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Sustainability principles are considered one of the vital challenges facing developing countries (including Iraq), which are trying vigorously to implement sustainable development in most of their development projects. The projects of constructing educational buildings, such as schools and universities, are among the most important development projects to be established in Iraq. This study aims to develop standards to help improve the understanding of the sustainability requirements of educational buildings in Iraq. Through a series of studies, this study has developed a system that can be used to measure the sustainability of these buildings. First, information about sustainability assessment systems was gathered from the literature and references. Second, personal interviews with specialists, field questionnaires, and the software Analytical Hierarchal Process (AHP) to identify the weights of the main categories and factors for sustainable educational buildings. The results showed that the criteria of Energy Efficiency received the greatest weight (29.6%). On the other hand, less weight was obtained from the Precious Water and Waste (3.6%). Finally, the study developed a rating system model, "Educational Building Sustainability Rate (EBSR)," under Iraqi environmental conditions.

Background: In order to obtain satisfactory treatment outcomes, orthodontic space closure frequently requires trustworthy anchoring devices. Because they are easier to install and smaller than regular implants, mini-implants have become a viable option. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of regular implants versus mini-implants as orthodontic anchoring devices for closing gaps in a tertiary care context. Methods: A total of 100 patients who needed space closure were split into two groups at random and given regular implants (group B, n = 50) or mini-implants (group A, n = 50). The rate of space closure, anchoring loss, and patient pain were measured using visual analog scales as the primary end measures. Resonance frequency analysis was used to assess implant stability. Based on implant survival and the lack of peri-implant problems, success rates were calculated. Findings: Mini-implants showed much lower rates of patient pain (P < 0.001) and anchoring loss (P < 0.05) than normal implants; however, they did show comparable rates of space closure (P = 0.42). In addition, mini-implants had comparable success rates (P = 0.78) and greater implant stability (P < 0.01) when compared to normal implants. Conclusion: In conclusion, mini-implants have benefits in anchorage preservation, patient comfort, and implant stability over regular implants when used as orthodontic anchoring devices for space closure. They also offer equivalent effectiveness. These results provide credence to the use of mini-implants as practical substitutes in orthodontic practice.

The owner of construction projects often faces difficulty choosing the appropriate project delivery system. The construction project’s owner must choose a suitable project delivery system throughout the project's early decision-making stages. This choice greatly impacts the success of the project. This paper aims to construct a method for project delivery decisions. This method can provide a reference for the owner to select the proper project delivery system. This research described the factors affecting the decision about the project delivery method through a literature review. These factors were categorized into eight groups: scope, time, quality, cost, risk and relationships, owner organization, project characteristics, and external environmental factors. Then, a combined methodology of Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA) and Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) are proposed for project delivery system selection. The SWARA is used to determine the factors’ weights. The TOPSIS technique determines the rank of the alternatives proposed for the delivery system in the various categories. The results showed the most significant factors related to the cost with a weight of 0.335, and the design-build is the closest to the ideal solution and ranked first among the other suggested project delivery systems with a relative closeness of 0.829. This paper stipulates the basis for such a process of decision-making.

Purpose: To compare three condensation techniques of zinc oxide eugenol (ZOE) as a pulpal dressing material during pulpotomy in extracted primary molars. Material and Methods: Sixty primary first and second molars were embedded in individual wax casts and divided into three groups consisting of 20 teeth each. In group I, the ZOE base was condensed by an amalgam condenser, while a moist cotton pellet was used in group II. A combination of an amalgam condenser and a wet cotton pellet tested the condensation mentod in group III. The condensation quality of the three techniques was evaluated through two digital periapical radiographs taken in a lateral and anterior-posterior direction. Results: Non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test showed that there was no significant difference between the technique and quality of ZOE compaction. However, a significant difference was observed on condensation assessment for combined three groups on lateral radiographs vs the appearance on antero-posterior radiographs with the p-value set at

