Many studies have identified neuropsychological compromise associated with cancer and cancer therapy; however, the neuropsychological compromise was not related to self-reported cognitive dysfunction. In this prospective study, the authors examined if confounding factors masked an underlying association of self-perceived cognitive function with actual cognitive performance. Determinants of self-perceived cognitive selleckchem dysfunction were investigated.

Methods: Self-perceived cognitive function and cognitive performance were assessed before treatment, at the end of treatment, and 1 year after baseline in 101 breast cancer patients randomized to standard versus intensified chemotherapy. Linear mixed-effects models were applied

to test the relationships of performance on neuropsychological tests, patient characteristics, and treatment variables to self-reported cognitive function. Change of cognitive performance was tested as a predictor of change in self-reports.

Results: Self-perceived cognitive function deteriorated during chemotherapy and had partially recovered 1 year after diagnosis. The personality trait negative affectivity, current depression, and chemotherapy regimen were consistently related to cognitive self-reports. No significant associations with performance in any www.selleckchem.com/products/epacadostat-incb024360.html of the 12 cognitive tests emerged. Change of cognitive performance was not reflected in self-reports of

cognitive function.

Conclusions: SBC-115076 concentration Neuropsychological compromise and self-perceived cognitive dysfunction are independent phenomena in cancer patients. Generally, cancer-associated neuropsychological compromise is not noticed by affected patients, but negative affectivity and treatment burden induce pessimistic self-appraisals of cognitive functioning regardless of the presence of neuropsychological compromise. Clinicians should consider this when determining adequate therapy for patients who complain of ‘chemobrain’. Copyright (C) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.”
“Heated atomic force microscope (AFM) nanoprobe is an attractive instrument for highly local thermal processing. The gases between the nanoprobe and the sample surface exhibit

different behaviors from the macroscopic gases due to the nanoscale probe-sample distance. In this paper, the thermal conduction of rarefied gases heated by an AFM nanoprobe is investigated by means of the direct simulation Monte Carlo method. The heat reservoir of AFM nanoprobe consists of a heater platform and a nanotip. The effects of heater platform and nanotip on the gas heat transfer are analyzed. It is found that both the size of heater platform and the geometry of nanotip have noticeable influence on the heat flux density distribution and the spatial resolution on the sample surface. The results show that a spatial resolution of a few tens of nanometers can be achieved by the hot AFM nanoprobe and the power provided to the spatial scale can be at an order of 10(-8) W.

oryzae. A genomic library of avirulence

parental strain S1522 was then constructed; the library was screened SN-38 in vitro using the markers SCE12(1406) and SSR47A18, which were linked to the AVR gene as probes. Using these procedures, a fine physical map was assembled to include five TAC clones. TAC clone 35C5 is 32 kb in length and contains the two above-mentioned SCE12(1406) and SSR47A18 probes, suggesting that the Avr-Pik (m) gene spans across the two markers located on the clone. These results provide support towards Avr-Pik (m) map-based cloning.”
“Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 plays an important role in cardiovascular events. However, the mechanisms underlying in vivo activation of MMP-9 are largely

unknown. We investigated the secretion and activation of MMP-9 under a cell-to-cell interaction, and the effects of hypoxia and cytokine. Human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) and THP-1 (human monocyte cell line) were cultured individually, or cocultured under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. In a coculture of HUVEC and THP-1, proMMP-9 secretion was increased twofold compared with individual culture of HUVEC and THP-1, whereas MMP-2 secretion was unchanged. The increase in proMMP-9 secretion was suppressed by antiadhesion molecule antibodies and mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors, PD98059 (MAPK/ERK kinase1 inhibitor) and SP600125 (Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitor). ProMMP-9 secretion was increased by tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha this website at 50 ng/ml (P < 0.05) Bromosporine research buy but was not activated under normoxic (20%) conditions. ProMMP-9 in coculture was activated under hypoxic (< 1%) conditions, and was potentiated by TNF-alpha (both P < 0.05). To further investigate the mechanism

of hypoxia-induced MMP-9 activation, heat shock protein (Hsp)90, which was suggested to be related to MMP-9 activation, was measured by Western blot analysis. The ratio of Hsp90 to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase was increased in hypoxic (< 1%) coculture conditions with TNF-alpha (P < 0.05). Treatment with geldanamycin and 17-DMAG (Hsp90 inhibitor) suppressed the active form of MMP-9. Cell-to-cell interaction between endothelial cells and monocytes promotes proMMP-9 synthesis and secretion. Hypoxia and inflammation are suggested to play an important role in activating proMMP-9, presumably via Hsp90.”
“Objective: There are no reports on the therapeutic effect of Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) on otitis media-induced labyrinthitis. The present study examined whether GBE can protect against cochlear damage induced by intratympanic instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced labyrinthitis.

