Al-Mustansiriyah Journal of Science

Background: Most azo dyes are synthesized by diazotization
of a primary amine, followed by conjugation with one or more electron-rich
nucleophiles. Objective: This study presents the synthesis of a new azocompound
by converting sulfamethoxazole to a diazonium salt. Methods: via
reaction with hydrochloric acid and sodium nitrite at temperatures between 0
and 5 °C, the resulting salt is then coupled with a 4-methoxyphenol reagent in
alkaline medium at the above temperatures to produce an azodye given the IUPAC
name of (4-((2-hydroxy-5-methoxyphenyl)diazenyl)-N-(5-methylisoxazol-
3yl)benzenesulfonamide). The azo dye precipitate was purified by crystallization
methods using a solvent mixture of ethanol water. Characterization was
done using different analytical methods such as IR, UV-Vis and H1-NMR in
addition to measurements of physical properties. Results: The reddish-pink
azo compound gave a maximum absorbance of 495 nm. Acid-base titrimetric
analysis was conducted to examine the chemical indicator properties of the
azo dye. Clear color differences were obtained between two spaces in the pH
range 2-12, where a reddish-pink color was obtained in the basic medium and a
yellow color in the acidic medium. Conclusions: A new azo dye successfully
presented its properties as an indicator.

Background: The assessment of the extraction yield and
nutritional content of Boswellia carterii extracts, including vitamins and trace
elements, is significant. Objective: The study aims to identify phytochemical
compounds present, and concluding on the plant’s potential health benefits
and dietary contributions. Methods: The present study was conducted to extract
the vitamins, trace elements and phytochemical constituents of Boswellia
carterii leaves extracts using distilled water, ETOH (99%), and Ethylacetate
by soxhlet. The yield of extracts was (18.361g/100g distilled water) while
(29.322g/100g ETOH) and the Ethylacetate was found to be (27. 312g/100g).
Different types of vitamins were estimated in all extracts utilizing HPLC.
Results: Vitamins showed interesting results by revealing (A, B6, and B12).
Vita. B12 is the most abundant in Alcohol extract, whereas vita. B12 is the
most abundant in aqueous extract, and vita. B12 is the most abundant in ethyl
acetate compared with vitamin A, and B6. These findings call for more research
into the vitamins in Boswellia carterii and their antioxidant relevance
in therapeutic herbal medicine. Different metal ions were measured using
FAAS (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn). The results of the qualitative
detection of all extracts indicated the existence of Alkaloids, Steroids,
Terpenes, Phenols, Carbohydrates, Glycosides, Proteins, Saponins, Tannins,
and Flavonoids. Conclusions: The results of the qualitative detection of
all extracts indicated the existence of Alkaloids, Steroids, Terpenes, Phenols,
Carbohydrates, Glycosides, Proteins, Saponins, Tannins, and Flavonoids.

Background: The ability of minor subpopulations among
clonal populations to survive antibiotics is referred to as bacterial persistence.
It is believed that persisters come from latent cells, where antibiotic target
areas are less active and incapable of being affected. Objective: 112 clinical
Escherichia coli isolates were acquired out of diverse medical samples and
genetically identified using the uspA gene, which is part of the housekeeping
genes. Methods: The examination of persister cells was carried out by subjecting
isolates of E. coli in the exponential phase with high dose of ciprofloxacin
(20 fold MIC) and calculating the surviving persister cells using CFU (colony
forming units) counts. The detection and measurement of bacterial filament
production was done using scanning electron and light microscopy. Results:
Results showed that the bacterial filament cells kept on lengthen but cease to
divide (no septa formation) at sub-minimal inhibitory doses of ciprofloxacin.
Persistent isolates were shown to exhibit a wide range of form and size variations,
with cells up to 4.5 times longer than usual. Conclusions: The results
showed the importance of antibiotic stress on persisted cells that result in the
production of filaments as a means of survival and the need to examine these
rare phenotypic variations. These occurrences may be the beginning of the
spread of bacterial resistance.

The computational calculations have been
employed as a great tool to understand the stabilization of main group species
by carbene ligands, which have been recognized as excellent compounds for coordinating
highly reactive main-group elements in their zero oxidation state.
Objective: The most important results that have been published up to now
shown that N-Heterocyclic carbene and Cyclic (Alkyl)(Amino)Carbene ligands
can stabilize main group compounds as highly stable complexes. Methods:
That led us to further theoretically investigate the possibility of expanding
this feature with phosphorus carbenes which have more electron contributing
ability. Results: The bonding condition of the E2L2 molecules (where E is
group 14 main group elements and L is Carbene ligands) may be understood
in depth due to the combination of two ligands with two groups of 14 elements.
The combination provides a guideline for synthesizing molecules with novel
bonding motifs. Two atoms of group 14 are stabilized by two donor ligands
in this bonding picture. In contrast to the E=E bonds seen in nitrogen carbene
complexes, all phosphorus carbene complexes exhibit the E=L double bond
character notation L=EE=L. L acts as a strong donor ligand in this complex.
Conclusions: the thermodynamic calculations and orbital analysis can predict
that complexes of L=E−E=L are stable enough to become isolated in a
condensed phase for all compounds.

Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae is a significant opportunistic
pathogen responsible for various nosocomial infections in humans.
The emergence of multi-drug resistant strains poses a significant challenge in
clinical settings, necessitating a deeper understanding of factors influencing
antimicrobial resistance. Objective: This research aimed to investigate the
impact of pH variation on the resistance patterns of multi-resistant K. pneumoniae
isolated from Iraqi patients with urinary tract infections and wound
infections against different antibiotics. Methods: Forty K. pneumoniae isolates
were obtained from urine samples and wound swabs, and their identification
was confirmed using the VITEK ® 2 compact system and molecular
identification of the rpoB housekeeping gene. Antibiotic susceptibility testing
was performed using the Kirby Bauer’s disk diffusion method under varying
pH conditions (pH 5, 7, 9, and 11) at 37°C for 18 to 24 hours. Results:
The study findings indicated that K. pneumoniae isolates exhibited differential
susceptibility to antibiotics based on pH conditions. Cefotaxime demonstrated
increased efficacy under alkaline pH, while tetracycline showed optimal efficacy
under acidic conditions. However, ciprofloxacin displayed resistant phenotypes
at acidic pH 5 and either resistant or intermediate phenotypes at alkaline pH 9.
Conclusions: The results suggest a potential influence of pH on the antibiotic
susceptibility profiles of K. pneumoniae isolates. Understanding the role of pH
in antimicrobial resistance can inform strategies for better managing infections
caused by multi-resistant pathogens. Further research is warranted to elucidate
the underlying mechanisms and implications for clinical practice

Background: Snow forms when tiny ice crystals in clouds
stick together to become snowflakes. If enough crystals stick together, they
become heavy enough to fall to the ground. Where background includes Precipitation
falls as snow when the air temperature is below 2 °C (275.15 K). The
falling snow does begin to melt as soon as the temperature rises above freezing,
but as the melting process begins, the air around the snowflake is cold. It is a
myth that it needs to be below 0 °C (273.15) K to snow. Objective: In Iraq, the
heaviest snowfalls tend to occur when the air temperature is between (273.15-
275.15) K (0-2) °C. Methods: The data for this study, which includes Temperature
(T), Snow Albedo (SA), and Snow Density (SD) as monthly-daily
mean, taken from the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts
(ECMWF) for fifteen years from 2008 to 2022 for several selected stations
over northern Iraq. The method was to take the monthly rates of snow density,
snow albedo, and temperature for the stations of Erbil, Sulaymaniyah,
Zakho, Dohuk, and Amadiyah, and the type of relationship and strength of
the connection between them was also known. Results: The study found an
inverse relationship between snow albedo and snow density across the selected
stations, indicating that an increase in snow density leads to a decrease in
snow albedo. Notably, Duhok City exhibited the strongest relationship between
snow albedo and density, with a regression coefficient of 0.9699 compared to
other regions. Conclusions: This study highlights the complex relationship
between snow albedo and density in northern Iraq. The strong correlation observed
in Duhok City suggests the importance of further research to understand
the factors influencing snow properties in this region.

Background: Multi-Drug-ResistantKlebsiella pneumoniae
(MDR K. pneumoniae) is considered as an important opportunistic pathogen,
which causes life threatening infections. K. pneumoniae is known to causes
life-threatening infections. Objective: The objective of this study is to detect
some β-lactamase genes inKlebsiella pneumoniae. Methods: Thirty-five K.
pneumoniae isolates were obtained from some hospitals in Baghdad City between
October 2022 and February 2023. The identification of K. pneumoniae
isolates was done phenotypically by the automated VITEK II system and genotypically
by amplification of the rpob gene. The antibiotic susceptibility and
detection of some β-lactamase genes were tested for all isolates. Results:
The results showed that the K. pneumoniae isolates were resistant to most
antibiotics used. A high percentage of K. pneumoniae isolates were resistant
to cefixime, cefpodoxime, norfloxacin and doxycycline as 100% followed
by ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, ticarcillin/clavulanate, ticarcillin, ceftazidime, tobramycin,
and moxifloxacin (97.2%, 91.7%, 91.7%, 94.4%, 94.4%, and 94.4%,
respectively). Furthermore, approximately 94.4% of the isolates were MDR. In
addition, the molecular methods only detected the blaNDM and blaTEM genes
as 33.3% and 75.6% of in the K. pneumoniae isolates, respectively, while
the blaV IM, blaCTX−M, and blaKPC genes were not observed in K. pneumoniae
isolates. Conclusions: β-lactam antibiotics, including carbapenems,
are widely used to treat bacterial infections; however, an increase in antibiotic
resistance due to β-lactamases limits the effectiveness of these antibiotics.
Therefore, alternative treatment methods are required to control these resistant
isolates.

