Rafidain journal of science

This study aimed to detect Escherichia coli O157:H7 in samples from patients with diarrhea, sheep milk, and sheep drinking water by growth on selective media, biochemical tests, latex agglutination test, and PCR technique.
During the period from November 2008 to May 2009, a total of 340 samples were collected; stools diarrhoeic patients (125), healthy sheep feces (125), milk (45), and sheep drinking water samples (45). Samples were screened for the presence of non-sorbitol fermenting colonies (NSF) on sorbitol MacConkey agar supplemented with cefixime and potassium tellurite (CT-SMAC). Out of the 340 samples, 58 (46.4%) stool from diarrhea, 98 (78.4%) from sheep feces, 19 (42.2%) milk, and 17 (37.7%) drinking water were non-sorbitol fermenting. E. coli isolates were serotyped as E. coli O157:H7 by latex agglutination test, 3 (5.7%) isolates of stool from diarrhea patients, 7 (7.3%) isolates of sheep feces, 2 (11.1%) isolates of milk, and none of drinking water samples were positive. All latex agglutination positive isolates were positive to PCR test except one isolate from sheep feces. PCR positive isolates were produced enterohemolysin on sheep blood agar, and were found resistant to at least 3 antibiotics.
The highest rate of E. coli O157:H7 isolation was observed in April (7.6%) followed by December (4.7%) , while those of sheep feces showed the highest rate in March (10%) followed by April (8.6%).

ABSTRACT
Streptococcus agalactiae was isolated from six leiomyomas of the uterus and two endometrial hyperplasia cases collected from women aged 35 to 80 years, underwent Total Abdominal Hysterectomy (TAH) in Basrah Maternity and Child Hospital due to continuous vaginal bleeding not responding to medical treatment. Sections of leiomyomas stained with haematoxylin and eosin illustrate proliferating smooth muscles fibers with intervening fibrous tissue. Sections from endometrial hyperplasia stained with modified Gram stain demonstrated S. agalactiae as diplococci or as aggregates.
Resistance of S. agalactiae isolated from the above eight cases, against 14 antibiotics was determined. Results clarified that all isolates (100%) are resistant to 10 antibiotics: tetracyclin, erythromycin, cefotaxine, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, penicillin, cloxacillin, cephalothin, gentamycin and tobramycin. Most isolates demonstrated susceptibility to amoxicillin (62.5 %) which makes it the drug of choice against S. agalactiae. Four isolates of S. agalactiae (50%) were resistant to vancomycin, which raises a threat of vancomycin resistance genes being transferred to other gram-positive species found in the vaginal and rectal sites

This study was designed to assess the effect of pregnancy on liver function tests (LFTs) and to identify the variations between these LFTs during different gestational period. The present study include seven parameters: serum liver enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP, AST/ALT ratio) and bilirubin (total, direct and indirect) had been measured in blood of 50 healthy nonpregnant women, their age was ranged between (17-40) years as a control group and in 150 apparently healthy pregnant women their aged between (16-41) years. Pregnant women were divided into three subgroups according to their gestational period: 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters (50 pregnant for each trimester of pregnancy). The results recorded a non significant difference in AST activity in all trimesters compared with control group, while serum ALT activity showed a significant reduction during pregnancy trimesters as compared with control group. The serum ALP activity show a significant increase as gestational period progress. However, the result of AST/ALT ratio showed no significant difference with the increase in the gestational period. Finally, serum total, direct and indirect bilirubin were all non significantly difference in all trimesters when compared with control (except the significant decrease in the comparison of total bilirubin in the 3rd trimester with control group).

The study was conducted to identify the types and frequencies of bacterial isolates from patients with Intensive Care Units-acquired infections, and to determine their antibiogram profile. One hundred and fifty four clinical samples were collected from 101 patients who developed clinical suggestion of new infections of urinary tract, lower respiratory tract or wound following the 48 hours of their admission to the Intensive Care Units. All samples were cultured on different culture media, and the isolated microorganisms were identified by the conventional bacteriological methods. The antibiogram profile of selected antibacterial agents was tested. The total number of the bacterial isolates was 69 miroorganisms. Gram-negative bacteria were more frequently encountered (82.6%) than the Gram-positive ones(17.4%) among all samples. The predominant Gram-negative isolate was E. coli (23.2%), followed by Pseudomonas spp. (21.7%), K. pneumoniae (14.5%), Proteus spp. (11.6%)., Acinetobacter spp. (8.7%), and E.aerogenes (2.9%). The predominant Gram-positive bacterial isolate was S.aureus (7.2%), followed by E. faecalis (5.8%), and S.epidermidis (4.3%). The most effective antimicrobial agents were amikacin, ciprofloxacin, vancomycin, gentamicin, chloramphenicol, and azithromycin.

