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.
Within this work, to promote the efficiency of organic-based solar cells, a series of novel A-π-D type small molecules were scrutinised. The acceptors which we designed had a moiety of N, N-dimethylaniline as the donor and catechol moiety as the acceptor linked through various conjugated π-linkers. We performed DFT (B3LYP) as well as TD-DFT (CAM-B3LYP) computations using 6-31G (d,p) for scrutinising the impact of various π-linkers upon optoelectronic characteristics, stability, and rate of charge transport. In comparison with the reference molecule, various π-linkers led to a smaller HOMO–LUMO energy gap. Compared to the reference molecule, there was a considerable red shift in the molecules under study (A1–A4). Therefore, based on
... Show MoreIn the present study, MCM-41 was synthesis as a carrier for poorly drugs soluble in water, by the sol-gel technique. Textural and chemical characterizations of MCM-41 were carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The experimental results were analyzed mesoporous carriers MCM-41. With maximum drug loading efficiency in MCM-41 determined to be 90.74%. The NYS released was prudently studied in simulated body fluid (SBF) pH 7.4 and the results proved that the release of NYS from MCM-41 was (87.79%) after 18 hr. The data of NYS released was found to be submitted a Weibull model with a correlation coefficient of (0.995). The Historical
... Show MoreSelf-compacted concrete (SCC) considered as a revolution progress in concrete technology due to its ability for flowing through forms, fusion with reinforcement, compact itself by its weight without using vibrators and economic advantages. This research aims to assess the fresh properties of SCC and study their effect on its compressive strength using different grading zones and different fineness modulus (F.M) of fine aggregate. The fineness modulus used in this study was (2.73, 2.82,2.9& 3.12) for different zones of grading (zone I, zone II& marginal zone(between zone I&II)) according to Iraqi standards (I.Q.S No.45/1984).Twelve mixes were prepared, each mix were tested in fresh state with slump, V-Funnel and L-Box tests, t
... Show MoreSelf-compacted concrete (SCC) considered as a revolution progress in concrete technology due to its ability for flowing through forms, fusion with reinforcement, compact itself by its weight without using vibrators and economic advantages. This research aims to assess the fresh properties of SCC and study their effect on its compressive strength using different grading zones and different fineness modulus (F.M) of fine aggregate. The fineness modulus used in this study was (2.73, 2.82,2.9& 3.12) for different zones of grading (zone I, zone II& marginal zone(between zone I&II)) according to Iraqi standards (I.Q.S No.45/1984).Twelve mixes were prepared, each mix were tested in fresh state with slump, V-Funnel and L-Box tests, then 72
... Show MoreIn this research, the structural and optical properties were studied for Bi2O3 and Bi2O3: Al thin films with different doping ratios ( 1, 2, 3 ) % , which were prepared by thermal evaporation technique under vacuum , with thickness ( 450 ± 20 ) nm deposited on glass substrates at room temperature ( 300 ) K , Structural measurements by ( XRD) techniques demonstrated that all samples prepared have polycrystalline structure with tetragonal structure and a preferred orientation [ 201 ] the &n
... Show MoreBacopa monnieri L. (Scrophulariaceae), synoname is Herpestis monniera that provides bioactive compounds, especially triterpenoid saponins (Bacosides) which exhibits an important biological activities, like hypothyroidism, anticonvulsant, memory enhancing and antistress. Because there are no researches about B. monnieri L. plant that grow in Iraq, and there active compounds especially triterpenoid saponin (TS), and there effects. This study was detected the presence of (TS) in, and examined the cytotoxic and the antioxidant activity of these compounds in vitro. The study was included the extraction and identification of TS from the whole parts of B. monnieri L. by using three methods, and the best yield was analyzed by High Performance Liqui
... Show MoreThe study was conducted in the Tigris River in Baghdad during May 2021 until March 2022 to follow the impact of climate change, rising temperatures, and the presence of pollutants on the dynamics of phytoplankton and some physicochemical variables from four sites. The results showed that the climatic conditions during different seasons, in addition to the nature of the sampling sites, have a clear and significant impact on the studied traits and, in turn, affect the phytoplankton community. The highest average temperature (30.67 ˚C) was recorded; the pH values ranged between 8.70 & 6.75; the electrical conductivity (1208.18-770.11 µS/cm ) and the total dissolved solids (TDS) (778.95- 439.49 mg/L) were evaluated. Upon measuring
... Show MoreBackground: Cervical lymph nodes are prone to involved by a number of pathologic processes. They are common sites for lymphoma, metastasis, and reactive enlargement in a number of conditions. Aims of the study:-Clinical evaluation of patients with cervical lymphadenopathy. Differentiation between benign and malignant lymph nodes by means of ultra sounds (US) and Correlate the US findings with cytological and/or histopathological findings of cervical lymph nodes. Subjects, Materials and Methods:-The present study was carried out over a period of 6 months and included 81 patients of different age groups presenting with cervical lymphadenopathy. Each patient was examined clinically, then comprehensive sonographic examination of the neck for
... Show MoreTransparent thin films of CdO:Ce has been deposited on to glass and silicon substrates by spray pyrolysis technique for various concentrations of cerium (2, 4, and 6 Vol.%). CdO:Ce films were characterized using different techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy(AFM) and optical properties. XRD analysis show that CdO films exhibit cubic crystal structure with (1 1 1) preferred orientation and the intensity of the peak increases with increasing's of Ce contain when deposited films on glass substrate, while for silicon substrate, the intensity of peaks decreases, the results reveal that the grain size of the prepared thin film is approximately (73.75-109.88) nm various with increased of cerium content. With a sur
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