Preparation of multiphase poly(styrene-co-butyl acrylate)/wax-clay nanocomposites via miniemulsion polymerization

In the presence of different wax-clay nanocomposites concentrations, poly(styrene-co-butyl acrylate) P(S-co-BA) copolymers were prepared via free-radical random copolymerization of styrene and butyl acrylate in miniemulsion. Wax-clay nanocomposites were obtained through ultrasonic mixing at a temperature above the melting point of the wax at different clay loadings (1, 5, 7 and 10 wt%). The main objectives of this study were to obtain a good exfoliation of the clay platelets in the paraffin wax. The obtained wax-clay nanocomposites were then used as filler in the preparation of P(S-co-BA)/wax-clay nanocomposites via miniemulsion polymerization. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicated that the clay platelets were mostly exfoliated in the paraffin wax at low concentrations, and partially exfoliated at high concentrations. The particles morphology of the P(S-co-BA)/wax-clay nanocomposite latexes was mainly determined by TEM, and the wax-clay nanocomposites were found to be encapsulated inside the P(S-co-BA) particles and that core/shell morphology was obtained. The morphology of the P(S-co-BA)/wax-clay nanocomposites (after film formation) ranged from exfoliated to intercalated structures, depending on the percentage of wax-clay nanocomposites loading. The impact of the wax-clay loading on the thermal stability and the thermo-mechanical properties of the final polymer wax-clay nanocomposites were determined

Modulation of muscle pain is not somatotopically restricted : an experimental model using concurrent hypertonic-normal saline infusions in humans

We have previously shown that during muscle pain induced by infusion of hypertonic saline (HS), concurrent application of vibration and gentle brushing to overlying and adjacent skin regions increases the overall pain. In the current study, we focused on muscle-muscle interactions and tested whether HS-induced muscle pain can be modulated by innocuous/sub-perceptual stimulation of adjacent, contralateral, and remote muscles. Psychophysical observations were made in 23 healthy participants. HS (5%) was infused into a forearm muscle (flexor carpi ulnaris) to produce a stable baseline pain. In separate experiments, in each of the three test locations (n = 10 per site)—ipsilateral hand (abductor digiti minimi), contralateral forearm (flexor carpi ulnaris), and contralateral leg (tibialis anterior)—50 μl of 0.9% normal saline (NS) was infused (in triplicate) before, during, and upon cessation of HS-induced muscle pain in the forearm. In the absence of background pain, the infusion of NS was imperceptible to all participants. In the presence of HS-induced pain in the forearm, the concurrent infusion of NS into the ipsilateral hand, contralateral forearm, and contralateral leg increased the overall pain by 16, 12, and 15%, respectively. These effects were significant, reproducible, and time-locked to NS infusions. Further, the NS-evoked increase in pain was almost always ascribed to the forearm where HS was infused with no discernible percept attributed to the sites of NS infusion. Based on these observations, we conclude that intramuscular infusion of HS results in muscle hyperalgesia to sub-perceptual stimulation of muscle afferents in a somatotopically unrestricted manner, indicating the involvement of a central (likely supra-spinal) mechanism

Prospective study comparing the safety and efficacy of totally tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy vs standard percutaneous nephrolithotomy

Background: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of totally tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) Vs standard PCNL.Methods: From August 2014 to January 2016, 66 patients underwent PCNL in our institute. Of this group, 35 patients underwent traditional nephrostomy drainage following PCNL. A tubeless procedure was performed in the remaining 31 patients. These  groups were compared with respect to age, stone burden, intraoperative events, postoperative pain, analgesic requirements, soakage, postoperative change in hemoglobin, hospitalization time and complication rates.Results: Two groups were comparable with respect to age, stone burden (2.03 cm Vs. 2.12 cm) and intraoperative events. The mean pain score (day2 - 4.95 vs. 2.95) (day3 - 4.33 vs. 1.44) and analgesic requirement (mg diclofenac) (day2 - 140.22 vs. 65.31) (day3 - 124.44 vs. 43.89) was significantly less for group 2 on day 2 and 3. There was significant problem of soakage from nephrostomy tract in group 1. Patients in group 2 returned faster to normal activities but there was no difference found in drop in hemoglobin, complication rates even in subset of patients with large stone burden. No patient required readmission in the follow-up for pain, obstruction or infection in group 2. One patient developed urinoma which resolved conservativelyConclusions: In selected cases totally tubeless PCNL is feasible and safe

