In this study, derivatives of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) grafted with phthalic anhydride (PhA) and dyes were prepared to produce polymeric materials of PVA-g-PhA, PVA-g-PhA-anthocyanin, PVA-g-PhA-bromophenol blue, and PVA-g-PhAthymol blue. The materials were characterised by FTIR and 1 H NMR spectroscopies. The crystallinity of the polymers was evaluated with powder X-ray difraction, and the thermal stability by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The synthetic procedure for the polymeric materials entailed the formation of esters. The FTIR spectra of the polymers confrmed their formation since the ester carbonyl group stretch was observed at approximately 1691–1716 cm−1 in each material. NMR spectroscopy confrmed the addition of the dyes to the PVA-g-PhA backbone. All the powder X-ray difractograms displayed the characteristic peak for PVA at a 2θ value of approximately 20°, as well as a small peak at 42° indicative of the semicrystalline nature of the samples. These difractograms indicate a small degree of crystallinity in a mainly bulk amorphous phase. Adding dyes to PVA-g-PhA improved the thermal stability of the resulting polymers. The PVA-g-PhA-bromophenol blue material was the most thermally stable. The absorption properties of PVA-g-PhA were extended into the visible region by the attachment of the dyes. The photostability of the polymers was investigated by irradiating them with 254 nm light. The absorbance of the parent material, PVA-g-PhA, and the anthocyanin derivative increased with irradiation time until it reached a photostationary state. This increase in absorbance is attributed to the formation of more conjugated structures or light-absorbing photoproducts. On the other hand, the PVA-g-PhA-bromophenol blue and PVA-g-PhA-thymol blue materials photodegraded with increasing irradiation time. This research has shown that grafting dyes onto PVA can improve thermal stability and extend light absorption into the visible region. In particular, the addition of anthocyanin dye improved the photostability of the resulting material.
Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most prevalent systemic inflammatory diseases worldwide. Cardiac complications present the most common mortality cause among RA patients. One of the most important comorbid conditions with RA is diabetic hyperglycemia mainly type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Aim of the study: The present study was conducted to assess prevalence of T2DM among patients diagnosed with RA from Iraq. Methodology: We included a randomly selected 100 rheumatoid arthritis. All included patients were subjected to anthropometric measurements, diabetic profile assessment and ESR, CRP and rheumatoid factor measurement. Results: Among the included RA patients, 28 patients were diagnosed with new-onset DM. Our
... Show MoreBackground: Because of many factors play a role in the developing of late lower arch crowding, therefore the objective of the current study is to do vertical analysis for subjects with late lower dental arch crowding. The conducted study is the first attempt to do vertical analysis for Iraqi subjects with late lower arch crowding to see if there is a vertical discrepancy in such patients. Subjects and methods: Eighty subjects were selected according to certain inclusion criteria from patients attending the Orthodontic Department in the College of Dentistry, Baghdad University, patients ranged between 18-25 years old. The 80 patients were divided into two groups (crowding and normal), 40 patients each (20 males and 20 females). A study cast
... Show MoreBackground: Treatment of invasive prolactinoma, which has several characteristics including invasive growth into cavernous sinuses and formation of giant adenomas compressing adjacent neural structures, resulting in neurological dysfunction, has been very challenging. There are relatively few reports available describing long-term treatment outcome.
Aims of the study: In this study we evaluate the results of cabergoline administration as initial treatment during 4 years follow up period.
Methods: We prospectively categorized 36 patients into four groups according to the results of 3 months of cabergoline treatment: group 1, tumor volume reduction (TVR) ˃25% with normaliz
... Show MoreThe thermal performance of three solar collectors with 3, 6 mm and without perforation absorber plate was assessed experimentally. The experimental tests were implemented in Baghdad during the January and February 2017. Five values of airflow rates range between 0.01 – 0.1 m3/s were used through the test with a constant airflow rate during the test day. The variation of the following parameters air temperature difference, useful energy, absorber plate temperature, and collector efficiency was recorded every 15 minutes. The experimental data reports that the increases the number of absorber plate perforations with a small diameter is more efficient rather than increasing the hole diameter of the absorber plate with decr
... Show MoreMost of the recent works related to the construction industry in Iraq are focused on investigating the validity of local raw materials as alternatives to the imported materials necessary for some practical applications, especially in thermal and sound insulation. This investigation includes the use of limestone dust as partial substitution of cement in combination with foam agent and silica fume to produce sustainable Lightweight Foam Concrete (LWFC). This study consists of two stages. In the first stage, trial mixes were performed to find the optimum dosage of foam agent. Limestone dust was used as a partial replacement for cement. Chemical analysis and fineness showed great similarity with cement. Many concrete mixes were prepared
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