Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii ) is considered a critical healthcare problem for patients in intensive care units due to its high ability to be multidrug-resistant to most commercially available antibiotics. The aim of this study is to develop a colorimetric assay to quantitatively detect the target DNA of A. baumannii based on unmodified gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) from different clinical samples (burns, surgical wounds, sputum, blood and urine). A total of thirty-six A. baumannii clinical isolates were collected from five Iraqi hospitals in Erbil and Mosul provinces within the period from September 2020 to January 2021. Bacterial isolation and biochemical identification of isolates were carried out followed by DNA extraction from 36 isolates and six negative ATCC strains (Salmonalle typhi, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aures) and only one positive control ATCC A. baumannii using Phenol/Chloroform method. AuNPs were synthesized using the citrate reduction method and examined by XDR, FTIR, UV-VIS, FE-SEM, and TEM. The optimized colorimetric assay was employed based on unmodified spherical AuNPs and PCR amplification of 16S rRNA intergenic spacer sequences (ITS) with species-specific DNA oligo-targeters. Detection and optimization of A. baumannii amplicons using unmodified AuNPs were performed based on species-specific DNA oligonucleotide. The AuNPs assay was able to colorimetrically detect and distinguish A. baumannii from other ATCC bacterial isolates. The turnaround time of this assay was about 3 hours, including sample preparation and amplification, to show (0.025-6 ngµl-1) as a detection limit of DNA concentration. The efficacy of colorimetric detection was proved to effectively diagnose A. baumannii isolates with high sensitivity, simplicity, and robustness to rapidly diagnose A. baumannii isolates from different clinical samples.
Onchocerciasis is an infection with cutaneous, ocular and systemic manifestations caused by the filarial nematode Onchocerca volvulus, which is transmitted by the bite of various species of the anthropophilic blood-sucking Simulium vectors (black flies). Onchocerciasis is endemic to the savannahs and rainforests of subequatorial Africa and in some countries of the Arabian Peninsula, notably Yemen and Oman, and in Central America, and the Amazon basin of South America. Onchocercomas, which can be defined as subcutaneous fibrous nodules containing adult worms, are among the variable clinical manifestations of this infestation; they are either superficial or deep and usually located over bony prominences. In this paper we report a case of an o
... Show MoreIn this review paper, several research studies were surveyed to assist future researchers to identify available techniques in the field of infectious disease modeling across complex networks. Infectious disease modelling is becoming increasingly important because of the microbes and viruses that threaten people’s lives and societies in all respects. It has long been a focus of research in many domains, including mathematical biology, physics, computer science, engineering, economics, and the social sciences, to properly represent and analyze spreading processes. This survey first presents a brief overview of previous literature and some graphs and equations to clarify the modeling in complex networks, the detection of soc
... Show MoreObjectives: Although the Frankfort Horizontal (FH) and sella-nasion were routinely used as craniofacial reference planes, the inter-individual orientations were changeable when related to true horizontal (HOR). Natural head position (NHP) is a reproducible, standardized position, with the head in an upright posture and eyes focused on a point in the distance at eye level so that the visual axis is horizontal. The natural head position has importance in anthropological as well as in orthodontic fields, as this position has a relatively fixed relationship to the true horizontal and vertical planes. However, NHP is clinically not simple and it takes long time to be recorded, in addition to a deficiency in the tools utilized in the NHP and l
... Show MoreOptimization of well placement plays a considerable role in the production and maximizing the net present value of the investment of oil field developments. However, the application of the optimization techniques in well placement developments is so complicated because many decision variables, objective functions, and constraints are involved in the well placement optimization case. Furthermore, many computational techniques; conventional and non-conventional, have been utilized to optimize well placement operations. This study displays the advancement of the optimization methods applied in the well placement. Subsequently, the study assorted the applied optimization methods, and it demonstrates the restriction and the range of implementati
... Show MoreHydatid cystic or cystic echinococcosis disease remains a major challenge due to its medical and veterinary importance and its widespread spread all over the world as well as the economic losses caused by this disease, whether for humans or farm animals. Echinococcus granulosus is the causative agent for this disease, targeting the liver and lungs primarily and in varying proportions of the rest of the body. This disease is characterized by the non-appearance of pathological symptoms for long periods as its appearance depends on the size, number and site of the cysts formed and the type of organ infected and surgery is still the most effective solution for the disposal of hydatid cysts. Dogs and the rest of Canidae family represent the fina
... Show MoreThe most influential theory of ‘Politeness’ was formulated in 1978 and revised in 1987 by Brown and Levinson. ‘Politeness’, which represents the interlocutors’ desire to be pleasant to each other through a positive manner of addressing, was claimed to be a universal phenomenon. The gist of the theory is the intention to mitigate ‘Face’ threats carried by certain ‘Face’ threatening acts towards others.
‘Politeness Theory’ is based on the concept that interlocutors have ‘Face’ (i.e., self and public – image) which they consciously project, try to protect and to preserve. The theory holds that various politeness strategies are used to prot
... Show MoreIn this review paper, several research studies were surveyed to assist future researchers to identify available techniques in the field of infectious disease modeling across complex networks. Infectious disease modelling is becoming increasingly important because of the microbes and viruses that threaten people’s lives and societies in all respects. It has long been a focus of research in many domains, including mathematical biology, physics, computer science, engineering, economics, and the social sciences, to properly represent and analyze spreading processes. This survey first presents a brief overview of previous literature and some graphs and equations to clarify the modeling in complex networks, the detection of soc
... Show MoreNature and natural beauty have always been the source of inspiration for poets and mystics. For them, nature is one of the most recurrent and celebrated themes. It is a significant symbol of the beauty, righteousness and freshness they are looking for. For religious and mystical poets, it is a reference to God, his beauty, and splendour. Comparing it with the scripture, Thomas Ryan, a Catholic priest and a mystical writer, says ''The Bible is the 'small book', the world of nature is the 'big book'. Both reveal the Creator.''1
For Muslim mystics, God does exist everywhere as the Qur'an states: ''Wherever (Whithersoever) you turn, there is God's face” (Chapter (Surah): 2
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