Materials and methods: Experiments were performed in 20 healthy young male guinea pigs. The control group (n = 10) received an intratympanic instillation of LPS (20 mu l, 3 mg/ml).

Results: Of the 568 patients who underwent ureteroscopy during this period, 268 patients met our study inclusion criteria. The mean age of the patients undergoing wireless ureteroscopy was 33 years, and the mean body mass index was 33.1 kg/m(2). Mean stone diameter

of the renal calculi treated was 12.0+/-5.9 mm. Fifteen percent of the patients had a ureteral stent in place before the procedure, and 84% of the patients had a stent placed after ureteroscopy. Twenty percent of the patients needed ureteral dilation, and 15% of the patients had a ureteral ACY-738 chemical structure access sheath placed intraoperatively. The overall complication rate was 2.6% (major = 0.7%, minor = 1.9%). Complications included: Four urinary tract infections, two patients with urosepsis, and one patient with urinary retention. No patients had ureteral perforation or ureteral avulsion.

Conclusions: Using the ureteroscope as the safety mechanism, ureteroscopy is safe with regard to maintaining renal access and control. see more Routine safety wires during ureteronephroscopy are not necessary assuring the ureteroscope is in the kidney.”
“Purpose of review

To discuss the recent advances on thyroid hormone transport in the brain. A special attention is paid to the X-linked thyroid

hormone cell transport (THCT) defect (also known as the Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome), caused by mutations of the specific thyroid hormone transporter MCT8 gene.

Recent findings

MCT8 is involved in thyroid hormone transport in the brain. MRI

find more of patients with THCT defect showed myelination delays, probably related to impaired thyroid hormone action on oligodendrocytes. MCT8 is also expressed in the thyroid and has an important role in thyroid hormone secretion. The altered circulating concentrations of thyroid hormone in the patients are partly because of impaired secretion and altered peripheral metabolism. Increased deiodinase activity is important in the pathophysiology of the syndrome. High D1 activity in liver and kidney increases T4 and rT3 deiodination, and contributes to the increased serum T3. High D2 activity in the brain contributes to compensate the deficient T3 transport by increasing local T3 production.

Summary

Patients with suspected X-linked leukoencephalopathy should be screened for MCT8 gene mutations. Research on the brain pathophysiology of the THCT defect should focus on the specific role of Mct8 on oligodendrocytes and myelination.”
“Background Living arrangements have changed markedly in recent decades, so we wanted to provide an up-to-date assessment of mortality as a function of marital status and cohabitation status in a complete population.

Methods We studied mortality in a national cohort of 6.5 million Danes followed for 122.

Further data are needed in this regard; however, results suggest that earlier implantation would provide benefit for a longer period and increase cost-effectiveness.”
“Poly(ethylene glycol)/polylactic acid (PEG/PLA) nanoparticles (NPs) containing the hydrophobic antifungal itraconazole (ITZ) were developed to provide a controlled release pattern of ITZ as well as to improve its aqueous dispersibility and hence enhance its antifungal action. Two PEG/PLA copolymers (PEGylated PLA polymers) were selleckchem used in this study; branched PEGylated polymer in which PEG was grafted on PLA backbone at 7% (mol/mol of lactic acid monomer), PEG7%-g-PLA, and multiblock copolymer of PLA and

