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The bone-cartilage interface is defined by a unique arrangement of cells and tissue matrix. Injury to the interface can contribute to the development of arthritic joint disease. Attempts to repair osteochondral damage through clinical trials have generated mixed outcomes. Tissue engineering offers the potential of integrated scaffold design with multiregional architecture to assist in tissue regeneration, such as the bone-cartilage interface. Challenges remain in joining distinct materials in a single scaffold mass while maintaining integrity and avoiding delamination. The aim of the current work is to examine the possibility of joining two closely related acrylamide derivatives such as, poly n-isopropyl acrylamide (pNIPAM) and poly n‑tert‑butyl acrylamide (pNTBAM). The target is to produce a single scaffold unit with distinct architectural regions in the favour of regenerating the osteochondral interface. Longitudinal phosphate glass fibres (PGFs) with the formula 50P2O5.30CaO.20Na2O were incorporated to provide additional bioactivity by degradation to release ions such as calcium and phosphate which are considered valuable to assist the mineralization process. Polymers were prepared via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and solutions cast to ensure the integration of polymers chains. Scaffold was characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) techniques. The PGF mass degradation pattern was inspected using micro computed tomography (µCT). Biological assessment of primary human osteoblasts (hOBs) and primary human chondrocytes (hCHs) upon scaffolds was performed using alizarin red and colorimetric calcium assay for mineralization assessment; alcian blue staining and dimethyl-methylene blue (DMMB) assay for glycosaminoglycans (GAGs); immunostaining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect functional proteins expression by cells such as collagen I, II, and annexin A2. FTIR analysis revealed an intact unit with gradual transformation from pNIPAM to pNTBAM. SEM images showed three distinct architectural regions with mean pore diameter of 54.5 µm (pNIPAM), 16.5 µm (pNTBAM) and 118 µm at the mixed interface. Osteogenic and mineralization potential by cells was observed upon the entire scaffold's regions. Chondrogenic activity was relevant on the pNTBAM side of the scaffold only with minimal evidence in the pNIPAM region. PGFs increased mineralization potential of both hOBs and hCHs, evidenced by elevated collagens I, X, and annexin A2 with reduction of collagen II in PGFs scaffolds. In conclusion, pNIPAM and pNTBAM integration created a multiregional scaffold with distinct architectural regions. Differential chondrogenic, osteogenic, and mineralized cell performance, in addition to the impact of PGF, suggests a potential role for phosphate glass-incorporated, acrylamide-derivative scaffolds in osteochondral interface regeneration.

Objectives: Current National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines recommend definitive chemoradiation rather than surgery for patients with locally advanced clinical stage T3 and N2 (stage IIIB) lung cancer involving the chest wall. The data supporting this recommendation are controversial. We studied whether surgery confers a survival advantage over definitive chemoradiation in the National Cancer Database. Methods: We identified all patients with clinical stage T3 and N2 lung cancer in the National Cancer Database from 2004 to 2017 who underwent a lobectomy with en bloc chest wall resection and compared them with patients with clinical stage T3 and N2 lung cancer who had definitive chemoradiation. We used propensity score matching to minimize confounding by indication while excluding patients with tumors in the upper lobes to exclude Pancoast tumors. We used 1:1 propensity score matching and Kaplan–Meir survival analyses to estimate associations. Results: Of 4467 patients meeting all inclusion/exclusion criteria, 210 (4.49%) had an en bloc chest wall resection. Patients undergoing surgical resection were younger (mean age = 60.3 ± 10.3 years vs 67.5 ± 10.4 years; P

AbstractDemand for electric power, especially amidst limited fossil fuel-based generation capacity, has elevated renewable energy sources to a forefront solution for the growing energy needs. Solar energy, a key renewable source through photovoltaic (PV) panels, faces challenges such as intermittency and non-dispatchability. Thus, recent research has focused on developing programs to predict near-future solar energy generation, with machine learning being a pivotal approach. This article details the creation of an effective machine-learning pipeline for predicting future hourly power generation based on weather data (e.g. temperature, humidity, irradiance). The pipeline, aimed at a scheduling system in a farm equipped with a Solar Power System (SPS) in Al-Salt, Jordan, was optimized using Genetic Algorithm and Grid Search methods. The objective of this article is to create an optimal pipeline with minimal loss. The evaluation shows that ensemble regressors, especially Gradient Boosting Regressors, are effective. This is evidenced in the grid search pipeline, which outperformed the TPOT optimization pipeline-derived pipeline, the latter including stacked ensemble regressors and sequential preprocessors.

