The aim of this study is the determination of the anti-adhesion activity of active compounds extracted from plants in the inhibition of adhesion ability of C. albicans that is used as a virulence factor for infection. Adherence to host surfaces is a primary factor in the colonization of human tissues by fungi, which can also adhere to the surfaces of medical devices and form biofilms. Medicinal plants possess therapeutic properties or beneficial pharmacological effects on the body. A total of one hundred samples were collected from female patients with vaginal infection in two hospitals in Baghdad city for three months. The fungi were isolated and identified by microscopic morphology, morphological features on culture media, and Vital Index of Traditional Environmental Knowledge (VITEK 2) System. Extraction and purification of plant active compounds, vasicine from Adhatoda vasica and gallic acid from Punica granatum L. , were performed. The active compounds were used as anti-adhesion factors and the minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) against Candida albicans was determined. We also used the antifungal drug fluconazole for comparison as a control. The results of vaginal discharge characterization of clinical samples showed that 30% of the infections are caused by fungi (100% were Candida albicans), 47% by Gram negative bacteria, and 23% by Gram positive bacteria. The results of MIC assays showed that the plant extract and the antifungal drug do not seem to have fungicidal effects on the isolates of C. albicans tested. The ability of C. albicans isolates for adhesion to the epithelial cells was detected by the calculation of the number of adherent C. albicans cells under light microscope. The activity of vasicin and gallic acid appeared to be approximately equal on the number of C. albicans adherent on epithelial cells. Vasicin concentration activity used in mg/ ml was higher than that used in µg/ ml, with less numbers of C. albicans adhered on epithelial cell. However, treatment with fluconazole showed that more than half of the number of C. albicans were non-adherent on epithelial cells when added to the suspension, in contrast to the control (C. albicans without the extracts or antifungal drug).
CdO:NiO/Si solar cell film was fabricated via deposition of CdO:NiO in different concentrations 1%, 3%, and 5% for NiO thin films in R.T and 723K, on n-type silicon substrate with approximately 200 nm thickness using pulse laser deposition. CdO:NiO/n-Si solar cell photovoltaic properties were examined under 60 mW/cm2 intensity illumination. The highest efficiency of the solar cell is 2.4% when the NiO concentration is 0.05 at 723K.
Abstract
Robust controller design requires a proper definition of uncertainty bounds. These uncertainty bounds are commonly selected randomly and conservatively for certain stability, without regard for controller performance. This issue becomes critically important for multivariable systems with high nonlinearities, as in Active Magnetic Bearings (AMB) System. Flexibility and advanced learning abilities of intelligent techniques make them appealing for uncertainty estimation. The aim of this paper is to describe the development of robust H2/H∞ controller for AMB based on intelligent estimation of uncertainty bounds using Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS). Simulatio
... Show MoreMany of mechanical systems are exposed to undesired vibrations, so designing an active vibration control (AVC) system is important in engineering decisions to reduce this vibration. Smart structure technology is used for vibration reduction. Therefore, the cantilever beam is embedded by a piezoelectric (PZT) as an actuator. The optimal LQR controller is designed that reduce the vibration of the smart beam by using a PZT element.
