A cumulative review with a systematic approach aimed to provide a comparison of studies’ investigating the possible impact of the active form of vitamin D3, calcitriol (CTL), on the tooth movement caused by orthodontic forces (OTM) by evaluating the quality of evidence, based on collating current data from animal model studies, in vivo cell culture studies, and human clinical trials. Methods: A strict systematic review protocol was applied following the application of the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO). A structured search strategy, including main keywords, was defined during detailed search with the application of electronic database systems: Medline/Pubmed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO. In addition, a search was carried out with the use of ClinicalTrials.gov search in order to include ongoing or recently completed trials. The Oxford Level of Evidence and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was utilized to critically evaluate the risk of bias and relative quality of studies included. Meta-analysis with the use of RevMan5 software, random effect, and inverted variable method allowed the quantification of cumulative results. Results: Twenty-seven studies were identified which fulfilled inclusion criteria, including two clinical studies. The assessed level of evidence was variable and inconsistent, predominantly being moderate or low due to a significant difference in study design, sample size, and study protocols. Data synthesis rendered from meta-analysis involving various CTL doses demonstrated slight discrepancies in tooth movement between control and experimental groups (mean difference = 0.27; 95% CI: 0.01–0.53, std mean difference = 0.49; 95% CI: 0.09–0.89), as well as relatively moderate heterogenicity. Conclusions: Although it has been suggested that CTL could accelerate OTM in animal studies and clinical context, these scarce data were supported by a low level of evidence and the studies were carried out using inadequate sample size. Well-powered RCT studies would help to overcome the lack of robustness of the research.
Crop diseases are usually caused by inoculum of pathogens which might exist on alternate hosts or weeds as endophytes. These endophytes, cum pathogens, usually confer some beneficial attributes to these weeds or alternate hosts from protection against herbivores, disease resistance, stress tolerance to secondary metabolites production. This study was therefore carried out to isolate potential crop pathogens which exist as endophytes on weed species in the University of Ilorin plantations. Green asymptomatic leaves were collected from 10 weed species across the plantations, and processed for their endophytic fungi isolation. Isolates were purified into pure cultures and used for molecular identification using the internal transcribed spac
... Show MoreAn experimental study was carried out to improve the surface roughness quality of the stainless steel 420 using magnetic abrasive finishing method (MAF). Four independent operation parameters were studied (working gap, coil current, feed rate, and table stroke), and their effects on the MAF process were introduced. A rotating coil electromagnet was designed and implemented to use with plane surfaces. The magnetic abrasive powder used was formed from 33%Fe and 67% Quartz of (250µm mesh size). The lubricant type SAE 20W was used as a binder for the powder contents. Taguchi method was used for designing the experiments and the optimal values of the selected parameters were found. An empirical equation representing the r
... Show MoreSteel–concrete–steel (SCS) structural systems have economic and structural advantages over traditional reinforced concrete; thus, they have been widely used. The performance of concrete made from recycled rubber aggregate from scrap tires has been evaluated since the early 1990s. The use of rubberized concrete in structural construction remains necessary because of its high impact resistance, increases ductility, and produces a lightweight concrete; therefore, it adds such important properties to SCS members. In this research, the use of different concrete core materials in SCS was examined. Twelve SCS specimens were subjected to push-out monotonic loading for inspecting their mechanical performance. One specimen was constructed from co
... Show MoreThe polymer was used to inhibit the corrosion of copper metal in salt media in different concentrations at room temperature using potentiometric polarization measurement. The polymer was prepared by mixing (0.1 M) 4-Hydroxy aniline (C6H7NO) with (0.25M) of ammonium persulfate as the initiator using the electro-deposition technique. The polymer’s results showed that copper in (3.5%) NaCl had good corrosion resistance. The findings demonstrate that the %IE for polymer-induced copper corrosion is 89.32% at 10 ppm concentration as a result of the 4-hydroxy aniline polymer’s adsorption from salt solution on the surface of copper metal. The numbers from the polarization method and the acquired standard data agree well. The coated copper by po
... Show MoreAssessment of annual wind energy potential for three selected sites in Iraq has been analyzed in the present work. The wind velocities data from August 2014 to July 2015 were collected from the website of Weather Underground Organization (WUO) at stations elevation (35m, 32m, and 17m) for Baghdad, Najaf, and Kut Al-Hai respectively. Extrapolation of stations elevation and wind velocities was used to estimate wind velocities at (60m, 90m, and 120m). The objectives are to analyze the wind speed data and assess the wind energy potential for wind energy applications. Computer code for MATLAB software has been developed to solve the mathematical model. The results are presented as a monthly and annual average for wind velocities, standard deviat
... Show MoreABSTRACT Two females of the red-back spider, Latrodectus scelio Thorell, 1870 were first recorded in Iraq, short description with figure was provided
Two oil wells were tested to find the abnormal pressure zones using sonic log technique. We found that well Abu-Jir-3 and Abu-Jir-5 had an abnormal pressure zones from depth 4340 to 4520 feet and 4200 to 4600 feet, respectively. The maximum difference between obtained results and the field measured results did not exceed 2.4%.
In this paper, the formation pressures were expressed in terms of pressure gradient which sometimes reached up to twice the normal pressure gradient.
Drilling and developing such formations were dangerous and expensive.
The plotted figures showed a clear derivation from the normal trend which confirmed the existence of abnormal pressure zones.
Rate of penetration plays a vital role in field development process because the drilling operation is expensive and include the cost of equipment and materials used during the penetration of rock and efforts of the crew in order to complete the well without major problems. It’s important to finish the well as soon as possible to reduce the expenditures. So, knowing the rate of penetration in the area that is going to be drilled will help in speculation of the cost and that will lead to optimize drilling outgoings. In this research, an intelligent model was built using artificial intelligence to achieve this goal. The model was built using adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system to predict the rate of penetration in
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