Background: Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a promising implant material due to its superior biomechanical strength. However, due to its hydrophobic nature and lack of cellular adhesion properties, it has poor integration with bone tissue. Methods: A fractional CO2 laser was used with various parameters for surface texturing of PEEK substrate to enhance its surface properties. An optical microscope and field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) were used to examine the surface morphology of untextured and laser-textured samples. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) was performed to determine the effect of the laser on the microstructure of PEEK. Surface microroughness, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and wettability were investigated. Results: There were significant increases in microroughness, nanoroughness, surface area ratio, and wettability after laser texturing with no change in the elemental composition. The best results were obtained by using 400 µs laser pulse duration with a dot separation distance of 0.2 mm and a 60° staggered dots pattern. Conclusions: Laser surface texturing of PEEK implant material by fractional CO2 laser is an easy and fast method of introducing patterned topographical features with no need for additional devices. With further investigations, this method of PEEK modification might have the potential to be used in the implant field.
Background: there are different procedures for the diagnosis of females suspected with toxoplasmosis. However, time, cost, and accuracy of the test should meet patient’s needs.
Material and methods: one hundred and eleven female with suspected toxoplasmosis were under go three different procedures for the diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection. Latex agglutination test, rapid chromatographic (immunoblot) and ELISA test were done for all patients. The results were described as frequency and percentage of positivity; also, specificity and sensitivity of immunoblot were assessed according to the result of other tests.
Results: The Latex test has shown 80% and 61.54% sensitivity and specificity respectively
Background:- Colonic cancer is a very common disease world-wide being fourth most common cancer characterized by abnormal proliferation of the inner wall of colon at beginning then taking full colon wall thickness then to surrounding lymph nodes and tissues and finally metastasis.
Objective:- To evaluate the efficacy of serum CA19-9 and CCSA-4 levels in the screening and prognosis of colonic cancer and their validity for this.
Patients and methods:-This study was applied on 35 patients with colonic cancer, 35 patients with benign polyps and 16 negative controls. All individuals were subjected to blood sampling for measuring their serum CA19-9 and CCSA-4 using ELISA technique.
Results:-Our study shows that colonic cancer patients
Background: Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) is a general term that describe a wide variety of conditions that include myogenic pain, internalderangement, arthritic problem, ankylosis of the joint and growth disorders. The aims of study was to evaluate the value of 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging in assessment of articular disc position and configuration in patients with temporomandibular joint disorders and to evaluate the correlations of these MRI findings with the clinical signs and symptoms. Materials and methods: A total forty six (30 study and 16 control) participants aged between18 and 49 years, were examined according to Helkimo anamnestic index (questionnaire for anamnesis) and clinical dysfunction index scoring criteria
... Show MoreBackground: human paillomavirus infections (genital warts) are the most frequent sexually transmitted viral infections. a wide range of treatment options is available with different efficacy.
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of podophyllin, trichloracetic acid (TCA) in the treatment of genital warts and side effects of them.
Subjects and methods: a total of sixty patients with genital warts were randomly selected, 30 in each group, in the Department of Dermatology, medical city for a Duration of 11 months from January 2009 to December 2009 treated with 35 % podophyllin in the tincture of benzoin or 50% TCA) .Forty-eight patients were followed up for three months.
Results: wart
... Show MoreThis research paper is about synoptic climate specifically with in the upper air layers
using upper air layers maps analysis which are maps of thickness for the level 1000 – 500
MB, that their high average ranges between 100 – 5600 M above surface. This research paper
focuses on studying special and temporal variations of the atmosphere thickness above Iraqaccording
to this study, it is concluded that atmosphere thickness above Iraq increases
towards south with an average of 100 M as compared with north of Iraq. Regarding the
temporal variations, it is concluded that atmosphere thickness during hot months. In July, for
example, the atmosphere thickness becomes thicker than in January with an average of
(250)M
This study was carried out in Kalar technical institute, Sulaimani Polytechnic University in Garmian region, Iraq during 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons. Five hybrid genotypes of barley were tested under drought and irrigated conditions to detect the flag-leaf specific weight, chlorophyll content index (SPAD; The Soil Plant Analysis Development chlorophyll meter) and the period from anthesis to physiological maturity. Across both years 2016-17 and 2017-18, there was no effect of drought on flag-leaf specific weight, however, SPAD was reduced by 4.77 and the period between anthesis and maturity was shortened by almost two days. Genotype 3//14 scored the highest values of flag-leaf specific weight (7.765 mg cm-2)and SPAD (25.56), an
... Show MoreThe purpose of this study is to assess the level of computer literacy of the students at AlQuds open university in Tulkarm Branch. The study investigates the effects of the variables of gender, specialization, academic level, owning a personal computer, internet communication, and own an email account on the level of computer literacy. A test of computer literacy was constructed by the researchers consisting of (37) multiple choice items with a reliability rate (0.85). The study population consisted of (4100) students, while the sample contained (352) students. The study revealed that the level of computer literacy of the students at AlQuds Open University in Tulkarm Branch was (66.2 %) which is educationally acceptable. It also
... Show MoreEleven hymenopterous species: two braconids, seven eulophids and two pteromalids
parasitized the larvae of Phytomyza horticola Goureau. The activity of the parasites began at
the end of April and evidently increased during May. The female of the parasites fed and
parasitized mostly on the second and third larval instars of P. horticola . Diglyphus iseae
Walker and Cirrospilus vittatus Walker were dominant larval parasites. Chrysocharis
pentheus Walker and Pediobius acantha Walker were main pupal parasites.
Background: Gastroenteritis is a common illness in pediatric age group; the causes could be bacterial, fungal or viral infection. Rotavirus is the most common cause of infectious diarrhea in children. Children between 3 months to 2 years old have the most severe symptoms. Rotavirus is extremely easy to catch and is transmitted mainly by the oral- fecal route. For diagnosis; the specimen of choice is the stool which has been collected during the first 3 to 5 days of illness. If collected 8 or more days after onset of symptoms the specimen will rarely contain the virus.
Objective: The objective of
... Show MoreOne of the main techniques to achieve phase behavior calculations of reservoir fluids is the equation of state. Soave - Redlich - Kwong equation of state can then be used to predict the phase behavior of the petroleum fluids by treating it as a multi-components system of pure and pseudo-components. The use of Soave – Redlich – Kwon equation of state is popular in the calculations of petroleum engineering therefore many researchers used it to perform phase behavior analysis for reservoir fluids (Wang and Orr (2000), Ertekin and Obut (2003), Hasan (2004) and Haghtalab (2011))
This paper presents a new flash model for reservoir fluids in gas – oil se