In this study the main part is to change the length of the aluminum cantilever beam, so keep the control gains, the excitation, the actuation voltage, and mechanical properties of the aluminum beam for each length of the smart cantilever beam and observe the behavior and effec
... Show MoreIn this research, a variable stiffness actuator is proposed to enhance the damping of the mechanical vibrating system. The frequency response analysis of the vibrating system is dependant in order to analyze and synthesis this semi-active damping, where the suggested process is using active filter to estimate the present frequency of the vibration system, and this will limit the value of the stiffness of the vibrated system. Two active filter s are needed, low-pass-filter (LPF) to choose the higher stiffness of the actuator at small frequencies as well as more damping and high-pass-filter (HPF) to choose the lower stiffness of the actuator at high frequencies as well as more damping, and so
... Show MoreThe current study aims to produce cellulase enzyme from Streptomyces spp. isolates and study the effect of some cultural conditions on cellulase production; biofuel production from cellulotic waste through enzymatic and acids hydrolysis. Out of 74 isolates of Streptomyces sp. were screened for cellulse production in solid and liquid media. Results showed higher capability of isolate Streptomyces sp. B 167 for cellulase production and bioconversion of cellulose, therefore selected for further studies. The results of optimization revealed that the cellulase enzyme productivity by the selected isolate reached 2.1 and 2.28 U/ml after 48 h of incubation time and pH 7 respectively. Cellulase productions in tested isolate improved (2.57 U/ml) b
... Show MoreThe current study aims to produce cellulase enzyme from Streptomyces spp. isolates and study the effect of some cultural conditions on cellulase production; biofuel production from cellulotic waste through enzymatic and acids hydrolysis. Out of 74 isolates of Streptomyces sp. were screened for cellulse production in solid and liquid media. Results showed higher capability of isolate Streptomyces sp. B 167 for cellulase production and bioconversion of cellulose, therefore selected for further studies. The results of optimization revealed that the cellulase enzyme productivity by the selected isolate reached 2.1 and 2.28 U/ml after 48 h of incubation time and pH 7 respectively. Cellulase productions in tested isolate improved (2.57 U/ml) b
... Show MoreOrthodontic treatment has two major problems: being lengthy and costly procedure. The present study was designed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of locally injected vitamin D3 Keywords: Orthodontic, Calcitriol, Local injection, OTM (calcitriol) in accelerating orthodontic teeth movement (OTM) and reducing treatment time and cost in humans. The study was performed on 15 Iraqi adult orthodontic patients within the age range 17-28 years, they are randomly allocated into three groups, each of five patients and treated with either 15 pg, 25 pg, or 40 pg/0.2ml calcitriol diluted with 10% dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). The maxillary arch of every patient was divided into control (right) and experimental (left) sides. In addition to force application,
... Show Moreleishmaniasis is a disease of global concern, Leishmania types and distribution rates vary from country to another. For visceral leishmaniasis serum samples were examined by the kala-azar dipstick rapid test. Meanwhile smears were taken from lesions, air dried, fixed and Leishman stained then microscopically examined for amstigote stage in cutaneous leishmaniasis. From April 2014 to April 2015, 150 samples for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and 108 serum sample for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) from in and out patients in Pediatric, Azadi Teaching and Kirkuk General Hospitals were examined. The incidence of visceral leishmaniasis was very low (2.7%) comparing to that in cutaneous leishmaniasis (64.6%). No significant differenc
... Show MoreBackground: Bronchiolitis is the most common disease of the lower respiratory tract during the first year of life. Which is usually caused by respiratory syncytial virus. The treatment is usually supportive, so epidemiology, clinical, laboratory, and radiologic findings might facilitate early diagnosis and treatment of bronchiolitis cases.
Objectives: The aim of our study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics and laboratory findings of children hospitalized due to bronchiolitis.
Patients and Methods: In this cross sectional study 143 patients with bronchiolitis were selected who age 1-24 months old who were admitted to the Fallujah teaching hospital for women and c
... Show MoreBackground:
Bronchiolitis is the first episode of wheezing associated with low-grade fever, rhinitis, tachypnea, and increase respiratory effort in a previously healthy infant during the winter
months. It is the most common disease of the lower respiratory tract.
Methods:
This is a case control study carried out on one hundred infants with a mean age of 3.9 months ± 2.2 months admitted to Children Welfare Teaching Hospital in Medical City –
Baghdad with acute bronchiolitis during the period from 1st January 2006 to 1st April 2006. epidemiological risk factors, clinical presentations, chest X-ray findings, treatment,
complications and outcome were analyzed. Another one hundred infants (age and sex