Ultrasound diagnostics of carotid and vertebral arteries

Stroke is the third leading cause of death and themain cause ofmajor disability worldwide.Each yearmore than 700,000 people experience a new or recurrent stroke and on average someone dies every 4min of a stroke (1). In Serbia stroke is the first cause of death among women and the second one among men. While the percentage of strokes attributed to carotid disease is relatively low, the overall social and economic burden is high (2). It is, therefore, important to identify and manage carotid atherosclerosis with the aim of stroke prevention. The presence of an atherosclerotic lesion in the carotid bulb or in the extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) is associated with elevated stroke risk (3). Severalmechanisms are attributable to the increased risk of cerebrovascular events including decrease in the blood flow resulting from critical stenosis or occlusion, or the stenotic lesion can also be the source of thromboembolic events. In this article the authors are going to focus on some important aspects of ultrasound diagnostics of extracranial parts of brain arteries

Evaluation of Biological Control Potential for Different Trichoderma Strains Against Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne Javanica

Twenty strains of four Trichoderma species (Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma viride, Trichoderma koningii and Trichoderma asperellum) were evaluated for its potential to control the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica. Culture filtrates from Trichoderma strains were tested in 24-well tissue culture plates for effects on Meloidogyne javanica. Chitwood egg hatch and mobility of hatched second-stage juveniles (J2) were evaluated, all the twenty Trichoderma strains showed the ability to colonize M. javanica separated eggs and second-stage juveniles (J2) in sterile in vitro assays. T. asperellum possess the strongest egg-parasitic ability and very effective against 2nd stage larvae of M. javanica. In this investigation, randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers was used to estimate the genetic variations between four strains of Trichoderma asperellum (KC898190, KC898191, KC898192 and KC898193) which were previously isolated from the rhizospheres of different plants growing in Fayoum Governorate, Egypt as a new strain of T. asperellum in Egypt. RAPD assay using 6 random primers identified T. asperellum strains with 5 specific unique markers

On the ubiquity of molecular anions in the dense interstellar medium

Results are presented from a survey for molecular anions in seven nearby Galactic star-forming cores and molecular clouds. The hydrocarbon anion C6H- is detected in all seven target sources, including four sources where no anions have been previously detected: L1172, L1389, L1495B and TMC-1C. The C6H-/C6H column density ratio is greater than about 1.0% in every source, with a mean value of 3.0% (and standard deviation 0.92%). Combined with previous detections, our results show that anions are ubiquitous in dense clouds wherever C6H is present. The C6H-/C6H ratio is found to show a positive correlation with molecular hydrogen number density, and with the apparent age of the cloud. We also report the first detection of C4H- in TMC-1 (at 4.8-sigma confidence), and derive an anion-to-neutral ratio C4H-/C4H = (1.2 +- 0.4) x 10^-5 (= 0.0012 +- 0.0004%). Such a low value compared with C6H- highlights the need for a revised radiative electron attachment rate for C4H. Chemical model calculations show that the observed C4H- could be produced as a result of reactions of oxygen atoms with C5H- and C6H-

Observations on the age and growth of Varicorhinus damascinus (Val.) in Tigris river at Salahuldin province – Iraq

Age and growth of Varicorhinus damascinus (Val.) in Tigris river at Salahuldin province have been investigated. Monthly samples were taken during the period from September 1999 to August 2000, using small-meshed gill nets. The age data showed that there were six age groups and the dominant age groups were (III – IV) for both sexes. The results of the present study revealed that the increment in length of V. damascinus at the sites of study showed a tendency to decrease with the increase in age, after the third year of life in both sexes. The length-weight relationship of males and females were calculated and demonstrated in a straight line logarithmic formula, as follows: Log W = 1.5404 + 2.6885 log L for males r = 0.95 (P > 0.05) Log W = 1.6723 + 2.7877 log L for females r = 0.77 (P > 0.05) The values of the regression coefficient (b) indicated that the growth of both sexes of V. damascinus was allometric.

