Role of phenol and phosphite antioxidant combinations in the thermal stabilisation of metallocene LLDPE (mLLDPE): Optimisation and performance and influence of metal stearates on multiple extrusions

© 2018 This study progresses our earlier studies and takes the performance characteristics of a 1:1 Irganox 1010: Irgafos 168 combination at 1000 ppm each through multiple extrusion processes in a metallocene LLDPE (mLLDPE) investigating for the first time the role of a broad range of calcium and zinc stearates based on animal vs vegetable origins of the stearine function. In this case performance was assessed using Melt Flow Rate (MFR) coupled with HPLC to determine not only the additive depletions after processing but also the rate of production of the phosphite to phosphonate. Comparative control studies were also undertaken on the single use of the separate antioxidants. Both stearates influenced the activity of the antioxidants in particular their consumption. A greater consumption after the third and fifth extrusion was observed with metal stearates produced from the vegetable stearine. Moreover, zinc stearates seemed to provide a greater detrimental effect than calcium stearates. Hydroperoxide analysis on the stearates confirmed the animal stearine to contain higher levels of peroxides which may contribute toward the higher activity. The optimisation of the thermal stabilisation of the metallocene polyethylene (mLLDPE) has also been investigated in this study. Several conditions of stability were determined for the determination of the optimal antioxidant (phenol:phosphite) ratio. The main parameter was high melt stability for a maximum processing stability of the final package via DSC analysis (OIT) coupled with assessments of embrittlement time (oven ageing) and yellowness index. Long-term stability against thermo-oxidation was considered coupled with a consideration of their hydrolytic stability as a complicating factor. In this work the (phenol/phosphite) antioxidant formulations with two different phenolic antioxidants (Irganox 1010, Irganox 1076) and six different phosphite antioxidants (Irgafos 168, Irgafos P-EPQ, Adekastab PEP-8, Adekastab PEP-36, Adekastab PEP-24G, Adekastab HP-10) were assessed at different levels taking into account the various criteria for optimal performance providing hitherto useful information than many prior studies on 1:1% ratios i.e. how much phosphite is required for optimal activity. A question often posed in the field with the results concluding an interesting unified optimum ratio of 4:1 (for most antioxidants studied) taking into account all the critical parameters

Genetic correlates of prostate cancer visibility (and invisibility) on mpMRI: It's time to take stock

Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) has enhanced risk stratification for men at risk of prostate cancer, through accurate pre‐biopsy detection of high‐risk disease. However, it has become apparent that not all clinically significant prostate cancer is detected by mpMRI. Approximately 10‐20% of significant disease is invisible to mpMRI, depending on the threshold set for significance, and on the quality of mpMRI acquisition and interpretation. The threshold for significance has recently been challenged by the 29‐year follow‐up of the SPCG‐4 study, in which men with overall Gleason score 3 + 4 did not suffer prostate‐cancer‐related death, whilst those with overall Gleason score 4 + 3 did suffer prostate‐cancer related death (adjusted relative risk 5.73; 95% CI 1.59–20.67) potentially suggesting a new threshold for clinically significant disease. This finding is important, given that in PROMIS, no men with overall Gleason score 4 + 3 had negative pre‐biopsy mpMRI, indicating that actually mpMRI may identify all truly significant cancer (if SPCG‐4 is used to guide our threshold). Nonetheless, over the past two years, there has been increasing drive to better understand the nature of mpMRI‐inconspicuous disease, particularly at the molecular level

Bell Correlations and the Common Future

Reichenbach's principle states that in a causal structure, correlations of classical information can stem from a common cause in the common past or a direct influence from one of the events in correlation to the other. The difficulty of explaining Bell correlations through a mechanism in that spirit can be read as questioning either the principle or even its basis: causality. In the former case, the principle can be replaced by its quantum version, accepting as a common cause an entangled state, leaving the phenomenon as mysterious as ever on the classical level (on which, after all, it occurs). If, more radically, the causal structure is questioned in principle, closed space-time curves may become possible that, as is argued in the present note, can give rise to non-local correlations if to-be-correlated pieces of classical information meet in the common future --- which they need to if the correlation is to be detected in the first place. The result is a view resembling Brassard and Raymond-Robichaud's parallel-lives variant of Hermann's and Everett's relative-state formalism, avoiding "multiple realities."Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure

Metal-insulator transition in vanadium dioxide nanobeams: probing sub-domain properties of strongly correlated materials

Many strongly correlated electronic materials, including high-temperature superconductors, colossal magnetoresistance and metal-insulator-transition (MIT) materials, are inhomogeneous on a microscopic scale as a result of domain structure or compositional variations. An important potential advantage of nanoscale samples is that they exhibit the homogeneous properties, which can differ greatly from those of the bulk. We demonstrate this principle using vanadium dioxide, which has domain structure associated with its dramatic MIT at 68 degrees C. Our studies of single-domain vanadium dioxide nanobeams reveal new aspects of this famous MIT, including supercooling of the metallic phase by 50 degrees C; an activation energy in the insulating phase consistent with the optical gap; and a connection between the transition and the equilibrium carrier density in the insulating phase. Our devices also provide a nanomechanical method of determining the transition temperature, enable measurements on individual metal-insulator interphase walls, and allow general investigations of a phase transition in quasi-one-dimensional geometry.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, original submitted in June 200

Genetic Landscape of Prostate Cancer Conspicuity on Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Systematic Review and Bioinformatic Analysis

CONTEXT: Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) detects most, but not all, clinically significant prostate cancer. The genetic basis of prostate cancer visibility and invisibility on mpMRI remains uncertain. OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the literature on differential gene expression between mpMRI-visible and mpMRI-invisible prostate cancer, and to use bioinformatic analysis to identify enriched processes or cellular components in genes validated in more than one study. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: We performed a systematic literature search of the Medline, EMBASE, PubMed, and Cochrane databases up to January 2020 in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement. The primary endpoint was differential genetic features between mpMRI-visible and mpMRI-invisible tumours. Secondary endpoints were explanatory links between gene function and mpMRI conspicuity, and the prognostic value of differential gene enrichment. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: We retrieved 445 articles, of which 32 met the criteria for inclusion. Thematic synthesis from the included studies showed that mpMRI-visible cancer tended towards enrichment of molecular features associated with increased disease aggressivity, including phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) loss and higher genomic classifier scores, such as Oncotype and Decipher. Three of the included studies had accompanying publicly available data suitable for further bioinformatic analysis. An over-representation analysis of these datasets revealed increased expression of genes associated with extracellular matrix components in mpMRI-visible tumours. CONCLUSIONS: Prostate cancer that is visible on mpMRI is generally enriched with molecular features of tumour development and aggressivity, including activation of proliferative signalling, DNA damage, and inflammatory processes. Additionally, there appears to be concordant cellular components and biological processes associated with mpMRI conspicuity, as highlighted by bioinformatic analysis of large genetic datasets. PATIENT SUMMARY: Prostate cancer that is detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tends to have genetic features that are associated with more aggressive disease. This suggests that MRI can be used to assess the likelihood of aggressive prostate cancer, based on tumour visibility

Human skeletal muscle plasmalemma alters its structure to change its Ca2+-handling following heavy-load resistance exercise

High-force eccentric exercise results in sustained increases in cytoplasmic Ca2+ levels ([Ca2+]cyto), which can cause damage to the muscle. Here we report that a heavy-load strength training bout greatly alters the structure of the membrane network inside the fibres, the tubular (t-) system, causing the loss of its predominantly transverse organization and an increase in vacuolation of its longitudinal tubules across adjacent sarcomeres. The transverse tubules and vacuoles displayed distinct Ca2+-handling properties. Both t-system components could take up Ca2+ from the cytoplasm but only transverse tubules supported store-operated Ca2+ entry. The retention of significant amounts of Ca2+ within vacuoles provides an effective mechanism to reduce the total content of Ca2+ within the fibre cytoplasm. We propose this ability can reduce or limit resistance exercise-induced, Ca2+-dependent damage to the fibre by the reduction of [Ca2+]cyto to help maintain fibre viability during the period associated with delayed onset muscle soreness

