Al-Mustansiriyah Journal of Science

1

The Correlation between Oxidative Stress and AsthmaControl Test in Iraqi Asthmatic Patients

Yousif Nadhim Abbas, Mustafa Taha Mohammed, Nisred K. Klichkhanov

Pages: 1-7 English

Abstract

Asthma is a chronic disease of the air-way tract, which can be triggered due to inflammatory and non-inflammatoryevents. Recently, the prevalence of asthma has reached a significant rate glob-ally. Asthmatic patients have shown significant disturbance in the redox bal-ance, resulting in oxidative stress.Objective:We have aimed to discover therelationship between the severity of asthma and oxidative stress by evaluatingseveral indicators of oxidative stress in asthmatic patients with different de-grees of control.Methods:60 diagnosed patients with asthma were enrolledin this study in the overweight category and age range from 18 to 60 years old.Results:The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant status (TOS),and oxidative stress index (OSI) were observed to be significantly higher inasthmatic patients. Moreover, patients with poor asthma control have shownthe highest levels of MDA, TOS, and OSI compared to those with good andmoderate control of the disease. On the contrary, asthmatic patients haveshown significantly lower levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) comparedto control, where the lowest levels of TAC were observed in poor controlledasthmatic patients compared to those with good and moderate control of thedisease. Additionally, a correlation between MDA, TOS, OSI, and the asthmacontrol test (ACT) was observed in an inversely manner, while TAC and ACTwere correlated in a positively manner.Conclusions:Oxidative stress hasshown significant involvement in the progression of asthma.

Keywords

Asthma; Malondialdehyde; TOS; TAC; Oxidative Stress

2

Analysis of Dust Storm Intensity over Baghdad City

Asmaa K. Hammoodi, Ahmed S. Hassan, Jasim H. Kadhum, Xiu-Qun Yang

Pages: 8-15 English

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Abstract

Semi-arid regions of the world experiencediverse climates and weather events, including dust storms. These stormssuspend and transport particles in the atmosphere.Objective:The IraqiMeteorological Organization and Seismology (IOM) is a key data source forresearchers studying these dynamics, offering visibility data for Baghdad fromseveral years (2005, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2018, 2022). Baghdad’s data is alsoincluded in the ERA-5 dataset from the European Centre for Medium-RangeWeather Forecasts (ECMWF), which provides precise hourly air temperaturedata at 2 meters above ground level.Methods:The study investigates thecorrelation between air temperature and dust storm severity in semi-arid re-gions, particularly during storm waves, which can constitute up to half ofa storm’s duration. The severity of dust storms, influenced by temperaturevariations, is crucial in understanding storm characteristics.Results:Thefindings underscore the significance of air temperature in understanding duststorms’ behavior, aiding in refining forecasting models and emergency plan-ning in vulnerable areas. The detailed spatial and temporal data from thestudy provide a foundation for in-depth research into the complexities of duststorms.Conclusions:By analyzing visibility and temperature records, thestudy emphasizes the role of climatic factors in shaping dust storm behavior insemi-arid regions.

Keywords

Intensity; Dust storm; Temperature; Baghdad; ERA-5

3

Studying the Effect ofBacillus SubtilisSuspension on PlantHeight, Weight and Number of Potato Tubers

