A cartilage-inspired lubrication system

Articular cartilage is an example of a highly efficacious water-based, natural lubrication system that is optimized to provide low friction and wear protection at both low and high loads and sliding velocities. One of the secrets of cartilage\u27s superior tribology comes from a unique, multimodal lubrication strategy consisting of both a fluid pressurization mediated lubrication mechanism and a boundary lubrication mechanism supported by surface bound macromolecules. Using a reconstituted network of highly interconnected cellulose fibers and simple modification through the immobilization of polyelectrolytes, we have recreated many of the mechanical and chemical properties of cartilage and the cartilage lubrication system to produce a purely synthetic material system that exhibits some of the same lubrication mechanisms, time dependent friction response, and high wear resistance as natural cartilage tissue. Friction and wear studies demonstrate how the properties of the cellulose fiber network can be used to control and optimize the lubrication and wear resistance of the material surfaces and highlight what key features of cartilage should be duplicated in order to produce a cartilage-mimetic lubrication system

Effect of frequent hemodialysis on residual kidney function.

Frequent hemodialysis can alter volume status, blood pressure, and the concentration of osmotically active solutes, each of which might affect residual kidney function (RKF). In the Frequent Hemodialysis Network Daily and Nocturnal Trials, we examined the effects of assignment to six compared with three-times-per-week hemodialysis on follow-up RKF. In both trials, baseline RKF was inversely correlated with number of years since onset of ESRD. In the Nocturnal Trial, 63 participants had non-zero RKF at baseline (mean urine volume 0.76 liter/day, urea clearance 2.3 ml/min, and creatinine clearance 4.7 ml/min). In those assigned to frequent nocturnal dialysis, these indices were all significantly lower at month 4 and were mostly so at month 12 compared with controls. In the frequent dialysis group, urine volume had declined to zero in 52% and 67% of patients at months 4 and 12, respectively, compared with 18% and 36% in controls. In the Daily Trial, 83 patients had non-zero RKF at baseline (mean urine volume 0.43 liter/day, urea clearance 1.2 ml/min, and creatinine clearance 2.7 ml/min). Here, treatment assignment did not significantly influence follow-up levels of the measured indices, although the range in baseline RKF was narrower, potentially limiting power to detect differences. Thus, frequent nocturnal hemodialysis appears to promote a more rapid loss of RKF, the mechanism of which remains to be determined. Whether RKF also declines with frequent daily treatment could not be determined

The influence of interfacial interactions on the conductivity and phase behaviour of organic ionic plastic crystal/polymer nanoparticle composite electrolytes

Unformatted postprintOrganic ionic plastic crystals (OIPCs) have been recognised as promising solid-state electrolyte materials for next-generation energy storage devices. Recently, the addition of polymer nanofillers to OIPCs has led to the design of OIPC-based solid-state electrolytes with enhanced mechanical stability and ion conductivity. However, the mechanisms of enhancement and the influence of different polymer surface chemistries on the ion dynamics are not yet well understood, which has hindered the further development of high-performance OIPC-based electrolytes. In this work, we selected two different polymer nanoparticles, poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and polystyrene (PS), and investigated the effects of the polymer surfaces on the thermal behaviour and ion transport properties of the OIPC, N-ethyl N-methyl pyrrolidinium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide ([C2mpyr][FSI]). We found significantly different thermal behaviours, as well as ion transport properties in the OIPC/nanoparticle composites. Specifically, compared with pure [C2mpyr][FSI], the addition of PVDF nanoparticles effectively enhanced the ion conductivity of the OIPC composite, with the optimum achieved near the percolation threshold of PVDF nanoparticles. In contrast, the addition of PS nanoparticles to the OIPC led to a slight enhancement at low concentrations and then a significant decrease in conductivity at higher concentrations. DSC, FTIR and EIS confirm that the interaction between the PVDF nanoparticles and the OIPC induces the formation of less ordered OIPC layers on the PVDF surfaces, leading to the conductivity enhancement. Finally, different structure models based on the results of this work are proposed, which provide principle guidelines for the design of future OIPC-based highly conductive electrolyte materials.The authors would like to thank Dr Wesley A. Henderson for his valuable discussion and the US Army Research Office (ARO) for financial support (W911NF1710560). The Australian Research Council (ARC) is acknowledged for support through the Australian Postgraduate Awards and Deakin University postgraduate research scholarships. L. P. received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska–Curie grant agreement No. 797295. Dr Ruhamah Yunis is also acknowledged for her help with plastic crystal synthesis