Colloid hydrogel spherical core of alginate-chitosan capsules which is used to surround a bovine serum albumin were prepared using coacervation method. The effective physical parameters on porosity or permeability of chitosan-alginate polyions membrane were determined by the manipulation of solution conditions such as pH, ionic strength, and polymer concentration of chitosan. Different pH (3.9, 4.9, 5.9) and different concentrations of chitosan (0.1 g, 0.2 g, 0.3 g) as well as with and without NaCl (0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 %) were used to study the release of bovine serum albumin (BSA, molecular weight= 69,000) in vitro from the capsule prepared from alginate-chitosan blended polymer. The overall diffusion of BSA through the chitosan capsule membrane increased as the pH increased from 3.9 to 5.9. Also, an increase in the concentration of NaCl in the chitosan solution used in the preparation of capsule caused an increase in the diffusion of the protein. In contrast, an increase in the concentration of chitosan solution from 0.1g to 0.3g caused a decrease in diffusion of the proteins.

The study was conducted in Mosul during the period from September 2010 to March 2011 including two groups: the first non-pregnant women and the second pregnant women composed of 40 and 120 apparently healthy women respectively. Pregnant group was subdivided equally according to their trimester into three subgroups, women in second and third trimester having ferrous sulphate supplement.
Serum magnesium and copper measurements were done for these groups of women.
The results showed that serum magnesium concentration start to reduce significantly during first trimester continue to decline in second and third trimesters in comparison with non-pregnant group. Serum copper concentration start to increase significantly during first trimester continue to increase in second and third trimesters in comparison with non-pregnant group.

The mixture of processed ninivite and kaolin has for the first time been used for the removal of mercury from its effluents after nitric acid digestion. Under optimum experimental conditions [shaking time, pH, temperature and quantity of processed ninivite and kaolin mixture, AS(N+K)], the removal efficiency has been found to be >95%. The process is believed to be economic and easily handled.

Cadmium and lead effluents had been treated with a (1:1) mixture of low grade ninivite (N) and Kaolin (K). Before use, the mixture is treated only with a 10% brine solution and found to be effective for the removal of 85% Cd ( at a maximum concentration of 200mg/ℓ) at a pH of 11.5 and 90% Pb (at a maximum concentration of 1000 mg/ℓ) at a pH 7.0. The results were compared using Dowex-50X, as a typical cation exchanger and activated carbon (charcoal), as an ideal adsorbent and found to be satisfactory.

A series of new complex salts of the type [A]2[MCl2I2] where A=1,3,5-trimethylpyridinium cation, M= Mn+2,Co+2, Ni+2,Cu+2 and Zn+2 were prepared by the reaction of the metal chloride and 1,3,5-trimethylpyridinium iodide in (1:2) molar ratio and characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductance, IR, Uv/Vis., spectral studies and magnetic measurements. The crystal structure of 1,3,5-trimethylpyridinuim iodide was determined by single crystal x-ray crystallography.
The structure of the anion part and a 1,3,5- trimethylpyridinium cation which crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group (Cmcm) with a=8.9850(9), b=15.767(2), c=6.9940(6)A°, V=990.82 (16)A°, Z=4. Which is on a crystallographic mirror plane perpendicular to C-axis except for methyl hydrogen atoms. The anion and cation are connected through hydrogen bonds between I and the cation by hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interaction and weak π-π interaction are also expected.

In this work thin films of CdSe were deposited on glass substrate by chemical bath deposition technique at different deposition temperatures 298, 318, and 328 K. The effects of deposition temperature on the optical properties have been studied as well as the effect of annealing at different temperatures (373, 473, 573 and 673 K) for one hour. The optical properties of CdSe were studied from transmittance measurements as a function of a range of wave lengths (320-1000 nm). Optical band gap has been decreased from 2 to 1.7 eV after annealing. CdSe/p-Si was prepared by depositing CdSe film on the p-type Si substrate. The I-V characteristics showed a diode behavior.

A 10 GHz low noise transimpedance amplifier (TIA) is designed in which a new high-speed Angelov transistor model was employed. Thermal circuit components were simulated for noise measurement at 30ºC at which a typical microwave noise of 20 pA/√Hz was applied as the TIA input. A form of feedback topology helped to reduce the minimum noise figure to 3 dB, while the |S21| parameter gain proved to be 21.7 dB. A noise voltage at the TIA output was 3.23 x 10-15 V2/Hz. The designed circuit showed a stability factor value of 0.36 which is considered as conditionally stable.

An integrated solar water heater was designed and built using local materials and labor. The system consists of 1 m x 1 m x 0.03 m rectangular tank. The total cost of the system is 125000 ID. The working principle of the unit is fairly simple. An absorbent surface absorbs solar radiation to heat water.
The performance of the system was tested for four days in April during different atmospheric conditions. In three days, the water temperature reached 60 °C and higher in partly cloudy, sunny/showers, and sunny/clear sky conditions. However, on a dusty/cloudy day solar radiation was severely reduced keeping the highest water temperature slightly below 30 °C.
The chronic shortage of power supply in Mosul, the abundant sunshine hours in winter and the reasonable cost of the system all serve as good reasons to acquire and install a solar water heater to meet household needs for hot water.

