Search

The desire to reduce reliance on oil resources arises from the concerns about carbon footprint and nonrenewability. Conversely, the global presence of over 100 million palm trees poses a significant challenge due to the substantial amount of biowaste generated annually. Additionally, the use of nanocellulose (NC) as a cost-effective material is steadily gaining recognition for its growing adaptability over time. The main goal of this study is to biosynthesized NC from Iraqi date palm Phoenix dactylifera leaves waste with low-concentration acid-alkali treatment. The date palm leaves waste yields 20 g of NC from 100 g of leaves before acid hydrolysis treatment. The chemical components of biosynthesized NC were 47.90%, 26.78%, and 24.67% for α-cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, respectively. In order to study their properties, NC from raw date palm leaves was studied by microscopic techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, and atomic force microscope (AFM). SEM results revealed rod-like structured NC as well as combined long-fine fibrous structures rather than compacted bundles with sizes ranging between 31 and 74 nm. With EDX, all spectra exhibit the peaks of carbon and oxygen as the main elements with 63.8% and 10.44%, respectively, in their compositions, which relate to the typical composition of cellulose. The 3D image of AFM NC with a tapping mode presented a highly uniform distribution of NC with a size of ∼15 nm. The statistical roughness analysis shows that the obtained roughness average is 7.20 nm with the root–mean-square roughness value of 21.56 nm, which corresponded relatively with the micrographs of SEM. The results of this study demonstrate the promise of using date palm waste as raw material to produce NC as green nanocomposite from biodegradable nanomaterials for water purification and sustained drug delivery for biomedical applications. In this regard and because of the insufficient reports about the extraction of NC from palm tree leaves waste, the objective of this study was designed to fabricate NC biologically from fibers sourced from the waste of Iraqi date palm P. dactylifera leaves that left in agricultural lands or burned, which can be an ecological and health problem as a bionanocomposites in the medical and industrial field and as alternative resources of wood materials.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent worldwide among pregnant women. Although vitamin D supplementation is effective in improving vitamin D status, the safety and optimal dosing of vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy remain less well understood. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among pregnant women and evaluate the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation in improving vitamin D status during pregnancy. Design: This prospective cohort study assessed the impact of a 16-week daily vitamin D supplementation 1000 IU regimen on vitamin D status among pregnant women. Methods: A total of 365 pregnant women were recruited, and their baseline total circulating 25-hydroxy vitamin D concentrations were measured. Of these, 249 participants completed the study, which involved oral daily supplementation with 1000 IU of vitamin D and a repeat of total circulating 25-hydroxy vitamin D concentrations after 16 weeks. Results: The study found that 57.7% of the participants had vitamin D deficiency, consistent with the rates reported in other studies. However, vitamin D supplementation at a dose of 1000 IU had a small effect size and was not clinically significant. However, 67% of participants with vitamin D deficiency remained deficient; among participants initially with vitamin D insufficiency, 30% became deficient. Moreover, 26.5% of individuals with sufficient vitamin D status at 12 weeks showed insufficient levels by 28 weeks. Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is widespread among pregnant women, and vitamin D supplementation at a daily dose of 1000 IU may not adequately address this problem. Although the study has limitations, its results align with previous research and may apply to other populations with a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy. Further research is necessary to determine the most effective approach for addressing prenatal vitamin D deficiency.

Purpose: Exotic fruits could fulfill global requirements of health-conscious consumers, providing efficient postharvest management protocols are implemented to assure safety and quality. Research Methods: Compositional changes of ripe balata fruits (Manilkara bidentata), were investigated when seal-packaged in low density polyethylene (LDPE) for 7 days at 6-7°C and 28-30°C. Mature Spanish tamarind (Vangueria edulis) fruits were stored at 20°C and 30°C and ripening changes analyzed after 3 days. Quarter-sliced mature-green (M1) and ripe-yellow (M2) West Indian lime (Citrus aurantifolia) were seal-packaged in LDPE at 4-5°C, 7-8°C and 28-30°C and evaluated over seven consecutive days. Findings: Balata seal-packaged in LDPE for 7 days at 6-7°C and at 28-30°C, accounted for lower fresh weight losses, higher total soluble solids (TSS), pH, TSS:TTA, vitamin C, better skin-gloss appearance and more acceptable flavor than control fruits over the same period. Ripe Spanish tamarind stored at 20°C and 30°C and 75-85% relative humidity had a yellowish-brown skin and pulp color, TSS (3.0-3.1%), TTA (2.24g/100g - 2.48g/100g), TSS:TTA (1:1.3), pH (3.4) and vitamin C (1.84 mg/100g). West Indian lime M2 quarter-slices at 7-8°C secured superior quality ratings due to the absence of chilling injury symptoms, cut-edge browning and fermentative aroma compared to similar treatments after 4 days at 4-5°C. At 28-30°C, M1 and M2 became unmarketable in less than two days. Research Limitations: More cultivars required. Originality/value: The unique postharvest quality characteristics of exotic fruits could be successfully managed to fulfill the basic requirements of health-conscious consumers and to exploit existing and potential niche markets.