Extraction methods depend mainly on the chemical nature of the extracted molecule. For these reasons, the selection of the extraction medium is a vital part of obtaining these molecules. The extraction of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from extremophile plants is important because of its potential pharmaceutical applications. This work focused on the evaluation of several solvents for the extraction of AMPs from the following two extremophile plants: Astragalus armatus and Anthyllis sericea from southern Tunisia. In order to identify the most efficient solvents and extraction solutions, we used sulfuric acid, dichloromethane, phosphate buffer, acetic acid and sodium acetate, and we tested them on leaves and roots of both the studied plants. The extracts obtained using sulfuric acid, dichloromethane and phosphate buffer extraction did not show any antimicrobial activity, whereas the acetic acid and sodium acetate extracts led to growth inhibition of some of the tested bacterial strains. The extracts of leaves and roots of An. sericea and As. armatus obtained by acetic acid and sodium acetate were proven to be active against Gram-positive bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria. Therefore, the most appropriate solvents to use for antimicrobial peptide extraction from both plants are acetic acid and sodium acetate.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of using various by-products (orange and apple pomace, tomato peel, pepper peel, prickly pear peel, and prickly pear seed peel) on the dough rheology and properties of gluten-free bread. The by-products were incorporated into a gluten-free bread formulation based on corn and chickpea flours (2/1 w/w). Different levels of each by-product (0, 2.5, 5, and 7.5% in the basic replacement) were tested. Wheat bread and gluten-free bread without the addition of by-products were used as controls. The results indicated that the by-products increased the maximum dough height, the total CO2 production, and CO2 retention coefficient compared to unenriched gluten-free dough. The highest K-value consistency coefficient was observed for the dough enriched with the prickly pear peel. The addition of by-products significantly improved (p < 0.0001) the specific volume of gluten-free bread, with values increasing from 1.48 to 2.50 cm3/g. The hierarchical cluster analysis and the constellation plot showed four groups: the wheat bread group, the second group containing the gluten-free control bread, the group with bread enriched by pomace, and the group with bread enriched with peels, exhibit the same effect on gluten-free bread and the peels exhibit the same effect on gluten-free bread.

مقدمه: تهوع و استفراغ، عارضه‌ی شایع و مشکل‌آفرین پس از اعمال جراحی می‌باشد. اگر چه داروهای متعددی نقش پروفیلاکتیک یا درمانی در رابطه با این عارضه دارند، اما هیچ کدام قادر به مهار کامل آن نمی‌باشند و عوارض جانبی متعددی نیز دارند. مطالعه‌ی حاضر، با هدف مقایسه‌ی اثربخشی مصرف پروفیلاکتیک زنجبیل و متوکلوپرامید بر کاهش ایجاد تهوع و استفراغ بعد از عمل جراحی کوله‌سیستکتومی انجام شد. روش‌ها: پس از کسب رضایت از 90 بیمار کاندیدای عمل جراحی کوله‌سیستکتومی که شرایط ورود به مطالعه را داشتند. این افراد، به طور تصادفی به دو گروه 45 نفری تقسیم شدند. قبل از شروع عمل جراحی، به گروه اول زنجیبل و به گروه دوم متوکلوپرامید داده شد. سپس، شدت و مدت تهوع و تعداد دفعات استفراغ در ساعات اول و دوم بعد از عمل جراحی با استفاده از مقیاس بصری و پرسش‌نامه‌ی خود طراحی شده اندازه‌گیری شد. آنالیز داده‌ها با استفاده از آزمون 2χ و نرم‌افزار SPSS انجام شد. 050/0 > P به عنوان سطح معنی‌داری در نظر گرفته شد. یافته‌ها: شرکت کنندگان از نظر محدوده‌ی سنی به دو گروه کمتر و مساوی 60 سال (شامل 33 نفر (55 درصد) در گروه زنجبیل و 27 نفر (45 درصد) در گروه متوکلوپرامید) و بیشتر از 60 سال (شامل 12 نفر (40 درصد) در گروه زنجبیل و 18 نفر (60 درصد) در گروه متوکلوپرامید) تقسیم شدند که این تفاوت معنی‌دار نبود (180/0 = P). از نظر وزن، افراد به سه قسمت کمتر از 70 کیلوگرم (شامل 6 نفر (7/85 درصد) در گروه زنجبیل و 1 نفر (3/14 درصد) در گروه متوکلوپرامید)، 90-70 کیلوگرم (شامل 36 نفر (6/45 درصد) در گروه زنجبیل و 43 نفر (4/54 درصد) در گروه متوکلوپرامید) و بیشتر از 90 کیلوگرم (شامل 3 نفر (0/75 درصد) در گروه زنجبیل و 1 نفر (0/25 درصد) در گروه متوکلوپرامید) تقسیم شدند که این تفاوت‌ها معنی‌دار نبود (070/0 = P). از نظر جنسیت نیز افراد به دو رده تقسیم شدند. مردان در گروه زنجبیل 28 نفر (1/49 درصد) و در گروه متوکلوپرامید 29 نفر (9/50 درصد) و زنان در گروه زنجبیل 17 نفر (5/51 درصد) و در گروه متوکلوپرامید 16 نفر (5/48 درصد) بودند و بر این اساس، تفاوت معنی‌داری بین دو گروه مشاهده نشد (820/0 = P). شدت تهوع و تعداد دفعات استفراغ در اولین ساعت پس از عمل جراحی در گروه دریافت کننده‌ی زنجبیل، بیشتر از گروه دریافت کننده‌ی متوکلوپرامید کاهش یافت. نتیجه‌گیری: زنجبیل خوراکی، باعث کاهش بیشتری نسبت به متوکلوپرامید در بروز تهوع و استفراغ پس از عمل جراحی شده است و می‌تواند به عنوان درمان حمایتی در پیش‌گیری از تهوع و استفراغ مورد استفاده قرار گیرد.

