The Effect of Polyamide 11 on the Thermal Stability and Light Transmittance of Silicone-Based Thermoplastic Vulcanizates.

The effect of polyamide 11 (PA11) on the thermal stability and light transmittance properties of silicone-based thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) has been investigated. The blends were prepared through a dynamic vulcanization process by adding 15, 30, and 45 wt% PA11 to the silicon-based TPVs, respectively. The effect of PA11 on the dispersion of silicone rubber in the TPVs after dynamic vulcanization was characterized by a scanning electron microscope (SEM), the thermal stability of the compounds was evaluated through the changes in mechanical performance in the thermo-oxidative aging process, and the light transmittance of TPVs was measured by a haze meter.

Efficacy of Minimally Invasive Oblique Lumbar Interbody Fusion Using Polyetheretherketone Cages for Lumbar Pyogenic Spondylodiscitis Treatment.

(1) Background: This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of a minimally invasive oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) using polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cages for the treatment of lumbar pyogenic spondylodiscitis. (2) Methods: Fifty-one patients with single-level lumbar pyogenic spondylodiscitis were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups: anterior lumbar interbody fusion with a tri-cortical iliac bone graft (ALIF+ tri-cortical iliac bone graft) (n = 28) and OLIF using PEEK cages with an autologous bone graft (OLIF+ PEEK cages) (n = 23).

Influence of Carbon Black and Silica Fillers with Different Concentrations on Dielectric Relaxation in Nitrile Butadiene Rubber Investigated by Impedance Spectroscopy.

In neat nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), three relaxation processes were identified by impedance spectroscopy: α and α' processes and the conduction contribution. We investigated the effects of different carbon black (CB) and silica fillers with varying filler content on the dielectric relaxations in NBR by employing a modified dispersion analysis program that deconvolutes the corresponding processes. The central frequency for the α' process with increasing high abrasion furnace (HAF) CB filler was gradually upshifted at room temperature, while the addition of silica led to a gradual downshift of the center frequency.

Complaints addressed by regulatory authorities in drug advertising targeted at consumers: Cases across three, different countries.

Background: Misleading advertisements can affect behavior of both consumers and prescribers and may lead to inappropriate use of medications.

Objective: To analyze the complaints upheld by regulatory authorities in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia regarding pharmaceutical advertising directed at consumers.

Methods: Complaints addressed between January 2014 and June 2017 were retrieved from the websites of regulatory authorities.

In vivo commitment and functional tissue regeneration using human embryonic stem cell-derived mesenchymal cells.

Development of clinically relevant regenerative medicine therapies using human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) requires production of a simple and readily expandable cell population that can be directed to form functional 3D tissue in an in vivo environment. We describe an efficient derivation method and characterization of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from hESCs (hESCd-MSCs) that have multilineage differentiation potential and are capable of producing fat, cartilage, and bone in vitro. Furthermore, we highlight their in vivo survival and commitment to the chondrogenic lineage in a microenvironment comprising chondrocyte-secreted morphogenetic factors and hydrogels.