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 x-ray fluorescence (XRF) of Znpc molecule with (flow of Ar) and Znpc molecule with (grow in N2) showed two peaks at (8.5and 9.5 Kv) referring to orbital transition ) K?-shell & K?-shell) respectively. The study of x-ray diffraction (XRD) where it was observed good growth of the crystal structure as a needle by the sublimation technique with a ?-phase of (monoclinic structure ) . Using Bragg equation the value of the interdistance of the crystalline plane (d-value) were calculated. We noticed good similarity with like once in the American Standards for Testing Material (ASTM) .Powder Diffraction File (PDF) Program was used to ensure the information obtained from (ASTM) . The output of (PDF) was compared with celn program, where the val
... Show MoreThis paper presents the thermophysical properties of zinc oxide nanofluid that have been measured for experimental investigation. The main contribution of this study is to define the heat transfer characteristics of nanofluids. The measuring of these properties was carried out within a range of temperatures from 25 °C to 45 °C, volume fraction from 1 to 2 %, and the average nanoparticle diameter size is 25 nm, and the base fluid is water. The thermophysical properties, including viscosity and thermal conductivity, were measured by using Brookfield rotational Viscometer and Thermal Properties Analyzer, respectively. The result indicates that the thermophysical properties of zinc oxide nanofluid increasing with nanoparticle volume f
... Show MorePsoriasis is a long-lasting autoimmune disease that is characterized by swollen skin patches. Normally, these skin patches are dark, swollen, itchy and scaly. The single application of the innate TLR7/8 ligand Imiquimod (IMQ) in mice easily induces a dermatitis that closely resembles human psoriasis, critically dependent on the axis of IL-23/IL-17. Artemisia dracunculus prepared as an ointment and has been used topically to mice before imiquimod application. The results of the current study showed that A. dracunculus ointment can significantly reduce psoriasis area and severity index in (A. dracunculus ointment + imiquimod group as compared with both control group and (vehicle ointment + imiquimod) group.
This study was conducted to determine the ability of water treatment system (Vortisand) to reduce some chemical and physical properties for tigris river raw water, It consisted of turbidity, electrical conductivity, pH, total hardness, calcium Hardness as well as temperature in order to determine the unit`s efficiency for reducing their concentration as compared to those in the water produced by some classical potable water projects (Dora and Wathba) in Baghdad. Samples were collected during the cold months (December 2016 and January 2017) and during the hot months (May and June 2017). The results showed that this system has the ability to reduce some properties such as turbidity, the values were 215NTU in raw water and decreased to NTU
... Show MoreThe toxicological risks and lifetime cancer risks associated with exposure to disinfection by-products (DBPs) including Halloacetic acids (HAAs) and trihalomethanes (THMs) compounds by drinking water in several districts in Wassit Province were estimated. The seasonal variation of HAAs and THMs compounds in drinking water have indicated that the mean values for total HAAs (THAAs) and total THMs (TTHMs) ranged from 43.2 to 72.4 mg/l and from 40 to 115.5 mg/l, respectively. The World health organization index for additive toxicity approach was non-compliant with the WHO guideline value in summer and autumn seasons and this means that THMs concentration has adverse toxic health effects. The multi-pathway of lifetime hu
... Show MoreThe current study was carried out to study a high injection dose of the ethanolic extract thymus vulgaris leaf (500 ug /Kg) against the immune response combination with partially purified extracted Lipopolysaccharide ( LPS) from Proteus mirablis.Study groups were included four groups; Group I :treated with normal saline. Group II : treated with LPS antigen, Group III: injected subcutaneously ((500 ug /Kg) from ethanolic extract thymus vulgaris, group IV : injected subcutaneously (500 ug /Kg) from ethanolic extract thymus vulgaris leaf and LPS antigen, the immunological assays were measured through the phagocytic activity as (non specific immunity) after day 8 by using the phagocytic activity index.After day I4 the lymphocyte proliferations
... Show MoreThe investigation of machine learning techniques for addressing missing well-log data has garnered considerable interest recently, especially as the oil and gas sector pursues novel approaches to improve data interpretation and reservoir characterization. Conversely, for wells that have been in operation for several years, conventional measurement techniques frequently encounter challenges related to availability, including the lack of well-log data, cost considerations, and precision issues. This study's objective is to enhance reservoir characterization by automating well-log creation using machine-learning techniques. Among the methods are multi-resolution graph-based clustering and the similarity threshold method. By using cutti
... Show MoreAfter 2003 Iraq witnessed a rapid development in the number and kind of non-governmental organizations in addition to the increase in their sources.A lot of obstacles and constraints hinder the development of the said organizations and one of the most important and prominent obstacles is their administrative and accounting structure that affect directly on the existence, continuity and survival of these organizations.This research discussed the concept the non-governmental organizations and reaching the assessment of internal control System in these organizations. Therefore, the researcher has assessed the internal control System applied National Olympic Committee of Iraq. The study showed vulnerabilities in the internal control the said
... Show MoreA fixed callus weight of 150 mg was induced from immature embryos of three bread wheat Triticum aestivum L. genotypes (Tamos 2, El-izz and Mutant 1) cultured on nutrient medium {MS) containing Polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000) supplemented with concentrations (0.0, 3.0, 6.0, 9.0 or 12.0%) to evaluate their tolerance to water stress. Cultures were incubated in darkness at temperature of 25?1 ?C. Callus fresh and dry weights were recorded and soluble Carbohydrate and the amino acid Proline concentrations were determined. Results showed that there were significant differences in studied parameters among bread wheat genotypes of which Tamos 2 was higher in callus average fresh and dry weights which gave 353.33 and 38.46 mg/cultured tube respecti
... Show More