Iraqi Journal of Science

In this study, nanoparticles of metal oxides (CoO, NiO, and TiO2) were synthesized using the hydrothermal method. These nanoparticles were then incorporated into paraffin wax, serving as a matrix, to create nanocomposites. The resulting materials, [TiO2; CoO/paraffin] and [TiO2; NiO/paraffin], were prepared using ultrasonic techniques. The morphology, size, and structures of the synthesized nanocomposites were examined and characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM), field emission scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (FESEM-EDS), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transformer infrared (FT-IR), and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy to confirm the design of nanocomposites based nanostructures and reveal their distinctive features from there distribution on paraffin wax. The results of AFM for the two synthesized nanostructures [TiO2; CoO/paraffin], [TiO2; NiO/paraffin], showed that nanoparticles were in the nanoscale (87.54 nm, and 56.74 nm) respectively. The three-dimensional images depict heterogeneous grooves in all nanostructures of the synthesized composites. This is primarily attributed to the agglomeration of metal oxide nanoparticles, which results in some of the paraffin surface being covered. The activities of nanocomposites synthesized were studied from the industrial side, including solar cell energy and the use of these nanocomposites as inhibitors for corrosion. The findings for all of these nanocomposites revealed they have the properties of solar cells and a significant inhibitory effect.

This study employed a green route to synthesize metal oxide nanocomposites, specifically NiO/Al2O3, which were subsequently used to dope poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as a matrix, resulting in the formation of novel nanocomposites, namely PMMA/NiO/Al2O3. The nanocomposites were characterized using FE-SEM, XRD, DSC, TGA, antioxidant activity, and antibacterial activity tests to confirm their design, verify the nanostructured composition, and distinguishable features in poly methyl methacrylate distribution .
The results of AFM for the synthesized nanostructured showed that the NiO and Al2O3, describe how the nanoparticles' size was in the nano scale. The biological activities of nanocomposites synthesized were studied, including antioxidant and the use of these nanocomposites as inhibitors for bactria also as anticancer. The findings for all of these nanocomposites revealed they have the properties of a significant inhibitory effect.

Novel oxopyrimidine (3,7) and pyrazole (4,8) compounds bearing an azo group were successfully synthesized and characterized using FTIR, 1HNMR, and 13CNMR spectroscopy. The diazonium salt was first synthesized by reacting p-amino acetophenone with nitrous acid. This salt was added to activated aromatic rings (o-nitro phenol, β-naphthol) to produce azo compounds (1,5). Following the reaction of these azo compounds with salicylaldehyde, chalcone derivatives (2,6) were produced. Subsequently, these synthetic compounds were cyclized to create pyrazole derivatives (4,8) and oxopyrimidine (3,7) using urea and 2,4-dinitrophenyl hydrazine. Furthermore, the antibacterial activity of synthesized compounds was elevated against two types of bacteria (Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus aureus. According to the results, compounds 1-[4-(4-Hydroxy-3-nitro-phenylazo)-phenyl]-ethanone (1) and 1-[4-(2-Hydroxy-naphthalen-1-ylazo)-phenyl]-ethanone (5) were effective in treating the selected bacterium, while the other compounds are inactive

This study utilized low-cost agricultural waste (molasses production waste powder) to extract copper ions from aqueous solutions. The present investigation explored a range of factors that influence the adsorption process, including temperature, pH, ionic strength, contact time, quantity of adsorbent, and particle size. Spectrophotometric analysis was used to determine the solution's absorbance both before and after the adsorption procedure. The Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption models were used to match the equilibrium data. The Freundlich model was determined to be the best isotherm model using the linear regression coefficient R2=0.9868. Thermodynamic parameters, including enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs free energy, were calculated for the continuous adsorption process, exothermic behavior of the system was observed by the heavy ion's adsorption process results on the green adsorbent. The process is good especially at low concentration in aqueous solutions.

Adenosine deaminase (ADA), also referred to as adenosine aminohydrolase, is a key enzyme that plays a crucial role in purine metabolism. AMP-aminohydrolase, also known as AMP deaminase (AMPDA), facilitates the conversion of adenosine monophosphate (AMP) into inosine monophosphate (IMP). Cigarettes primarily consist of various substances. This study aimed to investigate the influence of cigarettes smoking on serum and saliva ADA and AMPDA activities, exploring the diagnostic potential of these enzymes in smoking- related diseases. Two hundred twenty subjects were enrolled, including 100 healthy smokers and 120 healthy non-smokers with measurement being made of serum and saliva ADA and AMPDA activities as well as complete blood count (CBC). There were highly significant increase in saliva ADA and AMPDA activities in smokers’ group in comparison to non-smokers as well as significant increase in serum ADA and AMPDA activities of smokers’ group in comparison to non-smokers group. The current study indicates that serum and saliva ADA and AMPDA levels increase in smokers due to effect of cigarettes smoking. The findings strongly suggest the potential of saliva AMPDA as a diagnostic marker for tongue cancer, as well as the role of ADA in diagnosing lung disease and coronary artery disease associated with prolonged smoking.

