Middle Miocene ostracoda from northern Iraq

The Ostracoda from nine sections of the Lower Fars Formation, Northern Iraq, Tel-Hajer well-1, Sheikh Ibrahim locality, Dohuk locality, Sheikhan locality, Bashiqa locality, Kirkuk well-208, Bai-Hassan well-33, Hamrin well-2 and the Naft Khana well-34, have been studied in detail.One hundred and nine Ostracod species/subspecies belonging to 50 genera/subgenera are described, of which one genus, one subgenus and 70 species are new. Five species are assigned to species previously described from western India. Five species are compared with other species from W. India, Iran, Turkey and France. Three species are regarded as having affinities with new species described in this thesis and 26 species are left under open nomenclature mainly because of lack of material or the impossibility of observing the internal details.Biostratigraphically, the Lower Fars Formation in the Sinjar area is divided into three Assemblage Zones, these zones are applicable only to N. Iraq, but make a starting point for future work in the area. In the Kirkuk area, the saliferous beds proved completely barren, but the upper Red, Seepage and Transition beds yield Ostracods although the assemblages recognised are at present only regarded as tentative, because the samples are ditch cuttings.Palaeoecology is discussed in terms of oxygenation, alaeoclimate, salinity and the trends in the depositional environment of the Lower Fars Formation.The affinities of the present genera and species are discussed from a palaeogeographical view point in relation to the adjacent and related regions. Three Miocene Ostracod provinces are proposed, namely a western India province, a Zagros shelf province and a southeast Turkey province

Optimization and Validation of RP-HPLC-UV/VIS Method for Determination Some Antioxidants in Dry Calyces of Iraqi Hibiscus Sabdraffia Linn

A new (Reversed Phase- High Performance Liquid chromatography) RP-HPLC method with Ultraviolet-Visible spectrophotometry has been optimized and validated for the simultaneous extraction and determination of antioxidants present in Iraqi calyces of Hibiscus Sabdraffia Linn. The method is based on using ultrasonic bath for extracting antioxidants. Limit of detection in μg/ml of Vitamin C, Sabdaretine, Gossypetine, Hibiscetine, Anthocyanins, Dephinidin-3-glucoside were113.8294×10-6,123.0453×10-6,70.3681×10-6,59.6730×10-6,148.1710×10-6,and125.3481×10-6 respectively. The concentration of antioxidants found in dry spacemen of calyces of Iraqi Hibiscus Sabdraffia Linn. under study: Vitamin C, Sabdaretine, Gossypetine, Hibiscetine, Anthocyanins, and Dephinidin-3-glucoside are 258.3 μg/g, 225.51 μg/g, 154.975 μg/g, 111.407 μg/g, 439.442 μg/g, and 185.729 μg/g respectively

A Comparative Study on the Electrical Characteristics of Generating Plasma by Using Different Target Sources

In this research, the electrical characteristics of glow discharge plasma were studied. Glow discharge plasma generated in a home-made DC magnetron sputtering system, and a DC-power supply of high voltage as input to the discharge electrodes were both utilized. The distance between two electrodes is 4cm. The gas used to produce plasma is argon gas which flows inside the chamber at a rate of 40 sccm. The influence of work function for different target materials (gold, copper, and silver), - 5cm in diameter and around 1mm thickness - different working pressures, and different applied voltages on electrical characteristics (discharge current, discharge potential, and Paschen’s curve) were studied. The results showed that the discharge current and potential increase by increasing the applied voltage ranging between 300-700 V. Discharge current increased as working pressure increased in the beginning, and then semi-stabilized (slight increase) starting from 1×100 mbar, while discharge potential decreased at the beginning as working pressure increased and then semi-stabilized at the same point at which discharge current stabilized. The Paschen’s curves were compared with each other. It was concluded that the lower breakdown voltage was associated with lower work function of the (Au, Cu, and Ag) cathode material. Breakdown voltages were (395, 398, and 420) for Ag, Cu and Au respectively

Multiple crown size variables of the upper incisors in patients with supernumerary teeth compared with controls

Aims: As part of ongoing studies of the aetiology of dental anomalies the aims of this study were to identify multiple components of tooth size of the upper permanent incisors in 34 patients with supernumerary teeth and to compare them with those in a control group to determine whether the presence of a supernumerary tooth has a local effect on the size of the surrounding dentition. Methods and results: The labial and occlusal aspects of the clinical crowns of the upper permanent central and lateral incisors on the study models of 74 subjects were digitally imaged and measured using an image analysis system and automated macro (34 patients with supernumerary in the upper incisor region: 17 males and 17 females and 40 controls: 20 males and 20 females). The macro-defined 17 variables from each view. From the labial view these were: the mesio-distal and occluso-gingival length and additional measurements along 25 and 75% of the mesio-distal line and at 25, 50 and 75% along the occluso-gingival line such that all these sub-divisions extended to the periphery of the tooth. From the occlusal view these were: the mesio-distal and labio-lingual lengths, and additional variables that sub-divided the mesio-distal again at 25 and 75% along the length and at 25, 50 and 75% along the labio-lingual dimension. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to identify the key factors with the most random variability. Comparisons were then carried out between the supernumerary cases and control group using 2-way ANOVA. Seven factors of tooth size for the upper central incisors and eight factors for the upper lateral incisors were extracted. Most of these variables were found to be larger in the supernumerary group than in the control. Statistically significant differences were found for 5 out of 7 and 4 out of 8 for the upper central and lateral incisors respectively. Conclusions: A number of factors of tooth size were identified and found to be larger in the supernumerary group compared to the control (7 for upper central and 8 for upper lateral incisors); the majority reached the 0.05 significance level. Tooth crown size of the upper central incisor was affected more than that of the upper lateral incisor, supporting a local field effect. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Estimation of C-Reactive Protein, Immunoglobulin’s and Complements in SCD Patients

