Environmental Isotopic Characterization of Groundwater and Surface Water in Northeast Missan Province,South Iraq

The present work studies the environmental isotopes assess groundwater characteristics of the different parts of the main aquifer in the northeast Missan Province in south of Iraq. Water samples of groundwater and surface water were collected for two dry and wet seasons during the water year of 2011-2012. The study shows that most of the groundwater in the aquifer falls above the global meteoric water line, and all the samples fall below the Mediterranean meteoric water line, indicating that these samples are a mixture of two water types. The tritium content of these samples supports this conclusion. The overall conclusion of this study indicates that there are two sources of groundwater recharge in the studied area： the ephemeral streams （Teeb and Dewerge） and major precipitation sources. According to the tritium levels at or below one tritium unit （TU） obtained from the water, supply wells are highly confined or ＂not vulnerable＂. Overall, the 3^H results imply that recent recharge has taken place during the last four to five decades. In the recharge area, the high tritium content in the southern part of the Teeb area suggests that the recharge originates from rapid infiltration of surface runoff. Therefore, the groundwater resources in the study area should be protected from contamination, because it will influence the aquifer in a relatively short period of time if any contamination enters the recharge areas of the aquifer.

Rapid isolation and identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from pulmonary tuberculosis patients

Objective:The Study aimed to develop a rapid inexpensive and simple method for preliminary isolation and detection of M.tuberculosis from clinical specimens.Also to probe the impact of deteriorating health measures on the pulmonary tuberculosis control program in Basra city.Methods:A simple monophasic-diphasic setup (MDCS) was used for the isolation and preliminary identification of M.tuberculosis.This setup consists of a slanted Lowenstein-Jensen medium,the bottom of it is covered with 1 mL of tuberculosis broth thus establishing a diphasic solid liquid environment at the bottom of the screw capped test tube and above them a monophasic one.Results:During 7 months period from the beginning of December 2003 to the end of June 2004,1 295 cases were managed in Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases Clinic in Basra city.Only 348 cases were diagnosed as active pulmonary tuberculosis.They consist of 232 new cases and 116 previously registered ones.The MDCS method showed higher recovery of isolation rate of M.tuberculosis(92.3%) than Lowenstein-Jensen,and pyruvate methods with 78.1%and 51.9%respectively.Also this method revealed more rapid appearance of results of 12 days than Lowenstein-Jensen,and pyruvate media with 22 days and 23 days respectively by the traditional culturing methods.Concurrently the study revealed that drug resistance against one or more anti tuberculosis drugs was 23.1%for new cases and 70.8%for the old ones.Multi drug resistance accounts for 20%of total isolates from old cases.This was based on using the critical concentration and 1%proportional procedures.Tuberculosis was more common among males than females with 69.4%and 30.6%respectively. A significant correlation(P【0.05) was found between the productive age group(25-54) and incidence of tuberculosis. Tuberculosis was higher among married(83.8%) than unmarried peoples(22%).Children,husbands and wives showed higher infection rates than others indicating kinship influence.Failure of treatment was highly affected by improper use of anti tuberculosis drugs.Conclusion:The MDCS method exhibited several advantages over other culturing techniques exemplified by elimination of transport medium,establishment of simultaneous but two separate environments to accomplish both the detection and preliminary identification of M.tuberculosis,providing flexibility in the kinds of media used in the liquid and solid phases and it is inexpensive.