The interactive body and sound become a visible feature of Iraqi theatre after 2003, due to the importance of body language in today’s theatrical performances. A Dream in Baghdad is a pioneering experience, the director of which relied entirely on body language, according to a calculated kinesthetic system.This theatrical performance, which lasted 50 minutes, was silent and did not adopt traditional dialogue. Thus, the director signaled his protest against what is happening in his country, making the actor’s body a loud trumpet against darkness, isolation, marginalization, and chaos.For the voices, they sometimes embodied the logic of force, chaos, and war through the sound of ambulances, the sound of missiles and planes. However, they sometimes expressed peace through calm.The decor was characterized by a chaotic state similar to the chaos in Iraq, and the lighting seemed dim.The scene was often bleak, with blood, corpses, body parts, and paramedics present. However, that chaos began to disappear so that the actors could sweep up the remains of the devastation and clearly confirm that the Iraqi people are able to ‘sweep up’ their differences and stop the bloodshed. The director and the author of the play wants to say that the dream is a dream about stability, security, and democracy in Iraq.Abdul Samad sees that the silent theatre may be more eloquent and influential on the recipient in terms of sensing the tragedy of the Iraqis by employing actors’ bodies, which speak and express all the facts.The present article is an attempt to see how the Iraqi director, Anas Abdel-Samad exploits the body and the sound within the silent theatre in A Dream in Baghdad to send a humanitarian message aimed at building anew Iraq full of love, hope and culture. This is done without uttering any words, through the medium of only the movements of body and sound.

In this article, optimal energy consumption in the smart houses is studied considering techno-economic indices and demand side management (DSM) in electrical grids. The optimal energy consumption is implemented based on optimal scheduling of the household appliances than energy price and capacity of demand flexibility in DSM. The proposed approach is considered as two-stage optimization. Using first stage, energy consumption is modified by optimal shifting of the appliances subject to DSM and energy price. Thus, modified energy consumption is taken into accounted in second stage optimization to maximizing the consumers comfort and minimizing operation cost, simultaneously. The optimization process is done in the MATLAB software, in which objectives in second stage are optimized via lp-metric method. Finally, the performance of the proposed modelling is validated as case studies using numerical simulation.

Purpose: Moringa oleifera is a multi-purpose plant. The growth curve would determine harvest date and maturity indices. Analysis of proximate and mineral constituents would highlight nutritional and health benefits. Research methods: Investigations were conducted on growth curve parameters, maturation indices, proximate and mineral compositions of moringa plant parts (Moringa oleifera) on four-year-old tress from 2016-2019. Findings: The growth curve depicted a single sigmoid shape. Pods harvested 25 days after flowering were immature (M1), with a light-green skin colour, firm, tender seeds, and light greenish-cream flesh and seeds. Pods attained horticultural maturity with optimum cooking quality 32 days (M2) post-anthesis with corresponding maturity indices being firm, light greenish-cream-flesh and well–formed seed. Dried partially senesced over-matured pods (M3), harvested after 51 days, had a light-brown dermal layer enclosing dark brown firm seeds with the highest fat and crude fiber being 200.3 g/kg and 314.5 g/kg. Green-tender seeds showed the highest crude protein content of 296.0 g/kg. Immature leaves (L1) had the highest dry matter content while stage 2 leaves had the highest ash content. Matured pods showed the highest moisture content. Mineral contents of stage 3 leaves (L3) consisted of magnesium (4255.6ppm) while stage 1 leaves had the most iron (147.0 ppm) and potassium (30210.0ppm). Leaves at stage 2 had the most sodium (2547.9 ppm) and boron (23.1 ppm). Research limitations: Limited cultivars. Originality/Value: Maturity indices on the growth curve confirmed the multi-purpose nature of the moringa plant and benefits to the food and health industries.

Purpose: Fresh leaves of cilantro (Coriandrum sativum L.), and culantro (Eryngium foetidum L.,) are used interchangeably based on similar odor, aroma and flavor and considered culinary substitutes. Cilantro is ethnically called “false coriander” and a mixed method approach to determine the possibility of crop mimicry was reviewed. Critical analysis was done on botanical, phylogenic traits and trees, dendogram, molecular, and phytochemical similarities of the odorants. Findings: The study indicated that C. sativum and E. foetidum, belonged to two different subfamilies of Apiaceae, appeared morphologically divergent, but phytochemically similar in aroma and odorants indicating a classical example of convergent evolution in the plant kingdom. Five odor clusters with over 20 similar phytochemicals with the co‐elution of E‐2‐alkenals and E‐2‐alken‐1‐ols were identified. Greater levels E‐2‐dodecenal in E. foetidum (63.5%) compared to C. sativum, (26.0%) accounted for dominant odor which is found in crop mimics due to selective agricultural practices and the evolution of agricultural races of weeds. Multiple mechanisms explained how plant mimic evolved from “de‐domestication” and hybridization. Evolutionary origins and genetic diversity characterized genomics of E. foetidum as an aggressive aromatic pungent weed, and C. sativum as a fragrant herb. Limitations: There are no limitations in this review. Directions for future research: Organolepticpreference for the essential oils of coriander seeds and a clearer understanding of the phytochemical relationships between C. sativum and E. foetidum are required.