The work objective is to improve the automation efficiency of the technological processes of the chemical industry and the related industries. A typical for the industry solution preparation process is considered; and the task of developing a vector control law, effective in terms of both intensity or speed and cross-invariance of the management processes of various technological variables, is solved. To cope with this task, the approach to the control laws synthesis based on the desired characteristics of the synthesized control system is taken. A mathematical model of the quasi-optimal speed control is used to construct the desired mathematical model of the controlled machine for the solution preparation. The synthesis is resulted in a rather complex non-linear vector control law which, however, provides all the properties inherent in the paradigm of its creation and implementation. Simulation modeling of a multistage automatic control system with the implementation of the synthesized laws is carried out, as well as the research of the constructed model. This allows fully confirm an absolute control autonomy of the outflow solution level in the unit and of its concentration. Besides, the independence of the controlled variables from the changing load - flow fluid preparation - is established. The results obtained are intended for the implementation in the chemical technology and the related industries (food processing, oil refining, etc.). The materials and the research results presented show that for an effective synthesis of the vector control laws of nonlinear multiply connected objects, the method of reference mathematical models can be applied along with the quasi-optimization speed performance of these laws.

A proposed new model of the wireless sensor net can be applied for the network optimized energy efficiency. The optimization of the communication structure between nodes taking into account the capacity of the power supply unit, the amount of the information collected and transmitted by the node, as well as the energy connectivity between nodes and its quantitative assessment contributes to this. The application of this model will allow optimizing the structure of energy consumption in a wireless network to increase the time of its offline operation. (It is a case of life to the first node failure due to the power supply exhaustion.) The presented model is given in terms of the graph theory. The research relevance is proved. The approach to the problem solution based on the solution to the corresponding linear programming problem is described. The implementation of solutions in the form of a computer program is considered. The computer simulation results are described. The conclusions regarding the applicability of the technology in practice are provided.

