Background: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a common health problem that has a worldwide distribution. Apart from the direct effect of the virus on the liver, there are many extrahepatic manifestations among which the probable effect on bone turnover associated with low bone mineral density (BMD). Objectives: This study aimed to determine the association between treated and untreated chronic HBV infection with BMD. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study which included a total of 48 patients with chronic HBV (28 patients treated with tenofovir-disoproxil-fumarate [TDF] antiviral drug and 20 patients have not yet started treatment). Other age- and sex-matched 30 apparently healthy individuals were recruited to represent the healthy controls. BMD was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry on the anteroposterior lumbar spine (L1–L4 spine) views, from which T-score was calculated. Liver function tests were also evaluated from serum samples. Results: Treated patients showed a lower T‑score (−0.48 ± 0.72) than either healthy individuals (1.08 ± 0.84) or untreated patients (0.78 ± 0.51), with highly significant differences. In multivariate regression, only disease duration (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 9.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.8–16.68) and TDF treatment (adjusted OR = 6.4, 95% CI = 4.18–97.05) were significantly associated with BMD. Conclusions: Prolonged use of TDF in the treatment of HBV infection can significantly reduce BMD. Moreover, BMD can also be inversely affected in long-standing HBV, regardless of treatment regimen.
Scams remain among top cybercrime incidents happening around the world. Individuals with high susceptibility to persuasion are considered as risk-takers and prone to be scam victims. Unfortunately, limited number of research is done to investigate the relationship between appeal techniques and individuals' personality thus hindering a proper and effective campaigns that could help to raise awareness against scam. In this study, the impact of fear and rational appeal were examined as well as to identify suitable approach for individuals with high susceptibility to persuasion. To evaluate the approach, pretest and posttest surveys with 3 separate controlled laboratory experiments were conducted. This study found that rational appeal treatm
... Show MoreThe Internet of Things (IoT) is an expanding domain that can revolutionize different industries. Nevertheless, security is among the multiple challenges that it encounters. A major threat in the IoT environment is spoofing attacks, a type of cyber threat in which malicious actors masquerade as legitimate entities. This research aims to develop an effective technique for detecting spoofing attacks for IoT security by utilizing feature-importance methods. The suggested methodology involves three stages: preprocessing, selection of important features, and classification. The feature importance determines the most significant characteristics that play a role in detecting spoofing attacks. This is achieved via two techniques: decision tr
... Show MoreThis research examines the issue of Internet banking services and their impact on customer's perceived value to know the potential of Iraqi commercial Banks to provide Internet banking services as well as determine the customer's level of perception of the value of such services. The research aims to demonstrate the effect that Internet banking services have on the customer's perceived value and to find how online banking services can be used to add value that the customer perceive. The main findings were that research sample banks don't have a sophisticated network of electronic Windows through which banking services are provided to allow customers to manage their accounts, and perform various operational operations through the
... Show MoreThis research paper aims at studying the effect of adopting the corporate social responsibility on marketing performance indicators, where the study adopted the descriptive method for theoretical concepts, in addition to the statistical approach by using the SPSS v25 program to analyze the questionnaire and test the hypotheses of the study. The results showed that there is a positive correlation between social responsibility and marketing performance indicators, and the study found that it is better for NAFTAL Company to mix the environmental and social responsibilities in order to improve its marketing performance. Also, the study recommended that Naftal should adopt the four responsibilities equally, correctly and make its work
... Show Moreنظرة عامة: تُعرَّف المادة أو العامل الذي يمكن أن يؤثر على الحمض النووي أو الكروموسومات على أنه سم جيني. قد يؤدي تلف الحمض النووي في الخلية الجسدية إلى حدوث طفرة جسدية ، والتي قد تحفز التحول الخبيث ، في حين أن الضرر الذي يلحق بالخلية الجرثومية قد يؤدي إلى تغيير خاصية وراثية (طفرة في السلالة الجرثومية) (سرطان). أحد الأحماض الدهنية الأحادية غير المشبعة الأحادية غير الأساسية هو حمض البالميتوليك. بعد حمض الأوليك
... Show MoreSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is one of the autoimmune disorders, generated by a production of specific autoantibodies against self-antigens before the occurrence of clinical symptoms. The etiology of disease is still unknown, although there have been several infectious agents that have been associated with SLE development, especially in genetically predisposed individuals. Herpes simplex virus-I and -II (HSV-I and -II) and Toxoplasma gondiiare two infectious agents that have been suggested to be involved in SLE etiology. Accordingly, the present study assessed anti- HSV-I and -II and anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay in sera of 64 SLE female patients and 32 healthy control women. The patients w
... Show MoreTaxes are an essential axis in the economy as the most effective and effective economic tool in any country (economy). Expanding the scope of taxation without adequate study has produced a dangerous result with a negative impact that is almost apparent, namely (tax evasion), which stands as a barrier preventing the state from reaching Therefore, the research sought to study strategic tax planning and its importance in reducing tax evasion, and the research aims from that to prove the importance of adopting strategic planning in the field of taxes according to modern and effective scientific foundations to reduce tax evasion to enhance the achievement of tax evasion. The financing objective is in addition to the other objectives,
... Show MoreThe correct and sincere process of socialization is working on appropriate social climate in
which this process is the provision, and the climate is achieved in the presence of a positive
environment free of negatives and contradictions, but when there is a socialization processes
inadequate and contradictory was not based on the principles of punishment and reward nor a
balance between methods soft and intensity of treatment and interaction with small and
adolescent does not require intensive social care formulas do not create the conditions
essential items required by the successful and effective socialization, the young and the young
people who are going through in such Altanisah and educational operations will be