Synthesis & Characterization of Oxazinan and 5-oxa-7-aza-spiro[2,5] octane from reaction of Dibenzylidene with malonic anhydride and 5-oxa-spiro[2,3] hexane-4,6-dione.

Di Benzylidenes were prepared by condensation of 1,2-diamino benzene with o- hydroxy benzaldehyde. These dibenzylidenes when treated with one equivalent of malonic anhydride or 5-oxo-spiro[2,3]hexane-4,6-dione in dry benzene give 6-membered heterocyclic ring system of 3-{2-[(2-Hydroxy-benzylidene)-amino]-phenyl}-2-(2-hydroxy –phenyl)-[1,3]oxazinane-4,6-diones ( 1-3) or 7-{2-[(2-hydroxy-benzylidene)-amino]-phenyl}-6-(2-hydroxy-phenyl)-5-oxa-7-aza-spiro[2.5]octane-4,8-diones ( 7- 9 ) But when two equivalents of malonic anhydride or 5-oxo-spiro[2,3]hexane-4,6-dione were used and under sam conditions compounds (4-6 , 10-12 ) were obtained

The Effect of Adding Expanded Polystyrene Beads (EPS) on the Hardened Properties of Concrete

This study investigated the possibility of producing lightweight concrete using Expanded Polystyrene Beads (EPS), using one reference and five light concrete mixes by replacing coarse aggregates with EPS grains in five volumetric ratios: 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100%. The properties of hardened concrete of all mixed specimens, such as compressive strength, flexural strength, and density, were evaluated. The results showed that the addition of EPS caused an apparent reduction in the mechanical properties of concrete. The compressive strength at 28 days of curing ranged from 13.6 to 1.96MPa, while the rupture modulus ranged from 2.26 to 0MPa. Adding EPS grains as coarse aggregates led to a decrease in the concrete's weight. Replacing the coarse aggregates with EPS grains resulted in lightweight concrete with a density of 1086.5kg/m3

Female genital mutilation among Iraqi Kurdish women: a cross-sectional study from Erbil city

BACKGROUND: Iraqi Kurdistan region is one of the areas where female genital mutilation is reportedly widely practiced but inadequately studied. The aim of this study was to determine (i) the prevalence of female genital mutilation among Muslim Kurdish women in Erbil city, (ii) the patterns and types of female genital mutilation, (iii) the factors associated with this practice and (iv) women’s knowledge and attitudes towards this practice. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the primary health care centers and the Maternity Teaching Hospital in Erbil city, involving 1987 women aged 15–49 years. Data were obtained about female genital mutilation status and knowledge and perception towards this practice. The participants were clinically examined to verify the self-reported female genital mutilation status. RESULTS: The self-reported prevalence of female genital mutilation was 70.3%, while it was 58.6% according to clinical examination of the women’s genitalia. The most common type of female genital mutilation was type I (99.6%) and the most common age at which mutilation was performed was 4–7 years (60.2%). This practice was mostly performed by traditional birth attendants (72.5%). Only 6.4% of mutilated women reported having complications after mutilation, most commonly bleeding (3.6%). The practice was more reported among housewives (OR = 3.3), those women whose mothers were mutilated (OR = 15.1) or with unknown mutilation status (OR = 7.3) and those women whose fathers were illiterate (OR = 1.4) or could only read and write (OR = 1.6). The common reasons for practicing female genital mutilation were cultural tradition (46.7%) and dictate of religion (38.9%). Only 30% of the participants were aware about the health consequences of female genital mutilation. More than one third (36.6%) of the women support the practice and 34.5% have intention to mutilate their daughters. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of female genital mutilation among Muslim Kurdish women in Erbil city is very high; although, most cases are of type I. There is clear lack of knowledge about the health consequences of female genital mutilation and a relatively important segment of women support this practice. Custom or tradition and dictate of religion are the main reasons for this practice that need further in-depth exploration

The Effect of Adding Expanded Polystyrene Beads (EPS) on Polymer-Modified Mortar

This study assessed the efficiency of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) waste as a 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60% substitute for fine aggregate in the manufacturing of lightweight cement composites. A 4% low-cost latex paint emulsion was added to the cement mortar to reinforce it as an alternative to the more expensive polymer admixtures. This improved the bonding between the cement matrix and the EPS particles because SBR films were produced in the cement matrix. The flexural strength of regular EPS concrete may also be significantly increased by SBR treatment. Eight alternative mix designs were created and evaluated for compressive and flexural strength, thermal conductivity, water absorption, and dry density. The polymer-modified mortar was created using a 0.4 water/cement ratio of local cement, polymer, and polystyrene. The results showed that compared to the standard combination at 28 days of aging, the compressive strength increased up to 29.26Mpa, flexural strength increased to 6.83Mpa, dry density increased up to 1930kg/m³, and absorption decreased by 4.95. Thermal conductivity decreased by 0.8291W/m.k

Quality of life of type 2 diabetic patients in Erbil city

Background and objective: Diabetic patients could be at increased risk of functional disability, which needs good control of blood glucose and other risk factors and the quality of life of diabetic patients especially those who had complications is remarkably lower than the quality of life of the general population. This study was conducted to assess the quality of life of diabetic patients in its different domains from the patient's perspective in Erbil city. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 160 diabetic patients were randomly selected from Layla Qassim diabetic health center. The WHO (WHO QOL- BREF) questionnaire was used as the main tool for data collection, which included26 questions on four domains of health-related quality of life (physical, psychological, social and environmental domains). Results: Around 49% of the patients had checked their blood sugar regularly and had better scores in the social domain (P = 0.036). Diabetic patients of all age groups had low scores in all domains of quality of life, with the lowest mean score in the psychological domain. Females reported significantly higher scores in the environmental domain (P = 0.001). Patients with insufficient monthly family income had lower scores in the social (P = 0.001), psychological (P = 0.031) and environmental (P = 0.039) domains. There was no obvious statistical association between clinical characteristics of the patients and the quality of life domains. However, those with complications had lower scores in the psychological domain, with a higher proportion (P = 0.016) of complications in females. Conclusion: All domains of quality of life are affected by diabetes mellitus, with no clear, consistent statistical association between clinical characteristics of the patients and the quality of life of various domains, which emphasize the need for more multidisciplinary team action for more patient`s education and self-care

The effects of ageing and adrenergic challenge on electrocardiographic phenotypes in a murine model of long QT syndrome type 3.

Long QT Syndrome 3 (LQTS3) arises from gain-of-function Nav1.5 mutations, prolonging action potential repolarisation and electrocardiographic (ECG) QT interval, associated with increased age-dependent risk for major arrhythmic events, and paradoxical responses to β-adrenergic agents. We investigated for independent and interacting effects of age and Scn5a+/ΔKPQ genotype in anaesthetised mice modelling LQTS3 on ECG phenotypes before and following β-agonist challenge, and upon fibrotic change. Prolonged ventricular recovery was independently associated with Scn5a+/ΔKPQ and age. Ventricular activation was prolonged in old Scn5a+/ΔKPQ mice (p = 0.03). We associated Scn5a+/ΔKPQ with increased atrial and ventricular fibrosis (both: p < 0.001). Ventricles also showed increased fibrosis with age (p < 0.001). Age and Scn5a+/ΔKPQ interacted in increasing incidences of repolarisation alternans (p = 0.02). Dobutamine increased ventricular rate (p < 0.001) and reduced both atrioventricular conduction (PR segment-p = 0.02; PR interval-p = 0.02) and incidences of repolarisation alternans (p < 0.001) in all mice. However, in Scn5a+/ΔKPQ mice, dobutamine delayed the changes in ventricular repolarisation following corresponding increases in ventricular rate. The present findings implicate interactions between age and Scn5a+/ΔKPQ in prolonging ventricular activation, correlating them with fibrotic change for the first time, adding activation abnormalities to established recovery abnormalities in LQTS3. These findings, together with dynamic electrophysiological responses to β-adrenergic challenge, have therapeutic implications for ageing LQTS patients