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.
Aphid Aphis spp (Hemiptera:Aphididae) and Thrips Thrips spp (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) an economically important pests on several crops in the world and Iraq, that transfer many viruses diseases to it. Field studies were conducted to assessment the population density of these insects and susceptibility of six varieties (Barin, Revera, Divela, Rudlph, Alazata and Pleny) to infestation during 2013 spring season. The results were showed that all Potato varieties were infested by Aphis and Thrips on spring plantation but with different percentage. The Divela variety was higher percentage of infestation and high population density of aphid which averaged 1.47 insect/ leaf while in Alazata was the lower population density which averaged 1.02 in
... Show MoreThe present study aimed to estimate percentage of red and white muscles fibers in two species of bony fishes belong to two different families which represented by Tenualosa ilisha (Hamilton , 1822) that belongs to the family Clupeidae and Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus , 1758) that belongs to the family Cyprinidae . The samples were collected from local market at holy Karbala province. The results show difference clear in mean values of muscles numbers at different studied length groups, and the percentage of red muscles fibers were less than that of white muscle fibers at different body regions (R1,R2,and R3) among species. The total average of red muscle fibers values ranged between (4.23 - 11.08 %) while the total average of wh
... Show MoreThe present research included sampling and analysis of 41 soil samples , the samples cover various areas of Nasiriyah city (industrial,commercial,residential and agricultural ) to estimate pollution levels of lead element and determine the correlation between lead concentration and natural factors in soil which represent sedimentary organic matter content, granular gradient, clay minerals and non-clay minerals . The results of the current study showed that the average concentration of lead in the soil samples was 61.12 ppm , it was noticed an increase in the concentration of lead in environmental components in the area of this study especially in residential , industrial and commercial location and the impact of natural factors of the so
... Show MoreAbstract
The goal of current research to describe and diagnose the level of attention of doctors to design and regulatory dimensions, (strategic vision, organizational structure, organizational processes, business systems, personnel), and the performance of hospitals and dimensions, in six hospitals in medicine and selected a sample for research, as well as identify organizational design effect in the performance of hospitals and dimensions (efficiency, the development of human resources, patient satisfaction, achieve financial results, quality of health care).
Research has focused in part theoretical on key variables to look organizational des
... Show MoreA field experiment was conducted to grow the wheat crop during the fall season 2020 in Karbala province, north of Ain Al-Tamr District in two locations of different textures and parent materials. The first site (calcareous soil) with a sandy loam texture, is located at (44° 40′ 37′) east longitude and (32° 41′ 34′) north latitude, at an altitude of 32 m above sea level, and an area of 20 hectares. As for the second location (gypsum soil) with a loam texture, it is located at a longitude (45° 41′ 39′) east and a latitude (33° 43′ 34′ north) and at an altitude of 33 m above sea level and an area of 20 hectares. To find out the effect of different tillage systems on water productivity and wheat yield under center pivot irri
... Show MoreThe study aimed to determine the effect of soybean meal on the histological
structure and some functional parameters of the thyroid gland was investigated in
this study. For this purpose, 24 white male rats were divided into four groups each
of six rats, as following (G1): normal control rats, at the prepubertal life stage, were
dissected after 40 days from the weaning (i.e., from Postnatal Day "PND" 21),
(G2): prepubertal rats, were treated with high dose of soybean meal "40% of daily
diet" for 40 days after the weaning, (G3): normal control rats, at the postpubertal
stage, were dissected after 40 days from the puberty (i.e., from PND 60), (G4):
postpubertal rats, were treated with high dose of soybean meal (40%)
Background: The timing of eruption of permanent teeth is of considerable importance to the dental health planning for diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic measures for children and teenagers. The purposes of this study were to determine timing of maxillary and mandibular permanent teeth emergence (except third molars) and to evaluate the effect nutritional status by anthropometric measures on the eruption time of permanent teeth, investigations had been done according to jaw and gender variations. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted among four to fifteen years old children and teenagers from kindergarten and schools in Basrah city in the south region of Iraq. The total sample composed of 1807 children and teenagers that were
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