Ocular tilt reaction associated with a sudden idiopathic unilateral peripheral cochleovestibular loss

We recently observed a female patient who was suffering from acute right peripheral cochleovestibular loss associated with a marked vertical diplopia. Otoneurological examination showed profound deafness, and absence of nystagmic response to caloric and pendular rotatory test in the right ear. Neuroophthalmological examination showed skew deviation with right hypotropia, excyclotorsion, and tilt of the static visual vertical directed to the right side. Immunological and serological examinations were normal. Neurological examination and extensive neuroradiological investigations failed to demonstrate any central nervous system involvement. In this patient, skew deviation and tilt of the static visual vertical were interpreted as signs of an acute unilateral otolithic dysfunction, due to a sudden idiopathic peripheral vestibular loss.     

Predictable exodontia in general practice

Exodontia that is carefully and skillfully done by general dentists is a valuable service to patients. The majority of patients would rather have their family dentist perform necessary extractions or other minor surgery procedures than be referred outside the office. Most teeth that need to be extracted could be removed by a generalist if that person has developed the expertise to do not only relatively easy extractions, but also that percentage that is inevitably more difficult--requiring "surgical" removal. To be successful with exodontia, the dentist must have the ability to select cases within his or her level of comfort and ability, have a working knowledge of sound surgical principles, be able to apply a variety of patient management techniques, and then be prepared to handle whatever complications may arise. This article has presented ideas that should be integrated into the operator's own systematic approach to extractions. It is one of many resources to help the general dentist provide a higher level of surgical treatment.     

Investigation of nanoyarn preparation by modified electrospinning setup

Higher ordered structures of nanofibers, including nanofiber‐based yarns and cables, have a variety of potential applications, including wearable health monitoring systems, artificial tendons, and medical sutures. In this study, twisted assemblies of polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polyvinylidene fluoride trifluoroethylene (PVDF‐TrFe), and polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers were fabricated via a modified electrospinning setup, consisting of a rotating cone‐shaped copper collector, two syringe pumps, and two high voltage power supplies. The fiber diameters and twist angles varied as a function of the rotary speed of the collector. Mechanical testing of the yarns revealed that PVDF‐TrFe and PCL yarns have a higher strain‐to‐failure than PAN yarns, reaching 307% for PCL nanoyarns. For the first time, the porosity of nanofiber yarns was studied as a function of twist angle, showing that PAN nanoyarns are more porous than PCL yarns. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 44813.     

Sorption of phenols onto sandy aquifer material: the effect of dissolved organic matter (DOM)

The influence of dissolved organic matter (DOM) on the sorption of four phenols, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP), pentachlorophenol (PCP), 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP) and 2-methyl-4,6-dinitrophenol (2-M-4,6-DNP), onto sandy aquifer material at different pH values was investigated using flow through column experiments. The pH-dependent sorption of the chlorinated phenols 2,4,6-TCP and PCP was not significantly affected by DOM (measured as dissolved organic carbon, DOC), whereas in the case of nitrophenols a significant lower retardation was found, depending on the DOC concentration and pH value of the aqueous solution. Sorption decreases with increasing DOC concentration, which indicates a binding of these compounds by DOM. The degree of sorption reduction depends on the pH value and increases with increasing fraction of neutral species. The different behaviour of nitrophenols in comparison to the chlorophenols is assumed to be a result of specific charge-transfer interactions. A combined sorption and complex formation model was used to describe the effect of pH and DOC concentration on the sorption of nitrophenols onto aquifer material and to estimate binding coefficients of neutral nitrophenols on DOM.     

Kinetics of Z-Phase Precipitation in 9 to 12 pct Cr Steels

The Z-phase nitride is seen as a detrimental phase in 9 to 12 pct Cr steels as it is in competition with the beneficial MX particles. Two model steels, with 9 pct Cr and 12 pct Cr content, respectively, were designed to study the effect of Cr on Z-phase precipitation kinetics. The steels were isothermally aged at 873 K, 923 K, and 973 K (600 °C, 650 °C, and 700 °C) for up to 30,000 hours in order for Z-phase to replace MX. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of extracted precipitates was used to quantitatively follow the evolution of the nitrides population. It was found that the 12 pct Cr steel precipitated Z-phase 20 to 50 times faster than the 9 pct Cr steel. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was applied to follow the Z-phase precipitation, using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) line scans and atomic resolution imaging.     

Glycerol monocaprate (monocaprin) reduces contamination by Escherichia coli and Salmonella enteritidis on hard surfaces

Emulsions of glycerol monocaprate (monocaprin) kill a variety of pathogenic bacteria and viruses in suspension. In this study the microbicidal activity of monocaprin against enterobacteria was tested on contaminated hard surfaces. Surfaces were contaminated with nutrient broth or meat juice containing large numbers of Escherichia coli or Salmonella enteritidis. They were then treated with acidified monocaprin emulsions and the surviving bacteria counted. Monocaprin killed S. enteritidis in chicken meat juice on plastic cutting boards and reduced the number of viable E. coli and S. enteritidis by more than 5 log₁₀ in 2 min on a laminated plastic kitchen counter contaminated with nutrient broth. Monocaprin rapidly killed E. coli on glass, stainless steel, laminated plastic, glazed ceramic tiles and polypropylene boards. It was most effective on glass and stainless steel and more effective on dry than on wet surfaces. It was concluded that acidified monocaprin emulsions reduce contamination by pathogenic enterobacteria on hard surfaces. They may be useful as sanitizers in the home, and possibly in public places, where contaminated surfaces are a potential source of transmission of pathogens to humans. Cleaning with monocaprin emulsions may therefore be a means to improve hygiene and infection control.     

Real-Time Collision-Free Path Planning for Robots in Configuration Space

Collision-free path planning for an industrial robot in configuration space requires mapping obstacles from robot‘s workspace into its configuration space.In this paper,an approach to real-time collision-free path planning for robots in configuration space is presented.Obstacle mapping is carried out by fundamental obstacles defined in the workspace and their images in the configuration space.In order to avoid dealing with unimportant parts of the configuration space that do not affect searching a collision-free path between starting and goal configurations,we construct a free subspace by slice configuration obstacles.In this free subspace,the collision-free path is determined by the A^* algorithm.Finally,graphical simulations show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.     

Best of Both Worlds: Synergistically Derived Material Properties via Additive Manufacturing of Nanocomposites

With an exponential rise in the popularity and availability of additive manufacturing (AM), a large focus has been directed toward research in this topic's movement, while trying to distinguish themselves from similar works by simply adding nanomaterials to their process. Though nanomaterials can add impressive properties to nanocomposites (NCs), there are expansive amounts of opportunities that are left unexplored by simply combining AM with NCs without discovering synergistic effects and novel emerging material properties that are not possible by each of these alone. Cooperative, evolving properties of NCs in AM can be investigated at the processing, morphological, and architectural levels. Each of these categories are studied as a function of the amplifying relationship between nanomaterials and AM, with each showing the systematically selected material and method to advance the material performance, explore emergent properties, as well as improve the AM process itself. Innovative, advanced materials are key to faster development cycles in disruptive technologies for bioengineering, defense, and transportation sectors. This is only possible by focusing on synergism and amplification within additive manufacturing of nanocomposites.     

Functionalization of Polymer Surfaces Using Excimer VUV Systems and Silent Discharges. Application to Electroless Metallization

New approaches for electroless plating of nonconductive polymers or polymer-based materials are described. In this work, polyimide substrates were surface-functionalized (i) in nitrogenated (ammonia at reduced pressure) and oxygenated (air at atmospheric pressure) atmospheres under assistance of vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) irradiation (use of a xenon silent discharge excimer source) or (ii) directly in air at atmospheric pressure using a dielectric-barrier discharge (DBD) device. After functionalization, the substrates were “activated” by dipping in a dilute acidic PdCl₂ solution or by spin-coating of a thin metal-organic film (from a solution of palladium acetate (PdAc) in chloroform). The catalytic activity of the so-deposited palladium species toward the electroless deposition of nickel was studied before and after a VUV post-irradiation (in air at atmospheric or reduced pressure) with a view to understanding better the role of the reducer (sodium hypophosphite) within the electroless bath.

This work confirms the specific interest of grafting nitrogenated functionalities onto polymer surfaces for attaching covalently the palladium-based catalyst (in particular in the case of the PdCl₂ route), forming thus strong Pd - N - C bonds at the metal/polymer interface. This results from the strong chemical affinity of palladium toward nitrogen. On the other hand, when oxygenated functionalities are surface-grafted, the conventional two-step procedure using SnCl₂ and PdCl₂ solutions can be proposed due to the strong chemical affinity of tin toward oxygen. The Ni deposits obtained under these different conditions pass the standard Scotch^®-tape test and, therefore, exhibit a good practical adhesion. For this same purpose, it is interesting to note that the DBD treatment operating in air at atmospheric pressure causes an increase of the surface roughness and, therefore, an improvement in adhesion of metallic films when their initiation is catalyzed through the PdAc route. In addition, this work demonstrates that extensive research still has to be performed to understand and improve the Ni/polymer adhesion when the PdAc route associated with a VUV irradiation is considered.