2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 53.1%, 63.4%) and 52.4% (95% CI: 47.5%, 57.2%) in JPEG2000 2D and 3D compressions, respectively, for the standard-dose studies and 41.1% (95% CI: 38.8%, 43.4%) and 39.4% (95% CI: 37.4%, 41.7%) in JPEG2000 2D and 3D compressions, respectively, for the low-dose studies.

Conclusion: The described preprocessing technique considerably increases CRs for reversible compressions of thin-section chest CT studies. (C) RSNA, 2011″
“An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) experienced electromagnetic interference from a laptop computer’s hard

disk. The patient with the ICD was using his laptop computer at home while lying on his bed. The laptop was positioned on his chest, when he heard a beeping sound from the ICD, indicating magnet mode conversion. This situation was replicated in a controlled environment, and the conversion was found to be find more due to the static magnetic field produced by BMS-777607 mouse the laptop’s hard disk. The ICD’s conversion to magnet mode can be dangerous because it ends all tachyarrhythmia detections and therapies. (PACE 2012; 35:e177e178)”
“30 strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from 5 samples, raw and fermented cow milk, cow meat, soil and fermented-dried cassava, were screened for their antimicrobial activity against poultry pathogens Salmonella

enterica CIP8132 and Escherichia coli CIP548. All the lactobacillus strains were active against the target pathogens with the strains LF2, SM3, SM4, V3 and V5 exhibiting activity higher than 25 mm. 4 of the 5 isolated cultures were confirmed as bacteriocin producing cultures, in addition LF2 strain was cocci, AICAR ic50 can grow on sucrose, was thermal resistant and was partially inhibited by proteinase K and lysozyme suggesting a nisin-like molecule. This strain with promising future needs to be further characterised.”
“Achondroplasia is the most common type of short-limbed dwarfism in children resulting from fibroblast growth factor

receptor (FGFR) mutations. Activating mutations of FGFR3 also result in other forms of skeletal dysplasia and craniosynostosis. Acanthosis nigricans is associated with these skeletal dysplasias and we recently encountered a skeletal dysplasia along with acanthosis nigricans in a young boy. We report the case due its unusual nature affecting one of twin brothers.”
“Purpose: To correlate pulsatility index (PI) and resistive index (RI) measured at early specific intervals after transplantation with 1-year estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and death-censored transplant survival to assess the long-term prognostic value of these Doppler indexes.

Materials and Methods: The local ethics committee was consulted, and no formal approval was required. This retrospective review included 178 consecutive patients (111 male, 67 female; mean age, 43.9 years +/- 13.4 [standard deviation]; age range, 16-72 years) undergoing first deceased-donor renal transplantation between 1997 and 2000.

3%) were the best learn more predictors of MEI-D, whereas BASFI, VAS-S, female gender, and ESR (32.5%) were the best predictors for MASES-D and BASFI (18.9%) was the best predictor of MASES-P. The assessment of simple and easily applicable MASES score by a patient may be expected to help the physician in clinical practice. When the disease activity of the patients with AS are evaluated, both BASDAI, the clinical importance of which has been confirmed in numerous studies and which is recommended by ASAS, and BASFI, which is valued by patients, should be considered.”
“Background:

Failure of tendon healing after a rotator cuff repair is demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a fluid-filled defect within the tendon. The frequency of, and factors associated with, failure of the tendon repair to heal have been the

focus of many clinical studies. The timing of when these defects occur has not been previously studied in a large prospectively defined patient population, to our knowledge. It was our hypothesis that the majority of failures occur within twelve weeks after surgery.

Methods: One hundred and thirteen patients were enrolled in a multi-institutional prospective study. All patients had a standardized arthroscopic repair of a full-thickness tear of 1 to 4 cm as well as sequential MRI studies at six intervals from two weeks to fifty-two weeks. MRIs were reviewed at the time of imaging by the treating surgeon. Standardized patient-oriented clinical data

were collected, physical examination Selleckchem PF-562271 was performed, and strength measurements were made preoperatively and postoperatively.

Results: The treating surgeons diagnosed a recurrent tear with check details MRI in nineteen (17%) of the 113 patients within one year after surgery. The mean time to the retear was 19.2 weeks. There was a linear increase in retears over the first twenty-six weeks after surgery, and one additional tear was diagnosed between twenty-six and fifty-two weeks after repair.

