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Biological activity, chemical composition, and molecular docking of Eugenia punicifolia (Kunth) DC
Full text linkThere is a significant effort to explore the potential pharmacological activity of natural products derived from plant extracts. The goal is to generate new compounds that could be used for therapeutic purposes. Eugenia punicifolia is a shrub that grows widely all over the world. As a natural cure for diabetes, fever, flu and inflammation, leaves of this medicinal plant are often used in decoction or aqueous infusion. The goal of the study was to record the molecular docking, antioxidant, chemical composition, and alpha-glucosidase inhibition of E. punicifolia. A number of parameters were evaluated in order to confirm its efficacy, including Total Phenolic Content (TPC), TFC (Total Flavonoid Content), FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power), DPPH radical scavenging activity, inhibition of α-glucosidase, chemical composition, and molecular docking. The leaf ethanolic exhibited robust antioxidant activity with respect to radical scavenging activity, TPC (Total phenolic content), reducing power, TFC (Total Flavonoid Content), and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity at concentrations of 26.7 µg/mL, 18.9 mmol/g, 11.9 mg GAE/g, 13.5 mg QE/g, and 18.9 µg/mL, respectively. In the ethanolic leaf extract, Z-8-Methyl-9-tetradecenoic acid (28.6%) was the main component. The five compounds (− 121.208 kcal/mol, − 120.465 kcal/mol, − 105.572 kcal/mol, − 104.497 kcal/mol, and − 102.256 kcal/mol) were selected as the top lead compounds, respectively. The lead compounds that were found had drug-like properties and were suitable for oral administration. In addition, it was noted that they exhibited non-toxic features and favorable ADME-Tox characteristics, except for compound 6, which displayed toxicity. The leaves exhibited potential applications in the food and pharmaceutical sectors
Comparative study on efficiency of surface enhanced coal fly ash and raw coal fly ash for the removal of hazardous dyes in wastewater: optimization through response surface methodology†
Full text linkCrystal violet (CV) dye, because of its non-biodegradability and harmful effects, poses a significant challenge for wastewater treatment. This study addresses the efficiency of easily accessible coal fly ash (CFA)-based adsorbents such as raw coal fly ash (RCFA) and surface enhanced coal fly ash (SECFA), in removing CV dye from waste effluents. Various analytical techniques such as FTIR, XRD, SEM, TEM, BET, zeta sizer and zeta potential were employed for the characterization of the adsorbents and dye-loaded samples. BET revealed that RCFA possesses a surface area of 19.370 m2 g−1 and SECFA of 27.391 m2 g−1, exhibiting pore volumes of 0.1365 cm3 g−1 and 0.1919 cm3 g−1 respectively. Zeta-sizer and potential analysis showed the static charges of RCFA as −27.3 mV and SECFA as −28.2 mV, with average particle sizes of 346.6 and 315.3 nm, respectively. Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms were also employed for adsorption studies. Employing central composite design (CCD) of response surface methodology (RSM), the maximum CV removal was 81.52% for RCFA and 97.52% for SECFA, providing one minute contact time, 0.0125 g adsorbent dose and 10 ppm dye concentration. From the thermodynamic studies, all the negative values of ΔG° showed that all the adsorption processes of both adsorbents were spontaneous in nature
Gender-Based Differences of D-Dimer Levels Among Mild COVID-19 Patients Living in the Erbil City-Iraq
Full text linkSARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of severe acute respiratory syndrome, possesses the capability to induce respiratory illness, which leads to thrombotic diseases. One of the potential biomarkers associated with the poor prognosis in COVID-19 is the rise of D-dimer. However, the potential of plasma's D-dimer to predict gender disparities in disease severity remains undetermined in Erbil-Iraq. This study aimed to evaluate the gender-based difference of the D-dimer in mild males and females of COVID-19 patients; their correlation with age was also within the scope of this study. Retrospectively analyzed laboratory and clinical data of mild COVID-19 cases confirmed at Bio Lab in Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. An immunofluorescence assay was used to measure the amount of D-dimer in 1174 patients. The results were given in fibrinogen equivalent units (µg/ml). Out of 1174, 591 (50.34%) were male. Their mean age was (52.23 ± 0.657); while 583 (49.66%) were female, their mean age was (51.11 ± 0.722). The mean D-dimer among male patients was 1.163 μg/ml (±0.175 μg/ml), whereas the level of D-dimer in female patients was equal to 1.172 μg/ml (±0.147 μg/ml). The study finds a correlation between age and D-dimer. In conclusion, there is no significant difference in D-dimer value between the male and female COVID-19 groups
An Overview of Existing Problems in Teaching the Science ”Fundamentals of Geometry”
Full text linkThis paper goes into the challenges faced in the teaching of geometry, emphasizing its foundational principles. It investigates an alternate viewpoint by relating geometric principles to verses from the Holy Quran, implying that geometric conceptions have a spiritual and intellectual dimension. The historical contributions of Islam to geometric sciences are also examined, emphasizing the confluence between religion and geometry. The historical context of geometry in Islamic education is also explored, with an emphasis on the substantial contributions of some Muslim scholars to the topic between the 9th and 15th centuries. The literature overview presents much research on geometry education, including inquiry-based techniques, academic talent profiles, and the impact of various teaching methods on student achievement. Despite the variety of teaching methods, obstacles such as curriculum issues, teacher training, and student attitudes continue. In addressing the complexity of geometry teaching, the methodologies section