Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Its Effect on the Levels of Dopamine and Adrenaline in Humans

The current study was conducted in Maysan province, Southern Iraq. Blood samples were collected from 174 individuals (male and female), from December 2020 to May 2021. ELISA was used to calculate the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii by determining the levels of anti-toxoplasma IgM and IgG, as well as the levels of dopamine and adrenaline in the participants\u27 blood. The overall seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in Amarah city is 52.3%. In regards to the seropositive cases, there is 32.97% positive to IgM, 38.46% is positive IgG, and 28.57% is positive to both IgM + IgG. The level mean of dopamine in toxoplasmosis-seropositive cases is 2.9543x10-2 mg ml-1, which is higher than that of negative cases (1.8086x10-2 mg ml-1). There are statistically significant differences (p<0.05) between the levels of dopamine in toxoplasmosis-seropositive and negative cases. The mean level of adrenaline in toxoplasmosis-seropositive cases is 2.8752x10-2 mg ml-1. Which is higher than that of negative cases (1.3670x10-2 mg ml-1), there is a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) between its levels in toxoplasmosis-seropositive and negative cases

Non-Cooperative Game Theory Approach for Cognitive Cooperative Communication in WBAN

To increase the Quality of Service (QoS) of wireless body area network, we need an effective data-rate delivering method, which capably forwarding the data over several path. For this reason, we proposed a non-cooperative game approach, based on utilizing a pricing-based spectrum leasing mechanism to transmit the data over several path based on non-cooperative game theory. The parameter price c is together determined by WBAN sensor and D2D users. Then, all selected D2D users used optimized powers that can fulfil the need of the WBSN users. Numerical results show the proposed approach improves the utility of WBSN users and their throughput

Efficient CO2/CH4 Separation Using Polysulfone/NH2-MIL-125(Ti) Mixed Matrix Membranes

This study investigates the fabrication and optimization of mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) composed of NH2-MIL-125(Ti), a metal–organic framework (MOF), dispersed within a polysulfone (PSf) polymer matrix, for efficient CO2/CH4 separation. The MMMs were prepared by using a solution casting method, and their morphology and gas separation performance were systematically characterized. The effect of MOF addition into the polymer matrix, gas permeability, and selectivity were evaluated using a gas permeation setup. Results indicate that incorporating NH2-MIL-125(Ti) nanoparticles enhances the selectivity of the membranes for CO2 over CH4 compared to pure polymer membranes while maintaining acceptable permeability. The membrane morphology demonstrates the uniform distribution of the filler in the polymer matrix. The PSf/NH2-MIL-125(Ti)-15% membrane showed exceptional CO2 permeability and selectivity performance. Specifically, it achieved a CO2 permeability of 19.17 Barrer. Additionally, it exhibited a CO2/CH4 selectivity of 31.95, indicating its ability to effectively differentiate between the CO2 and CH4 gases, which is critical for applications such as natural gas purification and carbon capture. Furthermore, the MMMs produced in this study showed outstanding resistance to CO2 plasticization. The PSf/NH2-MIL-125(Ti)-15% membrane demonstrated superior pressure resistance, withstanding up to 14 bar without significant performance degradation compared to the pristine PSf membrane, which succumbed to plasticization at 4 bar. The enhanced plasticization resistance is attributed to incorporation of NH2-MIL-125(Ti) into the PSf matrix. The combination of high CO2 permeability, excellent selectivity, and robust plasticization resistance positions the PSf/NH2-MIL-125(Ti)-15% membrane as a highly effective solution for CO2 separation applications. The results underscore the potential of these MMMs to achieve significantly better performance metrics than traditional PSf membranes, making them a promising option for industrial gas separation processes

Evaluation of prognostic risk models for postoperative pulmonary complications in adult patients undergoing major abdominal surgery: a systematic review and international external validation cohort study

