Engineering properties of porous concrete made of sustainable aggregate

The effect of using different types of aggregate on engineering properties of previous concrete is experimentally evaluated in this study. For this purpose, a total of four concrete mixes are cast and tested. The main parameters studied in this study are the aggregate type (natural and recycled) and aggregate size. The recycled aggregate was provided from damaged pavement roads at Amarah city. The flexural and compressive strength, infiltration, and permeability of pervious concrete are recorded throughout the study. The results of study revealed that the mechanical and physical properties of previous concrete made of recycled aggregate confirms with the international specifications. Furthermore, the conclusions appear the ability of using recycled aggregate from damaged road pavements as aggregate for producing the pervious concrete have an acceptable engineering properties. The utilizing of recycled aggregate contributes to reduce the pollution and represent as a kind of sustainability of this type of concrete materials

Pattern and outcome of acute kidney injury among Sudanese adults admitted to a tertiary level hospital: a retrospective cohort study

Introduction: Little is known about the pattern and outcome of Acute Kidney injury (AKI) in Sudan. This study aimed to determine the etiology and outcome of AKI among Sudanese adults. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary level hospital, Soba University Hospital, Sudan. The medical records of all adults admitted to hospital from the 1st of January to 31st of December 2014 were reviewed. The diagnosis and severity of AKI was defined as per the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) recommendations. Results: The medical records of 6769 patients were reviewed. AKI was diagnosed in 384 patients (5.7%); being community acquired in 82.6% of cases. Sepsis, volume depletion, obstructive uropathy, heart failure, acute glomerulonephritis and severe malaria were the commonest causes of AKI diagnosed in 44%, 38.5%, 8.9%, 5.7%, 4.7% and 3.1% of patients, respectively. Following treatment complete renal recovery was seen in 35.7% of patients; whereas 31.2% of patients died. Predictors of increased risk of death were old age [OR 1.03, 95% CI (1.01-1.057); P=0.003], presence of chronic liver disease [OR 2.877, 95% CI (1.5-5.5); P=0.001], sepsis [OR 2.51, 95% CI (1.912-4.493);P=0.002] and the severity of AKI [OR 3.873, 95% CI(1.498-10.013);P=0.005]. Conclusion: AKI was diagnosed in 5.7% of adults admitted to hospital. Most patients were having community acquired AKI. Old age, the presence of chronic liver disease, sepsis, and the severity of AKI as per KDIQO staging were significant predictors of mortality

National consciousness and the Communist Revolution in China, 1921-1928

This essay examines the relationship between national consciousness and the Communist Revolution in China between the years 1921 and 1928.In tracing the trajectory of the national consciousness in our stipulated time period we can discern three distinct phases in its manifestation. Up until 1919 national consciousness was confined primarily to an intellectual elite whose primary concern was the decadence of the Imperial and Confucian state. Following the May Fourth movement (1919), these concerns came to be diffused amongst the urban population.After the formation of the Chinese Communist Party, the Party addressed nationalist concerns by focusing on the role of imperialists and warlords. This continued following the alliance with the Nationalist Party, the Guomindang, under the United Front.By 1925 there was the growth of populist movements with distinctly anti-imperialist overtones. The same time also saw a growing interest in the potential of the peasantry as the vanguard for the nationalist revolution. After the April 12, 1927 coup, the Party focused exclusively on the peasantry to carry on with the Nationalist Revolution

The new silk road diplomacy : a regional analysis of China's Central Asian foreign policy, 1991-2005

