Background: The disc prolapse is a common condition especially in young adults. Different levels are affected in the lumber region; the L4/L5 disc is more susceptible to longitudinal load and is the most common site of lumbar disc prolapse. The L5/S1 disc is protected from torsion load by strong ilio-lumbar ligaments but it is more susceptible to axial compressive forces. Many factors affect the result and outcome of surgery in these levels.Objective: The aim of this study is to correlate operative data, short-term results, complications, and prognostic factors (age, gender, mobility, hospital stay, and level of pain) for one-level lumber discectomybetween different levels (L4–L5 vs. L5–S1).Methods In this prospective study, 32 patientsin Al-Yarmouk teaching hospital undergoing survey form March 2008-December 2012.Six patients were excluded from this study because they were diabetics and multilevel disc degeneration .Fifteen (57.6%) patients undergoL5-S1 discectomy and 11 (42.4%) patients undergoL4-5 discectomy. Questionnaires for leg and back pain intensity (Visual Analogue Scale ;VAS), duration of leg pain, and disability (Oswestry Disability Index; ODI), were obtained preoperatively, 3 months, 6 months, 1-year- and 2 year follow-up.Analyses were utilized to evaluate the relationship between surgical outcomes and variable (gender, age, lumber segment, pre-operative ODI, and pre-operative VAS).Results: Mean operative time was[73.44 ± 26.25] min, mean hospital stay was [3-7] days, and mean mobilitywas [2.55 ± 0.93] days. At 2-year follow up, patients revealed a statistical significant improvement inVAS pain (P < 0.05), and ODI lumbar function (P < 0.05).The complications rate were 20.3 %.Our study elaborates good results for one-segmental L5-S1overL4-L5 discectomy. Discectomy of the L4–L5 disc wasassociated with an increased risk of complication (P < 0.05). The comparison revealed that operative time was influenced by age (P = 0.034); hospital stay was influenced by level (P = 0.036) and pre-op VAS (P = 0.006); while complications were influenced by level (P = 0.001) and pre-op ODI (P = 0.049Conclusion: The study revealed significant results for L5-S1 discectomy over L4-L5 discectomy in the late follow up period; the complications rate were higher in L4-L5 level discectomy
The present work is to investigate the feasibility of removal vanadium (V) and nickel (Ni) from Iraqi heavy gas oil using activated bentonite. Different operating parameters such as the degree of bentonite activation, activated bentonite loading, and operating time was investigated on the effect of heavy metal removal efficiency. Experimental results of adsorption test show that Langmuir isotherm predicts well the experimental data and the maximum bentonite uptake of vanadium was 30 mg/g. The bentonite activated with 50 wt% H2SO4 shows a (75%) removal for both Ni and V. Results indicated that within approximately 5 hrs, the vanadium removal efficiencies were 33, 45, and 60% at vanadium loadings of 1
... Show MoreThe current research deals with practical studies that explain to the Iraqi consumer multiple instances about the phenomenon of water hammer which occur in the water pipeline operating with pressure. It concern a practical study of the characteristics of this phenomenon and economically harmful to the consumer the same time. Multiple pipe fittings are used aimed to reduce this phenomenon and its work as alternatives to the manufactured arresters that used to avoid water hammer in the sanitary installations, while the consumer did not have any knowledge as to the non-traded for many reasons, including the water pressure decreases in the networks and the use of consumer pumps to draw water directly from the network. Study found a number of
... Show MoreAs technology advances and develops, the need for strong and simple authentication mechanisms that can help protect data intensifies. The contemporary approach to giving access control is through graphical passwords comprising images, patterns, or graphical items. The objective of this review was to determine the documented security risks that are related to the use of graphical passwords, together with the measures that have been taken to prevent them. The review was intended to present an extensive literature review of the subject matter on graphical password protection and to point toward potential future research directions. Many attacks, such as shoulder surfing attacks, SQL injection attacks, and spyware attacks, can easily ex
... Show MoreUse of computer simulation to quantify the effectiveness of blowing agents can be an effective tool for optimizing formulations and for the adopting of new blowing agents. This paper focuses on a mass balance on blowing agent during foaming including the quantification of the amount that stays in the resin, the amount that ends up in the foam cells, and the pressure of the blowing agent in the foam cells. Experimental data is presented both in the sense of developing the simulation capabilities and the validating of simulation results.
In the current study, haemoglobin analytes dissolved in a special buffer (KH2PO4(1M), K2HPO4(1M)) with pH of 7.4 were used to record absorption spectra measurements with a range of concentrations from (10-8 to 10-9) M and an absorption peak of 440nm using Broadband Cavity Enhanced Absorption Spectroscopy (BBCEAS) which is considered a simple, low cost, and robust setup. The principle work of this technique depends on the multiple reflections between the light source, which is represented by the Light Emitting Diode 3 W, and the detector, which is represented by the Avantes spectrophotomer. The optical cavity includes two high reflectivity ≥99% dielectric mirrors (dia
... Show MoreLetrozole (LZL) is a non-steroidal competitive aromatase enzyme system inhibitor. The aim of this study is to improve the permeation of LZL through the skin by preparing as nanoemulsion using various numbers of oils, surfactants and co-surfactant with deionized water. Based on solubility studies, mixtures of oleic acid oil and tween 80/ transcutol p as surfactant/co-surfactant (Smix) in different percentages were used to prepare nanoemulsions (NS). Therefore, 9 formulae of (o/w) LZL NS were formulated, then pseudo-ternary phase diagram was used as a useful tool to evaluate the NS domain at Smix ratios: 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1.
This article will address autoclave design considerations and
manufacturing working with high pressure low temperature
supercritical drying technique to produce silica aerogel. The design
elects carbon dioxide as a supercritical fluid (31.7 oC and 72.3 bar).
Both temperature and pressure have independently controlling
facility through present design. The autoclave was light weight (4.5
kg) and factory-made from stainless steel. It contains a high pressure
window for monitoring both transfer carbon dioxide gas to liquid
carbon dioxide and watching supercritical drying via aerogel
preparation process. In this work aerogel samples were prepared and
the true apparent densities, total pore volume and pore size