To investigate and assess the effects of land use and land cover (LULC) on concentrations of heavy metals in the surface soils of Lesser Zab River Basin (LZRB), 25 surface soil samples were taken from different LULC classes. Heavy metals concentrations were measured and their enrichment factors were calculated. Most of the LZRB soil samples are moderately alkaline with pH>8 and characterized by low organic content. The average abundance of the major oxides follow the decreasing order of SiO2 % > CaO % > Al2O3 % > Fe2O3 %> MgO > K2O % > TiO2 % > Na2O % > SO3 % > P2O5 %. A correlation matrix revealed that clay and feldspar minerals, Fe and Mn oxides / hydroxides are the most important carrier phase for several

Three beach soils in Lagos, Nigeria were screened for the presence of antibiotic producing fungi against 8 test pathogenic bacteria & fungi. The physiochemical parameters of the soils were determined following standard procedures. Soil plate dilution method was employed for isolation of marine fungi and they were identified based on cultural and microscopic characteristics. Primary screening of isolated fungi for antibiotic potential was determined by perpendicular streak method against known pathogenic test organisms (Escherichia coli, Saphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pnuemoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae,Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus fumigatus). Further sreening of the product o

In the present study, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with outside diameters of< 8 nm and 20−30 nm were covalently functionalized with β-Alanine using a novel synthesis procedure. The functionalization process was proved successful using Raman spectroscopy, FTIR, and TEM. Utilizing the two-step method with ultrasonication, the MWCNTs treated with β-Alanine (Ala-MWCNTs) with weight concentrations of 0.025%, 0.05%, 0.075%, and 0.1% were dispersed in distilled water to prepare water-based nanofluids. The aqueous colloidal dispersions of pristine MWCNTs were unstable. While for Ala-MWCNTs and after> 50 days from preparation, higher colloidal stability was obtained up to relative concentration of 0.955 and 0.939 for the 0.075-wt% samp

   Effect of antioxidants (vitamins C and E) (500mg/kg) was studied on function of testes in albino mice treated with hexavalent chromium (1000ppm). The results showed that exposure to hexavalent chromium caused a significant decrease in body weights, without changes in weight of testes, seminal vesicles and prostate. A significant decrease was observed in the percentage of dead sperms, sperms abnormalities, diameter of seminiferous tubules and the number of leydig cells. Degenerative changes and necrosis were observed in the lumen of seminiferous tubules. Treatment of hexavalent chromium-exposed mice with vitamin C caused improvement in weights and characters of sperms and improvement of the tissue of seminiferous tubules. Tre

Rifampicin (RF) considered a hepatotoxic drug. Is one of the first line successful drugs of management of tuberculosis. To reduce injury and protect liver from adverse effect of Rifampicin, this study was designed to investigate the activity of Nigella Sativa (NS) seeds powder aqueous suspension to hepato protection against Rifampicin.
For conducting this study,24 male albino rats were divided into four groups and all treated orally as follow; group І (control), received normal saline alone; group II, received RF (50mg/kg body weight/day); group III received NS it's called normal dose, (2g/kg body weight day); group IV RF (50mg/kg body weight) + NS (2g/kg body weight).Respectively for 28 days. Blood samples obtained for estimation of

Background: Periodontium mainly exposed to injury by trauma or pathologic diseases, Aloe vera is a plant has many basic ingredients in its extracted gel that acts as wound healing accelerator in addition to that it's safe, and economical and without recordable of side effect. This study aimed is to evaluate the effect of topical application of Aloe vera on expression of syndecan -1 by periodontium tissue. Materials and methods: Thirty six male Albino rats were subjected for periodontium defect by electric scaler on the distal sides of both lower anterior teeth. The animals divided into two groups; control group (without treatment) and the experimental group treated with 1µLAloe vera gel/normal saline. Periodontal healing was examined at

Background: The surface properties of the titanium alloy plays a significant role in the bond of the dental implant with living bone and modification of the implant surface could enhance osseointegration. This study was aimed to investigate the effect of different durations of heat treatment on the surface properties of titanium alloy for dental implants. Materials and methods: Twenty disks of (Ti-6Al-4V) alloy were prepared. The sample was divided into four test groups to study the effect of different duration of heat treatment to the surface topography; surface chemistry, titanium oxide layer thickness, blood contact angle, & blood drop diameter of titanium alloy samples were investigated to evaluate the effect of different durations of