This study on the moderating effect of electronic quality in mobile marketing aims to examine the factors that influence how Saudi commercial banks are viewed by their customers. A research framework that sheds light on the state of the research was developed after a comprehensive analysis of the accessible literature. The theoretical foundation of this study is the idea of perceived characteristics, which identifies five critical factors that influence adoption rates. The empirical results of this study are presented based on a sample of 300 respondents (n = 300). The research was conducted using the statistical technique of least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The reporting format conforms to accepted PLS-SEM analysis standards. The results reveal a significant association between mobile marketing and customer perceptions in the context of Saudi commercial banks, especially when electronic quality is used as a mediating variable. Based on these findings, we suggest that Saudi commercial banks should strategically include e-quality in their digital marketing campaigns, paying special attention to mobile marketing.

Muhammad Usman,1 Arooj Marcus,1 Aimen Fatima,1 Bushra Aslam,1 Maryam Zaid,1 Muska Khattak,1 Sidra Bashir,1 Safia Masood,1 Zara Rafaque,2 Javid Iqbal Dasti1 1Lab of Microbial Genomics and Epidemiology, Department of Microbiology, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan; 2Department of Microbiology Hazara University Mansehra, Mansehra 21120, PakistanCorrespondence: Javid Iqbal Dasti, Lab of Microbial Genomics and Epidemiology, Department of Microbiology, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan, Tel +92-5190644175, Email iqbal.78@hushmail.comBackground: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen involved in number of hospital-acquired infections such as catheter-associated urinary tract infections, bacteremia, septicemia, skin infections, and ventilator-associated pneumoniae. Biofilm formation is an important trait implicated in chronic infections, such as cystic fibrosis and chronic pulmonary obstruction. We evaluated effects of gentamicin, cefepime, and ciprofloxacin on biofilm of P. aeruginosa.Materials and Methods: A total of 266 isolates were collected from the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP). Antibiotic susceptibility was assessed by double disk synergy testing. ESBL and carbapenemase detection was performed by phenotypic testing. Molecular screening of the genes was done by PCR. Micro-dilution broth method was used to determine minimum inhibitory concentrations of antibiotics. Biofilm formation was done by micro-titer plate assay.Results: Overall, 20% of the P. aeruginosa isolates were extensively drug-resistant (XDR-PA), and 25% were multi-drug-resistant (MDR-PA). Likewise, 43% of the isolates were ESBL producers, and carbapenemase production was detected in 40% of the isolates. Molecular analysis confirmed occurrence of different resistant factors in ESBL-positive isolates; 67% carried blaTEM, 62% blaCTXM-15, 41% blaSHV, 34% blaCTXM-14, and 33% blaOXA-1. In addition, 68% of the carbapenem-resistant isolates were positive for blaNDM-1, 25% for blaOXA-48, and 22% for blaKPC-2. Biofilm formation was assessed for 234 isolates, out of which 28% were strong biofilm formers. Moderate and weak biofilm formers constituted 46% and 23%, respectively. Overall, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and cefepime showed inhibitory effects on P. aeruginosa biofilms. Antibiotics in combination showed strong synergistic effects (ciprofloxacin and cefepime), while gentamicin and cefepime resulted in complete eradication of P. aeruginosa biofilm.Conclusion: We confirm strong synergistic effects of gentamicin and cefepime that completely eradicated P. aeruginosa biofilm. We further confirm inhibitory effects of ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and cefepime on P. aeruginosa biofilms. Hence, combination therapy can be more effective against biofilm-associated infections.Keywords: synergistic effects, gentamicin, cefepime, biofilm, Pseudomonas aeruginosa

A numerical study is performed to investigate the local thermal non-equilibrium effects on the natural convection in a two-dimensional enclosure with horizontal wavy walls, layered by a porous medium, saturated by Cu-Al2O3/water hybrid nanofluid. It is examined the influence of the nanoparticle volume fraction, varied from 0 to 0.04, the Darcy number (10-5 ≤ Da ≤ 10-2), the modified conductivity ratio (0.1 ≤ ϒ ≤ 1000), the porous layer height (0 ≤ Hp ≤ 1), and the wavy wall wavenumber (1 ≤ N ≤ 5) on natural convection in the enclosure. Predictions of the steady incompressible flow and temperature fields are obtained by the Galerkin finite element method, using the Darcy-Brinkman model in the porous layer. These are validated against previous numerical and experimental studies. By resolving separately the temperature fields of the working fluid and of the porous matrix, the local thermal non-equilibrium model exposed hot and cold spot formation and mitigation mechanisms on the heated and cooled walls. By determining the convection cell strength, the Darcy number is the first rank controlling parameter on the heat transfer performance, followed by N, Hp and γ. The heat transfer rate through the hybrid nanofluid and solid phases is highest when N = 4 at a fixed value of nanoparticle volume fraction.

