Resilient polymeric materials such as silicone elastomers are currently used for maxillofacial prostheses construction but the strength of these materials and their clinical performance need to be optimized with the addition of reinforcing fillers. This study investigates the effect of zirconia nanopowder addition on tear strength, tensile strength, elongation at break, Shore A hardness, surface roughness and cytotoxicity of VST-50 maxillofacial silicone. Silicone base was mixed with different amounts (1%, 2% and 3%) of zirconia nanopowder using a vacuum mixer. Silicone without filler was used as control for comparison. Scanning Electron Microscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy were utilized to assess the efficiency of high-shear vacuum mixing as filler dispersion method and the surface topography, respectively. Both SEM and AFM images showed that the zirconia nanopowder were distributed fairly well within the polymer. Statistically, highly significant increase in tear strength, tensile strength and hardness with non-significant decrease in elongation at break and non-significant increase in surface roughness were seen with 1% and 2% groups. Whereas with 3% group, there was significant improvement in tear strength, tensile strength and hardness but there was significant undesirable decrease in elongation and increase in roughness. Cytotoxicity test revealed that the addition of zirconia nanopowder was nontoxic to Rat Embryonic Fibroblast (REF) cells and there was non-significant change in the cell viability of all study groups after 24- and 72-hours incubation periods. In conclusion, the addition of 2% by weight nano zirconia to VST-50 maxillofacial silicone could be beneficial in enhancing its performance.
Background: Directly observed therapy-short course (DOTS) had been adopted by World Health Organization (WHO) as hopeful strategy for treatment of tuberculosis (TB) since early nineties. Iraqi health authorities started DOTS implementation since 2001 in Baghdad. Coverage expanded gradually till 100% in 2004. War and unstable security condition hit Iraq since March 2003. Objective: The objective of this study was To evaluate the DOTS implementation program in Baghdad in different periods including 2 unstable periods for proper assessment of war and instability on treatment of TB. Patients and methods: This study had been conducted in Baghdad during four different periods (before and during 2003 war, after war; without and with DOTS). Dire
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It considers training programs is an important process contributing to provide employees with the skills required to do their jobs efficiently and effectively, so it should be concerned with and the focus of all government our organizations, and perhaps the most important reasons that I was invited to select the subject (evaluation of training programs directed toward the diagnosis of the phenomenon of financial and administrative corruption) It is the importance of those programs working in the regulatory institutions General and the Office of Inspector General of Finance and the Ministry particularly for employees because of their role in the development of their skills and their experience and their beha
... Show MoreThe synthesis, characterization and liquid crystalline properties of N4,N40-bis((1 H-benzo[d]imidazol-2- yl)methyl)-3,30-dimethyl-[1,10-biphenyl]-4,40-diamine and of their corresponding Mn(II), Fe(II), Ni (II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) complexes are described. The ligand and complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, magnetic susceptibility measurements (meff), conductometric measurements and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR), (13C-NMR) and UV–Vis spectroscopy. Spectral investigations suggested octahedral coordination geometrical arrangement for M(II) complexes. The phase transition temperatures were detected by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis and the phases are confirmed by op
... Show MoreThis study was carried out to find out the effect of germination of broad beans and chickpeas seeds for different periods on the sensory properties of homus bethina and falafel. The results revealed that the studied properties were significantly different (P<0.05) in tenderness, flavor and overall acceptance as compared to control samples. While other properties such as appearance, body (texture), leavening and color did not showed significant differences.It was found that treatment B1 (100% germinated broad beans) varied significantly in tenderness in comparison with control samples.Treatment B3 (75% ordinary bread beans + 25% germinated broad beans) revealed significant differences (P<0.05) in both flavor and overall acceptance as compar
... Show MoreA new hetrocyclic liquid crystal compounds containing 1,3,4-oxadiazole with different substituted in para position (Bromo, Chloro, Nitro and Methyl) were synthesized and characterized by melting points, FTIR Spectroscopy and 1HNMR spectroscopy for [Cl-SR6] and [NO2-SR6] compounds. The liquid crystalline properties of the synthesized compounds were studied by using hot-stage polarizing optical microscopy (POM), so they determined the transition enthalpies and entropies by using differential scanning calorimetery (DSC). All of the compounds show mesomorphic properties. The compounds [Br-SR6], [Cl-SR6] and [NO2SR6] exhibit an enantiotropic dimorphism smectic (Sm) phase, while the compounds [MeSR6] showed nematic (N) phase throw cooli
... Show MoreThe Central Marshes are one of southern Iraq's most important wetlands and ecosystems. A study on evaluating soil quality and water quality in terms of chemical properties at certain sites in the southern Iraqi Central Marshes has been conducted to investigate their types and suitability for enhancing the agricultural reality of most field crops. Soil and water samples were collected from 15 sites and transferred to the laboratory. In the lab, the following parameters were determined: electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved salts (TDS), organic materials (OM), pH, gypsum, and total sulfate content (SO3). The tests conducted on the samples indicated that it could be said that the soil of the Central Marshes
... Show MoreCerium oxide CeO2, or ceria, has gained increasing interest owing to its excellent catalytic applications. Under the framework of density functional theory (DFT), this contribution demonstrates the effect that introducing the element nickel (Ni) into the ceria lattice has on its electronic, structural, and optical characteristics. Electronic density of states (DOSs) analysis shows that Ni integration leads to a shrinkage of Ce 4f states and improvement of Ni 3d states in the bottom of the conduction band. Furthermore, the calculated optical absorption spectra of an Ni-doped CeO2 system shifts towards longer visible light and infrared regions. Results indicate that Ni-doping a CeO2 system would result in a decrease of the band gap. Finally,
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