Objectives: Serratia marcescens is a gram-negative pathogen of many species. The ability of S. marcescens to form biofilms and its potent innate resistance to antimicrobials and cleaning solutions are both essential for its pathogenicity and survival. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) on the biofilm of S. marcescens, as an alternative for antibiotic therapy. Methods: Different specimens, including ear swabs, burns, mid-stream urine, wound swabs, and sputum, were collected from patients who were brought to Al-Ramadi Hospital, Iraq. All samples were cultured, and the colonies that were obtained were detected using the VITEK® 2 compact. The ability of biofilms to develop was examined using the microtiter plate technique. The bactericidal effectiveness of GTN was estimated by the broth microdilution technique. The presence of fimA and fimC in S. marcescens isolates was detected using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to assess the effect of GTN on fimA and fimC gene expression. Results: The results demonstrated that GTN has no effect on S. marcescens growth; while its biofilm was significantly (p<0.05) influenced. Moreover, all S. marcescens isolates had fimA and fimC, and the presence of GTN reduced the expression of these genes. Conclusion: The findings of this study reveal that GTN can act as a promising antibiofilm agent in reference to S. marcescens.
Background: Strangles is a highly contagious equine respiratory disease caused by Streptococcus equi subsp. equi. It is a globally significant pathogen and one of the most common infectious agents in horses. In Iraq, no sequencing data on this pathogen are available, and only two molecular studies have been published to date. This study provides preliminary insights into strain diversity and provides a foundation for future large-scale investigations. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the molecular characteristics, identify SeM gene alleles, and perform a phylogenetic analysis of S. equi isolates from horses in Baghdad, Iraq. Methods: We analyzed 59 Streptococcus spp. isolates previously obtained from equine clinical sample
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One of the most suitable materials to be used in latent heat thermal energy storage system (LHTES) are Phase change materials, but a problem of slow melting and solidification processes made many researchers focusing on how to improve their thermal properties. This experimental work concerned with the enhancing of thermal conductivity of phase change material. The enhancing method was by the addition of copper Lessing rings in phase change material (paraffin wax). The effect of diameter for the used rings was studied by using two different diameters (0.5 cm and 1cm). Also, three volumetric percentages of rings addition (3%, 6% and 10%) were tested for each diameter. The discharging process was done with
... Show MoreThis numerical study explores dynamic melting as an enhancement strategy to improve heat transfer in thermal energy storage (TES) systems utilizing phase change materials (PCM) with openings. Optimizing such systems is crucial for advancing renewable energy storage and integration. A 3D model simulates RT35 PCM flowing through a shell-and-tube heat exchanger annulus. The effects of varying PCM inlet slot diameter (2.5–7.5 mm), inlet pressure (1–40 Pa), and inlet/outlet port positioning on melting fraction and temperature distributions are computationally evaluated. Results show that increasing slot diameter from 2.5 mm to 7.5 mm reduces melting time by 13.6 % (from 550 to 475 min). Raising inlet pressure from 10 Pa to 40 Pa cuts melting
... Show MoreFounding a System to secure deposits and protecting the depositors is considered one of the important and exchanged subjects out there in the banking system/field in Iraq at the current time, and the reason behind the exchange and spread of this subject is due to the financial crisis of which the banking sector is suffering from and the stumbling of many banks, those factors have had led to the insecurity of the depositors and their mistrust towards banks, thus, it is necessary to create a system to secure deposits in which depositors would be compensated for the losses caused by the banks' failures. in addition, it could be a countermeasure system which maintains the banking stability, protects the rights of depositors and gains
... Show MoreArtificial intelligence (AI) aims to develop systems that achieve a level of intelligence similar to or surpassing human intelligence. AI applications are designed to mimic human cognitive behaviors, with the goal of embedding human knowledge into computers through what is known as knowledge bases. Computers can then use software tools to search these bases, perform comparisons, and conduct analyses to derive and infer the best solutions to various problems. This process resembles how humans solve new problems in their daily lives by relying on past experiences, predicting potential outcomes, and using reasoning skills to evaluate the best available solutions. This study investigates the current use of AI applications in education b
... Show MoreThe study aimed to explore the effectiveness of using rational judgment strategy in teaching science to develop scientific thinking for second-grade students. The researcher utilized the quasi-experimental approach based on (the pre/post designing) of two groups: experimental and control. As for tools: a test of scientific thinking prepared by the researcher that proved its verification of their validity and reliability. The test applied on a random sample of (66) students, divided into two groups: (34) experimental, and (32) control. The results showed that the experimental group outperformed the control group in the post-application of the scientific thinking test, In each skill separately, and in the total skills. The study recommende
... Show MoreBackground: Oil refinery workers are continuously exposed to numerous hazardous materials. Petroleum contains the heavy metals as a natural constituent or as additives. These metals induce the production of ROS which associated with an oxidative damage to DNA, proteins, and lipids. This study was conducted to assess the salivary levels of heavy metals, salivary oxidative status, oral immunological activity (salivary sIgA) and assessment of the oral findings among the workers of Al-Daura oil refinery in Baghdad city. Subjects, Materials and Methods: This study was done in Al-Daura oil refinery; samples consist of 60 workers involved in refinery processes (study group) and 20 non-workers (control group). Oral examination and saliva collection
... Show MoreThe research aims at showing the effectiveness of the existing deposit facilities in the liquidity of the Iraqi banking system for the period 2010/2017. The problem of research indicates that the Iraqi banking system enjoys high liquidity levels exceeding the standard rate set by the Central Bank of Iraq amounting to 30% For an appropriate level of liquidity remains a major challenge to the management of the bank because it is a trade-off between profitability and liquidity, and also indicates the existence of funds disabled and not available for credit and investment opportunities, and based on the research hypothesis:
The existence of a significant effect of the deposit facilities existing in the liquidity of the Iraqi banking
... Show MoreThe current research aims to reveal the impact of the strategy of cooperative integration of fragmented information in the acquisition of physical concepts and science processes among fourth scientific students through the null hypotheses:
1- There is no statistically significant difference at the level of significance (0.05) between the average grades of female students of the experimental group studying physics according to the strategy of cooperative integration of fragmented information and those who follow the traditional method in the test of acquiring physical concepts.
2-There is no statistically significant difference at the level of indication (0.05) between the average grades of female students of the experimen
... Show MoreIt is found that hypersensitive teeth have a larger number and wider patent tubules than those of non-sensitive teeth. Objective: The aim of this study is to compare between the effects of diode laser at different power densities, with and without sodium fluoride on the sealing of exposed dentinal tubules and dentin permeability. Materials and methods: 118 teeth were used. Samples were divided into three major groups. The first consisted of 100 teeth used for permeability test. The second consisted of 16 teeth for measuring external surface temperature elevation while irradiation. The third, in turn, consisted of one pair of teeth observed under SEM for dentine surface morphology analysis. Results: For dentin permeability measurement, th
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