The field of mathematical inequalities has exerted a profound influence across a multitude of scientific disciplines, making it a captivating and expansive domain ripe for research investigation. This article offers estimations for the Slater difference through the application of the concept of convexity. We present a diverse type of applications that stem from the main findings related to power means, Zipf–Mandelbrot entropy, and within the field of information theory. Our main tools for deriving estimates for the Slater difference involve the triangular inequality, the definition of the convex function, and the well-established Jensen inequality.

Objective: To understand the perceptions of pregnant Jordanian women who received antenatal care via mobile clinic, and to contribute new insights into the experiences of these mothers and how they evaluated the services that were available. Methods: Ten Jordanian mothers who had received antenatal care at a mobile clinic discussed their experiences in semi-structured, audiotaped interviews in a study that adopted a qualitative research design. The analysis was done using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results: Three main themes were identified: Being informed about the medical campaign or missing the opportunity of being informed; The experience of receiving antenatal care was wonderful, although there was only one thing lacking; and they safeguard our life and take any opportunity to educate us. Conclusion: Data indicate that the mothers were largely satisfied with most facets of the antenatal care services they had received at the mobile clinics. However, while services are generally well received, there are clear opportunities for ameliorating the quality of services provided. For mothers living in remote, deprived areas, outreach is not just an ‘optional extra’ but rather an essential service.

The Sudanese-Ethiopian relations arose on the basis of several common political and social factors, including the ethnic interaction between the tribes that inhabited the border areas of the two neighboring countries and which practiced the profession of grazing and agriculture and were constantly crossing the borders of the two countries, such as the Nuer tribes who inhabited the Baru sector within the Sudanese territory, as well as the Anwak tribes living within the borders of Ethiopia The Shilluk and the Dinka tribes, and it is worth noting that Sudan and Ethiopia are two neighboring African countries, enjoying several common characteristics, represented by a mixture of historical and religious ties, which confirmed the existence of a spiritual rapprochement between the Christians of Ethiopia and the Muslims of Sudan, as well as the economic ties, as both countries are linked by a common waterline. , represented by the Nile River, which is one of Sudan’s most important links with Ethiopia, as it derives 85% of the river’s water, in order to meet its main needs, whether at the level of agriculture, industry or to meet human needs, which made Sudan fall under the pressure of the upstream state (Ethiopia), which was reflected on The nature of the relationship between them, sometimes the relationship is tense and disputes prevail, and at other times the relationship is witnessing cooperation and relative stability.

The miracle of Quran lies in its preservation which no other scripture may proclaim. Amongst the Abrahamic religions, the Torah and the Bible have also undergone modifications and alterations. Hence the reason that the Muslims believe them to be divinely revealed in their original form but that these scriptures have been abrogated. This article deals with an analysis of the Book of Evidence and concludes that the fact that these scriptures have been altered is demonstrable.

Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has changed the landscape of professional activities, emphasizing virtual meetings and social media (SoMe) presence. Whether cardiothoracic programs increased their SoMe presence is unknown. We examined SoMe use and content creation by cardiothoracic surgery programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We searched the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education to identify all cardiothoracic surgery residency programs (n = 122), including independent (n = 74), integrated (n = 33), and congenital (n = 15) training programs at 78 US cardiothoracic surgery teaching institutions. We then manually searched Google, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter to identify the associated residency and departmental accounts. The timeline for our search was between 10/2021 and 4/2022. March 2020 was used as the starting point for the COVID-19 pandemic. We also contacted the account managers to identify account content creators. The data are descriptively reported and analyzed. Results: Of 137 SoMe accounts from 78 US cardiothoracic surgery teaching institutions, 72 of 137 (52.6%) were on Twitter, 34 of 137 (24.8%) on Facebook, and 31 of 137 (22.6%) on Instagram. Most accounts were departmental accounts (105/137 = 76.6%) versus 32 of 137 (23.4%) training program accounts. Most training program-specific SoMe accounts across all platforms were created after the COVID-19 pandemic, whereas departmental accounts were pre-existing (P