PEG, (PLA-PEG-PLA)n with nearly similar PEG insertion ratio and similar PEG chain length. ITZ-loaded PLA NPs were also prepared and included in this study as a control. ITZ-NPs were prepared from a 1:1 w/w blend of PLA and each PEGylated polymer either PEG7%-g-PLA or (PLA-PEG-PLA)n using an oil-in-water emulsion evaporation method. The NPs morphology, size and size distribution, zeta potential, loading efficiency, release profile and antifungal activity were characterized. All ITZ-NPs were nearly spherical with smooth surface and showed less aggregating tendency

with a size range of 185-285 nm. All ITZ-NPs measured nearly neutral buy Panobinostat zeta potential values close to 0 mV. The % LE of ITZ was similar to 94% for PEG7%-g-PLA NPs and similar to 83% for (PLA-PEG-PLA)n at 15.3% w/w theoretical loading. PEG/PLA NPs were stable over time regarding size and HSP990 mw size distribution and % ITZ loading efficiency (% LE). ITZ release showed an initial burst followed by a gradual release profile for ITZ-NPs over 5 days. (PLA-PEG-PLA)n NPs exhibited faster release rates than PEG7%-g-PLA NPs particularly at the last 2 days. Differential scanning calorimetry and powder X-ray diffractometry

data confirmed that ITZ exists in an amorphous state or a solid solution state into the NPs matrix. Fourier transform infrared revealed the possibility of chemical interaction between ITZ and the NPs matrix polymer indicating the successful entrapment of ITZ inside the particles. In haemolysis test, ITZ-NPs caused mild haemolysis over the concentration range (5-20 mg/mL) compared to free ITZ, indicating better safety profile of ITZ-NPs. ITZ-loaded PEG/PLA NPs inhibited fungal growth more efficiently than either free ITZ or ITZ-loaded PLA NPs. Our results suggest that PEG/PLA-ITZ could be used efficiently as a nanocarrier to improve the aqueous dispersibility of ITZ, control its release over time and, thereby, enhance its antifungal efficacy.”
“Collaborative practice between obstetrician-gynecologists and certified nurse-midwives has been successful at the Family Beginnings obstetric unit at Group Health for at least three reasons. Each provider group is able to practice independently and thus give the kind of maternity and women’s health care sought by the local community.

(C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Semin Arthritis Rheum 41:698-711″
“Short-form patient-reported outcome measures are popular because they minimize patient burden. We assessed the efficiency of static short forms and computer adaptive

testing (CAT) using data from the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) project.

We evaluated the 28-item PROMIS depressive symptoms bank. We used post hoc simulations based on the PROMIS calibration sample to compare several short-form selection strategies and the PROMIS CAT to the total item bank score.

Compared with full-bank scores, all short forms and CAT produced highly correlated scores, but CAT outperformed each static short form in almost all criteria. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/Rapamycin.html However, short-form selection strategies performed only marginally worse than CAT. The performance gap observed in static forms was reduced by using a two-stage branching test format.

Using several polytomous items in a calibrated unidimensional bank to measure depressive symptoms yielded a CAT that provided marginally superior efficiency compared to static short forms. The efficiency of a two-stage semi-adaptive testing strategy was so close to CAT that it warrants

further consideration and study.”
“To determine the reliability of pedicle screws placed in children younger than Caspase activity 7 years of age, and to evaluate the effect of pedicle screw insertion on further growth of

the vertebra and spinal canal.

A retrospective study of 35 consecutive patients through Jan 2003-Dec 2010 for congenital scoliosis in < 7 years children was performed at one spine center. MX69 nmr Patients undergoing pedicle screw instrumentation of at least two levels, which had been followed-up for at least 24 months were included. Measurements were performed in instrumented and adjacent non-instrumented levels. The effect of pedicle screw insertion on further growth was evaluated.

The average age at surgery was 4.4 year (53 months, range, 23-84 months). 190 segments in 35 patients met the inclusion criteria. 77 segments had no screws and 113 had at least one screw. There was a significant difference between the pre-operative and final follow-up values of the measurement of spinal canal and vertebral body parameters (P < 0.001). No significant difference existed between growth rates of vertebral bodies and the sagittal diameters of spinal canal with or without screws. The growth rates of vertebral bodies in lumbar spine were higher than in thoracic spine in both instrumented and adjacent groups.

Pedicle screw instrumentation does not cause a retardation effect on the development of vertebral bodies and the spinal canal in children at an early age. It is a safe and reliable procedure to achieve a stable fixation.