Rapid and Sensitive Identification of Horse and Donkey Meat in Iraqi Markets Using SSR and PCR-RFLP Based on Mitochondrial DNA Cytochrome B Gene

This study was carried out at the Genetic Engineering Lab, College of Agriculture, University of Basrah. DNA was extracted from samples containing meat of commercial products in the Basrah markets. The products subjected to analysis using polymerase chain reaction （PCR） with species specific repeat （SSR） and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism （PCR-RFLP） techniques based on the sequence of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b gene （mtDNA cyt b gene）. Then digestion with the Alu l restriction enzyme to establish a differential diagnosis detects and discriminates between meat species and adulteration in the products. SSR primers were applied, has been detected amplification of the encoded gene product, generated 221 bp in some imported minced and canned meat samples. The results show that SSR analysis produced a pattern that allowed a direct identification of horse and donkey meats in some imported minced and canned meat samples （Hana, Monde and Bavaria）. The amplified 359 bp gene of mtDNA cyt b gene from samples in different product was cut using Alu 1 restriction enzyme resulting in restriction fragment length polymorphism （RFLP）. Alu 1 was used to distinguish between the animals meat that belong to the family or one species. The digestion of the PCR product showed differences between products. Where the fragment length generated were 74, 76 and 189 bp. It belonged to horse meat. The fraud was detected in Hana, Monde and Bavaria products available in Basrah markets showing the presence of horse meat in these products that labeled as beef meats 100%. This revealed mtDNA cyt b gene as highly conserved and consequently a good molecular marker for diagnostic studies. Thus, this technique can be applied to food authentication for the identification of different species of animals in food products.

Genetic Polymorphism of Kappa Casein （K-CN）in Iraqi Buffalo Using Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism

This study was carried out the animal production department, genetic engineering lab, college of agriculture, （UoB）, Iraq. The aim of this study was to use the polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism （PCR-RFLP） as a fast, efficient and low cost method to detect the genetic variants of kappa-casein gene （k-CN） in Iraqi buffalo using three different primers specific for bovine k-CN to amplify the gene segment, followed by digestion using restriction enzyme （Hind III） for genotyping. DNA from 50 Iraqi buffaloes was extracted by phenol chloroform method. PCR was carried out in a final reaction volume of 25 μL and the reaction mixture was subjected to standard PCR protocol. The results of this work show that among the examined 50 Iraqi Buffalo were homozygous for the K-CN and genotyped as BB for all three primers but gave different bands. Thus PCR-RFLP using Hind III revealed all the samples to be monomorphic for this locus. The restriction digestion analysis of 397 bp PCR product of k-CN indicates the presence of two fragments of 154 bp and 225 bp for BB-genotype. A 437 bp fragment of the bovine genomic K-CN gene was amplified. One Hind III restriction site is found in position 346 of the amplified fragment of allele k-CN B, yielded 91 bp and 346 bp. Amplified products from Iraqi buffalo （530）, after being digested with Hind III, yielded two separate DNA fragments of different sizes i.e., 160 bp and 370 bp. For the first time completed research such specifications in Iraq, for the first time using molecular biology in genetic identification. Our objectives of this study have been to aid in understanding domestication, Buffalo origin and their history and evolution, to identify genetically unique breeds, to provide an objective basis for conservation decisions and to aid the formulation of breeding plans.

A High Spectral Efficient Non-Binary TCM Scheme-Based Novel Decoding Algorithm for 4G Systems

This paper deals with the MIMO-OFDM technique that is applied to the fourth generation (4G) of the wireless communication systems, this technique can provide high data rate transmission without increasing transmit power and expanding bandwidth, it can also efficiently use space resources and has a bright future. It presents the channel coding assisted STBC-OFDM systems, and employs the Coded Modulation techniques (CM), since the signal bandwidth available for wireless communications is limited. The proposed system deals with Non-binary error control coding of the TCM-aided STBC-OFDM scheme for transmissions over the Rayleigh channel. A new non-binary decoding method, Yaletharatalhussein decoding algorithm, is designed and implemented for decoding non-binary convolutional codes, which is based on the trellis diagram representing the convolutional encoder. Yaletharatalhussein decoding algorithm outperforms the Viterbi algorithm and other algorithms in its simplicity, very small computational complexity, decoding reliability for high states TCM codes that are suitable for Fourth-Generation (4G), decreasing errors with increasing word length, and easy to implement with real-time applications. The simulation results show that the performance of the non-binary TCM-based Yaletharatalhussein decoding algorithm-assisted STBC-OFDM scheme outperforms the binary and non-binary decoding methods.

