Rafidain journal of science

Trichomoniasis infection can be described as the world’s universal sexually transmitted disease (STD), caused by T. vaginalis. This parasite transmits mainly through sexual practices; however, it can also be transmitted through fomites. Women produce vaginitis, and the clinical manifestations include abundant greenish-yellow foamy, foul-smelling discharge, valvar swelling, itching, and punctate erythematous lesions of the cervix (also known as ‘strawberry cervix\\'). There are many possible cases whereby women may not have symptoms but are infected. The current study is aimed to compare the diagnostic effectiveness of wet mount preparation and diamond media for detecting T. vaginalis infection in different sample types in the endocervical discharge, endocervical swab, and urine of 300 female patient’s female (married and unmarried), whose ages ranged between 15 and 62 years old, of the total 300 patients referred to Dohuk Maternity Hospital, Shariya Camp, inside or outside Dohuk city. The diagnosis of parasitic infection was confirmed on the clinical symptoms of patients by confirming the infection microscopically in the laboratory by two methods: direct wet mount preparation and culture by diamond media. The results of this study showed. In Dohuk Maternity Hospital, among 240 samples, 61 (25.4%) were infected, and in Shariya Camp, out of 60 samples, 15 (25%) were infected by T. vaginalis. Among 300 samples, 74 (24.6%) were found to be infected using wet mount preparation and 76 (25.3%) using culture diamond media. The present study on 258 married women found that 66 (25.5%) had trichomoniasis infection and among 42 unmarried women, 10 (23.8%) had the infection. The highest infection rate was observed in the (15-25) age group women (32.8%).

Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are an essential source of disease and mortality, especially in high-risk populations. Respiratory virus diagnosis must be accurate and timely to give optimum patient care and control infection. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a rapid assay that can detect the antigen/antibodies’ reaction of the respiratory pathogens in a diagnostic test. A total of 150 serum samples were collected from RTI patients who were admitted to Mosul hospitals between October and December 2023. The inclusion criteria were RTI diagnosed clinically with fever, cough, or shortness of breath. Exclusion criteria were bacterial infection confirmed or non-viral respiratory infection. The most commonly detected virus was human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) with (20 cases, 13.3%), followed by human rhinovirus (HRV) with (14 cases, 9.3%), severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with (12 cases, 8.0%) and human enterovirus (HEV) with (10 cases, 6.6%). The other viruses detected were influenza a virus (IAV) with (8 cases, 5.3%), human metapneumovirus (HMPV) with (7 cases, 4.6%), human coronavirus OC43 (HCoV-OC43) with (4 cases, 2.6%), and human coronavirus NL63 (HCoV-NL63) with (3 cases, 2.0%). Age group analysis established that HRSV was greatest in individuals between 60-69 and 20-29 years and that the greatest cases of HRV were in the 40-49 age group. Females presented a greater infection when compared to males. The study highlights the existence of HRSV, HRV, and SARS-CoV-2 as prevailing viral etiologies of RTIs in Mosul.

Eczema, another name for atopic dermatitis (AD), is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that causes redness and irritation. It is a common disorder affecting individuals of all ages. The human IgA Fc receptor (FcαRI/CD89) is expressed on myeloid cells, such as monocytes/macrophages, eosinophils, and neutrophils, and can trigger various immunological effector processes. The study aims to assess the concentration of FcαRI in patients with chronic atopic dermatitis, including children and adults. The study sought to evaluate the relationship between FcαRI levels and white blood cell counts using a regression coefficient test. A total of 110 AD patients (aged 1-30 years) were recruited from hospitals in Mosul city between October 2024 and February 2025. Participants were categorized into two age groups: Children (1-15 years, n=38) and adults (16-30 years, n=32), along with age-matched healthy controls (n=40). Blood samples were analyzed for FcαRI levels using ELISA and for WBC counts through CBC analysis. The results demonstrated significantly elevated FcαRI levels in AD patients compared to controls (p≤0.05), with children exhibiting higher concentrations than adults. Regression analysis identified significant correlations between FcαRI levels and WBC subpopulations. Elevated FcαRI levels in AD patients indicate immune hyperactivity and increased immune complex formation, contributing to chronic inflammation and exacerbation of AD symptoms. Suggesting a decrease in FcαRI expression with age. This suggests that FcαRI may play a role in inflammatory cell recruitment and immune regulation in AD. FcαRI may serve as a valuable biomarker for assessing the severity and progression of atopic dermatitis