The study includes the production of antibody for LTA in the rabbit after isolation and purefication from S.aureus and St.viridans by injecting the animals regullary and consecutively with pure LTA. Kit was prepared to investigate the presence of antibodies in sera of injected animals by ELISA, the absorbance of the test samples for each of S.aureus - LTA and St.viridans - LTA were 1.0700 ± 0.0141 and 1.0100 ± 0.0141 respectively, The absorbance of control sample, which represent sera of lab animals injected with distilled water was 0.9300 ± 0.0141

Four strains (FA37, FA38, FA39, and FA40 ) of Sinorhizobium meliloti were isolated from different agricultural areas of Ninaveh, Erbil and Duhok Governorates. Identification studies were conducted for these strains for their resistance to chloramphenicol, Erythromycin and production of cell surface molecules and their ability to grow in a Minimal Medium. Results showed that the four strains had the ability to resist both antibiotics, production of β(1→2) cyclic glucan molecules and growth in Minimal Medium. The study of symbiosis relation between the strains and Medicago sativa plant showed that the strain FA37 was the most successful isolate in constructing symbiosis relation indicated by the dry shoot group, which reached 45.7 mg. The strain was then selected for further experiments. Results revealed that the strain FA37 had high resistance against different concentrations of the herbicide Glyphosate, whereas the plant showed no resistance against the least concentration 10 µg/ml that the Rhizobium strains tolerated.

The study includes detection of the antibacterial effect of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of (Glycyrrhiza glabra, Salvadora persica, Urtica dioica, Cymbopogon citrates) on bacterial isolates Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermides, Streptococcus, Rhodococcus, Micrococcus roseuses, Micrococcus leuteus, Alcaligenes, Proteus, Pseudomonas, E.coli, Klebsiella, Serratia, Salmonella, using the disc diffusion method. The results was compared with some standard antibiotics: Neomycin (Neo), Doxycyclin (Doxy), Ciprofloxacin (Cipro), Chloramphenicol (Chloram).
The results showed the characterization of Glycyrrhiza glabra from the other plant extracts under the study by its antibacterial effect especially on gram positive bacteria. The study didn’t show any significant difference between the antibacterial activity of alcoholic extracts compared with Neomycin, Chloramphenicol, Doxycyclin against gram positive bacteria. The extract showed better antibacterial effect than Doxycyclin, Neo. and Chloramphenicol against each of Streptococcus, Proteus and Micrococcus roseuses respectively the aqueous extracts of Siwak showed a significant difference in its antibacterial effect on Proteus compared with Neomycin and its alcoholic extracts showed no significant difference in its antibacterial activity compared with Doxycyclin and Chloramphenicol on Micrococcus roseuses, also with Doxycyclin on Streptococcus. It appeared also that there were no significant difference in the antibacterial activity of Urtica dioica alcoholic extracts in comparison with Doxycyclin and Chloramphenicol on Micrococcus roseuses, and with Chloramphenicol and Neomycin on Pseudomonas and with Cipro. on Klebsiella. The results showed no significant difference in the antibacterial activity of alcoholic extracts of Cymbopogon citrates compared with Neomycin on each of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermides also with Doxycyclin and Chloramphenicol on Pseudomona and Micrococcus roseuses.

The study aimed to detect P. gingivalis from 49 patients with periodontitis at different ages and both sexes, after determination of pocket depth, types of infection whether chronic or progressive by dentists. Routine culture method was done using selective media and anaerobic condition and compared with species specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique.
DNA was extracted from samples and its concentration and purity were determined. The results showed domination of chronic infections and the pocket depths ranged between 3-9mm, as well as the results revealed that isolation percent of P.gingivalis by PCR was more higher than culture method, it was 65.3% and 28.5% respectively. The results also showed that phenol-chloroform was the efficient method for DNA extraction comparing with other methods. The study revealed that there are effects of age and sex on isolation rate and the results indicated that percentage of P.gingivalis was detected in 20-30 years old and males were more infected than females.

Five varieties of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (Intesar, Rabbea’a, Abo-Chreebe-3, Adnaniya and al-Eaz) and their half diallel crosses were used to study of the following quantitative characters grain yield per plant, number of spikes per plant, number of grains per spikes, 100 grain weight and, harvest index. The study included estimation of genetic, phenotypic and environmental correlation between grain yield and its components. The results give phenotypic correlation was positive and highly significant between grain yield and each of number of spikes per plant and 100 grain weight. while The results give genetic correlation was negative and highly significant between number of spikes per plant and 100 grain weight. Environmental correlation give the result positive and significant between grain yield and each of number of spikes per plant, number of grains per spikes and 100 grain weight. The genotypic and phenotypic path coefficient analysis showed that number of per spike had the highly direct effects on grain yield, 100 grain weight and harvest index. The determination coefficient showed the number of spikes per plant and 100 grain weight was the most important trait was 9.82% and 8.71% respectively, the joint effects 10.99%. It can be dependent for improve the yield bread wheat.