Improvement of A Chemical Storage Room Ventilation System

Scientists at universities across Iraq are actively working to report actual incidents and accidents occurring in their laboratories, as well as structural improvements made to improve safety and security, to raise awareness and encourage openness, leading to widespread adoption of robust Chemical Safety and Security (CSS) practices. This manuscript is the third in a series of five case studies describing laboratory incidents, accidents, and laboratory improvements. We summarize an improvement to the chemical storage room ventilation system at Al-Nahrain University to create and maintain a safe working atmosphere in an area where chemicals are stored and handled, using US and European design practices, standards, and regulations

Triorganotin(IV) complexes photo-stabilizers for rigid PVC against photodegradation

AbstractThe photostabilization of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) films by triorganotin(IV) complexes of the type Ph3SnL, Bu3SnL and Me3SnL of the benzamidoglycin complexes was investigated. The PVC films containing concentration of complexes 0.5% by weight were produced by casting method from tetrahydrofuran (THF) solvent. The photostabilization activities of these compounds were determined by monitoring the carbonyl, polyene and hydroxyl indices with irradiation time. The changes in viscosity average molecular weight of PVC with irradiation time were also tracked (using THF as a solvent). The quantum yield of the chain scission (Φcs) of these complexes in PVC films was evaluated and found to range between 5.91×10−8 and 7.67×10−8. Results obtained showed that the rate of photostabilization of PVC in the presence of the additive follows the trend:Ph3SnL>Bu3SnL>Me3SnLAccording to the experimental results obtained, several mechanisms were suggested depending on the structure of the additive. Among them HCl scavenging, UV absorption, peroxide decomposer and radical scavenger for photostabilizer additives mechanisms were suggested

Analytical Study of Survey Results of Chemical Safety and Security Curriculum in Iraqi Academic Institutions

The survey presents a general view of the reality of chemical safety and security in educational institutions in Iraq, in which about 301 university staff from 14 Iraqi universities includes a doctorate, master's and bachelor's degree with a postgraduate student presented their opinions regarding the survey sections. This included basic information related to security and safety curricula and their teaching to students of primary and higher studies in Iraqi universities and ways of communication between universities to improve the reality of teaching and training. These institutions possess a culture of safety and optimal training methods for trainers and students. The opinions of the residents varied, which indicates the disparity of university institutions in terms of performance and infrastructure to improve the reality of security and safety in their institutions. Among the observations, the survey adopted the terms “yes” and “no” to describe the situation, and this assessment is considered relative and inaccurate. For example, if we take the question, does your institution implement security standards and safety measures? The answer will be 90% yes, with a large discrepancy between these institutions in the fact that they possess these standards. However, it requires more accurate details in describing the required cases in the survey. We suggest that the Ministry of Higher Education’s decision-makers take the results of the survey into account to develop future plans and improve the reality of security and safety. Furthermore, it is required to address the negatives and enable universities to communicate with each other to exchange experiences. It is important to take into account the adoption of the principle of transparency in the dissemination of data that would enhance aspects of education and knowledge in educational institutions

Transparency and Ethics in Chemical Laboratories

Chemical precisionists must continuously develop and enhance their cognition and general awareness through research, innovation, teamwork, collaboration, and community outreach. Through their knowledge, chemists may act as roll model and advisors to benefit societies and protect the environment for next generations. Transparency which is widely considered by researchers as a pillar for moral interaction through all work related subjects, moreover, in chemistry it has been considered as a research subject in many categories including chemical lab environment, safety regulation, honesty and clearance in data management, in addition to decision making and handling moral responsibility. This article is going to discuss some examples of luck of transparency, openness, and honesty in regard to data management and publishing and the impact they have on providing safe working laboratories and healthy environment.Chemical precisionists must continuously develop and enhance their cognition and general awareness through research, innovation, teamwork, collaboration, and community outreach. Through their knowledge, chemists may act as roll model and advisors to benefit societies and protect the environment for next generations. Transparency which is widely considered by researchers as a pillar for moral interaction through all work related subjects, moreover, in chemistry it has been considered as a research subject in many categories including chemical lab environment, safety regulation, honesty and clearance in data management, in addition to decision making and handling moral responsibility. This article is going to discuss some examples of luck of transparency, openness

