Post-Traumatic Growth and Resilience among University Students in Baghdad: A Conceptual Study

Posttraumatic Growth (PTG) refers to positive changes in human life elicited by exposures to traumatic events, such as war and terror. The fact that Iraqi university students continue their studies not long after a bomb explosion or deaths of significant others related to the War in 2003 indicated that they possess certain degree of resilience. This study conceptualized the causal relationship between the resilience and the level of PTG among Iraqi university students after being exposed to traumatic events in the form of the War in 2003. Thorough discussion on the previous studies have been done, recommendations on the sampling methods, as well as the instruments, were made. Significance of the empirical research related to this conceptualized relationship is discussed at the end of this paper.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v2i4.387

Intelligent model-based control of complex three-link mechanisms

The aim of this study is to understand the complexity and control challenges of the locomotion of a three-link mechanism of a robot system. In order to do this a three-link robot gymnast (Robogymnast) has been built in Cardiff University. The Robogymnast is composed of three links (one arm, one torso, one leg) and is powered by two geared DC motors. Currently the robot has three potentiometers to measure the relative angles between adjacent links and only one tachometer to measure the relative angular position of the first link. A mathematical model for the robot is derived using Lagrange equations. Since the model is inherently nonlinear and multivariate, it presents more challenges when modelling the Robogymnast and dealing with control motion problems. The proposed approach for dealing with the design of the control system is based on a discrete-time linear model around the upright position of the Robogymnast. To study the swinging motion of the Robogymnast, a new technique is proposed to manipulate the frequency and the amplitude of the sinusoidal signals as a means of controlling the motors. Due to the many combinations of the frequency and amplitude, an optimisation method is required to find the optimal set. The Bees Algorithm (BA), a novel swarm-based optimisation technique, is used to enhance the performance of the swinging motion through optimisation of the manipulated parameters of the control actions. The time taken to reach the upright position at its best is 128 seconds. Two different control methods are adopted to study the balancing/stablising of the Robogymnast in both the downward and upright configurations. The first is the optimal control algorithm using the Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) technique with integrators to help achieve and maintain the set of reference trajectories. The second is a combination of Local Control (LC) and LQR. Each controller is implemented via reduced order state observer to estimate the unmeasured states in terms of their relative angular velocities. From the identified data in the relative angular positions of the upright balancing control, it is reported that the maximum amplitude of the deviation in the relative angles on average are approximately 7.5° for the first link and 18° for the second link. It is noted that the third link deviated approximately by 2.5° using only the LQR controller, and no significant deviation when using the LQR with LC. To explore the combination between swinging and balancing motions, a switching mechanism between swinging and balancing algorithm is proposed. This is achieved by dividing the controller into three stages. The first stage is the swinging control, the next stage is the transition control which is accomplished using the Independent Joint Control (IJC) technique and finally balancing control is achieved by the LQR. The duration time of the transition controller to track the reference trajectory of the Robogymnast at its best is found to be within 0.4 seconds. An external disturbance is applied to each link of the Robogymnast separately in order to study the controller's ability to overcome the disturbance and to study the controller response. The simulation of the Robogymnast and experimental realization of the controllers are implemented using MATLAB® software and the C++ program environment respectively

The quality of image encryption techniques by reasoned logic

One form of data is digital images, because of their widespread of frequent exchange over the internet it is necessary to preserve the security and privacy of the images transmitted.There are many image encryption techniques that have different security levels and there are many standards and protocols fortesting the quality of encryption security. The cipher images can be evaluated using various quality measuring criteria, these measures quantify certain features of the image. If there are many methods that can be applied to secure images; the question is what is the most powerful scheme that can be use damong these methods? This research try to answer this question by taking three different encryption methods (rivest cipher 5 (RC5), chaotic and permutation) and measure their quality using the peek signal to noise ratio (PSNR),correlation, entropy, number of pixels changes rate (NPCR) and unified average changing intensity (UACI), the results of these criteria were input to a fuzzy logic system that was used to find the best one among them

Effect of a Mixture of Plants Extracts on Genomic DNA, Insulin Receptor, and Insulin Receptor Substrate-1 Genes in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Male Rats.

