Al-Nahrain Journal of Science

This study focuses on treated sewage water in the internal departments of Diyala University, located in the northeastern part of Baghdad City, Iraq, for treatment utilizing indigenous Attapulgite clay, then releasingit into the waterway. Investigating the use of Attapulgite clay to reduce heavy metal ion concentrations (Fe, Ni, Zn, Pb) and suspended solid particles (SS) in effluent water. In addition to reusing treated sewage water to mitigate the environmental hazards associated with polluted water, further industrial applications for Iraqi clays are being explored. Seventy experiments were carried out on effluent water to evaluate the efficacy of Attapulgite clay in filtering wastewater containing high levels of suspended solids (SS) and heavy metal ions. The study revealed a reduction in the concentrations of the selected heavy metal ions from Fe 18, Pb 1.8, Ni 3.6, and Zn 6 ppm to Fe 1.22, Pb 0.36, Ni 0.295, and Zn 0.674 ppm after the implementation of the therapy. Meanwhile, the SS concentration decreased from 0.92 grammes to 0.03 grammes after the aforementioned treatment. The current investigation has produced findings that demonstrate a decrease in clay content and time required for processing.

This work involves the investigation of the effect of ionizing radiation on hospital workers to estimate the risks they are exposed to during their daily working hours and for many years, and to take the necessary precautions to ensure the occupational safety of this category of workers. Blood samples were collected from Baghdad Hospital for Nuclear Medicine in the Medical City in Iraq. Some parameters were studied clinically using specific kits, including liver enzymes ALT, AST, ALP, vitamin D3, S-Firrtin, and urea, under a P value less than 0.05. The results showed that all parameters did not change (not significant) in this study, except for urea, which was significant. In conclusion, urea can be used as a biomarker to determine the effect of low-dose ionizing radiation on healthcare workers.

Benzo[a]pyrene is very well known as a toxic substance. Exposure to several types of serious toxic impacts is associated with all individuals. This research determined the Benzo[a]pyrene level inthe OR employees because they are subjected to pollutants all the time. For that reason, the Benzo[a]pyrene concentration was quantified in specimens of blood obtained from 70 occupationally exposed people (Polluted Group) and 70 persons (Control Group). Additionally, they evaluated the effects of Benzo[a]pyrene on thyroid function (TF). The findings showed that PG people had considerably greater blood benzo[a]pyrene levels (P<0.05) than CG persons. TSH and TT3 level differences between the PG and CG weren't significant in terms of statistics (P>0.05). TT4 and TRAb levels, however, were considerably greater in the PG than in the CG. The research found that levels of thyroid hormones (THs) are affected by long-term exposure to petroleum fuels, with higher [TR-Ab] in the PGs group than in the CGs.

Toxoplasmosis has a significant infection rate in several Arab countries, such as Iraq. The role of the amylase enzyme and some trace elements, such as phosphorus (P), zinc, and magnesium, was evaluated with the incidence of toxoplasmosis in 80 Iraqi women(50% fertile and 50% infertile). Samples were collected from eighty blood infertile women (as patients, P group) and fertile women who were apparently healthy (as controls, C group), with an age range of 20-40 years. Each group was subdivided into two groups: with seropositive toxoplasma gondii IgG group (PP, and PC for patient and control group, respectively) and seronegative toxoplasma gondii IgG (NP, and NC for patient and control group, respectively). Amylase enzyme activity, phosphorus (P), zinc, and magnesium were estimated in the sera of women for each collected sample. There was a decrease in amylase level in positive and negative patients compared with healthy patients. The zinc level in fertile patients was significantly higher (P<0.05), while it was lower in positive patients compared to the C groups. The magnesium level increased significantly in positive patients (P<0.05) compared to the C groups. However, the magnesium level in patients with negative patients compared to healthy controls was non-significantly lower (P>0.05). Phosphorus level increased significantly (P<0.05) in positive patients compared to C groups. Changes in the level of the Amylase enzyme and the elements such as zinc, phosphorus, and magnesium can be considered indicators of the causes of toxoplasmosis.

Thisworkinvestigatesthe possible antibacterial characteristics of pyrazole derivatives, includingthiazole frameworks. Mass spectrometry, infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, and other spectroscopic methods were used to confirm the structures of the produced compounds. These compounds antimicrobial activity was assessedagainstdifferentbacteriaandfungi.Anumberofthecompoundshadnoteworthyantibacterialandantifungalproperties,andseveraloftheirderivativesshowedincreased efficacy in comparison to conventional reference medications. According to a Structure-Activity Relationship (SAR) investigation, the pyrazole and thiazole rings' particular substituents were crucial in boosting the antibacterial activity. According to these results, pyrazole-thiazolehybridsarepromisingcandidatesforcreatingantimicrobial drugs.

