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.
The aim of this study was to provide an overall assessment to the efficiency of the Iraq stocks exchanges (ISE) through specifying well –known models .First, Fama's efficient market hypothesis as a contrary concept to the random walk hypothesis, was performed and it has been found that ISE follows the random process, so the price of the shares can't be predicated on the basis of past information. Second,we use a multifactor model, which so named multiple regression, to explore the link between ISE and the main economic indicators. our empirical analysis finds that every weak associations exists between major ISE measures and main economic indicators.
Automatic Programming Assessment (APA) has been gaining lots of attention among researchers mainly to support automated grading and marking of students’ programming assignments or exercises systematically. APA is commonly identified as a method that can enhance accuracy, efficiency and consistency as well as providing instant feedback on students’ programming solutions. In achieving APA, test data generation process is very important so as to perform a dynamic testing on students’ assignment. In software testing field, many researches that focus on test data generation have demonstrated the successful of adoption of Meta-Heuristic Search Techniques (MHST) so as to enhance the procedure of deriving adequate test data for efficient t
... Show MoreBanks face many of the various risks: which are of dangerous phenomena that cause the state achieved a waste of money and a threat to future development plans to be applied to reach the goals set by: prompting banks and departments to find appropriate solutions and fast: and it was within these solutions rely on Banking risk management and effective role in defining and identifying: measuring and monitoring risk and trying to control and take risks is expected to occur in order to encircle and make it in within acceptable limits: and try to avoid them in the future to reduce the losses that are likely to be exposed to the bank: and it began to emerge and dominate a lot of legislation that seeks to structure the year risk management and t
... Show MoreThe research examines the awareness of the components of responsible citizenship among primary schoolgirls in Jeddah using a descriptive approach. A test was then prepared, which consists of loyalty, affiliation to homeland, conscious citizenship based on the knowledge of rights, the fulfillment of duties, family roles in education and society revival, homeland and preservation of the components and gains, participation in achievements, and of national heritage. To maintain the validity and reliability of the study, 28-item test of multiple-choice and short essays type was applied to a random sample of (303) female students in the (fourth-fifth-sixth) primary school class in Jeddah. Results have shown that the level of awareness of schoo
... Show MoreAbstract: This research was performed to study the effect of some amino acids and vitamins on the growth of bacteria Staphylococcus aureas and its sensitivity against UV light. The results showed low inhibition in bacterial growth because amino acids repairs the damges caused by UV light. Besides the effect of two groups of antibiotics (β-lactame and tetracycline) on the growth of S. aureus and the possible interference of amino acids and vitamins in the activity of the antibiotics against this bacteria in the presence of UV light were studied. The result show increase in the sensitivity towards these antibiotics and provided protection against the antibiotics.
A series of new 4-(((4-(5-(Aryl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)benzyl)oxy)methyl)-2,6-dimethoxy phenol (6a-i) were synthesized from cyclization of 4-(((4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxy benzyl)oxy)methyl)benzohydrazide with substituted carboxylic acid in the presences of phosphorusoxy chloride.The resulting compounds were characterized by IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and HRMS data. 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazide (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays were used to screen their antioxidant properties. Compounds 6i and 6h exhibited significant antioxidant ability in both assay. Furthermore, type of substituent and their position of the aryl attached 1,3,4-oxadiazole ring at position five are play an important roles in enhancing or declining the antio
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The decision maker needs to understand the strategic environment to be addressed through different means and methods. It is obvious that there is a difference between the three strategic environments (conflict environment, peace environment, post- peace environment) in terms of inputs and strategies to deal with each one of them. There is an urgent need to understand each pattern separately, analyze its inputs, and identify the factors and variables that affect the continuity of this situation (conflict, peace, post-peace). It is not appropriate to identify treatment without diagnosis of the condition, so it is very important to understand the type of strategic environment to be dealt with it.
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