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.
Haruki Murakami (1949-present) is a contemporary Japanese writer whose works have been translated into fifty languages and won him plenty of Japanese and international awards. His short stories are well constructed in a weird realistic manner and are mixed with elements of surrealism. His novels and short stories fall under the genre of magical realism. One of the major revolving themes that Murakami wrote about was the haunting feeling of emptiness and disconnectedness in a world which seems to care much for materialism and self-interests.
The paper explores two of Murakami’s short stories in his book After the Quake (2000) and the relevance of their themes and characters to Iraq after the q
... Show MoreBackground: Bowel preparation prior to
colonic surgery usually includes antibiotic
therapy together with mechanical bowel
preparation which may cause discomfort to the
patients, prolonged hospitalization and water
& electrolyte imbalance.
Objective: to assess whether elective colon
and rectal surgery may be safely performed
without preoperative mechanical bowel
preparation.
Method: the study includes all patients who
had elective large bowel resection at Medical
City – Baghdad Teaching Hospital between
Feb, 2007 to Jan, 2010. Emergency operations
were not included. The patients were randomly
assigned to the 2 study groups (with or without
mechanical bowel preparation.
Results: A to
Coconut milk is considered as a natural drink that enhances the immunity and it is enriched by calcium, iron, magnesium and vitamin (C) and it is also safe drink for kids and bacterial anti-oxdant, and it may be used in the natural juices instead of the whole milk (cow milk) which is added to some juices. This study aimed to determine the nutritrnal value and the sensory evaluation properties of the natural orange juice enriched by canned coconut milk &nb
... Show MoreTitanium dioxide nanotubes were synthesized by anodizing Ti sheets in the ethylene glycol solution and were covered in Pt nanoparticles onto the surface of TiO2NTs using electrodeposition method from using five derivatives of Mannich base Pt complexes which have been used as precursor of platinum. The mean size, shape, elemental composition of the titanium dioxide nanotubes and platinum deposited on the template were evaluated by different techniques such as field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) technique. From all these analyses, the TiO2NTs prepared and Ptnanoparticles deposited on it were ide
... Show MoreA Schiff base ligand (L) was synthesized via condensation of N-( 1-naphthyl) ethylenediamine dihydrochloride with phthalaldehyde. The ligand was characterized by FT-IR, UV–Vis, 1H NMR, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis (C, H, N). Five metal complexes (Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), and Cd(II)) were prepared with the ligand in a 1:1 (M:L) ratio using an aqueous ethanol solution. The complexes were characterized by FT-IR, UV–Vis, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis (C, H, N). Additionally, 1H NMR spectroscopy was employed for Cd(II) complex. Antimicrobial activity of the ligand and its metal complexes against pathogenic bacteria (K. pneumoniae, E. coli, S. aureus, and S. epidermidis) and fungus (C. albicans) were evaluated
... Show MoreA Schiff base ligand (L) was synthesized via condensation of
Objective(s): To assess the effect of removable partial dentures on the abutment teeth in comparison with that of the
remaining dentition, and to investigate the effect of regular check up on periodontal health for patients using this
type of prosthesis.
Methodology: One hundred patients wearing removable partial dentures for at least three years included in the
study. Teeth used as direct or in direct retainers for the removable partial denture were considered as the study
group, while the remaining dentition in the same jaw was considered as the control group. The following periodontal
parameters were registered for each tooth, plaque and gingival indices, clinical attachment level and tooth mobility.
Patients were
The effect of solution heat treatment on the mechanical properties of Aluminum-Copper alloy. (2024-T3) by the rolling process is investigated. The solution heat treatment was implemented by heating the sheets to 480 C° and quenching them by water; then forming by rolling for many passes. And then natural aging is done for one month. Mechanical properties (tensile strength and hardness) are evaluated and the results are compared with the metal without treatment during the rolling process. ANSYS analysis is used to show the stresses distribution in the sheet during the rolling process. It has been seen that good mechanical properties are evident in the alloy without heat treatment due to the strain hardening and also the mechanical
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