This research focuses on the multifunctional character of Schiff bases and therefore has a paramount role. Schiff bases are the structural isomers of ketones and imines. They may include secondary aldimines or ketoimines depending on the second carbonyl compound. Schiff bases are synthesized through the reactions of nucleophilic aromatic or aliphatic amines with carbonyl compounds, the intermediate hemiaminals that expel the water molecule. The reaction mainly takes place in the acidic layer of the system. They have the R-CH=NR formula in common. However, if R’ is not H. The azomethine chemistry of the Schiff base linkages makes them suitable for the conglomeration of a variety of transition and non-transition metal ions. These compounds are associated with a wide range of evidence, including their antibacterial and antifungal activities. The paper provides a superficial overview of the synthesis techniques and biological activities concerning different mixed ligand complexes comprising Schiff base moieties.

Nowadays, many researchers and industries prefer natural flavors over chemical ones. The main focus of the current research is to determine the flavoring compounds and terpenoids of by-products resulting from Boswellia carterii oleo-gum resin distillation, in addition to identifying active compounds in its essential oil. Aromatic oil was extracted from oleogum resinby using a Clevenger apparatus. In addition to the supernatant layer, which represents residual waste, was isolated by filtration. Both aromatic oil and residual waste were subjected to Gas chromatographic–mass spectral (GCMS) analysis. The results showed that B. carterii oil contains fourteen main active compounds, which include different terpenoid compounds. On the other hand, n-Octyl acetate (60.25%) represents the major components in this volatile oil. Residual waste analysis showed fifteen main active compounds, and the sesquiterpenoid compound 3,5,6,7,8,8a-Hexahydro-4,8a-dimethyl-6-(1-methylethenyl)-2(1H)naphthalenone was the major component with (17.23%) percent. The results indicated that both of essential oil and the upper layer of B. carterii (olibanum) residual waste were rich in valuable terpenoids and flavoring compounds, so waste could be used asan eco-friendlyand natural source of these compounds with no cost.

Toxoplasmosis is known to be transmissible through blood transfusion, especially from asymptomatic, seropositive individuals during the acute phase. Patients with thalassemia are particularly vulnerable to such opportunistic infections, including Toxoplasma gondii. This study aimed to evaluate the levels of Toxoplasma-specific IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies, along with complement components C3 and C4, in thalassemia patients with and without toxoplasmosis infection. A significant difference (P < 0.001) was observed in all immunological markers when comparing patient groups to the negative control group. Additionally, both thalassemia groups (with and without toxoplasmosis) showed significant differences compared to the toxoplasmosis-positive control group (P <0.001). Notably, thalassemia patients with toxoplasmosis exhibited higher levels of Toxoplasma-specific antibodies and altered complement levels compared to thalassemia patients without the infection (P < 0.001). These findings suggest an altered immunological profile in thalassemia patients, particularly when co-infected with T. gondii, highlighting the importance of monitoring such markers in this vulnerable population.

The skin establishes an immunological barrier against bacterial infections. Despite the presence of several bacterial species on the skin, they typically lack the capacity to infect people. A bacterial skin infection can vary in size from little areas to extensive coverage and in severity from benign to life-threatening.Four identified isolates by VITEK-2 for Staphylococcus spp;S1,S1Control, S2 and S2Control were used in this study. S1,S1C,S2 and S2C were collected from alopecia disease assignedby S1, S2 and the healthy hair skin from the samepatients (S1C and S2C). The ZnONPs was green synthesized (GS-ZnONPs) byaqueous extraction of Aloeveraleaves gel (AG) and characterized by UV-Vis spectrometry, Atomicforce microscope(AFM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and XRD spectroscopy. Minimum inhibitoryconcentration (MIC) was determined forAG and GS-ZnONPs, mixture of standard ZnONPs and AG leaves extract in addition to standard ZnONPs against Staphylococcus spp.(S1,S1C,S2 and S2C). Cytotoxicity was assessed by MTT assay against normal skin cell, Human dermal fibroblast(HdFn). Compared to the control group, the viability rate was drastically reduced at a dosage of 400 mg/mL. Results showed that the GS-ZnONPs havethe better MIC result (0.400 ±0.03,0.650 ±0.07,0.478 ±0.08 b, 0.632 ±0.08) on S1,S1C,S2 and S2C, respectively. The HdFn were slightly more affected by the cytotoxic effects of GS-ZnONPs, at concentration of 400 mg/mL compared to the control group (100%) (p<.05). In conclusion, based on the outcomes of the microdilution experiment and the cytotoxicity impact of HdFn, GS-ZnONPs displayed antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus spp., while also displaying cytotoxic effects on HdFn cells at 400 mg/ml.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are thought to be critical in developing COVID-19. Even if Omicron had a lower risk of hospitalization and mortality than other variants, some progress has been observed. Programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) is an essential ICI target because it suppresses immune cell activity and serves as a fatigue signal for immune cells. To determine the function of soluble Program Death-Ligand1 (sPD-L1) in SARS-CoV-2 (Omicron variant) infection progression and its relation with biomarkers. A case-control study (43 COVID-19 patients and 30 healthy controls) was tested for the Omicron variant infection by real-time PCR, and the biomarker and sPD-L1 were measured with an ELISA kit. Median sPD-L1 levels in infected individuals were significantly higher than in healthy controls (1079 pg/mL vs. 618.8 pg/mL; p<0.0001). According to the two-tailed Fisher exact test, 93.3 % of mild-moderate individuals had an sPDL-1 level below the median of 1079 pg/ml, indicating minimal production. In contrast, significantly high levels were found in 76.9 % of severe-critical patients. sPD-L1 levels were strongly associated with viral load (Ct value) (p< 0.0001) and increased with older age (p = 0.024) along with CRP and Ferritin levels, serving as predictive indicators for infection progression. sPD-L1 may play a role in developing infection, together with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants, high viral load (low Ct value), the aged group, and severe infection, and with clinical symptoms. Additional research is needed to decrease sPD-L1-based interferon production.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) arises from complex interactions among genetic, cultural, and environmental factors. Baghdad’s diverse population provides an ideal setting to explore these dynamics. We genotyped 23 autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) loci in 200 alcohol‑dependent individuals and 50 controls from Baghdad using the PowerPlex®23 System between January2023 and January2025. Locus Penta E exhibited the highest gene diversity (GD=0.962) and discrimination capacity (DC=0.9310), whereas DYS391 and D10S1248 showed lower polymorphism (GD=0.850). The combined random‑match probability across all loci was 9.66×10⁻²⁶. These results demonstrate that our 23‑locus STR panel delivers robust forensic resolution and establishes a reference dataset for future population‑genetic and AUD‑related research in Iraq.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmuneillness marked by abnormal cytokine expression and persistent inflammation. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), particularly miRNA-26, have been implicated in the regulation of inflammatory pathways and show promise as potential biomarkers for RA diagnosis and treatment monitoring.Aim: This study aimed to evaluate miR-26 expression about established clinical markers and pro-inflammatory cytokines, to identify potential predictive markers of treatment response and contribute to more personalized management strategies in RA. Method: 180 participants were enrolled and categorized into three groups: Newly diagnosed RA patients (NDRA), biologically treated RA patients (TRA), and Healthy controls (HC). Each group consisted of 60 Individuals. The miR-26 expression levels were quantified in blood specimens using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Additionally, serum concentrations of interleukins (IL-32, IL-33, IL-34) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were quantified using sandwich enzyme-linkedimmunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques. Results: Both NDRA and TRA groups exhibited elevated miR-26 expression and significantly increased serum levels of IL-32, IL-33, IL-34, and MMP-9 relative to healthy controls (p <0.001). The NDRA group showed the highest cytokine and MMP-9 levels, indicating active inflammation, while the TRA group had moderately reduced levels and a greater fold increase in miR-26 expression. IL-33 and MMP-9 demonstrated the most pronounced intergroup differences, suggesting their utility as early diagnostic biomarkers. The reciprocal relationship between miR-26 and inflammatory cytokines indicates a regulatory function of it. MiR-26 expression could be down regulated during peak of inflammation and partially restored with biotherapy treatment Conclusion:IL-33 and MMP-9 came out as prospective early diagnostic markers. The negative correlation between miR-26 and inflammatory mediators points toa regulatory, anti-inflammatory role for miR-26, which may be partially restored with treatment. These findings support the clinical utility of miR-26 and related cytokines in RA diagnosis, disease monitoring, and therapeutic targeting

Density Functional Theory (DFT), with a hybrid function B3LYP, has continued to be considered an adequate computational methodology for evaluating the interaction between indium oxide (In10O15) pyramid nanoclusters and water. This computation evaluated the light atoms (O and H) with the 6-311G ** basis set, while the heavier indium atoms were treated with the Stuttgart/Dresden (SDD) basis set. HOMO, LUMOmolecular orbital electronic structure, and energy gap, as well as geometrical structure, were computed in Gaussian 09W and Gauss View 05, respectively. It was found that the energy gap of In10O15increases in the presence of water, which means water uptake would reduce the electrical conductivity of the indium oxide nanocluster. While the Gibbs free energy was found to be a positive value, ∆G ≈ 2.9eV, which means the reaction is endergonic. This transformation is associated with an energetically favorable electron transition, which may involve photocatalytic activity

In this article, the fabrication procedure of solution-processed NiO/ZnO/FTO heterostructure is systematically elucidated for self-driven visible-blind photodetector application. In detail, the opto-electrical analysis was investigated under multi-illumination wavelength of 375 nm, through which a linear dependency between the photocurrent (Iph)and the incident intensity was perceived along a close to unity Pearson correlation coefficient (R2≈1). The proposed heterojunction (p-NiO/n-ZnO) exhibited short-circuit current and open-circuit voltage of 4 μA and 0.8 V, which in turn validates the self-powered feature of the proposed geometry. The attained photo-responsivity (Rλ)and photo-detectivity (D∗)exhibited values of 25.6 mA/W and 16.3 ×1012Jones, respectively, under light intensity of 17 mW/cm2. This was noticed along with considerable (Rλ)reduction near the visible light region. In conjunction, p-NiO/n-ZnO heterostructure demonstrated UV/vis rejection ratio (λ375/λ625)of 572; other considered geometries (NiO/FTO and ZnO/FTO) revealed considerably lower ratios. At zero bias, the addressed junction demonstrated response/recovery times of 0.175 and 0.178 sec., respectively.

This study is oriented to provide evidence related to the effects of calcium carbonate nanoparticles (CCN) on the osteogenesis of the developing femur in chick embryos. The 20 fertilizedchick eggs used in this study were divided into two control and experimental groups. The control group of eggs was injected with normal saline during pre-incubation. In contrast,eggs of the experimental group were injected with 500 g/mL hydrocolloid of CCN in 0.2 mL volume per egg. The homogenate of the femur obtained from the control and experimental groups show statistically significant variations when comparing the level of alkaline phosphatase in the tissue of the control group at day 13 with that of the experimental group at day 13 and day 14. The alkaline phosphatase level as a marker of bone metabolism in the femur tissue homogenate of the experimental group revealed a highly significant increase in concentration compared to that of the control group at both day 13 and 14. This characteristic finding is associated with the effect of in Ovo inoculation of CCN on the femur tissue homogenate in pre-hatching chick embryos during osteoid formation and mineralization.

In this research, a new concept (small quasi-primarysubmodules) has been presented, which is a generalization of a previously studied concept (quasi-primarysubmodules) and a comprehensive study of it in terms of features and properties We have also given some examples and observations about it. Its relationship with previously studied concepts was studied, and the equivalence, under certain conditions, between these concepts and the new concept was demonstrated.

This paper presents a flexible extended version of the inverse Lomax (EVIL) distribution with four parameters and different shapes of the hazard function. Itis developed within the framework of the truncated Rayleigh odd Weibull generator family. Various statistical properties are discussed, including reliability measures, density mixture representation, moments, characteristic and moment-generating functions, quantile function, order statistics, and residual life function with its reversal. The maximum likelihood estimates of unknown parameters are assessed via simulation. The empirical results show that the estimates are reliable and flexible. Furthermore, the EVIL is employed with some competitive distributions to model real-life data concerning the crude birth rate in Iraq. The outcomes of the real data demonstrate that the EVIL outperforms existing inverse Lomax-based models in terms of flexibility and goodness of fit.

In queueing systems, the Kendall notation a/b/x/q/y/zis a standard format used to describe six categories: the arrival distribution of clients, the service distribution of servers, servers’number, the queue capacity, the system capacity, and the queue discipline. In this paper, a new category, referred to as the bridging function with best alpha (Br_∝*) between the arrival and service distributions is introduced into the Kendall notation. It is placed between the arrival_distribution and the service_distribution, replacing the queue capacity (b), so that the notation becomes (a/ Br_∝*/b/x/y/z). Basedon this new notation, the capacity rate of the queueing linecan be predicted and represents the gap between the client arrival rate and the client service rate. It is shown that the proposed bridging function with best alpha follows the same distribution of arrival and service, both of which are assumed to be exponentially distributed. The Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm is employed to find the optimal rate of best alpha, using the bridging function for the arrival and service distributions as the objective function. Simulation results of M/ Br_∝*/M/1 suggest that the bridging function with best alpha (Br_∝*) can reduce the delay time in the queueing system and converge to the optimal solution when applied to a standard M/M/1 system simulated by MATLAB code.