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 mixin

In this paper, an experimental study was conducted to enhance the thermal performance of a double-pass solar air heater (SAH) using phase change material (PCM) for thermal storage at climatic conditions of Baghdad city - Iraq. The double-pass solar air heater integrated with thermal storage system was manufactured and tested to ensure that the air heating reserved after the absence of the sun. The rectangular cavity filled with paraffin wax was used as a latent heat storage and incorporated into the lower channel of solar air heater. Experiments were carried out to evaluate the charging and discharging characteristics of two similar designed solar air collectors with and without using phase change material at a constant

The objective of the present study is to determine the effect of Kaolin as a fuel oil additive to minimize the fireside corrosion of superheater boiler tubes of ASTM designation (A213-T22) by increasing the melting point of the formed slag on the outside tubes surface, through the formation of new compounds with protective properties to the metal surface. The study included measuring corrosion rates at different temperatures with and without additive use with various periods of time, through crucible test method and weight loss technique.

      A mathematical model represents the relation between corrosion rate and the studied variables, is obtained using statistical regression analysis. Using this model,

  Recognition is one of the basic characteristics of human brain, and also for the living   creatures. It is possible to recognize images, persons, or patterns according to their characteristics. This recognition could be done using eyes or dedicated proposed methods. There are numerous applications for pattern recognition such as recognition of printed or handwritten letters, for example reading post addresses automatically and reading documents or check reading in bank.

      One of the challenges which faces researchers in character recognition field is the recognition of digits, which are written by hand. This paper describes a classification method for on-line handwrit

Abstract

The current research aims to identify the effectiveness of concept maps in the academic achievement of the art of elegance and fashion for third vocational students. The current research is a quasi-experimental one. The research sample consisted of (74) female students in Al-Saydiyah secondary school for girls, they were divided into two groups: the experimental group and the control group. The following hypothesis was developed: There are no statistically significant differences at the level (0.05) between the average scores of the students who studied the subject using concept maps and the average scores of the students who studied the subject in the traditional method in the post-achievement test. The

This study including synthesis of some new Schiff bases compounds [1‐6] from the reaction of Sulfamethoxazole drug with some aromatic aldehydes in classical Schiff base method then treatment Schiff  bases with succinic anhydride to get oxazepines rings [7-11]These derivatives were characterized by melting point, FT‐IR, ¹H NMR and mass spectra. Some of synthesized compounds were evaluated in vitro for their antibacterial activities against three kinds of pathogenic strains Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli

The ability of four local fungal isolates for extracellular laccase production has been tested with five grams 1:1(w/v) humidified sawdust as substrate in mineral salt medium. After 21 day of incubation at 25±1 ? C and using one mycelial plug (5mm), higher level of laccase activity (0.15U/ml) and specific activity (15U/mg) were observed by Pleurotus ostreatus in comparison with other fungal isolates. The results of optimum conditions for laccase production from selected isolate showed that, the maximum laccase activity (0.55U/ml) and specific activity (55U/mg) were obtained at moisture ratio 1:3 (w/v), using 3 mycelial plugs (5 mm), after 15 days incubation period at 25±1 ? C. The results of phenol degradation by crud laccase revealed th