Two Years Later: Journals Are Not Yet Enforcing the ARRIVE Guidelines on Reporting Standards for Pre-Clinical Animal Studies

There is growing concern that poor experimental design and lack of transparent reporting contribute to the frequent failure of pre-clinical animal studies to translate into treatments for human disease. In 2010, the Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments (ARRIVE) guidelines were introduced to help improve reporting standards. They were published in PLOS Biology and endorsed by funding agencies and publishers and their journals, including PLOS, Nature research journals, and other top-tier journals. Yet our analysis of papers published in PLOS and Nature journals indicates that there has been very little improvement in reporting standards since then. This suggests that authors, referees, and editors generally are ignoring guidelines, and the editorial endorsement is yet to be effectively implemented

A Systematic Review of Chronic Pain Mechanism Differential Assessment Strategies for Physical Therapy

Background Recently, the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) redefined pain, the American Physical Therapy Association proposed pain education guidelines, and a new pain mechanism category (PMC) was defined as “nociplastic pain”. IASP defines three PMCs - nociceptive, neuroplastic, and nociplastic. Purpose Identify current clinical assessment strategies for differentiating between nociceptive, neuropathic, and nociplastic chronic pain, feasible for implementation by physical therapists (PTs). Methods In 2020, investigators independently searched databases for studies evaluating assessment methods differentiating “nociceptive,” “neuropathic,” “central,” “mixed pain” and “central sensitization,” with follow-up on “nociplastic pain”. A qualitative systematic review was performed utilizing defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, priori criteria for independent evaluation of search result abstracts, blind voting that resulted in inclusion of 91 articles, and a piloted form for data extraction. Results PMC assessments were categorized into 4 strategies, recommending combined strategies for meaningful diagnosis. 30% of articles analyzed PMCs per specific pathology, while debating pathology-based pain phenotyping and assessment. PMC nociplastic studies’ agreements included: PMC diagnostic features may be shared, they are not always independent, and may evolve into a blended continuum as chronic pain develops. Studies presented PMC conceptualization, highlighting terminology inconsistencies and understanding amongst researchers, clinicians, and educators. Conclusion High quality research is emerging to inform the physical therapy clinician on differential assessment strategies for pain mechanisms in chronic pain patients. The ability for PTs to assess and treat chronic pain is challenged by the current lack of continuity within PMC education, terminology, and difficulty of in vivo research on the subject

The flying buttress construct for posterior spinopelvic fixation: a technical note

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Posterior fusion of the spine to the pelvis in paediatric and adult spinal deformity is still challenging. Especially assembling of the posterior rod construct to the iliac screw is considered technically difficult. A variety of spinopelvic fixation techniques have been developed. However, extreme bending of the longitudinal rods or the use of 90-degree lateral offset connectors proved to be difficult, because the angle between the rod and the iliac screw varies from patient to patient.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We adopted a new spinopelvic fixation system, in which iliac screws are side-to-side connected to the posterior thoracolumbar rod construct, independent of the angle between the rod and the iliac screw. Open angled parallel connectors are used to connect short iliac rods from the posterior rod construct to the iliac screws at both sides. The construct resembles in form and function an architectural Flying Buttress, or lateral support arches, used in Gothic cathedrals.</p> <p>Results and discussion</p> <p>Three different cases that illustrate the Flying Buttress construct for spinopelvic fixation are reported here with the clinical details, radiographic findings and surgical technique used.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The Flying Buttress construct may offer an alternative surgical option for spinopelvic fixation in circumstances wherein coronal or sagittal balance cannot be achieved, for example in cases with significant residual pelvic obliquity, or in revision spinal surgery for failed lumbosacral fusion.</p