This study was designed to study the effects of methanol-watery extracts mixture of five selective medicinal plants on genomic DNA, insulin receptor, and insulin receptor substrate-1 genes in alloxan-induced diabetic male rats. The molecular assays used in this study was DNA fragmentation test and polymerase chain reaction of insulin receptor and insulin receptor substrate-1. Phytochemical assays (thin layer chromatography (TLC) and antioxidant activity by ?- carotene spray) were carried out for characterization of methanol-watery extracts of each plants used (Trigonella faenum-graecum (fenugreek) seeds, Nigella sativa (black cumin) seeds, Zingiber officinale (ginger) rhizomes, Olea europeae (olive) leaves, and Fraxinus ssp.(ash) seeds). The results indicate presence of number of antioxidant bands with different retardation factors (Rf).   Molecular study of DNA showed fragmentation in both DNA extracted from WBC and renal cortex in diabetic group while treatment with mixture  of plants extracts significantly reduced DNA fragmentation in both DNA extracted from WBC and renal cortex in all treatment groups except treatment for 45 days which still had lyses level 5000 bp of DNA extracted from renal cortex. On the other hand, insulin receptor gene of diabetic and diabetic-treated groups for different periods (45, 60, 75 days) showed precense of one band (200 bp) compared with normal control which had two bands while insulin receptor substrate-1 has normal band (320 bp) in normal and treated groups. Keywords: alloxan, insulin receptor, insulin receptor substrate -1, antioxidant, DNA fragmentatio

Protective Effect of Plants Extracts Mixture on Sperm Abnormalities, Testicular and Epididymal Tissues in Diabetic Male Rats

Background: Diabetes has been associated with reproductive impairment in both men and women. About 90% of diabetic patients have disturbances in sexual function, including a decrease in libido, impotence and infertility. Attention has been paid to the search of effective drugs in the field of traditional medicine. Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of diabetes mellitus type 2(T2DM)  on the sperm abnormalities, testicular and epididymal tissues of male rats. Also to evaluate the efficiency of the mixture of methanol-watery extracts composed of five medicinal plants (Trigonella faenum-graecum seeds, Nigella sativa seeds, Zingiber officinale rhizomes, Olea europeae leaves and Fraxinus ssp.seeds) in reducing harmful effect of DM on the percentage of sperm abnormalities, testicular and epididymal tissues. Methods: Twenty-four mature male rats were used in six groups (n=4), the first group kept as a control. The second group received alloxan (120 mg/ kg body weight i.p.) for 3 days to induction of T2DM while the third, fourth, and fifth groups were diabetic rats received the plants extracts mixture orally for 45, 60, 75 days, respectively after induction of T2DM. The sixth group received the plants extracts mixture for 60 days. By the end of the experiment, animals were sacrificed and the testis and epididymis were excised and sperm was collected for morphological abnormalities of the sperm shape. Also histopathological examination of the testes and epididymis were examined. Results: The sperm shape abnormalities significantly increased (p<0.05) in alloxan – induced diabetic rats compared with normal control group. Histopathological examination showed degenerative changes of both testes and epididymis in diabetic rats which include significant decrease (p<0.05) in both diameter of seminiferous tubules and their germinal epithelium heights and non-significant decrease (p>0.05) in both diameters of cauda epididymal tubules and height of epithelium of cauda epididymal  tubules. On the other hand, atrophied seminiferous tubules, atrophied spermatogenic cells and the lumen of semineferous tubules free from sperm was detected. Furthermore, expansion of interstitial space between seminiferous tubules were seen . In contrast , oral administration of the plants extracts mixture to the diabetic rats at three period of study 45, 60, 75 days, respectively statistically decreased (p<0.05) most sperms abnormalities compared with diabetic group and caused non-significant differences compared with control group besides enhancing the histological changes of both testes and epididymis. Conclusion: DM has negative effect in male testis and epidydimis of alloxan-induced rats and may contribute in reduction of fertility while the plants extracts mixture used in this study can reduce most degerenative changes occurred in testes and epidydimis in diabetic groups treated with the mixture of plants extracts. Therefore, plants extracts mixture can be effectively used by DM patients for therapeutic purpose. Key words: Alloxan- induced diabetes, Sperm Abnormalities, Histopathological Changes of testis and epididymis, rats