In this research the removal of sesame oil from aritifical water by Fenton process technique was investigated . The results of removal efficiency were compared with actual wastewater . Effect of time, pH, mixing speed, temperature, oil content were investigated to find the perfect circumstances. The conducted experiments revealed that the optimal conditions for this process were 160 minutes of reaction time in an acidic medium where pH was equal to 3.5 , temperature was discovered to be 25°C, the optimal mixing speed was at 500 rpm , and the Sesame oil concentration amounted to 1500 mg/l. Applying the optimal conditions for this processing, the results of compersion showed the sesame oil had a removal efficiency of 95% for the artificial wastewater in which the concentration decreased from 12800 to 68 mg/l, while the Fenton method was used to treat an actual sample of wastewater the removal efficiency is found to be 87% .

A reinforced concrete frame is referred as "RIGID FRAMES". However, researches indicate that the Beam-Column joint (BCJ) is definitely not rigid. In addition, extensive research shows that failure may occur at the joint instead of in the beam or the column. Joint failure is known to be a catastrophic type which is difficult to repair. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of hoops and column axial load on the shear strength of high-strength fiber reinforced Beam-Column Joints by using a numerical model based on finite element method using computer program ANSYS (Version 11.0). The variables are: diameter of hoops and magnitude of column axial load. The theoretical results obtained from ANSYS program are in a good agreement with previous experimental results.

Objectives: Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is an established primary treatment modality in patients with lung cancer who have multiple comorbidities and/or advanced-stage disease. However, its role in otherwise healthy patients with stage I lung cancer is unclear. In this context, we compared the effectiveness of SBRT versus surgery on overall survival using a national database. Methods: We identified all patient with clinical stage I non–small cell lung cancer from the National Cancer Database from 2004 to 2016. We defined otherwise healthy patients as those with a Charlson-Deyo comorbidity index of 0 and whose treatment plan included options for either SBRT or surgery. We further excluded patients who received SBRT due to a contraindication to surgery. We first used propensity score matching and Cox proportional hazard models to identify associations. Next, we fit 2-stage residual inclusion models using an instrumental variables approach to estimate the effects of SBRT versus surgery on long-term survival. We used the hospital SBRT utilization rate as the instrument. Results: Of 25,963 patients meeting all inclusion/exclusion criteria, 5465 (21%) were treated with SBRT. On both Cox proportional hazards modeling and propensity-score matched Kaplan-Meier analysis, surgical resection was associated with improved survival relative to SBRT. In the instrumental-variable–adjusted model, SBRT remained associated with decreased survival (hazard ratio, 2.64; P

Objectives In developing countries, the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) has not been incorporated into the national immunization schedule, and the vaccination rate is low. This study aimed to examine parental knowledge, attitudes, and barriers to children receiving the PCV in Jordan. Methods This was a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study. The online survey was written in Arabic and consisted of three main sections. The questionnaire was distributed via social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp. Results In total, 720 responses were analyzed. Only 149 (20.7%) of the parents’ children were vaccinated with the PCV. However, almost half 356 (49.4%) of the respondents were willing to vaccinate their children. Most (563, 78.1%) parents stated that the vaccine would protect their children from pneumococcal disease. More than two thirds (516, 71.6%) of them strongly agreed or agreed that the cost of the PCV is high. Parents who had vaccinated their children had a higher monthly income than parents who had not vaccinated their children. Conclusions This study shows a lack of knowledge regarding pneumococcal infection and the PCV among Jordanian parents. This is the main barrier to vaccinating children. Therefore, improving parental knowledge would increase the rate of vaccination among Jordanian children.

