The performance of these active wound dressings in terms of a sustained and suitable drug-release rate, adequate water uptake and water permeability, selleck screening library and antibacterial activities

were compared with those of a commercial wound dressing (Comfeel Plus). The results show that the dressings made from PCL and PLA/PCL blends showed better performance compared with the commercial wound dressing sample as far as these properties were concerned. The improved performance could be explained on the basis of the nanofibrous structure of the mats and the hydrophilicity of PCL and PLA. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012″
“The Poisson-Nernst-Planck system of equations is used to simulate the charge dynamics due to ionic current and resulting time-dependent displacement of ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC) materials. Measured data show that currents through the polymer of IPMC cause potential gradients on the electrodes. Existing physics based models

of IPMC do not explicitly consider how this affects the charge formation near the electrodes and resulting actuation of IPMC. We have developed an explicit physics based model that couples the currents in check details the polymer to the electric current in the continuous electrodes of IPMC. The coupling is based on the Ramo-Shockley theorem. The circular dependency concept is used to explain how the dependency between the ionic current and the potential drop in the electrodes is calculated and how they affect each other. Simulations were carried out using the finite element method. Calculated potential gradients, electric

currents, and tip displacement of IPMC were validated against experimental data. We also show how the model is general in respect to the different types of currents in the polymer and how it can be used in more complicated cases such as 3D simulations. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3650903]“
“The aim of the survey was to estimate the prevalence rate of epilepsy, as well as seizure types, frequency, etiology, and comorbidity, by gender, age, and socioeconomic status G418 manufacturer among people with epilepsy in the Croatian county of Sibenik-Knin. The survey revealed that of 112,871 inhabitants, 1228 were identified as having active epilepsy. The crude prevalence rate for Sibenik-Knin County was 10.9 per 1000 inhabitants. Prevalence rates (per 1000) by age and gender were: 6.9 (ages 0-19); 10.6 (ages 20-59); 15.1 (ages 60+), 10.1 (females), and 11.7 (males). A significant number of subjects had different comorbid disorders. Although the literature suggests that Dalmatia is a region with a low prevalence of epilepsy, our results showed that Sibenik-Knin County has a higher prevalence of epilepsy than expected for European populations.