Anwar Mohammed Khalil, Abd Almonem Ahmed, Marwan Abdo Hasan

Pages: 16-23 English

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Keywords

Bacillus subtilis; Potato plant; Plant height; Tuber weight;Number of tubers

Abstract

Bacillus subtilis is one of the microorgan-isms widely spread in soil. It is characterized by broad activity in producingmany metabolites that play an important role against many plant pathogens.In addition, it contributes to increasing the production of plant hormones andfacilitating the absorption of many important elements, which reflects positivelyon the growth and productivity of the plant.Objective:This study aims toinvestigate the effect of Bacillus subtilis treatment on plant height, weight, andnumber of potato tubers.Methods:A suspension of Bacillus subtilis wastested over three intermittent periods on plant height and its yield (weight andnumber of tubers) of the Afamia potato plant compared with the control ontwo lines of potato without treatment.Results:The relative increase in theaverage longitudinal growth of the plants in the second line was 49.75% com-pared to the first line, 29.53%. The average number and weight of tubers werecalculated for each replicate of the first-line plants (sprayed with water only),and then the average was calculated for each replicate of the second-line plants(sprayed with bacteria). The average number of tubers in the plants treatedwith bacteria was 17.56 tubers compared to its counterparts sprayed with wateronly. In terms of the number of tubers, which amounted to 15 tubers, we ob-tained a percentage increase of 17.06%. In contrast, the average weight of thetubers was 1618.4 grams compared to its counterpart sprayed with water only,which amounted to 897.6 grams, and thus we obtained a percentage increase of80.30%.Conclusions:The results showed a positive effect of using Bacillussubtilis on plant height and the number and weight of potato tubers comparedto the control. This was explained by the fact that Bacillus Subtilis stimu-lated the plant’s resistance to pathogens and improved plant growth throughthe production of hormones and facilitating the assimilation and absorption ofnutrients.

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The Impact of Spirulina Supplementation on Iraqi ObeseFemales: A Cohort Study

Abdullah Salim Al-Karawi, Ali Saad Kadhim, Ali Abdulmawjood Mohammed, Fakhri Alajeeli, Giuseppe Lippi

Pages: 24-30 English

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Abstract

Spirulina, a type of blue-green algae, hasbeen recognized for its dense nutritional profile and purported health benefits.Furthermore, the effects of spirulina on individuals who are obese have beena subject of interest in scientific research.Objective:This study was toexamine the impact of spirulina supplements on obese females in the Iraqpopulation. The research adopted related treatments in cohort study designutilizing spirulina.Methods:The seventy-five obese female participants agedbetween 25-55 years were administered spirulina supplements for eight months.Cholesterol, triglyceride, High density lipid (HDL), Risk-1, Risk-2, Thyroidstimulated hormones (TSH), and hemoglobin-A1c (HBA1c) were examinedbefore and after administering the supplements.Results:The current studyrevealed a significant effect on levels of all parameters. Specifically, cholesterol,very low-density lipid (VLDL), and Risk were significantly decreased in theirlevels, with a reduction of the body mass index (BMI) in the obese females afteradministration. However, the level of HBA1c and TSH slightly decreased afterthe spirulina. According to HDL was increased level after administration ofspirulina in obese females compared to before.Conclusions:Spirulina couldbe considered a good supplement to increase the metabolism of the body anddecrease BMI with improved health.

Keywords

Obesity; Spirulina; Lipid; HbA1c; TSH

5

Quaternary Boundary Optimal Control Problem for Quaternary Nonlinear Elliptic System with Constraints

Alaa S. Khneab, Jamil A. Ali Al-Hawasy, Ion Chryssoverghi

Pages: 31-41 English

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Abstract

Boundary optimal control problems governedby nonlinear elliptic systems are complex, involving equality and inequalityconstraints.Objective:This paper examines a quaternary boundary optimalcontrol vector problem (QBOCVP) regulated by a quaternary nonlinear ellip-tic system (QNES) and subject to equality and inequality constraints (EINC).Methods:A weak formulation of the QBOCVP is developed, along with amathematical representation of the quaternary adjoint equations (QAEs) as-sociated with the QNES.Results:An existence theorem for a QBOCV ad-dressing the constrained problem is established and rigorously proven underappropriate assumptions. The QAEs corresponding to the QNES are mathe-matically formulated. The Fréchet derivative (FD) of the cost function (CF)and the EINC is also derived. Furthermore, the necessary condition theorem(NCTH) and the suﬀicient condition theorem (SCTH) for optimality are pre-sented and proved.Conclusions:This work provides a rigorous analysisof the QBOCVP with EINC controlled by QNES. It establishes the existencetheorem and optimality conditions, providing a theoretical framework for ad-dressing such constrained problems.