A Novel Decoding Method for Non-Binary TCM Codes

A new non-binary decoding method, which is called Yaletharatalhussein decoding algorithm, is designed and implemented for decoding non-binary convolutional codes which is based on the trellis diagram representing the convolutional encoder. Yaletharatalhussein decoding algorithm outperforms the Viterbi algorithm and other algorithms in its simplicity, very small computational complexity, decoding reliability for high states TCM codes that suitable for Fourth-Generation (4G), decreasing errors with increasing word length, and easy to implement with real-time applications. The proposed Yaletharatalhussein decoding algorithm deals with non-binary error control coding of the convolutional and TCM codes. Convolutional codes differ from block codes in that a block code takes a fixed message length and encodes it, whereas a convolutional code can encode a continuous stream of data, and a hard-decision decoding can easily be realized using the Yaletharatalhussein algorithm. The idea of non-binary codes has been extended for symbols defined over rings of integers, which outperform binary codes with only a small increase in decoding complexity. The simulation results show that the performance of the nonbinary TCM-based Yaletharatalhussein algorithm outperforms the binary and non-binary decoding methods.

A New Differential Quadrature Methodology Based on Bernstein Polynomials for Solving the Equations Governing the Unsteady Flow of a Polytropic Gas

Aims of this paper are to improve ADI differential quadrature method （ADI-DQM） based on Bernstein polynomials and add a new application to the differential quadrature method. By using the new methodology, the numerical solutions of the governing equations of unsteady two-dimensional flow of a polytropic gas are investigated. The numerical results reveal that the new technique is very effective and gives high accuracy, good convergence and reasonable stability.

A New Schiff Base Derivatives Designed to Bind Metal Ion (Cu, Co): Thermodynamics and Biological Activity Studies

Schiff base synthesis is usually acid catalyzed and it usually requires refluxing the mixture of aldehydes and amine in ethanolic solution. Synthesis and characterization of Schiff base ligands derived from substituted amine and salicylaldehyde and their complexes (Cu2+, Co2+) are reported. The ligands and ligand-complexes were characterized by melting point, FTIR, CHN-elemental analysis and UV-Visible analysis. The UV-Visible and elemental analysis of complexes established (1:2) mole ratio (M:L). The stability constant and thermodynamic parameters (K, ΔG, ΔH, ΔS) were determined at different temperature (30 - 40)°C which established that the metal-complexes were very stable. The review describes the promising biological activities of Schiff base and their metal complexes.

Preparation and Characterization of Oligomer from Recycled PET and Evaluated as a Corrosion Inhibitor for C-Steel Material in 0.1 M HCl

Polyethylene terephthalate waste (PET) was depolymerized by thiodiglycol into thioglycolyzed product. The product was characterized by FTIR and 1HNMR spectroscopy and the thermal properties (TGA, DTA) showed that the prepared compound was thermally stable until 250°C. The efficiency of the prepared corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel was measured by using acid media (0.1 HCl) as corrosive environment and the inhibitor concentration was (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 ppm). The electrochemical technique used Tafel plot to measure the efficiency of inhibitor. Factors effect on the rate of corrosion like temperature (298, 308, 318, 328 K) and concentration (10, 20, 30, 40, 50 ppm) of inhibitor were studied. From the obtained results many factors were calculated that determined the efficiency of the inhibitor like corrosion rate, charge transfer resistance and inhibitor efficiency. It was observed that the corrosion rate and charge transfer of the carbon steel for the inhibitor increase with increase of temperature and decrease with increase of the inhibitor concentration in the same temperature. The results showed that the inhibitor had high inhibition in reducing the corrosion rate. The inhibition efficiency (% IE) reached 97.1% for the 40 ppm concentration at 308 K.

