Pushing Back the Limits of Death: Immortal Characters in Toni Morrison’s Paradise

Much of what Toni Morrison writes in her fiction concerns death and immortality. Both death and immortality are central concerns for Morrison and undergo their fullest exploration in her trilogy. In fact, by taking the afterlife as a peaceful place or even a solution to earthly suffering, Morrison seeks to transcend the fear of death that she considers a step towards eternal life. The purpose of this article is to give a way in to Morrison’s representation of death and immortality in Paradise, by addressing the questions: How are both themes represented in Paradise? What does it mean for protagonists to live on (survive) after death? What is the conviction that guides protagonists through facing death without the dread that is often associated with it? What is the value of the relationship of the living to dead characters? These are the major questions in this article. Our way into these questions is taken from the standpoint of Arthur Schopenhauer’s philosophy, especially his reflections on death and immortality. This article treats Schopenhauer’s metaphysics as a framework to account for the condition in which Morrison’s protagonists are as far removed as possible from the anxiety of death and as close to live in peace as possible within immortality

Correlation of Osteocalcin and Fetuin-A levels with Renal Function and Other Biomarkers in CKD patients from Baghdad

Background: This investigation aims to determine if a correlation existed between the levels of Osteocalcin, Fetuin-A, and other biochemical markers in patients with CKD compared to healthy.Methods: One hundred eighty samples divided into 120 (CKD) patients in end-stage divided into 70 males and 50 females, and 60 healthy controls 35 males and 25 females were taken between November 2022 and March 2023 from three major hospitals in Baghdad. diagnosed using symptoms, biochemical testing, history, and clinical examination by specialized nephrologists. Urea, creatinine, calcium, albumin, and phosphate were measured by spectrophotometer (Roche Cobas C111). Furthermore, a spectrophotometer (Beckman coulter au480) was used to measure sodium and potassium levels. On the other hand, vitamin D3 level and PTH were measured by spectrophotometer (Roche Cobas E411). Moreover, Osteocalcin and Fetuin-A were done by ELISA technique.Results: The present study found that the male patients are more than females, and the highest percentage of CKD cases were found in the age group of 50-59 years. also, indicates a strong positive correlation between the levels of Fetuin-A and GFR. while a strong negative correlation between the levels of Fetuin-A with creatinine, urea, and Osteocalcin, moreover, a strong negative correlation between the level of Osteocalcin with GFR and Fetuin-A. The study also found a strong positive correlation between the levels of Osteocalcin with urea and creatinine.Conclusion: Decreased Fetuin-A concentrations have been linked to increased calcification in the vasculature and mortality, increased Osteocalcin levels in CKD may not confer a protective effect against bone disorders.

Hippuric acid nanocomposite enhances doxorubicin and oxaliplatin-induced cytotoxicity in MDA-MB231, MCF-7 and Caco2 cell lines.

Background: The aim of the current study is to design a new nanocomposite for inducing cytotoxicity of doxorubicin and oxaliplatin toward MDA-MB231, MCF-7, and Caco2 cell lines. A hippuric acid (HA) zinc layered hydroxide (ZLH) nanocomposite was synthesized under an aqueous environment using HA and zinc oxide (ZnO) as the precursors. Methods: The hippuric acid nanocomposite (HAN) was prepared by the direct reaction of a HA solution with an aqueous suspension of ZnO. Results: The basal spacing of the nanocomposite was 21.3 Å, which is average of four harmonics at 2θ = 8.32°, 12.50°, 16.68°, and 20.84°. This result indicates that the hippurate anion was successfully intercalated into the interlayer space of ZLH. The combinations of HAN with chemotherapy (drugs) has inhibited the cell growth of the MDA-MB231, MCF-7, and Caco2 cancer cells when compared to drugs alone. An IC50 value for the combination of HAN with doxorubicin toward MCF-7 is 0.19 ± 0.15 µg/mL and toward MDA-MB231 is 0.13 ± 0.10 µg/mL. Similarly, the IC50 for the combination of HAN with oxaliplatin toward Caco2 is 0.24 ± 0.11 µg/mL. In the antiproliferative results, the equal combination of HAN (0.5 µg/mL) with doxorubicin (0.5 µg/mL) has reduced the cell proliferation in MCF-7 and MDA-MB- 231 cells into 37.3% and 17.6%, respectively after 24 hours. Similarly, the antiproliferation percentage for equal combination HAN with oxaliplatin (5.00 µg/mL) toward Caco2 is 72.7% after 24 hours. Conclusion: The resulting combination HAN with drugs has exhibited higher inhibition in cells growth in all cancer cell line

Empirical Equations for Analysis of Two-Way Reinforced Concrete Slabs

There are many different methods for analysis of two-way reinforced concrete slabs. The most efficient methods depend on using certain factors given in different codes of reinforced concrete design. The other ways of analysis of two-way slabs are the direct design method and the equivalent frame method. But these methods usually need a long time for analysis of the slabs.In this paper, a new simple method has been developed to analyze the two-way slabs by using simple empirical formulae, and the results of final analysis of some examples have been compared with other different methods given in different codes of practice.The comparison proof that this simple proposed method gives good results and it can be used in analysis of two-way slabs instead of other methods