The study included evaluating soil pollution with some heavy elements and statistically analyzing it in the road linking Mosul, Sinjar and the road linking Mosul, Duhok, included industrial and residential areas within Nineveh Governorate in the season autumn of 2024. Different sites were selected from the two roads with 8 samples at a depth of (0-15) cm for the surface soil. The research included measuring the physical and chemical properties controlling the distribution of heavy elements in the soil and comparing them with global determinants. Physical examinations of the soil texture showed that it ranges between (mixed, mixed sand, mixed sandy clay). The results of the chemical examinations showed that the soil was neutral to alkaline, as its rates varied between (7.5-7.9), and its highest value was in sample No. 2 on the road linking Mosul, Sinjar. The rates of electrical conductivity values of the soil ranged between (1.8-17.7) micro siemens / cm, in addition to the rates of organic matter values, which were between (3.13-5.2). The results of soil sample analysis showed that all industrial areas were polluted with zinc, as the average concentration of the element was (9.489) ppm, and sample No.1 was the most polluted area with the element. As for the chromium element, the concentration rates ranged between (0.104-0.657). The results of the study showed that there was a difference in the rates of cadmium concentrations in the soils of the study areas, as the highest rate was (0.444) ppm in sample No. (3) from the Mosul-Duhok Road, while the highest value of zinc was (20.5) ppm in sample No. (1) from the Mosul-Sinjar Road. there is a difference in the concentration rates of chromium in the soils of the study areas, as the highest rate was (0.657) ppm in sample No. (4) from the Mosul-Duhok Road.

The results indicate that the use of nitrogen sources and carbon sources significantly affected the growth of Trichoderma harzianum and Trichoderma viride. Aspartic acid achieved the highest colony area for T. harzianum (60.79 cm²), while the highest colony area was for T. viride with alanine (51.50 cm²) and the lowest with cysteine (28.26 cm²). Arginine also showed a positive effect on the sprouting rate and biomass; the sprouting rate was 8.1 for T. harzianum and 10.2 for T. viride, while the biomass recorded the highest value of (0.230 g) for T. harzianum and (0.207 g) for T. viride. Glucose was the most effective source; T. harzianum colony area was (55.39 cm²), followed by sucrose and fructose, while cellulose was the least effective (13.85 cm²). Carbon sources also enhanced ant-pathogenic activity and reduced pH to 5.4 and 5.5 compared to the control groups (6.9 and 6.8).

Identification of the bioactive secondary metabolites of a crude butanol extract from a locally isolated strain of Streptomyces griseus RH250 isolated from marl clay in Mosul/ Iraq. This new strain possesses the ability to produce various kinds of metabolites, it was screened for it is antibacterial activity against Gram-negative Alcaligenes faecalis, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Serratia marcescens, and Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. Screening was performed using the agar-cross streak method, and the growth inhibition line was measured in millimeters. This strain has shown potent in vitro antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus (25 mm) only. The agar diffusion well technique for crude n-butanol extract was performed. Gas chromatography-mass-mass spectrometry was used to determine bioactive secondary metabolites in crude butanol extract. This analysis showed that twenty-one bioactive metabolite compounds were isolated from this strain, which have different chemical structures and biological activities.

This study was conducted in 2024 to estimate the population density of piercing-sucking insects associated with apple trees from five different orchard locations (Almawan, Garota, Balisan, Hiran and Nazanin) within Erbil province, Iraq. Four species of piercing-sucking insects from four families of the order Hemiptera were collected. The population density of piercing-sucking insects varied significantly depending on the species, location and environmental factors. In total, across all studied locations, the woolly apple (Eriosoma lanigerum) was found to be the highest (45%) followed by the shield bug (Apodiphus amygdali) (25%), and pear lace bug (Stephanitis pyri) (25%), while the seed bug (Spilostethus pandurus) was the lowest 21%. Depending on the orchard location, in Garota village the insect infestations were higher (42.5%) followed by Almawan (36.25%), Hiran (35%), Balisan (16.25%) and Nazanin (15%), respectively. The most infested part of trees by woolly apple aphid was the branch followed by the leaf and trunk respectively. Also, the highest infestation by woolly apple aphid was at 2 meters.

