Sinteza i biološka evaluacija nekih pirimidina, pirimido[2,1-b][1,3]tiazina i tiazolo[3,2-a]pirimidin derivata

4,6-Diamino-1H-pyrimidine-2-thione (1) was used for the preparation of the pyrimidine derivatives 2-5. Compound 5 was cyclized to produce pyrimido[2,1-b][1,3]thiazine derivatives 6, which was condensed with p-chlorobenzaldehyde to give compound 7. The latter compound was reacted with hydroxylamine to give isoxazolo[4,5-d]thiazino[2,3-a]pyrimidines 8. Compound 8b was treated with 2-chloroethyl methyl ether to afford compound 9. Similarly, compound 3 was reacted with chloroacetic acid to give thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidine 10, which was condensed with p-chlorobenzaldehyde to give compound 11. Compound 11 was condensed with hydroxylamine to give isoxazolo[4,5-d]thiazolo[2,3-a]pyrimidine 12. Compound 12b was treated with 2-chloroethyl methyl ether to afford compound 13. The biological evaluation of some prepared products showed that many of them revealed promising antimicrobial activity.4,6-Diamino-1H-pirimidin-2-tion (1) upotrebljen je kao ishodni spoj u sintezi derivata pirimidina 2-5. Spoj 5 je cikliziran u pirimido[2,1-b][1,3]tiazin derivat 6, koji je kondenziran s p-klorbenzaldehidom u spoj 7. Produkt 7 je u reakciji s hidroksilaminom dao izoksazol[4,5-d]tiazino[2,3-a]pirimidin 8. Spoj 8b je u reakciji s 2-kloretil metil eterom dao spoj 9. Slično je spoj 3 reagirao s kloroctenom kiselinom i dao tiazol[3,2-a]pirimidin 10, koji je kondenziran s p-klorbenzaldehidom u produkt 11. Spoj 11 je kondenzacijom s hidroksilaminom dao izoksazol[4,5-d]tiazolo[2,3-a]pirimidin 12. Spoj 12b je s 2-kloretil metil eterom dao produkt 13. Biološka evaluacija pokazuje da neki od sintetiziranih produkata imaju antimikrobno djelovanje

Removal of lead from industrial wastewater using a low cost waste material

Several industries utilize heavy metals in their industrial processes, eventually discharging them in their wastewater. Water contamination by heavy metals is a major environmental problem due to their acute toxicity and their accumulation in food chains. Therefore, intensive research work has been carried out lately on the feasibility of various low cost materials for the removal of heavy metals from wastewater. The main objective of the current research was to examine the potential of a low cost material for the removal of Pb2+ from a synthetic lead solution. The research work was divided into three core phases. Phase I was a preliminary comparative study among various agricultural wastes; sugarcane bagasse, rice straw and rice husk, two industrial wastes, namely cement kiln dust (CKD) and marble powder, and a natural material; lime. In Phase II the research was taken to a deeper level as the feasibility of utilizing rice straw for biosorption of Pb2+ was profoundly investigated using batch equilibrium experiments. The effect of several operating parameters on the uptake of Pb2+ was tested, which are the pH of the solution, contact time, rice straw dose, particle size, initial Pb2+ concentration and pre-treatment of rice straw. The percent removal of Pb2+ increased with increasing the pH, contact time, and rice straw dose up to the point of equilibrium; however, it decreased with the increase in the particle size. The pre-treatment of rice straw did not yield a considerable increase in the percent uptake of Pb2+. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were used for the evaluation of the equilibrium experimental data; the correlation coefficients were 0.989 and 0.959, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity of raw rice straw was calculated using Langmuir isotherm; 42.55 mg/g, which is higher than several adsorption capacities of rice straw reported in the literature. Phase III was conducting fixed-bed column experiments using rice straw. The service time of the columns and the treated volume of wastewater to breakthrough (Ce= 1mg/l) and to exhaustion (Ce≈ 95% C0) increased with the increase in the bed depth of the packed rice straw; however, they decreased with the increase in the initial Pb2+ concentration and the flow rate of the solution. Physical and chemical characterization of rice straw was carried out in order to define the BET surface area, pore volume, average pore size, surface functional groups, shape of the cell wall and chemical composition. Biosorption of Pb2+ using rice straw was inferred to be due to a complex of physical and chemical mechanisms