“
“Background: Respiratory viral infections account for a considerable proportion of pediatric emergency room visits. Illnesses range in severity from mild upper respiratory tract infections to serious lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI). The relationship between viral load and specific viruses to clinical diagnosis made by physicians in this setting is poorly understood.

Methods: We applied a real-time, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) panel for 13 common respiratory viruses to 195 frozen, archival nasopharyngeal aspirate specimens obtained from symptomatic children <= 24 months of age presenting to the emergency room. Mean Nirogacestat total viral

load and number of viruses per archival nasopharyngeal aspirate specimen were compared between LRTI (n = 70) and non-LRTI

(1 or more of upper respiratory tract infection, fever, or cough) (n = 125), as were yield and concordance of qPCR results to viral culture/direct fluorescence assay (DFA).

Results: Children with LRTI had significantly increased total viral load and harbored more viruses than the non-LRTI group. Respiratory syncytial virus-A and -B were significantly associated with LRTI, SB203580 nmr and parainfluenza virus-1 with non-LRTI. Individual loads of parainfluenza virus-2 and human rhinovirus were increased in LRTI versus non-LRTI. Quantitative PCR yielded more viruses (including coinfections, where a “”dominant virus”" was typically identified) than viral culture/DFA and documented nucleic acid from pathogens not tested by culture/DFA including human rhinovirus; coronaviruses -OC43, -229E, and -NL63; and metapneumovirus.

Conclusions: In symptomatic children presenting to the emergency room, total viral load is related

to clinical diagnosis; specific viruses are associated with particular clinical diagnoses, and qPCR has a higher yield than other viral diagnostic methods.”
“We investigate theoretically the strong coupling click here between surface plasmon resonances (SPRs) and absorption bands of hemoglobin. When the surface plasmon resonance spectrally overlaps the absorption bands of hemoglobin, the system is strongly coupled and its dispersion diagram exhibits an anti-crossing. Working in the conditions of strong coupling enhances the sensitivity of a SPR sensor up to a factor of 10. A model for the permittivity of hemoglobin, both in oxygenated and deoxygenated states, is presented and the study is carried out for both angle and wavelength modulated SPR sensors. Finally, a differential measurement is shown to increase the sensitivity further. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3626786]“
“Background and aims: Postprandial lipemia predicts the evolution of cardiovascular disease. Obesity is associated with an increase in the magnitude of postprandial lipemia.

001) linearly with increasing slaughter weight. Moreover, linear decreases (P < 0.001) in carcass muscle, bone, and skin, as well as a linear increase (P < 0.05) in carcass fat, were observed as slaughter weight increased from 28.1 to 113.6 kg. Composite samples from pigs fed the BT or Ctrl diets had greater (P < 0.05) proportions of SFA, particularly oleic and stearic

acids, than those from pigs fed the PF and SBO diets when slaughtered at 45.5, 68.1, and 90.9 kg (fat source x slaughter weight, P < 0.001). Percentages of MUFA (including palmitoleic, oleic, and cis-vaccenic acids) decreased (P < 0.05), and percentages of all PUFA, especially linoleic ZD1839 purchase and linolenic acids, and iodine values increased (P < 0.05) in samples from SBO-fed pigs as slaughter weight increased from 28.1 to 113.6 kg (fat source x slaughter

weight, P < 0.001). Dietary fat source did not affect carcass composition; however, including 5% SBO in swine diets increased the polyunsaturation of pork, which could lead to economic ramifications associated with soft pork and pork fat.”
“We report the bandgap and electronic properties of wurtzite ZnO doped with elements IIA or/and IIIA, investigated using both theoretical and experimental methods. With wurtzite ZnO co-doped with B and Mg (denoted as ZnO:[B, Mg]) grown via metalorganic chemical vapor deposition, we have observed that both the bandgap and the conductivity can be widely tunable with the doping levels. From first-principles calculations of wurtzite ZnO: Mg, we show that IIA doping elements have a great impact on the widening of the bandgap. DMH1 Also, from a newly developed calculation method for investigating the electronic properties of wurtzite ZnO:Al, we have found that IIIA doping elements play

