Effect of vitamin D on Becker muscular dystrophy: A review

The correlation between Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) and vitamin D has long been known, since vitamin D controls bone  turnover which occurs in this disease. Thus, vitamin D is beneficial to some extent to BMD patients due to the fact that it has long been known to play an important part in bone metabolism. According to recent studies which suggest association between vitamin D and multiple  diseases involving multiple organs, vitamin D may alleviate the pathophysiology of BMD. This review focuses on the benefits of vitamin D to BMD patients through alleviation of the pathophysiology and complications of the disease. Keywords: Becker muscular dystrophy, Cardiomyopathy, Vitamin D&nbsp

Life Table of the Green Lacewing Apertochrysa sp. (Neuroptera:Chrysopidae) Reared on Rice Moth Corcyra cephalonica(Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

The survivorship from egg to adult emergence and fertility of Apertochrysa sp. fed on Corcyra cephalonica were studied in laboratory and population parameters of Apertochrysa sp. were used for construction of life table under ideal condition in laboratory free from natural enemies. The highest mortality occurred in eggs (44.3%) followed by mortality (15.4%) in 2nd instar larva and in pupal stage (11.4%). The sex ratio (proportion of female to male) was 1:1.4. The maximum life span of female was 38 days. The highest number of eggs produced per female was 6.33 at seventh day of oviposition. The gross reproductive rate (GRR) was 19.48 females per female per generation. The net reproductive rate (Ro) was 2.28 females per female per generation. Mean generation time (T) was 40.6 days, while the intrinsic rate of natural increase (r) was 0.02 female per female per day. The finite rate of increase (λ) was 1.02 females per female per day. The population double time (DT) was within 14.8 day

Hybrid information security system via combination of compression, cryptography, and image steganography

Today, the world is experiencing a new paradigm characterized by dynamism and rapid change due to revolutions that have gone through information and digital communication technologies, this raised many security and capacity concerns about information security transmitted via the Internet network. Cryptography and steganography are two of the most extensively that are used to ensure information security. Those techniques alone are not suitable for high security of information, so in this paper, we proposed a new system was proposed of hiding information within the image to optimize security and capacity. This system provides a sequence of steps by compressing the secret image using discrete wavelet transform (DWT) algorithm, then using the advanced encryption standard (AES) algorithm for encryption compressed data. The least significant bit (LSB) technique has been applied to hide the encrypted data. The results show that the proposed system is able to optimize the stego-image quality (PSNR value of 47.8 dB) and structural similarity index (SSIM value of 0.92). In addition, the results of the experiment proved that the combination of techniques maintains stego-image quality by 68%, improves system performance by 44%, and increases the size of secret data compared to using each technique alone. This study may contribute to solving the problem of the security and capacity of information when sent over the internet

Hinders of Cloud Computing Usage in Higher Education in Iraq: A Model Development

Cloud computing (CC) is a trendy technology that is being used in business and daily life. However, limited studies is found on higher education usage. The barriers and obstacles that confront the usage is not clear and in particular in developing countries. The purpose of this study is to examine the barriers and obstacle that confront the usage CC services in Barash University in Iraq. Using the technology organization environment framework and the internal external factor (IE-TOE), the study proposed the conceptual framework. The data was collected from academic, non-academic staff and students using convivence sampling technique. The data was analyzed using Smart PLS. The findings showed that organizational obstacle followed by technological, internal and external factors, and environmental factors are the most severe obstacles that confront the university in using CC services. Decision makers can benefit from the developed model to ease the implementation of CC

The Role of Supportive Leadership Practices in Addressing Electronic Management Obstacles - An Analytical Study at Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University - Republic of Iraq

Purpose: The research is aimed at testing the role of supportive leadership in addressing electronic management obstacles.   Theoretical framework: The conceptual frameworks of the two research variables were clarified, the independent variable, the supportive leadership in its dimensions (of empowering employee, inspirational motive, and treatment fairness), and the dependent variable, the electronic management obstacles (The organizational obstacles, The Technical obstacles, and The human obstacles).   Design/Methodology/Approach: The study sample is taken from education sector employees at Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University, to determine the differences among them at dimension level and study variables. 102 valid questionnaires were collected to distribute the statistical analysis after conducting an electronic survey questionnaire. Three study hypotheses were tested using a statistical program (SMART PLS) to determine whether there is a correlation and effect between the study variables.   Findings: The research found that there is a significant effect of supportive leadership on the obstacles of electronic administration. In other words, the more reliance on supportive leadership practices, the fewer obstacles electronic management will have.   Research, practical and social implication: Managements should take into account employee satisfaction by providing financial compensation (incentives)and maintaining their pays at satisfactory levels.   Originality / value: the study recommends the need to raise awareness about the supportive leadership and conduct future studies that can focus on concrete and feasible strategies that managements may use to address the electronic management of education sector employees in line with this study recommendations

First global registration of an isolate producing aflatoxin B1 from the fungus (Rhizopus microsporus) from stored grains and nuts in Iraq

This study delineates the mycotoxin-producing capabilities of Rhizopus microsporus strains isolated from stored grains and nuts. Aflatoxins, particularly aflatoxin B1, are significant due to their deleterious effects on human and animal health and their economic impact on vital agricultural commodities. Employing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for identification, one isolate was confirmed to produce aflatoxin B1 and was associated with R. microsporus. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and ammonia gas tests substantiated the isolate’s toxin-producing ability. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) quantified aflatoxin B1 concentration, revealing a yield of 395.19 PPb. This study’s findings are unprecedented, marking the first known instance of such isolates producing toxins globally. DNA extraction from fungal hyphae, PCR analysis, nucleotide sequencing, and submission to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database further corroborated the isolate’s classification as R. microsporus. The isolate was formally registered in the Gene Bank with serial number OP205376.1, representing a notable contribution to Iraqi and international scientific communities.