Lability and solubility of uranium and thorium in soil

The approach used in this study tested the application of an isotope dilution technique (ID) as a means of measuring the labile U(VI) and Th pools in soils. Uranium and Th lability and solubility were investigated for two sets of soils. The first set (Field soils) consisted of thirty seven soil samples representing five contrasting local ecosystems; the second dataset (BGSc) included 40 soils sub-sampled from the British Geological Survey (BGS) archive. Field soil pore water samples were taken from soil columns held at close to field capacity to measure U and Th solubility and speciation; the effects of time, temperature and reducing conditions on Th and U speciation were investigated. Soils were extracted with foursingle extractants: CH3COONH4, EDTA, 0.43 M HNO3 and TMAH to determine their ability to solubilize labile U and Th. Solubility of Th and U varied with soil characteristics, influenced by pH, DOC, DIC and phosphate concentrations. The Kd values for Th and U varied by 4 and 3 orders of magnitude respectively over the range of soils studied. The formation of soluble uranyl carbonate complexes give rise to a strong positive correlation between U and DIC concentrations in soil solutions. This was particularly clear under anaerobic conditions and also at high temperatures which encouraged microbial activity and high CO2partial pressures. Isotopically exchangeable 238U(VI) (the ‘E-value’, UE) in the soils studied varied from 2.7 to 39.1% of the total soil U content. On average, over all groups of soils, CH3COONH4, EDTA and TMAH underestimated E-value by factors of 13.7, 9.5 and 1.6, respectively, while extraction with 0.43M HNO3 overestimated E-value by only a factor of 1.04. Thus, on average across a range of soils, dilute nitric acid gave the best estimate of E-value compared to other extractants. Generally, E-values for U(VI) did not correspond consistently with any single chemical extraction procedure although the degree of correspondence was soil-dependent. Using UEand ThTMAH as input parameters in the geochemical speciation model WHAM-VII improved the prediction of U and Th solubility compared to using the total metal content orthe pools extractable by (other) single extraction methods. Finally, preliminary experiments confirmed the validity of ID for measuring labile soil Th without disturbance of soil-solution equilibrium

DC-SIGN Receptor Level in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients in Baghdad; Serological study

التهاب المفاصل الروماتويدي هو أحد أمراض المناعة الذاتية الالتهابية الجهازية التي ترتبط ارتباطًا وثيقًا بتدمير الغضاريف والعظام. يعد DC-SIGN من مستقبلات C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) المهمة و يعبر على سطح الخلايا المتغصنة و البلعمية  و له  دور اساسي في تنظيم المناعة الفطرية والمكتسبة ،  كما يعمل كمستقبل للتعرف على الأنماط و ايضا كجزيئة التصاق. أثبتت الدراسات تورط الـ DC-SIGN في الفسيولوجية المرضية للالتهابات المزمنة، لذلك تم ربط علاقة الـ DC-SIGN بالعديد من امراض المناعة الذاتية، لذا قد تلعب عاملاً ومؤشرًا أساسيًا في التسبب وتطورمرض التهاب المفاصل الروماتويدي. لذا الغرض من هذه الدراسة هو تحديد المستوى المصلي للـ DC-SIGN في مرضى التهاب المفاصل الروماتويدي، وكذلك دراسة المستوى المصلي للـ DC-SIGN اعتماداً على الخصائص الديموغرافية للمرضى. شملت الدراسة خمسون مريضا عراقيا يعاني من التهاب المفاصل الروماتويدي، وتضمنت الدراسة ايضا عينة سيطرة لاشخاص اصحاء (تم التأكد عن طريق الفحوصات السريرية والمختبرية)، وتمت مطابقتهم حسب الجنس والعمر والعرق مع المرضى. تم حساب تركيز DC-SIGN في مصل المرضى ومقارنته بالسيطرة باستخدام اختبار ELISA وأظهرت النتائج زيادة معنوية في مستوى مصل DC-SIGN (12.047 ± 1.114 مقابل 6.863 ± 0.806 نانوغرام / مل) في مرضى التهاب المفاصل الروماتويدي مقارنة بالسيطرة. وعند ربط النتائج، تبين أن تركيز DC-SIGN في المصل لم يسجل فرقًا معنوياً بين الجنس والعمر وكذلك الحال لمجاميع الدم. و لتحديد تأثير الحالة العلاجية لمرضى التهاب المفاصل الروماتويدي على مستوى DC-SIGN ، وجد أن تركيز مستوى DC-SIGN كان أعلى في المرضى الغير المعالجين مقارنة بالمرضى المعالجين. و عندما أجريت دراسة على مرضى التهاب المفاصل الروماتويدي المصابين بـ SARS-CoV-2 ، لم يظهر مستوى مصل DC-SIGN في مرضى التهاب المفاصل الروماتويدي و المصابين بـ COVID-19 أي تغيير في تركيز DC-SIGN مقارنة بمرضى التهاب المفاصل الروماتويدي الغير مصابين.Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), is an autoimmune, and inflammatory disease that is closely related to the destruction of cartilage and bone. DC-SIGN are important types of C-type lectin receptors (CLRs), expressed on dendritic cells and macrophages, and have a central role in regulating innate and adaptive immunity, function as pattern recognition receptors, and as cell adhesion molecules. Recent evidence has demonstrated that DC-SIGN is involved in the pathophysiological of chronic inflammation, so DC-SIGN has been linked to several autoimmune and may play an essential indicator in the pathogenesis and progression of RA. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine the serum level of DC-SIGN in RA patients, as well as the level of DC-SIGN based on demographic characteristics. Fifty Iraqi RA patients were enrolled in the study, and a control sample of 38 healthy individuals (ascertain by laboratory and clinical tests) were included and matched by gender, age, and ethnicity with the patients. The DC-SIGN concentration was calculated in the patients’ serum and compared to control using the ELISA assay and the results revealed significantly increased serum level of DC-SIGN (12.047 ± 1.114 vs. 6.863 ± 0.806 ng/ml) was recorded in RA patients compared to controls. When correlating results, it was shown that the concentration of DC-SIGN in the serum did not record a significant difference between gender and age, as well as the blood groups. To determine the impact of the therapeutic status in RA patients on the DC-SIGN level, it was found that the concentration of DC-SIGN level was higher in untreated patients compared to treated patients. Regarding viral infection, when an investigation was conducted in RA patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, the serum level of DC-SIGN in RA patients with COVID-19 showed no change in concentrations compared to uninfected RA patients

