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.
Two grades of paving asphalt with penetration of 46 and 65 are studied for determining changes in their physical and chemical properties caused by ageing.
The ageing process has been conducted on two petroleum paving asphalt cement using thin film oven test at 150, 163 and 175 C, and ageing time 5, 10,15, 20, 25 and 30 hours. The effect of ageing time and temperature on penetration, kinematic viscosity, softening point, solubility in trichloroethylene, heat loss and changes in chemical composition are investigated. The results of thin film oven test process indicte that the asphaltenes concentration of all aged asphalt increases with increasing ageing time, while the opposite was observed for polar-aromatic and naphthene-aromatic. The
Background: The quality of drinking water is directly related to community health. Therefore, improving the quality of drinking reflects positively on the health situation in general. The studies that deal with the quality of drinking water in the city of Baghdad in terms of chemical or microbial content are very scanty. Objective: The current review highlights the most important studies and research articles that concern the quality of drinking water, both bottled water and tap water, in terms of chemical and biological contamination and chemophysical specifications for drinking water. Abstract: Studies have shown that drinking water in the city of Baghdad, especially tap water, contains certain levels of heavy metals,
... Show MoreThis study was conducted at the poultry farm located in the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Baghdad, Abu Gharib (the old site), and laboratories of the Animal Production Department, Jadriya, to investigate the effect of adding hydrogen peroxide H2O2 at nanoscale levels to semen diluents of local roosters sperm in a number of semen characteristics. In this study, 80 roosters local Iraqi chickens were used, the roosters were trained three times a week, to collect semen, until the largest number of them responded. Then the best 40 of the roosters were elected for the purpose of collecting the semen with a pooled sample, and then the samples were diluted and divided equally into four parts. The concentrations of 0, 1
... Show MoreThe optical transmission and UV-VIS absorption spectra have been recorded in the wavelength range (200-1100m) for different composition of polyaniline and polyvinyl Alcohol(PVA ) blends thin films. Polyaniline was prepared in acidic medium to enhancement the solubility and processibility, The optical energy gap (Eopt) refractive index and optical dielectric constant real and imaginary part have been evaluated. The effects of doping percentage of prepared polyaniline on these parameters was discussed and the non –linear behavior for all these parameters was investigated.
Oral jelly is a semisolid preparation that could resolve problem associated withdosage form’s swallowing, especially in pediatric and elderly ones. This work aimedto prepare oral flurbiprofen (FBP) jelly to improve patient compliance. Heating andcongealing method was used to prepare FBP jelly using three different polymers (pectin,sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose). The effect ofdifferent concentrations of pectin and sucrose on jelly properties was studied. Theresults revealed that both pectin and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose polymers gaveacceptable jelly appearance and consistency. It was also observed that the increase ofpectin or sucrose concentration had a significant impact on jelly viscosity. All pe
... Show MoreBackground: Pharmacy internship programmes are driven by most developed countries to outweigh the ongoing growth in the pharmacy career which encourages pharmacists to play a significant role as healthcare providers. Objectives: This study examines pharmacy students' perception, satisfaction, challenges, and limitations with the internship curriculum. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey with different elements to examine students' perceptions of various aspects. Result: Most students reported a positive impression regarding their internships, however, they were less satisfied with the allowance for filling prescriptions and compounding also, the college's follow-up was inadequate. F
... Show MoreThe main purpose of the paper is to identify the controllability of an existing production system; yogurt production line in Abu Ghraib Dairy Factory which has several machines of food processing and packing that has been studied. Through the starting of analysis, instability in production has been found in the factory. The analysis is built depending on experimental observation and data collection for different processing time of the machines, and statistical analysis has been conducted to model the production system. Arena Software is applied for simulating and analyzing the current state of the production system, and results are expanded to improve the system production and efficiency. Research method is applied to contribute in knowi
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The effective surface area of drug particle is increased by a reduction in the particle size. Since dissolution takes place at the surface of the solute, the larger the surface area, the further rapid is the rate of drug dissolution. Ketoprofen is class II type drug according to (Biopharmaceutics Classification System BCS) with low solubility and high permeability. The aim of this investigation was to increase the solubility and hence the dissolution rate by the preparation of ketoprofen nanosuspension using solvent evaporation method. Materials like PVP K30, poloxamer 188, HPMC E5, HPMC E15, HPMC E50, Tween 80 were used as stabilizers in perpetration of differ
... Show MoreThe present work provides to treat real oily saline wastewater released from drilling oil sites by the use of electrocoagulation technique. Aluminum tubes were utilized as electrodes in a concentric manner to minimize the concentrations of 113400 mg TDS/L, 65623 mg TSS/L, and the ions of 477 mg HCO3/L, 102000 mg Cl/L and 5600 mg Ca/L presented in real oily wastewater under the effect of the operational parameters (the applied current and reaction time) by making use of the central composite rotatable design. The final concentrations of TDS, TSS, HCO3, Cl, and Ca that obtained were 93555 ppm (17.50%), 11011 ppm (83.22%), 189ppm (60.38%), 80000ppm (22%), and 4200 ppm (25%), respectively, under the optimum values of the operational parameters
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