Sphingolipids are key components of eukaryotic membranes, particularly the plasma membrane. The biosynthetic pathway for the formation of these lipid species is largely conserved. However, in contrast to mammals, which produce sphingomyelin, organisms such as the pathogenic fungi and protozoa synthesize inositol phosphorylceramide (IPC) as the primary phosphosphingolipid. The key step involves the reaction of ceramide and phosphatidylinositol catalysed by IPC synthase, an essential enzyme with no mammalian equivalent encoded by the AUR1 gene in yeast and recently identified functional orthologues in the pathogenic kinetoplastid protozoa. As such this enzyme represents a promising target for novel anti-fungal and anti-protozoal drugs. Given

Titanium oxide nanoparticles-modified smectite (SMC-nTiO2) as a low-cost adsorbent was investigated for the removal of Rhodamine B (RhB) from aqueous solutions. The adsorbents (SMC and SMC-nTiO2) were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The effects of various parameters like contact time, adsorbent weight, pH, and temperatures were examined. Three kinetic equations (pseudo-first-order (PFO), pseudo-second-order (PSO), and intra-particle diffusion) were used to evaluate the experimental kinetic of the data and the results showed that the adsorption process is in line with the PSO kinetic model. Adsorption equilibrium isotherms were modeled using La

The adequacy of diagnostic tests, together with trichomoniasis associated clinical symptoms, were investigated in females suffering vaginitis, and they were referred to the Gynecology Department, Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital during the period December 2004 – June 2005. The total number of patients was 250 cases (age range: 18 - 52 years), and each patient was examined using a sterile speculum to obtain vaginal swabs for examination. The diagnosis with T. vaginalis was done in many methods. The direct methods included wet and stained (Leishman's stain) examinations and cultivation in different culture media (Kupferberg Trichomonas Broth Base;, Trichomonas Agar Base; TAB and Trichomonas Modified CPLM), while the indirect methods were serol

Recently, there has been an increasing advancement in the communications technology, and due to the increment in using the cellphone applications in the diverse aspects of life, it became possible to automate home appliances, which is the desired goal from residences worldwide, since that provides lots of comfort by knowing that their appliances are working in their highest effi ciency whenever it is required without their knowledge, and it also allows them to control the devices when they are away from home, including turning them on or off whenever required. The design and implementation of this system is carried out by using the Global System of Mobile communications (GSM) technique to control the home appliances – In this work, an ele

A qualitative chemical test was performed on functional groups extracted from fenugreek plant and its extracts (aqueous, alcoholic and volatile oil). Results revealed that fenugreek seeds contain the main functional groups, while extracts are varied accorodihg to their content of functional groups qualitatively and quantitively. Moreover, inhibition activity was tested for extracts of fenugreek seeds (aqueous, alcoholic and volatile oil). against gram negative (Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) by the ager well diffusion method. Data have revealed that inhibition activity was different in accoradance with extract solvent and the tested microorgan. Oil extract (15)%

In this study, Bis(4,4’-diaminophenoxy)ethane (compound C1) was synthesized via the reaction of p-hydroxyaniline with 1,2-dibromoethane. Schiff bases (compounds C2–C4) were subsequently obtained by condensing compound C1 with various aromatic aldehydes. These intermediates were further reacted with different anhydrides – namely phthalic anhydride and maleic anhydride – in order to yield the final derivatives (compounds C5–C10). All obtained compounds were characterized by using infrared spectroscopy and proton nuclear magnetic resonance, as well as through an assessment of their physical properties. Antimicrobial evaluation was conducted on some of the generated compounds using two bacterial strains (Escherichia coli and Staphyloc

The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens necessitates the discovery of novel antibacterial agents. In this study, culturable soil bacteria from the Dead Sea region (Jordan) were isolated and the antibacterial activity of their extracellular metabolites were evaluated. Twenty-one isolates were screened using a perpendicular-streak primary assay; three stable producers (GH-15, GH-20, GH-21) were prioritized. Cell-free supernatants were extracted with n-hexane and ethyl acetate, tested using agar well diffusion, and profiled using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) coupled with bioautography (GH-15). Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined by broth microdi

This research examines the issue of Internet banking services and their impact on customer's perceived value to know the potential of Iraqi commercial Banks to provide Internet banking services as well as determine the customer's level of perception of the value of such services. The research aims to demonstrate the effect that Internet banking services have on the customer's perceived value and to find how online banking services can be used to add value that the customer perceive. The main findings were that research sample banks don't have a sophisticated network of electronic Windows through which banking services are provided to allow customers to manage their accounts, and perform various operational operations through the