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 study was conducted in the fields of the Department of Horticulture and Landscaping/College of Agriculture/University of Al-Qadisiyah/Al-Nouriah district - for the 2019-2020 agricultural season to study the effect of spraying with organic sulfur and hydrogen peroxide on the growth and yield of onions, Allium cepa L, where the study included two factors: the first factor was spraying organic sulfur at concentration (0, 2)., 4 ml. L-1) and symbol S1, S2, S3 and the second factor spraying with hydrogen peroxide at a concentration (0, 2, 4 ml. L-1) and symbolized by B1, B2, B3 and the interaction between them. A factorial experiment was conducted according to the randomized complete b
To achieve optimal plant growth and production under salt stress, some products were added in adequate quantities to give a good yield, especially bean plants which are sensitive to salinity. For this purpose, this experiment was carried out during the spring growing season in 2022 in Baghdad, to study the effects of humic acid, cytokinin, arginine and their interaction with 9 parameters that reflect the overall traits of vegetative growth and yield of common bean plants Phaseolus vulgaris L. var. Astraid (from MONARCH seeds, China). The factorial design with 3 replicates was used, each with 7 plants treated via foliar spraying or by addition to the soil. The first factor included three groups; H0, H1 and H2 (0, 6, 12 Kg.h-1 H
... Show MoreFusidic acid (FA) is a well-known pharmaceutical antibiotic used to treat dermal infections. This experiment aimed for developing a standardized HPLC protocol to determine the accurate concentration of fusidic acid in both non-ionic and cationic nano-emulsion based gels. For this purpose, a simple, precise, accurate approach was developed. A column with reversed-phase C18 (250 mm x 4.6 mm ID x 5 m) was utilized for the separation process. The main constituents of the HPLC mobile phase were composed of water: acetonitrile (1: 4); adjusted at pH 3.3. The flow rate was 1.0 mL/minute. The optimized wavelength was selected at 235 nm. This approach achieved strong linearity for alcoholic solutions of FA when loaded at a serial concentrati
... Show MoreThis study was conducted in the field of the Poultry Research Station of the animal resources Department / office of Agricultural Research / Ministry of Agriculture from the period 4th April to16th May2021.This study was aimed to investigate the effect of using avocado and chia oil and their mixture in broiler diets on the final productive performance and meat cholesterol concentration and measuring meat oxidation indicators after storing it for 60 days. 300 one-day-old (Ross308) chicks were fed on diets that used avocado oil and chia with percentages of 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6%, respectively, and their mixture consisting of 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 each of avocado and chia oil (50% avocado + 50% chia oil). The experiment included 10 treatments
... Show MoreThe study was carried out during the 2022 agricultural season in the greenhouses belonging to the-College of Agricultural-Al-Ramadi, the study aimed to investigate the efficacy of alcoholic extract of Solanum eleaegnifolium, potassium silicate and ungicide Previcur Energy in normal and nano formula to control downy mildew disease on cucumber crops caused by the fungus Pseudoperonospora cubensis. The results showed that the normal potassium silicate treatment completely prevented the disease during the length of the season, with an infection severity rate of 0.00%, compared to infection with artificial contamination of 45.90%, followed by the treatment of nano fungicide 4.60%. While the treatments of alcoholic extract and nano of nightshade
... Show MoreBreast cancer is the most common malignancy affecting women's health, with an increasing incidence worldwide. This study aimed to measure the intracellular concentration of the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 α (HIF-1α), tumor suppression protein p53, and estradiol (E2) in tumor tissues of adult females with breast cancer and their relation to tumor grade, tumor size, and lymph node metastases (LNM). The study was conducted on 65 adult female participants with breast mass admitted to the operating theater in Al-Hussein Teaching Hospital and Al-Habboby Teaching Hospital in Nasiriyah, Iraq, from January to November 2021. Fresh breast tumor tissues were collated and homogenized for intracellular biochemical analysis using the enzyme-linked immuno
... Show MoreFive heavy metals, namely Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Pb in the surface water and through the water column were studied at 10 selected stations in the Razzazah lake and Karbala drainage canal for the period between November 1990 to October 1991*. pH and total hardness were also measured. Lead was found to be the highest in concentration as overall average values, followed by an manganese, iron, copper then cadmium at the surface as well as along the water column. All the studied metals were below or close to the maximum allowed limits of Iraqi standards for inland water. The spatial and seasonal variations were discussed.
Highway embankments stability during its service period represents an important factor for the safety of highway users and vehicles. Consequently, the cost of construction of these embankments should be adequate to maintain the safety and durability during this period through proper estimation of the loading on asphalt pavement, slope stability, horizontal and vertical deformation, etc. Slope stability of the embankment mainly depends on the shear strength of the soil layers materials; this shear strength is affected by the water table level through the contribution of the capillary water. Negative pore water pressure above the water table level evolves matric suction in the unsaturated zone above water table; this matric suction increases
... Show More