Background: Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) resin is extensively utilized in prosthodontics and orthodontics, particularly in fabricating artificial teeth, provisional crowns, denture bases, and orthodontic retainers. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of incorporating cerium oxide and polyether ether ketone nanoparticle (CP) composite into PMMA resin on transverse strength, impact strength, surface hardness, and denture base adaptation. Materials and Methods: A total of 120 PMMA specimens were divided into three groups based on the concentration of CP composite added to PMMA resin, with each group consisting of 40 specimens: a control group without fillers, group (A) containing 1% wt. of composite filler with a ratio of 30% cerium oxide and 70% polyether ether ketone, and group (B) comprising 3% wt. of composite with a ratio of 50% ceria, and 50% polyether ether ketone, as determined by the pilot study. Each group was tested for transverse strength, impact strength, surface hardness, and denture base adaptation, with 10 specimens for each test. The tested specimens were examined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE–SEM). The resulting data were statistically analyzed using SPSS at a significance level of P≤0.05. Results: Group B showed a significant statistical increase in transverse and impact strength compared with the other groups. Surface hardness and denture adaptation increased significantly in group A. FTIR analysis revealed transmission peaks and heightened intensity after the addition of the CP composite into the PMMA. The FE–SEM images showed a well-distributed nano CP composite within the PMMA matrix for all experimental groups, with increased agglomeration observed in group B (3%). Conclusion: The incorporation of 3% wt. CP into PMMA resin significantly improved transverse and impact strength compared with 1% wt. and the control. The surface hardness and denture base adaptation improved when 1% wt. CP was incorporated into the PMMA resin compared with the other tested groups.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic disorder that is a serious health concern all over the globe, it is linked to Interleukin-10 (IL-10) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at the promoter region. On the other hand, diabetes influences the cellular and humoral immunity predisposing the patient to a variety of opportunistic parasites one of them is Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), which may infect any nucleated cell, including pancreatic cells. The purpose of this research was to explore the association of IL-10 genetic polymorphisms with T2DM and latent toxoplasmosis among Iraqi patients with T2DM. Fifty-five and fifty-eight venous blood samples were taken from T2DM patients and age-matched non-diabetic person
... Show MoreSemiconductor-based photocatalytic processes are widely applied as ecofriendly technology for degrading organic pollutants. Establishing photocatalytic heterojunctions with Z-type photocarriers transfer pathways is projected to be a superb strategy to enhance photocatalytic behavior. In this paper, novel and stable (0D/2D) heterojunctions of CoS-embedded boron-doped g-C3N4 (CoS/BCN) with a high rate of charges transfer/separation were assembled for degradation of malachite green dye (MG). The CoS/BCN photocatalyst achieves a photodegradation efficiency of 96.9 % within 1 h of LED illumination, which is 2.5 and 1.4-fold enhancement compared with bare g-C3N4 and BCN, respectively. Besides, the results of species-trapping trials exhibited that
... Show MoreAbstract This study explores the extent to which public relations (PR) departments within Traqj governmental institutions are integrating artificial intelligence (AI) applications into their communication activities. The research adresses the growing importanc of AI in enhancing administrative efficieney, communication transparency, and stakeholder engagement. Adopting a descriptive research design, the study relied on an electtonic questionnaire distributed to PR profesionals across various ministries and government bodies, collecting 100 valid responses. The indings reveal that while younger PR practitioners are actively embracing AI, older employees show limited engagement. Most participants acquired AI-related skills through self- learn
... Show MoreHundreds of infrastructure investment projects are inserted into the Iraqi government budget annually. Many of these projects suffer from suspension, delay in completion, corruption, or other negative issues known in Iraqi construction projects. This may harm the country's economic recovery due to allocating funds to useless projects from one or more feasibility studies' components. Therefore, the best solution is to pay attention to the feasibility study reports. This study highlights the importance of feasibility studies reports for investment projects and their effective role in evaluating project ideas to ensure an equitable distribution of a country's financial resources to the most feasible investment projects. This importance
... Show More: Summary The establishment of the modern Iraqi state necessitated the establishment of diplomatic relations with neighboring countries. However, during the British Mandate period, these relations remained under the management of the British Embassy, which assumed responsibility for Iraq's foreign affairs. As the political situation evolved, the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs began making strenuous efforts to build a competent and effective diplomatic apparatus. Iraqi diplomatic representatives played an active role in strengthening and developing Iraq's foreign relations by implementing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' directives, which focused on monitoring political, economic, and social developments in neighboring countries. This app
... Show MoreThe widespread house sparrow Passer domesticus biblicus has a close association with humans and inhabits almost all ecosystems near human settlements in Iraq. It is exposed to different kinds of parasites in its habitats. Examining of house sparrow for the cestode parasites revealed that 25 specimens of 56 were infected with Raillietina echinobothrida. Intensity among infected male and female hosts with this cestode and its description is provided and discussed. The present finding constitutes the first record for this parasite in house sparrow in Iraq.
The ascaroid nematode Contracaecum rudolphii was recovered in large numbers from the
digestive tract of Phalacrocorax carbo collected in Baghdad area, Central Iraq. The infection
rates of the two sexes of the bird and some meristic and morphometric characters of the
parasite that allowed species determination of the nematode Contracaecum rudolphii were
discussed. This finding represents a new host record for this nematode in Iraq.
The research amid to find out the extent of Iraqi oil companies commitment to implement internal control procedures in accordance with the updated COSO framework. As the research problem was represented in the fact that many of the internal control procedures applied in the Iraqi oil companies are incompatible with most modern international frameworks for internal control, including the integrated COSO framework, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Tradeway Committee. The research followed the quantitative approach to handling and analysing data by designing a checklist to represent the research tool for collecting data. The study population was represented in the Iraqi oil companies, while the study sample
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