Background: Deterioration of maxillofacial silicone properties due to microbial colonization is a common problem and leads to the replacement of the prosthesis. Incorporation of the antimicrobial agent into the silicone could be a solution. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of silver-zinc zeolite addition on some mechanical properties of a maxillofacial silicone (VST-50). Materials and methods: Total 120 specimens were fabricated and divided into 3 groups: 40 specimens for tear strength test, 40 specimens for tensile and percentage of elongation tests and 40 specimens for Shore A hardness and surface roughness. Each group was divided into 4 subgroups according to the amount of zeolite added (0% “control”, 0.5%, 1% and 1.5%). One-way ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD tests were used to analyze the study data. FTIR revealed a chemical interaction between zeolite and silicone. Results: Study results revealed a highly significant increase in tear strength (p<0.01) in all experimental subgroups. The tensile strength of 1% filler was significantly higher than the control group (p<0.01) while 0.5% and 1.5% showed a non-significant increase. All experimental groups demonstrated a highly significant decrease in the percentage of elongation and a highly significant increase in roughness (p<0.01). The subgroup with 1.5% zeolite showed a highly significant increase in hardness, other subgroups showed a non-significant increase. Conclusion: The addition of 1% Ag-Zn zeolite improved some mechanical properties of VST-50 maxillofacial silicone.
This study sought to determine malformation caused by Ochratoxin-A (OTA) on mouse embryos. Twenty adult female white Swiss mice (mus msculus) were divided into four groups, with five females per group, and with one male placed with two females in a cage. Avaginal plug was observed in the early morning and the day of mating was considered as day of pregnancy followed by the first day of pregnancy. Three sub lethal concentrations of OTA were applied to the respective groups (other than the control), 1mg/kg, 2mg/kg and 4mg/kg. The animals were given 0.1 ml per 10 gm body weight per concentration of OTA once a day during days 7-14 of pregnancy. The control group animals were given distilled water. The pregnant mice were dissected, and the embry
... Show MoreDC planar sputtering system is characterized by varying discharge potential of (250-2000 volt) and Argon gas pressures of (3.5×10-2 – 1.5) mbar. The breakdown voltage for silver electrode was studied with a uniform electric field at different discharge distances, as well as plasma parameters. The breakdown voltage is a product of the Argon gas pressure inside the chamber and gab distance between the electrodes, represent as Paschen curve. The Current-voltage characteristics curves indicate that the electrical discharge plasma is working in the abnormal glow region. Plasma parameters were found from the current-voltage characteristics of a single probe positioned at the inter-cathode space. Typical values of the electron temperature an
... Show MoreThe work includes fabrication of undoped and silver-doped nanostructured nickel oxide in form thin films, which use for applications such as gas sensors. Pulsed-laser deposition (PLD) technique was used to fabricate the films on a glass substrate. The structure of films is studied by using techniques of x-ray diffraction, SEM, and EDX. Thermal annealing was performed on these films at 450°C to introduce its effect on the characteristics of these films. The films were doped with a silver element at different doping levels and both electrical and gas sensing characteristics were studied and compared to those of the undoped films. Reasonable enhancements in these characteristics were observed and attributed to the effects of thermal annealing
... Show MoreDiabetic foot is a catastrophic complication of diabetes. This study included isolation and identification of three types of bacteria that cause diabetic foot ulcers, fifty-five isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, thirty-five isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii, and thirty isolates of Serratia marcescens. These isolates were obtained from diabetic foot patients at different private clinics in and around Baghdad and Medical City Hospital. The proportion of male patients was greater than females, and it was noted that the age group (51-68 years) was more ages affected by diabetic foot. These isolates showed high resistance to most of the antibiotics used, Staphylococcus aureus was resistant to
... Show MoreBacterial water pollution is a genuine general wellbeing concern since it causes various maladies. Antimicrobial nanofibers can be integrated by incorporating nanobiocides, for example, silver nanoparticles into nanofibers. Nylon 6 was dissolved in formic acid at a concentration of (25 wt. %) and tough antibacterial (AgNO3/Nylon) nanofibers were produced utilizing electrospinning system. Polymer solution was tested before accomplishing electrospinning process to acquire its surface tension, electric conductivity and viscosity, where every one of those parameters increased relatively with increasing concentration of (AgNO3) additions. SEM and EDX spectra were utilized to focus on the morphology, surface elemental mem
... Show MoreIn the current research, an eco-biosynthesis method for synthesizing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is reported using thymus vulgaris leaves (T. vulgaris) extracts. The optical and structural properties of the nanoparticles is determined using UV-visible, x-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). In addition, the synthesis factors such as the temperature, the molar ratio of silver nitride and thymus vulgaris leaves extract have been investigated. The XRD pattern presented higher intensity for the five characteristic peaks of silver. FESEM images for same samples indicated that the particle size was distributed between 24-56 nm. In addition, it’s observed the formation of some aggregated Ag particles
... Show MoreBiosynthesis of nanoparticles has received considerable attention due to the growing need to develop environmentally benign nanoparticle synthesis processes that do not use toxic chemicals. Therefore, biosynthetic methods employing both biological agents such as bacteria and fungus or plant extracts have emerged as a simple and a viable alternative to chemical synthetic and physical method .It is well known that many microbes produce an organic material either intracellular or extracellular which is playing important role in the remediation of toxic metals through reduction of metal ions and acting as interesting Nano factories. As a result, in the present study Ag NPs were syn
... Show MoreNaturally available products have been used widely for centuries in handling human disease. The present study aimed to determine the effect of aluminum potassium sulfate addition into the soft liner on tensile strength and peel bond strength. The effect of aluminum potassium sulfate evaluated by two methods, first one include incorporation of KAL (SO4)2 into soft liner monomer in concentration (2%,3% by wt.) while the second method include immersion of soft liner specimens in solution of KAL(SO4)2 in concentration(5%,10% percent) during time periods (0,10 minutes). In conclusions, the results of current study encourage use KAL (SO4)2 within soft liner material
Premature failure in asphalt concrete pavement has been the main concern for pavement construction companies and engineers in recent years because of the large rise in traffic volume and loads and the temperature extremes in the summer and winter. The use of modifiers in asphalt concrete mixtures has attracted much attention to increase the performance and lifespan of pavements. As nanotechnology developed, several researchers concentrated on how these materials can help increase pavement serviceability by minimizing rutting and moisture damage. This study evaluates the Hydrated Lime (HL) effect by two methods (wet and dry hydrated lime) on the durability of the warm mix asphalt. The first method, HL, has been supplemented to the as
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