Dr Oluwole Ojewale, a scholar and Sahel expert based in Dakar, explores the implications of the recent Benin coup attempt for the region, the history of intervention by the Economic Community of West African States and its complicated relationship with the recently formed Alliance of Sahel States. Cooperation, even now military-led states in the Sahel, is key to stopping the descent of coups in West Africa he argues. “The region must revitalize security cooperation, even with the AES states. Isolation breeds insecurity. Niger’s withdrawal from counterterrorism coordination has created openings exploited by criminal networks and extremist groups, especially along porous borders with Nigeria and Benin,” Ojewale writes. “Without renewe

The development of new cephalosporins with improved activity against resistant microbes, such as, MRSA (methicillin resistant Staph. aureus), P. aeruginosa, is of high potential. Chemical synthesis of two new series of thiadiazole linked to cysteine (series 1) and cephalosporins containing thiadiazole linked to cysteine through disulfide bond (series 2) were achieved. The chemical structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed using spectral (FT-IR, ¹H-NMR) and elemental microanalysis. The incorporation of privileged chemical moieties, such as, thiadiazole, Schiff base, cysteine and sulfonamide, has been found to have great contribution to the antimicrobial activities. Compounds of series 1 (1

Abstract

Stainless steel (AISI 304) has good electrical and thermal conductivities, good corrosion resistance at ambient temperature, apart from these it is cheap and abundantly available; but has good mechanical properties such as hardness. To improve the  hardness and corrosion resistance of stainless steel its surface can be modified by developing nanocomposite coatings applied on its surface. The main objective of this paper is to study effect of electroco-deposition method on microhardness and corrosion resistance of stainless steel, and to analyze effect of nanoparticles (Al₂O₃, ZrO₂ , and SiC)  on properties of composite coatings. I

In this study, six square reinforced concrete flat plates with dimensions of (1500×1500×100) mm were tested under a concentrated load applied on a column located at the center of the slabs. One of these slabs was the control specimen, whereas, in the others, steel angles (steel collars) were used, fixed at the connection region between the slab and the column to investigate the effect of the presence of these collars on punching shear strength. Five thicknesses were used (4, 5, 6, 8, 10mm) with constant legs of angles (75×75) mm of the steel collars to investigate the effects on the punching shear resistance with respect to the control slab. The results of the experimental study show that the punching shear resistance increased b

Summary The aim of this study is the evaluation the resistance of S. marcescence obtained from soil and water to metals chlorides (Zn+2, Hg+2, Fe+2, Al+3, and Pb+2). Four isolates, identified as Serratia marcescence and S. marcescena (S4) were selected for this study according to their resistance to five heavy metals. The ability of S. marcescena (S4) to grow in different concentrations of metals chloride (200-1200 µg/ml) was tested, the highest concentration that S. marcescence (S4) tolerate was 1000 µg/ml for Zn+2, Hg+2, Fe+2, AL+3, pb+2 and 300 µg/ml for Hg+2 through 24 hrs incubation at 37 Co. The effects of temperature and pH on bacteria growth during 72 hrs were also studied. S. marcescence (S4) was affected by ZnCl2, PbCl2, FeC12

The high mobility group A1 gene (HMGA1) rs139876191 variant has been related to metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes, but data are lacking in Middle Eastern populations. The study aimed to assess whether the HMGA1 rs139876191 variant is associated with metabolic syndrome risk and whether this variant predicts the risk of insulin resistance. This case-control study was carried out at single center in Kirkuk city/ Iraq from February to August 2022. Polymorphisms in HMGA1 and genotyping were identified by Sanger sequencing of genomic DNA obtained from 91 Iraqi participants (61 patients with metabolic syndrome and 30 control). Lipid profile, serum (glucose and insulin), glycated hemoglobin, blood pressure, body mass index, and waist circumfer

Each era has advantages in terms of innovation and development in form, technology, style, and design in ceramic vessels, both at the level of functional and aesthetic performance, so this study aimed to demonstrate the importance of geometrical foundations in the design structure of contemporary ceramic vessels, and also to reveal the constructive skills in The structure of the ceramic figure.
The researchers used the descriptive analytical approach to suit the nature of the study, and they described and analyzed the ceramic works in terms of geometric shape systems, elements and foundations of design in construction, formal diversity in the general design of ceramic vessels, and references and sources of artwork. In addition to th

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most common opportunistic pathogen causing morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients due to its multiple resistance mechanisms. Therefore, as a therapeutic option becomes restricted, the search for a new agent is a preference. So P. aeruginosa is an extremely versatile Gram-negative bacterium capable of thriving in a broad spectrum of environments, and this performs main problems to workers in the field of health. One hundred and fifty samples were collected from different sources from Baghdad hospitals, divided into two main groups: clinical (100) specimens and (50) samples as an environmental, collected from October 2019 to the March 2020. All of these samples were cultured by specific and differential

Hair is an excellent indicator for abnormal concentration of toxic elements , In this study a random samples from girls hair of 12 cm long were irradiated by a flux of neutrons (4x10^ n/ cm^.s) obtained from an Am-Be neutron source of 5-Ci activitity . The y-ray activity measurements were carried out by using a " 5x5 " well- type Nal (Tl) detector. The study indicates clearly that the maximum concentration of elements was at about 7 cm hair length.

Colibactin is a genotoxin produced by Enterobacteriaceae via a polyketide synthase (pks) island cluster. There is less knowledge regarding the distribution of colibactin genes in E. coli isolates in Iraq and its correlation with biofilm and antibiotic susceptibility. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the frequency of some colibactin genes (CIbA and CIbQ) in uropathogenic E. coli in Iraq and evaluate the correlation with biofilm and antimicrobial resistance. Between October 2023 and January 2024, 70 E. coli isolates were isolated from 120 females diagnosed with UTIs. Isolates were identified first by biochemical methods and confirmed molecularly by amplification of 16S rRNA gene with specific primers. PCR was employed to detect the