Keywords

Fréchet derivative; Optimality conditions; Quaternary classi-cal boundary control vector; Nonlinear elliptic system

6

Theoretical Study of the Quadruple Gamma Transitions ofRadioactive Radon and Radium Isotopes Based on Half-Life

Duaa Abed Salim, Waleed Jabbar Mhana, Hadeel Ghali Ishnayin, Khalid Hadi Mahdi

Pages: 42-51 English

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Abstract

This study investigated multiple aspects ofradon and radium’s nuclear properties since they are heavy, radioactive ele-ments that may emit alpha, beta, and gamma radiation, which is connected tocancer and poses a risk to the environment. The purpose of this study is toinvestigate the significance of quadruple gamma transitions with|M(E2)|2w.u↓as a valuable probe of the internal structure, deformations, and energy levels ofatomic nuclei.Objective:By studying these gamma transitions, we hope toget more insight into the behavior of protons and neutrons within the nucleusas well as the fundamental forces governing their interactions.Methods:Weapplied MATLAB software to compute the probability of quadruple gammatransitions while accounting for the isotope energy characteristics and nucleihalf-lives.Results:Our study’s important results about the transition forcesfor particular isotopes are as follows: Ra-226 was reported to have the low-est transition force value, measuring9.6623×10−17, with a half-life of 1600years. Furthermore, several transition force values were observed for Rn-214, the greatest values being1.0248×104and1.5666×10−15. On the otherhand, Rn-216 has the highest recorded transition force value(1.70305×10−4).Conclusions:The widths of Weisskopf transitions, gamma-gamma transi-tions, and gamma transitions were found by gathering and evaluating previouslystudied globally publicly available information. In the end, we successfully de-termined a relationship between the decay constant and the half-life of a decayevent, which let us determine the probability that such events will occur withina certain time frame. Our study provides important insights into the tran-sition probability within the examined nuclides and is in excellent agreementwith global results and experimental data.

Keywords

Radium; Radon; Quadruple transitions; Gamma ray; Gammatransitions

7

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel BenzimidazoleDerivatives using CdO NPs and their Application asAntibacterial and Antifungal Agents

Asmaa M. Abdullah, Abdull Jabar Kh. Attia, Sergei N. Shtykov

Pages: 52-63 English

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Abstract

Benzimidazoles are a class of compoundscharacterized by a fusion of benzene and imidazole rings. This unique structureendows them with a broad spectrum of biological activities, making them in-valuable in medicinal and pharmaceutical research. The benzene ring providesaromatic stability, while the imidazole ring offers a site for various chemicalmodifications, enhancing their versatility and functionality. Benzimidazolesare known for their diverse pharmacological properties, including antimicro-bial, antiviral, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antiparasitic.Objective:Synthesis of new benzimidazole derivatives and their application as antibacte-rial and antifungal agents.Methods:The benzimidazole derivatives (A1-A5)were synthesized in high yields by condensing 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl) benzimida-zole with different aldehydes (p- nitro benzaldehyde and p- bromo benzaldehyde)and amides (benzamide and acetamide) utilizing cadmium oxide nanoparticle(CdO NPs) as a catalyst.Results:The synthesized benzimidazole derivatives(A1-A5) were characterized using FTIR and 1HNMR spectra, and showed goodantibacterial activity (inhibition zone: 5-23 mm) with various concentrations(250, 500, and 1000 mg/L) while the compounds (A1, A3, A4, and A5) alsoexhibited moderate antifungal activities (inhibition zone: 5-10 mm) except theA2 compound.Conclusions:The antimicrobial and antifungal effectivenessof these synthesized derivatives was evaluated, showing satisfactory antimicro-bial activity and suitable antifungal activity for all except the A2 compound.It is recommended that further research and structural modifications of thesederivatives be conducted to develop more potent benzimidazole derivatives.

Keywords

Benzimidazole; CdO NPs; Antibacterial; Antifungal; NMRspectroscopy

8

The Effect of Contraceptive Pills on the Severity of VisceralLeishmaniasis by Measuring Some Physiological Parameters

