Background: Preterm labor and related prematurity are predisposing factors that increase perinatal morbidity and mortality. Acute phase reactants are inflammatory markers which are positive and negative reactants explained by the reaction of reactants to the subclinical infection that are commonly associated with preterm labor. Objectives: To assess the role of acute phase reactants in pregnant women with preterm delivery. Patients and method: A case control study conducted in Gynecological Department of Baghdad Teaching Hospital from 1st February 2021 to 30th October 2021, on one hundred pregnant women with gestational age (28weeks - 36weeks+6days) who attended outpatient clinic; fifty pregnant women with established preterm labor as case group and fifty pregnant women with no signs and symptoms of preterm labor as control group. Data was collected using structured questionnaire included demographic features, and biochemical parameters (serum ferritin (ng/ml), albumin (gm/dl), fibrinogen (mg/dl), and calcium (mg/dl) . Results: Mean±SD serum ferritin in control group was (46.2 ± 16.2 ng/ml) while in case group (52.47 ± 11.6ng/ml) with significant difference between both groups (P=0.03), mean±SD serum albumin in control group (3.18 ± 0.31 ng/ml) while in case group (2.92 ± 0.39) with highly significant difference between both groups (P<0.001). Validity test of serum ferritin at cutoff ≥ 52.7 (ng/ml) in case group was as follows: Sensitivity (94%), specificity (90%), negative predictive value (94%), positive predictive value (90%) and the accuracy was (92%). The validity test of serum albumin at cutoff ≤ 3.06 (gm/dl) to detect the preterm labor as follows: Sensitivity (78%), specificity (86%), negative predictive value (78%), positive predictive value (83%) and the accuracy was (84%). Mean±SD serum fibrinogen in control group was (400.9 ± 38.1) while in case group was (410.7 ± 51.2) with no significant difference between both groups (P=0.1). Mean±SD serum calcium in control group was (8.1 ± 0.7) while in case group was (7.92 ± 0.5) with no significant difference between both groups (P=0.1). Conclusion: serum ferritin and albumin can be used in prediction of preterm labor in 3rd trimester.
In this paper, the behavior of structural concrete linear bar members was studied using numerical model implemented in a computer program written in MATLAB. The numerical model is based on the modified version of the procedure developed by Oukaili. The model is based on real stress-strain diagrams of concrete and steel and their secant modulus of elasticity at different loading stages. The behavior presented by normal force-axial strain and bending moment-curvature relationships is studied by calculating the secant sectional stiffness of the member. Based on secant methods, this methodology can be easily implemented using an iterative procedure to solve non-linear equations. A comparison between numerical and experimental data, illustrated
... Show MoreCystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive multisystem disease that results from mutation(s) of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (
Engineered geopolymer composite (EGC) is a high-performance material with enhanced mechanical and durability capabilities. Ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) and silica fume (SF) are common binder materials in producing EGC. However, due to the scarcity and high cost of these materials in some countries, sustainable alternatives are needed. This research focused on producing eco-friendly EGC made of cheaper and more common pozzolanic waste materials that are rich in aluminum and silicon. Rice husk ash (RHA), granite waste powder (GWP), and volcanic pumice powder (VPP) were used as partial substitutions (10–50%) of GGBFS in EGC. The effects of these wastes on workability, unit weight, compressive strength, tensile strengt
... Show MoreThe presence of residual antibiotics in water results in the development of antibiotics resistant genes. The available wastewater treatment systems are not capable of removing such antibiotics from sewage. Thus, antibiotics need to be removed before the discharge of wastewater. Adsorption is among the promising techniques for the wastewater treatment to aid the removal of a wide range of organic and inorganic pollutants. The present work is a contribution to the search for an economical method for the removal of low concentrations of amoxicillin (AMX) from water by adsorption on water treatment residue, WTR, taken from a local drinking water facility. The chemical composition and the adsorptive characteristics of the material were first
... Show MoreAbstract
Robust controller design requires a proper definition of uncertainty bounds. These uncertainty bounds are commonly selected randomly and conservatively for certain stability, without regard for controller performance. This issue becomes critically important for multivariable systems with high nonlinearities, as in Active Magnetic Bearings (AMB) System. Flexibility and advanced learning abilities of intelligent techniques make them appealing for uncertainty estimation. The aim of this paper is to describe the development of robust H2/H∞ controller for AMB based on intelligent estimation of uncertainty bounds using Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS). Simulatio
... Show MoreFor a given loading, the stiffness of a plate or shell structure can be increased significantly by the addition of ribs or stiffeners. Hitherto, the optimization techniques are mainly on the sizing of the ribs. The more important issue of identifying the optimum location of the ribs has received little attention. In this investigation, finite element analysis has been achieved for the determination of the optimum locations of the ribs for a given set of design constraints. In the conclusion, the author underlines the optimum positions of the ribs or stiffeners which give the best results.
Twitter is becoming an increasingly popular platform used by financial analysts to monitor and forecast financial markets. In this paper we investigate the impact of the sentiments expressed in Twitter on the subsequent market movement, specifically the bitcoin exchange rate. This study is divided into two phases, the first phase is sentiment analysis, and the second phase is correlation and regression. We analyzed tweets associated with the Bitcoin in order to determine if the user’s sentiment contained within those tweets reflects the exchange rate of the currency. The sentiment of users over a 2-month period is classified as having a positive or negative sentiment of the digital currency using the proposed CNN-LSTM
... Show MoreObjectives of the study: The main objective of the study is to assess the prevalence of hypertension among
cardiac diseases patients and to fiend out relation ship between hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.
Methodology: A descriptive study, using interviewer and questionnaire technique was conducted on cardiac
diseases inpatients of clinic unite at Kirkuk and Azady hospitals from 17th ,June ,2012 to 1st, March , 2013.
Non – probability (purposive) sample of (148) adult patients, (81) females and (67) males with heart disease are
selected from inpatients of clinic unite at Kirkuk and Azady hospitals at kirkuk city. Questionnaire was
developed to assess the items which are related to heart disease patient's (Dise