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.
The dangers of (Israel's) integration with Arab countries in the middle east region will threaten the Arab security structure dimension, which the latter makes the Arab regional system vulnerable for distortion due to its nominal and symbolic value which is far from the Arab self and questioning with its effectiveness in comparing with the real capabilities to Arab countries in achieving the common targets. So, how to assess the different problems that began to hit the structure of the Arab regional system? and how to pledge an allegiance after putting forward what is known as the American Deal of the Century for the administration of former US President Donald Trump for making another step toward normalization with (Israel)?. The reveal
... Show MoreToday, the five Caspian riparian states on the shores of the Caspian Sea (Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Iran) have become a front for ambitions and international and regional competition, especially in light of the features and characteristics that natural geography has endowed them with and their enjoyment of a group of economic and mineral wealth that are not optimally exploited so far which made it a strategic attraction area for international trends and interventions, especially Western ones. It is a battleground for major international companies aiming to monopolize promising industrial investments in order to impose control and influence on the region’s resources and economic wealth and thus impose their forei
... Show MoreThis study is a complementary one to an extended series of research work that aims to produce a thermodynamiclly stable asphalt –sulfur blend. Asphalt was physically modified wiht different percentages of asphaltenes , oxidized asphaltenes and then mixed with sulfur as an attempt to obtaine a stable compatible asphalt-sulfur blend. The homogeneneity of asphalt-asphaltenes[oxidized asphaltenes]-sulfur blends were studied microscopically and the results are prsented as photomicrographs. Generally more stable and compatible asphalt-sulfur blends were obtained by this treatment.
mixtures of cyclohexane + n-decane and cyclohexane + 1-pentanol have been measured at 298.15, 308.15, 318.15, and 328.15 K over the whole mole fraction range. From these results, excess molar volumes, VE , have been calculated and fitted to the Flory equations. The VE values are negative and positive over the whole mole fraction range and at all temperatures. The excess refractive indices nE and excess viscosities ?E have been calculated from experimental refractive indices and viscosity measurements at different temperature and fitted to the mixing rules equations and Heric – Coursey equation respectively to predict theoretical refractive indices, we found good agreement between them for binary mixtures in this study. The variation of th
... Show MoreIn this research , pure Cadmium Oxide thin films were prepared by thermal evaporation Under vacuum method , where pure cadmium metal was deposited on glass Substrate in Room temperature (300K) at thickness (400 ± 30) nm with Deposition rate(1.1 ± 0.1) nm/sec And then we oxidize a pure cadmium Film in Temperature ( 350ºC ) for one hour with existence air flow. This research contained study of the influence of doping process by Tin metal (Sn) with two different ratios (1,3) % at substrate temperature (473K ) on th
... Show MoreThe study aims to introduce the Islamic sites available on the Internet and determine the criteria that contribute to evaluating these sites to indicate their value, topics, and services, while evaluating a simple random sample of the general Islamic sites, which number (35) sites. The results were presented in (8) tables. The study concluded To a set of conclusions, including: (465) “Islamic” websites were seized during the research period, and they are constantly increasing. They were classified according to the name of the website (domain name) com, org, net, edu, and also according to topics such as general Islamic websites and websites of holy places. Mosques, sites of sheikhs, etc. Among the best general Islamic websites are: Isla
... Show MoreThe aim of the research is to determine the impact of evaluating the investment projects in the development and preparation of investment budgets prepared by the economic units, since the investment projects are of an important and vital nature of the economic units, because these projects include the length of time for preparation and implementation and the accompanying period of this risk and uncertainties as well as need To the many funds to complete the project , The process of evaluating the implemented projects, which have been prepared an investment budget previously will contribute to the extent of matching the estimated data with the actual results or deviations, which is a step to avoid these errors in future p
... Show MoreObjective(s): To evaluate youth's health risk behaviors in Baghdad City and to determine the relationship between such behaviors and the youth's demographic characteristics of age, gender and grade. Methodology: A descriptive study, using the evaluation approach, is carried out to evaluate youth's health risk behaviors in Baghdad City for the period of January 26th 2016 to May 20th 2016. A non-probability "purposive" sample of (160) University students is selected for the purpose of the study from four groups of colleges (medical, engineering, sciences, and education) and it is equally distributed of
In this work, N-hydroxy phthalimide derivatives (NHPID) were synthesized from the nucleuphilic substitution reactions of (NHPI) with different halides (alkyl halides, sulfonyl halides, benzoyl halides and benzyl halides). The products were distinguished using FTIR spectrum and Nuclear magnetic resonsnce (1H-NMR and 13CNMR), in addition to other characteristic methods such as sodium fution for sulfur determination. followed by measuring antibacterial (with different types of gram positive/gram negative bacteria) and antifungal activities of these compounds.
Background: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a common disease, and a major determinant of morbidity and mortality in all races. The pleiotropic effects of the receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL) such as modulation of cell survival, mineralization and inflammation, make it an interesting candidate mediator in the progression and destabilization of atherosclerotic lesions.Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the role of RANKL in the pathogenesis of ACS.Methods: The levels of RANKL were measured by ELISA method in sera of 60 ACS patients, 31 patients with unstable angina (UA) and 29 patients with myocardial infarction (MI) in comparison with 20 apparently healthy controls.Results: Current data indicate
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