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.
Background: Health professionals have a crucial role in promotion, support and management of breastfeeding. To be effective in this effort, the clinician should focus on the issue from the preconception stage through pregnancy and delivery, and continue in subsequent infant care. Aim of the study: to assess the effectiveness of the UNICEF/WHO 40-hour of breast feeding training through the assess breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes of the health profession staff before and after training course.
A series of liquid crystals comprising a heterocyclics dihydro pyrrole and 1,2,3-triazole rings [VII]-[X] were synthesized by many steps starting from a reaction of 3,3'-dimethyl-[1,1'-biphenyl]- 4,4'-diamine with chloroacetyl chloride in a mixture of solutions DMF and TEA to synthesise the compounds [I], then the compounds [I] reacted with malononitrile in 1,4-dioxane and TEA solutions to produce compounds [II], then the first step is repeated with compound [II] where it reacted with chloroacetyl chloride in mixture of DMF and TEA to give compound [III], this compound reacted with sodium azide in the presence of sodium chloride and DMF as solvent to produce the compound [IV], which reacted with acrylic acid by a 1.3 dipolar reaction in sol
... Show MorePolymer films of PEG and PVA and their blend with different
concentrations of MnCl2 (0, 2, 4, 6 and 10 %.wt) were study using
casting technique. The X-ray spectra of pure PEG, PVA and
PVA:PEG films and with addition of 2% concentrations from
(MnCl2) show amorphous structures. The results for FTIR show the
interaction between the filler and polymer blend results in
decreasing crystallinity with rich amorphous phase. This
amorphous nature confirms the complexation between the filler and
the polymer blend. The optical properties of (PVA:PEG/MnCl2)
contain the recording of absorbance (A) and explain that the
absorption coefficient (α), refractive index (n), extinction coefficient
(ko) and the dielectric cons
Abstract Background: The hip joint and lumbar spine are both anatomically and functionally closely related as had shown by many authors. So the abnormality in one area can affect the other e.g. hip joint osteoarthritis can cause lumbar sagittal malalignment and backache. Objectives: is to see if there is significant improvement in backache after total hip replacement? And which degree of backache improvement is associated with significant changes in lumbar lordosis? Methods and patients: a prospective open trial study was performed on 30 patients who had severe hip osteoarthritis and chronic low back pain. Total hip replacement was performed to all patients. Backache and lumbar lordosis were measured by visual analogue scale and Cobb’s a
... Show MoreSb2S3 thin films have been prepared by chemical bath deposition on a glas sub Absorbance and transmittance spectra were recorded in the wavelength range (30-900) nm. The effects of thickness on absorption coefficient, reflectance, refractive index, extinction coefficient, real and imaginary parts of dielectric constant were estimated. It was found that the reflectivity, absorption coefficient , extinction coefficient, real part of dielectric constant and refractive index, all these parameters decrease as the thickness increased, while the imaginary part of the dielectric constant increase as the thickness incre
... Show MoreThis research aims to study the optical characteristics of semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) composed of CdTe and CdTe/CdSe core-shell structures. It utilizes the refluxed method to synthesize these nanoscale particles and aims to comprehend the growth process by monitoring their optical properties over varied periods of time and pH 12. Specifically, the optical evolution of these QDs is evaluated using photoluminescence (PL) and ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy. For CdTe QDs, a consistent absorbance and peak intensity increase were observed across the spectrum over time. Conversely, CdTe/CdSe QDs displayed distinctive absorbance and peak intensity variations. These disparities might stem from irregularities in forming selenium (Se) layers a
... Show MoreArtificial neural networks usage, as a developed technique, increased in many fields such as Auditing business. Contemporary auditor should cope with the challenges of the technology evolution in the business environment by using computerized techniques such as Artificial neural networks, This research is the first work made in the field of modern techniques of the artificial neural networks in the field of auditing; it is made by using thesample of neural networks as a sample of the artificial multi-layer Back Propagation neural networks in the field of detecting fundamental mistakes of the financial statements when making auditing. The research objectives at offering a methodology for the application of theartificial neural networks wi
... Show MoreAbstract. Shatt Al-Arab River was the most important tide river in Iraq, it suffered from neglect and lack of maintenance in the past decades. The river embankment is constantly exposed to erosion processes due to several factors, one of the most important of these factors is the movement of water currents due to the tidal energy coming from the Arabian Gulf. In this study, one dimension unsteady-state model was implemented to study river flood capacity simulation by using HEC-RAS (5.0.7) software in Shatt Al Arab River and its tributaries. The data included flow rate, water level records were collected daily from 2018 to 2020 at different stations along the mentioned river and its feeders, additionally, the considered flood discharge data
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