Lability and solubility of uranium and thorium in soil

The approach used in this study tested the application of an isotope dilution technique (ID) as a means of measuring the labile U(VI) and Th pools in soils. Uranium and Th lability and solubility were investigated for two sets of soils. The first set (Field soils) consisted of thirty seven soil samples representing five contrasting local ecosystems; the second dataset (BGSc) included 40 soils sub-sampled from the British Geological Survey (BGS) archive. Field soil pore water samples were taken from soil columns held at close to field capacity to measure U and Th solubility and speciation; the effects of time, temperature and reducing conditions on Th and U speciation were investigated. Soils were extracted with foursingle extractants: CH3COONH4, EDTA, 0.43 M HNO3 and TMAH to determine their ability to solubilize labile U and Th. Solubility of Th and U varied with soil characteristics, influenced by pH, DOC, DIC and phosphate concentrations. The Kd values for Th and U varied by 4 and 3 orders of magnitude respectively over the range of soils studied. The formation of soluble uranyl carbonate complexes give rise to a strong positive correlation between U and DIC concentrations in soil solutions. This was particularly clear under anaerobic conditions and also at high temperatures which encouraged microbial activity and high CO2partial pressures. Isotopically exchangeable 238U(VI) (the ‘E-value’, UE) in the soils studied varied from 2.7 to 39.1% of the total soil U content. On average, over all groups of soils, CH3COONH4, EDTA and TMAH underestimated E-value by factors of 13.7, 9.5 and 1.6, respectively, while extraction with 0.43M HNO3 overestimated E-value by only a factor of 1.04. Thus, on average across a range of soils, dilute nitric acid gave the best estimate of E-value compared to other extractants. Generally, E-values for U(VI) did not correspond consistently with any single chemical extraction procedure although the degree of correspondence was soil-dependent. Using UEand ThTMAH as input parameters in the geochemical speciation model WHAM-VII improved the prediction of U and Th solubility compared to using the total metal content orthe pools extractable by (other) single extraction methods. Finally, preliminary experiments confirmed the validity of ID for measuring labile soil Th without disturbance of soil-solution equilibrium

Emotional Intelligence among Baccalaureate Students at the Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Egypt: A Cross-sectional Study

Emotional intelligence (EI) is seen as a necessity in health care practices, especially the nursing practice. Assessing levels of EI and ascertaining its progression among nursing students is essential for ensuring effective nursing education and competent professional nursing skills before graduation. This study aimed at assessing the level of emotional intelligence among baccalaureate students at the Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, and determining its development over the academic semesters. The study followed a cross-sectional descriptive design. It was conducted at the Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, on 450 randomly selected students who registered in four semesters. A Socio-demographic and Academic Data Questionnaire, and Emotional Intelligence Scale, were used to collect data. The results indicated that the majority of the studied students in the four semesters had moderate levels of EI. The mean score of EI of the eighth semester's students was slightly increased by the end of the same semester. It was recommended that the student’s level of EI should be considered prior to entrance into the Faculty of Nursing, and EI concept should be incorporated into the nursing curriculum. Keywords: Emotional intelligence, Nursing students, Nursing education

