Irisin is a novel myokine and adipokine, its role during pregnancy and its association with some metabolic risk factors especially pre-pregnancy body mass index (pre-BMI) need more evaluation. The aim of the study is to find whether the pre-BMI could predict irisin levels during normal pregnancy and to clarify associations of irisin with some pathological parameters.

Irisin levels were estimated by ELISA in sera of 59 normal pregnant women who enrolled from December 2016 to May 2017 at Maternity Hospital, Zakho city, Kurdistan region (Iraq). Thirty-two normal-weight pregnant (pre-BMI≤24.9 kg/m², Age=24.03 mean±3.7standard deviation) and 27 overweight/obese-pregnant (pre-BMI>25 kg/m², Age=27.6 mean±3.9

Quantitative real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) has become a valuable molecular technique in biomedical research. The selection of suitable endogenous reference genes is necessary for normalization of target gene expression in RT-qPCR experiments. The aim of this study was to determine the suitability of each 18S rRNA and ACTB as internal control genes for normalization of RT-qPCR data in some human cell lines transfected with small interfering RNA (siRNA). Four cancer cell lines including MCF-7, T47D, MDA-MB-231 and Hela cells along with HEK293 representing an embryonic cell line were depleted of E2F6 using siRNA specific for E2F6 compared to negative control cells, which were transfected with siRNA not specific for any gene. Us

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel concrete-encased column (CE) using small circular steel tubes filled with cementitious grouting material (GFST) as the primary reinforcement instead of traditional steel bars. The research involved three different types of reinforcement: conventional steel bars, concrete-filled steel tubes with 30% of the reinforcement ratio of steel bars, and concrete-filled steel tubes with the same reinforcement ratio as steel bars. Twenty-four circular concrete columns were tested and categorized into six groups based on the type of reinforcement employed. Each group comprised four columns, with one subjected to concentric axial load, two subjected to eccentric axial load (with eccentrici

Reliability analysis methods are used to evaluate the safety of reinforced concrete structures by evaluating the limit state function 𝑔(𝑋𝑖). For implicit limit state function and nonlinear analysis , an advanced reliability analysis methods are needed. Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) can be used in this case however, as the number of input variables increases, the time required for MCS also increases, making it a time consuming method especially for complex problems with implicit performance functions. In such cases, MCS-based FORM (First Order Reliability Method) and Artificial Neural Network-based FORM (ANN FORM) have been proposed as alternatives. However, it is important to note that both MCS-FORM and ANN-FORM can also be time-con

Field experiment was conducted to test the effect of saline water and fertilizers rate on Pisum sativum L. plants . Treatments of the experiment included two levels of water salinity (2, 7 dSm-1) as a main plot and three levels of potash fertilization K2SO4 (44%K) namely 150 control, 300 and 450 kg/Donum as a sub plot. Results indicated that irrigation of plant with saline water 7 dSm-¹ caused a significant decrease in K and P contents specially in the upper parts of the plants , the percentage of the K increased (2.80%) under 2 dSm-¹of irrigation water and 300 kg/ donum fertilizer rate in the upper leaves, However K decreased(1.10%) in lower leaves under 7 dSm-¹ and 300 kg/donum fertilizer. while P increased in pods und

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the role of social media in promoting awareness of green university initiatives and assess the effectiveness of sustainability reports in engaging students at Baghdad University. In alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production),It seeks to provide recommendations for enhancing digital platforms for sustainability communication.   Theoretical Framework: The study is grounded in the Green University Model, Social Media Engagement Theory, and the Sustainability Reporting Framework, which emphasize integrating sustainable practices in education, using digital platforms for community engagement, and leveraging sustainability reports for transparency and

This study is prospective in nature, It consider
110 patients with vertigo who were assessed
between April and December 2010 at E.N.T out
patient department of otolarygiology, in Al
Diwania teaching hospital, in Diwania city,
Iraq. The study is designed to assess the
incidence of vestibular and non vestibular
vertigo and their association with
tinnitus,hearing loss,migraine in Young adult
and elderly.All patients were assessed by
questionary method and by pure tone
Audiometry.
Results: the incidence of vestibular vertigo was
69.1% while non vestibular vertigo is 30.9 %,
vestibular vertigo was inversely related to the
age while non vestibular vertigo directly related
to the age
The percen