Several adipokines are produced and secreted from adipose tissue, such as retinol binding protein-4, which triggers metabolic syndromes and insulin resistance. Retinol binding protein-4 transfers vitamin A or retinol in the blood. Higher levels of retinol binding protein-4 are interrelated with progress of metabolic disease, comprising obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The present study investigates the role of retinol-binding protein-4 levels in type 2 diabetic Iraqi patients with metabolic syndrome. Sixty type 2 diabetic patients aged 40–53 years were examined. Of these 30 patients has metabolic syndrome and 30 without metabolic syndrome. The patients sampled were from the National Diabetes Center/ Mustansiriyah University from February 2022 until the end of August 2022. All diabetic patients have been examined and diagnosed from specialist endocrinology. Also, 30 healthy individuals were selected as control group. Anthropometric and clinical characteristics for all participants were assessed. Serum retinol binding protein-4 concentration was considerably elevated in diabetic patients as paralleled to the control (3.00 ± 0.66 ρg/mL with metabolic syndrome and 2.42 ± 0.88 ρg/ mL without metabolic syndrome). It is observed that female patients with metabolic syndrome had higher concentrations of retinol binding protein-4 (RBP-4) as compared to the male patients. Serum retinol binding protein-4 is strongly correlated with metabolic syndrome. As such concentration of RBP-4 offers enhanced prognostic value over traditional practices, and may be used for early detection of MetS in public health services.
Background: The rising rate of cesarean deliveries has generated concern about whether all procedures are medically justified. Limited data exist on how well first-time mothers understand the indications for their cesarean section in Iraq. Objective: To assess maternal knowledge of the medical reasons for the first cesarean delivery and its relationship with sociodemographic, obstetric, and neonatal characteristics. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from October to December 2023 among 158 Iraqi women who underwent their first cesarean delivery. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered online questionnaire that assessed demographic, obstetric, and knowledge-related factors. Results: Less than half of the
... Show MoreNearly, in the middle of 1970s the split-brain theory became the only theory that explains human creativity used in all fine art and art education schools. In fact, this theory- which appeared for first time in the middle of 1940s – faced many radical changes including its concepts and structures, and these changes affected both teaching art and art criticism. To update people awareness within art field of study, this paper reviews the split-brain theory and its relationship with teaching art from its appearance to its decay in 2013 and after.
Amid the growing demand for multifunctional and environmentally benign materials, lead-free double perovskites have emerged as a strategically important development in advanced functional materials research. This study presents the synthesis of Ba2PrMnO6 (BPMO) double perovskite nanocrystals for the first time via a hydrothermal method, and a comprehensive evaluation has been conducted using the density functional theory (DFT) framework. Structural, thermodynamic, electronic, optical, and mechanical properties were investigated through X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, FESEM/EDX, FTIR, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. XRD confirms a stable tetragonal I4/m phase with experimental lattice con
... Show MoreBackground: A great dental and biomedical interest had been paid to silver nanoparticles because of their antimicrobial activity. Objective: To evaluate the antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity of a newly developed Nano-silver fluoride that was synthesized from moringa oleifera leaf extract against S. mutants. Material and method: The green synthesis method was used to prepare Nano-silver fluoride from moringa oleifera leaf extract. The minimum inhibitory concentration and the minimum bactericidal concentration were evaluated using brain heart infusion plates, while the cytotoxicity was evaluated by the hemolytic activity. Results: Nano-silver fluoride had a bactericidal and bacteriostatic effect (MIC was 60 ppm a
... Show MoreAu nanoparticle-functionalized (TiO2)1−x(ZnO:MgO)x nanocomposite thin films (0≤x≤0.3) were effectively produced by chemical spray pyrolysis and annealed at 600 °C. The effects of ZnO incorporation and Au nanoparticle modification on the films' structural, optical, and antibacterial properties were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV–Vis spectroscopy, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). XRD analysis confirms the formation of polycrystalline anatase TiO2 and shows a composition-dependent structural develop- ment with increasing ZnO concentration. The optical experiments revealed increased transmittance and a progressive wid- ening of the optical band gap f
... Show MoreIn this study, thin flms containing titanium dioxide (TiO₂), iron (III) oxide (Fe2O3) and cerium oxide (CeO2), with varying Fe2O3:CeO2 concentrations ranging from 0 to 30 wt% and 10 wt% gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), were prepared on glass using chemical spray pyrolysis. The structural, morphological, and sensing properties of the prepared thin flms were examined. XRD analysis revealed that a phase transformation occurred based on the dopant concentration: flms with x = 0 or 0.1 formed a polycrystalline anatase structure, whereas those with intermediate concentrations (x = 0.15 or 0.20) were amorphous. At higher doping concentrations (x = 0.25, 0.30), the structure developed a hematite Fe2O3, CeO2 and Au phase. Morphologicall
... Show MoreAu nanoparticle-functionalized (TiO2)1−x(ZnO:MgO)x nanocomposite thin films (0≤x≤0.3) were effectively produced by chemical spray pyrolysis and annealed at 600 °C. The effects of ZnO incorporation and Au nanoparticle modification on the films' structural, optical, and antibacterial properties were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV–Vis spectroscopy, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). XRD analysis confirms the formation of polycrystalline anatase TiO2 and shows a composition-dependent structural development with increasing ZnO concentration. The optical experiments revealed increased transmittance and a progressive widening of the optical band gap from 3
... Show MoreA numerical investigation was performed on triangular solar air collectors by integrating unique layouts of triangular and alternating triangular copper metal foams with graded and non-graded pore densities. A three-dimensional CFD model was established to solve the governing equations of coupled systems for porous and non-porous domains. The two-energy-equations model was implemented to simulate heat transfer in porous media. The mathematical model was validated with numerical and experimental tests, with maximum mean absolute percentage error of 5% and 7%, respectively. To compromise heat transfer improvement with pressure losses, a partial metal foam insertion was adopted, covering 10% to 25% of the air duct volume. The findings indicate
... Show MoreIn this study, the activity concentrations of indoor radon, thoron
and their progeny have been measured in air for 61 different
locations of Al-Maddan city using twin cup dosimeter. Furthermore,
some useful parameters concerning the health hazards have been
estimated; working level month (WLM), annual effective dose (Eff),
and excess lung cancer per million person per year (ELC).The results
show that the values of radon gas levels in the investigated districts
varied from 56.28 to 194.43Bq/m3with an overall average value
132.96Bq/m3, while 0.313 to 1.085 for WLM with an overall average
0.740, respectively. The value of Eff and ELC have been found to
vary from 1.420 to 4.918 mSv/y with an overall average valu