Intercellular lipids of the stratum corneum (SC), the outer layer of the epidermis, form a barrier to water vapor diffusion through the skin. Previously, we measured cutaneous water loss (CWL) and lipid composition of the SC of adult house sparrows from two populations, one living in the deserts of Saudi Arabia and another living in mesic Ohio. Adult desert house sparrows had a lower CWL, a low...

The Swiss Plastic Surgery Association (https://plasticsurgery.ch/en/) decided to produce a corporate video to illustrate the concept of "plastic surgery of confidence" to the public. We show the diversity of specializations and the vast range of tasks that surgeons passionately handle day in and day out. We wanted to convey 2 main messages: first, that plastic surgery is more than just cosmetic...

Although the practice of medicine is built on a foundation of ethics, science, and common sense, the increasing complexity of medical interventions, social interactions, and societal norms of behavior challenges the ethical practice of aesthetic surgeons. We report a survey of the opinions, practices, and attitudes of experienced and novice facial plastic surgeons. The survey consisted of 15 cl...

The accuracy with which 123I activity is measured by a dose calibrator depends on the composition and geometry of the source. The present study assessed the variability of current commercial dose calibrators in assaying liquid 123I samples. Methods: A calibration procedure for 123I measurement was performed on 177 dose calibrators (11 manufacturers) at 138 sites in North America and Europe. Usi...

Identification and characterisation of microplastic (MP) is a necessary step to evaluate their concentrations, chemical composition and interactions with biota. MP ≥10μm diameter filtered from below the sea surface in the European and subtropical North Atlantic were simultaneously identified by visual microscopy and Raman micro-spectroscopy. Visually identified particles below 100μm had a signi...

Composition and quantity per person of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) were analyzed in six municipalities with different collection systems. Samples of residual waste were sorted, classified and weighed in 21 categories. Collection data of total waste flow, including sourcesorted recycling materials, in the same area was analyzed. Multivariate data analyses were applied. The main questions to be a...

We conducted experiments in space to investigate the aggregation of millimeterand submillimeter-sized particles in microgravity, an important early step in planet formation. Particulate materials included salt (NaCl), sugar (sucrose), coffee, mica, ice, Bjurb€ ole chondrules, ordinary and carbonaceous chondrite meteorite fragments, and acrylic and glass beads, all triply confined in clear plast...

The correlation between local mechanical (elasto-plastic) and structural (composition) properties of coal presents significant fundamental and practical interest for coal processing and for the development of rheological models of coal to coke transformations. Here, we explore the relationship between the local structural, chemical composition, and mechanical properties of coal using a combinat...

Plastics have been used extensively in both food and water packaging because of their inherent properties such as low bulk densities and inertness that make them convenient carrier materials and low risk contaminants. Plastic bottles and sachets used to package iced water that is sold to people in transit points and in moving vehicles have become widespread in the sub-region. However, the packa...

In this research the effect of volume and morphology of eutectic carbides on tribological behaviour of Ni-Hard 4 cast irons have been investigated. Therefore, as a result of the fact that the carbon content effects the carbides morphology of Ni-hard cast irons, the chemical compositions of five different specimens were kept constant with the exception of the carbon content, which was varied fro...