Antibiotic resistance is the major growing threat facing the pharmacological treatment of bacterial infections. Therefore, bioprospecting the medicinal plants could provide potential sources for antimicrobial agents. Mimusops, the biggest and widely distributed plant genus of family Sapotaceae, is used in traditional medicines due to its promising pharmacological activities. This study was conducted to elucidate the antimicrobial effect of three unexplored Mimusops spp. (M. kummel, M. laurifolia and M. zeyheri). Furthermore, the mechanisms underlying such antibacterial activity were studied. The Mimusops leaf extracts revealed significant antibacterial activities against the five tested bacterial strains with a maximum inhibition zone diameter of 22.0 mm against B. subtilis compared with standard antibiotic ciprofloxacin. The minimal inhibitory and bactericidal concentration values against tested Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains ranged from 3.15-12.5 µg/ml. However, weak antifungal effect was recorded against Candida albicans with MIC value ˃25 µg/ml. The 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay showed that M. caffra was the best antioxidant (IC50=14.75±0.028 µg/ml), while M. laurifolia was the least one (IC50=34.22±0.014 µg/ml). The phenolics in plant leaves extracts were identified and quantified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) which revealed the presence of seven phenolic acids and four flavonoids. The abundant phenolic compounds were rutin (5.216±0.067 mg/g dried wt.) and gallic acid (0.296±0.068 mg/g) followed by myricetin (0.317±0.091 mg/g) then kaempferol (0.113±0.049 mg/g) as flavonoids. The antibacterial mechanism of M. laurifolia extract, as a representative species, induces ultrastructural changes in the model bacterium Staphylococcus aureus with cell wall and plasma membrane lysis as revealed by transmission electron microscopy. Overall, Mimusops species (M. laurifolia, M. kummel and M. zeyheri) are promising natural alternative sources for antimicrobial agents.
Polycystic syndrome (PCOS) is a considerable infertility disorder in adolescents and adult women in reproductive age. Obesity is a vigorous risk factor related to POCS. This study aims to evaluate the association of obesity and PCOS by investigating several parameters including: anthropological, biochemical (lipid profile, fasting blood sugar, glucose tolerance test, and hormone levels (LH, FSH, LH/FSH ratio, Estradiol2 and Testosterone),and genetic parameters (Fat mass and Obesity associated gene (FTO) polymorphism at rs17817449) in 63 obese and non-obese PCOS women. The biochemical tests were investigated by colorimetric methods while FTO gene polymorphism was detected by PCR–RFLP. Lipid profile, F
... Show Morehis study aims to determine most stable isobar from some isobaric elements with mass number (A= 50-65 & 180-195). This aim achieved by, firstly: plot mass parabolas for these isobaric family, second: calculated the atomic number for most stable isobar (ZA) value. To plot the mass parabola, the binding energy (B.E) calculated from semi empirical formula for these isobars. The mass number (A) plotted as a function to the (ZA) for each range; we get a linear relationship between them. An empirical formula for the most stable isobar has been developed from this linear dependence. From the results, we can see that mass parabolas for isobaric elements with odd mass number (A) are different from the mass parabolas of even mass number (A) isobars,
... Show MoreThe concept of decolonization of trauma has intrigued researchers for years due to its prolonged effect on personal and cultural levels. The process of intellectual decolonization involves defensive survival mechanisms, such as cultural rituals using traditional practices, nostalgic dialogues that idealize memories and recollections, and conversations about identity to navigate postcolonial trauma displacement. Symbolic connections evoke strong emotional responses, bridging the gap between the characters‘ physical dislocation and their imaginary homeland. Cocooning identity represents a space where a multidimensional self emerges—one that holds the victim of trauma, the survivor who endures, and the narrator, who constructs an idealized
... Show MoreCultural and identity scars have been engraved in the body of ethnic minority of Muslims in America due to the bloody attacks of 9/11. These events have created thus traumatic experiences on the party who witnessed the events at close and the people on whom the blame is conclusively directed, Muslim Americans. For Americans, the attacks resulted in a proud reassertion of the national virtue and communal integrity from which Muslim Americans were excluded. This reassertion is accompanied for Muslims by a reconstruction of a cultural identity away from their origin homeland and under pressures and prejudices that made the process of reconstruction to be severely challenging. Accordingly, the challenge needed to be portrayed to overcome the d