The Iraqi EFL University Learners’ Recognition of the Politeness Principle

This study deals with the investigation of the Iraqi EFL university learners’ recognition of Leech’s politeness principle. The study aims at: determining whether the Iraqi EFL learners observe or flout the maxims of politeness principle, assessing the mastery of the maxims of politeness principle by the Iraqi EFL learners, and identifying which maxim(s) of politeness principle is/are usually observed and/or flouted. It is hypothesized that the modesty maxim is the most observed maxim and the generosity maxim is the most flouted one of the Iraqi EFL learners’ recognition of politeness principle, and the Iraqi EFL learners’ flouting of the maxims of politeness principle is more than their observance of such maxims at the recognition question. The sample of the current study is one hundred Iraqi EFL learners at the fourth year at University of Thi-Qar, College of Education for Humanities, Department of English. A test is the data elicitation tool that is designed to test the learners’ ability to recognize which maxims of politeness principle which are observed depending on the context of conversation in which they are indulged. It arrives at some conclusions: the most observed maxim of the Iraqi EFL learners’ recognition of politeness principle is the feeling-reticence maxim and the most flouted one is the modesty maxim. The Iraqi EFL university learners’ flouting of those maxims in the recognition question is more than their observance

New stabilizers for polystyrene based on 2-N-salicylidene-5-(substituted)-1,3,4-thiadiazole compounds

AbstractThe photostabilization of polystyrene (PS) films by 2-N-salicylidene-5-(substituted)-1,3,4-thiadiazole compounds was investigated. The PS films containing concentration of complexes 0.5% by weight were produced by the casting method from chloroform solvent. The photostabilization activities of these compounds were determined by monitoring the carbonyl and hydroxyl indices with irradiation time. The changes in viscosity average molecular weight of PS with irradiation time were also tracked (using benzene as a solvent). The quantum yield of the chain scission (Φcs) of these complexes in PS films was evaluated and found to range between 3.31×10−6 and 7.89×10−6. Results obtained showed that the rate of photostabilization of PS in the presence of the additive follows the trend: SN>SC>SB>SI>SPAccording to the experimental results obtained, several mechanisms were suggested depending on the structure of the additive. Among UV absorption, peroxide decomposer and radical scavenger for photostabilizer additives mechanisms were suggested

Photostability Study of Some Modified Poly(vinyl chloride) Containing Pendant Schiff’s Bases

The polymers modified Poly(vinyl chloride) differ in their tendency to photo oxidation comparing with that unmodified. It has been studied Photostability for modified Poly(vinyl chloride) chains using Schiff’s bases derivative of (5-amino-1, 3, 4-thiadiazole-2-thiol) in a manner casting of plastic chips with thickness (40) in a solvent Tetrahydrofuran. It has been determined the effectiveness Photostability of these modified polymers through the photo degradation rate constant for photostabilizer (kd) for the modified Poly (vinyl chloride). Attributed efficiency of these Poly(vinyl chloride) chips in Photostability by replace the atom Cl Poly(vinyl chloride) chains ends more stable than light stabilizer

Recovery and subsequent characterization of polyhydroxybutyrate from Rhodococcus equi cells grown on crude palm kernel oil

The gram-positive bacterium Rhodococcus equi was isolated from fertile soil, and mineral salt media (MM) and trace elementswere used to provide the necessary elements for its growth and PHB production in addition to using crude palm kernel oil (CPKO) 1%as the carbon source. Gas chromatography (GC) demonstrated that the composition of the recovered biopolymer was homopolymerpolyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). The strain of the present study has a dry biomass of 1.43 (g/l) with 38% PHB, as determined by GC.The recovered PHB was characterized by NMR to study the chemical structure. In addition, DSC and TGA were used to study thethermal properties of the recovered polymer, where the melting temperature (Tm) was 173◦C, the glass transition temperature (Tg)was 2.79◦C, and the decomposition temperature (Td) was 276◦C. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) was used to study themolecular mass of the recovered PHB in addition to comparing the results with other studies using different bacteria and substrates,where the molecular weight was 642 kDa, to enable its usage in many applications. The present study demonstrated the use of aninexpensive substrate for PHB production, i.e., using gram-positive bacteria to produce PHB polymer with characterization