Measuring methods of the gas concentration in the working area air of the mechanical-engineering repair facilities are considered. The gas-sensitive sensor types are compared. A classification of the occupational hazards is presented; their health effect is described. The object of this study is a standard repair facility of the mechanical-engineering industry. The workplace assessment charts of one of the electric locomotive repair works are analyzed. Some issues on the acceptable working conditions ensuring, and on decreasing their harmful level are considered. To solve the task of monitoring the occupational hazards, the application of the wireless sensor networks (WSNs) is proposed. The sensor types best suited for the application in the WSN are described. The results of the research conducted allowed making the conclusions on the feasibility of the wireless sensor networks in the safety management systems in the mechanical-engineering repair facilities.

Le but de notre étude est d'évaluer les résultats de fractures des plateaux tibiaux externes traitées par ostéosynthèse percutanée assistée par arthroscopie. Dix patients (8 hommes et 2 femmes) de 32 ans en moyenne ont subi cette intervention afin de réparer des fractures des plateaux tibiaux Schatzker I-III. Après avoir appliqué un garrot pneumatique, nous avons réduit et fixé la fracture au moyen de vis cannelées souschondrales. Lésions associées retrouvent deux lésions partielles du ménisque externe ont été retrouvé, traitées par résection partielle. Une orthèse de genou été de mise à but antalgique et protectrice pendant six semaines avec béquillage et interdiction de l'appui pour une durée de douze semaines avec reprise d'appui partiel au delà. La durée d'hospitalisation été d'une moyenne de cinq jours. La rééducation passive a été commence le lendemain de l'intervention et continuait dans chez un kinésithérapeute à la sortie du patient du service. Le suivi été à J7, J15, 1mois, 3mois, 6 mois puis tous les 6 mois. Neuf de nos patients ont été revu régulièrement sauf un perdu de vue. Le recul moyen de notre série été de 16 mois (10 et 24 mois). Le score de Lysholm a été utilisé pour évaluer les résultats cliniques chez nos neuf patients: excellent chez trois patients bons chez trois moyen chez un seul et mauvais chez deux patients. Tous nos neuf patients ont consolidé (figure 10 contrôle scopique d un article). Aucune gonarthrose n'a été note chez nos neuf patients due essentiellement au recul moyen faible de 16 mois. Le traitement des fractures des plateaux tibiaux externes assisté par arthroscopie produit des résultats satisfaisants et peut être accepté comme solution de rechange efficace au traitement des fractures des plateaux tibiaux causées par un choc de faible énergie.

Nous rapportons l'observation d'un jeune patient qui présente un kyste synovial intraosseux (KSIO) du scaphoïde révélé par une fracture pathologique. Le kyste synovial intraosseux du scaphoïde constitue une étiologie très rare des douleurs du poignet encore plus des fractures et la forme bilatérale associe à une fracture demeure une entité exceptionnelle, non décrite dans la littérature.

La fracture de jambe à fibula intact (FJFI) est caractérisée par un potentiel de déplacement minime ainsi le pronostic semble bon, souvent associées à des difficultés de réduction de consolidation ou de cal vicieux. Notre but est de comparer les résultats du traitement orthopédique et de l'enclouage centromédullaire (ECM). Entre janvier 2006 et janvier 2011, on a traité 60 fractures de jambe à fibula intact. 31 patients ont bénéficié d'un ECM, dont 14 fois était statique, 16 fois dynamique et simple une fois, avec un appui compris entre le 2eme jour (pour la plupart des patients) et la sixième semaine. 29 patients ont bénéficiés d'un traitement orthopédique après réduction par plâtre cruro-pédieux avec libération du genou après 4 semaines avec appui total chez la plupart des patients. La durée de consolidation été de 4 mois en moyenne pour les patients traites par ECM et de 6 mois pour les patients traites orthopédiquement. On a noté 3 cas de pseudarthrose dans notre série d'étude soit 5%: 2 observées chez le groupe de l'ECM soit 6,4% et un cas pour le groupe du traitement orthopédique soit 3,8%. 6 cas de déplacement secondaires ont été note chez les patients traites orhtopédiquement à j15 du traitement, pour 5 patients le déplacement été jugé tolérable et pour un seul patient (trouble angulaire supérieur à 10�) ayant nécessité un ECM. 13 cas soit 54% de cal vicieux angulaire supérieur à 10 dans notre série tous traités orthopédiquement versus aucun cas de cal vicieux chez les patients du groupe du traitement par ECM. Cliniquement: tous les patients traités par ECM ont présenté une mobilité du genou et de la cheville normale. Les patients traités orthopédiquement ont tous bénéficié d'une rééducation du genou libération du genou et confection d'un plâtre type Sarmiento et celle de la cheville après son ablation définitive, ainsi aucun de nos patients n'a gardé une raideur après avoir terminé la rééducation. Le rôle de l'intégrité de la fibula dans l'évolution des fractures de jambe n'est pas négligeable, puisque sa fréquence est de 15 à 25% des fractures de jambe. Les caractères épidémiologiques, et l'évolution de chaque type de traitement (orthopédique et ECM) de ces fractures seront discuté. Il nous semble que le traitement des FJFI est l'ECM en première intention avec appui précoce et dynamisation voir fibulotomie si retard de consolidation et de réserver le traitement orthopédique pour les fractures non ou peu déplacées ou quand le traitement chirurgicale est contre indiqué.

