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.
Due to their attractive properties, silver nanowires (Ag-NWs) are newly used as nanoelectrodes in continuous wave (CW) THz photomixer. However, since these nanowires have small contact area, the nanowires fill factor in the photomixer active region is low, which leads to reduce the nanowires conductivity. In this work, we proposed to add graphene nanoantenna array as nanoelectrodes to the silver nanowires-based photomixer to improve the conductivity. In addition, the graphene nanoantenna array and the silver nanowires form new hybrid nanoelectrodes for the CW-THz photomixer leading to improve the device conversion efficiency by the plasmonic effect. Two types of graphene nanoantenna array are proposed in two separate photomixer conf
... Show MoreFour batches of sertraline HCl microspheres were prepared using a poly (D-L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) polymer ( Mw. 9, 27, 30 and 83 KDa) as a delivery system. The microspheres were prepared by a dispersion/solvent extraction-evaporation method and characterized for drug loading by UV, particle size by laser diffractometry and surface morphology by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The in vitro sertraline HCl release was studied. Spherical microspheres with a mean diameter of 21 to 26 µm loaded with 24.6 – 38.2% were produced. The in vitro drug release was shown to be depend on polymer molecular weight and also on the drug loading. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was employed to investigate the physical state
... Show MoreThe aim of this paper is to explore the relationship between sustainability reporting (SR) and corporate reputation (CR) in the context of initial public offering (IPO) companies in the developing market of Malaysia. This study utilises secondary data from 2007 to 2017 derived from the content analysis of the annual reports and Datastream of 139 sampled IPO companies listed on Bursa Malaysia. The study also employs ordinary least squares (OLS) regression. The result shows that CR has a positive association with SR quantity and quality and its dimensions, i.e., society, environmental, employee, and product. This result suggests that IPO companies can use SR practices to improve their CR. Most companies give little attention to SR issues. Mor
... Show MoreBackground: It is well known that mycotic antigens have an important
role in atopy and the induction of asthma. Now one of the important
subjects is the relation between respiratory bacterial and viral
infections in the inflammatory reactions accompanied with bronchial
asthma viruses Bacteria or their metabolites act as trigger for asthma
or increase it's intensity .
Objectives: To show the relation between asthma and some viral
infections serologically.
Methods: Direct ELISA test was employed to detect lgG specific for
Respiratory Syncytial virus (Rsv) parainfluenza virus type (p13) and
influenza virus in sera of (100) asthmatic patients of two age groups.
(10-17) and(18-50) years old. Serum samples from
This review highlighted the biochemical hypolipidemic action of some herbs and medical plants and could submit a good survery regarding intended plants and herbs as well promote and indicate the biochemical functions and importance of natural plants in medicince as a biochemical alternatives with no reverse or side effects. The present study have highlighted the biochemical hypolipidemic action of some herbs and medical plants: Daudelion Taraxacum officinale, Basil Ocimum sanctum L., dill Anethum graveolens , Celery Apium gravedense. , Fenugreek Trigonella Foenum-graccum , Grapes Vitis vinifera , olive tree Olea europea L., Green tea Comellia sinenis , Blue berry Vaccinium angnstifolium juice and Clove Eugenia caryophyllus.
Some have considered the dialectic in form and meaning from different points of view, and dismantled them from each other, and this view is correct if we adopt according to the logic of Aristotle when it comes to dialectic, the dialectic of form and meaning has different aspects and does not share a single line in terms of conceptual meaning, the form is the appearance What the recipient sees with the help of cognitive tools, the content or content is the mental meaning, which in turn depends on his own tools, and to this extent this view is correct, and the intellectual content or meaning of the artwork or the human message that the artist wants to convey to the viewer.
The research included four chapters. The first chapter included
The majority of statisticians, if not most of them, are primarily concerned with the theoretical aspects of their field of work rather than their application to the practical aspects. Its importance as well as its direct impact on the development of various sciences. Although the theoretical aspect is the first and decisive basis in determining the degree of accuracy of any research work, we always emphasize the importance of the applied aspects that are clear to everyone, as well as its direct impact on the development of different sciences. The measurements of public opinion is one of the most important aspects of the application of statistics, which has taken today, a global resonance and has become a global language that everyone can
... Show MoreVariation order plays an important role in calculating the final cost and time. The paper aims to determine the causes of variation orders in projects performed between 2007-2014 in Erbil governorate projects. Data was collected from contract documents. Performed in the Erbil governorate projects from 2007-2014. The study seeks to identify the most significant causes of delays by assessing the common causes of delays in terms of frequency, severity and
important indices of owners, consultants and contractors related to&n
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Child's personality development in Islam, in fact, represents the building of the Islamic community and a step on the way for the establishment of life, state, law, and civilization in accordance with the blessed Islamic principles, in order to achieve the happiness of the human being and to protect the components of society and preserve human safety. Child is the issue of interest across many years. Paying heed to childhood issues is not a recent one. The faith of these communities in the child's rights and his education, which makes a man who cherishes himself and his language and homeland.
The success of Islamic goals, the happiness of the individual and the
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