This document is concerning with the main driving factor for the formation of micelle, which may be introducing more evidence to promote the past works about this phenomenon. The variety of functional groups in the metronidazole (Met) drug as slightly soluble in water may give a good object for understanding the micellization when existed as an additive substance for determining the critical micelle concentration (CMC). Two ionic surfactants including anionic sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) more explored at different temperatures using electrical conductivity method. The results indicated that there is a positive effect on CMC of SDS as the CMC decreased with increasing Met concentration which then made reduction in ionization degree (α). Contrary, the CMC of CTAB was increased with increasing the amount of Met as working against the formation of micelle. The standard thermodynamics functions of micellization including enthalpy ΔH˚, entropy ΔS˚, and Gibbs free energy ΔG˚ were evaluated. It was noted that the sign of enthalpy and Gibbs free energy of micellization for two surfactants are negative, but the sign is positive of entropy for aggregation process of surfactants as there is no change due to presence of met. Intuitively, the CMCs of SDS and CTAB are directly proportional with temperature in presence and absence of Met due to the negative effect on the intermolecular force between molecules.

In this study, a simple, rapid, and cost-effective analytical method was described for the quantitative determination of levofloxacin (LEV) in its pure state and in therapeutic doses. The method relies on forming an ion-pair complex between LEV and erythrosine dye (ERY) at pH=4.0. The spectrum of the coloured product exhibits maximum absorption at 558 nm against the blank. A linear relationship, was obtained in the concentration range of 1.0-15.0 μg/ml with a quantification coefficient of 0.9991 under the optimum conditions. The molar absorption coefficient and Sandell’s sensitivity index values were 1.91×104 L/mol.cm and 0.0189 μg/cm2 respectively, whereas the values of the detection limit and the quantification limit were 0.200 and 0.666 μg/ml respectively. The developed method was effectively applied to estimate LEV present in pharmaceutical dosage. The accuracy and reliability of the suggested method were ascertained by recovery study via the standard addition method.

Cast ternary alloys are significantly considered to be studied. For example, aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), and tin (Sn) construct the ternary alloy of Al-Cu-Sn. Another example is the aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn), which construct the ternary alloy of Al-Cu-Zn. Each one of them is established under the condition of very high temperatures. Their elements are collected, adjusted, and chopped. So, the ternary cast alloys are manufactured. Then, important mechanical tests of compression and corrosion are carried out and compared. The compression test is conducted on each alloy of Al-Cu-Sn and Al-Cu-Zn. It can be yielded that the highest compression value is recorded as Zn=0% and Sn=0%, but the lowest compression value is reported as Zn=10% and Sn=10%. On the other hand, the influence of corrosion tests on both alloys is found to be insignificant. Key findings of compression results, which are tied to Zn/Sn concentrations, are that when Zn=0% and Sn=0%, brittle status has been confirmed, while when Zn=10% and Sn=10%, ductile status has been approved.

The fields of use of aluminum and its alloys have diversified, making it essential in our daily lives, due to the various properties of aluminum, including light weight, durability, formability, remanufacturability, and resistance to corrosion. It has been used in the aviation industry, high-speed trains, and most advanced engineering industries. Despite the low melting point of aluminum alloys, it is used in the manufacture of missiles and in the construction of internal combustion chambers. Here, aluminum alloys were employed in the fields of protection from electromagnetic radiation, especially gamma rays, by manufacturing gamma ray shields. Three alloys of (AlCuZnxPb10-x) were manufactured, differing in the proportions of zinc and lead elements. The main attenuation parameters were studied, including the linear and mass attenuation coefficient, the value-describing layer, the tenth value layer, and the free path rate, through a theoretical study using the X-COM program. It was noted that with an increase in the zinc concentration, the value of the linear and mass attenuation coefficient increased.

This study explored the impact of different concentrations of zinc (Zn) precursor (10, 20, 30, and 40 mM) on the morphological characteristics, element composition, and crystal structure of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods (NRs) synthesized on ZnO-seeded glass substrates using a hydrothermal technique. The physical characteristics of ZnO NRs were examined in detail using field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique, and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. The results revealed that the grown ZnO NRs strongly depended on the precursor concentrations of the reactants. Using this cost-effective methodology, sundry morphologies of ZnO structures were realized, impacting their morphological, compositional, and structural properties. FESEM results showed that the samples grown using 30 mM concentration had a rods-like structure with vertical alignment and high density, whereas samples grown using ≤ 20 mM concentration had a rods-like structure with random alignment and low density. However, the samples synthesized using 40 mM concentration showed marginal growth of the rods. EDX analysis confirmed that O and Zn were the main elements in the synthesized samples, indicating a formation of high-purity ZnO NRs. XRD patterns of the samples shown a polycrystalline wurtzite structure with (002) direction as the prominent peak in all grown samples. In conclusion, this study can enhance the development of ZnO NRs production for various applications.