highlights the significance of appropriate research design. The traditional teaching style and activity-based teaching/learning are addressed as two opposing methods. The latter is praised for its ability to foster innovative learning experiences. The results and discussion section critically assesses the “Foundations of Geometry” curriculum at top universities, identifying issues that need to be revised to line with contemporary expectations. The obstacles to teaching geometry are examined, including students’ apathy and lack of prior knowledge, and solutions such as real-world examples, continual professional development, and activity-based teaching approaches are proposed. Finally, the article proposes a comprehensive reevaluation of geometry education that takes historical, religious, and current perspectives into account. It emphasizes the need for dynamic teaching methods, technology integration, and a revamped curriculum to make geometry more accessible and entertaining for students
Effectiveness of Limestone Powder as a Partial Replacement of Cement on the Punching Shear Behavior of Normal- and High-Strength Concrete Flat Slabs
Full text linkThe objective of this study is to investigate the performance of normal- and high-strength concretes including limestone powder (LP) through their mechanical properties. Moreover, sustainable flat plates made of these concretes were investigated through their punching strength. For this purpose, two different types of concrete (normal- and high-strength) with various limestone replacement ratios of 0%, 5%, 15%, and 20% by weight were designed. The fresh and hardened characteristics of the mixtures were investigated at various ages. By this means, the experimental behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) flat plate slabs made with limestone powder subjected to punching shear failure was studied. Slump value increased up to a 5% replacement of LP; after that, there was a tendency for the slump value to decrease as the replacement of limestone in normal-strength LP concrete increased. However, slump values for high-strength LP concrete increased as the LP replacement amount increased. There was a steady decrease in the compressive strength and splitting tensile strength values with the increase in LP content in normal concrete. However, in the high-strength LP concrete, with more than 10% of replacement LP, a decrease in the compressive strength values and splitting tensile strength values occurred. Compared to the control slab specimen without LP, in normal strength, the slab specimens with LP exhibit a larger ultimate shear load for slab specimens containing 5% and 10% of LP. The maximum increment for RC slabs containing 10% limestone powder was 3.8%. However, in high-strength concrete, the slab specimens with LP remained at the same ultimate shear load as control slabs, up to 10% of LP. high-strength concrete slabs with 5–20% LP showed an overall increase of (17.2%) in punching strength over the corresponding LP normal-strength concrete slabs. The corresponding increase for control slabs was 18.8%. It can be concluded that introducing LP improves the slab punching strength in a similar way that is found in non-sustainable slabs when using either normal- or high-strength concrete
Factors Leading to Speaking Anxiety in EFL Classes
Full text linkIn this study, 30 English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students' speaking anxiety is examined in relation to its contributing elements. Students were chosen in this situation by using the Stratified Sampling Method. The study employed two research instruments. The students were subjected to a structured interview after completing a Likert-scale questionnaire. The study's findings showed that educational reasons, which have a rate of 71%, personal factors, which have a rate of 66%, and environmental factors, which have a rate of 56%, are the three elements that have the most impact on students' speaking anxiety. The analysis of interviews also revealed comparable factors. The students indicated that they encountered speaking anxiety due to deficiencies in grammar and vocabulary, as well as feelings of shyness while addressing a group. Additionally, they expressed apprehension regarding the articulation of their thoughts into coherent phrases and the potential for making errors
Error Analysis of Written English Paragraphs by Kurdish and Arab Students: A Comparative Study
Full text linkCompetence in writing is an indispensable skill crucial for both academic and professional success, enabling effective expression of ideas, thoughts, and information. Writing proficiency encompasses more than word arrangement, extending to organizing ideas, utilizing proper grammar and punctuation, and conveying meaning clearly. However, second/foreign language learners often grapple with challenges in cultivating proficient writing skills. This investigation meticulously examines errors in a dataset comprising 40 English paragraphs authored by Kurdish and Arab learners. Employing error analysis, the study identifies and categorizes errors with the aim of discerning potential variations in error types and frequencies between the two student groups. Additionally, the research delves into gender-related differences in error occurrence. The results provide valuable insights for crafting language teaching materials and strategies tailored to English learners from Kurdish and Arab backgrounds, illuminating linguistic hurdles these students confront. The study’s findings underscore that punctuation errors prevail among both groups, exhibiting no significant disparities between Kurdish and Arab students. Similarly, gender differences among students do not yield any noteworthy distinctions
Toll-like receptor stimulants in processed meats promote lipid accumulation in macrophages and atherosclerosis in Apoe−/− mice
Full text linkDietary intake of processed meat is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, the effects of processed meats on lipid metabolism in macrophages, a key regulator of cardiovascular risk, have remained largely unexplored.
