Resveratrol, (RES), a phytoalexin, is well-known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. SEB, a superantigen, is known to trigger ALI and cause mortality. In the current study, we tested the effect of RES in a dual-dose model of SEB exposure that triggers ALI and causes 100% mortality in C3H/HeJ-mice. The data revealed RES attenuated SEB-induced ALI and prevented mortality. Forty eight hours post-SEB exposure, lung-infiltrating mononuclear cells were tested for microRNA expression profile to determine the epigenetic regulation by resveratrol. SEB-activated splenocytes were pre-treated with 50 μM of RES or vehicle for metabolic profile analysis by measuring oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR). We also noted significant decline in miR-193a in the lungs of RES-treated SEB group, which targeted and caused an increase in TGFβ2 and TGFβR3, potent inhibitors of T-cell proliferation, by using RT-PCR and validation by transfection studies. RES-induced downregulation of miR-193a also influenced the activity of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) as well as pyruvate kinase muscle isozyme2 (PKM2) genes, and caused RES-treated SEB-activated T cells to be quiescent metabolically in comparison to the energetic vehicle-treated SEB-activated T cells. Together, RES caused inhibition in the proliferation of SEB-activated T-cells by alterations in miR expression and metabolic profiles. (Supported by NIH grants P01AT003961, R01AT006888, R01ES019313, R01MH094755, P20GM103641 and R01AI129788).
Fluconazole was used to test the susceptibility of Candida albicans isolated from different clinical samples, and to detect mutations in ERG11 gene, and their relationship to fluconazole resistance. Forty-eight isolates of Candida albicans were tested for susceptibility using the disc diffusion method (M-44). ERG11 genes of six isolates were amplified (four resistant, two susceptible) and sequenced. The sequenced genes were analyzed to detect the mutations. Out of 48 isolates of Candida albicans, 4 (8%) were resistant to fluconazole. Sixteen-point mutations were detected included 13 silent mutations, and three missense mutations. The mutations of A945C (E266D) and G1609A (V488I) were found only in susceptible Candida albicans isolates, whil
... Show MoreThe artificial silk (Rayon) was produced from the fronds of date palms which was taken from date palm trees (type Al-Zahdi) from the Iraqi gardens. Two main parts of the frond, namely leaves and stalks were used in this study to produce rayon. The palm fronds were converted into a powder of 90-180 micrometers. Major steps were used to produce rayon; delignification, bleaching and finally dissolution. Modified organosolv method which uses organic solvent method was applied to remove high lignin content. Three variables were studied in the delignification process: temperature, the ratio of ethanol to water and digestion time. The results showed that the best percent of lignin removal was (97%) which occured at; digestion time (80 minutes), te
... Show MoreThe 4-(?-bromo acetyl)-4?-toluene sulfonanilide (2) was used as key intermediate to synthesize new heterocyclic compounds. This bromo compound was synthesized via sulfonation of amino group of p-amino acetophenone using Hinsburg method with 4-toluene sulfonyl chloride to form 4-acetyl-4?-toluene sulfonanilide (1) which is used as a starting material in this work. This compound was brominated to yield compound (2) which is used as a precursor to synthesize new five and seven membered heterocyclic compounds such as substituted 1,3-oxazoles (3,4), 1,3-thiazole derivatives (5-7), thiourea compounds (8a,b), 1,3-Thiazoline-2-thione compounds (9a-f) and 1,2,5-triazepine compounds (11a-d). The synthesized compounds were identified depending u
... Show MoreOne of the biggest problems facing many industries particularly oil, is the problem of corrosion, where the metal parts under the influence of the vital factors are eroded during use and storage, therefore, to lift the metal’s ability and to protect it against corrosion, corrosion inhibitors are used. For the first time in this research, polymers which contain sulfur - heterocyclic ring with a thiadiazole base were made. Anti- corrosion polymers were made on two stages, in the first stage, thiadiazole was made from hydrazine hydrate reaction to carbon disulfide, afterwards the first product was reacted with an excess of hydrazine. In the second stage, polymers were prepared by the r
In this work, production of silicon metal at high purity of 99% by using Iraqi–starting materials (Iraqi sand and plant coal)was reported, electric arc–furnaces assembly was manufactured inside, the graphite electrodes were made from graphite scrap, this system is operate to produce about 800 gm /6hr of silicon metal to meet the need for manufacturing silicon oils, resins, solar cells, and electronic parts. The procedure, equipments and analysis data were described as well.
Protease enzyme production was studied and optimized as a first step to collect information about solid state fermenter) to produce protease enzyme. A local isolated Aspergillus niger was used for this study with constant spores feeding in every experiment at (105/g). Experiments carried out in conical flasks with (250 ml) containing (10 g) of wheat straw as a substrate with different conditions included temperature, pH, hydration ratio, and fermentation time, the results comprised by measuring protease activity (u). The results showed that the best activity can be obtained at (T = 32°C, t= 100 hrs, pH= 2.5 and hydration ratio is 1:3). On the other hand the results is courage to p
... Show MoreThe current research was conducted to report the synthesis of alumina powder from Iraqi kaolin. The kaolin was transformed to metakaolin by calcinations at temperature 800 °C for three hours. Then the calcined kaolin was treated with (1.5 M) from H2SO4 for 6 hours to form Al2(SO4)3.12H2O solution. The precipitate was dried at 80oC for 10 hours and calcinations at different temperatures for two hours. The samples which result was characterized by X–Ray diffraction (XRD) and X–Ray fluorescence (XRF). The results indicate to the crystalline hydrate aluminum sulfate for the sample that be as – synthesis and when calcinations at 600 oC transformed into aluminum sulfate phase. The phases of alumina which we obtain consisted of a gamma a
... Show MoreIn the present work, pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique was applied to a pellet of Chromium Oxide (99.999% pure) with 2.5 cm diameter and 3 mm thickness at a pressure of 5 Tons using a Hydraulic piston. The films were deposited using Nd: YAG laser λ= (4664) nm at 600 mJ and 400 number of shot on a glass substrate, The thickness of the film was (107 nm). Structural and morphological analysis showed that the films started to crystallize at annealing temperature greater than 400 oC. Absorbance and transmittance spectra were recorded in the wavelength range (300-
4400) nm before and after annealing. The effects of annealing temperature on absorption coefficient, refractive index, extinction coefficient, real and imaginary parts of d