This thesis explores China's relations with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, from 1991 to 2005, contributing to the body of knowledge by arguing that China's relations with post-Soviet Central Asia were shaped by security and economic imperatives in Xinjiang, home to Muslim Turkic nationalities who have historically challenged Beijing's jurisdiction.As discussed in Chapter One, after 1949, the Communist Party sought to bring Xinjiang firmly within Beijing's orbit, ending a 150-year long period during which Beijing's hold over Xinjiang periodically faltered. The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, coupled with instability in Afghanistan, led to new challenges to Beijing's authority.Chapter Two examines China's relations with Central Asia from 1992 to 1996. In the post-Cold War order characterized by US primacy, China envisioned Central Asia as an arena of cooperation between China, Russia, and the independent republics. However, the republics became fertile ground for transnational Islamist movements. China feared spillover into Xinjiang; consequently, China extended economic cooperation to the impoverished republics with the understanding that they would suppress emigre Uighur organizations. Bilateral economic cooperation was also important for Xinjiang, which benefited from cross-border trade.Chapter Three examines Sino-Central Asian relations from 1996 to 2001, exploring the development of the Shanghai Five mechanism in 1996 between China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, which initially addressed confidence building, but after 1998, focused on regional security. This was important for China, since in 1996/1997, Xinjiang experienced instability that was exacerbated by the independence of Central Asia. Competition over the region's energy is also examined, which contributed to international rivalry.Chapter Four examines Sino-Central Asian relations from 2001 to 2005. In June 2001, the Shanghai Accord signatories, and Uzbekistan, established the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). While envisioned as a forum for wide-ranging cooperation, combating "terrorism, separatism, and extremism," was an immediate priority. Following the attacks on September 11, 2001, the United States sought a military presence in Central Asia that temporarily undermined China's influence, heightening China's concerns over energy security. China's response was to gradually deepen relations with the republics in the energy and security fields

INVESTIGATIONS ON THE PARAMETERS CONTROLLING ELECTROLYTIC POLISHING OF POLYCRYSTALLINE TITANIUM

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Radioactive Hazard Indicators of Some Radioactive Nuclei in Al-Kifl Bricks Factories, Babil Governorate, Iraq

The study included an assessment of the level of natural and industrial specific radioactivity of soil samples using the spectral analysis technique of a high-purity germanium detector, where 8 samples of soil were collected at depth 20 cm in the city of Al-Kifl - Babil Governorate. Where it was found that the rate of specific effectiveness for each of 226Ra, 214Pb, 214Bi, 232Th, 212Pb, 228Ac, 40K, 60Co, 137Cs in the studied soil samples (26.3±3.38), (31.2±3.15),(14.2±2.43), (11.5±2.36), (57.5±5.45), (56.8±4.86), (131.6±10.3), (0.802±0.07), (0.53±0.05) respectively. The radioactive hazard indicators were also calculated, and the results of the calculation were different between the calculated indicators, as the majority of the calculated indicators were universally accepted .Some indicators have exceeded the permissible limits globally

Low levels of postprandial C-peptide are clinically significant in non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular oedema in Iraqi patients with type 2 diabetes

Objective: To evaluate if the low postprandial C-peptide levels are clinically significant and would it relate to the risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in Iraqi patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: Forty-one patients with diabetes (28 male, 13 female)  were included, and eight non-diabetic tests were present in this study: HbAlc and 2 h. Post-prandial C-peptide levels were measured in all patients and control groups. Results: In subjects both NPDR and DMO, patients with DR showed lower levels of postprandial C-peptide and higher HbA1c percent. Regression analysis between postprandial C-peptide and DR showed that postprandial C-peptide was negatively associated with DR with odds ratio: (0.569, CI: 0.370- 0.872, p = 0.01) in Iraqi type 2 diabetes. Conclusion: Low postprandial C-peptide levels may predict NPDR and DMO in T2DM patients. Measuring the postprandial or non-fasting C peptide level offers uncomplicated and flexible testing for an outpatient or inpatient

The role of MCP-1 in the developments of diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

Several complications may be developed during infection with type 2 diabetes mellitus. One of the most is diabetic nephropathy, leading to end-stage renal disease in more than 30% of diabetes mellitus. Monocyte, which is derived from blood circulation to the tissue the maintains an inflammatory state. Several factors and chemokines regulate the activity of monocytes. One of them is Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) which is released by several adipocytes that help attract monocytes during inflammation. Patients and methods: the samples were collected from patients who attended diabetes and endocrinology center in Al-Sader Teaching Hospital in Najaf between January 2019 to April 2019. This study involves 300 subjects. One hundred fifty of them were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus. According to their albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR), these patients were classified into three groups, including 50 patients with severe nephropathy, 50 patients with moderate nephropathy, and 50 patients with mild nephropathy. The control group involved 150 subjects who appeared healthy and the same age as the patients' group. Result:  a significant increase of MCP-1 level was found in patients with mild, moderate and severe diabetic patients compared with healthy control