Abstract: Sickle cell disease (SCD) comprises an inherited blood disorder that is life long and affects many people globally. Despite progress in therapy, SCA is a considerable cause of mortality and morbidity. This study was designed to measure the immunological and inflammatory parameters of patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and to found if there is any role of it in the pathogenicity of the disease. This study included A total of 32 patients, their ages ranged from 16 to 55 years patients with Sickle cell disease who have been evaluated during vaso occlusive crisis and had been followed up till they attained steady state, and there are 32 normal control subjects matched with patients in age and sex. In general there was elevation in all parameters the study were included in patients than control and particularly in crisis, despite the IgM value which was insignificantly decrease, but the statically significant elevation reported only in CRP, IgG, IgA

Design and Construction of a Testing Platform and Estimating Attenuation Painting Reflectivity to Laser Beam

The project has been described the design and construction of a reliable optical testing platform used for evaluate the reflectivity of metal surfaces treated with special paintings required for laser beam attenuation. The platform comprises an Nd-YAG laser system which has been designed and fabricated with specifications to be compatible with their corresponding in laser range finder transmitters used for various applications. The reflectivity of various attenuating paintings, at different detection angles, has been observed. Moreover, the variation of the reflected energy with painting type and metal type to be painted has been studied experimentally. Results illustrated the existence of a definite angle, at which the reflectivity was maximum (specular reflection). On the other hand, samples with attenuation paintings have constant very low diffusive reflectivity and are independent of the detection angle

Separation and Determination of Some Organic Acids in Dry Calyces of Iraqi Hibiscus Sabdariffa Linn

A new reversed phase- high performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) method with Ultraviolet-Visible spectrophotometry has been optimized and validated for the simultaneous extraction and determination of organic acids present in Iraqi calyces of Hibiscus Sabdraffia Linn. The method is based on using ultrasonic bath for extracting organic acids. Limit of detection in µg/ml of Formic acid, Acetic acid, Oxalic acid, Citric acid, Succinic acid, Tartaric acid, and Malic acid 126.8498×10-6, 113.6005×10-6, 97.0513×10-6, 49.7925×10-6, 84.0753×10-6, 92.6551×10-6, and 106.1633×10-6 ,respectively. The concentration of organic acids found in dry spacemen of calyces of Iraqi Hibiscus Sabdraffia Linn. under study: Formic acid, Acetic acid, Oxalic acid, Citric acid, Succinic acid, Tartaric acid, and Malic acid are 114.896 µg/g, 64.722 µg/g, 342.508 µg/g, 126.902 µg/g, 449.91 µg/g, 268.52 µg/g, and 254.07 µg/g respectively

The Use of Caries Preventive Agents Alone and in Regimen for Prevention of Enamel Demineralisation under Cariogenic Challenge in situ

Aim of the Research: To compare the efficacy of Casein Phosphopeptide- Stabilised Amorphous Calcium Fluoride Phosphate (CPP-ACFP) 900 ppm (MI Paste Plus™) combined with fluoride toothpaste 1450 ppm F as a regimen with Functionalised tri-calcium phosphate (f-TCP) 950 ppm (Clinpro tooth crème™) and fluoride toothpaste 1450 ppm F, on de/remineralisation dental enamel in an in situ randomised, cross-over design study. Materials and Methods: Sterilised bovine enamel slabs, intact and with subsurface caries-like lesions, were prepared and worn by healthy volunteers (n=14). The study had four arms, 21-day duration each. Four pastes were tested (i) Placebo (0-ppm), (ii) 1450 ppm F, (iii) MI Paste Plus combined fluoride toothpaste 1450 ppm F, (iv) Clinpro tooth crème 950 ppm F. The pastes were randomly assigned and each subject crossed over to each paste after a seven-day washout period. Slabs were subjected to a five times/day cariogenic challenge (12% sucrose) with the subjects using one of the treatments. Volunteers dipped their appliances twice/day for 2 minutes, in a slurry of the toothpastes. For group 3, additionally, the appliance was dipped for 3 min in a slurry MI Paste Plus once/day immediately following the second exposure to the slurry of 1450 ppm F. Further de/remineralisation were assessed using Quantitative Light-Induced Fluorescence (QLF) and Surface Microhardness before and after the treatment period. Results: QLF results for all test groups showed a significant reduction (p< 0.05) in lesion volume (ΔQ) compared to the placebo. No statistically significant differences were found between the test groups. The Microhardness results for all test groups showed a significant increase (p<0.05) of enamel hardness compared with the placebo. No statistically significant differences were found between the test groups. Conclusion: The use of MI Paste Plus in combination with 1450 ppm F toothpaste did not show a greater reduction of enamel subsurface lesions or decreased demineralisation of sound enamel in comparison to 1450 ppm F toothpaste and Clinpro tooth crème alone in our model