increased with increasing in the added ratio, while the highest value of the biaxial flexural strength was at 3 wt.%. The addition of TiO₂ particles improved the surface Vickers microhardness values, with highest value at 5 wt. %. On other hand TiO₂ addition im

In this paper, Zinc oxide were deposited on a glass substrate at room temperature (RT) and two annealing temperatures 350ºC and 500ºC using laser induced plasma technique. ZnO nanofilms of 200nm thickness have been deposited on glass substrate. X-RAY diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy and UV-visible spectrophotometer were used to analyze the results. XRD forms of ZnO nanostructure display hexagonal structure with three recognized peaks (100), (002), and (101) orientations at 500ºC annealing temperature. The optical properties of ZnO nanostructure were determined spectra. The energy gap was 3.1 eV at 300 ^oC and 3.25eV at 500ºC annealing temperature.

Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent arthritic disease and a leading cause of disability. The pathogenesis of osteoarthritis involves multiple etiologies, including variable degree of synovial inflammation. Metformin and pioglitazone could potentially reduce the levels and activity of inflammatory mediators. This may consider as a new therapeutic approach added to the current used drugs in an attempt to decrease the pain, inflammation, and improve daily activity and quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

This study designed to evaluate the clinical utility of using metformin or pioglitazone as anti-inflammatory agents in combination with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) of selective type of cyclooxygen

The present study was carried out to compare the physicochemical characteristics of eggs of guinea fowl, turkeys and domestic chickens outdoor reared in traditional farms in Baghdad, Iraq. A total of 166 fresh eggs; 32 eggs from guinea fowls (Numida meleagris), 44 eggs from turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) and 90 eggs from domestic chickens; were collected. Egg weight, percentage of egg components, chemical composition (protein, lipids, and ash), and lipid profile were determined. Results revealed the significant differences in egg weight among studied birds. The average egg weights for guinea fowl, turkey, and indigenous chicken were 48.51 ± 0.72, 52.15 ± 0.74 and 61.24 ± 0.22 g, respectively. No significant differences were found in egg c

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