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.
ABSTRACT
A field experiment was carried out in the fields of the college of agricultural engineering sciences, university of Baghdad during the fall season of 2021, in order to find out which of the cultivated genotypes of maize are efficient under nitrogen fertilization. The experiment was applied according to a RCBD (split plot design with three replications). The genotypes of experiment (Baghdad, 5018 and Sarah) and supplying three levels of nitrogen fertilizer, which are N1 (100 kg/ha), N2 (200 kg/ha) and N3 (300 kg/ha), the results of the statistical analysis are showed the superiority of the cultivar Sarah in the trait of number of days until 50% silking, chlorophyll
... Show MoreThis research was conducted under Lath house canopy of a nursery circumstances, Baghdad University for season 2013 in order to study the effect of soak lemon seeds sour orange with different levels of licorice concentrations extract (0, 0.5, 2.5 and 4.5 g/l) for 24 hours in the percentage of germination and some recipes vegetative growth of seedlings .the results outweigh the bitter orange seedlings and focus soak for licorice extract 4.5 g / l significant superiority in most of the traits plant height, leaf number, root length, stem diameter, amounting to 31.077 cm, 14.46 paper / plant, 25.35 cm, 0.52 mm respectively, which showed significant differences for the treatment of comparison which gave lower values. Clear that the licorice ext
... Show MoreBased on nonlinear self- diffraction technique, the nonlinear optical properties of thin slice of matter can be obtained. Here, nonlinear characterization of nano-fluids consist of hybrid Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes and Silver Nanoparticles (SWCNTs/Ag-NPs) dispersed in acetone at volume fraction of 6x10-6, 9x10-6, 18x10-6 have been investigated experimentally. Therefore, CW DPSS laser at 473 nm focused into a quartz cuvette contains the previous nano-fluid was utilized. The number of diffraction ring patterns (N) has been counted using Charge - Coupled- Device (CCD) camera and Pc with a certain software, in order to find the maximum change of refractive index ( of fluids. Our result show that the fraction volume of 18x10-6 is more nonli
... Show MoreIn this research, nanofibers have been prepared by using an electrospinning method. Three types of polymer (PVA, VC, PMMA) have been used with different concentration. The applied voltage and the gap length were changed. It was observed that VC is the best polymer than the other types of polymers.
This study was designed to investigate the effect of thyroid hormone disturbance on lipids profiles and liver functions. Eighteen mature male rats Rattus norvegicus were divided into three groups. The first and the second groups were injected subcutaneously with thyroxine (T4) and carbimazol (both at 600 µg/kg BW) respectively on alternate days, to produce recurrent periods of hyper and hypothyroidism .The control group which is the third group was injected with physiological saline. The process continued 4 weeks, after that, injection, blood specimens were collected to estimate serum levels of T3 and T4, Total cholesterol (TC), Triglycerides (TG), High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) an
... Show MoreBackground: Placenta is a chief cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and significant factor in fetal growth retardation. It undergoes different variations in weight, volume, structure, shape and function continuously throughout the gestation tosupport the prenatal life. Cautious examination of placenta can give information which can be useful in the management of complications in mother and the newborn. Objective: The present work has been attempted towards determination of the morphological ( macroscopic and microscopic) parameters of human full-term placentae and their relation with different parity and age group of mothers. Patients and Methods: A whole of 40 placentae were recently collected.They were divided into four groups
... Show More197 vaginal swabs were collected from women of different ages. (60) Isolates of Candida albicans (30.4%) were obtained, and the other species of Candida represent (18.27%). Bacterial infections showed (41.11%), and infection with Trichomonas vaginalis was (2.03%). Ten isolates of C. albicans were chosen randomly for farther study which include two virulence factors tendency of adhesion wich showed a percentage of (52%) to(32%) , and the ability to produce phospholipaze enzyme and it’s activity which showed (50%) of the isolates have the ability to produce the enzyme in different degrees .