Blends of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in equal weight ratios (50 wt.% PVP + 50 wt.% PVA) were doped with 15% of various lithium salts (Li2CO3, LiNO3, Li2SO4H2O, and LiCl) and prepared using the solution-casting method, with dimethylformamide (DMF) as the solvent. The impact of these salts on the blends was analyzed and the results showed that the energy gap was decreased by adding lithium salts Li2CO3, LiNO3 and Li2SO4.H₂O. The minimum energy gap value was 3.5 eV obtained from PVP/PVA:15% Li2CO3. The optical constants were determined in the range of 300-1100 nm. The results showed that all the optical constants for doped blends were grown with the addition of lithium salts. The FTIR study confirms the c

The purpose of this research was to evaluate rice husk functionalized with Mg-Fe-layered double hydroxide (RH-Mg/Fe-LDH) as an adsorbent for the removal of meropenem antibiotic (MA) from an aqueous solution. Several batch experiments were undertaken using various conditions. Based on the results, the optimal Mg/Fe-LDH adsorbent with a pH of 9 and an M2+/M3+ ratio of 0.5 was associated with the lowest particle size (specifically. 11.1 nm). The Langmuir and Freundlich models were consistent with the experimental isotherm data (R2 was 0.984 and 0.993, respectively), and MA’s highest equilibrium adsorption capacity was 43.3 mg/g. Additionally, the second-order model was consistent with the adsorption kinetic results.

ew sports technologies have highlighted the importance of perceptual – cognitive training in order to optimize performance in sports e.g., dynamic team sport such as basketball. Augmented motor reality AMR is a new training model based on realistic movement combined with interactive virtual cues that may be useful to enhance spatial orientation and decision making. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of an AMR-based training program on spatial awareness and skill-based decision making in youth basketball players. Twenty-four male young basketball players aged 15.2±0.8 years were randomized to the experimental group n=12, receiving AMR training, and control group n=12, performing conventional practice. The interventio

This study expands the state of the art in studies that assess torsional retrofit of reinforced concrete (RC) multi-cell box girders with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) strips. The torsional behavior of non-damaged and pre-damaged RC multi-cell box girder specimens externally retrofitted by CFRP strips was investigated through a series of laboratory experiments. It was found that retrofitting the pre-damaged specimens with CFRP strips increased the ultimate torsional capacity by more than 50% as compared to the un-damaged specimens subjected to equivalent retrofitting. This indicated that the retrofit has been less effective for the girder specimen that did not develop distortion beforehand as a result of pre-loading. From

Background: Pain and the usage of local anesthetic agents are still real problem in pediatric dentistry, for these reasons, the use of minimal invasive dentistry (MID) in regard to the patient comfort is important especially for children, anxious and uncooperative patients. Chemomechanical caries removal (CMCR) methods involve the selective removal of the carious dentine hence it avoided the painful removal of the sound dentine and the anxiety resulted due to the vibration of the hand piece which is also decreased thus it appears to be more acceptable and comfortable to the patient. Aims of this study: This study was conducted among group of children to assess and compare the anxiety rating scale (during and after treatment) between the

This study expands the state of the art in studies that assess torsional retrofit of reinforced concrete (RC) multi-cell box girders with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) strips. The torsional behavior of non-damaged and pre-damaged RC multi-cell box girder specimens externally retrofitted by CFRP strips was investigated through a series of laboratory experiments. It was found that retrofitting the pre-damaged specimens with CFRP strips increased the ultimate torsional capacity by more than 50% as compared to the un-damaged specimens subjected to equivalent retrofitting. This indicated that the retrofit has been less effective for the girder specimen that did not develop distortion beforehand as a result of pre-loading. From

Recording two species of larval cestodes Callitetrarhynchus gracilis and Callitetrarhynchus sp. (Cestoda: Trypanorhyncha) parasitic in body cavity of two carangid fishes (Carangoides malabaricus and Megalaspis cordyla) from north west Arab Gulf, Iraq, is described. The species Callitetrarhynchus sp. was recorded for the first time in Iraq in carangid fishes. Also, two fish species (C. malabaricus and M. cordyla) are considered as new hosts for C. gracilis and Callitetrarhynchus sp. in the Arab Gulf. The cestodes were sent to Prof. Dr. Harry W. Palm, Department of Fisheries Biology, Institute Zoo Morphology, Germany for confirmation of the identification.

The increasing global energy demand and environmental concerns necessitate the development of sustainable energy storage solutions. Sodium-ion batteries have emerged as a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries due to the abundance and low cost of sodium. This study investigates the impact of incorporating hybrid nanoparticles, specifically polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane- poly(ethylene glycol) (POSS-PEG(13.3)), on the performance of polyethylene oxide (PEO)- sodium perchlorate (NaClO4) based solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs). The results demonstrate that the incorporation of POSS-PEG(13.3) effectively disrupts the crystallinity of the PEO matrix, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry analyses.

Poly(ethylene oxide) is a promising material for solid-state lithium batteries due to its safety, ease of processing, and compatibility with lithium. However, conventional linear PEO falls short of practical requirements due to its limited ionic conductivity, a consequence of the high crystallinity of its ethylene oxide chains. This crystallinity hinders the movement of lithium ions, limiting its performance in solid-state battery applications. In this study, we successfully prepared the plasticized solid polymer electrolytes (PSPEs) based on poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)/ tetracyanoethylene (TCE) complexed with lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) salt and studied the effect of TCE on structural, mechanical, electrical and elec