5 mu J, respectively. The results can be explained by considering the hydrodynamic expansion of the laser irradiated structure and field enhancement in the nanoholes. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3554407]“
“High-performance printed circuit board

or electronic packaging substrate with low warping particularly at high frequency is the key demand of manufacturers. In the present work, poly(etheretherketone) (PEEK) matrix composites reinforced with untreated micron size aluminum nitride (AlN) and alumina (Al(2)O(3)) particles have been studied for dynamic modulus in the temperature range varying from 30 to 250 degrees C. At 48 vol % FHPI particles, the room temperature modulus of the PEEK/AlN composites increased by approximately fivefold Selleckchem EPZ5676 (similar to 23 GPa), whereas it increased by twofold for PEEK/Al(2)O(3) composite. The reinforcing efficiency is more pronounced at higher temperatures. The significant improvement in modulus was attributed to the better adhesion between the matrix and the AlN particles. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Kubat parameter showed that the poor adhesion between the matrix and the Al(2)O(3) particles resulted

in comparatively smaller increase in modulus of PEEK/Al(2)O(3), despite higher intrinsic modulus of Al(2)O(3) than that of AlN. SEM showed almost uniform distribution of particles in the matrix. The experimental data were correlated with several theoretical models. The Halpin-Tsai model with xi (xi) is equal to four correlates well up to 48 vol % AlN composites while xi is equal to two correlates only up to 18 vol % Al(2)O(3) composites. Guth-Smallwood model also correlates well up to 28 vol % AlN and 18 vol % Al(2)O(3)-filled composites. Thereafter, data deviated from it due to the particles tendency to aggregate formation. (c) 2011 FK866 mouse Wiley Periodicals,

Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 121: 436-444, 2011″
“Background and objectives. Khat, or qat (Catha edulis), is a shrub indigenous to Yemen and certain parts of eastern Africa. Chewing the leaves, which have sympathomimetic and euphoric effects, is a popular habit in numerous countries including the Yemenite population in Israel. Khat has potentially significant toxic effects; however, its oral effects have been only sporadically examined and some changes suggested. The aim of this study was to assess the association between habitual Khat use and oral/dental pigmentation, gingival health, and reports of oral dryness.

Study design. Forty-seven Yemenite Israeli individuals >30 years old, who chewed Khat at least twice a week for over 3 years, and 55 control subjects were studied. All individuals underwent standard clinical oral examinations for color changes and gingival health.

Results. White changes were significantly more prevalent in the khat chewers, identified primarily at the chewing site (83% vs. 16%).

The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) data set provides an opportunity to examine long-term LTx survivors.

METHODS: We conducted a case-control

study embedded within the prospectively collected UNOS LTx cohort to identify 836 adults from 1987 to 1997 who survived >= 10 years after first LTx. LTx patients within the same era and surviving 1 to 5 years served as controls. Multivariable logistic regression with incorporation of spline terms evaluated the odds of being a 10-year survivor. Two separate models were constructed. Model https://www.selleckchem.com/products/BKM-120.html A incorporated pre-operative, operative, and donor-specific factors. Model B incorporated the factors used in Model A with post-operative Metabolism inhibitor covariates. Additional outcomes evaluated included hospitalizations for infection, rejection, and bronchiolitis obliterans.

RESULTS: Of 4.818 LTx patients from 1987 to 1997, 836 (17.3%) survived >= 10 years with a mean follow-up of 148.8 +/- 21.6 months. Mean follow-up for 1,657 controls was 34.0 +/-

13.9 months. The distribution of 10-year survivors by disease was cystic fibrosis, 170 (20%); chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 254 (30%); and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, 92 (11%). On multivariable logistic regression, significant factors influencing 10-year survival included age <= 35 years (odds ratio [OR] 1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-1.11; p = 0.01), bilateral LTx (OR. 1.71; 95% CI, 1.25-2.34; p = 0.001), and hospitalizations for infections (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.27-1.54; Dinaciclib mouse p < 0.001) and for rejection (OR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.48-0.65; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Examination of a cohort of long-term LTx survivors in the UNOS data set indicates that bilateral LTx and fewer hospitalizations for rejection may portend improved long-term survival after LTx. J Heart Lung Transplant 2010;29:240-6 (C) 2010 International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. All rights reserved.”
“Background: To evaluate vision-related and health-related quality of life (VRQoL, HRQoL) in first stroke patients

with homonymous visual field defects (VFD) with respect to the extent of the lesion. Since VFD occur in approximately 10% of stroke patients the main purpose of the study was to investigate the additional impact of VFD in stroke patients hypothesizing that VFD causes diminished VRQoL.

Methods: In 177 first stroke patients with persisting VFD 2.5 years after posterior-parietal lesions VRQoL was assessed by the National-Eye-Institute-Visual-Functioning-Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ) and HRQoL by the Medical-Outcome-Study Short-Form-36 Health-Survey (SF-36). Questionnaire results of VFD-patients were compared with age-and sex-matched healthy controls and with general non-selected stroke samples as published elsewhere. VFD-type and visual acuity were partially correlated with questionnaire results.