Film mounting method for thermomechanical analysis

Mounting clamps attach polymeric film sample to thermomechanical analyzer. Using this technique, temperature at which polymer passes from relatively nonflexible or glasslike state to rubbery condition where it exhibits marked increase in flow properties is readily determined

Polyphenylene ethers with imide linking groups

Novel polyphenylene ethers with imide linking units are disclosed. These polymers incorporate the solvent and thermal resistance of polyimides and the processability of polyphenylene ethers. Improved physical properties over those of the prior art are obtained by incorporating meta linked ethers and/or polyphenylene oxides into the polymer backbone. A novel process for making polymers of this type is also disclosed. The process is unique in that the expected need of high process temperatures and/or special atmospheres are eliminated

Process of end-capping a polyimide system

A process of endcapping a polyimide system with an endcapping agent in order to achieve a controlled decrease in molecular weight and melt viscosity along with predictable fracture resistance of the molded products is disclosed. The uncapped system is formed by combining an equimolar ratio of 4,4'-bis (3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy) diphenylsulfide dianhydride (BDSDA) and 1,-bis (aminophenoxy) benzene (APB) dissolved in bis (2-methoxyethyl)ether. The endcapped system is formed by dissolving APB in bis-(2-methoxyethyl)ether, adding the BDSDA. By varying the amount of endcapping from 0 to 4%, molecular weight is decreased from 13,900 to 8660. At a processing temperature of 250 C, there is a linear relationship between molecular weight and viscosity, with the viscosity decreasing by two orders of magnitude as the molecular weight decreased from 13,900 to 8660

Copolyimide with a combination of flexibilizing groups

Copolyimides are prepared by reacting one or more aromatic dianhydrides with a meta-substituted phenylene diamine and an aromatic bridged diamine. The incorporation of meta-substituted phenylene diamine derived units and bridged aromatice diamine derived units into the linear aromatic polymer backbone results in a copolyimide of improved flexibility, processability, and melt-flow characteristics. The copolyimides are especially useful as thermoplastic hot-melt adhesives

Voice Therapy: Racial Disparities in Adherence and Clinically Significant Outcomes

Voice therapy is evidence-based, behavioral intervention that can reduce functional and organic voice disorders. Despite its proven effectiveness, non-adherence to voice therapy is still an issue. Research shows that an estimated 65% of patients who initiate voice therapy drop out before reaching therapeutic goals. Voice therapy outcomes are largely dependent on patients’ adherence to treatment regimens, but there is limited information concerning factors that may be associated with voice therapy adherence and therapeutic outcomes for patients who successfully complete voice therapy. The purpose of this study was to investigate which demographic factors could be associated with higher adherence rates to voice therapy and whether adherent patients reported greater positive change in vocal quality than non-adherent patients. The study consisted of a retrospective chart review of 287 patients diagnosed with various voice disorders who attended voice therapy at the outpatient Our Lady of The Lake Voice Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, the following demographic information was collected for this study: race/ethnicity, age, gender, and vocal pathology. Vocal pathologies and disorders observed were vocal fold atrophy, benign lesions, chronic laryngitis, vocal fold edema, vocal fold leukoplakia, muscle tension dysphonia (MTD), vocal cord dysfunction (VCD), sulcus vocalis/vocal fold scarring, and vocal fold paralysis. The following information was also collected: discharge status (whether the subject was discharged from therapy by the SLP or discontinued therapy without a recommendation for discharge) and pre- and post-therapy Voice Handicap Index (VHI, Jacobson et al.1997) responses to determine the clinical significance of subject-perceived improvement in voice quality upon successfully completing voice therapy. Results indicated an overall adherence rate of 33.8% and a non-adherence rate of 66.2%. These results are consistent with literature published in other behavior change fields that examine adherence rates to behavioral therapies. Demographic factors associated with higher adherence rates occurred among subjects who were white, female, and older (65+ years in age). Non-white subjects, however, reported higher rates of clinically significant improvement in voice quality after completing voice therapy

Flow properties of a series of experimental thermoplastic polymides

The softening temperature to degradation temperature range of the polymers was about 440 to 650 K. All of the polymers retained small amounts of solvent as indicated by an increase in T(sub g) as the polymers were dried. The flow properties showed that all three polymers had very high apparent viscosities and would require high pressures and/or high temperatures and/or long times to obtain adequate flow in prepregging and molding. Although none was intended for such application, two of the polymers were combined with carbon fibers by solution prepregging. The prepregs were molded into laminates at temperatures and times, the selection of which was guided by the results from the flow measurements. These laminates had room temperature short beam shear strength similar to that of carbon fiber laminates with a thermosetting polyimide matrix. However, the strength had considerable scatter, and given the difficult processing, these polymides probably would not be suitable for continuous fiber composites

Sci Pop Talks! Presenter Guidelines

Presenter guidelines for the nUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Sci Pop! Talks series

Sci Pop Talks! Presenter Guidelines

Presenter guidelines for the nUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Sci Pop! Talks series

Role of TGF-β signaling in inherited and acquired myopathies

The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) superfamily consists of a variety of cytokines expressed in many different cell types including skeletal muscle. Members of this superfamily that are of particular importance in skeletal muscle are TGF-β1, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and myostatin. These signaling molecules play important roles in skeletal muscle homeostasis and in a variety of inherited and acquired neuromuscular disorders. Expression of these molecules is linked to normal processes in skeletal muscle such as growth, differentiation, regeneration, and stress response. However, chronic elevation of TGF-β1, MAPKs, and myostatin is linked to various features of muscle pathology, including impaired regeneration and atrophy. In this review, we focus on the aberrant signaling of TGF-β in various disorders such as Marfan syndrome, muscular dystrophies, sarcopenia, and critical illness myopathy. We also discuss how the inhibition of several members of the TGF-β signaling pathway has been implicated in ameliorating disease phenotypes, opening up novel therapeutic avenues for a large group of neuromuscular disorders