Chronic hepatitis B virus infection is a major global health concern, accounting for substantial liver-related illness and death worldwide. The complex protein profile present in both blood serum and saliva is composed of numerous individual proteins, which collectively contribute to the overall protein composition of these bodily fluids. Valuable diagnostic insights can be gleaned from assessing alterations in total serum protein concentrations or variations within distinct protein fractions. Current study aimed to investigate the influence of hepatitis B disease on the matter of total protein concentration, as well as the levels of albumin and globulins, exploring the feasibility of utilizing saliva as a diagnostic fluid to monitor fluctuations in these parameters is of paramount importance. This line of research shows potential for replacing serum with saliva for such diagnostic purposes. This study about the individuals infected with chronic hepatitis B virus was conducted where a total of 50 patients with hepatitis B and 50 with the control group. Concentrations of serum and saliva total proteins and albumin were measured, meantime the concentration of globulin and the ratio of Albumin/Globulin were calculated in both saliva and serum samples of the patients and the healthy groups. Agarose gel electrophoresis was employed to detect the changes in the protein profile in these samples. The findings from total protein measurements indicated a slight non-significant decrease in serum samples, whereas a highly significant decrease (P=0.002) was observed in the saliva samples of patients with hepatitis B in contrast to the healthy control group. Furthermore, a significant decrease (P<0.001) in albumin concentration was noted in the serum samples of these patients, while no significant variation was observed in the saliva samples compared to the respective control groups. However, no significant differences were observed in the concentration of globulins in serum samples, nor the [albumin] /[globulin] ratio. In patients with hepatitis B, the total protein and albumin concentration were found to decrease in both serum and saliva samples. Age and gender were found not significantly affect total protein and albumin levels in the patient group. Albumin concentration decreased in patients compared to the control group when their total protein concentration ranged from 6.1 to 8.4 g/dl. Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that chronic hepatitis B influences the composition and concentration of serum and salivary proteins

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disorder associated with a chronic inflammatory process that can impact the joints as well as non-articular organs such as the heart, kidney, lung, digestive tract, eye, skin, and neurological system. This study was conducted at Private Nursing Hospital and Al Kadhimiya Educational Hospital, where blood samples were collected from 122 Iraqi women; seventy-fiveof them were apparently healthy controls whileforty-sevenwere patients who had long-standing RA. B-type natriuretic peptide(BNP) and interleukin-35(IL-35)wereevaluated utilizing an enzyme-linked immunoassay. Also, total cholesterol, triglyceride, andHigh-density lipoprotein(HDL)were determined using an enzymatic colorimetric method.When RApatients were compared to healthy controls, their serum levels of BNP significantly increased(p ≤ 0.001), but IL-35significantly decreased (p<0.001). In another hand, no significant differences were noted in total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL,low-density lipoprotein(LDL)and verylow-density lipoprotein (VLDL)when the comparison between the patients with control group. It can be concluded thatelevated levels of BNP in patients with RA may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Moreover, IL-35 is a crucial player in the body's immune response, and its dysregulation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, suggesting a complex interplay between immune function and disease development.

A new series of chalcone derivatives featuring an oxadiazole-quinoline moiety were successfully synthesized through a multi-step reaction sequence, commencing with quinoline-2-carboxylic acid as the starting material. First, the carboxylic group was chlorinated to form an acid chloride, following reacted with hydrazine hydrate. The resulting product underwent cyclization with carbon disulfide in an alkaline solution to produce 5-(quinolin-2-yl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thiol, followed by alkylation using chloroacetone. In the final step, an aldol condensation reaction was carried out by grinding the acetone derivative with various aromatic aldehydes, yielding the desired chalcones. The synthesized compounds were characterized by Rf, FTIR, 1HNMR, and 13CNMR. The effects of compound S6 were evaluated using an MTT assay. This assay was performed on two cell lines - the skin cancer cell line A375 and the normal cell line HdFn (human dermal fibroblasts) which performed a significant inhibition rate. All synthesized compounds were evaluated against four different types of bacteria like S. aureus, streptococcus epidermidis, E.coli, Klebsiella spp. and one type of fungi like Candida albicans. Additionally, (Petra/Osiris/Molinspiration) POM analyses were utilized to identify pharmacophore sites for the newly synthesized compounds.

A gas chromatographic technique was employed as an analytical method to detect and quantify Pyridaben residues in cucumber, leaves, and soil under controlled greenhouse conditions in Iraq, using the recommended dosage, and to estimate the residual levels of Pyridaben after household processing. The samples were extracted and purified using a modified QuEChERS method, followed by analysis using gas chromatography with flame ionization detector and mass spectrometry for determination. Method validation studies yielded recovery percentages ranging from 93.9% to 98.5%. The matrix effects (ME)−12.21%, −8.82%, −5.3% for cucumber, leaves and soil respectively. The samples exhibited no signal suppression effect in all matrices, and relative standard deviation (RSD) ranged from 0.03 to 1.8%. The precision of the methods fell within the acceptable range of ≤20%. The methods demonstrated a good linearity with a determination coefficient (R2) 0.9991 for the 0.001–50 μg mL−1 concentration range, pyridaben has limits of detection (LOD) of 0.001 μg mL−1 and quantification (LOQ) of 0.003 μg mL−1. Under greenhouse conditions, pyridaben residues were found to be 3.39, 8.24 and 1.39 mg kg−1 for cucumber, leaves and soil, after 2hr from treatments at the suggested dose 25 ml / 20 L water. The residue levels fell below the maximum residue limit (MRL; 0.15 mg kg−1) within 4 days. Pyridaben residue dissipation followed first-order rate kinetics The half-life (t 1/2) was 1.05 days, 1.03 days and 1.21 days for Pyridaben in cucumber, leaves and soil respectively. The change in pyridaben residue in cucumber samples during household processing (washing and peeling) processing was evaluated. A simple and accurate gas chromatographic method was employed after each process for determined Pyridaben using a flame ionization detector. The results indicated that washing reduced pyridaben residue by 29.41%, while 84.44% of Pyridaben residue removal by used peeling processes, showed by washing PFS was 0.62 and peeling PFS was 0.081.

A novel benzothiazole derivative compound, [M1], was synthesized by reacting 4-aminoacetophenone with 2-aminobenzothiazole in the presence of glacial acetic acid as a catalyst, enabling the efficient formation of the target compound. Amic acid compounds [M2-M4] were synthesized from the reaction of compound [M1] with various cyclic anhydrides in dry acetone. Cyclic imides derivatives were synthesized by a dehydrated reaction of the prepared amic acid [M2-M4] with acetic anhydride and sodium acetate to produce the corresponding cyclic imides [M5-M7]. The synthesized compounds [M5-M7] reacted with Acetyl chloride to produce the corresponding acetamide derivatives compounds [M8-M10]. The polyether derivatives [M11-M13] were synthesized from the reaction of polyvinyl alcohol with compounds [M8-M10]. All prepared compounds were characterized using infrared spectroscopy FTIR and nuclear magnetic resonance NMR spectroscopy for some of them. The in vitro anticancer efficacy of compound M12 was assessed against the liver cancer cell line hepG2, providing valuable insights into its potential as a therapeutic agent against liver cancer.

Workers in automotive repair shops are at risk of exposure to hazardous chemicals, which can have varying health consequences depending on the duration and intensity of exposure, and may ultimately contribute to environmental pollution. The objective of this study is to identify variations in the biochemical levels, including liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lipid profile, and atherogenic indices (AIP) between workers in car mechanics workshops and occupationally unexposed participants in Baghdad. Blood samples were taken from 70 workers aged 18–50 at car mechanics workshops. The occupations included car maintenance (WI, n = 35), vehicle painting (WII, n = 35), and healthy males (C, n = 25) as the control group. All samples were analyzed for ALT, AST, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) using commercially available kits. The atherogenic index of sera (AIP) was calculated from values of HDL and TG. The results of the present study revealed a statistically significant increase (p < 0.05) in ALT and AST levels among car maintenance and vehicle painting workers compared with the control group. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were also observed in HDL, LDL, TC, TG, and AIP between the workers and C groups. The study found that liver enzymes, lipid profiles, and indicators of atherogenicity were changed in workshop workers. The workers' exposure to environmental pollution in auto repair workshops was identified as a contributing factor to liver damage, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular disease in these individuals.

In this study, nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO-NPs) were synthesized using nickel nitrate hexahydrate and licorice leaves extract, which served as both a reducing agent and a capping agent. The optical, structural, and microscopic properties of the NiO-NPs were characterized using a range of techniques, including UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. The bio-reducing potential of Licorice leaves was examined using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy for phytochemical analysis of plant extract. Furthermore, cell cytotoxicity investigation was conducted on the Mg-63 cell line derived from osteosarcoma by the MTT method .The results showed that the viability of cancer cells was reduced with increasing NiO NPs concentration up to 28.78% for MG-63 Cells at the maximum concentration (500 μg/ml) in comparison with 80.79 % for HFF cell viability as control cells, while the antimicrobial experiments have demonstrated that NiO–NP action of two types of gram-positive bacteria and for two types of gram-negative bacteria. The results showed that NiO NPs had the highest antibacterial activity at high concentrations (1024 ug/ mL), forming the largest inhibition zone against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococci aureus and Streptococcus with inhibition zones 18mm,18mm ,15mm and 22 mm respectively.

The central focus of this investigation is examining the cytotoxic properties of various crude extracts derived from Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) on human skin squamous carcinoma cells in vitro. The present study centres on three distinct extracts, namely, hot aqueous, cold aqueous, and ethanolic, all of which were prepared from G. lucidum sourced from DXN Company. The primary objective is to elucidate the potential inhibitory effects these extracts have on the proliferation of human skin squamous carcinoma cells. To achieve this goal, the extracts were subjected to analysis using GC-MS technology. The colorimetric assay method also played a critical role in assessing cytotoxicity (inhibition rate) and cellular proliferation (proliferation rate). The study involved preparing eleven dilute solutions in a two-fold series, resulting in concentrations ranging from 7.8 to 4000 μg/ml, which were then applied to the skin squamous carcinoma cell line (passage 27) over 24, 48, and 72 hours. The analysis revealed that G. lucidum predominantly contains organic compounds like alcohols, aldehydes, esters, and ketones. The cytotoxic impacts observed in the skin squamous carcinoma cell line were significantly influenced by the type of extract, its concentration, and the exposure time. Specifically, the higher concentrations (4000 μg/ml) of all three extracts demonstrated a significant inhibition (P≤ 0.05) of cancer cell growth in comparison to the control group (100% viability). Conversely, lower concentrations (7.8-26.5 μg/ml) were found to significantly stimulate (P≤ 0.05) the proliferation of skin cancer cells when compared with the control (viability 100%). The identification and assessment of bioactive compounds in the three G. lucidum extracts suggest these extracts have the potential to inhibit the growth of skin cancer cells.

Pre-eclampsia is a serious pregnancy complication marked by high blood pressure, typically exceeding 140/90 mmHg, that often emerges after the 20th week of pregnancy. It may be pronounced if there is a high risk for the mother or fetus. The importance of the placental growth factor (PlGF) in predicting preeclampsia has been established by earlier research. However, the study aims to evaluate the predictive accuracy of serum Placental growth factor in determining the severity of disease. The study involved 90 pregnant Iraqi women who developed preeclampsia after 24 weeks of gestation. Based on the magnitude of their hypertension biochemical parameters and, other symptoms, the women were categorized into two groups: 45 moderate cases and 45 severe cases. They were aged between 27-29 years and were selected from the Al-Elwiya Teaching Hospital for Maternity from April to June 2024. Both blood pressure and proteinuria were assessed. Furthermore, a blood sample was obtained from each patient in order to evaluate the serum levels of PlGF using ELISA in addition to hematological and biochemical parameters. The severe PE group exhibits a statistically significant (p≤0.05) increase in both systolic and diastolic blood pressures when compared to the moderate group. Moreover, there is a statistically significant (P≤0.01) difference in platelet count, Aspartate amino Transferase (AST), Alanine amino Transferase (ALT), serum Creatinine and blood urea between the PE groups. In severe cases of PE, the presence of proteinuria on the urine dipstick at a level of 2+ or higher was found to be highly significant (P≤0.01) when compared to moderate cases. Notably, PlGF levels showed no significant variation between the different pre-eclampsia groups. This is not surprising, given that pre-eclampsia is a complex condition that affects multiple systems, making it challenging to accurately predict the severity of the disease. The results indicate PlGF is unable to differentiate between cases of moderate and severe PE. Further investigation is required to determine the predictive efficacy of PlGF in relation to the severity of the disease, taking into account the type of disease and gestational week.

This research aims to explore the potential of curcumin as an efflux pump inhibitor to potentiate the antibacterial activity of tobramycin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. From a total of 175 samples, 93 isolates of P. aeruginosa were successfully isolated and identified through 16S rRNA confirmation. Disc-diffusion method was used to choose the most-resisted antibiotic. The minimum inhibitory concentration of antibiotic tobramycin alone and in combination with curcumin were evaluated by agar dilution method. The expression of mexZ was also analyzed using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction in the presence of antibiotic and antibiotic with curcumin. The minimum inhibitory concentration of tobramycin alone ranged from 2048 to 1024 μg/ml, with the highest percentage (55%). However, when curcumin was added at 70μg/ml, there was a significant enhancement in the sensitivity (p≤ 0.05) of P. aeruginosa isolates to tobramycin. The highest percentage of isolates (22.5%) showed two-fold change in MIC followed by four-fold (12.5%), seven-fold (10%), three-fold (7.5%). Smaller changes ranging from 2.5-5% were also observed. when treated isolates with 1/2 MIC of tobramycin, resulting in downregulation in mexZ in all isolates as well as a clear significant increase (p≤ 0.001) in the expression of the mexZ in most isolates after using of curcumin with tobramycin. In conclusion, curcumin can decrease the minimum inhibitory concentration value of tobramycin in P. aeruginosa and can be used as a native compound to enhance the treatment of resistant isolates to tobramycin.

Recurrent tonsillitis is characterized by five or more episodes of severe tonsillitis per year, which significantly impact daily life and normal activities. Superantigens (SAgs) trigger a massive response in T cells, resulting in an overwhelming release of cytokines and rapid T cell growth. Toll like receptor 2 (TLR2) is a substational pattern recognition receptor (PRR) for inflammation and the immune response. This study is designed to detect rs893629 in the TLR2 gene and genes encoding SAgs A, B and C in Staphylococcus aureus isolates. Additionally, the study examines the association between rs893629 and serum level of (TLR2, IFN-γ, MIF and IL-4) as a risk factor for the progression of tonsillitis. 261 patients, 89 healthy volunteers of both sexes, enrolled in this study. The tetra-arm PCR technique was used to detect rs893629, serum levels of TLR2 and cytokines were estimated with sandwich ELISA. Infections of tonsillitis were more common and severe in females than in males. Streptococcus pyogens represented the most common bacterial species98(49.2%),69 (34.7%) Staphylococcus aureus ,32(16.1 %) Haemophilus influenzae. S. aureus isolates from tonsillitis patients possesses one or more genes encoded the various types of SAgs, 69 (100%) of the isolates have SEA, 57 (82.6%) have SEB, and 48 (69.5%) contain SEC. The genetic composition and allele frequencies of TLR2 rs893629 exhibited a significant difference between patient and control groups. The heterozygous genotypes GA was predominant among patients with an elevated frequency of allele G, while AA genotypes are dominant among healthy individuals. The results found notable variations between patients with recurrent tonsillitis and healthy controls in serum levels of TLR2, IFN-γ, MIF, and IL-4. In addition, the outcome found a highly significant difference in serum levels of TLR2 protein between patients who have a carrier GA genotype. Our findings indicate that the majority of S. aureus isolates produced more than one type of super antigen known as immunostimulatory toxins, that activate enormous numbers of T lymphocytes, significantly associate. The G allele of the TLR2 gene variant rs893629 is related with an increased risk of recurrent tonsillitis. The G allele is a risk factor that increases the chance of getting the sickness as well as its severity because of its positive link with the disease. High serum levels of TLR2, IFNγ, MIF, and low IL-4 levels are all regarded significant markers that may point to the severity of the illness.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder that predominantly affects women of reproductive age, impacting their hormonal balance and fertility. The present study was conducted to evaluate the levels of neurokinin B and galanin in women with PCOS. The study recruited PCOS patients who visited infertility consultation at the Medical City of Baghdad Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq. Patients were categorized into two groups based on their body mass index (BMI): thirty healthy control women, whose average age was between 20 and 35 years, and sixty PCOS patients, who were overweight group (BMI less than 30 kg/m2) or obese group (BMI more than 30 kg/m2). The diagnosis of PCOS in women was based on the presence of at least two of the three characteristic criteria: hyperandrogenism, oligo- or anovulation, and polycystic ovaries. Weight measurements were recorded in kg, while height, waist, and wrist circumferences were recorded in cm. Serum samples were obtained from women with PCOS and a control group during the early follicular phase. The neurokinin B, galanin, anti-mullerian hormone (AMH), and testosterone levels in the blood samples were determined. The results indicated that galanin levels were higher in PCOS patients in both groups. The PCOS patients showed a significant increase in neurokinin B levels in the obese group, and there was a positive correlation between neurokinin B and wrist circumference in the same group. However, this elevation was not statistically significant. The group that was obese had significantly higher levels of AMH and testosterone. In the group of obese patients, there was also a positive correlation with waist circumference. The results of the present study revealed that neuropeptides (neurokinin B and galanin) were elevated in obese PCOS patients, which confirms the positive correlation between obesity and PCOS incidence. neuropeptide (neurokinin b and galanin) was elevated in obese PCOS patient that confirm the positive correlation between obesity and PCOS incidence.

Nickel (Ni) is considered a toxic heavy metal that causes serious diseases in humans and animals. Therefore, this study was conducted on common carp, which is considered an essential food item for humans. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of nickel exposure on the gene expression of glutathione peroxidase and metallothionein in common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.1785 (Common carp)), focusing on the effects observed after 3 and 6 weeks of exposure. The experimental fish's morphometric features were noted. All fish were stocked, regardless of gender. Fish were subjected to varying concentrations of 20, 40, 68, 80, and 100 mg/L to obtain the LC50 for Ni during 96 hours which was 80 mg/L through 96 hours. Additionally, the fish were exposed to two safe concentrations, 1 ppm and 5 ppm for 3 and 6 weeks. The results were as follows: Glutathione peroxidase GPX results were significantly higher in all treatment groups as compared to control groups. The treated groups exhibited higher MT concentrations than the control groups. Increased levels of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and metallothionein (MT) gene expression indicate metal pollution and abiotic stresses in blood.

This study examined the fnbA gene, which plays a role in biofilm formation, in Staphylococcus aureus bacteria that were exposed to copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) produced using an aqueous extract from the leaves of Myrtus communis and Nerium oleander plants. A total of 54 S. aureus bacteria were isolated from wastewater samples. Gene expression analysis was conducted using a quantitative RT-PCR readyMix apparatus with a classical conventional PCR model of BIOER – Germany. The cDNA samples from S. aureus bacteria and fnbA gene were quantified using quantitative real-time PCR by applying SYBR green using a two-step RT-PCR method to determine the effect of CuNPs on biofilm formation gene. Characterization of CuNPs was performed using UV-light Visible spectroscopy, Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), and X-ray diffractometer (XRD). The obtained results of gene expression level in S. aureus isolates showed an increase in the level of expression of fnbA genes of bacteria isolates subjected to the CuNPs biosynthesized using M. communis, N. oleander aqueous extracts in addition to the mix of CuNPs, where the mean fnbA level of control bacteria were 26.525. In contrast, the mean level was increased significantly to 34.0, 34.15, and 35.025 for CuNPs biosynthesized using M. communis, N. oleander, and CuNPs mix respectively. In summary, all extracts effected on gene expression of fnbA gene but the mix extract of CuNPs had the highest effect.

The mandibular first molar that has undergone endodontic treatment (ETMFM) may contain an additional canal that often goes unnoticed, known as the undetected second distal canal (USDC). While radiography is commonly used to identify the USDC in ETMFMs, its actual occurrence rate might differ when examined through histological methods. The prevalence of this canal was evaluated histologically through laboratory analysis and radiographically through cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). This study included 24 ETMFM from a total of 372 extracted mandibular first molars (MFM) from 372 Iraqi patients, which were collected from several private dental clinics in Baghdad city during 2022–2023. The extra canals, accounting for 6.45% of the total samples, is divided into two groups based on sex. All the teeth were examined using a single CBCT device, and then they were histologically prepared, sectioned, and observed under a stereomicroscope. The images were evaluated for the presence of the canals, and the results were statistically analyzed using the chi-square test and the Fisher exact test. The comparison was considered statistically significant at p<0.05. The prevalence rate of the canals was 13 teeth (54.16%) based on CBCT, while 18 teeth (75% histologically) had a sex distribution of 6/12 teeth (33.33% for males and 66.66% for females). In terms of the level of sectioning, 74.44% of all sections had USDC, with the lowest being 7.46% at level 1 (apical level) and 19.4% at level 2. The prevalence rates of the USDC were found to be high in ETMFM clinically, higher in the histological study than in the CBCT study, higher in females than in males, and higher in the middle sectioning levels than at the extremes, all of which showed no statistically significant difference. Consequently, in suspicious cases, additional examinations are required to confirm the existence or absence of these canals, as they are regarded as a contributing factor in the failure and tooth extraction after endodontic treatment in ETMFM.

Leishmaniasis, a disease triggered by the parasitic protozoan Leishmania, is spread through the bite of infected female sandflies, specifically those of the Phlebotomus and Lutzomyia species. The body's defense mechanisms, both innate and adaptive, rely heavily on cytokines, a category of glycoproteins or modulatory proteins that orchestrate a crucial response to infection and disease. This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between serum IL-17A levels and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of IL-17A (rs2275913) with the susceptibility to cutaneous leishmaniasis. A total 200 samples of whole blood were collected form patients and controls at Baquba Teaching Hospital /Diyala Governorate/ Iraq from October 2022 to February 2023 which were used to measure serum IL-17A level using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and IL-17A SNP using High Resolution Melting Technique. The results revealed no significant differences in serum IL-17A levels between patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis and controls. However, high serum levels of IL-17A for patients were detected when compared with controls. Notably, younger patients (ages 16-25 and 26-35) showed decrease mean levels IL-17A when compared with controls. While, an increase statistically of levels IL-17A for adults and elderly (46-55) and (56-65) years old for patients when compared with controls. Additionally, there was an observed increase in IL-17A of patients’ male versus with female compared with controls group. However, the distribution of serum IL-17A levels by SNP (rs2275913) demonstrated no differences between the genotypes of the groups. This study showed that the level of IL-17A was slightly elevated in patients when compared with controls. Interestingly, the results had revealed that the SNP for IL-17A (rs2275913) maybe a risk factor for susceptibility infection with cutaneous leishmaniasis, and considered the mutant allele A as a risk allele and genotype AA as more risk factor than the rest genotypes.

Fish feed is influenced by several factors, including the raw ingredients used in the feed, the content of proteins, carbohydrates, and vitamins, the manufacturing process, and the way the feed is stored. Its impact on the fish's growth rate, which should continuously increase. Caulerpa sp. is rich in nutrients, providing vegetable protein, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins. This research aims to examine the effect of incorporating feed with additional Caulerpa sp. on the growth of red tilapia. One alternative is the addition of C. racemosa (sea grape seaweed flour) as a feed supplement in tilapia feed. This research used an experimental method with a completely randomized design with 4 treatments and 3 repetitions. The treatments were A (artificial feed + 10% C. racemosa), treatment B (artificial feed + 20% C. racemosa), treatment C (artificial feed + 30% C. racemosa), and treatment D (artificial feed without the addition of C. racemosa). The result of this study shows that tilapia growth in treatment A demonstrated the highest absolute growth of 37.27 g, a specific growth rate of 2.06%, a survival rate of 100%, a feed conversion ratio of 0.2 %, and a feed utilisation 37%. This study concludes that feeding with additional C. racemosa can affect the growth of Tilapia. The addition of 10% C. racemosa can improve the growth of Tilapia significantly.

Twenty-four water samples were collected from the Tigris River inside Baghdad city and close to the sewage pipes for the winter seasons in October 2022 and the summer seasons in May 2023 to assess the pollution of the Tigris River water. The study included analyzing the physical and chemical properties and studying the concentrations of some heavy elements (iron, manganese, nickel, zinc, copper, chromium, cadmium, and lead). Tigris River samples are characterized during the winter as light alkaline, fresh water, highly mineralized and sodium sulphate type. Water samples during the summer are characterized by light alkalinity, fresh water, high mineralization, and calcium chloride type. River water evaluated for irrigation purposes showed that the sodium absorption ratio (SAR) had no harmful effects on sodium, and dissolved sodium (Na%). In the winter period, all surface water samples are within the permissible limits, While all surface water samples in the summer period are good irrigation water. In terms of (TDS) and (EC), all surface water samples are For two good periods and within the permissible limits for the quality of irrigation water, the results of heavy metals during the summer season showed contamination of surface water samples with cadmium and lead, while water samples during the summer season were characterized by contamination of their water with copper, iron and zinc elements that were outside the permissible limit for the next health organization Global( WHO).

Stable isotopes of water have many environmental benefits and applications, including water management to determine the origin of water, the age of ground waters, and the main pollution sources. An analysis was conducted on stable isotopes δ18O and δ 2H in rain samples obtained from a single location in Baghdad between 2013 and 2023. A statistical study was employed to determine the factors that affect the spatial and temporal isotopic fluctuations in rainfall. This work aimed to examine the impact of temperature, humidity levels, and precipitation rates on the isotopic composition of precipitation in Baghdad. The results showed that the MWL of Baghdad city, with a d- excess value of 12.69 , was higher than that of the GMWL( δ 2H = 8 δ 18O + 10 ) and less than that of the Mediterranean ( δ 2H = 8 δ 18O + 22 ) . The effect of temperature on precipitation's isotopic composition indicates a positive correlation between temperature and δ18O values (R2= − 0.032), While a negative correlation exists between precipitation and δ18O values (R2= 0.104). It means that the relationship between δ18O and precipitation is not very strong, This could mean that precipitation is not a good indicator of changes in δ8O compared to temperature. The Hybrid single-particle Lagrangian integrated trajectory ( HYSPLIT) backward trajectory model is also used to identify the origins of humidity during precipitation occurrences. Two sources of humidity are the Mediterranean Sea and the Arab Gulf.

In this study, the heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), micro-plastics (MPs), and their potential soil contamination in a specific area in Baghdad City, Iraq were studied. During February and June 2024, soil samples were collected from six locations (Agricultural, plastic factory, Oil factory soil, Barren soil, residential, and Landfill soil) within Baghdad City. The total concentration of heavy metals of Pb, Cu, Zn, Mn,, Cd, and Fe in the soil samples ranges between 3.27and 26.4, 12.9 and 33.6, 24.7 and 114, 319 and 715, 0.37 and 2.19 and 603 and5142 mgkg-1 in the dry period, while it ranges between 3.07and 24.7, 12.10 and 31.51, 23.17 and 106.9, 299.2 and 690, 0.35and2.05 and565 and 4822 mgkg-1 in the wet period, respectively. The landfill soil (S6) recorded the highest values of heavy metals, which suggested that the storage of all the material caused the Accumulation of heavy metals, while the lowest average values were recorded by S5. On the other hand, the concentration of ƩPAH (S1,S2,S4 and S5 ) ranged from 0.2 to 0.8 mg/kg and from 0.21-0.82 mg/kg in dry and wet periods, respectively, While the Ʃ16PAHs in surface soil samples in S3 and S6 were more than the heavy pollution threshold (1.0 mg/kg) in both periods. It showed that a significant amount of PAHs were accumulated in the surface soils of this industrial complex. Oil Factory soil was significantly higher for all compounds, followed by landfill sites. The MPs mass varied between 2 to 20 particles kg-1 in the six samples, and the total average of MPs concentration of the sampling sites ranged from 28 to 60 particles per kg in the dry period. while The MPs mass varied between 2 to 19 particles kg-1 in the six samples, and the total average of MPs concentration of the sampling sites ranged from 39 to 62 particles per kg in the wet period. The results found that the selected site is polluted with MPs from high to low and the concentration of MPs in the wet period is higher than in the dry period, which may be related to low levels of human and industrial activities and the effect of Climate. The Contamination Factor (CF) values of heavy metals in the study area for two periods (dry and wet) were calculated, The results show that all site samples of the study area for two periods had low contamination in elements of pb, Cu, Mn, and Fe except S6 were medium contamination in Pb and Zn. While all the site samples had very high contamination in an element of Cd. Other indexes (Ecological risk index) were studied in the results of soil samples of the studied area (S1,S2,S3,S4,S5 and S6), showing that the elements Pb, Cu, Zn, and Mn, have low ecological risks Possible

This work compares mud volcanoes from the NW Moroccan Atlantic Margin and the Ceuta Drift in the Mediterranean Moroccan Margins. Through the analysis and interpretation of high-resolution seismic data combined with existing research, the study explores the distinct formation mechanisms and the structural characteristics of mud volcano systems in these regions. The NW Moroccan Atlantic Margin, influenced by the accretionary wedge and the strike-slip faulting associated with the Rif-Betic Arc tectonic movement, exhibits mud volcanoes formed primarily through the upward movement of mud diapirs along faults. In contrast, the Ceuta Drift is characterized by mud volcanoes formed on top of the seafloor-piercing mud diapirs, resulting from compressional-extensional tectonics and the Middle Miocene shale diapirs. This study highlights the key factors driving mud volcano formation, such as rapid subsidence and strike-slip fault activity on the NW Moroccan Margin, compared to tectonic compression and subsequent extension in the Ceuta Drift. By comparing these two different tectonic and geological environments, the article provides insights into the dynamics of mud volcano systems, their implications for hydrocarbon exploration, and their significance in understanding tectonically active regions.

In organic chemistry the prefix oxo indicates a double bond between an oxygen atom and carbon atom. The oxo group is present in ketons, estern, carboxilic acids, aldehydes and amids. Topological indices are numerical quantities associated with the molecular graphs. Some of the molecular descriptors have proven their ability in predicting physico-chemical properties certain chemical compounds. In this paper structure boiling point relationships are studied for series of oxo organic compounds by ten molecular descriptors. The QSPR modelling for the oxo organic compounds are presented by the means of linear, quadratic, logarithmic and multilinear analysis. The multilinear analysis model produces a correlation coefficient(r) =0.954 and standard error of estimates (????)=17.1902∘???? for the set of 192 oxo organic compounds. Also, the intercorrelation between pair of molecular descriptors is studied. This is validated by Hierarchial cluster analysis. This study helps to classify useful molecular descriptors based on their predicting in structure boiling point of oxo organic compounds.

Currently, Machine learning is an advanced algorithm that yielding accurate classifications or predictions for huge samples sizes. The fat index data is asymmetric and has a right skew so this creates problem when using statistical techniques. For such data, there is still a lot of performance that needs to be improved when comparing statistical techniques and machine learning algorithms. This paper aimed to compare the traditional statistical methods represented by Linear, penalized linear such as Ridge and Lasso regression and machine learning models represented by convolutional neural network for their prediction performance through simulation experiments and real data of fat index. A total of 252 records were used. The prediction performance of fat index by Linear, Ridge, Lasso and Convolutional Network were compared using mean square error and mean absolute error. We concluded that Ridge and linear regression had the worst performance with the biggest mean and absolute prediction errors, while the Convolutional Neural Network technique achieved the lowest mean and absolute prediction errors, providing the best predictive performance for the fat index data and simulation experiments.

The estimation of the stress–strength model is perhaps one of the most challenging concepts in reliability analysis. Therefore, in this paper, a new meta-heuristic algorithm (BAT algorithm) is used to estimate the Stress strength reliability system for the generalized inverse Pareto distribution. Furthermore, some statistical properties for generalized inverse Pareto distribution are derived. In a simulation study, the BAT algorithm and the classical Maximum Likelihood (MLE) method are compared using the Relative efficiency criterion. The results show that the BAT variant estimates the parameters more accurately than the MLE.

This paper deal with a technique of approximation which is insert to find the solution of a new type of couple system of constant coefficients parabolic equations (CPS) from mixing the method of finite element of Galerkin (GFEM) “in the variable of space” with the finite differences method of implicit type (IFDM) in the variable of time. Therefore, the abbreviation IGFEM is utilized to express on the method named by implicit Galerkin finite element method (IGFEM(. In this method at each discrete value of time ????????, the CPS convert into a Galerkin system of algebraic equations (GLAS) and later it is resolved by utilizing the method of Cholesky Decomposition (ChDeM). Examples of explanations are awarded and the illustration for the results are presented through tables and figures, and they exhibit that the method which is proposed her is accurate and efficient.

Image denoising is a computer vision task that mainly aims to remove unwanted noise from a given image while preserving all necessary details and related information. Detection of edges and smooth image generation are required criteria for measuring the quality of the image denoiser. This paper introduces a new model for image denoising based on total variation (TV). The unprecedented novelty total variation (NTV) model combines ℓ1norm-based total variation (TV) and ℓ2 norm-based TV regularization. This paper uses the implicit finite difference method to solve the NTV model numerically. The statistical measurements are used to compare the results obtained using the NTV model with those obtained using other models, which show the superiority of the proposed model in terms of its effectiveness and efficiency through removing different types of noise from images.
This proposed model is effective in detail sharpening and texture preservation.