This study evaluates the concentrations of five toxic heavy metals (Ni, Co, Cd, Cr, and Br) in thirty poultry feed samples collected from different locations in Erbil Governorate, Iraq, utilizing X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, a non-destructive analytical technique used to determine the elemental composition of samples quickly and accurately, making it valuable for detecting heavy metals in food products. The average concentrations significantly exceeded international safety thresholds, set by nutrient requirements of poultry. These findings highlight a major contamination concern and underscore the urgent need for stricter regulatory standards and monitoring in poultry feed production. Toxic heavy metals (Ni, Co, Cd, Cr, and Br) were found. The average concentrations of Ni, Co, Cd, Cr, and Br in poultry feeds are 334.1±199.65, 163.8±94.88, 33.81±12.8, 44.67±11.55, and 25.78±10.067 ppm, while the maximum tolerable limit is 250, 25, 10, 500, and ≥1 ppm, respectively. The findings additionally present a comparison of heavy metal concentrations in local chicken feed vs. those detected in 30 industrial chicken feed samples within the research area. This research emphasizes significant pollution in chicken feed this raising concerns over, for both human consumers and poultry. This study recommends implementing stricter quality control measures and regular monitoring of poultry feed in Erbil to reduce heavy metal contamination, along with encouraging the use of safer alternative feed sources, such as food leftovers, to minimize health risks.

This study aimed to estimate soil erosion and sedimentation rates in the University of Mosul campuses, Nineveh Governorate, using the cesium-137 technique. Soil samples were collected from two sites, A and B, each divided into three zones: (1) the top of the slope (undisturbed site), (2) the middle of the slope (eroded site), and (3) the sediment site at the bottom of the slope. The cesium-137 activity in each sample was measured, and its count rate was compared between undisturbed and eroded sites. Results indicated significant differences in cesium-137 count rates across the three zones. The count rates decreased from the top to the bottom of the slope. The lowest values were found at the eroded sites, with approximately 9,822 counts/2 hours at Site B and 7,040 counts/2 hours at Site A. This supports the presence of soil migration in the middle of the slope at both sites. Additionally, cesium-137 count rates varied with soil depth. At Site A, the undisturbed site, count rates ranged from 16,883 to 115 counts/hour for depths of 0-30 cm. At the eroded site, values ranged from 9,822 to 144 counts/hour, while at the sediment site, they ranged from 10,206 to 2,037 counts/hour. The low count rates observed in eroded areas indicate soil erosion, while high values at the sediment site indicate deposition.

Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants with the potential for far-reaching impacts on ecosystem processes and human health. This review consolidates contemporary scientific understanding of the biological impacts of microplastics on a range of organisms and across various ecological contexts. Research demonstrates that microplastics cause physical damage, inflammation, oxidative stress, neurotoxicity, and disruptions to reproductive processes across a range of species. Furthermore, MPs act as vectors for co-occurring pollutants and host unique microbial communities. Among the possible physical effects are blocking of the intestines and injuries of the tissues, while the chemical toxicity may be due to the plastics' additives and the environmental contaminants that have been swallowed. Microplastics were found to be the cause of the mentioned negative effects like; less feeding efficiency, less growth, behavior changes, and less reproduction in the aquatic organisms. Land studies are fewer in number but these studies still indicate changes in soil microorganisms and crop production. Through empirical evidence, the possibility of translocation across biological barriers in mammals is shown, which raises the stakes for human health. Even though there has been considerable progress in research, still there are major gaps in knowledge on the effects of low-dose chronic exposure, impact of Nano plastics, and the development of comprehensive risk assessment frameworks.

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite that belongs to the Apicomplexa phylum. It is known for causing a disease called toxoplasmosis in both humans and a variety of mammals. In its acute phase, the parasite exhibits a striking ability to invade multiple internal organs including the brain, and eventually forming long-lasting cysts in the infected organs. These cysts are associated with an increased risk of neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease. The researches have shown that central nervous system (CNS) toxoplasmosis is capable of disrupting the normal neural processes via mechanisms like inflammation, immune response dysregulation, and neuronal damage. These disruptions may not only accelerate neurodegenerative conditions but they can also lead to expedite existing vulnerabilities in brain function. The relationship between T. gondii infection and Alzheimer’s has not been fully understood, however, multiple studies have supported the role of CNS toxoplasmosis on various neurological pathologies.