Background Stratifying risk of postoperative pulmonary complications after major abdominal surgery allows clinicians to modify risk through targeted interventions and enhanced monitoring. In this study, we aimed to identify and validate prognostic models against a new consensus definition of postoperative pulmonary complications. Methods We did a systematic review and international external validation cohort study. The systematic review was done in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We searched MEDLINE and Embase on March 1, 2020, for articles published in English that reported on risk prediction models for postoperative pulmonary complications following abdominal surgery. External validation of existing models was done within a prospective international cohort study of adult patients (≥18 years) undergoing major abdominal surgery. Data were collected between Jan 1, 2019, and April 30, 2019, in the UK, Ireland, and Australia. Discriminative ability and prognostic accuracy summary statistics were compared between models for the 30-day postoperative pulmonary complication rate as defined by the Standardised Endpoints in Perioperative Medicine Core Outcome Measures in Perioperative and Anaesthetic Care (StEP-COMPAC). Model performance was compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROCC). Findings In total, we identified 2903 records from our literature search; of which, 2514 (86·6%) unique records were screened, 121 (4·8%) of 2514 full texts were assessed for eligibility, and 29 unique prognostic models were identified. Nine (31·0%) of 29 models had score development reported only, 19 (65·5%) had undergone internal validation, and only four (13·8%) had been externally validated. Data to validate six eligible models were collected in the international external validation cohort study. Data from 11 591 patients were available, with an overall postoperative pulmonary complication rate of 7·8% (n=903). None of the six models showed good discrimination (defined as AUROCC ≥0·70) for identifying postoperative pulmonary complications, with the Assess Respiratory Risk in Surgical Patients in Catalonia score showing the best discrimination (AUROCC 0·700 [95% CI 0·683–0·717]). Interpretation In the pre-COVID-19 pandemic data, variability in the risk of pulmonary complications (StEP-COMPAC definition) following major abdominal surgery was poorly described by existing prognostication tools. To improve surgical safety during the COVID-19 pandemic recovery and beyond, novel risk stratification tools are required. Funding British Journal of Surgery Society

Catalyzed direct reaction of methanol with silicon

AbstractThe present research involves the study of the direct reaction of methanol with silicon in the presence of copper as a catalyst. This reaction was performed in a static form system and the reacting CH3OH vapor could be brought into contact with the Si-catalyst mixture fixed as a bed in the reaction tube at reaction temperatures 250, 300 and 350°C. The catalysts surfaces were characterized by using a number of surface analysis techniques, such as XRD, SEM, and EDX. The products of the interaction were mainly Trimethoxysilane (TrMS) and Tetramethoxysilane (TMS) and the highest percentage were 28% for TrMS and 21% for TMS. The percentage of the methoxysilanes increases when the Cu content of the mixture and the temperature increased, while the percentage of non-silicon products HCOH and CO decreases when the Cu content and temperature increased. The rate of CH3OH reaction with Si directly depends on its pressure giving rise to an apparent reaction order of unity with respect to the CH3OH reactant. Activation energies, pre-exponential factors, and ΔS# of the reaction have been estimated. A compensation effect operated in the kinetics of the CH3OH interaction with silicon as indicated by the linear relationships which existed between the values of Ea and the corresponding values of logA. The introduction of additives into the catalyst caused either promotion or inhibition

Q-switched in figure of 8 by using graphite flakes as saturable absorber

Abstract In this study, a successful experiment has been reported on pulse compression in the Q-switched fiber laser by utilizing graphite flakes as a saturable absorber (SA). The sputter deposition method was used to deposited graphite flakes as SA, incorporated into the bore of the laser in order to compress the width of the pulse in the operation of Q-switching. The small repetition rate at 29.6 kHz was mentioned as the maximum power of the pump with the single-to-noise ratio (SNR) ∼30dB was required to compress the pulse. Accordingly, graphite flakes have the ability to be utilized as an effective S A in producing pulse compression and Q-switching mode, that will be may fixedly lead to further enhancement in the fiber laser pulsed.</jats:p

Impact of bio fertilizer and magnetic irrigation water on growth and yield of melon Cucumis melo L.

Abstract The field experiment was conducted at Baqubah nursery, Directorate of Diyala agriculture in Iraq during summer growing of 2017 to study the effect of bio and chemical fertilizers with magnetized water as well as their interactions on growth and yield of melon cv. Piel de sapo. The experiment was laid-out in Randomized Complete Block Design with factorial experiment with three replications and two factors, included two treatments of fertilizer types (urea 50 kg N. ha−1) with Bio-fertilizer (Azospirillum brasilense and Azotobacter chroococcum) and chemical fertilizer (urea 100 kg N. ha−1) and the second factor included magnetized water and non-magnetized water. The results showed that bio &amp; chemical fertilizer caused significant increases in all studied traits rates compared to chemical fertilizer. Also magnetized water revealed that significant superiority of all study traits rates compared to non-magnetized water. Whereas the interaction between bio and chemical fertilizers with magnetized water led to significant superiority in other treatments with the highest values of all study traits, viz. fruits yield (7.2 kg. plant−1), fruits weight (3.4 kg. replicat−1), total yield (28520.0 kg. ha−1), fruit length (27.6 cm), content of fructose sugar in fruits after 24 days of storage (13.1%), fruit diameter from outside and inside (16.8 and 5.1cm) respectively, content of fibers in fruits after 24 days of storage (6.4%), fruits content of TSS% after 3 days of storage (13.7%) and fruits firmness after 24 days of storage (2.8%).</jats:p