Flexible, Flame-Resistant, and Anisotropic Thermally Conductive Aerogel Films with Ionic Liquid Crystal-Armored Boron Nitride.

With the rapid development of miniaturization and high-power portable electronics, the accumulation of undesired heat can degrade the performance of electronic devices and even cause fires. Therefore, multifunctional thermal interface materials that combine high thermal conductivity and flame retardancy remain a challenge. Herein, an ILC (ionic liquids crystal)-armored boron nitride nanosheet (BNNS) with flame retardant functional groups was first developed. The high in-plane orientation structure aerogel film made of such an ILC-armored BNNS and aramid nanofiber and polyvinyl alcohol matrix through directional freeze-drying and mechanical pressing exhibits strong anisotropy thermal conductivity (λ// of 17.7 W m-1 K-1 and λ⊥ of 0.98 W m-1 K-1). In addition, the highly oriented IBAP aerogel films have excellent flame retardancy (peak heat release rate = 44.5 kW/m2 and heat release rate = 0.8 MJ/m2) due to the physical barrier effect and catalytic carbonization effect of ILC-armored BNNS. Meanwhile, IBAP aerogel films exhibit good flexibility and mechanical properties, even in harsh environments such as acids and bases. Further, IBAP aerogel films can also be used as a substrate for paraffin phase change composites. The ILC-armored BNNS provides a practical way to produce flame-resistant polymer composites with high thermal conductivity for TIMs in modern electronic devices.

Novel Approach to the Fabrication of an Alumina-MoS2 Self-Lubricating Composite via the In Situ Synthesis of Nanosized MoS2.

The fabrication of a self-lubricating ceramic composite with MoS2 as the solid lubricant is extremely difficult given the high temperature sensitivity of MoS2. In this study, a hydrothermal method was utilized for the in situ synthesis of nanosized-MoS2 in Al2O3 ceramic to fabricate an Al2O3-MoS2 self-lubricating composite. The composite exhibited excellent self-lubricating properties with low friction coefficient and wear rate in a high-vacuum environment because of the efficient formation of self-lubricating films from the finely structured MoS2 in the Al2O3 matrix. The results of this study establish a new approach to the fabrication of self-lubricating ceramic composites with temperature-sensitive solid lubricants.

Does Evidence Support the Use of Neural Tissue Management to Reduce Pain and Disability in Nerve-related Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain?: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: In nerve-related chronic musculoskeletal (MS) disorders, neural tissue management is used to relieve pain by balancing the relative movement of neural tissues and their surrounding tissues. To date, there has not been any review evaluating the magnitude of this treatment effect in nerve-related chronic MS pain. The aim of this review was to compare pain and disability in individuals with nerve-related chronic MS pain who were treated with neural tissue management with those who received minimal or other treatment approaches. METHODS: Searches of 8 major electronic databases were conducted, and data on pain and disability scores were extracted. Meta-analyses (where possible) with either a fixed-effect(s) or random-effect(s) model, standardized mean differences (SMDs), and tests of heterogeneity were performed. RESULTS: Twenty clinically controlled trials were identified and included in the meta-analyses. When compared with minimal intervention, neural mobilization provided superior pain relief (pooled SMD=-0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], -1.11 to -0.42; P<0.0001), and reduction in disability (pooled SMD=-1.06; 95% CI, -1.97 to -0.14; P=0.02), after post hoc sensitivity analyses. No significant differences were found when comparing neural mobilization with other treatment approaches for pain (pooled SMD=-0.67; 95% CI, -2.03 to 0.69; P=0.33), after post hoc sensitivity analysis, and disability (pooled SMD=-0.03; 95% CI, -0.54 to 0.59; P=0.93). DISCUSSION: Neural tissue management is superior to minimal intervention for pain relief and reduction of disability in nerve-related chronic MS pain. Existing evidence does not establish superiority of neural mobilization over other forms of intervention in reducing pain and disability in individuals with nerve-related chronic MS pain.

Clinical application of mucosal valve technique for anastomosis during esophagogastrostomy.

BACKGROUND: The study aims to compare the efficacy in prevention of anastomotic complications using layer-to-layer mucosal valve technique versus circular stapled technique for esophagogastric intrathoracic anastomosis after resection for esophageal and gastric cardiac carcinoma. METHODS: From January 2005 to December 2010, 136 patients received layer-to-layer mucosal valve technique (LM group), 219 received circular stapled anastomosis (CS group) after curative intent resection for esophageal and gastric cardiac carcinoma. The technique details were reported and the clinical results were analyzed. RESULTS: The two groups were comparable on clinical baseline characteristics. The average duration of operation was longer with LM technique by 16 min, but without statistical significance (P = 0.073). There was no anastomotic leakage in the LM group, while in the CS group, leakage occurred in seven patients (3.2 %, P = 0.047). Both the incidence and grade of postoperative dysphagia were significantly lower in the LM group (P < 0.05). Significantly fewer patients experienced stricture after LM technique (3.8 %) compared with CS anastomosis (18.2 %, P < 0.001). CS anastomosis was associated with a significantly higher incidence of persistent stricture requiring more dilatation (P < 0.001). Symptoms of reflux were better controlled by LM technique; 82.7 % of patients were asymptomatic with respect to reflux compared to 58.9 % in the CS group, P < 0.001. And there was a significant reduction in the incidence of esophagitis in remnant esophagus in the LM group (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The layered mucosal valve anastomosis could significantly diminish the incidence of anastomotic complications and could be used as an alternative for esophagogastric anastomosis after resection of esophageal and gastric cardiac carcinoma.

Reducing the gastroesophageal reflux with lip-type reinforcement technique during intrathoracic esophagogastrostomy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gastroesophageal reflux is a significant problem after esophagogastrostomy, and impact considerably upon the quality of patients' lives. Aims of this study were to evaluate the operative effects in prevention of reflux with lip-type reinforcement during intrathoracic esophagogastric anastomosis. METHODOLOGY: From January 2005 to December 2009, 216 patients received circular stapled esophagogastrostomy with lip-type reinforcement (LR group), and 69 patients with standard reinforcement (SR group) at our hospital. Major observation parameters were symptoms of reflux and dysphagia. RESULTS: No differences in clinicopathologic characteristics between two groups, in addition to the incidence of anastomotic leakage was less in LR group (p = 0.039). Grade of dysphagia and anastomotic stricture also were not different between two groups (p >0.05). Symptoms of reflux were better controlled in patients with lip-type reinforcement than standard reinforcement (p <0.001). In LR group, 71.3% were asymptomatic with respect to reflux compared to 29.7% in SR group (p <0.001). The incidence of reflux esophagitis was 23.5% in LR group and 58.3% in SR group (p <0.001). There was a significant correlation between reflux symptoms and endoscopic findings of reflux esophagitis (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Lip-type reinforcement is simple to perform, and effective in controlling gastroesophageal reflux and decreasing anastomotic leakage in majority of patients after esophagogastrostomy.