Female Iraqi Academics In Post-Invasion Iraq: Roles, Challenges & Capacities

The research presented in this report aimed to explore the specific problems and challenges faced by female academics in Iraqi higher education. In addition, the research project intended to introduce a group of Iraqi academics to qualitative research methods as well as gender as a concept of analysis. Through developing policy recommendations based on the research findings as well as capacity building, the project is also intended to contribute to improving the opportunities for and representation of female professionals in the Iraqi Higher Education (HE) sector. Finally, the project aims to increase sensitivity and awareness about gender issues both within the HE sector as well as within relevant policy circles more widely. The report will provide the main research findings as well as recommendations

From In Vitro to Perioperative Vascular Tissue Engineering: Shortening Production Time by Traceable Textile-Reinforcement

Backgroun

The Effect of Activities Based on Procedural Fluency on the Ability to Solve Algebra Problem of Middle School Students in Saudi Arabia أثر أنشطة قائمة على الطلاقة الإجرائية في المقدرة على حل المسألة الجبرية لدى طلبة المرحلة المتوسطة في المملكة العربية السعودية

Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the effect of activities based on procedural fluency on the ability to solve algebra problem of middle school students in Saudi Arabia. The study sample consisted of (51) students, who were chosen from 3rd intermediate students, and were purposefully selected from a public school in Arar directorate of education. The study sample distributed randomly into two groups: experimental and control group (26, 25) respectively. To answer the study questions, the researchers construct algebra test; the validity and reliability were verified. The results revealed that there were statistical significant differences in the solving algebra problem attributed to the group in favor of the experimental group. ملخص: هدفت هذه الدراسة إلى استقصاء أثر أنشطة قائمة على الطلاقة الإجرائية في المقدرة على حل المسألة الجبرية لدى طلبة المرحلة المتوسطة في المملكة العربية السعودية, وقد تكونت عينة الدراسة من (51) طالباً من طلاب الصف الثالث المتوسط تم اختيارهم بطريقة قصدية من مدرسة حكومية للذكور في منطقة عرعر, وتم توزيع الشعب عشوائياً إلى مجموعتين: تجريبية وضابطة (26, 25) طالباً على الترتيب. ولتحقيق أهداف الدراسة قام الباحثون ببناء اختبار حل المسألة الجبرية, وقد تم التحقق من صدقه وثباته. وأظهرت نتائج الدراسة وجود فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية في المقدرة على حل المسألة الجبرية تعزى إلى طريقة التدريس, ولصالح المجموعة التجريبية

Synthesis of acrylic acid and acrylic esters via oxidation and oxidative alkoxylation of acrolein under mild conditions with selenium-modified microgel catalysts

Systematic studies of acrolein oxidation and oxidative alkoxylation catalyzed by Se-modified microgel catalysts under mild reaction conditions were conducted. Se-modified microgels proved to be highly active colloidal catalysts and exhibited high performance for the oxidation of acrolein to acrylic acid and oxidative alkoxylation to the corresponding methyl/ethyl/butyl acrylates using hydrogen peroxide as a green oxidant. Methyl acrylate or acrylic acid can be synthesized in high yield (89-91%) and with high selectivity (97-99%) simply by regulating the solvent type and the concentration of selenium moieties in the microgel structure. Se-microgels exhibit exceptional catalytic activity compared with other Se-containing molecules of organic and inorganic nature. Due to the unique properties of the microgels that combine advantages from homogeneous and heterogeneous catalytic systems in terms of activity and selectivity as well as re-use possibilities, Se-microgel catalysts can be easily separated and reused in several catalytic cycles and remain highly active

Impact of Reactive Amphiphilic Copolymers on Mechanical Properties and Cell Responses of Fibrin-Based Hydrogels

Mechanical properties of hydrogels can be modified by the variation of structure and concentration of reactive building blocks. One promising biological source for the synthesis of biocompatible hydrogels is fibrinogen. Fibrinogen is a glycoprotein in blood, which can be transformed enzymatically to fibrin playing an important role in wound healing and clot formation. In the present work, it is demonstrated that hybrid hydrogels with their improved mechanical properties, tunable internal structure, and enhanced resistance to degradation can be synthesized by a combination of fibrinogen and reactive amphiphilic copolymers. Water-soluble amphiphilic copolymers with tunable molecular weight and controlled amounts of reactive epoxy side groups are used as reactive crosslinkers to reinforce fibrin hydrogels. In the present work, copolymers that can influence the mechanical properties of fibrin-based hydrogels are used. The reactive copolymers increase the storage modulus of the hydrogels from 600 Pa to 30 kPa. The thickness of fibrin fibers is regulated by the copolymer concentration. It could be demonstrated that the fibrin-based hydrogels are biocompatible and support cell proliferation. Their degradation rate is considerably slower than that of native fibrin gels. In conclusion, fibrin-based hydrogels with tunable elasticity and fiber thickness useful to direct cell responses like proliferation and differentiation are produced. © 2020 The Authors. Published by WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinhei

Impact of Reactive Amphiphilic Copolymers on Mechanical Properties and Cell Responses of Fibrin‐Based Hydrogels

Mechanical properties of hydrogels can be modified by the variation of structure and concentration of reactive building blocks. One promising biological source for the synthesis of biocompatible hydrogels is fibrinogen. Fibrinogen is a glycoprotein in blood, which can be transformed enzymatically to fibrin playing an important role in wound healing and clot formation. In the present work, it is demonstrated that hybrid hydrogels with their improved mechanical properties, tunable internal structure, and enhanced resistance to degradation can be synthesized by a combination of fibrinogen and reactive amphiphilic copolymers. Water-soluble amphiphilic copolymers with tunable molecular weight and controlled amounts of reactive epoxy side groups are used as reactive crosslinkers to reinforce fibrin hydrogels. In the present work, copolymers that can influence the mechanical properties of fibrin-based hydrogels are used. The reactive copolymers increase the storage modulus of the hydrogels from 600 Pa to 30 kPa. The thickness of fibrin fibers is regulated by the copolymer concentration. It could be demonstrated that the fibrin-based hydrogels are biocompatible and support cell proliferation. Their degradation rate is considerably slower than that of native fibrin gels. In conclusion, fibrin-based hydrogels with tunable elasticity and fiber thickness useful to direct cell responses like proliferation and differentiation are produced. © 2020 The Authors. Published by WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinhei