Background: Chronic cigarette smoking is one of the major risk factors for coronary artery disease. However, it has additional cardiac adverse effects independent of coronary atherosclerosis. Patient and Methods: After informed consent and perm- ission from the review board of the hospital, 80 healthy subjects who were classified as smokers or non-smokers were included in the study. They were examined by standard echocardiography protocol which was followed by two-dimensional speckle tracking to assess the functions of the right ventricle. Results: The tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) was significantly reduced in smokers as compared to non-smokers (P < 0.05). The tricuspid flow peak late diastolic velocity (A wave) was significantly higher in smokers (P < 0.05, and hence the E/A ratio was signif- icantly lower (P < 0.05). The tissue Doppler imaging examination of right ventricular free wall showed that the peak systolic velocity of right ventricular (RV) free wall (S’), and the peak early diastolic velocity of RV free wall (E’) were significantly lower in smokers when compared to the control group (P < 0.05 for both). The global longit- udinal strain (GLS) assessed by 2D-speckle tracking echo- cardiography was also significantly reduced in smokers (P < 0.05). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that chronic cigarette smoking causes alterations in long-axis systolic and diast- olic functions of right ventricle in healthy young subjects. These changes can be detected early with 2-D speckle tracking echocardiography.
Globally, buildings use about 40% of energy. Many elements, such as the physical properties of the structure, the efficiency of the cooling and heating systems, the activity of the occupants, and the building’s sustainability, affect the energy consumption of a building. It is really difficult to predict how much energy a building will need. To improve the building’s sustainability and create sustainable energy sources to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion, estimating the building's energy use is necessary. This paper explains the energy consumed in the lecture building of the Al-Khwarizmi College of Engineering, University of Baghdad (UOB), Baghdad, Iraq. The weather data and the building construction informati
... Show MoreCoupling reaction of 4-amino antipyrene with 4-amino benzoic acid gave bidentate azo ligand. The prepared ligand was identified by Microelemental Analysis, 1HNMR, FT-IR and UV-Vis spectroscopic techniques. Treatment of the prepared ligand with the following metal ions (CoII, NiII, CuII and ZnII) in aqueous ethanol with a 1:2 M:L ratio and at optimum pH, yielded a series of neutral complexes of the general formula [M(L)2]Cl2 . The prepared complexes were characterized using flame atomic absorption, (C.H.N) Analysis, FT-IR and UV-Vis spectroscopic methods as well as magnetic susceptibility and conductivity measurements. Chloride ion content was also evaluated by (Mohr method). The nature of the complexes formed were studied following the mol
... Show MorePure grade II titanium disks were coated with a thin coating of polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) polymer by RF magnetron sputtering using either nitrogen or argon gas. Sputtering technique was employed at 50 W for one hour at 60°C with continuous flow of nitrogen or argon gas. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) showed a continuous, homogeneous, rough PEKK surface coating without cracks. In addition, cross-sectional FE-SEM revealed an average coat thickness of 1.86 μm with argon gas and 1.96 μm with nitrogen gas. There was homogenous adhesion between the coating layer and substrate. The elemental analysis of titanium substrate revealed the presence of carbon, titanium, and oxygen. The RF magnetron sputtering with argon or ni
... Show MoreM(II) Ions using amino acid L- proline as a primary ligand and either Nicotinamide or 8- hydroxyqinoline as secondary ligand, respectively: a. The mixed ligand complexes of composition,[M(pro)2(na)2]. b. The mixed ligand complexes of composition , Na[M(pro)2(Q)]. Where proline (C5H9NO2) symbolized as pro H , Nicotinamide (C6H6N2O) symbolized as (NA) , 8- hydroxyqinoline, (C9H7NO2) symbolized as (8-HQ). The ligands and the metal chlorides were brought into reaction at room temperature (37ºc) in ethanol as solvent .The reaction required the following molar ratios [(1:2:2) metal:2NA:2pro-] and [(1:1:2) metal:Q:2pro-] with M+2 ions, where M = [Mn (II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II) and pd(II)]. Products were found to be solid crystall
... Show MoreMixed ligands of 2-benzoyl Thiobenzimiazole (L1) with 1,10-phenanthroline (L2) complexes of Cr(III) , Ni(II) and Cu(II) ions were prepared. The ligand and the complexes were isolated and characterized in solid state by using FT-IR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, 1H, 13C-NMR, flame atomic absorption, elemental micro analysis C.H.N.S, magnetic susceptibility , melting points and conductivity measurements. 2-Benzoyl thiobenzimiazole behaves as bidenetate through oxygen atom of carbonyl group and nitrogen atom of imine group. From the analyses Octahedral geometry was suggested for all prepared complexes. A theoretical treatment of ligands and their metal complexes in gas phase were studied using HyperChem-8 program, moreover, ligands in gas phase
... Show More