Study the Serum Levels of IL-17, IL-23, TLR-4, and TLR-7 Role in Immunopathogenesis in Patients with Moderate and Severe Psoriasis

Objective: Psoriasis is an immune-mediated disease* (a disease with an unclear cause that is characterized by inflammation caused by dysfunction of the immune system) that causes inflammation in the body. This study examined the relationship between immunological markers (IL-17 and TLR-4) and several socio-demographic parameters, including age, sex, disease severity, stress, smoking behaviours, BMI classification, and dietary preferences, in patients with psoriasis. Methods: Psoriasis on patients at the Imam Al-Hussein City Hospital in Karbala Province, Iraq, psoriasis from December 2022 to April 2023. The participants were healthy individuals and newly diagnosed, untreated psoriasis patients. Pregnant women, those with chronic conditions, and those receiving psoriasis medication were excluded. A case-control observational study was conducted, using convenience sampling to select participants. The PASI scoring method was used to evaluate four body areas, and the sandwich ELISA method was used for immunomarker analysis. Results: The study found significant dispirited in the severity of psoriasis among individuals, with 54.44% presenting with intermediate symptoms and 45.56% showed severe manifestations. The moderate and severe psoriasis patients were classified into five age cohorts. The severity of psoriasis correlates with age, with those with severe psoriasis being older. Socio-demographic features revealed a greater prevalence of moderate patients than those with severe psoriasis. The study also found a significant association between greater BMI values and severe symptoms, smoking behaviours, elevated stress levels, and higher consumption of processed foods. Immunological markers such as IL-17, IL-23, TLR-4, and TLR-7 were also examined, showed significant variations between control participants and those with moderate and severe forms of the condition. These findings contributed to understanding the determinants impacting psoriasis severity and its clinical implications for patient care and therapeutic interventions. Conclusion: Psoriasis patients make up a significant part of the study population, with higher smoking, stress, and healthy food habits. There was no significant difference in BMI, disease severity. of immunological markers IL-17, IL-23, TLR-4, and TLR-7 showed a significantly increase

Optimum Design for Controlling the Scouring on Bridge Piers

The scouring around bridge pier can be considered the most important reasons of bridge failure. Therefore, we investigated by using physical models of piers and we used single pier with square collar , circular collar and interaction of two piers   in laboratory channel, its width 1 m and applied three velocities (0.1, 0.08, and 0.07) m/sec. This experimental investigation was made to choose the optimum shape and location of collar of single pier and comparing it with the interaction of two piers, the results showed that both square and circular collar decrease the scour depth, but the square collar is more effective of reducing scouring and the best location at bed level for single pier, comparing the results of single pier with the interaction of two piers, the interaction of two piers without any countermeasure reduced scour depth about 58%.

The Effectiveness of a Training Program in Developing The Auditory Perception Skills and its Effect in Improvement reading Skills Of Students with Learning Disabilities.

The study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of a training program in developing the auditory perception skills and its effect in improving reading skills of students with learning disabilities (LD). The sample of the study were 40 students who were chosen purposively from students who have learning disabilities and who were attending 4th grade resource rooms. These participants were divided into two groups: the first group was an experimental group while the other was a control group. Each group consisted of 20 male students with LD. Moreover, the study used the auditory perception scale prepared by Al-Kailani and Al-Waqfi (1998) which was standardized on the Jordanian environment. In addition, a reading achievement test prepared by the researchers was used. The training program was applied on the experimental group to develop auditory perception skills for a period of two months. The Shared Variance analysis (ANCOVA) was used to analyze the data. The results were as follows; there were statistical significant differences at (α \u3c 0.05) in auditory perception skills between the subjects of both groups; the experimental and control group being better for experimental group on the total auditory perception scale, also on its dimensions in favor of the experimental group. Moreover, there were statistical significance difference in academic (reading) achievement between both groups at the level (α \u3c 0.05) in favor of the experimental grou

Enhancement efficiency of polymer solar cells by incorporating metal oxide nanoparticles

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) deposited at the interface of the hole-collecting buffer layer [poly(3,4ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate)(PEDOT:PSS)] and regiore-gular poly (3-hexylthiophene) :[6,6]-phenylC61-butyricacidmethylester(rr-P3HT):(PCBM) active layer were found to significantly increase solar cell performance. The photo-physical properties of these devices incorporated with AuNPs with different space distributions in the interface of PEDOT:PSS buffer layer and P3HT:PCBM active layer are investigated. We find that, the optical property is improved as the AuNPs are large enough to penetrate into the active layer and the performance of Photovoltaic solar cells (PSCs) with large AuNPs can benefit from the improved hole collection efficiency. The efficiency enhancement for the device with a PEDOT:PSS: AuNPs film is more significant than for the device with PEDOT:PSS film. Keywords: PEDOT:PSS, Buffer layer, P3HT:PCBM, Gold oxide nanoparticle

Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections in Pregnant Women

الغرض من البحث: الغرض من هذا البحث هو دراسة حالات التهاب المجاري البولية نتيجة استعمال صوندة الادرار اثناء اجراء  العمليات القيصرية وكذلك تشخيص مختلف انواع الجراثيم التي تسبب هذا الالتهاب ووضع توصيات حول نوع العلاج والطريقة الصحيحة لوضع صوندة الادرار لغرض  تقليل حالات الالتهابات ومضاعفاتها . العينة وطريقة البحث: دراسة مقطعية أجريت لمرضى تم اختيارهن عشوائيا واللواتي  يرتادون مستشفى النسائية والاطفال  في مدينة الحلة . 2015 البيانات تم الحصول عليها عن طريق الاستبيانات البسيطة وهي تحليل الادرار العام مع فحص الزرع والتحسس لا يجاد المضاد الحيوي الملائم . النتائج: ان نتائج البحث كشفت الانواع التالية من البكتريا المسببة للالتهابات وهي اشريشيا كولاي حوالي  9 مريضة أي بنسبة ((13.84%)..والكليبسيللا حوالي 32 مريضة بنسبة (49.23%) ونوع البروتيوس عدد المصابات بها هو3مريضات وبنسبة (4.61%).  وكذلك نوع السيودوموناص حوالي 2 مريضات ونسبتهن حوالي(3.07%). ونوع ستافيللوكوكس اوريوس عدد المصابات 3 مريضات وبنسبة (4.61%).   ونوع البيتاهيموليتك بكتريا مريضة واحدة وبنسبة (1.53%) ومثلها بكتريا الستاف البس. كذلك ووجدنا ان8 مريضات  استعملن المضاد الحيوي من مجموع النساء ووضعت لهن صوندة الادرار لم يصبن باي التهابات بينما 9 مريضات مع صوندة الادرار بدون مضاد حيوي لم يصبن باي التهابات في المجاري البولية اما بالنسبة للعمر فمن العمر 20-30 سنة بلغ عددهن 42 مريضة (64.62%) والبقية من عمر 31-40 سنة كان عددهن 23 مريضة ((35. 38% الاستنتاجات : لقد وجدنا ان هناك تأثير كبير لصوندة الادرار في أحداث ألتهاب ألمجاري البولية لدى النساء وهذا يستدعي اتباع طرق علمية ومعقمة في أدخال صوندة الادرار ويجب ان يقوم بالعملية كادر متدرب وذو خبرة في هذا المجال. The  urinary tract infection attributed to the use of an indwelling urinary catheter is one of the most common infections acquired by patients in health care facilities. Catheter-acquired urinary infection is the source for about 20% of episodes of health-care acquired bacteremia in acute care facilities, and over 50% in long term care facilities. The most important interventions to prevent bacteriuria and infection are to limit indwelling catheter use and, when catheter use is necessary, to discontinue the catheter as soon as clinically feasible.  Aim of Study: The aim of this research is to study the urinary tract infection after catheterization and to characterize the various types of microorganisms that are associated with this process. Recommendations concerning the type of treatment and the  appropriate ways of catheterization, that help in minimizing urinary tract infection and its complications. Conclusions : about 74% of these 65 patients for whom the urinary catheterization is used  developed urinary tract infections from different kinds of bacteria ,the most common types are Klebsiella pneumoniae (49.23%), also Escherichia coli (13.84%) , Proteus spp. (4.61%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (3..07%), staphylococcus aureus (4.61%), β- hemolytic streptococci (1.53%) and Staphylococcus albus (1.53%)

Knowledge and Awareness Regarding Seasonal Flu among a Sample of Paramedical Staff in Holy Karbala City/ Iraq

A cross sectional study was carried out in Holy Karbala City/Iraq during the period from the 2st of  January 2015 to the end of April to assess knowledge and awareness  among a sample of paramedical staff regarding seasonal flu.The results of demographic data of the studied sample showed that there was a distinct males preponderance with mean ± SD of their ages was (35.21+10.09) years, the age range at the time of study was between (21-62) years , ( male : female ratio was 1.3:1) , more than half of the sample selected (57.4%) were males , (42.76%) falls in the age group of (20-29) years, and more than half were (54.51%) had Health Technical institute , (73.76%) from sample were married  , and more than three quarter of sample (76.15%) were resident in urban and about half of the sample (51.96%) were worked in hospitals.The study provident There is Significant association has been found between level of education and their knowledge.No significant association has been found between (age groups, Gender, marital status, residence and working institute ) of paramedical staff and their knowledge.Present study concluded that the knowledge and awareness by paramedical staff in  holy Karbala city regarding seasonal flu had good and acceptable score  .The study recommendation by important dependent general programmes for health  education additional training as intensive courses for short periods   about the disease , mode of transmission and prevention measures  with all available methods for all paramedical staff and other health staff