Background: The discriminative power of the classical WHO parameters in relation to male fertility is quite low, because they only address few aspects of sperm quality and function. This has led investigators to focus their attention on the male gamete and in particular its genome.Objective: To explore which of the sperm DNA damage parameters measured by comet assay are more reliable, and their relations with the standard semen parameters.Methods: Study was done on 40 infertile men selected from couples attending the Institute of Embryo Reasearch and Infertility Treatment at Al-Kadhimiya City/ Baghdad in the period between February 2009 and May 2009, with a history of infertility of ≥1 years; and 15 healthy volunteers of proven fertility serving as control. Samples were allowed to liquefy for at least 30 minutes at 37°C and then evaluated according to the guidelines of the World Health Organization, 1999. The single cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay was studied in the ejaculated spermatozoa. The exclusion criteria were the presence of azoospermia and severe oligospermia. Results were compared with the standard semen characteristics (concentration, motility and morphology).Results: Compared to healthy volunteers, infertile patients had highly significantly higher values of comet parameters (P = 0.00001). In all infertile patients, comet extent did not correlate with any of the classical semen parameters; whereas, tail length (μm), % DNA in tail, tail moment and olive moment had all significant negative correlations with the standard parameters. Significant positive correlations were observed between the studied comet parameters, except for the comet extent which was not significantly correlated with tail length and % DNA in tail (P = 0.06, P = 0.7; respectively).Conclusion: Comet assay is a very useful technique in assessing sperm DNA damage. Comet tail parameters and comet extent, may clarify different aspects of DNA damage, and together give a better insight to the integrity of the male genome.Keywards: sperm, comet extent, % DNA in tail, tail moment and olive moment

This research aims to investigate the thermal performance of different thermal composite insulators, wrapped around a closed-loop copper pipe (CLP). To achieve this aim a system was designed and manufactured. It is consisted of closed water tank insulated by Rock Wool, and supplied with two electric heaters, two thermostat, a flow meter, a water pump, digital temperature scales, and four series of (CLP).
Six insulators were prepared namely; composites of Impregnated Fiberglass with Elastoclad and foaming Rubber (FER), Impregnated Fiberglass with Elastoclad resin and Polymeric Membrane (FEM), Impregnated Fiberglass with Polyurethane thermoset resin and Foaming Rubber (FUR), Impregnated Fiberglass with Polyurethane thermoset resin and P
A research was conducted to determine the feasibility of using adsorption process to remove boron from aqueous solutions using batch technique. Three adsorbent materials; magnesium, aluminum and iron oxide were investigated to find their abilities for boron removal. The effects of operational parameters on boron removal efficiency for each material were determined.
The experimental results revealed that maximum boron removal was achieved at pH 9.5 for magnesium oxide and 8 for aluminum and iron oxide. The percentage of boron adsorbed onto magnesium,aluminum and iron oxide reaches up to 90, 42.5 and 41.5% respectively under appropriate conditions. Boron concentration in effluent water after adsorption via magnesium oxide comply with th
Statistical methods of forecasting have applied with the intention of constructing a model to predict the number of the old aged people in retirement homes in Iraq. They were based on the monthly data of old aged people in Baghdad and the governorates except for the Kurdistan region from 2016 to 2019. Using Box-Jenkins methodology, the stationarity of the series was examined. The appropriate model order was determined, the parameters were estimated, the significance was tested, adequacy of the model was checked, and then the best model of prediction was used. The best model for forecasting according to criteria of (Normalized BIC, MAPE, RMSE) is ARIMA (0, 1, 2).
The present study aims to establish an empirical correlation between biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the sewage flowing in Al-Diwaniyah wastewater treatment plant. The strength of the wastewater entering the plant varied from medium to high. High concentrations of BOD5 and COD in the effluent were obtained due to the poor performance of the plant. This was observed from the BOD5 /COD ratios that did not confirm with the typical ratios for the treated sewage. Regression equations for BOD5 and COD removal percentages were suggested which can be used to evaluate rapid effluent assessment after the treatment processes or optimal process control to improve the performance of wastewater treatment plants.
... Show MoreIt is necessary to use the means of recovery and other means that help to get rid of the effects of fatigue, as the game of badminton and the effectiveness of running 800 meters fall within the mixed system with the superiority of the anaerobic system by more than the air system, so requires the development of energy systems In proportion to the time of the match for badminton players and their travels and high performance and ability to tolerate the high level of lactic acid in the muscles and blood and increase the pain associated with the fatigue that occurs during the performance. In light of the physical and physiological processes of these actions N it should seek through training programs to develop your endurance and wind energy sys
... Show MoreThis study was aimed to assess the impact of vermicompost, glutathione, and their interaction on beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) growth, yield, and antioxidant traits. The experiment carried out at vegetable field of the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences - University of Baghdad during fall season 2019. The experiment was conducted using factorial arrangement within Randomized Complete Block Design with two factors and three replicates (3X3X3). Applying vermicompost before cultivation represented the first factor (0, 15, 30 ton.ha-1), which symbolized (V0, V1, V2). Glutathione (0, 75, 150 mg.L-1) which symbolized (G0, G1, G2) represented the second factor. Results showed the superiority of secondary interaction treatment V2G2
... Show Morerop simulation models play a pivotal role in evaluating irrigation management strategies to improve water use in agriculture. The aim of this study is to verify the validity of the Aquacrop model of maize under the surface and sprinkler irrigation systems, and a cultivation system, borders and furrows, and for two varieties of Maze (Fajr and Drakma) At two different sites in Iraq, Babylon and Al-Qadisiyah governorates. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance of the Aquacrop model in simulating canopy cover (CC), biomass (B), dry yield, harvest index (HI), and water productivity (WP). The results of RMSE, R2, MAE, d, NSE, CC, Pe indicated good results and high compatibility between measured and simulated values. The highest a
... Show MoreA preventing shield for neutrons and gamma rays was designed using alternate layers of water and iron with pre-fixed dimensions in order to study the possibility of attenuating both neutrons and gamma-rays. ANISN CODE was prepared and adapted for the shield calculation using radiation doses calculation: Two groups of cross-section were used for each of neutrons and gamma-rays that rely on the one – dimensional transport equation using discrete ordinate's method, and through transforming cross-section values to values that are independent on the number of groups. The memory size required for the applied code was reduced and the results obtained were in agreement with those of standard acceptable document samples of cross –section, this a
... Show MoreThis work involves theoretical and experimental studies for seven compounds to calculate the electrons spectrum and NLO properties. The theoretical study is done by employing the Time Depending Density Functional Theory TD-DFT and B3LYP/high basis set 6-311++G (2d,2p), using Gaussian program 09. Experimental study by UV/VIS spectrophotometer device to prove the theoretical study. Theoretical and experimental results were applicable in spectrum and energy gap values, in addition to convergence theoretically the energy gap results from ΔEHOMO-LUMO and UV/VIS. spectrum. Consider the theoretical method very appropriate to compounds that absorb in vacuum UV.