Miniaturization Planar Monopole Antenna for UWB Applications

Miniaturization and compact printed planar monopole antenna coplanar Waveguide CPW/microstrip feed line three half semi-circular （3HSC） with similar ground plane is presented, design, simulation, fabrication and tested experimentally for Ultra-Wideband （UWB） eommnnication application especially for WLAN and HIPERLAN/2 WLAN. The antenna design has a far from the traditional antennas such as a rectangular, circular, elliptical etc. Generating original planar antenna has been investigated to be an effect the combine geometry shapes of the radiation element part with the same geometry shapes of the slots in the ground plane. The simulation and measuring results have a good agreement, large bandwidth and radiation pattern behavior an omni-directional with stable gain has been obtained.

Novel Planar Monopole Antenna for UWB Applications

Miniaturization and compact Novel printed planar monopole antenna line feed three half semi-elliptical （3HSE） with similar ground plane is presented, design, simulation, fabrication and tasted experimentally for Ultra-Wideband （UWB） communication application especially for WLAN and HIPERLAN/2 WLAN. Generating original planar antenna has been investigated to be an effect the combine geometry shapes of the radiation element part with the same geometry shapes of the slots in the ground plane. The prototype antenna is etched on a Roger TMM4 substrate with the size 25×25× 1.575 mm3 and optimized to operate over frequency band from 3.6-20 GHz, （BW 16.5 GHz）, （FBW is 〉 140.42%）. The simulation and measuring results have a good agreement, large bandwidth and radiation pattern behavior an omni-directional with stable gain rich to 5 dB.

Dielectric Properties and a.c. Conductivity of Epoxy/Alumina Silicate NGK Composites

Alumina silicate powder which is extracted from the obsolete spark plug NGK (insulator part as a filler) has been used to produce epoxy/alumina silicate composite. The dielectric behavior of the composite materials (epoxy resin-alumina silicate NGK) is analyzed as a function of the filler content, temperature and frequency. AC conductivity and impedance are also studied. The results show that the permittivity, dielectric loss and loss tangent for all composites increase with increasing alumina silicate NGK filler content.

Should Crab Heals Cancer Humans?

Background:Despite pharmacological interventions,cancer therapy still remain a challenge,and develop new therapies is still required for treating the cancer.The goal of this study was to assess the crab product in healing cancer patients.Methods:This study was conducted using previous Imam Jaafar Al-Sadiq traditional described method.Results:The cure rate was 85%among cancer patients treated with crab product,the majority of cases positively healing in 1-2 month after regular use of the crab product,and the other cases need a full year for the recovery.Conclusions:the crab as one of the complementary medicine treatment available can contribute greatly to eliminate cancer in ancient and modern times.

Composition of population and abundance of Penaeus semisulcatus (De Haan, 1844) in relation to microbial population from Al-Faw, Basrah, lraq

Objective: To evaluate the composition of population and abundance of green tiger shrimp Penaeus semisulcatus (P. semisulcatus) in relation to presence of main groups of pathogenic bacteria isolated from tissues of different stages of shrimps in Al-Faw City, Basrah, Iraq. Methods: The specimens of shrimp P. semisulcatus were collected from December 2016 to February 2017 by commercial trawl net. Pathogenic bacteria were isolated from muscle tissues of P. semisulcatus. Microbial species were characterized based on morphological and biochemical tests. Results: Monthly changes in the composition of population of P. semisulcatus during three months of the present study were observed;the highest abundance of males and females was recorded in February 2017. The sex ratio indicated a preponderance of females over males in study area. The average total numbers of isolated bacteria were 14.31 × 103 CFU/100 mL from shrimp in young and larval stages, while from adult shrimps average total number of bacteria was 18.46 × 102 CFU/100 mL. Pathogenic bacteria isolated presumably belonged to three species, namely, Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Conclusions: The current study showed that the total bacteria number in young and larvae specimens of P. semisulcatus was greater than that in adult specimens, and exceeded the allowed maximum bacteria number.

