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.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global concern, especially in low- and middle-income countries, threatening food production, healthcare, and life expectancy. Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs can optimize antibiotic use, improve patient outcomes, lower AMR, and save healthcare costs. This observational-retrospective study in Dhi Qar Governorate aimed to assess antimicrobial prescribing patterns in Al-Nasiriya public hospitals. Dhi Qar Health Directorate comprises ten hospitals, and only one hospital was excluded from the study. The study used data from antibiotic stewardship committees, including antibiogram, antibiotic, and meropenem surveys, hospital pharmacies’ medical files, and the directorate statistics from 1/1/2
... Show MoreLet G be a graph with p vertices and q edges and be an injective function, where k is a positive integer. If the induced edge labeling defined by for each is a bijection, then the labeling f is called an odd Fibonacci edge irregular labeling of G. A graph which admits an odd Fibonacci edge irregular labeling is called an odd Fibonacci edge irregular graph. The odd Fibonacci edge irregularity strength ofes(G) is the minimum k for which G admits an odd Fibonacci edge irregular labeling. In this paper, the odd Fibonacci edge irregularity strength for some subdivision graphs and graphs obtained from vertex identification is determined.
Aerial manipulation of objects has a number of advantages as it is not limited by the morphology of the terrain. One of the main problems of the aerial payload process is the lack of real-time prediction of the interaction between the gripper of the aerial robot and the payload. This paper introduces a digital twin (DT) approach based on impedance control of the aerial payload transmission process. The impedance control technique is implemented to develop the target impedance based on emerging the mass of the payload and the model of the gripper fingers. Tracking the position of the interactional point between the fingers of gripper and payload, inside the impedance control, is achieved using model predictive control (MPD) approach.
... Show MoreMale reproductive health is intricately regulated by molecular and physiological processes, with the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) playing a crucial role. AhR is activated by various ligands and influences the onset and progression of diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of AhR on spermatogenesis in adult male rats were affected by resveratrol (RES) and CH223191, an AhR antagonist. The study include forty rats were randomly divided into four equal groups: Control group, DMSO group, RES group and AhR‾ group, the rats received respective treatments intraperitoneally twice weekly for 60 days, and various parameters related to male reproductive health were evaluated. The AhR that activation by the RES treatment w
... Show MoreThe shortage in surface water quantities led to a shift in dependence on the groundwater as an alternative water source in southern parts of Iraq. The groundwater is decreasing in quantity and water quality is degrading due to different factors. Therefore, it is important to assess the groundwater quality of the Missan Governorate of the country by analyzing the physicochemical parameters and distinguishing the probable sources of contaminants in the area. The present study used water quality diagrams and statistical methods such as factor analysis and agglomerative cluster analysis to determine the sources of chemical ions in the forty-four groundwater samples collected from wells in the study area. In addition, the Water Quality Index (WQ
... Show MoreAbstract Background Deep learning (DL) has attracted increasing attention in orthodontics, with many studies reporting high diagnostic and predictive accuracy. However, despite these promising results, routine clinical adoption remains limited. Objectives This scoping review aimed to explore the main barriers that restrict the translation of DL systems from research environments into everyday orthodontic practice. Methodology The review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Electronic searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and IEEE Xplore for English-language studies published between 2015 and June 2025. Studies reporting quantitative performance of DL-based orthodontic applications were included. Dat
... Show MoreBackground Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health concern, with inappropriate antibiotic use in dentistry significantly contributing to this problem. While regional studies have examined dental students' antibiotic-related knowledge and practices, comprehensive evidence from Iraq remains limited. Objective The objective of this study is to evaluate the level of knowledge and awareness of antimicrobial stewardship principles and prescribing practices among Iraqi dental students and interns. Methods A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted among dental students in the clinical phase of education (fourth and fifth years) and dental interns from multiple Iraqi universities. The survey was distributed fr
... Show MoreWomen infertility is a common reproductive system disorder. Diagnosis and treatment are characterized by limited availability and high costs. This paper intends to evaluate the levels of endogenous antioxidant proteins metallothionein 2 (MT2) and metallothionein 4 (MT4) in the serum of both infertile and fertile women, as well as to assess the association between these proteins and total oxidant capacity (TOC), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), oxidative stress index (OSI), serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), and serum testosterone. This case-control study involved one hundred eighty Iraqi women, categorized into three categories: primary infertile women (P group), secondary infertile women (S group), and healthy fertile women (C group). W
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