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.
In this research we have tackled the role of Talent management (as a private variable) within (the Talent attraction, the Talent management performance, Talent development and Talent retention) on strategic performance reinforcement ( accredited variable) within its dimensions ( financial perspective, costumer perspective, internal operations perspective and learning and development perspective). The research conducted on sample of some college teachers from two of Sumer's colleges. The research problem represented by the broad organization's competition as well as universities; which led these colleges to investigate it's skillful human staff to meet it's strategic performance.
To meet the aims of
... Show MoreThe change in the optical band gap and optical activation energy have been investigated for pure Poly (vinyl alcohol)and Poly (vinyl alcohol) doped with Aluminum sulphate to proper films from their optical absorption spectra. The absorption spectra were measured in the wave range from (200-700) nm at temperature range (25-140) 0C. The optical band gap (Eg) for allowed direct transition decrease with increase the concentration of Aluminum sulphate. The optical activation energy for allowed direct transition band gap was evaluated using Urbach- edges method. It was found that ?E increases with increasing the concentration of Al2 (SO4)3 and decreases when temperature increases.
Q-switched lasers widely used in management skin diseases and
sometimes its effect may be inadequate or associated with
cytotoxicity. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of
Q-switched Nd:YAG laser upon cellular elements using in vitro
experimental model. Aqueous solutions of human albumin and pure
calf thymus double strand deoxyribonucleic acid (ctdsDNA)
irradiated with Q-switched Nd:YAG laser at different rates (1, 3 Hz)
and time exposure (up to 60 seconds) using 532 nm (400 mJ) and
1064 (1200 mJ) nm wavelength with fixed spot size of 4 mm. The
effect of laser irradiation on the albumin solution also studied in the
presence of elemental salts of copper, zinc and iron.
Q-switched laser irrad
Background: One of the drawbacks of vital teeth bleaching is color stability. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of tea and tomato sauce on the color stability of bleached enamel in association with the application of MI Paste Plus (CPP-ACPF). Materials and Methods: Sixty enamel samples were bleached with 10% carbamide peroxide for two weeks then divided into three groups (A, B and C) of 20 samples each. After bleaching, the samples of each group were subdivided into two subgroups (n=10). While subgroups A1, B1 and C1 were kept in distilled water, A2, B2, and C2 were treated with MI Paste Plus. Then, the samples were immersed in different solutions as follow: A1 and A2 in distilled water (control); B1 and B2 in black
... Show MoreObjective: To determine the effectiveness of the educational program on nursing staffs' knowledge about uses of steroids and their side effects.
Methodology: A pre-experimental study design (one group design: pre-test and post-test) was used. This study was conducted in Al-Diwaniya Teaching Hospital for the period from ( 28th May to 10 th June, 2020) on a non-probability (purposive) sample consisting of (30 nurses) working in Oncology unit. A questionnaire was built as a data collection tool and consisted of two parts:
First part: The demographic characteristics of the nursing staff (gender, age, level of education, years of experience in hospital, participation in training courses related to nursing care for a patients undergoing
Background: Osteoporosis is an extra-articular complication of rheumatoid arthritis that results in increased risk of fractures and associated morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Objective: To evaluate changes in bone mineral density in a sample of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients on biological (anti tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha) and non-biological agent disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Patients and Methods: A cross sectional study enrolled 60 RA patients diagnosed by rheumatologist according to the 2010 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (2010 ACR/EULAR) classification criteria for RA. Thirty patient on biological agent (anti TNF alpha) and 30 patient on non-biological agent (D
... Show MoreThe utilization of artificial intelligence techniques has garnered significant interest in recent research due to their pivotal role in enhancing the quality of educational offerings. This study investigated the impact of employing artificial intelligence techniques on improving the quality of educational services, as perceived by students enrolled in the College of Pharmacy at the University of Baghdad. The study sample comprised 379 male and female students. A descriptive-analytical approach was used, with a questionnaire as the primary tool for data collection. The findings indicated that the application of artificial intelligence methods was highly effective, and the educational services provided to students were of exceptional quality.
... Show MoreA Stereomicroscopic Evaluation of Four Endodontic Sealers Penetration into Artificial Lateral Canals Using Gutta-Percha Single Cone Obturation Technique, Omar Jihad Banawi*, Raghad
The current study was conductedas a pot experiment to determine the effect of soil texture on biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) of six most efficient local isolates, specified, of Bradyrhizobium. Cowpea (Vignaunguiculata L.), as a legume host crop, was used as a host crop and 15N dilution analysis was used for accurate determination of the amount of N biologically fixed under experimental parameters specified. Soils used are clay loam, sandy clay loam and sandy loam. Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF), in different soil textural classes, was as in the following order: medium texture soil > heavy texture soil > light textured soil. Statistical analysis showed that there is a significant variation in BNF % among six Iraqi isolates in the th
... Show MoreThe effect of air injection device on the performance of airlift pump used for water pumping has been studied numerically and experimentally. An airlift pump of dimensions 42mm diameter and 2200 mm length with conventional and modified air injection device was considered. A modification on conventional injection device (normal air-jacket type) was carried out by changing injection angle from 90 (for conventional) to 22.5 (for modified). Continuity and Navier-Stokes equations in turbulent regime with an appropriate two-phase flow model (VOF) and turbulent model ( ) in two dimensions axisymmetry flow were formulated and solved by using the known package FLUENT version (14.5). The numerical and experimental investiga
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