Spices are natural substances taken from special plants and have a different taste when added to food and some of them have great benefits for health and body. These plants vary from country to country depending on the type of soil and how they are grown and this affects their quality. In this study, the specific activity of 40K, 238U and 232Th series and 137Cs in some selected natural food spices commonly used in Iraq kitchen were determined using gamma spectrometry and the ingested doses via food consumption were also assessed. The average specific activity of 40K, 238U, 232Th and 137Cs in the samples are 72.00 Bqkg−1, 106.576Bqkg−1, 148.74 and 191.88 Bq.kg−1 respectively. The highest activity concentration of 40K, 238U, 232Th and 137Cs was recorded in cumin (401.7) for 40K, laurel paper (260.67) for 238U, briana spices (733.7) for 232Th and Chamomile (833.4) for 137Cs. The maximum value of total annual effective dose received from 40K, 238U, 232Th and 137Cs due to consumption of natural spices by the inhabitants was 169.83 μSvy−1. This value is low compared to the average radiation dose of 290 μSvy−1 received per caput worldwide due to ingestion the food spices. The excess lifetime cancer risk due to ingestion of radionuclide in food spices was estimated and the values obtained were compared with standards. Based on these results it can be concluded that the foods spices studied in this work do not present any serious radiological effect. Spices are natural substances taken from special plants and have a different taste when added
Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the shear bond strength (SBS) and adhesive remnant index (ARI) of different orthodontic adhesive systems after exposure to aging media (water storage and acid challenge). Materials and methods: Eighty human upper premolar teeth were extracted for orthodontic purposes and randomly divided into two groups (40 teeth each): the first group in which the bonded teeth were stored in distilled water for 30 days at 37°C, and the second group in which the bonded teeth were subjected to acid challenge. Each group was further subdivided into four subgroups (10 teeth each) according to the type of adhesive system that would be bonded to metal brackets: either non-fluoride releasing adhesive (NFRA),
... Show MoreTo evaluate the effects of the ShotBlocker and vibration device on pain intensity and patient satisfaction during subcutaneous (SC) insulin injections in hospitalized adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
In this randomized controlled trial, 102 patients with type II diabetes mellitus were randomly assigned into 3 groups: 35 patients in the ShotBlocker group, 36 patients in the vibration group, and 31 patients in the control group. ShotBlocker was applied immediately before and during the injection, while the vibration was applied fo
This study aimed to explore self and public stigma towards mental illness and associated factors among university students from 11 Arabic‐speaking countries. This cross‐sectional study included 4241 university students recruited from Oman, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Syria, Sudan, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Egypt. The participants completed three self‐administrative online questionnaires—Demographic Proforma (age, gender, family income, etc.), Peer Mental Health Stigmatization Scale and Mental Health Knowledge Questionnaire. There was a significant difference in the average mean between the 11 countries (
Water level and distribution is very essential in almost all life aspects. Natural and artificial lakes represent a large percentage of these water bodies in Iraq. In this research the changes in water levels are observed by calculating the areas of five different lakes in five different regions and two different marshes in two different regions of the country, in a period of 12 years (2001 - 2012), archived remotely sensed images were used to determine surface areas around lakes and marshes in Iraq for the chosen years . Level of the lakes corresponding to satellite determined surface areas were retrieved from remotely sensed data .These data were collected to give explanations on lake level and surface area fluctuations. It is imp
... Show MoreThe impact of exposure to different sizes of particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5, PM7, and PM10) was evaluated in Babylon concrete plant workers who had been exposed to concrete dust for at least 10 years. The effects of these particles on the hematological parameters, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and antioxidant enzymes (catalase and glutathione peroxidase ) were examined. The results exhibited that the levels of PM2.5 and PM10 were higher than the acceptable limits approved by the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The blood parameters, namely white blood cells (WBC), red blood cell (RBC) and platelets counts, demonstrated non-significant differences between workers exposed to the PM as compared to the control gro
... Show MoreArid and semi-arid climates are critical for water security in sustainable river systems. The Euphrates River in western Iraq has been increasingly stressed by both geogenic and anthropogenic factors. This study analyzed hydro-geochemical processes, recharge dynamics, and groundwater flow modeling in western Iraq. Additionally, stable isotope tracing (δ¹⁸O, Cl⁻) integrated with hydro-chemical parameters was used to assess water quality and river-aquifer connectivity in both Syria and western Iraq. A total of 144 groundwater samples were collected annually across 12 stations in western Iraq. Surface water and groundwater data were collected from previous studies at 13 stations in Syria. Results revealed slightly alkaline freshwater con
... Show MoreIn this manuscript, the effect of substituting strontium with barium on the structural properties of Tl0.8Ni0.2Sr2-xBrxCa2Cu3O9-δcompound with x= 0, 0.2, 0.4, have been studied. Samples were prepared using solid state reaction technique, suitable oxides alternatives of Pb2O3, CaO, BaO and CuO with 99.99% purity as raw materials and then mixed. They were prepared in the form of discs with a diameter of 1.5 cm and a thickness of (0.2-0.3) cm under pressures 7 tons / cm2, and the samples were sintered at a constant temperature o
... Show MoreThe primary objective of root canal therapy is adequate biomechanical preparation of root canal system followed by 3D obturation.in clinics we are encountered with several anatomical variations, which we need to manage efficiently. One of the major factors responsible for failure of root canal therapy is missed canals. Recent technological advances have given the clinician opportunity to identify anatomical variations and treat them to satisfaction.