Background: This paper addresses specific challenges in
predictive modeling, namely transparency issues, susceptibility to data manipulation,
and fairness concerns. To overcome these obstacles, the study
introduces DeepRing, approach that combines Convolutional Neural Networks
(CNNs) and blockchain technology. Objective: DeepRing aims to enhance
prediction integrity, data security, and fairness, thereby improving the ethical
considerations, reliability, and accountability of predictive models. Methods:
involves iterative training of a CNN model on five diverse datasets, including
CIFAR-10, Fashion-MNIST, MNIST, CIFAR-100, and a Hands dataset.
The CNN architecture incorporates Conv2D layers, MaxPooling2D layers, and
Dense layers. Training metrics such as accuracy and sparse categorical crossentropy
loss are monitored, with the Adam optimizer employed. While achieving
high accuracy on Plam (0.5300), MNIST (0.9978) and Fashion MNIST
(0.9673), DeepRing exhibits moderate performance on CIFAR-10 (0.9296) and
lower accuracy on CIFAR-100 (0.5973). Results: demonstrate the effectiveness
of DeepRing in improving accuracy and enhancing model performance
across various datasets. However, further development and validation are
essential for successful model implementation, further development and validation
are essential for successful model implementation. Conclusions:
Introduces DeepRing as an innovative solution to address key challenges in
predictive modeling, specifically focusing on transparency issues, susceptibility
to data manipulation, and fairness concerns. By combining Convolutional
Neural Networks (CNNs) with blockchain technology, DeepRing aims to elevate
prediction integrity, enhance data security, and promote fairness, thereby
contributing to the improvement of ethical considerations, reliability, and accountability
in predictive modelling

Background: Nanomaterials play a significant role in the
field of water treatment due to their environment-friendly and appealing physical
and chemical characteristics. Objective: The purpose of this research is to
evaluate whether graphene oxide adsorbents can effectively remove hymexazol
pesticide from an aqueous solution. Methods: Graphene oxide (GO) was prepared
by the modified Hummer method, and it was characterized by a number
characterization techniques, including XRD, Raman spectroscopy, FE-SEM,
TEM, and EDX. Furthermore, the performances of the GO adsorbents for the
removal of hymexazol from aqueous solution were investigated. The effect of
contact time, GO dosage, initial hymexazol concentration, and temperature
was carefully studied. Results: The kinetic experimental data were best described
by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The equilibrium data were
well fitted by the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models. The kinetic experimental
data were best described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model.
And through the thermodynamic studies, it was found that the adsorption process
of hymexazol pesticide is endothermic and spontaneous, in addition to
the occurrence of adsorption and absorption together. Conclusions: The
findings of the adsorption process demonstrated that graphene oxide is an extremely
efficient adsorbent material for pesticide adsorption, owing to its large
surface area and the presence of oxygen-rich groups on its surface.

Background: One of the most significant problems facing
public health today is antimicrobial resistance. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is
considered one of the most prevalent causes of healthcare-associated illnesses.
Objective: The use of phages as a potential alternative therapeutic method for
treating bacterial infections has been the subject of significant research to solve
this predicament. Methods: The P. aeruginosa isolates that caused infections
of burn wounds were collected from three hospitals in Baghdad. The VITEK
system diagnosed and examined the isolates for their antibiotic sensitivity. As
well as the phages were isolated and purified from sewage water samples from
different sewer stations. After these steps, phages were examined by transmission
electron microscopy to ensure the order and the families of these phages,
and the tests of lytic activities of phages on the P. aeruginosa isolates were
done to determine the best lytic ability of them to use for treatment wounds
infections. Results: Burn-wound infections swabs culture showed a positive
culture for 109 isolates as the following P. aeruginosa in 76(69.72%),
Staphylococcus .aureus16(14.67%), Acinetobacter .baumannii 9(8.25%), Klebsiella
.pneumoniae 5(4.58%), Escherichia .coli 3(2.75%) obtained from burn
wound infections, had a significant level of resistance to several antibiotics.
Four bacteriophages were isolated: KM1, KM2, KM3, KM4 and KM5. KM5
is a mixture of phages referred to as a cocktail. The four phages and their cocktail
exhibited significant lytic activity against P. aeruginosa. A total of four
monophages and a cocktail were utilized in the preparation of the PEG-phage
ointment. Conclusions: All monophages and their cocktail could completely
clear bacterial infection in 17 days. KM3 and KM4 PEG-phage ointments
demonstrated more potent healing activity than standard, which required 12
days for full recovery, while the cocktail took 15 days (KM5). However, KM1
and KM2 took the same time as the standard, which is 17 days for burn wound
infection treated with PEG-phage ointments, while the control, which did not
receive any treatment, took 23 days to recover. KM1 and KM2 show less
activity for healing burn wound infections from all five phage ointments

