However, additional research is required to determine both treatment efficacy and safety.”
“Membranes based on

sulfonated polyarylethersulfone with cardo (SPES-C) were prepared and characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and contact angle metering. The results show that both the hydrophilicity and amorphous region of the membranes increased with increasing sulfonation degree (SD). Sulfonic acid groups exist as a form of ion clusters and homogeneously distribute in the membranes leading to a depression in their crystallinity and an increase in the interaction between methanol and the membranes. The effects Selleck LDK378 of SD on the swelling and separation performance of the membranes were studied. The SPES-C membrane with excellent thermal stability is found to have improved performance when the SD is 0.64. A flux of 4.06 kg mu m m(-2) h(-1) and separation factor of 1300 at 40 degrees C are achieved in pervaporation of 15 wt% methanol/methyl tert-butyl ether mixture. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“A GW4869 mouse coated circular inclusion embedded in an infinite matrix is analyzed in the framework of two-dimensional isotropic linear elasticity. A closed-form solution is obtained for

the case of far-field uniaxial tension using Muskelishvilis complex potential method. The solutions for the stress and strain distributions for all three regions, that is, matrix, coating, and inclusion, NVP-AUY922 were obtained for various coating-to-matrix shear modulus ratios, while keeping the fiber and matrix shear moduli the same. Test cases for an inclusion without the coating

and hollow inclusion were also studied. The energy release rate was evaluated using the path-independent M-integral, which is used to calculate the energy release rate for the self-similar expansion of defects surrounded by the closed contour of the integral. The results for the stress and strain concentrations along with the energy release rate due to this material inhomogeneity were analyzed to yield a better understanding of the mechanics of materials with circular inclusions. This can be helpful in designing intelligent composite structures with embedded optical fiber sensors.”
“Purpose: When planning implant therapy, knowledge of the bone volume in the implant area is needed to plan and place implants in the most appropriate locations from the prosthetic and surgical perspectives. Commercial software for digital planning of implants in the craniofacial region is not yet available. This article describes a method that enables digital planning of extraoral implants in the mastoid region utilizing commercially available computer-aided design (CAD) software and rapid-prototyping techniques to manufacture a corresponding surgical guide.