Background/objectives: Inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and nitric oxide (NO) are key indicators of pulp response to mechanical trauma. However, the influence of cavity depth on their release dynamics remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different cavity depths—moderate (without pulp exposure) and deep (with pulp exposure)—on the release of PGE2 and NO in the pulp tissue of rat mandibular incisors at two time intervals (3 and 9 h).Methods: In total, 40 male Wistar rats were divided into two main groups (n = 20) based on cavity depth. A split-mouth design was used, with cavities of different depths prepared on the left mandibular incisors, leaving the right incisors without cavities as controls. All the prepared cavities were sealed with glass ionomer filling until 3 or 9 h (n = 10), when pulp tissue was removed. Homogenates were prepared and analyzed by ELISA for PGE2 and NO levels.Results: Cavities without pulp exposure elicited 2.1-fold higher PGE2 (median: 3.44 vs. 1.81 ng/mL; p < 0.001) and 1.3-fold higher NO (median: 55.45 vs. 43.76 μmol/L; p < 0.01) compared to exposed cavities at 3 h—a paradoxical finding suggesting intact pulp architecture potentiates acute inflammatory signaling. This disparity persisted at 9 h (PGE2: 3.18 vs. 1.81 ng/mL; NO: 49.94 vs. 44.98 μmol/L), though with attenuated significance (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Cavity preparation induces an early inflammatory response in the pulp, as indicated by increased PGE2 and NO levels. The inflammatory response was more pronounced in cavities without pulp exposure, suggesting that maintaining pulp integrity favors a regulated inflammatory response conducive to healing, while exposure may promote irreversible damage.
Channel estimation (CE) is essential for wireless links but becomes progressively onerous as Fifth Generation (5G) Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) systems and extensive fading expand the search space and increase latency. This study redefines CE support as the process of learning to deduce channel type and signal-tonoise ratio (SNR) directly from per-tone Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) observations,with blind channel state information (CSI). We trained a dual deep model that combined Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) with Bidirectional Recurrent Neural Networks (BRNNs). We used a lookup table (LUT) label for channel type (class indices instead of per-tap values) and ordinal supervision for SNR (0–20 dB,5-dB steps). T
... Show MoreAnabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are man-made derivatives of the male sex hormone testosterone, originally designed for therapeutic uses to provide higher anabolic potency with lower androgenic effects. Increasing numbers of young athletes are using these agents illicitly to enhance physical fitness, appearance, and performance despite their numerous side effects and worldwide banning. Today, their use remains one of the main health problems in sports because of their availability and low price. The present study focuses on investigating the adverse effects of anabolic androgenic steroid abuse on sex hormones, liver and renal function tests, fasting glucose levels and lipid metabolism in Iraqi male recreational bodybuilders
... Show MoreThis study aims to determine the effect of x-ray radiation resulting from solar flares in high-frequency radio wave communications through the ionosphere and to study the radio blackout events that occur over Iraq, located within (38,28) latitude, and (38,49) longitude. Using X-ray data during strong X flares and radio wave absorption data across the D ionosphere for 10 years from 2012 to 2021. The study concluded that there were 43 events of x-flare, most of which were during years of high solar activity. All of these flares produced X-rays that caused a radio blackout, R3 and only 13 events affected Iraq.
The possible effects of COVID-19 vaccines on reproductive health and male fertility in particular have been discussed intensely by the scientific community and the public since their introduction during the pandemic. On news outlets and social media platforms, many claims have been raised regarding the deleterious effects of COVID-19 vaccines on sperm quality without scientific evidence. In response to this emerging conflict, we designed this study to evaluate and assess the effect of the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA COVID-19 vaccine on male fertility represented by the semen analysis parameters.
Cohesive soils present difficulties in construction projects because it usually contains expansive clay minerals. However, the engineering properties of cohesive soils can be stabilized by using various techniques. The research aims to elaborate on the influences of using hydrated lime on the consistency, compaction, and shear strength properties of clayey soil samples from Sulaimnai city, northern Iraq. The proportions of added hydrated lime are 0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5% and 10% to the natural soil sample. The results yielded considerable effects of hydrated lime on the engineering properties of the treated soil sample and enhancement its strength. The soil's liquid limit, plasticity index, and optimum moisture content were de
... Show MoreIn this research, a detailed finite-element (FE) analysis of the combined influence of the drilled-hole position, the shape of the hole, and the fillet design on the structural and dynamic performance of spur gears is investigated. ANSYS R16.2 was used to create a three-dimensional numerical model that can be used to assess the bending stress distribution and vibration response under realistic loading conditions. A trochoidal fillet and four circular fillet radii (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mm) were studied to determine their effect on the stress concentration behavior. FE-guided hole-suggestion process was introduced which is an automated process in which low-stress zones to be cut away are identified so as to allo
... Show MoreTo study the comparative use of some soil minerals (zeolite, bentonite, phosphate rock, and limestone) in the adsorption and release of lead and its removal rates from its aqueous solutions using adsorption equations. Two laboratory experiments were carried out for the adsorption and release of lead. The adsorption experiment took 0.5 g of some of the above soil minerals. Lead was added as Pb (NO3)2 at levels of 3.0, 2.0, 1.5, 1.0, 0.5, and 0.0 mmol L-1 containing a concentration of 0.01M of calcium chloride. The experimental unit’s number was 72, the concentration of dissolved lead in the equilibrium solution was estimated and the amount of lead adsorbed was calculated. As for the lead release experiment, samples fo
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