Background: Carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (CRAB)
bacterium is difficult to treat with available antimicrobial agents leading to use a
few antibiotics such as colistin as an option for treatment. However, the use of
the colistin has serious side effects and leads to developing bacterial resistance.
Objective: This study aimed to determine effectiveness of phage/colistin combination
to inhibit biofilm formation of CRAB. Methods: Sixty clinical A.
baummanii isolates were identified with the VITEKII system and 16S rRNA
gene. The antibiotic susceptibility and detection of Oxacillinases genes were
tested for all isolates. Results: The antibiotic sensitivity of A. baumannii
isolates showed a high resistance percentage to Ceftriaxone (CRO) with 92%
(55 isolates), and Cefotiam (CTF) with 87% (52 isolates), while the lowest
percent related to Colistin (CO) with 17% (10 isolates). The results of antibiotic
resistance and Oxacillinases genes reported that only 14 isolates from the
current study were CRAB. Phage and host A. baumannii of phage were isolated
and characterized previously. Biofilm production assay of CRAB isolates
were showed that among 14 isolates including the phage host: 57% (8) was
weak and 43% (6) was moderate biofilm producer. Therefore, the synergistic
effect of a combination ΦKAB phage in MOI (10) and Colistin with MIC=8
μg/ml against CRAB isolates was evaluated and showed complete transfer of
isolates by 100 % to weak biofilm producer compared with CRAB isolates.
Conclusions: Among 60 isolates of A. baumannii, most isolates were MDR
44 (73.3%) and only 14 (23.3%) isolates were CRAB that were 57% weak and
43% moderate biofilm producers. The mixture of Colistin/ΦKAB phage could
inhibit and reduce biofilm forming in CRAB isolates. Overall, the present
study may provide evidence on the capability of the isolated phage to serve as
a novel strategy to treat infections caused by MDR A. baumannii.

Background: Physiologically equivalent temperatures
(PET) is highly efficient in evaluating the thermal component of any given
microclimate as a single thermal index. The assist stakeholders in understanding
and interpreting existing bioclimatic, allowing them to make any required
modifications and become more robust to predicted climate change. Objective:
This study assesses the relationship between Physiologically equivalent temperatures
(PET) and some Meteorological Parameters. Methods: The data for
this study includes observed mean monthly air temperature values, relative humidity,
and wind speed for the period (2001-2020). The data was acquired
from “Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology (IMOS)” stations for
Basra city. The radiation and Human Bioclimatic (RayMan) model were used
to simulate bioclimatic indices (SET, UTCI, PET, PMV). Results: The findings
revealed that the greatest mean values for PMV (4.3), SET (36.3), PET
(45.5), and UTCI (42.1) were seen in July and August. The measurements
have a nice thermal sensation of PMV (-0.5 - 1.9), SET (19.2- 29), PET
(18.1- 31.8), and UTCI (15.9 - 28.7) is most noticeable in the months of
(March, April, and October). The results showed the PET values (cool) and
(Slightly cool) between (9- 18.3) for January, February, March, and December.
The value of UTCI was between (5.9- 8.5) within classes (Slight cold
stress), the values of PMV (-2.6- (-2.1)) within classes (strong cold stress) and
(Slight cold stress) and the value of SET was (10.2- 12.4) within classes (Slight
cold stress). Conclusions: Correlations between PET and air temperature
(0.99), indicating good agreement between PET and air temperature, and relative
humidity (0.96). PET and wind speed (R2=0.56). The scattering pattern
of PET and other thermal indices shows that all indexes have a significant
correlation coefficient, between PET and UTCI (R2=0.99), between PET and
SET (R2=0.98), and (R2=0.99) between PET and PMV.