Abstract Aim: Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder which affects communication and social interaction of children. It is a heterogeneous disease with various clinical presentations. Some genes are involved in its pathogenesis. It has been suggested that environmental exposure to lead can increase the risk of autism. The aim of our study was to compare blood lead levels among autistic and non-autistic children. Material and Method: This retrospective study included 107 children (60 with autism and 47 without autism) referred from the different Iraqi provinces, in the years 2015, 2016 and 2017, to the poisoning consultation center in Baghdad. Data collection including age, gender, residence, referral source, family history and blood lead l

Four samples of the Se55S20Sb15Sn10 alloy were prepared using the melting point method. Samples B, C and D were irradiated with (6.04×1010, 12.08×1010 and 18.12×1010 (n.cm-2s -1 ) of thermal neutron beam from a neutron source (241Am-9Be) respectively, while sample A was left not irradiated. The electrical properties were assessed both before and after the radiation. All irradiated and non-irradiated samples show three conduction mechanisms, at low temperatures, electrical conductivity is achieved by electron hopping between local states near the Fermi level. At intermediate temperatures, conduction occurs by the jumping of electrons between local states at band tails. At high temperatures, electrons transfer between extended stat

This work introduces the synthesis and the characterization of N-doped TiO2 and Co3O4 thin films prepared via DC reactive magnetron sputtering technique. N-doped TiO2 thin films was deposited on indium-tin oxide (ITO) conducting substrate at different nitrogen ratios, then the Co3O4 thin film was deposited onto the N-doped TiO2 layer to synthesize a double-layer TiO2-N/Co3O4 Photoelectrochromic device. Several techniques were used to characterize the produces which are x-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The Photoelectrochromic device was characterized by UV–Vis spectroscopy and the results show that the double-layer N-dope

This study included synthesizing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in a green method using AgNO3 solution with glucose exposed to microwave radiation. The prepared NPs were also characterized using ultraviolet and visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The UV/vis spectroscopy confirmed the production of AgNPs, while SEM analysis showed that the typical spherical AgNPs were 30 nm and 50 nm in size for the NPs prepared using black tea (B) and green tea (G) as reducing agent, respectively. The changes in some of the biochemical parameters related to the liver and kidneys have been analyzed to evaluate the probable toxic effects of AgNPs. 40 adult male mice were included in this study. To assess the probable he

Human serum albumin (HSA) nanoparticles have been widely used as versatile drug delivery systems for improving the efficiency and pharmaceutical properties of drugs. The present study aimed to design HSA nanoparticle encapsulated with the hydrophobic anticancer pyridine derivative (2-((2-([1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-3-yl)methylene)hydrazine-1-carbothioamide (BIPHC)). The synthesis of HSA-BIPHC nanoparticles was achieved using a desolvation process. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis showed the average size of HSA-BIPHC nanoparticles was 80.21 nm. The percentages of entrapment efficacy, loading capacity and production yield were 98.11%, 9.77% and 91.29%, respectively. An In vitro release study revealed that HSA-BIPHC nan

Here we determined the structure of a cold active family IV esterase (EstN7) cloned from Bacillus cohnii strain N1. EstN7 is a dimer with a classical α/β hydrolase fold. It has an acidic surface that is thought to play a role in cold-adaption by retaining solvation under changed water solvent entropy at lower temperatures. The conformation of the functionally important cap region is significantly different to EstN7's closest relatives, forming a bridge-like structure with reduced helical content providing greater access to the active site through more than one substrate access tunnel. However, dynamics do not appear to play a major role in cold adaption. Molecular dyn

2,2'-(1-(3,4-bis(carboxydichloromethoxy)-5-oxo-2,5-dihydrofuran-2-yl)ethane-1,2-diyl)bis(oxy)bis(2,2-dichloroacetic acid) a derivative of L-ascorbic acid was prepared by reaction of L-ascorbic acid with trichloroacetic acid (1:4) ratio, in the presence of potassium hydroxide. A series of new metal complexes of this ligand were prepared by a reaction with the chlorides of Cd(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II). The new ligand and its complexes were identified by C.H.N., IR, UV-visible spectra, Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), as well as 1H, 13C-NMR and Mass spectra for ligand L. The complexes were also identified by molar conductance, atomic absorption, magnetic susceptibility and X-ray diffraction for Cu (II) complex. FT-IR spectra