PurposeTo investigate the feasibility of using music listening by adults with fibromyalgia (FM) as a potential tool for reducing pain sensitivity.Patients and methodsWe report results from a double-blind two-arm parallel randomized pilot study (NCT04059042) in nine participants with FM. Pain tolerance and threshold were measured objectively using quantitative sensory tests; autonomic nervous system (ANS) reactivity was measured with an electrocardiogram. Participants were randomized to listen to instrumental Western Classical music or a nature sound control to test whether music listening elicits greater analgesic effects over simple auditory distraction. Participants also completed separate control testing with no sound that was counterbalanced between participants.ResultsParticipants were randomized 1:1 to music or nature sounds (four Music and five Nature). Although the groups were not different on FM scores, the Music group had marginally worse temporal pain summation (p = 0.06), and the Nature group had higher anxiety scores (p < 0.05). Outcome measures showed a significant difference between groups in the magnitude of change in temporal summation between sessions (p < 0.05), revealing that the Nature group had greater pain reduction during audio compared to silence mode, while the Music group had no difference between the sessions. No significant effects were observed for either mechanical pain tolerance or ANS testing. Within the Music group, there was a trend of vagal response increase from baseline to music listening, but it did not reach statistical significance; this pattern was not observed in the Nature group.ConclusionAuditory listening significantly altered pain responses. There may be a greater vagal response to music vs. nature sounds; however, results could be due to group differences in pain and anxiety. This line of study will help in determining whether music could be prophylactic for people with FM when acute pain is expected.

The phenomenon of divorce is a thorny issue because of the specificity and sensitivity of the problems involved in it, and the difficulty of obtaining neutral information regarding it from both parties to the conflict, as the researcher did everything possible to achieve his desired goal. The increase in divorce cases and their high rates have become a clear feature in the modern era and in most of the developed and developing societies, as we see the disintegration of families and the deviation of children from the right path. Societal cohesion, especially for families who have lived through the bitter experience of displacement, and the tragedies and suffering that resulted from it, which is not felt except in the midst of its horrors, and was harmed by the harsh conditions and material and moral losses as a result. Our study is one of the field descriptive studies, and the researcher relied on the social survey method by using the questionnaire tool that was distributed to a sample of the people who were searched for and their number (150) is absolute and absolute, in addition to conducting personal interviews with some individuals from the Customs And specialization

Introduction/purpose: This paper considers, generalizes and improves recent results on fixed points in rectangular metric spaces. The aim of this paper is to provide much simpler and shorter proofs of some new results in rectangular metric spaces. Methods: Some standard methods from the fixed point theory in generalized metric spaces are used. Results: The obtained results improve the well-known results in the literature. The new approach has proved that the Picard sequence is Cauchy in rectangular metric spaces. The obtained results are used to prove the existence of solutions to some nonlinear problems related to chemical sciences. Finally, an open question is given for generalized contractile mappings in rectangular metric spaces. Conclusions: New results are given for fixed points in rectangular metric spaces with application to some problems in chemical sciences.

Article accepted. The article will be published here soon. Pending final quality checks.

Low-frequency oscillations are an inevitable phenomenon of a power system. This paper proposes an Ant lion optimization approach to optimize the dual-input power system stabilizer (PSS2B) parameters to enhance the transfer capability of the 400 kV line in the North-West region of the Ethiopian electric network by the damping of low-frequency oscillation. Double-input Power system stabilizers (PSSs) are currently used in power systems to damp out low-frequency oscillations. The gained minimum damping ratio and eigenvalue results of the proposed Ant lion algorithm (ALO) approach are compared with the existing conventional system to get better efficiency at various loading conditions. Additionally, the proposed Ant lion optimization approach requires minimal time to estimate the key parameters of the power oscillation damper (POD). Consequently, the average time taken to optimally size the parameters of the PSS controller was 14.6 s, which is pretty small and indicates real-time implementation of an ALO developed model. The nonlinear equations that represent the system have been linearized and then placed in state-space form in order to study and analyze the dynamic performance of the system by damping out low-frequency oscillation problems. Finally, conventional fixed-gain PSS improves the maximum overshoot by 5.2% and settling time by 51.4%, but the proposed optimally sized PSS employed with the ALO method had improved the maximum overshoot by 16.86% and settling time by 78.7%.

Sol-gel technique is used to synthesize as-grown zinc oxide (ZnO) and iron-nickel (Fe-Ni) co-doped ZnO thin films deposited on glass substrates using dip coating technique. The structural properties and crystal imperfections of as-prepared thin films are investigated. We performed the structural analysis of films using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The XRD analysis reveal that the as-prepared films exhibit wurtzite structure. Furthermore, XRD-line profile analysis is performed to study the correlation between structural properties and imperfections of the nanocomposite thin films. The crystallite size and microstrains parameters are predicted using the Williamson–Hall method. We found that the crystallites size increases as the co-doped (Fe-Ni) concentration is increased. However, microstrains of the nanocomposite films decreases as (Fe-Ni) concentration is increased. The optical properties of the (Fe-Ni) co-doped nanocomposite films are investigated by performing UV-Vis (250 nm–700 nm) spectrophotometer measurements. We found that as the (Fe-Ni) concentration level is steadily increased, transmittance of the undoped ZnO thin films is decreased. Remarkably, refractive index of undoped ZnO thin films is found to exhibit values extending from 1.55 to1.88 that would increase as (Fe-Ni) concentration is increased.