... Show MoreThe rehabilitation of deteriorated pavements using Asphalt Concrete (AC) overlays consistently confronts the reflection cracking challenge, where inherent cracks and joints from an existing pavement layer are mirrored in the new overlay. To address this issue, the current study evaluates the effectiveness of Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC) and geotextile fabric as mitigation strategies. ECC, characterized by its tensile ductility, fracture resistance, and high deformation capacity, was examined in interlayer thicknesses of 7, 12, and 17 mm. Additionally, the impact of geotextile fabric positioning at the base and at 1/3 depth of the AC specimen was explored. Utilizing the Overlay Testing Machine (OTM) for evaluations, the research d
... Show MoreThe study aims to identify the extent of the availability of administrative empowerment and the implementation of remote supervision in relation to two variables with respect to the employees of the Saudi Ministry of Education. The study included (456) male and female supervisors. The questionnaire has been administrated to collected data related to the research aims. The results indicated that both the extent of the availability of administrative empowerment and the implementation of remote supervision is of an average degree. There is a significant correlation relationship (p<0.05) between administrative empowerment and remote supervision of the educational supervisors of the Saudi Ministry of Education. The research recommends that
... Show MoreBackground Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death worldwide. Ischemic heart disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Lack of blood supply to the brain can cause tissue death if any of the cerebral veins, carotid arteries, or vertebral arteries are blocked. An ischemic stroke describes this type of event. One of the byproducts of methionine metabolism, the demethylation of methionine, is homocysteine, an amino acid that contains sulfur. During myocardial ischemia, the plasma level of homocysteine (Hcy) increases and plays a role in many methylation processes. Hyperhomocysteinemia has only recently been recognized as a major contributor to the increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) owing to its eff
... Show MoreThis review investigates the practice and influence of chatbots and ChatGPT as employable tools in writing for scientific academic purposes. A primary collection of 150 articles was gathered from academic databases, but it was systematically chosen and refined to include 30 studies that focused on the use of ChatGPT and chatbot technology in academic writing contexts. Chatbots and ChatGPT in writing enhancement, support for student learning at higher education institutions, scientific and medical writing, and the evolution of research and academic publishing are some of the topics covered in the reviewed literature. The review finds these tools helpful, with their greatest advantages being in areas such as structuring writings, gram
... Show MoreIn this study, we design narrow band pass filter for window (3_5) ?m dependent on the needle optimization method , and a comparison with global designs published -Also, the effect of change parameter design on the optical performance of filter was studded and being able to overcome the difficulties of the design.In this study, the adoption of homogeneous optical properties materials as thin film depositing on a substrate of germanium at wavelength design (? = 4 ?m). For design this kind of filters we used advanced computer program (Matlab )to build a model design dependent both matrix characteristic and Needle technique. In this paper we refer to the type of Mert function , which is used for correct optical performance acces
... Show MoreThis paper signifies the contradictory point of view in John Clare’s poetry. Clare (1794-1864) is an English romantic poetry in the nineteenth century, who writes more than ten volumes about nature. So, this study highlights the concept of Psychoanalytic theory which is ‘ambivalence’ and how through this theory can interpret any literary text on the basis of utilizing psychoanalytic methods to literary texts in order to reveal the author's inner emotions such as motives, dreams, as well as wishes. Consequently, the concept of ‘ambivalence’ has a lot in common with the human psyche and its struggles. Sometimes the reader finds the author/poet talking about something real or a notion with pleasant sentiments
... Show More