This work focuses on the use of biologically produced activated carbon for improving the physi-co-chemical properties of water samples obtained from the Tigris River. An eco-friendly and low-cost activated carbon was prepared from the Alhagi plant using potassium hydroxide (KOH) as an impregnation agent. The prepared activated carbon was characterised using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy to determine the functional groups that exist on the raw material (Alhagi plant) and Alhagi activated carbon (AAC). Scanning electron microscope–energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscope was also used to investigate the surface shape and the elements that compose the powder. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area analysis was used to evaluate the spe

     Nanoparticles produced by plants are preferred in the medical field for its safe and unpolluted product; it is also accepted as an ecofriendly, non-expensive, and non-toxic nanomaterial. In this study, silver nitrate was successfully used to produce silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by the use extractsof 4 different latex-producing plants which belong to 2 families (Moraceae and Euphorbiaceae). The synthesis was proved by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM).The sizes of the AgNP grains were estimated by Granularity Cumulating Distribution (GCD). The results revealed the production of AgNPs in different sizes of 103 and 82 nm using the Moraceae family and 77 and74nm using the Euphorbiaceae

The study aims mainly to evaluate the performance of Sharq Dijila water treatment plant in removing turbidity for the period of 1-4-2001 to 31-3-2004. Daily data for turbidity of raw, clarified, filtered, and supplied water were analyzed. The results of the study showed that there is a wide variation in turbidity levels of raw water fluctuating between 10-1000 NTU with mean value of 41.3 NTU. Turbidity values of the clarified water varied between 1.4-77 NTU. Based on the turbidity value of 10 NTU and 20 NTU (the design maximum turbidity) the readings gave an acceptable percentage of 32.4% and 86% respectively. The turbidity of filtered water ranged between 0.2-4.5 NTU which are completely in compliance with Iraqi and WHO standards. In ac

    This study included isolation and identification of the fungi associated with Aloe vera (L.) in nurseries and plant gardens. The results showed that the fungi Alternaria alternata, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, Nigrospora oryzae, Cladosporium herbarum, Stemphylium botryosum, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium sp. were isolated from the diseased leaves of Aloe vera showing spots and blight symptoms. The percentages of disease incidence in March, Jun and August were found to be 5, 50 and 60 %, respectively. Pathogenicity test of Alternaria alternata, Fusarium oxysporum, Nigrospora oryzae and Cladosporium herbarum showed that disease index were 50, 25,25and 12.5 %,

The development of new cephalosporins with improved activity against resistant microbes, such as, MRSA (methicillin resistant Staph. aureus), P. aeruginosa, is of high potential. Chemical synthesis of two new series of thiadiazole linked to cysteine (series 1) and cephalosporins containing thiadiazole linked to cysteine through disulfide bond (series 2) were achieved. The chemical structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed using spectral (FT-IR, ¹H-NMR) and elemental microanalysis. The incorporation of privileged chemical moieties, such as, thiadiazole, Schiff base, cysteine and sulfonamide, has been found to have great contribution to the antimicrobial activities. Compounds of series 1 (1

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a ubiquitous environmental organism, is a difficult-to-treat opportunistic pathogen due to its broad-spectrum antibiotic resistance and its ability to form biofilms. In this study, we investigate the link between resistance to a clinically important antibiotic, imipenem, and biofilm formation. First, we observed that the laboratory strain P. aeruginosa PAO1 carrying a mutation in the oprD gene, which confers resistance to imipenem, showed a modest reduction in biofilm formation.We also observed an inverse relationship between imipenem resistance and biofilm formation for imipenem-resistant strains selected in vitro, as well as for clinical isolates.We identified two clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa from the sputum

In this work, the copper metal was treated using Nd:YAG laser with energy 1Joul to enhance corrosion resistance and improve surface properties. The copper metal has many applications in industry as well as water, oil and gas pipes. The same conditions, (laser power density, scan speed, distance between paths, medium gas-air) were applied in the laser surface treatment, After laser treatment, the samples microstructures were investigated using optical microscope (OM) to examine micro structural changes due to laser irradiation. Specimen surfaces were investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), macro hardness, and corrosion test before and after laser treatment to

The electrochemical behavior of Al-17%Si alloy is investigated in 3.5wt% NaCl solution. Many alloys with addition of the different wt% magnesium metal of  1wt%, 2%, 3wt% ,4.5wt% ,and 9wt% were prepared by gravity die casting . The microstructures of prepared alloys were examined by optical and SEM microscopes. Corrosion behavior was investigated by using potentiostat instrument under static potentials test and corrosion current was recorded to determine corrosion resistance of all prepared samples. It was found that the addition of Mg metal improves the corrosion resistance of Al-17%Si alloy in 3.5%NaCl solution. The alloy containing 1%Mg shows less corrosion rate than the others while the alloys containing 4.5%Mg, 9%Mg content have

The experiment was conducted inside a glasshouse at the Department of Biology/
Education college Ibn- Alhaitham/ Baghdad University during the growing season 2010-2011. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of increasing of NaCl concentration in
the nutrient solution and different concentrations of proline as spray on the vegetative growth
on the chlorophyll content, soluble carbohydrates percentage, flowers number and the proline
content of vegetative growth. The aim of this study was also to determine the satiable
concentration of proline while decrease the injerion. Effect of NaCl on the studied traits of
two hyborids of tomato plants namely Olga F1 and Hymar F1. Sodium chloride concentration
of 0