Background: Multidrug-resistant (MDR) enterococci have become a major problem in recent times and have been reported increasingly around the world. Lytic phages infect bacteria leading to rapid host death with limited risk of phage transduction, underlining the increasing interest in potential phage therapy in the future. Objective (s): The aim of this study is to use phage therapy as alternative approach for treatment of Enterococcus faecalis infections that recorded as MDR in Iraq to tackle this problem. Materials and Methods: Thirty E. faecalis isolates were collected from patients with different infectious diseases such as urinary tract infection (UTI), diabetic foot, septicemia, and wound infections. The isolation of specific lytic phages was from different environmental sources such as (sewage, and wastewater). The biokinetic assays were carried out to measure the characteristics of the isolated phage. The study of the bacteriophage and the formed phage cocktail infectivity against isolates E.faecalis was tested by the top layer assay. The phage endolysin was extracted from the best bacteriophage that gave best results. Results: All the isolated E.faecalis was reported as MDR in this study. About 75 E.faecalis specific phages were isolated and purified. All the isolated bacteria were 100% sensitive to the lytic phages. The formed phage cocktail was capable to create inhibition zones on the most bacterial isolates' lawns. The molecular weight and the concentration of the extracted endolysin was evaluated in this study and found to be as (48 kDa) and (0.5mg/ml), respectively. The antibacterial activity of the extracted endolysin was evaluated by the turbidity reduction assay. A clear decline in the bacterial growth was manifested (5x107 CFU/ml) to (1x104 CFU/ml), in which the bacterial growth was reduced by (3.63 log). The endolysin found to be effective against 90% of E.faeclais isolates. Conclusion: The activity of the isolated specific phage together with the activity of the formed phage cocktail, were efficient as successful and inexpensive method of therapy against MDR E.faecalis. The potential of the extracted endolysin over the phage therapy was verified in this study. The coverage rate and the absence of resistant E.faecalis to the phage and its endolysin had emphasized on the importance of this alternative therapy to commonly used antibiotics. List of abbreviation: MDR = multiple drug-resistant, E. faecalis = Enterococcus faecalis, BT = burst time, BS = burst size, IP = infective percentage, Phage =bacteriophage, CFU = Colony forming unit, kDa = Kilodalton, OD = Optical Densities.
The rehabilitation of deteriorated pavements using Asphalt Concrete (AC) overlays consistently confronts the reflection cracking challenge, where inherent cracks and joints from an existing pavement layer are mirrored in the new overlay. To address this issue, the current study evaluates the effectiveness of Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC) and geotextile fabric as mitigation strategies. ECC, characterized by its tensile ductility, fracture resistance, and high deformation capacity, was examined in interlayer thicknesses of 7, 12, and 17 mm. Additionally, the impact of geotextile fabric positioning at the base and at 1/3 depth of the AC specimen was explored. Utilizing the Overlay Testing Machine (OTM) for evaluations, the research d
... Show MoreIn this paper Hermite interpolation method is used for solving linear and non-linear second order singular multi point boundary value problems with nonlocal condition. The approximate solution is found in the form of a rapidly convergent polynomial. We discuss behavior of the solution in the neighborhood of the singularity point which appears to perform satisfactorily for singular problems. The examples to demonstrate the applicability and efficiency of the method have been given.
The aim of this study is to detect the level of psychological stress among unemployed individuals and the level of their wellbeing by finding the correlation between these two variables.
The research sample consisted of (99) people who are currently unemployed and registered at the Ministry of Labor Affairs.
Schafer (1996) scale for psychological stress was used and alongside Ziout's (2012) scale for wellbeing.
The results of the research showed an inverse relation between being unemployed and having wellbeing.
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... Show MoreThe researchers have a special interest in studying Markov chains as one of the probability samples which has many applications in different fields. This study comes to deal with the changes issue that happen on budget expenditures by using statistical methods, and Markov chains is the best expression about that as they are regarded reliable samples in the prediction process. A transitional matrix is built for three expenditure cases (increase ,decrease ,stability) for one of budget expenditure items (base salary) for three directorates (Baghdad ,Nineveh , Diyala) of one of the ministries. Results are analyzed by applying Maximum likelihood estimation and Ordinary least squares methods resulting
... Show MoreCox regression model have been used to estimate proportion hazard model for patients with hepatitis disease recorded in Gastrointestinal and Hepatic diseases Hospital in Iraq for (2002 -2005). Data consists of (age, gender, survival time terminal stat). A Kaplan-Meier method has been applied to estimate survival function and hazerd function.
Quantum dots of CdSe, CdS and ZnS QDs were prepared by chemical reaction and used to fabricate organic quantum dot hybrid junction device. QD-LEDs were fabricated using ITO/TPD: PMMA/CdSe/Al, ITO/TPD: PMMA/CdS/Al and ITO/TPD: PMMA/ZnS/Al QDs devices which synthesized by phase segregation method. The hybrid white light emitting devices consists, of two-layers deposited successively on the ITO glass substrate; the first layer was of N, N’-bis (3-methylphenyl)-N, N’-bis (phenyl) benzidine (TPD) polymer mixed with polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) polymers in ratio 1:1, while the second layer was 0.5wt% from each type of the (CdSe, CdS and ZnS) QDs for each device.The optical properties of QDs were characterized by UV-Vis. and photolum
... Show MoreBackground: Joint hypermobility was first mentioned by Hippocrates as an isolated feature, when he described the Celts' Incapacity to Pull a Bowstring or Throw a Dart, Due to The Slackness of Their Limbs
Objective: to determine the prevalence of mitral valve prolapse(MVP)in patients with benign hypermobility syndrome (BJHS).
Type of the study: Cross –sectional study.
Methods: Ninety patients with BJHS were included in this study. Full cardiological assessment was done for all of them, which include clinical examination, electrocardiography and echocardiography. Cardiac assessment was done for another sixty age and sex matched (
... Show MoreThe Gaussian orthogonal ensemble (GOE) version of the random matrix theory (RMT) has been used to study the level density following up the proton interaction with 44Ca, 48Ti and 56Fe.
A promising analysis method has been implemented based on the available data of the resonance spacing, where widths are associated with Porter Thomas distribution. The calculated level density for the compound nuclei 45Sc,49Vand 57Co shows a parity and spin dependence, where for Sc a discrepancy in level density distinguished from this analysis probably due to the spin misassignment .The present results show an acceptable agreement with the combinatorial method of level density.
... Show MoreThis paper constructs a new linear operator associated with a seven parameters Mittag-Leffler function using the convolution technique. In addition, it investigates some significant second-order differential subordination properties with considerable sandwich results concerning that operator.