Dialyzer reuse; effect on efficiency and biocompatibility

Fifteen patients on maintenance haemodialysis were studied before and after reuse of cuprophane hollow-fiber dialysers to assess its biocompatibility and efficiency.There was a significant increase in hematocrit value and hemoglobin level by the end of dialysis. Also, there was a significant decrease in total leukocyte (neutrophilic & eosinophilic) and platelet counts with a peak at 15 minutes after the start of dialysis, then there was a gradual increase till the end of dialysis reaching near the predialysis value.These changes occurred both in the first use and the reuse sessions. The decrease in the neutrophilic count with the reused dialyzer was significantly less compaired to first use dialyzer. The terminal complement complex (TCC) significantly increased and reached its maximum after 15 minutes, then it began to decline till the end of the dialysis. Similarly, these changes were significantly less in the reuse dialyzers. No correlation was found between the changes of the TCC and the decrease in different cellular elements.There was an increase in plasma bicarbonate and pH by the end of dialysis. Also,  hypoxia and hypocapnea occured shortly after the start of dialysis session with acetate dialysate, but they returned to their predialysis values at the end of both dialysis sessions. This can be attributed to the loss of carbon dioxide into the dialysate with subsequent hypoventilation.The clearances of urea, creatinine and phosphorus showed insignificant difference between the new and reused dialyzers at zero and 4hr time with significant decrease by the end of dialysis in both dialysis session. This could  be explained by keeping the surface area of the reused dialyzers within the acceptable values (80-100%) of the first use dialyzer.It can be concluded that reused dialyzers were to some extent more hemocompatible than the first use dialyzers. Complement activation is not the sole factor for the biocompatible reactions during dialysis. Reuse of dialyzers can  be a safe procedure by adopting appropriate sterilization, reprocessing and storage techniques and limited number of reuse

Prevalence of Musculoskeletal, Neurological and Physical Disorder After COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia: A Cross Sectional Study [version 3; peer review: 2 approved]

Background: The global pandemic of SARS-CoV-2, or COVID-19 continues to attack all human systems. Although COVID-19 is a respiratory disease, various extra-pulmonary manifestations, including musculoskeletal and neuropathies/myopathies was reported. This study aimed to investigates the long-term impacts of COVID-19 infection on physical health, capability of daily life activities, musculoskeletal and neurological functions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Methods: A total of 499 adults recovered from COVID-19 infection of both sexes, who resided in the KSA were recruited randomly and invited to participate in this cross-sectional web-based survey. A self-administered structured questionnaire was used as an instrument of data collection. All respondents returned the questionnaire. Their responses were recorded, stored into a Microsoft Excel sheet 2010 and analyzed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24. Percentages were used to convey descriptive data. The percentages were presented with a 95% confidence interval (CI). For statistical significance, a 0.05 p-value was used. Results: The overall prevalence of neurological and musculoskeletal disorders as follows: headache (63.1%), muscle ache or weakness (62.3%), vertigo (25%), concentration problems (21.8%), breathing troubles (20.4%), loss of balance (19.4%), seizure (1%), and Guillain-Barre Syndrome (0.6%). The results also revealed a significant association between the influence of COVID-19 infection and daily activities, gender and respiratory disorders. Conclusion: The findings highlighted and concluded that COVID-19 infection had an impact on respiratory, nervous, musculoskeletal systems and affect daily activities

Emergent situations for smart cities: A survey

A smart city is a community that uses communication and information technology to improve sustainability, livability, and feasibility. As any community, there are always unexpected emergencies, which must be treated to preserve the regular order. However, a smart system is needed to be able to respond effectively to these emergent situations. The contribution made in this survey is twofold. Firstly, it provides a comprehensive exhaustive and categorized overview of the existing surveys for smart cities.  The categorization is based on several criteria such as structures, benefits, advantages, applications, challenges, issues, and future directions. Secondly, it aims to analyze several studies with respect to emergent situations and management to smart cities. The analysis is based on several factors such as the challenges and issues discussed, the solutions proposed, and opportunities for future research. The challenges include security, privacy, reliability, performance, scalability, heterogeneity, scheduling, resource management, and latency. Few studies have investigated the emergent situations of smart cities and despite the importance of latency factor for smart city applications, it is rarely discussed