This study examines the problems with the assessment of river water quality, which is affected by multiple water quality parameters (WQPs) that have inherent uncertainties and uneven decision-maker judgments. To cope with these uncertainties, we use soft sets, fuzzy sets, and fuzzy soft sets. In particular, we first present the square root mean square (SQRTMS) and a water pollution score (WPS) for fuzzy soft sets and propose a novel water pollution assessment framework, i.e., the fuzzy soft multi-criteria group decision-making model (Ω-model). This model produces Ω score, a weighted water pollution score, to classify pollution levels. The proposed methodology is made on water quality indices of Haora River in Tripura India, which serves not only as an essential drinking water source for Agartala but also plays a critical role in supporting local ecosystems, agriculture, and livelihoods. Over the years, the river has faced increasing pollution from domestic wastewater discharge and agricultural runoff, exacerbating water quality issues. Its deteriorating condition has posed a threat to both aquatic life and public health. Our study involves nine key parameters in seven sampling sites situated along the river, which were sampled in January, February, and March of 2024 with an emphasis on waste discharge points. Finally, the proposed model is compared with existing approaches and the effectiveness and benefits are put forth.

Rice, an important food crop, is often faced with widespread and highly contagious diseases that have posed significant threats to agricultural development. However, traditional rice disease identification methods, which rely on the subjective visual examination of experts, hinder timely disease prevention. The advancements in computer vision and deep learning techniques have been key in improving crop disease diagnosis and recognition. This paper suggests a new approach for classifying rice leaf diseases, first via enhancing the input rice plant image through the conversion and extraction techniques. Secondly, by employing the multiple Vision Transformers (ViTs) method, which adopts and dedicates one ViT per type of disease, thereby improving the accuracy and robustness of the disease’s classification in rice plants. The implementation and evaluation of the proposed methodology on 5932 rice plant images demonstrate superior performance in identifying four common kinds of rice leaf diseases, namely bacterial blight, blast, brown spot, and tungro. The precision, recall, and F1-score are significantly improved to become 98%, 98.25%, and 98.125%, respectively. The findings of this work enrich the domain of agricultural technology by introducing an innovative approach to enhance disease management in rice cultivation, which aims to foster robust crop yields to mitigate losses associated with plant diseases.

The impetus behind the emergence of information security was the need to send sensitive data over the often insecure Internet networks. Information and communication technology fields have used authentication to verify alleged users identities and prevent intruders from achieving their goals. However, with the increasing use of digital images in multimedia applications, particularly those requiring high levels of security, there has been a growing interest in ways to ensure their safety. A secret key was generated randomly to add to the proposed encryption system, increasing its complexity to preserve privacy and reduce the influence of intruders. Our method uses a reversible logical approach for security and privacy based on discrete cosine transforms (DCT) to propose a semi-fragile watermark approach to detect and locate any changes. The results show a high degree of accuracy in verifying and establishing the color image's reliability, all while maintaining image quality during the embedding and retrieval phases. Results showed that the proposed method is very good at finding and locating any manipulation by the intruder on the colored image while maintaining the image quality after the embedding process.

In vitro fertilization (IVF) program patients have elevated anxiety levels. Therefore, they immediately contact fertility doctors through existing communication media to get treatment. However, fertility doctors cannot respond quickly due to high workloads. The intelligent health system that implements the Case-Based Reasoning (CBR) model is widely used to assist doctors in handling patient complaints. However, the system provides opportunities for modification so that the performance of the CBR model increases and further assists fertility doctors in handling IVF patient anxiety. This study modified the CBR model by integrating several previous research results (CCBR similarity formula, combination of CBR with Rule-Based Reasoning, the role of patient feedback, and the application of a minimum standard value of 80%). Measurement of the coefficient matrix to assess system performance using the Chris Case-Based Reasoning (CCBR) similarity formula produced an accuracy value of 52.58%, and the performance of the combination of the CBR model with the Rule-Based Reasoning model increased the accuracy value by 47.42%, so it can be stated that the CCBR model is a better intelligent system model for handling IVF patient anxiety

Assessing landslide susceptibility is paramount in planning, implementing management plans, and mitigating risks in areas vulnerable to this hazard. The present study, based on the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Frequency Ratio (FR) in conjunction with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), aims to evaluate landslide susceptibility in the Oued Lebene watershed. Eleven causal factors determining landslides were considered, including elevation, slope, aspect, curvature, relative relief, lithology, precipitation, distance to drainage, distance to road, NDVI, land use, and vegetation cover. Using both AHP and FR methods, a correlation between previous landslides and triggering factors was established to assess their influence on landslide susceptibility. Maps depicting sensitivity were produced using each method, categorized into four groups, and subsequently validated using the area under the curve (AUC). The AHP approach unveiled that regions characterized by high, moderate, and low susceptibility correspondingly constitute 21.24%, 70.57%, and 7.84% of the total area. Likewise, the FR technique suggests that regions with high, moderate, and low susceptibility comprise 2.50%, 39.39%, and 58.03% of the study area, respectively. The findings indicate that FR, with an AUC of 0.722, outperformed AHP, which achieved an AUC of 0.711, in delineating the study areas concerning historical landslides. These maps will be of valuable utility for planners and decision-makers for meticulous planning and risk mitigation purposes.