Background: Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) and BiodentineTM cements are new materials with numerous exciting clinical applications. Both have appreciable properties which include good physical properties and the ability to stimulate tissue regeneration as well as good antibacterial effects. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the antibacterial effects of MTA and BiodentineTM, when they were mixed with different concentrations of aqueous solutions of Black Seed extract, against Enterococcus faecalis. Materials and methods: MTA and BiodentineTMwere prepared according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The method of Mawlood was followed to prepare the Black Seed aqueous solution. Agar diffusion method on Brain Heart Infusion agar was employed.Twenty, 9 cm diameter, petri-plates with 25 ml of Muller Hinton agar media were prepared. A sterile spreader was used to inoculate the microorganisms. With a micropipette 0.1 ml of the Enterococcus faecalis suspension was added to the surface of the plates. Within 15 minutes, after inoculation of the plates, 4 cavities, each one measuring 5 mm in diameter and 4 mm in depth, were made in each agar plate. A total of 20 agar plates were divided into 2 groups consisted of 10 plates each; Group A: each plate contained 4 wells filled with MTA alone and MTA mixed with 10%, 30% and 50% of Black Seed aqueous solutions respectively.Group B: each plate contained 4 wells filled with BiodentineTMalone and BiodentineTMmixed with 10%, 30% and 50% of Black Seed aqueous solutionsrespectively. Next day after incubation, the agar plates were examined for bacterial inhibition zones. With a scientific ruler the diameter of the antibacterial inhibition zones were measured. The data were recorded and statistically analyzed, by the ANOVA and the Student's t-test. Results: Both cements had antibacterial effects, which were increased with the addition of the aqueous solutions of Black Seed extract. The increase in the diameter of Enterococcus faecalis inhibition zones was directly proportional with the increase in the concentration of the added Black Seed aqueous extract. Conclusion: Adding aqueous solutions of Black Seed extract to both MTA and Biodentine™ increased their potential to inhibit the growth of Enterococcus faecalis. Key words: Mineral Trioxide Aggregate, Biodentine TM, Black Seed.
Background: The polymethyl methacrylate is the most reliable material for the construction of complete and partial dentures, despite satisfying esthetic demand itsuffered from having unsatisfactory properties like impact strength and transverse strength. This study was designed to improve the impact strength and transverse strength of heat cure acrylic resin by adding untreated and oxygen plasma treated polypropylene fibers and investigate the effect of this additive on some properties of acrylic resin materials. Materials and methods: Untreated and oxygen plasma treated polypropylene fibers was added to PMMA powder by weight 2.5 %. Specimens were constructed and divided into 5 groups according to the using tests; each group was subdivided
... Show MoreThe experiment was carried out in the spring season of 2017 in the open fields of the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences/University of Baghdad/Al-Jadriya camps in order to improve the growth and yield of potato plants resulting from the cultivation of true potato seeds of the hybrid BSS-295 by spraying with two organic nutrients. The experiment included two factors: First one was spraying with Megafol nutrient at concentrations 0, 1, 2 and 4 ml l-1 and the second was spraying with Algazone nutrient at concentrations 0, 1.5 and 3 ml l-1, the experiment was applied according to the complete randomized block design with three replicatio
Al-Si alloys which are widely used in engineering applications due to their outstanding properties can be modified for more enhancements in their properties. Current work investigated the ability of these alloys to be modified by casting them through the addition of nanoparticles. So, Multi-wall carbon nanotubes (CNT) and titanium carbide ceramic particles (TIC) with size of (20 nm) were added with different amounts started from (0.5 up to 3%) weight to cast alloy A356 that was considered to be the base metal matrix, then stirred with different speeds of (270, 800, 1500, 2150) rpm at 520 °C for one minute. The results showed change in microstructure’ shape of the casted alloys from the dendritic to spherical gra
... Show MoreThis study investigates the influence of silver oxide (Ag2O) concentration on the optical characteristics of phosphate bioactive glasses (PBGs). PBGs have emerged as promising alternatives to conventional silicate glasses in the medical field due to their excellent bioactivity and chemical resistance. Samples with varying Ag2O concentrations (0, 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75g) were sintered at 780°C for 2 hrs in an electric furnace. The samples were subjected to Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, and photoluminescence (PL) tests to assess their functional groups and optical properties. By analyzing the FTIR spectrum of phosphate bioactive glass containing different amounts of Ag2O, it is
... Show Moreloaded reinforced concrete circular short columns. An experimental investigation into the behavior
of 24 short reinforced concrete columns with and without steel fibers was carried out. The columns
had a circular section (200 mm diameter and 900 mm long). Test variables include concrete
strength, spacing of spiral reinforcement, and inclusion of steel fibers. The axial stress and axial
strains were obtained and used to evaluate the effects of the presence of steel fibers. It was found
that the addition of steel fibers slightly improves the load carrying capacity of the tested columns
whereas it significantly enhances the ductility of these specimens. Test results also indicated that for
the same confinement parameter
The importance of this research has been to rationalize the cost of producing maize seeds through the followers of modern techniques and methods in agricultural activities such as genetic engineering for the purpose of increasing production efficiency of maize seeds as well as the importance of calculating seed cost rationalization through the ABC system and thus rationalizing government spending. The research is based on a single hypothesis that the use of genetic engineering on corn seeds works to:increase production efficiency of seeds and savings in agricultural inputs, calculation of rationalization through the cost system on the basis of activity ABC The research reached a number of conclus
... Show MoreIn cooling water systems, cooling towers play a critical role in removing heat from the water. Cooling water systems are commonly used in industry to dispose the waste heat. An upward spray cooling water systems was especially designed and investigated in this work. The effect of two nanofluids (Al2O3/ water, black carbon /water) on velocity and temperature distributions along reverse spray cooling tower at various concentrations (0.02, 0.08, 0.1, 0.15, and 0.2 wt.%) were investigated, beside the effect of the inlet water temperature (35 ,40, and 45 ͦ C) and water to air flow ratio (L/G) of 0.5, 0.75, and 1. The best thermal performance was found when the working solution contained 0.1 wt.% for each of Al2
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