The Effects of Auditory Perception and Musical Preference on Anxiety in Naive Human Subjects

Background: The use of music as a method of relieving anxiety has been studied extensively by researchers from varying disciplines. The abundance of these reports focused on which genre of music best aided in the relief of stress. Little work has been performed in the area of auditory preference in an attempt to ascertain whether an individual’s preferred music type aids in their anxiety reduction at levels greater than music that they have little or no propensity for. Material/Methods: In the present report we seek to determine whether naive human subjects exposed to music of their preference show a decrease in anxiety, as measured by systolic and diastolic blood pressure values. We furthermore contrast these values to those obtained during non-preferred music listening. Results: We found statistically significant reduction of anxiety levels only when subjects were exposed to their preferred musical selections. Conclusions: Students participating in the study already had knowledge of what genre of music would best relax them. It is our belief, that within the general population, many people do not have this self understanding. We conclude that music therapy may provide a mechanism for this self-understanding and subsequently help alleviate anxiety and stress

Estimation of Polymer Coating Scratch Tensile Strength by Nano- indentation, Micro-scratch Testing, and Finite Element Modeling

ABSTRACT In a previous paper, polymer coating viscoelastic/plastic properties were determined using nanoindentation and the finite element method. In this work, the individual layers, once characterized, were assembled into a multi-layered structure and subject to micro-scratch tests. These tests determined a critical scratch indentation load for the layered structure, as designated by the first appearance during scratching of visible surface layer tensile cracks. Scratch tests were carried out for three different conical scratch tip radii. The top-layer tensile strength of the layered structures was then estimated, utilizing the individual layer properties, the top layer friction coefficients, the micro-scratch test critical loads, and a finite element scratch model, for each scratch tip radius. The values of the top layer scratch tensile strengths were in good agreement for each of the three tip radii, as anticipated. The top-layer scratch tensile strengths may be utilized for further analysis and comparison of differences in gloss retention after gloss reduction experiments. The method may be used as a basis for coating selection, comparison, and performance testing in scratch-resistant polymer coating applications

BSA immobilization on amine-functionalized superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles

Immobilization of bovine serum albumin (BSA) on surface-modified superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) has been performed by two different double-step immobilization approaches. The first approach consists of preparation of SPION by controlled chemical coprecipitation in the presence of BSA solution, whereas the second approach includes preliminary surface modification of SPION with an amine group using a coupling agent of 3-aminepropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS). Both procedures are followed by 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminepropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) activation with sequential immobilization of the layer of BSA. Additionally, an attempt to modify the surface of SPION with amine and carboxylic groups is undertaken by using L-aspartic acid (LAA). TEM shows that the particle size varies in the range 10-15 nm and does not change significantly after the coating process. The presence of BSA and amine groups on the surface of SPION is confirmed by FT-IR. Magnetic properties are investigated by VSM and results indicate that the superparamagnetic properties are retained for BSA-coated SPION while reducing the value of saturation magnetization (M<sub>s</sub>). The binding capacity is estimated from thermogravimetric and chemical analyses. APTMS-coated SPION show higher BSA binding capacity compared to that of coprecipitated SPION in the presence of BSA. In vitro tests have been performed after the functionalization of SPION with LAA and BSA. Human dermal fibroblasts are incubated with the surface-modified SPION for 6 and 24 h to observe cell behavior, morphology, cytoskeletal organization, and interactions between cell and SPION. BSA-coated SPION incubated with cells demonstrated a cell response similar to that of control cells, with no adverse cell damage and no endocytosis, whereas LAA-coated SPION show partial endocytosis without cytoskeletal disorganization

PAIN MEDICINE Multicenter, Randomized, Comparative Cost-effectiveness Study Comparing 0, 1, and 2 Diagnostic Medial Branch (Facet Joint Nerve) Block Treatment Paradigms before Lumbar Facet Radiofrequency Denervation

ABSTRACT Background: Among patients presenting with axial low back pain, facet arthropathy accounts for approximately 10 -15% of cases. Facet interventions are the second most frequently performed procedures in pain clinics across the United States. Currently, there are no uniformly accepted criteria regarding how best to select patients for radiofrequency denervation. Methods: A randomized, multicenter study was performed in 151 subjects with suspected lumbar facetogenic pain comparing three treatment paradigms. Group 0 received radiofrequency denervation based solely on clinical findings; group 1 underwent denervation contingent on a positive response to a single diagnostic block; and group 2 proceeded to denervation only if they obtained a positive response to comparative blocks done with lidocaine and bupivacaine. A positive outcome was predesignated as Ն50% pain relief coupled with a positive global perceived effect persisting for 3 months. Results: In group 0, 17 patients (33%) obtained a successful outcome at 3 months versus eight patients (16%) in group 1 and 11 (22%) patients in group 2. Denervation success rates in groups 0, 1, and 2 were 33, 39, and 64%, respectively. Pain scores and functional capacity were significantly lower at 3 months but not at 1 month in group 2 subjects who proceeded to denervation compared with patients in groups 0 and 1. The costs per successful treatment in groups 0, 1, and 2 were $6,286,$17,142, and $15,241, respectively. Conclusions: Using current reimbursement scales, these findings suggest that proceeding to radiofrequency denervation without a diagnostic block is the most cost-effective treatment paradigm