Abstract Background: The daily usage of maxillofacial prostheses causes them to mechanically deteriorate with time. This study was aimed to evaluate the reinforcement of VST50F maxillofacial silicone by using yttrium oxide (Y2O3) nanoparticles (NPs) to resist aging and mechanical deterioration. Materials and Method: Y2O3 NPs (30–45nm) were loaded into VST50F maxillofacial silicone in two weight percentages (1 and 1.5 wt%), which were predetermined in a pilot study as the best rates for improving tear strength with minimum increase in hardness values. A total of 120 specimens were prepared and divided into the control and experimental groups (with 1 and 1.5 wt% Y2O3 addition). Each group included 40 specimens, 10 specimens for each parameter tested (i.e., tear strength, surface roughness, hardness, tensile strength and elongation percentage). Specimens were artificially aged in a weathering chamber for 150 h and then tested. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey’s honestly significant difference (HSD). Statistical significance was set to P ≤ 0.05. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were also conducted. Results and Discussion: SEM results showed that Y2O3 NPs were distributed well within the silicon matrix. FTIR results indicated that the NPs were physically dispersed within VST50F silicone without chemical interaction. After 150 h of accelerated artificial aging, adding Y2O3 NPs significantly increased the tear strength, hardness, surface roughness, and elongation percentage. Tensile strength increased non significantly. Conclusion: Adding Y2O3 NPs as fillers improved the mechanical properties of artificially aged maxillofacial silicone elastomer. Keywords: maxillofacial silicone, Y2O3, nanoparticles, fillers, artificial aging.
A series of experiments were conducted for the first time in Iraq to evaluate the efficiency of five plant leaves extracts (Ibicella lutea, Nerium oleander, Clerodendron inerme, Allium cepa and Eucalyptus spp.) in treating the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) infected with monogenetic trematodes of genera Dactylogyrus. Five different concentrations of such extracts were used to bathe fishes for 5,10,15,20 and 25 minutes. A concentration of 15% A. cepa for 25 minutes of bath exposure was affective in trematode eradication. Extracts of both Eucalyptus and N. oleander at a concentration of 10% each were also affective for ten minutes exposure. Extracts of C. inerme had no any effect on such parasites. On the otherhand, extracts of 1. hitea caused
... Show MoreIn this research, a Co-polymer (Styrene / Allyl-2.3.4.6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-glucopyranoside) was synthesized from glucose in four steps using Addition Polymerization according to the radical mechanism using Benzoyl Peroxide (BP) as initiator. Initially, Allyl-2.3.4.6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-glucopyranoside monomer was prepared in three steps and the reaction was followed by (HPLC, FT-IR, TLC), in the fourth step the monomer was polymerized with Styrene and the structure was determined by FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy. The reaction conditions (temperature, reaction time, material ratios) were also studied to obtain the highest yield, the relative, specific and reduced viscosity of the prepared polymer was determined, from which the viscosity ave
... Show MoreBackground: Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has enormously affected various healthcare services including the one of community pharmacy. The ramifications of these effects on Iraqi community pharmacies and the measures they have taken to tackle the spread of COVID-19 is yet to be explored. In this cross sectional survey, infection control measures by community pharmacies in Sulaimani city/Iraq has been investigated.
Methods: Community pharmacists were randomly allocated to participate in a cross-sectional survey via visiting their pharmacies and filling up the questionnaire form.
Results and discussion:
... Show MoreThe silver nanoparticles synthesized have to be handled by humans and must be available at cheaper rates for their effective utilization; thus, there is a need for an environmentally and economically feasible way to synthesize these nanoparticles. Therefore, this study aimed to synthesis of silver nanoparticles using phenolic compounds extracted from Rosmarinus officinalis. The maceration method and Soxhlet apparatus were used to prepare aqueous and methanolic Rosmarinus officinalis leaves extracts respectively, Furthermore, Rosmarinus officinalis silver nanoparticles (RAgNPs) were prepared from the aqueous and methanolic leaves extract of this plant and diagnosed using the ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM),
... Show MoreThe present study attempts to determine the effect of freezing for different periods on preserved bodies of fish in the laboratory to keep for the research and diagnosis of taxonomic studies and not for consumption. It also endeavors to identify the effect of freezing on some morphometric features of the preserved bodies of fishes. Planiliza abu fish were used to conduct the present study. Fish were frozen by regular freezing in the home refrigerator freezer with temperatures reaching four degrees centigrade below zero. Freezing time is distributed over four months; biometric measurements of frozen fish have been taken in these periods represented by body total length, Standard length, and Head length in centimeters using a ruler ve
... Show MoreThe experiment was carried out to study the effect oftwo concentration of NPK 0.25 and 0.50g/kg soil on some physiological characters of Apium graveolens. The results showed that the both concentration increased percentage of germination, plant height, Length of roots, roots diameter, absolute growth rate (AGR), relative growth rate (RGR) and percentage of N, P and K in plants
The study aimed to investigate the effect of fungicides chlorothalonil at different concentrations ( 0.1 , 0.5 , 5 , 25 , 50 ) × 10 - 5 M on some cytogenetic parameters of human peripheral blood lymphocytes . The genotoxicity parameters were estimated by the number of chromosomal aberrations (CAs) and their types and by estimating the induced micronuclei (Mn) . Cytotoxic effect recorded by estimating the mitotic index (MI) . Results revealed that the fungicide increased the CAs in dose – response pattern with positive correlation coefficient ( r = + 0.964) , there was a significant differences among the concentrations (P<0.01) . The major CAs records chromosomal breakage at concentrations. 0.5 , 5 , 25 , and 50 , while the lowest concen
... Show MoreThis paper presents a study for the influence of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) on the oscillating flows of fractional Burgers’ fluid. The fractional calculus approach in the constitutive relationship model is introduced and a fractional Burgers’ model is built. The exact solution of the oscillating motions of a fractional Burgers’ fluid due to cosine and sine oscillations of an infinite flat plate are established with the help of integral transforms (Fourier sine and Laplace transforms). The expressions for the velocity field and the resulting shear stress that have been obtained, presented under integral and series form in terms of the generalized Mittag-Leffler function, satisfy all imposed initial and boundary conditions. Finall
... Show MoreTitanium dioxide nanotubes were synthesized by anodizing Ti sheets in the ethylene glycol solution and were covered in Pt nanoparticles onto the surface of TiO2NTs using electrodeposition method from using five derivatives of Mannich base Pt complexes which have been used as precursor of platinum. The mean size, shape, elemental composition of the titanium dioxide nanotubes and platinum deposited on the template were evaluated by different techniques such as field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) technique. From all these analyses, the TiO2NTs prepared and Ptnanoparticles deposited on it were ide
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