The present study revealed a low-cost process for utilizing desert sand for preparing nanosilica by sol-gel technique. This work required sodium hydroxide, concentrated hydrochloric acid, distillate water as raw materials, and Iraqi sand. Nanosilica sample was characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy analysis (SEM), atomic force microscope(AFM), surface area (BET) method, and fourier transform infrared (FTIR). The XRD result of produced sample is referred to as amorphous silica, and it has a broad peak at 2Θ= 22° – 22.5 º. SEM showed spherical, agglomerated silica particles with a diameter range of 26.57–28.93 nm. In addition, the average particle size was 76.35nm, with a dimension range of 40-11

In this work, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were biosynthesized from leaves of Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. jujube plant in Iraq and tested against fungal pathogens. Extract of leaves of Z. mauritiana mixed with 10-3 M AgNO3exposed to slight sunlight for 3 days. Characterization of AgNPs was done using UV-visible spectroscopy, SPM (scanning probe microscopy) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The change of solution color from pale brown to dark brown and the exhibited maximum peak at 445 nm accepted as an indicator to biosynthesized AgNPs. Aqueous extract of Ziziphus mauritiana is considered as biological reduced and stabilized agent for Ag+ to Ag0. AFM showed the formation of irregular shapes of AgNPs. The biosynthesized silver nanoparticles ha

Three series of monomers, polymers and thioester cyclic compounds containing 4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-thiol moiety were synthesized and examined for their liquid crystalline properties. All monomers, polymers and thioester compounds were characterized by elemental analysis and FTIR, 1 H-NMR and mass spectroscopy. The phase transition and mesomorphic properties were investigated by polarized optical microscope (POM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The monomer with terminal phenyl substituent display dimorphism nematic and smectic A (SmA) mesophases. The corresponding polymers derived from acrylic and phenyl acrylic acid monomers show nematic mesophase. The only thioester cyclic compound derived from terephtaloyl chloride show nemati

The object of this work is to investigate the effect of the addition of methanol on the shelf life and color characteristics of novolak resin. Different percentages were added and two mechanisms were suggested for the addition. High ortho structure (1, 2-3) novolak resin was prepared and used in the above investigation. Experimental determination using FT-IR and UV-spectroscopy showed that on the addition of 30% of methanol and according to the second mechanism of addition novolak shelf life increased to 12 months without obvious decomposition and color change. It is suggested that methanol plays an important role in the inhabitation of the reactive sites on the resin that are responsible for the oxidation of the polymer when exposed to

This experimental research was conducted to quantify the combined effect of the external bonded Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) plate width and prestressing on the flexural performance of reinforced concrete (RC) beams in terms of strength improvement. Seven beams (one control and six strengthened) were subjected to two-point loading tests. The experimental methodology consisted of the testing of three different widths of the CFRP plates (25, 40, and 60 mm) in non-prestressed and prestressed conditions. Prestressing was accomplished by tensioning the plates to 23% of the CFRP tensile strength using a novel, locally developed mechanical anchorage system, which is one of the key experimental contributions that distinguishes thi

This article deals with the impact of including transverse ribs within the absorber tube of the concentrated linear Fresnel collector (CLFRC) system with a secondary compound parabolic collector (CPC) on thermal and flow performance coefficients. The enhancement rates of heat transfer due to varying governing parameters were compared and analyzed parametrically at Reynolds numbers in the range 5,000–13,000, employing water as the heat transfer fluid. Simulations were performed to solve the governing equations using the finite volume method (FVM) under various boundary conditions. For all Reynolds numbers, the average Nusselt number in the circular tube in the CLFRC system with ribs was found to be larger than that of the plain abs

Diazotization reaction between 1-(2,4,6-Trihydroxy-phenyl)-ethanone and diazonium salts was carried out resulting in ligand 4-(3-Acetyl-2,4,6-trihydroxy-phenylazo)-N-(5-methyl-isoxazol-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide, this in turn reacted with the next metal ions (V4+ , Cr3+ , Mn2+ and Cu2+) forming stable complexes with unique geometries such as (Octahedral for both Cr3+ , Mn2+ and Cu2+ ,squar pyramidal for V4+). The creation of such complexes was detected by employing spectroscopic means involving ultraviolet-visible which proved the obtained geometries, fourier transfer proved the formation of azo group and and the coordination with metal ion through it. Pyrolysis (TGA & DSC) studies proved the coordination of water residues with me

This research is presented experimental and numerical investigations of composite concrete-steel plate shear walls under axial loads to predicate the effect of both concrete compressive strength and aspect ratio of the wall on the axial capacity, lateral displacement and axial shortening of the walls. The experimental program includes casting and testing two groups of walls with various aspect ratios. The first group with aspect ratio H/L=1.667 and the second group with aspect ratio H/L=2. Each group consists of three composite concrete -steel plate wall with three targets of cube compressive strength of values 39, 54.75 and 63.3 MPa. The tests result obtained that the increase in concrete compressive strength results in increasing

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is reproductive, endocrine, and metabolic disorder affecting females. The pathology of PCOS is complicated and associated to chronic low-grade inflammation, this includes a disruption in pro-inflammatory factor production, leukocytosis, and endothelial cell dysfunction, also associated with high level of pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and leukocyte count. In addition, PCOS is characterized by hormonal and immunological dysfunction. Inflammation of the ovary affects ovulation and induces or aggravates systemic inflammation. Macrophage inflammatory protein-1 (MIP-1), a pro-inflammatory chemokine, is crucial in the recruitment of inflammatory and immunological cells to the place of inflammation