Rigid open-cell polyurethane foam for cryogenic insulation

Lightweight polyurethane foam assembled in panels is effective spacer material for construction of self-evacuating multilayer insulation panels for cryogenic liquid tanks. Spacer material separates radiation shields with barrier that minimizes conductive and convective heat transfer between shields

Selective metallization of flexible substrates by inkjet printing with electroless copper plating

International audienceA new efficient approach for selective metallization of flexible substrates such as poly(ethyleneterephtalate) (PET) sheets has been developed (Figure 1). The method is based on the covalent grafting of a chelating polymer film poly-4-vinylpyridine (P4VP) able to complex metallic palladium ions which then serve as catalyst for a copper electroless plating step. A solution of P4VP containing the palladium ions (II) catalyst is firstly inkjet printed to form a metallization primer. This primer is then photo-grafted onto the surface using a flashlamp. By a photo-oxidation process, light allows the formation of free radicals on the P4VP layer in contact with the substrate. Thus, covalent adhesion between the substrate and the P4VP is achieved. A selective copper layer is finally grown on the activated primer by a copper electroless plating process. The grafted primer layer enhances the copper adhesion. A resistivity-measured with four probes-as low as 2.1 µΩ.cm (sheet resistance equivalent to 84 mΩ/□ for 250 nm thickness) is obtained, which is only 20% higher than the one of bulk copper. This new low-temperature process only requires a plating bath and is thus compatible with low-cost thermally unstable flexible polymer substrates and R2R printing processes. The final metallic layer notably shows a very good adhesion on PET substrate and good stability in ambient atmosphere

Atypical choroid plexus papilloma treated with single agent bevacizumab

Choroid plexus papillomas (CPPs) are usually not malignant and occur in less than 1% of brain tumors in patients of all ages. They represent 3% of childhood intracranial neoplasms with a predilection in younger ages. Papillomas have an indolent course and carry a good long-term outcome if gross total surgical resection is achieved. However malignant evolution may occur, with a 10-30% incidence. Chemotherapy has been used with varied degrees of success. Most series are very small, some are only limited to case reports and cannot lead to guidelines or therapeutic recommendations. We are reporting the first case of recurrent CPP treated with 5 mg/kg of bevacizumab administered once every two weeks. Complete patient evaluations with follow-up contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were obtained after the initial two treatments and every 8 weeks thereafter. Only after two treatments, the MRI scans showed radiological stabilization of the tumor, and the patient achieved an excellent clinical response with significant resolution of all skin lesions

Ultra-Translucent Zirconia Laminate Veneers: The Influence of Restoration Thickness and Stump Tooth-Shade

This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the final shade of translucent zirconia laminate veneers with varying thicknesses over teeth with different shades. Seventy-five chairside computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) shade A1 third-generation zirconia dental veneers, with thicknesses of 0.50 mm, 0.75 mm, and 1.00 mm, were placed on resin composite teeth with shades ranging from A1 to A4. The laminate veneers were divided into groups based on thickness and background shade. All restorations were evaluated with a color imaging spectrophotometer, to map the veneer surface from A1 to D4. Regardless of the thickness or background shade, all dental veneers showed color alteration from the original shade. Veneers with 0.5 mm thickness tended to display the B1 shade, while veneers with 0.75 mm and 1.0 mm thickness primarily exhibited the B2 shade. The thickness of the laminate veneer and background shade significantly modified the original shade of the zirconia veneer. One-way analysis of variance was performed and a Kruskal–Wallis test was used to determine the significance between the three veneer thicknesses groups. The results indicated that the thinner restorations showed higher values with the color imaging spectrophotometer, suggesting that thinner veneers may result in more consistent color matching. This study underscores the importance of carefully considering thickness and background shade when selecting zirconia laminate veneers, to ensure optimal color matching and overall aesthetic outcomes

Is kidney function affecting the management of myocardial infarction? A retrospective cohort study in patients with normal kidney function, chronic kidney disease stage III–V, and ESRD

Marc Saad,1 Boutros Karam,1 Geovani Faddoul,2 Youssef El Douaihy,1 Harout Yacoub,1 Hassan Baydoun,3 Christine Boumitri,1 Iskandar Barakat,1 Chadi Saifan,4 Elie El-Charabaty,4 Suzanne El Sayegh4 1Department of Internal Medicine, Staten Island University Hospital, Staten Island, 2Department of Nephrology, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY, 3Department of Cardiology, Tulane University Medical Center, New Orleans, LA, 4Department of Nephrology, Staten Island University Hospital, Staten Island, NY, USA Abstract: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are three times more likely to have myocardial infarction (MI) and suffer from increased morbidity and higher mortality. Traditional and unique risk factors are prevalent and constitute challenges for the standard of care. However, CKD patients have been largely excluded from clinical trials and little evidence is available to guide evidence-based treatment of coronary artery disease in patients with CKD. Our objective was to assess whether a difference exists in the management of MI (ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction) among patients with normal kidney function, CKD stage III–V, and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. We conducted a retrospective cohort study on patients admitted to Staten Island University Hospital for the diagnosis of MI between January 2005 and December 2012. Patients were assigned to one of three groups according to their kidney function: Data collected on the medical management and the use of statins, platelet inhibitors, beta-blockers, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers were compared among the three cohorts, as well as medical interventions including: catheterization and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) when indicated. Chi-square test was used to compare the proportions between nominal variables. Binary logistic analysis was used in order to determine associations between treatment modalities and comorbidities, and to account for possible confounding factors. Three hundred and thirty-four patients (mean age 67.2±13.9 years) were included. In terms of management, medical treatment was not different among the three groups. However, cardiac catheterization was performed less in ESRD when compared with no CKD and CKD stage III–V (45.6% vs 74% and 93.9%) (P<0.001). CABG was performed in comparable proportions in the three groups and CABG was not associated with the degree of CKD (P=0.078) in binary logistics regression. Cardiac catheterization on the other hand carried the strongest association among all studied variables (P<0.001). This association was maintained after adjusting for other comorbidities. The length of stay for the three cohorts (non-CKD, CKD stage III–V, and ESRD on hemodialysis) was 16, 17, and 15 days, respectively and was not statistically different. Many observations have reported discrimination of care for patients with CKD considered suboptimal candidates for aggressive management of their cardiac disease. In our study, medical therapy was achieved at high percentage and was comparable among groups of different kidney function. However, kidney disease seems to affect the management of patients with acute MI; percutaneous coronary angiography is not uniformly performed in patients with CKD and ESRD when compared with patients with normal kidney function. Keywords: myocardial infarction, chronic kidney disease, end-stage renal diseas