Effect of Secondary Flows on Heat Transfer of a Gas Turbine Blade

This study presents experimental and numerical investigation for three-dimensional heat transfer characteristics in a turbine blade. An experimental setup was installed with a turbine cascade of five-blade channels. Blade heat transfer measurements were performed for the middle channel under uniform heat flux boundary conditions. Heat was supplied to the blades using twenty-nine electric heating strips cemented vertically on the outer surface of the blades. Distributions of heat transfer coefficient were obtained at three levels through blade height by measuring surface temperature distribution using thermocouples. To understand heat transfer characteristics, surface static pressure distributions on blade surface were also measured. Numerical investigation was performed as well to extend the investigation to locations other than those measured experimentally. Three-dimensional nonisothermal, turbulent flow was obtained by solving Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equations and energy equation. The shear stress transport model was employed to represent turbulent flow. It was found through this study that secondary flow generated by flow deflection increases heat transfer coefficient on the blade suction surface. Separation lines with high heat transfer coefficients were predicted numerically with good agreement with the experimental measurements

Učinak temperature i dodatka indija na mehanička svojstva legure Al–0.21wt%Au

Tensile characteristics of both Al–0.21wt%Au and Al–0.21wt%Au–0.21wt%In alloys were investigated in the temperature range 493 K to 553 K. The coefficient of work hardening, χ = ∂σ2/∂², yield stress, σy, and fracture stress, σf , decreased with increasing deformation temperature (T) and exhibited abrupt increase at about 523 K. On the other hand, the fracture strain, ²f , and dislocation slip distance, L, increased with increasing deformation temperature and exhibited minima at about 523 K. The activation energy was determined in the range around 523 K to clarify the observed change in the behaviour of the hardening characteristics of the investigated samples.Istraživali smo istezna svojstva legura Al–0.21wt%Au i Al–0.21wt%Au–0.21wt%In na temperaturama 493 K do 553 K. Koeficijent mehaničkog očvršćivanja, χ = ∂σ2/∂², granica elastičnosti, σy, i granica loma, σf , smanjuju se pri povišenim temperaturama istezanja (T) te pokazuju nagao porast na oko 523 K. Nasuprot tome, lomno istezanje, ²f , i prosječna duljina klizanja dislokacija, L, povećali su se s povišenom temperaturom istezanja, a pokazuju i minimum na oko 523 K. Radi objašnjenja opaženih promjena u procesu očvršćivanja ispitivanih uzoraka odredili smo aktivacijsku energiju na temperaturama oko 523 K

