This study investigated the prevalence of oqxA and oqxB genes and their effective roles in the development of multidrug resistant (MDR) phenotype among clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae. Out of 150 clinical samples, 50 (33%) isolates were recognized as K. pneumoniae according to the morphological and biochemical properties. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) assay revealed that the resistance values of the isolates were 43 (86%) against ceftriaxone (4- ≥64 µg/ml), 42 (84%) against ceftazidime (16- ≥64 µg/ml), 41 (82%) against cefepime (≥16 µg/ml), 21 (42%) against ertapenem (≥8 µg/ml), 18 (36%) against imipenem (4- ≥16 µg/ml), 15 (30%) against ciprofloxacin (≥4 µg/ml), 11 (22%) against levofloxacin (≥8 µg/ml), 45 (90%) against nitrofurantoin (128- ≥512 µg/ml), 36 (72%) against trimethoprime-sulfamethoxazole (≥320 µg/ml), and 4 (8%) against tigecycline (≥8 µg/ml). Genotype detection revealed that oqxA was found in 48 (96%) of K. pneumoniae isolates, whereas oqxB was found in 6 (12%) isolates. The MDR phenotype was observed in 40 (80%) isolates, of which 38 (95%) were harbored oqxA and/or oqxB genes. DNA sequencing of oqxA revealed the presence of three silent mutations. The phylogenetic tree of oqxA variants showed a significant deviation of these variants from K. pneumoniae species. The high prevalence of oqxA among K. pneumoniae isolates may contribute to the reduction of their susceptibility to multiple antimicrobial agents.
Bearing capacity of soil is an important factor in designing shallow foundations. It is directly related to foundation dimensions and consequently its performance. The calculations for obtaining the bearing capacity of a soil needs many varying parameters, for example soil type, depth of foundation, unit weight of soil, etc. which makes these calculation very variable–parameter dependent. This paper presents the results of comparison between the theoretical equation stated by Terzaghi and the Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) technique to estimate the ultimate bearing capacity of the strip shallow footing on sandy soils. The results show a very good agreement between the theoretical solution and the ANN technique. Results revealed that us
... Show MoreThis paper presents an experimental study for strengthening existing columns against axial compressive loads. The objective of this work is to study the behavior of concrete square columns strengthening with circulation technique. In Iraq, there are significantly more reinforced rectangular and square columns than reinforced circular columns in reinforced concrete buildings. Moreover, early research studies indicated that strengthening of rectangular or square columns using wraps of CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer) provided rather little enhancement to their load-carrying capacity. In this paper, shape modification technique was performed to modify the shape (cross section) of the columns from square columns into circular colu
... Show MoreA particle swarm optimization algorithm and neural network like self-tuning PID controller for CSTR system is presented. The scheme of the discrete-time PID control structure is based on neural network and tuned the parameters of the PID controller by using a particle swarm optimization PSO technique as a simple and fast training algorithm. The proposed method has advantage that it is not necessary to use a combined structure of identification and decision because it used PSO. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed adaptive PID neural control algorithm in terms of minimum tracking error and smoothness control signal obtained for non-linear dynamical CSTR system.
Abstract
The problem of missing data represents a major obstacle before researchers in the process of data analysis in different fields since , this problem is a recurrent one in all fields of study including social , medical , astronomical and clinical experiments .
The presence of such a problem within the data to be studied may influence negatively on the analysis and it may lead to misleading conclusions , together with the fact that these conclusions that result from a great bias caused by that problem in spite of the efficiency of wavelet methods but they are also affected by the missing of data , in addition to the impact of the problem of miss of accuracy estimation
... Show MoreThe complexity and partially defined nature of jet grouting make it hard to predict the performance of grouted piles. So the trials of cement injection at a location with similar soil properties as the erecting site are necessary to assess the performance of the grouted piles. Nevertheless, instead of executing trial-injected piles at the pilot site, which wastes money, time, and effort, the laboratory cement injection devices are essential alternatives for evaluating soil injection ability. This study assesses the performance of a low-pressure laboratory grouting device by improving loose sandy soil injected using binders formed of Silica Fume (SF) as a chemical admixture (10% of Ordinary Portland Cement OPC mass) to di
... Show MoreBackground: The anticancer impact of Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) the highly active polyphenol of green tea was abundantly studied. Though, the exact mechanism of its cytotoxicity is still under investigation. Objectives: Hence, the current study designed to investigate the molecular target of EGCG in HepG2 cells on thirteen autophagy- and/or apoptosis- related genes. Methods: The apoptosis detection analyses such as flow cytometry and dual apoptosis assay were used. The genes expression profile was explored by the real-time quantitative-PCR. Results: EGCG increases G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and the real-time apoptosis markers proteins leading to stimulate apoptos
... Show MoreRestoration of degraded lands by adoption of recommended conservation management practices can rehabilitate watersheds and lead to improving soil and water quality. The objective was to evaluate the effects of grass buffers (GBs), biomass crops (BCs), grass waterways (GWWs), agroforestry buffers (ABs), landscape positions, and distance from tree base for AB treatment on soil quality compared with row crop (RC) (corn [
This paper examines a new nonlinear system of multiple integro-differential equations containing symmetric matrices with impulsive actions. The numerical-analytic method of ordinary differential equations and Banach fixed point theorem are used to study the existence, uniqueness and stability of periodic solutions of impulsive integro-differential equations with piecewise continuous functions. This study is based on the Hölder condition in which the ordering , and are real numbers between 0 and 1.
In this study, the flexural performance of a new composite beam–slab system filled with concrete material was investigated, where this system was mainly prepared from lightweight cold-formed steel sections of a beam and a deck slab for carrying heavy floor loads as another concept of a conventional composite system with a lower cost impact. For this purpose, seven samples of a profile steel sheet–dry board deck slab (PSSDB/PDS) carried by a steel cold-formed C-purlins beam (CB) were prepared and named “composite CBPDS specimen”, which were tested under a static bending load. Specifically, the effects of the profile steel sheet (PSS) direction (parallel or perpendicular to the span of the specimen) using different C-purlins c
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