Hanan F. Ghazi, Sabaa T. Mohammed, Areej A. Zabbon, Mohamed Tawfiek Shaaban

Pages: 64-71 English

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Abstract

Leishmania donovani can cause a seriousinfection if it is left without treatment. The parasite is transmitted by the biteof an infected female phlebotomine sandfly. The disease is prevalent throughoutthe world and in at least 88 countries.Objective:This study aims to knowthe effect of contraceptive pills (OC) on the severity of infection of Leishmaniadonovani in infected mice, by measuring the levels of the hormones estrogenand progesterone, cholesterol, and total protein in the sera of infected mice. Itis taken by dosage in the form of tablets dissolved in water at a dose of 0.012ml/day and is compared with the drug pentostam, which is given by injection at0.04 ml/day for a treatment of 21 days.Methods:The animals were dividedinto five groups, only the first group was uninfected, while the remaining fourgroups were infected, as follows: The second group was infected only. It wasnot dosed with pills and was not injected with pentostam treatment., the thirdgroup was dosed orally with contraceptive pills, the fourth group was considereda treatment group (pentostam), and the fifth group was dosed orally with pillsand injected with treatment for comparison. Blood was collected from miceafter three weeks on the 7, 14, and 21 days in special tubes containing agelatinous substance for the purpose of conducting the required tests.Results:The results showed that the OC led to a significant increase in all indicators inthe third week, which is compared with the drug group pentostam group, Dataexpressed as mean ± SD and values of (P>0.05) were considered staticallynon-significant, while (P<0.05) and (P<0.01) were considered significantlydifferent, highly significantly different, respectively.Conclusions:It can beconcluded that OC pills had an important role in increasing the severity ofparasite infection in laboratory animals through the noticeable increase in theindicators that were measured

Keywords

Contraceptive pills; Estrogen; Progesterone; Cholesterol;Total protein

9

Theoretical Study of the Structural and Electronic Propertiesof NIPAM Polymer Dosimetry Gel

Swait S. Mohammed, Israa F. Al-Sharuee, Akram Mohammed Ali, Adil Elrayah

Pages: 72-79 English

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Abstract

Gel dosimeters consist of two types:Frick and Polymer, with compounds that are highly reactive to radiation.Objective:The difference in energy between the Highest occupied molecu-lar orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO)was investigated.Methods:An examination of the structure of a dosime-try gel polymer of type N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) was carried out withthe assistance of the Gaussian 09 software, the Fourier Transform InfraredSpectrometer (FTIR), the proton and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (HNMR-C NMR), and the ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis) approach wereused. The molecular geometry was determined using density functional the-ory (DFT) (B3LYP) and computational means. Subsequently, this molecule’svibrational frequencies and electrical characteristics were examined, with theground state represented by the 6-31G basis. The computations of the struc-ture, as well as the vibrational frequencies and chemical shift, demonstrated asatisfactory theoretical approximation.Results:Based on the findings, it hasbeen shown that NIPAM has a high-water solubility and is of great assistancein the process of introducing a powerful polar amide group into a hydropho-bic polymer via the use of suspension or emulsion polymerization, and strongcoupling effect (interaction of magnetic fields) between the hydrogen atomsand the deformation.Conclusions:The atoms within the structure, themolecule is highly reactive, the computed results demonstrated the accuracy ofthe theoretical approximation despite these discrepancies

Keywords

DFT; Polymer gel; HOMO and LUMO; Dosimetry gel;N-isopropylacrylamide

10

A New Spectral Mittag-Leffler Weighted Method to SolveVariable Order Fractional Differential Equations

Abdulrazzaq T. Abed, Ekhlass S. Al-Rawi

Pages: 80-91 English

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Abstract

In many studies, spectral methods based onone of the orthogonal polynomials and weighted residual methods (WRMs)have been used to convert the variable-order fractional differential equation(VO-FDEs) into a system of linear or nonlinear algebraic equations, and thensolve this system to obtain the approximate solution.Objective:In this paper,a numerical method is presented for solving VO-FDEs. The proposed methodis based on Chelyshkov polynomials (CPs).Methods:WRMs are used toobtain approximate solutions of the governing differential equations. In ad-dition, a new weight function based on Mittag-Leffler functions is proposed.The proposed method is applied to a group of linear and non-linear exampleswith initial and boundary conditions.Results:Acceptable results are ob-tained in most of the examples. In addition, the effect of polynomials (suchas Chebyshev, Jacobi, Legendre, Gegenbauer, Hermite, Taylor, Mittag-Leffler,and Bernstein polynomials) on the accuracy of the approximate solution isstudied, and their effect was found to be minimal in most tests. The effectof the proposed weight function is also studied in comparison with the weightfunctions presented in WRMs, and it was found that it has a strong effect inmost examples.Conclusions:The results obtained indicate that the proposedmethod is effective for solving equations of variable order.

Keywords

Variable order derivative; Weighted residual method; Spectralmethod; Mittag-Leffler weight function; Chelyshkov polynomials

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