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.
Objective: To evaluate the psychological work environment's effect on the workers’ productivity in Baghdad
City industries at Al-Rusafa and Al-Karkh Sectors.
Methodology: A descriptive evaluation design is employed throughout the present study from May 25th 2012
through January 7
th
, 2014. A purposive (non probability) sample is selected for the study which includes (500)
workers from industries at AL-Russafa and AL-Kerch sectors in Baghdad City. A questionnaire is constructed to
gather data which may assist to achieve the objective of the study. Content validity of the instrument is
determined through eliciting the opinions of a panel of (10) experts and the reliability through a pilot study by
using intern
For the first time in Iraq, this study was conducted to evaluate the usefulness of Dot.ELISA, for detecting anti - Leishmania donovani antibodies in serum samples from suspected patient (children under 8 years ) with Visceral Leishmaniasis V.L.. Sera from 73 V.L. , 60 Healthy controls, and 57 patient with other parasitic diseases other than V.L. (Amoebiasis, Giardiasis , Toxoplasmosis, Schistosomiasis , Hydatidosis, Ascariasis , Lupus Erythromatosus , Viral Hepatitis, and Cutaneous Leishmaniasis) were examined. Anti Leishmania donovani antibodies detected in 71 out of 73 suspected Visceral Leishmaniasis . Data of this study showed that infection in male group was more than female group. Result o
... Show MoreFlying Ad hoc Networks (FANETs) has developed as an innovative technology for access places without permanent infrastructure. This emerging form of networking is construct of flying nodes known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that fly at a fast rate of speed, causing frequent changes in the network topology and connection failures. As a result, there is no dedicated FANET routing protocol that enables effective communication between these devices. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the performance of the category of topology-based routing protocols in the FANET. In a surveillance system involving video traffic, four routing protocols with varying routing mechanisms were examined. Additionally, simulation experiments conduct
... Show MoreBackground: Mitral valve stenosis is a condition in which the hearts mitral valve is narrowed (stenosis), This narrowing blocks the valve from opening properly obstructing blood flow through the heart and the rest of the body and this causes changes in physical parameters (resistance and conductance). Aim of the study: To assess the changes in the physical parameters in mitral valve stenosis disease in different gender and age by using Doppler ultrasound. Methods : The examination of patients at the Division of Echo - at the Iraqi Center for Heart Disease in Medical City for surgery specialist - Baghdad - Iraq, during(February2009 till November2010). The current study included fifty eight cases containing (27 males and 31 females) ages rang
... Show MoreThis study aims to suggest an alternative to the use of quality agricultural soil in the brick industry (Iraq). The Late Miocene claystone bed in the Injana Formation in central Iraq was targeted through the study of 18 exposed sections that were sampled by using the trench sampling method. The claystones are characterized by quartz (36.4%) followed by calcite (32.8%), quartz (36.4%) feldspar (2.6%), gypsum (1.3%) and dolomite (0.7%), kaolinite (10.5%), illite (7.7%), chlorite (6.7%), palygorskite (6.0%) and montmorillonite (0.7%). New thermal mineral phases were formed at 950°C, including diopside (62.9%), quartz (18.4%), wollastonite (8.28%), akermanite (7.6%), Anorthite (6.25%), Nosean (4.9%), gehlenite (3.75%) and Lazurite (3.1
... Show MoreMany diseases can produce cardiac overload, of these disease hypertension, valve disease congenital anomaly in addition to many other disease. One of the most common diseases causing left ventricle overload is hypertension. A long term hypertension can cause myocardium hypertrophy leading to changes in the cardiac contractility and reduced efficiency. The investigations were carried out using conventional echocardiography techniques in addition to the tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) from which many noninvasive measurements can be readily obtained. The study has involved the effect of hypertension on the myocardium stiffness index through the measurement of early diastolic filling (E) and the early velocity of lateral mitral annulus (E
... Show MoreThe Tigris River is one of the longest rivers in Western Asia and runs through heavily populated areas, especially in Kut and Amara Cities, with nearly 8 million inhabitants. Due to the climatic change and altering the upstream hydrological conditions along the Tigris River, its discharge has severely declined in the last decade, combined with the climate change impact. Hence, studying the impact of climate change on the river and decreasing the annual flow is vital to understand their effect on the river water quality between Kut and Amara sites. The data of this study covers annual flow conditions of the Tigris River, the total dissolved solids (TDS), and the main ions on monthly bases for the period 2005-2010 for the two si
... Show MoreThe cross section evaluation for (α,n) reaction was calculated according to the available International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other experimental published data . These cross section are the most recent data , while the well known international libraries like ENDF , JENDL , JEFF , etc. We considered an energy range from threshold to 25 M eV in interval (1 MeV). The average weighted cross sections for all available experimental and theoretical(JENDL) data and for all the considered isotopes was calculated . The cross section of the element is then calculated according to the cross sections of the isotopes of that element taking into account their abundance . A mathematical representative equation for each of the element
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