Correlation analysis among the studied variables was performed, as well as a linear regression analysis to determine the effect of femoral neck T-score, spine T-score, OSI-906 inhibitor age, and BMI as independent predictors of the Cobb angle in the lumbar spine.

Results. The prevalence of lumbar scoliosis was 12.9% (49 cases); 43 cases (11.3%) had lumbar curves 10 degrees or more but less than

20 degrees, and six cases (1.6%) had lumbar curves more than 20 degrees. Age and BMI were independent predictors of the Cobb angle; the femoral neck T-score and the lumbar T-score were not independent predictors of the Cobb angle.

Conclusion. We found a 12.9% prevalence of lumbar scoliosis in postmenopausal women aged 50 years and older, most of them with mild curves. Age and BMI are independent predictors of lumbar scoliosis. Bone mineral density (BMD) is not an independent predictor of the magnitude of the curve.”
“Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers were fabricated via a dry-jet wet-spinning technique, and a solvent-free coagulation bath system was adopted. see more The effects of different types of dope solvent on the formation and physical properties of the PAN fibers were investigated. Dimethylformamide and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were selected as the solvents and were added to a spinning solution consisting of 18 wt % PAN. The PAN fibers were examined with field emission scanning

electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. The field emission scanning electron micrographs revealed that the PAN fibers with the DMSO solvent exhibited a more circular shape and a smoother skin. The PAN fibers with the DMSO solvent had their glass-transition temperature (T(g)) at 121 degrees C. This study indicated that the different types of dope solvent used in the dope preparation did not affect T(g) of the PAN

fibers because of the solvent-free coagulation bath system; however, they significantly affected the physical formation of the PAN MK-8776 manufacturer fibers. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 121: 2467-2472, 2011″
“Replication of HIV-1 under selective pressure frequently results in the evolution of virus variants that replicate more efficiently under the applied conditions. For example, in patients on antiretroviral therapy, such evolution can result in variants that are resistant to the HIV-1 inhibitors, thus frustrating the therapy. On the other hand, virus evolution can help us to understand the molecular mechanisms that underlie HIV-1 replication. For example, evolution of a defective virus mutant can result in variants that overcome the introduced defect by restoration of the original sequence or by the introduction of additional mutations in the viral genome. Analysis of the evolution pathway can reveal the requirements of the element under study and help to understand its function.