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.
This study aims to evaluate drinking water quality at the Al Wahda plant (WTP) in Baghdad city. A conventional water treatment plant with an average flow rate of 72.82 MLD. Water samples were taken from the influent and effluent of the treatment plant and analyzed for some physicochemical and biological parameters during the period from June to November 2020. The results of the evaluation indicate that treated water has almost the same characteristics as raw water; in other terms, the plant units do not remove pollutants as efficiently as intended. Based on this, the station appears to be nothing more than a series of water passage units. However, apart from Total dissolved solids, the mean values of all parameters in th
... Show MoreHeavy metals especially lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr) and copper (Cu) are noxious pollutants with immense health hazards on living organisms, these pollutants enter aquatic environment in Iraq mainly Tigris and Euphrates rivers via waste water came from different anthropological activities, This study investigated capacity of dried and ground root of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) in removing the heavy metals from their aqueous solutions. Effects of initial concentrations of the heavy metals and pH of their aqueous solutions were studied. Results of this study revealed excellent biosorption capacity of water hyacinth root in general, removal of Pb was the highest and Cr was lowest. The results showed that the Pb, Cu and C
... Show MoreBackground: The collagen triple helix repeat containing 1 (CTHRC1) protein has been connected to decreased levels of vitamin D and calcium, as well as obesity. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between CTHRC1 and osteoporosis in post-menopausal women and compare with healthy subjects. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study consisted of 86 women were enrolled in this study and divided into three groups based on the results of dual-energy densitometry (DXA): 30 women with osteoporosis, 30 women with osteopenia, and 26 healthy women. Data on demographic and clinical features and laboratory values of Calcium (Ca) and Vitamin D3 (V.D3) were recorded. Results: Women with osteoporosis had significantly increased level
... Show MoreIn this research, the water quality of the potable water network in
Al-Shuala Baghdad city were evaluated and compare them with the
Iraqi standards (IQS) for drinking water and World Health
Organization standards (WHO), then water quality index (WQI) were
calculator: pH, heavy metals (lead, cadmium and iron), chlorides,
total hardness, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solid and
electrical conductivity. Water samples are collected weekly during
the period from February 2015 to April 2015 from ten sites. Results
show that the chlorides, total dissolved solid and electrical
conductivity less than acceptable limit of standards, but total
hardness and heavy metals in some samples higher than acceptabl
The use of sugarcane molasses (SCM) as a sustainable stabilizing agent for geomaterials, particularly granular subbase soils, has recently attracted growing attention as an alternative to traditional stabilization methods employing cement, lime, or bitumen, which are often associated with high costs and environmental concerns. This study presents a mechanistic–experimental evaluation of SCM for stabilizing granular subbase materials at dosages of 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10% by weight of dry granular material. A comprehensive testing program was conducted, including compaction characteristics, California Bearing Ratio (CBR), resilient modulus (Mr), permanent deformation under repeated loading, optical microscopy, and FTIR spectroscopy.
... Show MoreObjectives: To evaluate levels of nurses' knowledge about substance abuse at psychiatric teaching hospitals in Baghdad city. Methodology: A descriptive analytical study conducts to meet study objectives during the period from 1-11-2014 To 10-5-2015 The study conduct at 4 teaching hospitals in three department (Baghdad Al Rusafa ,Al Karkh, Medical city) they includ Baghdad teaching hospital, Al Rashad teaching hospital, Ibn Rshud teaching hospital , and Al Kadhumeeain teaching hospital which select according to the study. A random sample of 100 nurses are working in teaching psychiatric hospitals , Al Rashad (6
The objective of this research work is to evaluate the quality of central concrete plant of Al-Rasheed Company by using Six Sigma approach which is a measure of quality that strives for near elimination of defects using the statistical methods to improve outputs that are critical to customers. The fundamental objective of Six Sigma methodology is the implementation of a measurement-based strategy that focuses on process improvement and variation reduction to reach delighting customers, and then suggesting an improvement system to improve the production of concrete in Al-Rasheed State Contracting Construction Company.
A field survey includes two parts (open and close questionnaire) that aimed to get the data and information required f
Background: The study aimed to investigate the effect of different techniques of en masse retraction on the vertical and sagittal position, axial inclination, rate of space closure, and type of movement of maxillary central incisor. Materials and methods: A typodont simulation system was used (CL II division 2 malocclusion). Three groups were used group 1(N=10, T-loop), group 2(N=10, Time-Saving loop), and group 3(N=10, Microimplant). Photographs were taken before and after retraction and measurements were made using Autodesk AutoCAD© software 2010. Kruskal-Wallis one-way analyses of variance and Mann-Whitney U test (p?0.05) were used. Results: The rate of space closure showed no significant difference among the three groups (p?0.05), whi
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