Activation of farnesoid X receptor (FXR) markedly attenuates development of atherosclerosis in animal models. However, the underlying mechanism is not well elucidated. Here, we show that the FXR agonist, obeticholic acid (OCA), increases fecal cholesterol excretion and macrophage reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) dependent on activation of hepatic FXR. OCA does not increase biliary cholesterol secretion, but inhibits intestinal cholesterol absorption. OCA markedly inhibits hepatic cholesterol 7α‐hydroxylase (Cyp7a1) and sterol 12α‐hydroxylase (Cyp8b1) partly through inducing small heterodimer partner, leading to reduced bile acid pool size and al

The coefficient of performance of a window type Air-Conditioner system can be improved if a reduction in the work of compressor can be achieved by a suitable technique. The present study investigates the effect of dispersing a low concentration of TiO2 nanoparticles in the mineral oil based lubricant, as well as on the overall performance of a window type Air-Conditioner system using R22 as the working fluid. An enhancement in the COP of the refrigeration system has been observed and the existence of an optimum volume fraction noticed, with low concentrations of nanoparticles suspended in the mineral oil. Results showed that the average compressor work reduced by 13.3%, which ultimately resulted in an increase of 11.99% in the COP due to

  This study investigated the effect of applying an external magnetic field on the characteristics of laser-induced plasma, such as its parameters plasma, magnetization properties, emission line intensities, and plasma coefficients, for plasma induced from zinc oxide: aluminum composite (ZO:AL) at an atomic ratio of 0.3 %. Plasma properties include magnetization and emission line intensities. The excitation was done by a pulsed laser of Nd:YAG with 400 mJ energy at atmospheric pressure. Both the electron temperature and number density were determined with the help of the Stark effect principle and the Boltzmann-Plot method. There was a rise in the amount of (n_e) and (T_e) that was produced

The research aims to extrapolate the repercussions of the use of expert systems in the work of the external auditor on the quality of audit, as the research problem was that despite the use of these techniques in audit work, there is a problem related to the efficiency and effectiveness of these technological systems used in audit work, the feasibility of their use and the extent of their impact: The quality of the audit process.

The researchers adopted the questionnaire as a tool for collecting study data from a community composed of auditors in auditing offices and companies in Iraq, and the auditors of the Iraqi Federal Financial Supervision Bureau. The number of recovered and valid qu

Low incoming discharge upstream of Samarra-Al Tharthar System leads to sediment accumulation and forming islands, especially an island upstream of Al Tharthar Regulator. This island and the sedimentation threaten the stability of the structure and reduce the efficiency of the system. This study aims to hydraulically identify the sedimentation problem mentioned above, to find solutions of how to control the sediment problems, and to develop the capacity of
the system for 500 years return period flood of 15060 m3/s. Surface Water Modeling System (SMS10.1) with two dimensional depth average models (RMA-2) software were used to simulate and analyze the system. The results of analysis showed that the maximum permissible discharge through t

Electrocoagulation is an electrochemical method for treatment of different types of wastewater  whereby sacrificial anodes corrode to release active coagulant (usually aluminium or iron cations) into solution, while simultaneous evolution of hydrogen at the cathode allows for pollutant removal by flotation or settling. The Taguchi method was applied as an experimental design and to determine the best conditions for chromium (VI) removal from wastewater. Various parameters in a batch stirred tank by iron metal electrodes: pH, initial chromium concentration, current density, distance between electrodes and KCl concentration were investigated, and the results have been analyzed using signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio. It was found that the r