an important role in tailoring the conductivity. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3627233]“
“More than a third of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients show nigrostriatal pathway disturbances, resulting in akinesia (inability to initiate movement) and bradykinesia (slowness of movement). The high prevalence of this dysfunction of dopaminergic neuron in the nigrostriatal pathway in AD suggests that the risk factors for AD appear also significant risk factors for substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) lesions. Previously, we have demonstrated that allopregnanolone learn more (AP alpha) promotes neurogenesis and improves the cognitive function in a triple transgenic mouse model of AD (3xTgAD). In this study, we sought to exam 1) the SNpc lesions in 3xTgAD mice and 2) the impact of AP alpha on promoting the regeneration of new dopaminergic neurons in SNpc of the 3xTgAD mice. The number of Nissl-stained total neurons, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) positive neurons, and BrdU/TH double positive newly formed neurons were analyzed with unbiased stereology. In the SNpc of 3xTgAD mice, TH positive neurons was 47 +/- 18 % (p = 0.

Overall, infection occurred more often in obese patients, with an odds ratio of 1.90 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.46 to 2.47). Deep infection requiring surgical debridement was reported in nine studies including 5061 patients (I-2, 0%). Deep infection occurred more often in obese patients, with an odds ratio of 2.38 (95% CI, 1.28 to 4.55). Revision of the total knee arthroplasty, defined as exchange or removal of the components for any reason, was documented in eleven studies including 12,101 patients (I-2, 25%). Revision for any reason occurred more often in obese patients, with an odds ratio of 1.30 (95% CI, 1.02 to 1.67).

Conclusions:

Obesity had a negative influence on outcome after total knee arthroplasty.”
“Free-radical I BET 762 chain polymerization kinetics of vinyl acetate (VA) and acrylic acid (AA) exhibit some unusual control features. The VA radicals have a high rate of chain transfer leading to relatively sluggish propagation rates. Polymerization of AA, however, is prone to autoacceleration behavior in bulk, solution, and

precipitating media. Thus, conventional statistical copolymerization of VA and AA would result in the preferential formation of high AA content copolymer. However, when the reaction medium is chosen in such a way that the copolymer precipitates LDC000067 in vitro above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST), propagation control and even monomer sequence control are obtained. Under these Ro 61-8048 datasheet conditions, when the VA charge is much greater than AA, a tapered block copolymer (VA-t-AA) is obtained. We report a single stage polymerization process for the synthesis of such materials. The presence of VA-t-AA products is verified by emulsification,

solubility, fractionation, size exclusion chromatography, NMR, and thermal analyses. In addition, propagation control can virtually eliminate formation of bimodal MWD and random/homopolymer materials that are associated with various chain transfer mechanisms in conventional polymerization routes. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 113: 3872-3882, 2009″
“Precipitation of etoposide and adverse events associated with the co-solvents in intravenous solutions can be avoided by using liposomal etoposide (LE). The pharmacokinetics and distribution of the commercial formulation (ETPI) and LE were compared in rats. The pharmacokinetic profiles were biphasic and similar in the initial phase (C(max), Vd, and t(1/2a)). However, LE showed a 60% increase in AUC with a 35% decrease in clearance (p<0.05). This decreased clearance resulted in a 70% increase in the MRT of etoposide. The uptake of etoposide from LE was higher in macrophage-phagocytic endowed tissues indicating that LE is superior to ETPI for targeted delivery of etoposide.”
“Background: Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) is an osteoinductive protein.

In addition to inorganic ions and metabolites, large quantities of protons and sugars are shuttled across this membrane. Current models suggest that the proton gradient across the membrane drives the accumulation and/or release of sugars. Recent studies have associated AtSUC4 with the vacuolar membrane. Some members of the SUC family are plasma membrane proton/sucrose symporters. In addition, the sugar transporters TMT1 and TMT2, which are localized to the vacuolar membrane, have been suggested β-Nicotinamide concentration to function in proton-driven glucose antiport. Here we used

