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.
Transparent 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
... Show MoreIn this paper, a construction microwave induced plasma jet(MIPJ) system was used to produce a non-thermal plasma jet at atmospheric pressure, at standard frequency of 2.45 GHz and microwave power of 800 W. The working gas Argon (Ar) was supplied to flow through the torch with adjustable flow rate using flow meter regulator. The influence of the MIPJ parameters such as applied voltage and argon gas flow rate on macroscopic microwave plasma parameters were studied. The macroscopic parameters results show increasing of microwave plasma jet length with increasing of applied voltage, argon gas flow rate where the plasma jet length exceed 12 cm as maximum value. While the increasing of argon gas flow rate will cause increasing into the ar
... Show MoreAbstractThe objective of the present study was measured of several oxidative stresses and liver function parameters in workers occupationally exposed to cement dust in Kufa Cement Factory, in order to test the hypothesis that cement dust exposure may perturb these parameters. Assessment of oxidative stress and liver function parameters were performed in 63 workers occupationally, in different departments of Kufa Cement Factory, exposed to cement dust (range of the exposure time was 5-38 years) and 36 matched unexposed controls. The study results illustrated an increasing in the oxidative stress parameters, moreover; liver function parameters showed abnormal results in the exposed workers compared to the unexposed. An increase in theses para
... Show MoreThe snthesis and characterization of cobalt(II), nickel(II), copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes of azo ligand 4-[(5-acetyl-2-aminophenyl)- diazenyl]-1,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-3(2H)-one derived from 4-aminoantipyrine and 4-aminoacetophenone are reported. The nature of the compounds have been studied followed by mole ratio and methods of continuous contrast, Beer′s law followed during a condensation rate (1 × 10-4 – 3 × 10-4 M). The analytical data showed that all the complexes are in 1:2 metal-ligand ratio. An octahedral geometry have been suggested for all the compounds and biological studies of all the complexes were evaluated against different types of antimicrobial strains.
Myelosuppression is a serious disease that is related to the malfunction of blood cells production that leads to cytopenia which is the most serious hematologic toxicity of cancer chemotherapies including cyclophosphamide, which is a strong oxazaphosphorine [a nitrogen mustard alkylating agent] that can be used alone or combined with other chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of different malignant diseases. It induces severe bone marrow suppression by damaging hematopoietic stem cells through the generation of oxidative stress. Fisetin is a hydrophobic polyphenolic compound with a wide range of pharmacological properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, osteoprotective, antidiabetic, and anti-carcinogenic activit
... Show MoreAt thermal energies near stellar conditions, nuclear reactions are sensitive to resonance strengths of the nuclear reaction cross-section. In this paper, the resonance strengths of nuclear reaction were evaluated numerically by means of nuclear reaction rate calculations using a written Matlab code, at the energies of interest in stellar nuclear reactions. The results were compared with standard reaction before and after application of a statistical analyses, to select the best parameters that made theoretical results as close as possible to the standard values. Fitting was made for different temperature ranges up to 10 GK, 0.6 GK and 0.25 GK. The evaluated results showed that as the temperature range becomes narrower, more error is ad
... Show MoreThis study was done to find the effect of Tigris-Therthar channel on the water quality of Tigris River to face the climate change which causes decreasing in water resources, in addition to decreasing in its quality. Nine stations were chosen located on Tigris River, Tigris-Therthar channel, Groundwater, and Therthar lake. The results indicated that the TDS increased in summer season, and the effect of Tigris-Therthar cannel was limited, also the effect of groundwater was limited, but there was an indication refers of possibility of increasing these effects on the quality of water. The study recommends observing the Tigris River through a programme to identify any change in water in future.
An attempt was made to evaluate the PV performance of one-axis daily tracking and fixed system for Baghdad, Iraq. Two experimental simulations were conducted on a PV module for that purpose. Measurements included incident solar radiation, load voltage and load current. The first experiment was carried out for six months of winter half of year to simulate the one-axis daily tracking. The azimuth angle was due south while the tilt angle was being set to optimum according to each day of simulation. The second experiment was done at one day to simulate the PV module of fixed angles. It is found that there is a significant power gain of 29.6% for the tracking system in respect to the fixed one. The one-axis daily tracking was much more effect
... Show MoreThis study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of different techniques for extraction and purification of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV). An isolate of the virus free of possible contamination with other viruses infecting the same host and transmitted by the same vector Bemisia tabaci Genn. was obtained. This was realized by indicator plants and incubation period in the vector. Results obtained revealed that the virus infect Nicotiana glutinosa without visible symptoms, while Nicotiana tabaccum var. White Burley was not susceptible to the virus. The incubation period of the virus in the vector was found to be 21 hrs. These results indicate that the virus is TYLCV. Results showed that Butanol was more effective in clarification the
... Show MoreThe hydrochemical study of the surface and groundwater in Khan AL-Baghdadi area included interpretation of physical, chemical and biological properties of 14 wells and 6 surface water samples collected from Euphrates River.. The study covered two periods representing dry and wet periods in October 2018 and April 2019, respectively. The surface water samples were characterized as slightly alkaline, fresh water, excessively mineralized, calcium-chloride type, and hard to very hard class. While the groundwater samples were characterized as slightly alkaline, brackish water, excessively mineralized, calcium-chloride and sodium-chloride type, and hard to very hard class. The assessment of water for irrigation purposes for bo
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