Given the paucity and toxicity of available drugs for leishmaniasis, coupled with the advent of drug resistance, the discovery of new therapies for this neglected tropical disease is recognised as being of the utmost urgency. As such antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been proposed as promising compounds against the causative Leishmania species, insect vector-borne protozoan parasites. Here the AMP temporins A, B and 1Sa have been synthesised and screened for activity against Leishmania mexicana insect stage promastigotes and mammalian stage amastigotes, a significant cause of human cutaneous disease. In contrast to previous studies with other species the activity of these AMPs against L. mexicana amastigotes was low. This suggests that amastigotes from different Leishmania species display varying susceptibility to peptides from the temporin family, perhaps indicating differences in their surface structure, the proposed target of these AMPs. In contrast, insect stage L. mexicana promastigotes were sensitive to two of the screened temporins which clearly demonstrates the importance of screening AMPs against both forms of the parasite. Copyright © 2011 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
This study reports the fabrication of tin oxide (SnO2) thin films using pulsed laser deposition (PLD). The effect of 60Co (300, 900, and 1200 Gy) gamma radiation on the structural, morphological, and optical features is systematically demonstrated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and ultraviolet-visible light analysis (UV-Vis), respectively In XRD tests, the size of the crystallites decreased from 45.5 to 40.8 nm for the control samples and from 1200 Gy to 60Co for the irradiated samples. Using FESEM analysis, the particle diameter revealed a similar trend to that attained using XRD; in particular, the average diameters were 93.8 and
... Show MoreIn this research TiO2 nano-powder was prepared by a spray pyrolysis technique and then adds to the TiO2 powder with particle size (0.523 μm) in ratio (0, 5, 10, 15 at %) atomic percentage, and then deposition of the mixture on the stainless steel 316 L substrate in order to use in medical and industrial applications.
Structure properties including x-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM0, also some of mechanical properties and the effect of thermal annealing in different temperature have been studied. The results show that the particle size of a prepared nano-powder was 50 up to 75 nm from SEM, and the crystal structure of the powders (original and nano powder) was rutile with tetragonal cell. An improvement in
The study aimed to identify the perceptions of social studies teachers in the Governorate of Muscat about the importance of employing the skills of the twenty-first century in teaching. The study employed a qualitative approach. The two researchers used an analytical approach based on the Grounded Theory, the data was gathered through semi-structured interviews with (15) male and female teachers. The results indicated that social studies teachers relate the twenty-first-century skills more to improving students’ achievement level in the subject, while they see that these skills have less influence in developing students’ communication skills and cooperation with their peers. In light of the results of the study, the two researchers r
... Show MoreThere have been many writings and discussions that dealt with the details and interpretation of the research methods and the identification of the methods and methodological methods used by researchers and writers as they deal with research topics and problems in all fields of natural and human sciences. But we noticed that the movement of science and its knowledge and development requires the identification of suitable tools and methodological methods appropriate for each type of science. In other words, attempts should be established to build appropriate methodological tools for human and cognitive activity that can be referred to as a specific science that sets out certain paths of the human sciences which is certainly the ori
... Show MoreUrban morphological approach (concepts and practices) plays a significant role in forming our cities not only in terms of theoretical perspective but also in how to practice and experience the urban form structures over time. Urban morphology has been focused on studying the processes of formation and transformation of urban form based on its historical development. The main purpose of this study is to explore and describe the existing literature of this approach and thus aiming to summarize the most important studies that put into understanding the city form. In this regard, there were three schools of urban morphological studies, namely: the British, the Italian, and the French School. A reflective comparison between t
... Show MoreThe current research aims to build a training program for chemistry teachers based on the knowledge economy and its impact on the productive thinking of their students. To achieve the objectives of the research, the following hypothesis was formulated:
There is no statistically significant difference at (0.05) level of significance between the average grades of the students participating in the training program according to the knowledge economy and the average grades of the students who did not participate in the training program in the test of productive thinking. The study sample consisted of (288) second intermediate grade students divided into (152) for the control group
... Show MoreThe Central Marshes are one of southern Iraq's most important wetlands and ecosystems. A study on evaluating soil quality and water quality in terms of chemical properties at certain sites in the southern Iraqi Central Marshes has been conducted to investigate their types and suitability for enhancing the agricultural reality of most field crops. Soil and water samples were collected from 15 sites and transferred to the laboratory. In the lab, the following parameters were determined: electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved salts (TDS), organic materials (OM), pH, gypsum, and total sulfate content (SO3). The tests conducted on the samples indicated that it could be said that the soil of the Central Marshes
... Show MoreThis investigation aims to study some properties of lightweight aggregate concrete reinforced by mono or hybrid fibers of different sizes and types. In this research, the considered lightweight aggregate was Light Expanded Clay Aggregate while the adopted fibers included hooked, straight, polypropylene, and glass. Eleven lightweight concrete mixes were considered, These mixes comprised of; one plain concrete mix (without fibers), two reinforced concrete mixtures of mono fiber (hooked or straight fibers), six reinforced concrete mixtures of double hybrid fibers, and two reinforced concrete mixtures of triple hybrid fibers. Hardened concrete properties were investigated in this study. G