In this study tungsten oxide and graphene oxide (GO-WO2.89) were successfully combined using the ultra-sonication method and embedded with polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) to prepare novel low-fouling membranes for ultrafiltration applications. The properties of the modified membranes and performance were investigated using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), contact angle (CA), water permeation flux, and bovine serum albumin (BSA) rejection. It was found that the modified PPSU membrane fabricated from 0.1 wt.% of GO-WO2.89 possessed the best characteristics, with a 40.82° contact angle and 92.94% porosity. The permeation flux of the best membrane was the highest. The pure water permeation flux of the best membrane showcased 636.01 L·m−2·h−1 with 82.86% BSA rejection. Moreover, the membranes (MR-2 and MR-P2) manifested a higher flux recovery ratio (FRR %) of 92.66 and 87.06%, respectively, and were less prone to BSA solution fouling. The antibacterial performance of the GO-WO2.89 composite was very positive with three different concentrations, observed via the bacteria count method. These results significantly overtake those observed by neat PPSU membranes and offer a promising potential of GO-WO2.89 on activity membrane performance.
Recalcitrant adventitious root (AR) development is a major hurdle in propagating commercially important woody plants. Although significant progress has been made to identify genes involved in subsequent steps of AR development, the molecular basis of differences in apparent recalcitrance to form AR between easy-to-root and difficult-to-root genotypes remains unknown. To address this, we generated cambium tissue-specific transcriptomic data from stem cuttings of hybrid aspen, T89 (difficult-to-root) and hybrid poplar OP42 (easy-to-root), and used transgenic approaches to verify the role of several transcription factors in the control of adventitious rooting. Increased peroxidase activity was positively correlated with better rooting. We foun
... Show MorePsoriasis is a common, chronic, immune-mediated skin disease with systemic pro-inflammatory activation. This study was designed to estimate the level of two cytokines, Interleukin-36 (IL-36) and Interleukin-10 (IL-10), in psoriasis female patients. The study was accomplished on 50 Iraqi patients with psoriasis who were referred to the consulting clinic at Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital during the period from November 2018 to March 2019. These patients were diagnosed under the supervision of dermatologists. For the purpose of comparison, the study included 30 healthy women as a healthy control group. The serum levels of cytokines were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent technique (ELISA).The results of this study show
... Show MoreBackground: Post-partum depression (PPD) is a form of postnatal depression that affects mothers. Clinical manifestations usually appear within six months after delivery. Risk factors that influence the severity of post-partum depression are not fully known in the Iraqi population.
Objectives: We aim to evaluate the risk factors and identify potential predictors that may influence the symptom levels (severity) of post-partum depression among Iraqi women from Baghdad.
Subjects and Methods: The current study is cross-sectional, and we used the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and a cut-off value of 13 to differentiate patients into two those with lower symptom levels (LSL) and higher symptom levels (HSL). We also explored p
Experts have given much attention on the use of waste in asphalt paving because of its significance from a sustainability perspective. This paper evaluated the performance properties of asphalt concrete mixes modified with Crumb Rubber (CR) as a partial replacement for two grade sizes of fine aggregate (2.36, and 0.3 mm) at six replacement rates: 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% by weight. Asphalt concrete mixes were prepared at their Optimum Asphalt Content (OAC) and then tested for their engineering properties. Marshall properties, fatigue, rutting, ideal CT index test, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Energy-Dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy were deployed to examine the crystalline structure and elemental composition of the C
... Show MoreThe inflammatory response is a crucial aspect of the tissues’ responses to deleterious inflammogens. This complex response involves leukocytes cells such as macrophages, neutrophils, and lymphocytes, also known as inflammatory cells. In response to the inflammatory process, these cells release specialized substances which include vasoactive amines and peptides, eicosanoids, proinflammatory cytokines, and acute-phase proteins, which mediate the inflammatory process by preventing further tissue damage and ultimately resulting in healing and restoration of tissue function. This review discusses the role of the inflammatory cells as well as their by-products in the mediation of inflammatory process. A brief insight into the role of natural an
... Show MoreOver the last two decades, several sustainability assessment methods have developed as key accelerators for the development and improvement of sustainable industrial buildings. Some of these systems, like as LEED or BREEAM, are considered international, whereas others, such as Pearl Rating Systems (PRS), are local. Although they all share similar goals, they can lead to the construction of green buildings or the improvement of the efficiency of existing conventional buildings. Each technique has its structure, certification process, and weighting norms. The inequalities have prompted various questions about whether global assessment systems appropriately consider the country’s national settings. This study aims to compare the Pear
... Show MoreNosocomial infections are one of the most important causes of mortality and morbidity in hospitals. These are major public health problems worldwide, but particularly in developing countries. The purpose of this research was to analyze the frequency of the microorganisms in the specimens taken from the surgical wounds, and to examine antimicrobial susceptibility for some isolates . Wound swabs were examined from June 2010 to January 2011. The isolates were identified by conventional methods, antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method as per NCCLS guidelines.A total of 102 wound swabs were examined 22(21.56%) swabs were sterile and 80(78.43%) were positive for microorganisms. The results showed
... Show MoreVegetation monitoring is considered an important application in remote sensing task due to variation of vegetation types and their distribution. The vegetation concentration around the Earth is increase in 5% in 2000 according to NASA monitoring. This increase is due to the Indian vegetable programs. In this research, the vegetation monitoring in Baghdad city was done using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for temporal Landsat satellite images (Landsat 5 TM& Landsat 8 OIL). These images had been used and utilize in different times during the period from 2000, 2010, 2015 & 2017. The outcomes of the study demonstrate that a change in the vegetation Cover (VC) in Baghdad city. (NDVI) generally shows a low v
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