Background: Studies discussing the correlation between biochemical markers of bone turnover and the diagnosis of osteoporosis in postmenopausal Iraqi women are rare. This study is devoted to find out the significance of serum osteocalcin (OC) and osteopontin (OPN) levels with the incidence of osteoporosis and its major complication (fracture).Objectives: to investigate the significance of bone turnover biochemical markers; serum osteocalcin and serum osteopontin in evaluating osteoporosis for postmenopausal Iraqi women with and without history of vertebral fracture, as well as to explore the relationship of these markers with bone mineral density (BMD).Methods: Fifty seven postmenopausal women whose ages are fifty years old and over, categorized into two groups: osteoporosis postmenopausal women (n=30), and healthy postmenopausal women (n=27). All sera samples were analyzed for serum alkaline phosphatase, calcium and phosphorous by using spectrophotometric kit. Serum OC and OPN levels were measured by immunoassay (ELISA) kits. BMD were measured by (DEXA). Results: BMD and T-score were significantly lower in osteoporotic postmenopausal group as compared with healthy group (p=0.0001). Serum OC levels and serum OPN levels were elevated significantly in osteoporotic postmenopausal group as compared with healthy group (p=0.0001).Conclusions: The levels of OC and OPN in serum could be used as a biochemical indicator in the early diagnosis of osteoporosis postmenopausal women
Sewage pumping stations are considered an important part of any sewerage system. Pumps failure in these stations means that the pumps are unable to work at the design requirement (flow capacity and head) and that may cause sewer overflow and flooding leading to sewer deterioration. In this paper, two main sewage pumping stations in Baghdad city were selected as case studies, Al- Habibia and Al-Ghazali located on Zublin trunk sewer 3000 mm and Baghdad trunk sewer 1200-2100 respectively. This study focused mainly on the operation of main sewage pumping stations and their effect, both directly and indirectly, on changing hydraulic properties, which leads to an increase in the deterioration of sewage pipes. The hydraulic analysis was co
... Show MoreThis paper shews how to estimate the parameter of generalized exponential Rayleigh (GER) distribution by three estimation methods. The first one is maximum likelihood estimator method the second one is moment employing estimation method (MEM), the third one is rank set sampling estimator method (RSSEM)The simulation technique is used for all these estimation methods to find the parameters for generalized exponential Rayleigh distribution. Finally using the mean squares error criterion to compare between these estimation methods to find which of these methods are best to the others
Background: Radiopacity is one of the prerequisites for dental materials, especially for composite restorations. It's essential for easy detection of secondary dental caries as well as observation of the radiographic interface between the materials and tooth structure. The aim of this study to assess the difference in radiopacity of different resin composites using a digital x-ray system. Materials and methods: Ten specimens (6mm diameter and 1mm thickness) of three types of composite resins (Evetric, Estelite Sigma Quick,and G-aenial) were fabricated using Teflon mold. The radiopacity was assessed using dental radiography equipment in combination with a phosphor plate digital system and a grey scale value aluminum step wedge with thickness
... Show MoreThe study deals with reactivity insertion linear and non linear and/or Ramp reactivity expressed as a polynomial in time in the presence of two Feedback mechanisms, using the neutronic-thermohydraulic coupling in order to predict the neutron behavior as a function of time in terms of reactor power. Also, a comparative study has been achieved in the case of the presence of the feedback mechanisms. Insertion of Ramp reactivities in terms of polynomial in time to study the behavior of power and reactivity as a function of time in the presence of two feedback mechanisms (fuel and coolant) has been carried out and the results are displayed as plots, and showed this results corresponding with international results. The present study shows t
... Show MoreDielectric barrier discharges (DBD) can be described as the presence of contact with the discharge of one or more insulating layers located between two cylindrical or flat electrodes connected to an AC/pulse dc power supply. In this work, the properties of the plasma generated by dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) system without and with a glass insulator were studied. The plasma was generated at a constant voltage of 4 kV and fixed distance between the electrodes of 5 mm, and with a variable flow rate of argon gas (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 and 2.5) L/min. The emission spectra of the DBD plasmas at different flow rates of argon gas have been recorded. Boltzmann plot method was used to calculate the plasma electron temperature (Te), and Stark broadeni
... Show MoreLight isotopes, especially closed shell nuclei, have significance in thermonuclear reactions of the Carbon-Nitrogen-Oxygen (CNO) cycle in stars. In this research, 12C(p, γ) 13N and 14N(p, γ) 15O reactions have been calculated by means of Matlab codes to find the reaction rate across a temperature range of 0.006 to 10 GK using non-resonant parts, as well as the astrophysical S- factor S(E) at low energies. It was concluded that the high binding energy of 12C and 14N nuclei make the reaction less probable thus enabling other competitive processes to develop, which enhances the probability of other competitive proton reactions in the CNO cycle.
Productivity estimating of ready mixed concrete batch plant is an essential tool for the successful completion of the construction process. It is defined as the output of the system per unit of time. Usually, the actual productivity values of construction equipment in the site are not consistent with the nominal ones. Therefore, it is necessary to make a comprehensive evaluation of the nominal productivity of equipment concerning the effected factors and then re-evaluate them according to the actual values.
In this paper, the forecasting system was employed is an Artificial Intelligence technique (AI). It is represented by Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to establish the predicted model to estimate wet ready mixe
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