In this work, the calculation of matter density distributions, elastic charge form factors and size radii for halo 11Be, 19C and 11Li nuclei are calculated. Each nuclide under study are divided into two parts; one for core part and the second for halo part. The core part are studied using harmonic-oscillator radial wave functions, while the halo part are studied using the radial wave functions of Woods-Saxon potential. A very good agreement are obtained with experimental data for matter density distributions and available size radii. Besides, the quadrupole moment for 11Li are generated.

Mixotrophic flagellates can comprise significant proportions of plankton biomass in marine ecosystems. Despite the growing recognition of the importance of this ecological strategy, and the identification of major environmental factors controlling phagotrophic behavior (light and nutrients), the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying mixotrophic behavior are still unclear. In this study, we performed RNA-Seq transcriptomic analysis for two mixotrophic prasinophytes, Micromonas polaris and Pyramimonas tychotreta, under dissolved nutrient regimes that altered their ingestion of bacteria prey. Though the strains examined were polar isolates, both belong to genera with widespread distribution. Our aim was to characterize the transcriptomes of these two non-model phytoflagellates, identify transcripts consistent with phagotrophic activity and assess their differential expression in response to nutrient stress. De novo assembly of the transcriptomes yielded large numbers of novel coding transcripts with no known match within public databases. A summary of the transcripts by Gene Ontology terms showed many expected expression patterns, including genes involved in photosynthetic pathways and enzymes implicated in nutrient uptake pathways. Searches of KEGG databases identified several genes associated with intra-cellular digestive pathways actively transcribed in both prasinophytes. Differential expression analysis showed a larger response in P. tychotreta, where 23,373 genes were up-regulated and 1,752 were down-regulated in the low nutrient treatment when phagotrophy was enhanced. In contrast, in M. polaris, low nutrient treatments resulted in up-regulation of 314 transcripts while down-regulating 371. With respect to phagotrophic-related expression, 37 genes were co-expressed in both P. tychotreta and M. polaris, and although the response was less pronounced in M. polaris, it is consistent with differences in observed ingestion behavior. This study presents the first genomic data for Pyramimonas tychotreta, and also contributes to the limited available data for Micromonas polaris. Furthermore, it provides insight into the presence of genes associated with phagocytosis within the Prasinophyceae and contributes to the understanding of potential target genes required for the construction of a complete model of gene regulation of phagocytic behavior in algae.

Burdock ( Arctium lappa), is among the most popular plants in traditional medicine and it is associated with several biological effects. Literature survey revealed the presence of phenylpropanoid compounds .The most widespread are hydroxycinnamic acids ( mainly caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid) and lignans (mainly arctiin and arctigenin). This work will confirm the presence of these compounds in Arctium lappa, cultivated in Iraq, in both root and leaf samples. The dried plant samples were extracted by soxhlet with 80% methanol then separated the main constituents by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Identification of the isolated compounds was carried out by UV, IR, and compared with reference standards using TLC, HPLC and HPTLC. Keywords: Actium lappa, hydroxycinnamic acid, Lignan, Phytochemical.

This study summarizes results of an experimental investigation of theimpact resistance of 12 lightweight concrete slabs made from incorporating chopped worn-out tires (Ch.W.T.) into the mixes as a partial replacement of the sand in mortar mixes, and as partial replacement for both sand and gravel for concrete mixes; volumetrically.The main variables were; the partial replacement ratio (PRR) and the shape of the falling mass (striker). Data were obtained pertaining to compressive strength, static and dynamic modulus of elasticity, and modulus of rupture. In addition, the crack pattern under impact loading was studied to provide insight into the internal behavior and failure mechanism of lightweight Ch.W.T. concrete slabs. Results of this work indicate that incorporating Ch.W.T. into mortar and concrete mixes succeeded in reducing its unit weight from 17.9% to 26.2% according to type of mix and partial replacement ratio. In contrast, the ultimateimpact resistance, expressed in the number of blows required for complete separation of the specimen, increased from 91% to 186% for mortar mixes depending on the partial replacement ratio and the type of falling mass; and did not decreased significantly for concrete mixes.

