Background: Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand (CXCL9) has an important role recruiting the T-lymphocytes and immune response after infection by inducing T-cells accumulation around the areas associated with infections. However, this role is poorly known in relation with Toxoplasma gondii infection and also in association with thyroid hormones, which the present study is focused on. Methods: Eighty-seven women were included in this study for the period between September 2021 and February 2022. Blood samples of uninfected healthy pregnant, in addition to aborted and pregnant women infected with toxoplasmosis, were collected. Sera were then obtained and stored at -10°C. Toxo-latex agglutination test was done, followed by detection of IgM and IgG antibodies, which were identified in sera of cases and controls using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunoassay. Finally, an ELISA test for CXCL9 and thyroid hormones tests were performed as well. Results: CXCL9 levels showed a non-significant increase in comparison with the control group. This increase was observed during the first 5 months of abortion and pregnancy. Thyroid hormones T3 and TSH were significantly higher in the aborted and pregnant women than the control group. Whereas T4 results revealed lower levels in the same group in comparison to the control group, specifically during the first 5 months of abortion and pregnancy for most of the groups. Conclusion: Determining CXCL9 chemokine levels in female patients infected with Toxoplasma gondii might play an important role in early diagnosis of Toxoplasmosis, especially during the first 5 months of abortion or pregnancy as well as thyroid hormones levels can be influenced or affected by the parasite infection, which can provide an indicator of thyroid dysfunction in general.
Construction projects are complicated in nature and require many considerations in contractor selection. One of the complicated interactions is that between performance with the project size, and contractor financial status, and size of projects contracted. At the prequalification stage, the financial requirements restrict the contractors to meet minimum limits in financial criteria such as net worth, working capital and annual turnover, etc. In construction projects, however, there are cases when contractors meet these requirements but show low performance in practice. The model used in the study predicts the performance by training of a neural network. The data used in the study are 72 of the most recent roadw
... Show MoreAeroelastic flutter in aircraft mechanisms is unavoidable, essentially in the wing and control surface. In this work a three degree-of-freedom aeroelastic wing section with trailing edge flap is modeled numerically and theoretically. FLUENT code based on the steady finite volume is used for the prediction of the steady aerodynamic characteristics (lift, drag, pitching moment, velocity, and pressure distribution) as well as the Duhamel formulation is used to model the aerodynamic loads theoretically. The system response (pitch, flap pitch and plunge) was determined by integration the governing equations using MATLAB with a standard Runge–Kutta algorithm in conjunction with Henon’s method. The results are compared with
... Show MoreSemiconductor laser is used in processing many issues related to the scientific, military, medical, industrial and agricultural fields due to its unique properties such as coherence and high strength where GaN-based components are the most efficient in this field. Current technological developments mention to the strong connection of GaN with sustainable electronic and optoelectronic devices which have high-efficiency. The threshold current density of Al0.1Ga0.9N/GaN triple quantum well laser structure was investigated to determine best values of the parameters affecting the threshold current density that are well width, average thickness of active region, cavity length, reflectivity of cavity mirrors and optical confinement factor. The opt
... Show Moren this work, the effect of gamma rays on blood thinning drugs was studied using the drug (Aspirin), where gamma rays were spread with the drug using a radioactive source (Co60), and 15,000 grams of Aspirin were placed in the device (gamma chamber 900). The drug was subjected to different irradiation doses (5 KGy, 10 KGy, 15 KGy) and the amount of absorption of the drug was observed in the gamma for different doses and the study of x-rays. After confirming the absorption of the drug to radiation, the effect of the drug on blood thinning was calculated using the rat model and compared with the same drug and the same dose but without exposing the drug to radiation and comparing all results with the control group. The way drugs absorbed radiati
... Show MoreThe massive growth of the automotive industry and the development of vehicles use lead to produce a huge amount of waste tire rubber. Rubber tires are non-biodegradable, resulting in environmental problems such as fire risks. In this search, the flexural behavior of steel fiber reinforced self-compacting concrete (SFRSCC) beams containing different percentages and sizes of waste tire rubbers were studied and compared them with the flexural behavior of SCC and SFRSCC. Micro steel fiber (straight type) with aspect ratio 65 was used in mixes. The replacement of coarse and fine aggregate was 20% and 10% with chip and crumb rubber. Also, the replacement of limestone dust and silica fume was 50%, 25%, and 12% with ground rubbe
... Show MoreIn this work, the behavior of reinforced concrete columns under biaxial bending is studied. This work aims at studying the strengthening of columns by using carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP). The experimental work includes investigation of eight reinforced concrete columns (150*150*500mm) tested under several load conditions. Variables considered in the test program include; effect of eccentricity and effect of longitudinal reinforcement (Ø12mm or Ø6mm). Test results are discussed based on load – lateral deflection behavior, load –longitudinal deflection behavior, ultimate load and failure modes. The CFRP reinforcement permits
a complete change in the failure mode of the columns .The effect of longitudinal reinforcement in
This paper aims to validate a proposed finite element model to be adopted in predicting displacement and soil stresses of a piled-raft foundation. The proposed model adopts the solid element to simulate the raft, piles, and soil mass. An explicit integration scheme has been used to simulate nonlinear static aspects of the piled-raft foundation and to avoid the computational difficulties associated with the implicit finite element analysis.
The validation process is based on comparing the results of the proposed finite element model with those of a scaled-down experimental work achieved by other researchers. Centrifuge apparatus has been used in the experimental work to generate the required stresses to simulate t
... Show MoreThe objective of the study was to predict crop coefficient (K) values for cucumber inside the greenhouse during the growing season 2014, using watermarks gypsum blocks and atmometer c apparatus during the growing stages and to compare the predicted values of the crop coefficient with different methods and approaches. The study was conducted in the greenhouses field within Al-Mahawil Township, 70 km south of Baghdad, Iraq. The watermarks soil water sensors and atmometer apparatus were used to measure crop evapotranspiration and reference evapotranspiration on daily basis, respectively. The comparison and the statistical analysis between the calculated K in this study and values obtained from greenhouse gave a good agreement. The root mean
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