5 to 5 phr (parts per hundred parts of the polymer resin) were prepared and characterized. The composite membranes were characterized by water uptake, proton conductivity, methanol permeability, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The presence

of nanofillers in the composite films was confirmed by XRD and SEM-EDX. The domain size of FOSS (for 0.5 phr sample) as determined by SEM was in the range of 50-100 nm. Thermal selleck chemicals stability of SPEEK remained unaffected by the addition of varying amounts of POSS. Equilibrium water uptake of all the composite membranes (maximum 42%) was higher than that of pure SPEEK membrane (23%) at 80 degrees C. Proton conductivity of SPEEK as measured by two probe method increased upon incorporation of FOSS and maximum value was obtained when the POSS

content was 2 phr (w/w), that is, 4.5 mS/cm, which was higher when compared with SPEEK (1.5 mS/cm) and Nafion (3.4 mS/cm) at 90 degrees C. Methanol permeability of composite membranes was lower than that of SPEEK/Nafion membrane. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 118: 3013-3023,2010″
“We report our 6 months of experience with adjunctive lacosamide in 25 patients with pharmacoresistant focal epilepsy. Baseline characteristics of our patients were similar to those of the populations in the three clinical trials that evaluated lacosamide for refractory focal epilepsy. One patient experienced sustained seizure freedom for 5 months; two more patients had nonsustained periods of seizure freedom PLK inhibitor of I and 4 months. A total of eight patients (32%) reported a greater than 50% reduction in seizure frequency. Thirteen patients (52%)

reported side effects during the titration, mostly dizziness, fatigue, nausea, and gait instability. In five patients (20%), these Quisinostat purchase disappeared during the maintenance phase and/or with dose reduction. Two patients lost more than 10% of their body weight. Otherwise, in terms of efficacy and adverse effects, our data mirror the profile of lacosamide described in the three clinical trials. Substantial weight loss may occur in individual patients. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“Robert Koch’s discovery of the anthrax bacillus in 1876 launched the field of medical bacteriology. A ‘golden age’ of scientific discovery ensued. A century after Koch’s death, we remember his life and work. (C) 2010 International Society for Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“The wettability of polyurethane (PU) was altered using ultraviolet ozone (UVO) treatment. The effect of UVO treatment on PU surface chemistry was investigated with various experiments. The direct measurement of sessile drops was employed to quantify the static contact angle of different wetting liquids on homogeneous PU films with various UVO treatment times.