Superconformal Primary Fields on a Graded Riemann Sphere

Primary superfields for a two dimensional Euclidean superconformal field theory are constructed as sections of a sheaf over a graded Riemann sphere. The construction is then applied to the N=3 Neveu-Schwarz case. Various quantities in the N=3 theory are calculated and discussed, such as formal elements of the super-Mobius group, and the two-point function.Comment: LaTeX2e, 23 pages; fixed typos, sorted references, modified definition of primary superfield on page

Removing noise from pyrosequenced amplicons

Background In many environmental genomics applications a homologous region of DNA from a diverse sample is first amplified by PCR and then sequenced. The next generation sequencing technology, 454 pyrosequencing, has allowed much larger read numbers from PCR amplicons than ever before. This has revolutionised the study of microbial diversity as it is now possible to sequence a substantial fraction of the 16S rRNA genes in a community. However, there is a growing realisation that because of the large read numbers and the lack of consensus sequences it is vital to distinguish noise from true sequence diversity in this data. Otherwise this leads to inflated estimates of the number of types or operational taxonomic units (OTUs) present. Three sources of error are important: sequencing error, PCR single base substitutions and PCR chimeras. We present AmpliconNoise, a development of the PyroNoise algorithm that is capable of separately removing 454 sequencing errors and PCR single base errors. We also introduce a novel chimera removal program, Perseus, that exploits the sequence abundances associated with pyrosequencing data. We use data sets where samples of known diversity have been amplified and sequenced to quantify the effect of each of the sources of error on OTU inflation and to validate these algorithms

Effectiveness of pharmacological interventions for Sjogren syndrome - A systematic review

Sjogren?s Syndrome (SS) is characterized by xeropthalmia and/or xerostomia. Treating the associated salivary gland hypofunction has been challenging to the clinicians. A variety of topical and systemic therapies have been tried to restore/stimulate the g

Psychometric analysis of stress, anxiety and depression in patients with recurrent aphthous Stomatitis-A cross-sectional survey based study

Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis is a chronic inflammatory immune mediated condition associated with single or multiple, painful recurring ulcers of the oral mucosa. Psychological stress is a common trigger factor identified for the onset and progression of this condition. The study aimed to evaluate stress, anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale and stress by the General Health Questionnaire in subjects with Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis (RAS). The study evaluated subjects with a history of Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis and compared their psychological stress, anxiety and depression alteration to normal subjects. Seventy-five study subjects were divided into three groups; test group 1 (25 subjects) presenting with RAS, test group 2 (25 subjects) with a history of RAS but without oral ulcers, and 25 normal subjects with no history of RAS formed the control group. Chi square and student t test was used to determine the relationship between psychological variables and recurrent aphthous ulcers. Comparison of stress, Anxiety and Depression between test group 1 and control group, test group 2 and control group was not found to be statistically significant (p< 0.05). Hence, differences were evident when individual questions were analyzed for stress anxiety and depression. Stress and depression were more prevalent in females, students and patients with a history of RAS. Higher depression and stress levels were evident in subjects with a history of RAS. Psychological stress is a utmost trigger factor for the initiation of recurrent ulcers. Overall, test group patients had a more psychological impact on the quality of life than the control group

The effect of photodynamic therapy on oral-premalignant lesions : a systematic review

Dentists now have access to a wide range of unique treatment methods as a result of substantial scientific and technological breakthroughs in the field of dentistry. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a non-invasive treatment procedure that use photosensitize