Prediction and Investigation Particulate Fillers (Aluminum &Alumina) Effect on the Thermal Conductivity of Polymeric Matrix Composite (Polyester)

The main objective of this paper is to study the thermal conductivity of composite materials and the parameters affecting it, then to determining the validity of the best theoretical model matching with experimental results and to predict thermal conductivity of any composite materials with different particle size. Alumina& aluminum filled thermoset polyester composites are investigated in this study, and their thermal conductivity will be the central focus. Aluminum particle, alumina particle and aluminum fiber (5wt % to 45wt %) were added to polyester matrixes. It was found that both fillers and fiber positively effect on the thermal conductivity of the composite. By using visual basic program, the results show there are three different theoretical models (Maxwell Equation, Lord Rayleigh Equation &Lewis and Nielsen Equation) valid to predict the effective thermal conductivity for reinforced the polyester by Al and Al2O3 powder until 35wt% and 45wt% respectively. In addition, the rule of mixture model is good to predict the effective thermal conductivity (for aluminum fiber parallel with polyester matrix)

The Role of Galectin-3 in The Diagnosis and Evaluation of Disease Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that primarily affects small joints, leading to joint inflammation, pain, and limited mobility. New biomarkers specific to RA could facilitate early diagnosis and treatment, while also enabling better monitoring of disease activity and treatment response. By ELISA, galectin-3 (gal-3) level was measured in 133 patients with inflammatory arthritis to determine the diagnostic value of gal-3 in the diagnosis of RA and evaluate the disease activity. Serum gal-3 levels were significantly higher in RA patients compared to patients with other types of inflammatory arthritis. According to CDAI, DAS-28 ESR, and DAS-28 CRP, gal-3 showed positive correlations with disease activity scores. Galectin-3 at a cut-off value of ≥ 2.4 ng/ml, revealed 89% sensitivity, 91% specificity, and an AUC of 0.893. There was a significant correlation between gal-3 and the age of RA patients, while no significant correlations were observed with gender, BMI, and smoking index. Notably, gal-3 levels correlated significantly with CRP, RF titer, and ACPA levels. Therefore, gal-3 can be considered a valuable biomarker for the diagnosis of RA and evaluating the disease activity

Pulmonary embolism response teams. A description of the first 36-month Australian experience

Background: High/intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) confers increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. International guidelines recommend the formation of a PE response team (PERT) for PE management because of the complexity of risk stratification and emerging treatment options. However, there are currently no available Australian data regarding outcomes of PE managed through a PERT. Aims: To analyse the clinical and outcome data of patients from an Australian centre with high/intermediate-risk PE requiring PERT-guided management. Methods: We performed a retrospective observational study of 75 consecutive patients with high/intermediate-risk PE who had PERT involvement, between August 2018 and July 2021. We recorded clinical and interventional data at the time of PERT and assessed patient outcomes up to 30 days from PERT initiation. We used unpaired t tests to compare right to left ventricular (RV/LV) ratios by computed tomography criteria or transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) at baseline and after interventions. Results: Data were available for 74 patients. Initial computed tomography pulmonary angiography RV/LV ratio was increased at 1.65 ± 0.5 and decreased to 1.30 ± 0.29 following PERT-guided interventions (P \u3c 0.001). TTE RV/LV ratio also decreased following PERT-guided management (1.09 ± 0.19 vs 0.93 ± 0.17; P \u3c 0.001). 20% of patients had any bleeding complication, but two-thirds were mild, not requiring intervention. All-cause mortality was 6.8%, and all occurred within the first 7 days of admission. Conclusion: The PERT model is feasible in a large Australian centre in managing complex and time-critical PE. Our data demonstrate outcomes comparable with existing published international PERT data. However, successful implementation at other Australian institutions may require adequate centre-specific resource availability and the presence of multispeciality input

Investigation the nonlinear optical properties of silver nanoparticles using femtosecond laser

© 2020 Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd. In this research, the fabrication of silver nanoparticles and experimental nonlinear response (NLO). The fabrication of the silver nanoparticles has been done using E-Beam evaporation on a glass substrate (Ag-NPs) and investigation of their nonlinear optical response (NLO). The silver nanoparticles was evaluated by optical spectrum (UV-Vis) that shows localized surface Plasmon band at 375 nm. The experiment shows the nonlinear absorption and nonlinear refraction effect of silver nanoparticles, the silver nanoparticles is analysed by Z-Scan technique using a femtoseconds laser with 800 nm wavelength. The result shows the nonlinear absorption (NLA) is at 4.8710-4cmW-1, while (NLR) is at 7.9410-9cmW-1