Quorum sensing (QS) is a perfectly orchestrated molecular communication system. It is a boon for Klebsiella pneumoniae, and bane for the host. This system is believed to make K. pneumoniae a leading cause of multidrug-resistant (MDR) nosocomial infections. This study aimed to investigate the antibacterial and anti-biofilm potential of medicinal plant extracts through interfering with QS of K. pneumoniae. The effect of different concentrations of ethanolic extracts of cinnamon and clove on K. pneumoniae was determined by analyzing the growth curve, survival assay (MTT), Qualitative and quantitative biofilm formation, antibiotic resistance, along with studying gene expression of the genes encoding the above traits, using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The low concentrations of the plant extracts did not affect neither on the bacterial growth, nor on the viability of K. pneumoniae, supported with growth curves. Additionally, the biofilm production was inhibited even by lower plant concentrations, and both cinnamon and clove extracts were able to render the MDR bacteria to be more susceptible to antibiotics. At the molecular levels, the bacterium treated with either clove or cinnamon or in combination showed under expression of the biofilm formation regulation gene (bssS), the carbapenem resistance gene (bla), as well as the QS target gene (LuxS). Both clove and cinnamon ethanolic extracts exerted potent impacts on reducing pathogenic traits regulated by QS in K. pneumoniae. Finally, the study recommends further exploration of clove and cinnamon extracts separately or in combination to develop alternative therapies against MDR K. pneumoniae infections.
Support vector machine (SVM) is a popular supervised learning algorithm based on margin maximization. It has a high training cost and does not scale well to a large number of data points. We propose a multiresolution algorithm MRH-SVM that trains SVM on a hierarchical data aggregation structure, which also serves as a common data input to other learning algorithms. The proposed algorithm learns SVM models using high-level data aggregates and only visits data aggregates at more detailed levels where support vectors reside. In addition to performance improvements, the algorithm has advantages such as the ability to handle data streams and datasets with imbalanced classes. Experimental results show significant performance improvements in compa
... Show MoreThis paper focuses on the optimization of drilling parameters by utilizing “Taguchi method” to obtain the minimum surface roughness. Nine drilling experiments were performed on Al 5050 alloy using high speed steel twist drills. Three drilling parameters (feed rates, cutting speeds, and cutting tools) were used as control factors, and L9 (33) “orthogonal array” was specified for the experimental trials. Signal to Noise (S/N) Ratio and “Analysis of Variance” (ANOVA) were utilized to set the optimum control factors which minimized the surface roughness. The results were tested with the aid of statistical software package MINITAB-17. After the experimental trails, the tool diameter was found as the most important facto
... Show MoreWater is an essential aspect of life and important in evolution. Recently the potable water quality topic has received much attention. The study aims to determine drinking water quality in Al-Najaf City by collecting samples throughout Al-Najaf city and comparing the results with the Iraqi guidelines (IQS 417) and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, as well as to calculate the WQI. Samples were tested in the laboratory between December 2021 and June 2022. The results showed that multiple parameters exceeded the allowable limits during both testing periods; during winter months, the results of TDS and turbidity exceeded the upper limits in multiple locations. Total hardness values also
... Show MoreIn this work ,medical zinc oxide was produced from zinc scraps instead of traditional method which used for medical applications such as skin diseases, Iraq is importing around 50 ton/year for samarra plant the producted powder has apartical size less than 5 micron and the purity was more than 99.98%,also apilot plant of yield capacitiy 15 kg/8hours wsa designed and manufactured .
Various industrial applications include the dyeing of textiles, paper, leather, and food products, as well as the cosmetics industry. Physic-chemical methods are required to breakdown dyes because they are known to be harmful and persistent in the environment. Many companies' treated effluents contain small amounts of dyes. When it comes to removing dye from wastewater, adsorption has verified to be aneconomical alternative to more traditional treatment procedures. It's important to degrade color impurities in industrial effluents since they constitute a serious health and environmental concern. One way that's been tried is using clay minerals as an adsorbent. Using adsorption for removing
... Show MoreThe construction of embankment for roadway interchange system at urban area is restricted due to the large geometry requirements, since the value of land required for such construction is high, and the area available is limited as compared to rural area. One of the optimum solutions to such problem is the earth reinforcement technique which requires a limited area for embankment construction. Gypseous soil from Al-Anbar governorate area was obtained and subjected to various physical and chemical analysis to determine it is properties. A laboratory model box of 50x50x25 cm was used as a representative embankment; soil has been compacted in five layers at maximum dry density (modified compaction) and an aluminum reinforcement strips we
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