Position Control of Linkage Underactuated Robotic Hand

In this study a proposed PID control system for (Ca.U.M.Ha) robotic hand with a finger and a thumb introduced, to control grasping cylindrical objects made from different materials soft and hard within a range of (48-150) mm in diameter . A samples of PID response figures for object that need just a finger, and object that needs a finger with a thumb introduced in additional to the figures of actuators voltage needed for both cases through grasping. Keywords: Linkage , underactuated, position  PID contro

The Prevalence of Microalbuminuria in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Al-Husain Hospital in Karbala Province- Iraq

This study is performed to assessment of the long term glycaemic hemoglobin (HbA1c) to determine the prevalence of microalbuminuria and to find the risk factors for developing microalbuminuria and consequence nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes. The prevalence of microalbuminuria in our study is high (59%) and the percent of and the risk factors that accompanied microalbuminuria are high blood pressure, elevated fasting blood glucose and poor glycemic Diabetes mellitus (D.M.) is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia poor glycemic control also high  (92.3%) with control

Shortened Telomere Length in White Blood Cells of Patients with Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM)

Type 2 diabetes(TIIDM) aging-related disorder, is caused by a combination of peripheral insulin resistance and ?-cell dysfunction .Recent evidence, however, suggests that TIIDM is additionally characterized by impaired ?-cell regeneration and reduced ?-cell mass .Shortened telomeres have been previously associated with diabetes in several small-scale studies(Zhu et al.,2011). Measurement of telomere length in diabetic patients in different age and different duration of disease and compared with control. Also included the comparison telomere length between male and female for both control and diabetic groups and  between patients from genetic origin (mother origin or father origin) and patients from non genetic origin  . Genomic DNA was prepared from whole blood extraction using genaid kit and was quantified by Nanodrop .Terminal restriction fragment (TRF) lengths were measured using the Southern-blotting technique .This study was conducted between November 2010- November 2012 and, it was carried out at the diabetic Centre / Merjan Teaching Hospital in Babel Province by taking 54 diabetic patients(Type II DM) with disease duration (0-5),(>5-10 )and (>10 )years ,with age average (35-65 year)and most of them were on oral hypoglycemic drugs. While the study included 18 people apparently healthy that included 9 male and 9 female with age average (35-65 year) .The study revealed that telomere length(TL) were differences between males and females of control group. Age- adjusted telomere length were shorter in males than in females of control subjects (13,200 bp ) vs. (11,600 bp), (14,200 bp) vs. (13,000 bp) and (15,100 bp) vs. (13,800 bp) ,and this differences in TL between males and females decreased as aging increased, while this gender differences in TL was not observed among the diabetic patients .In both the controls group and diabetic subjects, the telomere length were shorter in older subjects than younger for both males and females. The result show differences in TL between control and diabetic subjects. TL were shorter in the patients with Type 2diabetes compared with the control subjects ,and TL in first duration of male diabetic patients(2,100 bp) in male(55 years) and (1,900 bp) in male (65 years) ,and second duration of female diabetic patients (3,600 bp) in female (55 years) and (2,900 bp) in female (65 years) were shorter compared with other duration. The differences in TL in patients with family history of disease shown shorter than patients without family history of disease and this differences in TL in patients with family history of disease from mother origin shorter than patients with family history of disease from father origin. The result of telomere length (TL) show that TL were shorter in males than females of control group while this differences absent in diabetic patients .TL was shorter in first duration of disease in males diabetic patients and in second duration of females diabetic patients compared with other duration of disease. TL was shorter in older subjects than younger for both groups and for both gender ,also shorter in diabetic patients from genetic origin of disease than non-genetic origin. Positive correlation between TL and estrogen in female control group and between  TL and adiponectin in diabetic patients was found. Keywords: Telomere, DNA, TR