Extracts of processed meats, but not their fresh non-processed equivalents, were found to promote a significant increase in macrophage lipid accumulation in vitro. Calibrated receptor-dependent reporter assays revealed that pro-inflammatory stimulants of Toll-like receptor (TLR)-2 and TLR4 were low or undetectable in fresh meats, but rose dramatically following chopping and storage at 4 °C. Lipid accumulation in response to processed meats correlated well with TLR-stimulant content, was significantly reduced in TLR4-deficient macrophages, and was absent in response to meats stored frozen to prevent bacterial growth. TLR-stimulation significantly increased the incorporation of 14C-acetate into cellular lipids, and induced lipid accumulation in the absence of exogenous lipoproteins, suggesting a key role for de novo lipid synthesis in this process. Aortic atherosclerosis was also significantly accelerated in Apoe−/− mice receiving a diet supplemented with TLR-stimulants at concentrations relevant to those measured in processed meats, compared to normal chow.
The findings reveal novel mechanisms which may be of relevance to the observed connections between processed meat consumption, inflammatory markers and cardiovascular risk
QSAR modelling to predict structural features of certain sulfonamide as Urokinase-type Plasminogen Activator inhibitors
Full text linkThe serine hydrolase family includes serine proteases. It is essential for hydrolyzing protein peptide bonds and breaking them. The urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) selectively binds to the uPAR on numerous cell types, including cancer cells. Pericellular proteolysis of cell-bound proteins requires this interaction. High uPA and uPAR levels regularly worsen cancer prognoses. Thus, small chemical active-site inhibitors that block uPA may diminish cancer cell invasion and metastasis. In compliance with Organization for Economic Corporation and Development guidelines, this research performed a complete Quantitative structure activity relationship analysis of sulfonamide compounds as Urokinase-type Plasminogen Activator inhibitors. Py-Descriptors were used for this investigation. PyDescriptor uses PyMOL standards and idioms to calculate 11,145 simple molecular descriptors. This plugin calculates molecular descriptors irrespective of molecular representation properties like atom numbering or labelling, spatial reference frame, translational and rotational invariance, etc. The investigation sought to find essential and hidden structural characteristics that regulate sulfonamide-type drugs' Urokinase-type Plasminogen Activator Inhibitory action. Twenty-eight sulfonamide chemicals are used in the Quantitative structure activity relationship study to generate statistically robust and highly predictive univariate and multivariate models. All models were thoroughly evaluated and meet several statistical parameter thresholds (e.g., R2 =0.9259–0.9280, Q2Loo= 0.8579–0.8558, Q2LMO= 0.8013–0.7865). The analysis reveal that occurance of ring carbon atoms exactly at 3 A0 from carbon atom, number of negatively charged atoms from sulphur atoms within 5 bonds, presence of hydrogen atom exactly at 3 bonds from donar atoms, presence of carbon atom exactly at 4 A0 from donar atom, presence of acceptor atom exactly at 5 A0 from sulphur atom and sum of partial charges of lipo atoms within 6 bonds from sulphur atom are important pharmacophoric features for Urokinase-type Plasminogen Activator Inhibition binding affinity. Thus, the developed Quantitative structure activity relationship study has an equilibrium of quantitative and qualitative tactics. The results could be useful for future optimizations of sulfonamide analogues
A New Glucosyl Flavone with Inhibitory Activity of Cancer Cell Viability and Other Bioactive Constituents from the Traditional Kurdish Plant Plantago loeflingii L.
Full text linkA new glucosyl flavone, 5,7,2′,5′-tetrahydroxyflavone 7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, named loeflingiin, together with apigenin 6-C-glucoside (isovitexin), coumarins citropten and isompinellin, triterpenoids betulin and betulinic acid, and a mixture of phytosterols β-sitosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol were isolated for the first time from the leaves of wild Plantago loeflingii L. (Plantaginaceae) collected in the Iraqi Kurdistan region. The plant is used by local people to treat wounds and as a vulnerary remedy. The structures of isolated compounds were determined by spectroscopic analysis. The activities of isovitexin and loeflingiinon the viability of breast (MCF7), ovarian (BG-1), endometrial (Ishikawa), and mesothelioma (IST-MES1) human cancer cells and two normal cell lines were determined with an MTT assay. Notably, the new 7-O-glucosyl flavone showed effects higher than cisplatin against the Ishikawa and IST-MESI cell lines. The significant biological activities exhibited by all the compounds isolated from P. loeflingii provided scientific evidence to support the use of the plant in the Kurdish traditional medicine