The spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria is a worldwide problem. Due to the importance of P. aeruginosa as a multidrug resistant bacterium, this study aimed, through molecular techniques, to detect point mutations in chromosomal genes responsible for the quinolones class of antibiotics resistance. A total of 52 isolates from burn infections were identified using specific primers for P. aeruginosa 16S rDNA. Ciprofloxacin minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were estimated using the agar dilution assay. DNA sequences of the quinolone resistance-determining regions of gyrA and parC were determined for detecting the mutations found in these genes and the relations among the isolates by constructing phylogenetic trees. The results revealed that only 43 (82.7%) of isolates were P. aeruginosa, of which 31 (72.06%) were resistant to different concentrations of ciprofloxacin, ranging between 4 and >32 µg/ml. Twenty six isolates were selected for sequencing, including sensitive, intermediately resistant, and highly resistant to ciprofloxacin. The ciprofloxacin sensitive isolates did not exert any amino acid alterations in gyrA or parC genes; however, a single intermediately resistant isolate had a single mutation at each gene. Of the total resistant isolates (20), 6 isolates had no mutations at different MIC levels, While 14 isolates had Thr-83-Ile substitution in gyrA and Ser-87-Leu substitution in parC, only five isolates had a second mutation, namely Asp-87-Asn, in gyrA. The phylogenetic analysis of the studied groups showed divergence from the P. aeruginosa PAO1 and PAO1OR reference strains due to increased mutations and polymorphisms in studied isolates. In conclusion, P. aeruginosa occurrence was increased in burn infections and the fluoroquinolones in current use are not as effective as before; the main resistance mechanism in local clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa is mutations, where the main target of fluoroquinolones is gyrA gene.
Biodiesel is an environmentally friendly fuel and a good substitution for the fossil fuel. However, the purity of this fuel is a major concern that challenges researchers. In this study, a calcium oxide based catalyst has been prepared from local waste eggshells by the calcination method and tested in production biodiesel. The eggshells were powdered and calcined at different temperatures (700, 750, 800, 850 and 900 °C) and periods of time (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 hr.). The effect of calcination temperature and calcination time on the structure and activity of the solid catalyst were examined by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Brunaure-Emmett-Teller (BET). The optimum catalyst performance was obtained at 900 °C
... Show MoreThe extraction of Eucalyptus oil from Iraqi Eucalyptus Camadulensis leaves was studded using water distillation methods. The amount of Eucalyptus oil has been determined in a variety of extraction temperature and agitation speed. The effect of water to Eucalyptus leaves (solvent to solid) ratio and particle size of Eucalyptus leaves has been studied in order to evaluate the amount of Eucalyptus oil. The optimum experimental condition for the Eucalyptus oil extraction was established as follows: 100˚C extraction temperature, 200 rpm agitation speed; 0.5 cm leave particle size and 6:1 ml: g amount of water to eucalyptus leaves Ratio.
This research focuses on the removal and adsorption of Fe (III) ion using a low cost commercial polyacrylic acid hydrogel beads as adsorbent. The effects of time, initial concentration and pH on the metal ion adsorption capacity were investigated. The regeneration of the hydrogel bead and recovery of the metal ion adsorbed were study. The adsorption isotherm models were applied on experimental data and it is shown that the Langmuir model was the best one for Fe (III) ion removal. The maximum capacity was calculated. First-order and second- order kinetic models were used and it is shown that the experimental data was in reliable compliance with the first- order model with R2 value of (0.9935, 0.9011, 0.9695, 0.9912) for all concentrations
... Show MoreIn this work 27 events have been chosen for the period from (17 Feb 2000 to 10 Sep 2014) to analyze their intensity profile and find out what is the most effective reason behind the bulk of the accelerated SEPs as seen in the interval from the onset to the maximum intensity. It was found that the parameters of the associated eruptions (CME and solar flare) could play a major role in this acceleration. We considered some of these parameters such as: flare class related to soft X-ray flux, CME's speed and acceleration, site of the eruption (western, eastern) and particle transport in the IP medium. The shape of the profile showed a clear changing in ΔT1 (time from onset to maximum), as an inverse relation with the acceleration of coronal
... Show MoreAmong a collection of leafhoppers from Erbil Province in Kurdistan/Iraq, a new species of the genus Arboridia Zakhvatkin, 1946 was designated and described here as a new species to the science. The erection of this species was mainly built on the external characters included the male genitalia. Sites and dates of collections so as the host-plants were verified.
In this study, the use of non-thermal plasma theory to remove toxic gases emitted from a vehicle was experimentally investigated. A non-thermal plasma reactor was constructed in the form of a cylindrical tube made of Pyrex glass. Two stainless steel rods were placed inside the tube to generate electric discharge and plasma condition, by connecting with a high voltage power supply (up to 40 kV). The reactor was used to remove the contaminants of a 1.25-liter 4-cylinder engine at ambient conditions. Several tests have been carried out for a ranging speed from 750 to 4,500 rpm of the engine and varying voltages from 0 to 32 kV. The gases entering the reactor were examined by a gas analyzer and the gases concentration ratio
... Show MoreOrganic contaminants are used to be found in industrial wastewater treatment procedures, and heavy metal ion removal is difficult. Photo Fenton reaction activity was exploited in this study to decompose organic contaminants using a functional composite hydrogel. Polyacrylonitrile (PAN), Fe3O4 particles, and graphene oxide make up the hydrogel (GO). It is made from GO/ Fe3O4 and is made using the precipitation technique. GO is made from graphite using the Hummers process. And it has exceptional mechanical strength and Photo-Fenton activity as a result of various breakdown data that were influenced differently, such as H2O2 concentration, dye concentration, temper
... Show MoreThe effects of short-range correlation on elastic Coulomb (charge) form factors, charge density distributions as well as root mean square charge radii of various nuclei (for instance, 46, 48, 50Ti, 52, 54Cr, 56, 58Fe, and 72, 74, 76Ge nuclei) are examined. The one- and two body terms of the cluster expansion together with the single-particle harmonic oscillator wave functions are utilized. For the purpose of embedding these effects into the formulae of charge density and form factor we employ the correlation function of Jastrow-type. These formulae depend upon the short-range correlation parameter (which instigates from the Jastr
... Show MoreIn the present study, the effectiveness of a procedure of electrocoagulation for removing chemical oxygen demand (COD) from the wastewater of petroleum refinery has been evaluated. Aluminum and stainless steel electrodes were used as a sacrificial anode and cathode respectively. The effect of current density (4-20mAcm−2), pH (3-11), and NaCl concentration (0-4g/l) on efficiency of removal of chemical oxygen demand was investigated. The results have shown that increasing of current density led to increase the efficiency of COD removal while increasing NaCl concentration resulted in decreasing of COD removal efficiency. Effect of pH was found to be lowering COD re