We describe herein a polymeric material that prefers to align perpendicular to a stretch-aligned polymer host in the solid state. Poly(iptycene) poly-1 was synthesized from monomer 1 under hyperbaric techniques via a Diels-Alder polymerization. Polarized excitation spectra of the anthracene end groups in this material in a stretch-aligned, solution-cast poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) film showed th...

A novel strategy for detecting Premature Ventricular Contraction (PVC) is proposed and investigated. The strategy employs a Swarm-based Support Vector Machine (SSVM). An SSVM is an SVM optimised by using Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO). The strategy proposes new inputs. The inputs involve the width and the gradient of the electrocardiographic QRS wave. Experiments with different inputs and di...

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) has toxic effects through the induction of oxidative stress in the body and testicles. Vitamin E (Vit E) is a dietary compound that functions as an antioxidant scavenging toxic free radicals. The present study aimed to probe the protective effect of Vit E against PVC-induced reprotoxicity in male rats. In this experimental study, 24 male rats were randomly divided into ...

Support for human-to-human interactions over a network is still insufficient, particularly for professional virtual communities (PVC). Among other limitations, adaptation and learning-by-experience capabilities of humans are not taken into account in existing models for collaboration processes in PVC. This paper presents a model for adaptive human collaboration. A key element of this model is t...

The case history is presented of a 58 year old man who was exposed to thermoplastic dusts, mainly polyvinyl chloride (PVC), for 10 years. Radiography and high resolution computed tomographic scans of the lungs suggested both pneumoconiotic and scleroderma-like lesions. Transbronchial biopsy revealed foreign body granulomas with macrophages laden with birefringent inclusions which ultrastructura...

INTRODUCTION Heart rate irregularities are the major limitations of computed tomographic coronary angiography (CTCA) due to severe motion artifacts. AIM To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a lidocaine intravenous bolus in preserving good image quality by the transient suppression of premature ventricular contractions (PVC) during the CTCA scan. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study group compri...

Nine urban intertidal regions in Burrard Inlet, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, were sampled for plastic debris. Debris included macro and micro plastics and originated from a wide diversity of uses ranging from personal hygiene to solar cells. Debris was characterized for its polymer through standard physiochemical characteristics, then subject to a weak acid extraction to remove the meta...

In 1974, vinyl chloride (VC) was first reported in the open scientific literature to induce angiosarcoma of the liver both in humans and in animals. Additional research has now demonstrated the carcinogenicity of VC to other organs and at lower concentrations. The target organs for VC now clearly include the liver, brain and the lung, and probably the lymphohematopoietic system. The evidence fo...

The incidence of local or bloodstream infections (BSIs) associated with peripheral venous catheters (PVCs) is low (0–0.2% bacteraemia); but there is considerable annual morbidity because of the frequency with which such catheters are used. The incidence of phlebitis (3–5%) and bacterial colonisation of catheters increases for catheters left in place >72 h.1,2 In 2001 the Centers for Disease Con...