Objective Carriage of Staphylococcus aureus, especially methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is a problem within healthcare organizations and in the community. The aim of the study was to screen S. aureus carriage and their susceptibility to cefoxitin and oxacillin among medical students. Methods A total of 100 nasal swabs were collected. Isolation and identification of the isolate as S. aureus was done using Gram stain, coagulase test and catalase test. S. aureus isolates were confirmed as MRSA using cefoxitin (30 μg) disc and oxacillin (30 μg) disc by Kirby- Bauer disc diffusion method on Mueller-Hinton agar. From 100 nasal swabs, 76 were coagulase negative Staphylococci and 20 were coagulase positive Staphylococci. Results From 100 nasal swabs, 76 were coagulase negative Staphylococci and 20 were coagulase positive Staphylococci. From these, 60% and 40% were oxacillin- and cefoxitin-resistant isolates, respectively. The data obtained from this study revealed that there were carriers of MRSA among the medical students.

Landraces are local populations of crop plants adapted to a particular environment. Extant landraces are surviving genetic archives, keeping signatures of the selection processes experienced by them until settling in their current niches. This study intends to establish relationships between genetic diversity of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) landraces collected in Spain and the climate of their collection sites. A high-resolution climatic data set (5 × 5 km spatial, 1-day temporal grid) was computed from over 2,000 temperature and 7,000 precipitation stations across peninsular Spain. This data set, spanning the period 1981-2010, was used to derive agroclimatic variables meaningful for cereal production at the collection sites of 135 barley landraces. Variables summarize temperature, precipitation, evapotranspiration, potential vernalization and frost probability at different times of the year and time scales (season and month). SNP genotyping of the landraces was carried out combining Illumina Infinium assays and genotyping-by-sequencing, yielding 9,920 biallelic markers (7,479 with position on the barley reference genome). The association of these SNPs with agroclimatic variables was analysed at two levels of genetic diversity, with and without taking into account population structure. The whole data sets and analysis pipelines are documented and available at https://eead-csic-compbio.github.io/barley-agroclimatic-association. We found differential adaptation of the germplasm groups identified to be dominated by reactions to cold temperature and late-season frost occurrence, as well as to water availability. Several significant associations pointing at specific adaptations to agroclimatic features related to temperature and water availability were observed, and candidate genes underlying some of the main regions are proposed., (© 2019 The Authors. Molecular Ecology Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Exposure to chemotherapeutic agents such as acetaminophen may lead to serious liver injury. Calcium deregulation, angiotensin II production and xanthine oxidase activity are suggested to play mechanistic roles in such injury., Objective: This study evaluates the possible protective effects of the calcium channel blocker amlodipine, the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor lisinopril, and the xanthine oxidase inhibitor allopurinol against experimental acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity, aiming to understand its underlying hepatotoxic mechanisms., Material and Methods: Animals were allocated into a normal control group, a acetaminophen hepatotoxicity control group (receiving a single oral dose of acetaminophen; 750 mg/kg/day), and four treatment groups receive N-acetylcysteine (300 mg/kg/day; a reference standard), amlodipine (10 mg/kg/day), lisinopril (20 mg/kg/day) and allopurinol (50 mg/kg/day) orally for 14 consecutive days prior to acetaminophen administration. Evaluation of hepatotoxicity was performed by the assessment of hepatocyte integrity markers (serum transaminases), oxidative stress markers (hepatic malondialdehyde, glutathione and catalase), and inflammatory markers (hepatic myeloperoxidase and nitrate/nitrite), in addition to a histopathological study., Results: Rats pre-treated with amlodipine, lisinopril or allopurinol showed significantly lower serum transaminases, significantly lower hepatic malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase and nitrate/nitrite, as well as significantly higher hepatic glutathione and catalase levels, compared with acetaminophen control rats. Serum transaminases were normalized in the lisinopril treatment group, while hepatic myeloperoxidase was normalized in the all treatment groups. Histopathological evaluation strongly supported the results of biochemical estimations., Conclusion: Amlodipine, lisinopril or allopurinol can protect against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity, showing mechanistic roles of calcium channels, angiotensin converting enzyme and xanthine oxidase enzyme in the pathogenesis of hepatotoxicity induced by acetaminophen.

