Contracaecum rudolphii Hartwich, 1964 is a nematode which causes major concerns to human and wildlife animal’s health. However, the population genetics of C. rudolphii has been poorly studied in Iraq. In order to gain a deeper understanding in the outline of the genetic diversity of the nematode C. rudolphii that were isolated from its host cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo (Linnaeus, 1758), in the middle areas of Iraq, twenty specimens of C. rudolphii adults were isolated from nine individuals of P. carbo. The first (ITS-1) internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) of C. rudolphii were amplified using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR); then, the amplicons were subjected to sequencing. Concatenation of ITS-1 (rDNA) sequences resulted in four unique genotypes that have not been previously recorded in Iraq. The present study showed that the most common genotype occurred in 85% of C. rudolphii, and in 88.9% of cormorants. Furthermore, the infrapopulation difference in the genotypes was fairly high, with an average of 1.3 ± 0.48 genotypes per host of those with ≥two nematodes. All the sequences of the current study were distributed into two different populations. The sequences of ITS-1 for the first population had the highest similarity to ITS-1 sequence of C. rudolphii B, while the sequences of ITS-1 for the second population had the highest similarity to ITS-1 sequence of C. rudolphii A. This study provides an insight about the genetic divergence of C. rudolphii among P. carbo in Iraq. As well, the results likely support the hypothesis that C. rudolphii represents a complex of at least two sibling species.
In this study, NAC-capped CdTe/CdS/ZnS core/double shell QDs were synthesized in an aqueous medium to investigate their utility in distinguishing normal DNA from mutated DNA extracted from biological samples. Following the interaction between the synthesized QDs with DNA extracted from leukemia cases (represents damaged DNA) and that of healthy donors (represents undamaged DNA), differential fluorescent emission maxima and intensities were observed. It was found that damaged DNA from leukemic cells DNA-QDs conjugates at 585 nm while intact DNA (from healthy subjects) DNA–QDs conjugates at 574 nm. The obtained results from the optical analyses indicate that the prepared QDs could be utilized as probe for detecting disrupted DNA th
... Show MoreSome new norms need to be adapted due to COVID-19 pandemic period where people need to wear masks, wash their hands frequently, maintain social distancing, and avoid going out unless necessary. Therefore, educational institutions were closed to minimize the spread of COVID-19. As a result of this, online education was adapted to substitute face-to-face learning. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the Malaysian university students’ adaptation to the new norms, knowledge and practices toward COVID-19, besides, their attitudes toward online learning. A convenient sampling technique was used to recruit 500 Malaysian university students from January to February 2021 through social media. For data collection, all students
... Show MoreThis research explores the use of solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) as a conductive medium for sodium ions in sodium‐ion batteries, presenting a possible alternative to traditional lithium‐ion battery technology. The researchers prepare SPEs with varying molecular weight ratios of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and sodium tetrafluoroborate (NaBF4) using a solution casting method with dimethyl formamide as the solvent. Through optical absorbance measurements, we identified the PAN:NaBF4 (80:20) SPE composition as having the lowest energy band gap value (4.48 eV). This composition also exhibits high thermal stability based on thermogravimetric analysis results. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy re
... Show MoreThis study presents the design, modeling, and experimental evaluation of a three-level electro-hydraulic elevator system controlled by a Delta DVP-20SX2 Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) equipped with an integrated Proportional–Integral–Derivative (PID) module. The PLC, programmed in Ladder Logic using ISPSoft 2.46, regulates cabin motion across all three levels. A detailed MATLAB/Simulink model was developed, incorporating three PID controllers: one for displacement regulation via a proportional directional control valve and two for dynamic pressure regulation using a proportional pressure relief valve. Conventional PID parameters were initially tuned using the trial-and-error method based on time-domain performance indices a
... Show MoreUrinary tract infections are mainly caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli, which represent a significant global issue along with the rising of antibiotic resistance and treatment challenges. The aim of this study was to evaluate ciprofloxacin efficacy as a treatment in animal models following infection with multidrug-resistant UPEC and multidrug-susceptible UPEC and to determine the nephrotoxic effect of these antibiotics on the renal cortex. Up to 76 E. coli isolates were collected from UTI patients in Baghdad province, characterized by morphological and biochemical features, and confirmed using the Vitek-2 compact system. Mice were orally infected via gastric gavage with G33 using a bacterial load of 107 cells/ml, followed by p
... Show MoreThe electrical insulation of the manufacture sulfonated phenol-formaldehyde viscous material (product) has been studied with Polyvinyl-acetate (PVA) and toluene diisocyanate (TDI) blend has been prepared by fixing percentage by weight 3:1 and mixed with different percentages by weight of the product sulfonated phenol formaldehyde viscous mass (SPF). The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is done on (SPF) resin powder and prepared film of PVA-TDI-SPF viscous mass. The quality factor (Q), dissipation factor (D), parallel resistance (Rp), series resistance (Rs), parallel capacitance (Cp), series capacitance (Cs) and phase shift (?) are measured. The calculated maximum dielectric constant (??) is 3.49x107 at sample (1) wt.1% SPF vis
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