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.
Background: Medicinal plants that possess antimicrobial and antioxidant properties have garnered significant attention for their role in maintaining food quality, improving safety, and impeding spoilage. They also can aid in controlling food contamination risks and augmenting the nutritional value of foods. Objective: The study aimed to obtain botanical extracts possessing antimicrobial capabilities and use them to inhibit the growth of molds and yeasts. Additionally, these extracts are aimed at prolonging product shelf life by harnessing their antioxidant attributes. Methods: Several microorganisms, including E. coli and Pseudomonas, were subjected to testing. Ethanolic alcohol, chloroform, and essential oil extracts were prepared;
... Show MoreThis work is aiming to study and compare the removal of lead (II) from simulated wastewater by activated carbon and bentonite as adsorbents with particle size of 0.32-0.5 mm. A mathematical model was applied to describe the mass transfer kinetic.
The batch experiments were carried out to determine the adsorption isotherm constants for each adsorbent, and five isotherm models were tested to choose the best fit model for the experimental data. The pore, surface diffusion coefficients and mass transfer coefficient were found by fitting the experimental data to a theoretical model. Partial differential equations were used to describe the adsorption in the bulk and solid phases. These equations were simplified and the
... Show MoreThe educational process depends on the means of conveying information from the teacher to the learner. Whenever appropriate, this means the learning process takes place better, faster, and with less effort, and the problem of research lies. The players lack learning in the meta-knowledge curriculum in basketball offensive skills than offensive skills. The aim of the research is to identify the effect of training exercises for educational numbers based on metacognitive skills in teaching some offensive skills with basketball. As for the research assignment, there are statistically significant differences between the results of the pre and post tests for the experimental group and in favor of the post tests. The experimental approach was used
... Show MoreIn this paper, various aspects of smart grids are described. These aspects include the components of smart grids, the detailed functions of the smart energy meters within the smart grids and their effects on increasing the awareness, the advantages and disadvantages of smart grids, and the requirements of utilizing smart grids. To put some light on the difference between smart grids and traditional utility grids, some aspects of the traditional utility grids are covered in this paper as well.
In this study, active knife and fixed knife of single-row disc silage machine has three different clearance C1, C2 and C3 (1, 3 and 5 mm) and it is tried in three different working speed V1, V2 and V3 (1.8, 2.5 and 3.7 km / h) and PTO speed (540 min-1) and machine's fuel consumption (l/h), average power consumption (kW), field energy consumption (kW/da), product energy consumption (kW/t), field working capacity (da/h), product working capacity (t/h) and Chopping size distribution characteristics of the fragmented material were determined. It has been found that knife-counter knife clearances smaller than 3 mm (1 mm) and larger (5 mm) have a negative effect on machine performance in general. In terms of fuel and power consumptions, the m
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Although the subject of biofuels industry is linked directly to the energy sector, but has links and numerous indirect effects, in particular effects on the environment and agriculture, this study (opportunities and challenges of biofuels industry and impact on the development of the agricultural sector in developing countries) a modest step to identify the industry in detail and identify the types of products and raw materials entering, then define or limit the positive and negative impacts of this industry in General and for specific products In particular, detailed, and then flip all those effects on the agricultural sector in developing countries can benef
... Show MoreThis study presents the effect of laser energy on burning loss of magnesium from the holes' drilled in aluminum alloy 5052. High energy free running pulsed Nd:Glass laser of 300 µs pulse duration has been used to perform the experiments. The laser energy was varied from 1.0 to 8.0 Joules, The drilling processes have been carried out under atmospheric pressure and vacuum inside a specially designed chamber. Microhardness of the blind drilled holes has been investigated .The results indicated that the magnesium loss could be manipulated by adjusting the focusing conditions of the laser beam. Almost, the obtained holes were free of cracks with low taper and low sputter deposition. .The holes performed under atmospheric conditions have high
... Show MoreThe impacts of harvested cropland in the double cropping region (DCR) of the northern China plains (NCP) on the regional climate are examined using surface meteorological data and the satellite-derived normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and land surface temperature (LST). The NDVI data are used to distinguish the DCR from the single cropping region (SCR) in the NCP. Notable increases in LST in the period May–June are found in the area identified as the DCR on the basis of the NDVI data. The difference between the mean daily maximum temperature averaged over the DCR and SCR stations peaks at 1.27°C in June. The specific humidity in the DCR is significantly smaller than in
The present study aims at finding out the (effect of the Caroll’s pattern on the second intermediate class pupils' achievement in geography)
The partial experimental design of two groups, experimental and control, with pre-post tests is used. The sample is represented in (74) female pupils. The sample is divided into two groups (38) experimental group and (36) control one. The sample is selected from first intermediate class pupils ( Am Salama Secondary School for girls) \ Baghdad\ Al-karkh-1, for academic year 2015-2016.
The researcher has equalized the two groups in several variables: the previous achievement tests, intelligence, age in months, the scor
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