Objectives: Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1) is WNT/b-catenin pathway antagonist which plays a detrimental role in the development of diabetic retinopathy (DR). This research aimed to assess serum DKK-1 levels in diabetic patients who have and have not developed DR and, compare them with the control subjects finding out whether we can use it as an indicator for DR early diagnosis and to find out which one of the widely used two groups of antidiabetic treatments had the greater effect on this biomarker and hence on the progression of DR. Methods: The study participants were divided into two subgroups: First, 70 patients (36 male, 34 female) with type 2 diabetes mellitus, among them 35 patients diagnosed with DR and 35 with no evidence of DR, and s

The optical transmission and UV-VIS absorption spectra have been recorded in the wavelength range (200-1100m) for different composition of polyaniline and polyvinyl Alcohol(PVA ) blends thin films. Polyaniline was prepared in acidic medium to enhancement the solubility and processibility, The optical energy gap (Eopt) refractive index and optical dielectric constant real and imaginary part have been evaluated. The effects of doping percentage of prepared polyaniline on these parameters was discussed and the non –linear behavior for all these parameters was investigated.

In this study a polymeric composite material was prepared by hand
lay-up technique from epoxy resin as a matrix and magnesium oxide
(MgO) as a reinforcement with different weight fraction (5,10,15,
and 20)% to resin. Then the prepared samples were immersed under
normal condition in H₂So₄(1 M) solution, for periods ranging up to
10 weeks. The result revealed that the diffusion coefficient
decreasing as the concentration of MgO increase. Also we studied
Hardness for the prepared samples before and after immersion. The
result revealed that the hardness values increase as the concentration
of MgO increase, while the hardness for the samples after immersion
in H₂SO₄ dec

Natural fibers and particles reinforced composites are being broadly used due to their bio and specific properties such as low density and easy to machine and production with low cost. In this work, water absorption and mechanical properties such as tensile strength, flexural strength and impact strength of recycled jute fibers reinforced epoxy resin were enhanced by treating these fibers with alkaline solution. The recycled jute fibers were treated with different concentration of (NaOH) solution at (25 ⁰C) for a period of (24) hours. From the obtained results, it was found that all these properties are improved when fibers treated with (7.5wt% NaOH) related to untreated fibers. Conversely, the mentioned properties of composit

Preparation of epoxy/ TiO2 and epoxy/ Al2O3 nanocomposites is studed and investigated in this paper. The nano composites are processed by different nano fillers concentrations (0, 0.01, 0.02 ,0.03, 0.04 ,0.05 ,0.07 and 0.1 wt%). The particles sized of TiO2,Al2O3 are about 20–50 nm.Epoxy resin and nano composites containing different shape nano fillers of (TiO2:Al2O3 composites),are shear mixing with ratio 1 to 1,with different nano hybrid fillers concentrations( 0.025 ,0.0 5 ,0.15 ,0.2, and 0.25 wt%) to Preparation of epoxy/ TiO2- Al2O3 hybrid composites. The mechanical properties of nanocomposites such as bending ,wearing, and fatigue are investigated as mechanical properties.

Background: Bilosomes are lipid vesicles that exhibit flexibility and deformability. They consist of phospholipids and amphiphilic bile salts. Compared to the normal vesicular systems such as liposomes and niosomes, bilosomes provide several notable advantages, including simplified manufacturing, cost-effectiveness, and enhanced stability.

Aim: The main objective of the present work was to evaluate the effect of different bile salts on the physical properties that include entrapment efficiency, vesicle size, and polydispersity index(PDI). In addition, in vitro drug release for nisoldipine (NSD) loaded bilosomes was evaluated.

The aim of this work was to capture solar radiation and convert it into solar thermal energy by using a storage material and the heat transfer fluid like oil and water and comparison between them, we used the evacuated tube as a receiver for solar radiation, The results showed that the oil better than water as storage material and the heat transfer fluid and the effective thermal conductivity material and good for power level, rates and durations of charge and discharge cycles.

In the current study, we investigate the effect of  (La) substitution  instead of (Cu) on the properties of the superconductor compound  (Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3-xLaxO10+δ)  with (x=0,0.05,0.1,0.15,0.2). The samples were  prepared  by solid state reaction method(SSR). Xray diffraction technique (XRD) was used to estimate the structural  properties of the specimens which show an orthorhombic crystalline structure for all the specimens.       The results show that the change in ( La) concentration  leads to decrease the concentration of (Bi-2223), increment in (Bi-2212 ) and(Bi-2201) with appearance of some impurities. Also decrease the critical temperature(Tc) with the increase

This investigation was carried out to examine the effect of replacing partial of flour by dried Lentils (Lens culinaris) to white flour in different percentages on the chemical, sensory and storage properties of the Laboratory bread. The results revealed that replacing 0% than wheat flour by lentil powder (1) control was high significan than the replacing 25 and 35% than wheat flour by lentil powder ( 4 and 5) in flavor and chewiness . The results of sensory evaluation showed that replacing 4 were high significan different than that of replacing 1 in external layer colour. Other replacing percentages, however, did not show significant differences of in comparison with control . In regards with chemical analysis of Iron and copper, i