NEURO FUZZY MODEL FOR PREDICTING THE DYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF BEAMS

An adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system （ANFIS） is introduced to predict the dynamic behavior of beams. The effects of axial forces and large displacements are considered in the analysis. A database of tests for the dynamic characteristics of beams is developed from the experimental tests. The responses of nonlinear vibration force for the single and multiple-stepped beams are calculated from the finite element method （FEM）, experimental tests and neuro-fuzzy model for comparison. The neuro-fuzzy model provides a general framework for the combination of neural networks and fuzzy logic. It is more flexible with more options of incorporating the fuzzy nature of the real-world system and is an useful estimation tool for the dynamic characteristics of beams. Therefore, ANFIS can be a useful tool for dynamic behaviour analysis of multiple-stepped beams subjected to axial loads and large displacement.

Mixed symmetry states and isospin excitation in the N =Z nucleus ^(28)Si

The interacting boson model with isospin (IBM-3) has been used to study the isospin excitation states and mixed symmetry states at low spin for 28Si. The theoretical calculations are in agreement with experimental data. The theoretical results show that the 81+ energy is 14.73 MeV.

Shape Transition and Triaxial Interaction Effect in the Structure of ^(152-166)Dy Isotopes

The positive parity states in even-even 152-166 Dy are studied systematically in the framework of the interacting boson model(IBM). A cubic term, L = 3, has been added to the Hamiltonian in order to produce the effect of triaxiality on the energy spectrum. The potential energy surfaces as a function of β and γ deformation parameters,for all isotopes have been produced. Energy levels and reduced electric quadrupole transition probabilities are calculated in framework of IBM with Cubic term(IBMC). All results are compared with available experimental data. It is found that these isotopes can be described by a schematic Hamiltonian in transition from U(5)(vibration) to SU(3)(rotation)dynamic symmetry.

Improved narrow wavelength band blocking filters

A design approach is described to achieve spectral blocking filters of any spectral width and optical density for narrow blocking bands. We give new criterions to find the necessary number of layers from the desired bandwidth and optical density, and give new estimate equations which describe the number of layers required for designing a blocking filter of given bandwidth, high index, and optical density. This approach can be useful for laser line blocking, night vision filters, and many other general applications.

Comparative study of natural chemical for enhanced oil recovery: Focus on extraction and adsorption at quartz sand surface

In chemical enhanced oil recovery(CEOR),it is very important to utilize the excessive usage of chemicals.A great opportunity lies in adopting natural surfactants,since it is cheaper,ecosystem friendly,and less toxic than their counterpart synthetic surfactants.Despite the availability of natural surfactant sources,it is yet very early to decide on their applicability.Therefore,this research focuses on natural-saponin extracted from different raw materials available in the Middle East and their interaction with quartz-sand.A special focus was given to the adsorption isotherm models to describe the interaction with the reservoir rocks.Three raw materials were investigated are fenugreek,sugar beet leaves and chickpeas.The main extraction method employed was the chemical extraction using the soxhelet.The study used Uv–vis spectrometer to investigate the micellization behaviour and the consequent adsorption on quartz-sand.The presence of triterpenoid saponin is found dominant in all the sample,the intensity and purity differed according to the raw material source.Tthe critical micelle concentration(CMC)was at a close range of 4–5.5 wt%in all the samples.The highest adsorption was obtained by sugar beet leaves which is 192 g/kg.It is 25%and 37%higher than the Fenugreek and chickpeas,respectively.Increasing the salinity resulted in adsorption reduction between 2%and 56%.For the adsorption isotherms,it showed good agreement with the Langmuir model fitting.The remarkable finding is that the sugar beet leaves heterogeneous model seems to be valid by Frendluich and Halsey isotherms.