Effect of Some Heavy Metals on Testosterone Hormone in Infertile Men

الخلفية: يتم تعريف العقم على أنه فشل في تحقيق الحمل بعد عام واحد وأكثر من الاتصال الجنسي غير المحمي بانتظام. ارتبط تعرض الجهاز التناسلي للمعادن الثقيلة أيضًا بالعقم عند الرجال. وهناك عدد كبير من المعادن عبارة عن مواد سامة للجهاز التناسلي ويشتبه في كونها مضطربة لنظام الغدد الصماء. المرضى والطرق: أجريت هذه الدراسة في المعهد العالي لتشخيص العقم والتقنيات المساعدة الإنجابية في جامعة النهرين ومركز استشاري التسمم / مستشفى الجراحات التخصصية في مدينة الطب في الفترة من نوفمبر 2018 إلى أبريل 2019. كان عدد الرجال 150 المسجلين في هذه الدراسة مقسمة إلى مجموعتين ، المريض ومجموعات المراقبة الطبيعية. وشملت مجموعة المرضى 100 رجل تتراوح أعمارهم بين 20-50 سنة. شملت المجموعة الثانية 50 رجلاً يتمتعون بصحة جيدة ولديهم طفلان على الأقل دون أي تاريخ سابق للأمراض الجهازية كمجموعة مراقبة. تم تقدير تركيزات المعادن الثقيلة لجميع مجموعات الدراسة. الهدف من الدراسة الحالية هو تقييم بعض تركيزات المعادن الثقيلة ، في الدم والدم الكامل للمجموعات. تقييم هرمون التستوستيرون في مصل الرجال المصابين بالعقم والضوابط الصحية ودراسة العلاقة بين هذا الهرمون والعناصر النزرة التي قدرت بين الحالات. النتائج : أظهرت تراكيز المعادن الثقيلة وهي كل من النحاس والرصاص والكادميوم زيادة معنوية عالية وتحت مستوى احتمالية اقل من 0.010.01 في مصل دم و دم الرجال العقيمين حيث سجلت (139.7+ 8.49 Mg/dl, 24.18 + 4.30 Mg/dl, 0.31 + 0.10 Mg/dl) على التوالي وعند المقارنة مع التراكيز في مصل الدم و دم الرجال السليمين ( السيطرة ) كانت النتائج  على التوالي(125.14 + 10.12 Mg/dl, 15.24 + 2.69 Mg/dl, 0.16 + 0.03 Mg/dl)  كما أظهرت متوسطات عنصر الزنك (القصدير) انخفاضا معنويا عاليا عند مستوى احتمالية اقل من 0.01      (70.82+9.48Mg/dl) في مصل دم الرجال العقيمين مقارنة مع مجموعة السيطرة حيث كانت كما أظهرت تراكيز هرمون الشحمون الخصوي انخفاضا معنويا عاليا وتحت مستوى احتمالية اقل من 0.01  (185.40 + 61.92 Ng/dl)  (450.35+131.27 Ng/dl) بالمقارنة مع مجموعة الرجال السليمين كذلك كانت علاقة الارتباط لمستويات تراكيز عنصر النحاس وهرمون الشحمون الخصوي في مصل الدم عكسية عند الرجال العقيمين. الاستنتاجات: خلصت هذه الدراسة إلى أن بعض المعادن الثقيلة أظهرت أنها مؤشرات لعقم الرجال. ارتبط مستوى النحاس في المصل سلبًا بمستوى هرمون التستوستيرون في المصل لدى الرجال المصابين بالعقم، وهذه النتيجة يمكن أن تفترض أن النحاس الزائد يعمل كمضاد هرموني. لم تظهر المعادن الثقيلة المتبقية ارتباطًا كبيرًا بالهرمونات المحددة.Background:  Infertility is defined as a failure of achieve a pregnancy after one year and more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. The exposure of reproductive system to heavy metals has also been associated with male infertility. A large number of metals are toxicants to the reproductive system and are suspected to be endocrine system disruptors.   Patients and methods:  This study performed at the high institute of infertility diagnosis and assisted reproductive technologies in Al-Nahrain University and the Poisoning consultation center / specialized surgeries hospital in the Medical city in period from November 2018 to April 2019.  Number of 150 men were enrolled in this study divided into two groups, the patient and the normal control groups. The infertile group included 100 men aged 20-50 years who they have abnormal seminal fluid analysis parameters. The second group included 50 healthy fertile men who have at least two children without any previous history of systemic diseases as a control group. Heavy metals and testosterone concentrations were estimated for all the study groups. Aim of current study are evaluation of some heavy metals concentrations, in serum and whole blood of groups. Assessment of testosterone hormone in serum of infertile men and healthy controls and study the correlation between this hormone and trace elements which were estimated among cases. Results: The heavy metals Cu, Pb and Cd showed a highly significant increase (p<0.01) in the serum and blood of infertile men (159.77±8.49 µg/dl, 24.18±4.30µg/dl, 0.31±0.10 µg/dl) respectively when compared with their concentrations in healthy control men (125.14±10.12 µg/dl, 15.74±2.69 µg/dl, 0.16±0.03 µg/dl) respectively. The mean levels of Zn showed a highly significant decrease (p<0.01) in the serum of infertile men (70.82±9.48 µg/dl) compared to its mean level in the healthy control group (95.70±11.41 µg/dl). Serum testosterone hormone in infertile men (185.40±61.92 ng/ml) showed a highly significant decrease (p<0.01) as compared with those of healthy men (450.35±131.27 ng/ml). Serum copper level was negatively correlated with serum testosterone level among infertile men. Conclusions: this study concluded that some heavy metals were shown to be an indicators for men infertility. Serum copper level was negatively correlated with serum Testosterone level among infertile men .This result can hypothesize that excess copper acts as a hormonal disrupter. The remaining heavy metals did not show significant correlation with the selected hormones

Učinak temperature i dodatka indija na mehanička svojstva legure Al–0.21wt%Au

Tensile characteristics of both Al–0.21wt%Au and Al–0.21wt%Au–0.21wt%In alloys were investigated in the temperature range 493 K to 553 K. The coefficient of work hardening, χ = ∂σ2/∂², yield stress, σy, and fracture stress, σf , decreased with increasing deformation temperature (T) and exhibited abrupt increase at about 523 K. On the other hand, the fracture strain, ²f , and dislocation slip distance, L, increased with increasing deformation temperature and exhibited minima at about 523 K. The activation energy was determined in the range around 523 K to clarify the observed change in the behaviour of the hardening characteristics of the investigated samples.Istraživali smo istezna svojstva legura Al–0.21wt%Au i Al–0.21wt%Au–0.21wt%In na temperaturama 493 K do 553 K. Koeficijent mehaničkog očvršćivanja, χ = ∂σ2/∂², granica elastičnosti, σy, i granica loma, σf , smanjuju se pri povišenim temperaturama istezanja (T) te pokazuju nagao porast na oko 523 K. Nasuprot tome, lomno istezanje, ²f , i prosječna duljina klizanja dislokacija, L, povećali su se s povišenom temperaturom istezanja, a pokazuju i minimum na oko 523 K. Radi objašnjenja opaženih promjena u procesu očvršćivanja ispitivanih uzoraka odredili smo aktivacijsku energiju na temperaturama oko 523 K