Soils that cause effective damages to engineer structures (such as pavement and foundation) are called problematic or difficult soils (include collapsible soil, expansive soil, etc.). These damages occur due to poor or unfavorited engineering properties, such as low shear strength, high compressibility, high volume changes, etc. In the case of expansive soil, the problem of the shrink-swell phenomenon, when the soil reacts with water, is more pronounced. To overcome such problems, soils can be treated or stabilized with many stabilization ways (mechanical, chemical, etc.). Such ways can amend the unfavorited soil properties. In this review, the pozzolanic materials have been selected to be presented and discussed as chemical stabilizers. The selected pozzolanic materials are traditional, industrial, or byproducts, ashes of agricultural wastes, and calcined-clay types. They are lime, cement, blast furnace slag, fly ash, silica fume, rice husk ash, sugarcane straw ash, egg ash, coconut husk ash, and metakaolin. In general, the stabilization of expansive soils with pozzolanic materials has an essential impact on swelling and Atterberg-limits and positively affects compaction and strength parameters. However, there is a wide range for the percentages of pozzolanic materials used as stabilizers. The content (15% to 20%) is the most ratios of the stabilizers used as an optimal percentage, and beyond this ratio, the addition of the pozzolanic materials produces an undesirable effect.
BACKGROUND: CRC is one of the most common cancers in the world. K-ras is proto-oncogene with GTPase activity that is lost when the gene is mutated. Analysis of K-ras mutational status is very important for CRC treatment, being the most important predictors of resistance to targeted therapy. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine the frequency and spectrum of K-ras mutation among Iraqi patients with sporadic CRC. PATIENTS, MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study enrolled 35 cases with sporadic CRC; their clinicopathological parameters were analyzed. The FFPE blocks were used for DNA extraction; PCR amplification of K-ras gene and hybridization of allele-specific oligoprobes were performed. The assay covers 29 mutations in the K-ras gene (codons 1
... Show MoreLeishmania parasites reproduce wherever there are cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system, almost in macrophages. These are most copious in the liver and spleen;therefore, infection leads to an expansion of both of them. This study determined the burden of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) infection on liver and spleen. A total of 20 mice were infected peritoneally with 2x107promastigotes of Leishmania donovani / ml and other 12 mice left without infection as a healthy control. The weight of whole body, liver and spleen were measured and the histological development using hematoxylin and eosin stains were determined after 15, 30, 45-and 60-days post infection. The results represent that the mean weights of liver and spleen were increased in inf
... Show MoreAn efficient networks’ energy consumption and Quality of Services (QoS) are considered the most important issues, to evaluate the route quality of the designed routing protocol in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). This study is presented an evaluation performance technique to evaluate two routing protocols: Secure for Mobile Sink Node location using Dynamic Routing Protocol (SMSNDRP) and routing protocol that used K-means algorithm to form Data Gathered Path (KM-DGP), on small and large network with Group of Mobile Sinks (GMSs). The propose technique is based on QoS and sensor nodes’ energy consumption parameters to assess route quality and networks’ energy usage. The evaluation technique is conducted on two routing protocols i
... Show MoreThe study aimed to evaluate the level of MMP‑2 in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients in comparison with that in remission status, and healthy subjects, and to find its correlation with hematologic parameters. This study included sixty newly diagnosed AML patients. Remission status was assessed after induction chemotherapy. The overall survival (OS) was determined after 6 months. The plasma MMP‑2 level was measured at diagnosis by enzyme immunoassay. Twenty‑eight healthy individuals were recruited as a control group. Plasma MMP‑2 was higher in AML patients than in healthy individuals (P = 0.005). The level of MMP‑2 was much higher in the M5 subtype than in the other subtypes (P = 0.0001). There was no statistically significant d
... Show MoreAxial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic rheumatic inflammatory disease affecting mainly the spine and sacroiliac joints. Since the copper-to-zinc ratio (Cu/Zn) indicates an inflammatory response, the change in ratio is expected to correlate with axSpA. This study compared levels of Cu/Zn in the serum of axSpA patients. Serum samples were obtained from 53 patients with axSpA divided according to biological treatment into cohorts A and B, and 28 healthy control as cohort C. Serum levels of Cu and Zn were determined first by a fully automated chemistry analyzer TC-Matrix Plus, then the ratio was obtained. The elevated serum Cu concentration means of cohort B (189.32 ± 13.808 µg/dL) compared to cohort A (168.85 ± 7.244 µg/dL) a
... Show MoreSalicylaldehyde was react with 4-amino-2,3-dimethyl-1-phenyl-3-pyrazoline-5-on to produce the Schiff base ligand 2,3-dimethyl-1-phenyl-4-salicylidene-3-pyrazoline-5-on (L). The prepared ligand was identified by Microelemental Analysis, and FT.IR, UV-Vis spectroscopic techniques. A new complexes of Fe(III),Co(II),Ni(II),Cu(II),Ce(III) and Pb(II) with mixed ligands of dithizone (DTZ) and Schiff base were prepared in aqueous ethanol with a 2:2:1 M:L:DTZ. The prepared complexes were characterized using flame atomic absorption, (C.H.N) Analysis, FT.IR and UV-Vis spectroscopic methods as well as magnetic susceptibility and conductivity measurements. In addition biological activity of the ligands and complexes against two selected type of bacteria
... Show MoreThe New Schiff base ligand 4,4'-[(1,1'-Biphenyl)-4,4'-diyl,bis-(azo)-bis-[2-Salicylidene thiosemicarbazide](HL)(BASTSC)and its complexes with Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II) were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, electronic, FTIR, magnetic susceptibility measurements. The analytical and spectral data showed, the stiochiometry of the complexes to be 1:1 (metal: ligand). FTIR spectral data showed that the ligand behaves as dibasic hexadentate molecule with (N, S, O) donor sequence towards metal ions. The octahedral geometry for Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II) complexes and non electrolyte behavior was suggested according to the analysis data.
The molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) is a dermatotropic poxvirus. The causative agent of molluscum contagiosum (MC) is nonlethal, common and worldwide. Additionally, little inflammation is associated with MC papules. The present study aims to evaluate the immune status of MC patients by measuring the level of immunoglobulins IgG and IgM by using the radial immune diffusion assay (RIA) and the level of interleukin 18 receptor 1 (IL-18R1) by the Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The study is conducted during November 2013 to April, 2014 in outpatient clinic of Baquba Teaching Hospital. There are 75 patients, diagnosed with clinical lesions of MCV on different areas of the body, whose age is ranged between 2-50 years including 40(53.
... Show MoreABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Left ventricular hypertrophy is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular complications such as ischemic heart disease, heart failure, sudden death, atrial fibrillation, and stroke. A proper non-expensive tool is required for detection of this pathology. Different electrocardiographic (ECG) criteria were investigated; however, the results were conflicting regarding the accuracy of these criteria. OBJECTIVE: To assess the accuracy of three electrocardiographic criteria in diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy in adult patients with hypertension using echocardiography as a reference test. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a hospital-based cross sectional observational study which included 340 adult patients with a his
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