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 work, two different laser dye solutions were used to host highly-pure silicon nitride nanoparticles as scattering centers to fabricate random gain media. The laser dye was dissolved in three different solvents (ethanol, methanol and acetone) and the final results were obtained for methanol only. The silicon nitride nanoparticles were synthesized by dc reactive magnetron sputtering technique with average particle size of 35 nm. The random gain medium was made as a solid rod with high spectral efficiency and low production cost. Optical emission with narrow linewidth was detected at 532-534 nm as 9 mg of silicon nitride nanoparticles were added to the 10 -5 M dye solution. The FWHM of 0.3 and 3.52 nm was determined for Rhodamine B and
... Show MoreMetal nanoparticles can serve as an efficient nano-heat source with confinement photothermal effects. Thermo-plasmonic technology allows researchers to control the temperature at a nanoscale due to the possibility of precise light propagation. The response of opto-thermal generation of single gold-silica core-shell nanoparticle immersed in water and Poly-vinylpyrrolidone surrounding media is theoretically investigated. Two lasers (CW and fs pulses) at the plasmonic resonance (532 nm) are utilized. For this purpose, finite element method is used via COMSOL multiphysics to find a numerical computation of absorption cross section for the proposed core –shell NP in different media. Thermo-plasmonic response for both lasers is studied. The
... Show MoreThe results of the study showed the statistical significant difference (P≥0.05) for each of the relative weight of the yolk and egg whites, the relative weight of the shell and the Hauh unit, which is affected positively by the addition of ground fenugreek seed and Laurels leave to the quail bird's diet. There is also a statistically significant difference positively for each of the percentage of ash, protein and carbohydrates for qualis egg, while there is no significant difference for both the percentage of moisture and fat. The results of the mineral estimation showed an increase in each of the elements of iron, copper and cadmium from the addition of fenugreek and laurels leave, while there was no significant difference for
... Show MoreThis study focuses on producing wood-plastic composites using unsaturated polyester resin reinforced with Pistacia vera shell particles and wood industry waste powder. Composites with reinforcement ratios of 0%, 20%, 30%, and 40% were prepared and tested for thermal conductivity, impact strength, hardness, and compressive strength. The results revealed that thermal conductivity increases with reinforcement, while maintaining good thermal insulation, reaching a peak value of 0.633453 W/m·K. Hardness decreased with increased reinforcement, reaching a minimum nominal hardness value of 0.9479. Meanwhile, impact strength and compressive strength improved, with peak values of 14.103 k/m² and 57.3864568 MPa, respectively. The main aim is to manu
... Show MoreMaterials and Methods Bacterial strains P. aeruginosa was obtained from postgraduate students Laboratories of Biology Department/College of Science/University of Baghdad. That previously isolated from patient suffering from Cystic Fibrosis. API 20 NE system was employed for the identification of P. aeruginosa. A total of 122 urine specimens were collected in the period between of mid of July until to the mid of September of 2010 from AL-Kadhmiya Teaching Hospital in Baghdad City. Specimens were collected from out-patients in sterile screw cupped containers. Regarding inpatients, catheter was withdrawn and cut
Non-thermal plasmas have become popular as plasma technology has advanced in various fields, including waste management, aerospace technology, and medicinal applications. They can be used to replace combustion fuels in stationary hall motors and need little effort to keep running for longer periods of time. To improve overall system performance, non-reactive gases such as )Xe, Ar, and Kr) are utilized in pure or mixed form to generate plasma. Since DC glow discharge is a fundamental topic of importance, these gases have been researched. The paper concentrates on 2-D modeling and simulation. DC glow-discharge tubes are utilized with argon gas to create plasma and learn about its properties. The magnitude of the electron density, increases wi
... Show MoreChloroviruses are large viruses that replicate in chlorella-like green algae and normally exist as mutualistic endosymbionts (referred to as zoochlorellae) in protists such as Paramecium bursaria. Chlorovirus populations rise and fall in indigenous waters through time; however, the factors involved in these virus fluctuations are still under investigation. Chloroviruses attach to the surface of P. bursaria but cannot infect their zoochlorellae hosts because the viruses cannot reach the zoochlorellae as long as they are in the symbiotic phase. Predators of P. bursaria, such as copepods and didinia, can bring chloroviruses into contact with zoochlorellae by disrupting the paramecia, which results in an increase in virus titers in micr
... Show MoreThe experiment was carried out to study the effect of NPK and Inicium using two concentration for each of them 1 and 2 gm/L for NPK and 5 and 10 ml/L for Inicium on some physiological characters of Lycopersicon esculentum and mitotic division index of seedling radical apex. The results showed that all the characters increased plant height, stem diameter, leaves number, length of leaf, lobs number in one leaf, length of root and root diameter. The data showed that the percentage of cell division, mitotic division and Telophase stage increased in seedling radical apex comparison with control plants.