Isolate and Cultivate Three Species of Blue-Green Algae from Soil Southern of Iraq and Study the Effect of Purified Microcystins from Alga Oscillatoria Pseudogeminata on Seed Germination of Tomato Plant Lycopersicon Esculentum

The present study included the diagnosis, isolation, purification and cultivation of three blue-green algal species belong to three genus represented by Aphanothece clathrata, Microcystis flos-aque and Oscillatoria pseudogeminata from the moist soil in the Al-Dafas orchards area, which is adjacent to the Tigris River in the district of Amara / Maysan province and Basra southern Iraq. The algae were cultivated in the BG-11 medium .The growth constant (k) and generation time (G) was measured for 60 days. Microcystins were purified from algae and detected qualitatively and quantitatively by using ELISA teqnique reach to 0.34 and 0.734 µg/L/50 mg of dry weight for the first and second algae respectively, While the alga O. pseudogeminata demonstrated its ability to produce microcystins at high concentration of 1.47 μg / L / 50 mg of dry weight of alga. The seeds of tomato plant Lycopersicon esculentum were treated with purified microcystins (MCs) from alga  O. pseudogeminata for 7 days with three concentrations of 0.5, 3 and 6 μg / L, in addition to the control group which was treated with distilled water. The results showed a significant decrease P≤0.05 in the germination percentage in the first and second day of the experiment under concentrations 3 and 6 μg / L reached to  0% in both compared with control group and concentration of 0.5 μg / L which their reach 26.6%. On the third to seven days of exposure, the germination percentage was range between 3.3- 86.6% when exposed to 6 µg/L compared with control group (100%). Also results showed a significant decrease p≤0.05 in the rate of germination speed, mean length of the radicale and plumule, fresh and dry weight with increasing of period exposure and purified microcystins concentration exactly at high concentration 6 μg / L. Keywords: Purified microcystins, A. clathrata, M. flos-aque O.pseudogeminata, Seed germination, L. esculentu

Di masa COVID-19, bagaimana cara melindungi diri sendiri dan orang lain?

Coronaviruses are a big identified group of viruses that could result in sickness in humans and animals. It was confirmed that many of these viruses caused respiratory diseases among humans and their symptoms range from popular colds to more serious diseases, such as the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The recently detected Coronavirus (called SARS-CoV-2) causes the COVID-19 pandemic, which causes a serious threat worldwide. There was no previous knowledge of this virus before the outbreak of Wuhan city in China in December 2019.  However, there is progress in defining, understanding and dealing with this virus.  In this review, we are focusing on the common questions regarding coronavirus transition and spread, and how to prevent the infection.  Coronavirus adalah kelompok besar virus yang dapat menyebabkan penyakit pada manusia dan hewan. Telah dipastikan bahwa banyak dari virus ini menyebabkan penyakit pernapasan pada manusia dan gejalanya berkisar dari pilek populer hingga penyakit yang lebih serius, seperti sindrom pernapasan Timur Tengah (MERS) dan sindrom pernapasan akut yang parah (SARS). Virus Corona yang baru terdeteksi (disebut SARS-CoV-2) menyebabkan pandemi COVID-19, menyebabkan ancaman serius di seluruh dunia. Belum ada pengetahuan sebelumnya tentang virus ini sebelum merebak di kota Wuhan (China) pada Desember 2019 lalu. Namun, ada kemajuan dalam pendefinisian, pemahaman, dan penanganan virus ini. Dalam ulasan ini, kami berfokus pada pertanyaan umum mengenai transisi dan penyebaran virus corona, serta cara mencegah infeksi