Aim To develop a low-density polyethylene–hydroxyapatite (HA-PE) composite with properties tailored to function as a potential root canal filling material. Methodology Hydroxyapatite and polyethylene mixed with strontium oxide as a radiopacifier were extruded from a single screw extruder fitted with an appropriate die to form fibres. The composition of the composite was optimized with clinical handling and placement in the canal being the prime consideration. The fibres were characterized using infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and their thermal properties determined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The tensile strength and elastic modulus of the composite fibres and gutta-percha were compared, dry and after 1 month storage in simulated body fluid (SBF), using a universal testing machine. The radiopacity of the fibres was determined using digital radiography. The interaction of the composites with eugenol was evaluated and compared with gutta-percha. Data of the tensile test were submitted to two-way anova and Bonferroni tests (P < 0.05). Results The endothermic peaks obtained from the DSC studies showed that the melting point of the HA/PE composites ranged between 110.5 and 111.2 °C, whereas gutta-percha exhibited a melting point at 52 °C. The tensile strength and elastic modulus of the silanated HA/PE composites were significantly higher than those of gutta-percha (P < 0.0001) under dry conditions and 1 month storage in SBF. The gutta-percha in eugenol showed a significant increase in the polymer molar mass, whereas the silanated HA/PE composites were unchanged. Radiological evaluations demonstrated that silanated HA/PE fibres were sufficiently radiopaque. Conclusion Promising materials for endodontic applications have been developed, offering relevant benefits over the traditional materials in terms of mechanical and chemical properties
The issue of the Circular Economy is not a new issue to several countries, especially the developed ones. Here in Iraq it is considered newly introduced, despite the few attempts to establish projects that concern recycling most of them were doomed to fail, due to two main reasons: the first one is the financial and administrative corruption widespread in all departments of the country, the second one is the priorities of public spending. It is well known that Iraq was subjected to two major attacks, the ISIS entry attack in 2014 to Iraq. ISIS occupied about a third of Iraqi lands which resulted in a collapse in oil prices, as Iraq depends almost entirely on oil revenues in its budget which is the second attack. This made the Iraqi governme
... Show MoreEmissions of particulate matter from nanopapers as well as inks and organic solvents during the printing operationand copying machines constitute a threat to human health, especially with long time exposure in closed working environments. The present study was conducted in some printing houses and copying centers of Baghdad city during February and April .The studyproved the occurrence of an air pollution problem concerning lead and zinc contents in all the study sites. The levels of Pb, Zn and Cu were collected by low volume sampler from the air of the study sites then filter papers digested and determined the heavy metals by flame atomic spectrophotometer. Particulate matter was measured by Aerocet, Microtector meter device was use
... Show MoreEriobotrya japonica Lindl., named as loquat, is a subtropical fruit tree of the family Rosaceae which is well known medical plant originated in Japan and China. Loquat portions, like leaves, peels and fruits have been shown to possess various health usefulnesses. In Chinese classical medicine, it is vastly utilized in many illnesses, like gastroenteric disorders, diabetes mellitus, pulmonary inflammatory diseases and chronic bronchitis. Loquat plant contain many active constituents, such as flavonoids, carotenoids, vitamins, polyphenolic compounds, other that have many biological effects like anti-tumor, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic, antioxidant, antiviral, antitussive, hepatoprotective and hypoli
... Show MoreIn this work, the structure properties of nano Lead sulfide PbS thin films are studied. Thin samples were prepared by pulse laser deposition and deposited on glass substrates at wavelength 1064nm wavelength with a various laser energies (200,300,400,500)nm. The study of atomic force microscope (AFM) and X-ray diffraction as well as the effect of changing the laser energy on the structural properties has been studied. It has been observed that the membrane formed is of the polycrystalline type and the predominant phase is the plane (111) and (200). The minimum grain size obtained was 16.5 nm at a laser energy about 200 mJ. The results showed that thin films of average granular sizes (75 nm) could be prepared.As for the optical properties,
... Show MoreFilms of pure Poly (methyl methacrylate) PMMA and Iron chromate doped PMMA have been prepared using casting method. Transmission and absorptance spectra have been recorded in the wavelength range (300-900) nm, in order to calculate, single oscillator energy, dispersion energy proposed by Wemple - DiDomenico model, average oscillator strength, average oscillator wavelength. The refractive index data at infinite wavelength which was found to obey single oscillator model which was found to increase from 2.27-2.56 as the doping percentage increase. The decreasing in the optical energy gap which was found according to Tauc model were (3.74-3.63) eV , is in good agreement with that obtained by wimple-DiDomenico model. The inverse behavior comp
... Show MoreA small number of researches were done in the design and synthesis of enkephalin analogues that are able to resist degradation effect of proteolytic enzymes with good bioavailability and half-lives.Through studying structure activity relationships we tried to incorporate phthalyl group, tryptophan and lysine amino acids in different positions in the basic backbone structure of the naturally occurring opioid Leu5- and Met5- enkephalin, in the hope that such insertion of these amino acids could induce interesting addition in the biological activity of these analogues with enhancement of their bioavailability, in addition to decrease side effects as addiction liability.
These synthesized peptides are: