Multi-drug-resistant uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is considered a significant challenge due to its ability to resist antibiotics and form biofilms. UPEC biofilm formers are well protected and largely inaccessible to antibiotics, which leads to persistent infections and evasion of the host immune system. Understanding how ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole affect biofilm formation is essential for improving treatment strategies for urinary tract infections (UTIs). A total of 76 UPEC isolates were obtained from Iraqi patients and identified using morphological and biochemical characteristics, as well as the Vitek®-2 Compact system. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined using the Vitek®-2 system, which is based on CLSI standards, followed by agar diffusion assays to determine MIC, sub-MIC (SMIC), and sub-sub-MIC (SSMIC). A 96-well microtiter plate assay was used to quantify the biofilm-forming ability of UPEC isolates and to evaluate the effects of ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole on UPEC biofilms. The MICs of ciprofloxacin were ≥ 4 µg/mL for resistant isolates and ≤ 0.25 µg/mL for sensitive ones. For trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, MICs were ≥ 320 µg/mL for resistant isolates and ≤ 20 µg/mL for sensitive isolates. Ciprofloxacin inhibited biofilm formation at SSMIC (1 µg/mL) and SMIC (2 µg/mL). Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole also showed inhibitory effects, although to a lesser extent than ciprofloxacin. In pre-formed biofilms, ciprofloxacin influenced biofilm integrity at MIC (4 µg/mL), SMIC (2 µg/mL), and SSMIC (1 µg/mL), while trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole showed variable effects. Both ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole were capable of inhibiting biofilm formation; however, their efficacy varied. Despite their ability to inhibit initial biofilm formation, ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole appeared to promote the persistence of already formed UPEC biofilms. Determining the precise concentrations of these antibiotics is essential for effectively managing UTIs caused by
The physical, the thermal and the mechanical properties of Nano-composites, that consisted of Polyprime EP epoxy that reinforced by multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), have been studied. Various loading ratios, 0.1, 0.5, and 1 wt. %of MWCNT shave been infused into epoxy by a magnetic stirrer and then the hardener mixed with the mthat supplied with the epoxy. All sample shave been cutting using CNC machine. Tensile test, three-point bending, hardness tests, lee's disk, differential scanning calorimetry, water absorption and dielectric and electrical conductivity test were utilized on unfilled, MWCNT-filled epoxy to identify the loading effect on the properties of materials. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to determine the
... Show MoreObjectives: The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the effect of adding a poloxamer surfactant to the irrigant solutions on its cleaning efficiency. Design: In this study the roots of extracted permanent premolar teeth were used and evaluated by using Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM). Materials and Method: 72 human single tooth of permanent premolar (8 for each group) were used in this in vitro study. Roots after sectioning at cervical area to get 15 mm were embedded in a plastic container filled with impression silicon, then instrumented with ProTaper rotary instruments till size F4. Each group (8 root) were irrigated with one of the nine solutions used in study: three concentrations of NaOH [5% (A1), 2.5%(A2), 0.5%(A3)], th
... Show MoreThe seedlings of vegetables are exposed to stress states, especially through the first period, due to injuring their roots by transplanting or heavy rain , so it is necessary to provide an available nutrient to recover the growth and increase their early yield, which means more income for farmers. In this regard, an experiment was conducted in the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, Agriculture Faculty, University of Baghdad, Iraq to study the effect of different types and concentrations of mineral fertilizers as starter solutions by using high nitrogen (N), high phosphorus (P) and neutral fertilizers (Q) at three levels which were 4 g/l (S1), 8 g/l (S2) and 12 g/l (S3) on broccoli growth and yield. The results showed tha
... Show MoreThe wide use of pesticides in recent years leads to rapid distribution of these pollutants in the environment (air, water and soil).They were transported by means of air or water to biological ecosystems. They become more toxic through the processes of biological magnification while some of them persist for along period.The aim of this work is to show the negative effect that chemical pesticides causes, and in the same to show their side effect on the environment and health in Iraq. We could conclude that the bad use of these chemicals could cause an urgent impact now or in the future. Governmental offices dealing with these materials should take the right measures to minimize the danger and the misuse of these chemicals by seeking alternat
... Show MoreThe increasing population growth resulting in the tremendous increase in consumption of fuels, energy, and petrochemical products and coupled with the depletion in conventional crude oil reserves and production make it imperative for Nigeria to explore her bitumen reserves so as to meet her energy and petrochemicals needs. Samples of Agbabu bitumen were subjected to thermal cracking in a tubular steel reactor operated at 10 bar pressure to investigate the effect of temperature on the cracking reaction. The gas produced was analyzed in a Gas Chromatograph while the liquid products were subjected to Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Heptane was the dominant gas produced in bitumen cracking at all temperatures and the r
... Show MoreIn this study, cadmium oxide (CdO) was deposited on glass bases by thermal chemical spraying technique at three concentrations (0.05, 0.1, 0.15) M and then was irradiated by CO2 laser with 10.6 μm wave length and 1W power. The results of the atomic force microscope AFM test showed that the surfaces of these CdO thin films were homogenous and that the laser irradiated effect resulted in decreasing the roughness of the surface as well as the heights of the granular peaks, indicating a greater uniformity and homogeneity of the surfaces. The optical properties were studied to determine laser effect. The results of optical tests of these thin films showed that the photoluminescence spectra and absorption s
... Show MoreIn the present work, nanocomposite of poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) incorporated with functionalized graphene oxide (FGO) were fabricated using casting method. PVA was dispersed by varying content of FGO (0.3, 0.5, 0.8, 1 wt %). The PVA- FGO nanocomposite was characterized by FT‐IR, FE-SEM and XRD. Frequency dependence of real permittivity (ε’), imaginary (ε’’) and a.c conductivity of PVA/FGO and PVA/GO nanocomposite were studied in the frequency range 100 Hz- 1 MHz. The experimental results showed that the values of real (ε’) and imaginary permittivity (ε’’) increased dramatically by increasing the FGO content in PVA matrix. PVA/ FGO (1 wt %) nanocomposite revealed higher electrical conductivity of 6.4×10-4 Sm-1 compared to
... Show MoreA numerical investigation has been performed to examine the effect of fluorine concentration on the chain reaction mechanisms and parameters of hydrogen fluoride (HF) chemical laser. The practical difficulties associated with this type of lasers impose that an alternative route might be quite useful. Thus, particular attention was paid to develop a computer program to investigate various processes. The results of this computer simulation program proved their credibility when compared with the little published data. This computer program is called Reaction Rate Simulation Model (RRSM). An entirely new approach to emulate the reaction mechanisms has been followed. The effectiveness of reaction rates in the processes of HF lase
... Show MoreSamples prepared by using carbon black as a filler material and phenolic resin as a binder. The samples were pressed in a (3) cm diameter cylindrical die to (250)MPa and treated thermally within temperature range of (600-1000)oC for two and three hours. Physical properties tests were performed, like density, porosity, and X-ray tests. Moreover vicker microhardness and electric resistivity tests were done. From the results, it can be concluded that density was increased while porosity was decreased gradually with increasing temperature and treating time. In microhardness test, it found that more temperature and treating time cause more hardness. Finally the resistivity was decreased in steps with temperature and treating time. It can be c
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