Study the levels of adiponectin, FSH, LH and Sex hormones in Type 2 diabetes (NIDDM)

The hypothalamic/pituitary/gonadal (HPG)axis is central to the mammalian reproductive system . Pulsatile release of GnRH from neurons in the hypothalamus stimulates the secretion of LH and FSH from gonadotropes in the anterior pituitary. It has long been recognized that reproductive function is closely associated with energy balance, and metabolic dysregulation is linked with reproductive abnormalities (Lu et al.,2008). Compare the differences in levels of adiponectin, FSH, LH, testosterone and estradiol between the diabetic patients and control group and in diabetic patients according to the durations of disease for both males and females groups  .Also study the relationship between adiponectin and hormones for both gender and for both diabetic groups and control also in diabetic patients according to the durations of disease. About five milliliters of venous blood were collected from each subject in the study. The blood was separated by centrifugation at (3000 rpm) for 15 min. The sera were stored frozen at (-20 ºC) until assayed. This study was conducted between November 2010- November 2012 and, it was carried out at the diabetic Centre / Merjan Teaching Hospital in Babel Province, by taking 120 diabetic patients non- insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) (60 male  and 60 female)with disease durations(0-5),(>5-10 )and (>10 )years ,and with age average (35-65 year), most of them were on oral hypoglycemic drugs, and the study included 40 people apparently healthy that included  20 male and 20 female with age average (35-65 year) ,as control matched with disease groups. The statistical analysis of this study showed that patients with Type 2 diabetes of both males and females had significantly lower in adiponectin levels than control group (P<0.05),but this level of adiponectin significantly higher in females than males for both diabetic groups and control (p<0.05)  ,while the levels of FSH and LH had significantly higher in diabetes group than control (p<0.05) ,also significantly higher  in females than males for both diabetic groups and control (P< 0.05). The result of hormonal analysis show there were no significant differences in estradiol and testosterone between diabetic groups and control (p > 0.05). According to the durations of disease, the results show significant elevation in adiponectin level  in third duration of disease for both males and females groups as compared with first and second duration (P <0.004), while the levels of FSH, LH ,estradiol and testosterone show no significant differences among duration(P>0.05). According to the gender ,levels of adiponectin ,FSH, LH, and estradiol were significantly higher in females than males(P<0.05) , whereas levels of testosterone was significantly higher in males than females (P<0.05) . Correlation analysis showed an inverse correlation between adiponectin and FSH in female diabetic patients. Also an inverse correlation between adiponectin and estradiol was found in females of control group, while the correlation of LH and testosterone with adiponectin appears no significant correlation for both groups and for both males and females . According to the durations of disease, in first duration (0-5year)the study revealed positive correlation between adiponectin and FSH in male diabetic patients . In third duration (>10 year) an inverse correlation between adiponectin and FSH in female diabetic patients. The result also appears no significant correlation among adiponectin and LH, estradiol and testosterone in both gender among duration . The results of the present study indicate that the patients with Type 2 diabetes of both males and females had significantly lower in adiponectin levels than control group . levels of adiponectin significantly higher in females than males for both diabetic groups and control. Adiponectin levels significantly increased with duration of disease also with age.  Levels of FSH and LH had significantly higher in diabetic patients than control also significantly higher in females than males for both groups . Correlation analysis showed inverse correlation between adiponectin and both FSH and estradiol in female diabetic patients also inverse correlation between adiponectin and both FSH and estradiol in third duration of female diabetic patients