Interleukins (IL-2 and IL-4) are increased in asthmatics and were reported to induce resistance to steroid therapy in some patients who fail to get benefit from glucocorticoids when used in full dose and for long period of time. In this context, the present study was conducted on Iraqi patients to provide additional laboratory mean, beside the clinical diagnosis, for the decision whether the asthma is steroid sensitive or resistant by monitoring the level of immunoglobulins, complement proteins and interleukins among asthmatic patients (steroid sensitive or resistant) and the possible contribution of other factors like age, sex and environments in the development of steroid resistance. A total number of 55 asthmatics and 28 normal subjec

The aim of this research is to determine the uranium concentration in soil and water samples taken from different locations from the middle and south of Iraq using fission fragments track registration. Twelve samples of soil and water were taken from middle and South of Iraq. The nuclear reaction used as a source of nuclear fission fragments is U-235 (n.f) obtained by bombardment U-235with thermal neutrons from (Am-Be) neutron source with flux (5X103 n.cm-2.s-1). The concentration values were calculated by a comparison with standard samples recommended by IAEA.The results of the measurements show that the uranium concentration in soil samples were in Thekar (16.38 ppm), AL-Basra (16.1ppm) and (0.78 ppm) in Baghdad, from the results

Clinical index is needed to predict the outcome of pregnancy after in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer (IVF/ICSI-ET) for infertile patients. Growth differentiation factor-8 (GDF-8), also known as myostatin, is one of transforming growth factor-â superfamily localized in antral follicles in normal and PCOS ovaries but its function in female reproductive system is still unknown. Aim of the study is to assess the correlation between levels of GDF8 in follicular fluid (FF) with outcomes of in vitro fertilization (IVF/ICSI) in women with and without PCOS. A prospective case control study was performed enrolling (40) patients with PCOS and (40) non-PCOS women (male infertility) undergoing IVF/ICSI. The collect

The aim of this study is to develop a novel framework for managing risks in smart supply chains by enhancing business continuity and resilience against potential disruptions. This research addresses the growing uncertainty in supply chain environments, driven by both natural phenomena-such as pandemics and earthquakes—and human-induced events, including wars, political upheavals, and societal transformations. Recognizing that traditional risk management approaches are insufficient in such dynamic contexts, the study proposes an adaptive framework that integrates proactive and remedial measures for effective risk mitigation. A fuzzy risk matrix is employed to assess and analyze uncertainties, facilitating the identification of disr

Controlling cost in construction projects is an essential issue. This study investigates the most critical problems that cause weakness in cost control in Iraqi construction projects. The quantitative technique was used by conducting a survey directed to professionals who work on construction projects. One hundred and sixty-four questionnaire forms were distributed to private sector companies, government companies, and government institutions, and the responses were subjected to the required statistical analysis. The results indicate that the most influential factors are the weakness in keeping up with the use of modern concepts, methods, and technologies, the delay in receiving the amounts due for work done from the owner, fluctuat

This paper introduces a non-conventional approach with multi-dimensional random sampling to solve a cocaine abuse model with statistical probability. The mean Latin hypercube finite difference (MLHFD) method is proposed for the first time via hybrid integration of the classical numerical finite difference (FD) formula with Latin hypercube sampling (LHS) technique to create a random distribution for the model parameters which are dependent on time [Formula: see text]. The LHS technique gives advantage to MLHFD method to produce fast variation of the parameters’ values via number of multidimensional simulations (100, 1000 and 5000). The generated Latin hypercube sample which is random or non-deterministic in nature is further integ