the patch-clamp technique to monitor carrier-mediated sucrose transport by AtSUC4 and AtTMTs in intact Arabidopsis thaliana mesophyll vacuoles. In the whole-vacuole configuration with wild-type material, cytosolic sucrose-induced proton currents were associated with a proton/sucrose antiport mechanism. To identify the related transporter on one hand, and to enable the recording of symporter-mediated currents on the other hand, we electrophysiologically characterized vacuolar proteins recognized by Arabidopsis mutants of partially impaired sugar compartmentation. To our surprise, the intrinsic sucrose/proton antiporter activity was greatly reduced when vacuoles were isolated from plants lacking the monosaccharide

transporter AtTMT1/TMT2. Transient expression of AtSUC4 in this find more mutant background resulted in proton/sucrose symport activity. From these studies, we conclude that, in the natural environment within the Arabidopsis cell, AtSUC4 selleck compound most likely catalyses proton-coupled sucrose export from the vacuole. However, TMT1/2 probably represents a proton-coupled antiporter capable of high-capacity loading of glucose and sucrose into the vacuole.”
“Genotype-environment interactions (GEI) limit genetic gain for complex traits such as tolerance to drought. Characterization

of the crop environment is an important step in understanding GEI. A modelling approach is proposed here to characterize broadly (large geographic area, long-term period) and locally (field experiment) drought-related environmental stresses, which enables breeders to analyse their experimental trials with regard to the broad population of environments that they target. Water-deficit patterns experienced by wheat crops were determined for drought-prone north-eastern Australia, using the APSIM crop model to account for the interactions of crops with their environment (e.g. feedback of plant growth on water depletion). Simulations based on more than 100 years of historical climate data were conducted for representative locations, soils, and management systems, for a check cultivar, Hartog. The three main environment types identified differed in their patterns of simulated water stress around flowering and during grain-filling.

e., with more levels of bifurcation. Diminishing returns are reached in both directions, decreasing phi and increasing complexity. For example, when phi=0.02 the minimized peak stress of a design with one bifurcation level is only 0.2% greater than the peak stress in the optimized vascular design with two levels of bifurcation.”
“We describe a simple method for evaluating the adequacy of the capsule for implantation of a foldable intraocular lens (IOL) during phacoemulsification complicated by a posterior capsule tear. After

cortical lens material clean-up and anterior vitrectomy (if required), 3 knots of 10-0 nylon are tied to the trailing haptic of the IOL using a 3/1/1 configuration. Then, the IOL is inserted into the sulcus. If it is unstable when the surgeon tries to deepen or shallow the buy NVP-BSK805 INCB024360 anterior chamber, gently pulling the nylon thread will prevent posterior IOL dislocation. Two further attempts to implant the IOL in the other meridians of the capsule are made. The results of using this technique in 10 eyes of 10 patients are reported. Optic decentration occurred in 1 case (10%). No postoperative dislocation was observed, and no patient required surgery for IOL decentration during the follow-up.”
“Polypropylene (PP) has wide applications in various

areas, but its low-temperature brittleness and low moduli have limited its applications in engineering areas. This article reported micro-/nanoscale combinational inorganic fillers (CIFs) to reinforce PP-matrix composites as the first example. The CIFs consisted of plate-like talc (T), needle-like wollastonite (W), and nano-Al(2)O(3) (N). The PP/CIFs specimens were fabricated via a process of twin-screw extrusion and screw-type injection molding. The mechanical properties and thermal deflection temperature (HDT) of the PP/CIF composites were tested according to the corresponding standards, and the morphologies of the tensile-fractured sections were observed using FE-SEM. The PP/WT composites

had higher mechanical properties and HDTs than those of either PP/W or PP/T. Small amounts of Al(2)O(3) nanocrystals together with WT simultaneously strengthened and toughened the PP-matrix composites. The PP/WTN composite with 2.6% of nano-Al(2)O(3) had well-balanced properties, enhanced by a large increment when compared with the PP matrix or PP/WT selleck kinase inhibitor composites. The enhancements should be attributed to the synergistic effects of the CIFs not only in the aspect of various shapes (plate-like, needle-like, and spherical) but also in hierarchical size-levels (microscale and nanoscale). The novel strategy overcame the limitation of conventional rigid modification and solved the problem of uniform dispersion of nanocrystals. in polymer matrices. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 115: 624-634, 2010″
“Background Identifying psychosocial needs and satisfying them are important issues to many cancer patients.