Pressure application to the lumbar spine is an important assessment and treatment method of low back pain. However, few studies have characterized brain activation patterns in response to mechanical pressure. The objective of this study was to map brain activation associated with various levels of mechanical pressure to the lumbar spine in healthy subjects. Fifteen healthy subjects underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning while mechanical pressure was applied to their lumbar spine with a custom-made magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-compatible pressure device. Each subject received three levels of pressure (low/medium/high) based on subjective ratings determined prior to the scan using a block design (pressure/rest). Pressure rating was assessed with an 11-point scale (0 = no touch; 10 = max pain-free pressure). Brain activation differences between pressure levels and rest were analyzed. Subjective pressure ratings were significantly different across pressure levels (p < 0.05). The overall brain activation pattern was not different across pressure levels (all p > 0.05). However, the overall effect of pressure versus rest showed significant decreases in brain activation in response to the mechanical stimulus in regions associated with somatosensory processing including the precentral gyri, left hippocampus, left precuneus, left medial frontal gyrus, and left posterior cingulate. There was increase in brain activation in the right inferior parietal lobule and left cerebellum. This study offers insight into the neural mechanisms that may relate to manual mobilization intervention used for managing low back pain.

Endometriosis affects approximately 10% of young, reproductive-aged women. Disease associated pelvic pain; infertility and sexual dysfunction have a significant adverse clinical, social and financial impact. As precise disease etiology has remained elusive, current therapeutic strategies are empiric, unfocused and often unsatisfactory. Lack of a suitable genetic model has impaired further translational research in the field. In this study, we evaluated the role of the Sp/KLF transcription factor KLF11/Klf11 in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. KLF11, a human disease-associated gene is etiologically implicated in diabetes, uterine fibroids and cancer. We found that KLF11 expression was diminished in human endometriosis implants and further investigated its pathogenic role in Klf11-/- knockout mice with surgically induced endometriotic lesions. Lesions in Klf11-/- animals were large and associated with prolific fibrotic adhesions resembling advanced human disease in contrast to wildtype controls. To determine phenotype-specificity, endometriosis was also generated in Klf9-/- animals. Unlike in Klf11-/- mice, lesions in Klf9-/- animals were neither large, nor associated with a significant fibrotic response. KLF11 also bound to specific elements located in the promoter regions of key fibrosis-related genes from the Collagen, MMP and TGF-β families in endometrial stromal cells. KLF11 binding resulted in transcriptional repression of these genes. In summary, we identify a novel pathogenic role for KLF11 in preventing de novo disease-associated fibrosis in endometriosis. Our model validates in vivo the phenotypic consequences of dysregulated Klf11 signaling. Additionally, it provides a robust means not only for further detailed mechanistic investigation but also the ability to test any emergent translational ramifications thereof, so as to expand the scope and capability for treatment of endometriosis.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways in which many cells and cellular elements play a role. The treatment guidelines recommend the use of a second controller drug in addition to medium doses of inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) rather than the use of high doses ICS alone in the treatment of moderate-severe persistent asthma. This study was conducted to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of three treatment regimens in Iraqi patients with moderate-severe persistent asthma. The study included three groups; each group included 15 patients. Patients were administered beclomethasone inhaler alone 1500-2000 μg/day, beclomethasone inhaler 750-1000 μg/day plus oral controlled release aminophylline tablets 450 mg/day or beclomethasone inhaler 750-1000 μg/day plus oral montelukast tablets 10 mg/day for 4-5 weeks. Patients were followed 2 weeks and 4-5 weeks after the baseline visit. In all of the three groups, significant improvements were noticed in pulmonary function test parameters (FEV1, FVC, FEF50%) and the asthma symptom records (day-time symptoms, night-time symptoms, number of salbutamol puffs per 24 hours), while there were no significant differences among the groups. Regarding side effects, only the group of inhaled steroid plus aminophylline tablets showed discontinuation of drug therapy in some patients which could be attributed to the development of serious side effects. It was concluded that the administration of a second controller agent was important to use lower doses of inhaled beclomethasone. It was concluded also that montelukast was associated with a lower incidence of serious side effects than aminophylline which could make aminophylline an alternative to montelukast as combination therapy with medium doses ICS in the treatment of moderate-severe persistent asthma