In this study, we modulated the anti-cancer efficacy of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) using a carrier system with enhanced targeting efficacy towards folate receptors (FRs) expressing malignant tissues. The 5-FU drug was loaded onto Mn-ZnS quantum dots (QDs) encapsulated with chitosan (CS) biopolymer and conjugated with folic acid (FA) based on a simple wet chemical method. The formation of 5-FU drug loaded composite was confirmed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Furthermore, the in vivo biodistribution and tumor targeting specificity of the 5-FU@FACS-Mn:ZnS in the tumor-bearing mice was conducted based on the Zn(2+) tissue bioaccumulation using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectroscopy. In addition to the characterization, the in vitro release profile of 5-FU from the conjugates investigated under diffusion controlled method demonstrated a controlled release behaviour as compared against the release behaviour of free 5-FU drug. The as-synthesized 5-FU@FACS-Mn:ZnS nanoparticle (NP) systemically induced higher level of apoptosis in breast cancer cells in vitro as compared to cells treated with free 5-FU drug following both cell cycle and annexin assays, respectively. Also, the in vivo toxicity assessment of the 5-FU@FACS-Mn:ZnS NPs as compared to the control did not cause any significant increase in the activities of the liver and kidney function biomarkers, malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels. However, based on the FA-FRs chemistry, the 5-FU@FACS-Mn:ZnS NPs specifically accumulated in the tumor of the tumor-bearing mice and thus contributed to the smaller tumor size and less event of metastasis was observed in the lungs when compared to the tumor-bearing mice groups treated with the free 5-FU drug. In summary, the results demonstrated that the 5-FU@FACS-Mn:ZnS QDs exhibits selective anti-tumor effect in MDA-MB231 breast cancer cells in vitro and 4TI breast cancer cells in vivo, providing a blueprint for improving the 5-FU efficacy and tumor targeting specificity with limited systemic toxicity., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A postero-lateral hernia through the foramen of Bochdalek is a rare type of congenital diaphragmatic hernia CDH. The incidence of Bochdalek hernia on the right side is 10-20% compared to the left side, and herniation of the stomach into the right pleural cavity is extremely rare. We report a case of right-sided Bochdalek hernia with a right intrathoracic stomach and organo-axial torsion misdiagnosed initially, and treated as a case of hyperactive airway disease. The child had a right thoracotomy, excision of the hernia sac that contained the stomach, greater omentum and part of the liver, reduction of the viscera into the abdominal cavity and simple closure of the diaphragmatic defect. Recovery was uneventful. This case highlights the consequences of late diagnosis and the effectiveness of surgical relief. A new clinico-anatomical classification of Bochdalek hernia is presented.