Effects of Canagliflozin in Patients with Baseline eGFR:Subgroup Analysis of the Randomized CREDENCE Trial

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The Canagliflozin and Renal Events in Diabetes with Established Nephropathy Clinical Evaluation (CREDENCE) trial demonstrated that the sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor canagliflozin reduced the risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular events in participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus and CKD. Little is known about the use of SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with eGFR 300-5000 mg/g, and an eGFR of 30 to 0.20). The estimate for kidney failure in participants with eGFR 0.12). CONCLUSIONS: This post hoc analysis suggests canagliflozin slowed progression of kidney disease, without increasing AKI, even in participants with eGFR <30 ml/min per 1.73 m2

The Qualitative Method of Impact Analysis

Consider the qualitative approach to evaluation design (as opposed to measurement) to be typified by a case study with a sample of just one. Although there have certainly been elaborate and emphatic defenses of the qualitative approach to program evaluation, such defenses rarely attempt to qualify the approach explicitly and rigorously as a method of impact analysis. The present paper makes that attempt. The problem with seeking to advance a qualitative method of impact analysis is that impact is a matter of causation and a non-quantitative approach to design is apparently not well suited to the task of establishing causal relations. The root of the difficulty is located in the counterfactual definition of causality, which is our only broadly accepted formal definition of causality for social science. It is not, however, the only definition we use informally. Another definition, labeled “physical causality,” is widely used in practice and has recently been formalized. Physical causality can be applied to the present problem. For example, it explains the persuasiveness of Striven’s “Modus Operandi” approach tailored case study design with a sample size of one in principle as strong a basis for making inferences program impact as a randomized experiment. Crucial program evaluation finding that people’s “operative reasons” for doing what they do are the physical actions. it is shown that external validity using this qualitative approach would have exceptional strengths.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/67113/2/10.1177_109821409902000106.pd

Antideuteron yield at the AGS and coalescence implications

We present Experiment 864's measurement of invariant antideuteron yields in 11.5A GeV/c Au + Pt collisions. The analysis includes 250 million triggers representing 14 billion 10% central interactions sampled for events with high mass candidates. We find (1/2 pi pt) d^(2)N/dydpt = 3.5 +/- 1.5 (stat.) +0.9,-0.5 (sys.) x 10^(-8) GeV^(-2)c^(2) for 1.8=0.35 GeV/c (y(cm)=1.6) and 3.7 +/- 2.7 (stat.) +1.4,-1.5 (sys.) x 10^(-8) GeV^(-2)c^(2) for 1.4=0.26 GeV/c, and a coalescence parameter B2-bar of 4.1 +/- 2.9 (stat.) +2.3,-2.4 (sys.) x 10^(-3) GeV^(2)c^(-3). Implications for the coalescence model and antimatter annihilation are discussed.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, Latex, submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

A theoretical and empirical investigation of nutritional label use

Due in part to increasing diet-related health problems caused, among others, by obesity, nutritional labelling has been considered important, mainly because it can provide consumers with information that can be used to make informed and healthier food choices. Several studies have focused on the empirical perspective of nutritional label use. None of these studies, however, have focused on developing a theoretical economic model that would adequately describe nutritional label use based on a utility theoretic framework. We attempt to fill this void by developing a simple theoretical model of nutritional label use, incorporating the time a consumer spends reading labels as part of the food choice process. The demand equations of the model are then empirically tested. Results suggest the significant role of several variables that flow directly from the model which, to our knowledge, have not been used in any previous empirical work

1962: Abilene Christian College Bible Lectures - Full Text

THE RESTORATION PRINCIPLE” Being the Abilene Christian College Annual Bible Lectures 1962 Price: $3.95 Published by ABILENE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE STUDENTS EXCHANGE ACC Station Abilene, Texa

Mass dependence of light nucleus production in ultrarelativistic heavy ion collisions

Light nuclei can be produced in the central reaction zone via coalescence in relativistic heavy ion collisions. E864 at BNL has measured the production of ten light nuclei with nuclear number of A=1 to A=7 at rapidity $y\simeq1.9$ and $p_{T}/A\leq300MeV/c$. Data were taken with a Au beam of momentum of 11.5 A $GeV/c$ on a Pb or Pt target with different experimental settings. The invariant yields show a striking exponential dependence on nuclear number with a penalty factor of about 50 per additional nucleon. Detailed analysis reveals that the production may depend on the spin factor of the nucleus and the nuclear binding energy as well.Comment: (6 pages, 3 figures), some changes on text, references and figures' lettering. To be published in PRL (13Dec1999