Conclusions: Retears primarily occur between six and twenty-six weeks after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, and few additional tears occur thereafter. A substantial number of retears occur between twelve and twenty-six weeks after repair.”
“A female infant presented with bradycardia and an electrocardiogram demonstrating 2: 1 atrioventricular depolarization, a prolonged QT interval, and T wave alternans. After propranolol therapy was initiated, a lidocaine challenge was performed with progressive shortening of the QT interval. This positive lidocaine challenge prompted clinical suspicion of long QT syndrome type 3 (LQT3) and early initiation of mexiletine therapy. Subsequent genetic testing confirmed the infant’s diagnosis of LQT3. (PACE 2010; 33:377-379)”
“We have investigated the crystalline configuration of CdTe quantum dots (QDs) grown on hydrogen passivated Si(111) substrates by hot wall epitaxy.

The present study however reveals only a marginal-if any-effect of Ge doping on grown-in single void size and density. Double and multiple void formation might however be suppressed partially by Ge doping leading to the observed decrease in flow pattern defect density. The limited effect of Ge doping on single void formation is in agreement with earlier findings that Ge atoms are only a weak trap for vacancies at higher temperatures and therefor should have a smaller impact on the vacancy thermal equilibrium concentration and on single void nucleation than, e. g., interstitial oxygen and nitrogen. (c) 2010

American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3503154]“
“In 2009, an outbreak of hepatitis B with high mortality was observed in Sabarkantha district, Gujarat state, India with 456 cases and 89 deaths. Hospitalized patients with self-limiting disease (152, AVH)) and fulminant hepatic failure (39, FHF including 27 fatal and 12 survivals) LCL161 were investigated. These were screened for diagnostic markers for hepatitis viruses, hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotyping and mutant analysis. Complete HBV genomes from 22 FHF and 17 AVH cases were sequenced. Serosurveys were carried out in the most and least affected blocks for the prevalence of HBV and identification

of mutants. History of injection from a physician was associated with FHF and AVH cases. Co-infection with other hepatitis viruses or higher HBV DNA load was not responsible for mortality. Four blocks contributed to 85.7% (391/456) of the cases and 95.5% (85/89) mortality Buparlisib solubility dmso while two adjacent blocks had negligible mortality. Sequence analysis showed the presence of pre-core and P5091 supplier basal core promoter mutants and 4 amino acid substitutions exclusively among FHF cases. None of the self-limiting patients exhibited these dual mutations. Genotype D was predominant, D1 being present in all FHF cases while D2 was most prevalent in AVH cases. Probably due to violation of accepted infection control procedures by the qualified medical

practitioners, HBV prevalence was higher in the affected blocks before the outbreak. Gross and continued use of HBV contaminated (mutant and wild viruses) injection devices led to an explosive outbreak with high mortality with a striking association with pre-C/BCP mutants and D1 genotype.”
“Endometrial cancer – the most common malignancy of the female reproductive tract – arises from the specialized epithelial cells that line the inner surface of the uterus. Although significant advances have been made in our understanding of this disease in recent years, one significant limitation has been the lack of a diverse genetic toolkit for the generation of mouse models. We identified a novel endometrial-specific gene, Sprr2f, and developed a Sprr2f-Cre transgene for conditional gene targeting within endometrial epithelium. We then used this tool to generate a completely penetrant Lkb1 (also known as Stk11)-based mouse model of invasive endometrial cancer.

8% CP, 2.19 Mcal of ME/kg of DM) was available to calves ad libitum. Milk production at 42, 98, 126, and 180 d postpartum was recorded by weighing calves before and after suckling. The ratio between GE and ME of milk was considered 1:0.93. Calves were slaughtered at weaning and the 9th-, 10th-, and 11th-rib section

was removed for body composition estimation. The ANL calves were lighter (P < 0.01) at birth than the CC calves; the NL calves were intermediate. At weaning, the CC calves were heavier (P = 0.04) than the NL and ANL calves (230 +/- 5.5 vs. 172 +/- 8.1 and 209 +/- 8.6 kg, respectively). The ANL calves had greater (371 +/- 27 Mcal; P = 0.01) silage intake than the NL (270 +/- 25 Mcal) and CC (279 +/- 17 Mcal) calves. Milk energy intake was greater for the CC calves (970 +/- 38 Mcal of ME; P = 0.005) AZD6094 clinical trial than the NL (670 +/- 57 Mcal of ME) and ANL (743 +/- 61 Mcal of ME) calves. The ANL calves compensated for the reduced milk production of the NL cows, which supplied less of their energy requirement for growth by increased silage intake. Calves from crossbred cows received a greater proportion of their total energy www.selleckchem.com/products/qnz-evp4593.html intake from milk. Crossbred calves had greater (P < 0.03) retained energy (retained energy = weaning body energy – birth body energy) than the NL calves (388 +/- 23 for ANL, and 438 +/- 15 for CC vs. 312 +/- 22 Mcal for NL calves). Percentages

of water (P = 0.74) and chemical fat (P = 0.51) were similar among groups (63.7 +/- 0.6 and 14.3 +/- 0.7% for ANL calves, 63.1 +/- 0.4 and 14.7 +/- 0.5% for CC calves, and 63.3 +/- PXD101 datasheet 0.6

and 13.7 +/- 0.7% of empty BW for water and chemical fat, respectively, for NL calves). Energetic efficiency (kcal of retained energy/Mcal of ME intake) was similar (P = 0.52) among groups (358 +/- 22 for ANL calves, 355 +/- 14 for CC calves, and 327 +/- 22 for NL calves). The greater BW gains and the differences in empty body composition at weaning were not enough to compensate for the greater ME intake of crossbreds. In this study, the crossbreeding systems evaluated increased preweaning calf performance but did not affect gross or energetic calf efficiency.”
“We investigate the tuning of Schottky barrier height (SBH) of nickel silicide formed by pulsed excimer laser anneal of nickel on silicon implanted with aluminum (Al). A wide range of laser fluence was investigated, and it has been found that laser fluence influences the distribution of Al within the silicide and at the silicide/silicon interface. This in turn affects the effective whole SBH (Phi(p)(B)) at the silicide/silicon junction. High Al concentration at the silicide/silicon interface and high temperature for nano-second duration to achieve Al activation while keeping the Al concentration within the silicide low is vital for achieving low Phi(p)(B). We demonstrate the achievement of one of the lowest reported Phi(p)(B) of similar to 0.11 eV.

“
“Expression of OLE16 and OLE18, two oleosin isoforms in oil bodies of rice seeds, was suppressed by RNA interference. Electron microscopy revealed a few large, irregular oil clusters in 355::ole16i transgenic seed cells, whereas accumulated oil bodies in 35S::ole18i transgenic seed cells were comparable to or slightly larger than those in wild-type seed cells. Large and irregular oil clusters

were observed in cells of double mutant seeds. These unexpected differences observed in oil bodies of 35S::ole16i and 35S::ole18i transgenic seeds were further analyzed. In comparison to wild-type plants, OLE18 levels were reduced to approximately 40% when OLE16 was completely eliminated in 35.5::ole16i transgenic plants. In contrast, OLE16 was reduced to only 80% of wild-type levels when OLE18 was completely eliminated in 355::ole18i transgenic

plants. While the triacylglycerol selleck chemicals content of crude seed extracts of 35S::ole16i and 35.5::ole18i transgenic seeds was reduced learn more to approximately 60% and 80%, respectively, triacylglycerol in isolated oil bodies was respectively reduced to 45% and 80% in accordance with the reduction of their oleosin contents. Oil bodies isolated from both 35S::ole16i and 35S::ole18i transgenic seeds were found to be of comparable size and stability to those isolated from wild-type rice seeds, although they were merely sheltered by a single oleosin isoform. The drastic difference between the triacylglycerol contents of crude seed extracts and isolated oil bodies from 35S::ole16i transgenic plants could be attributed to the presence of large, unstable oil clusters that were sheltered by insufficient amounts of oleosin and therefore could not be isolated together with stable oil bodies. (C) 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.”
“This paper reviews recent studies that have used adaptive auditory training to address communication problems experienced by some children in their everyday life. It considers the auditory contribution to

developmental listening and language problems and the underlying principles of auditory learning that may drive further refinement of auditory learning applications. small molecule library screening Following strong claims that language and listening skills in children could be improved by auditory learning, researchers have debated what aspect of training contributed to the improvement and even whether the claimed improvements reflect primarily a retest effect on the skill measures. Key to understanding this research have been more circumscribed studies of the transfer of learning and the use of multiple control groups to examine auditory and non-auditory contributions to the learning. Significant auditory learning can occur during relatively brief periods of training. As children mature, their ability to train improves, but the relation between the duration of training, amount of learning and benefit remains unclear.

The overall gender distribution was almost equal. Palate was the most frequent involved site, followed by alveolar mucosa and floor of the mouth.

Conclusions. The present study shows a higher proportion of malignant tumors and a tendency toward male predilection during the past decades. The overall data are consistent with hospital-based studies from Asia and series from other geographic regions. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2011;111:e32-e39)”
“In this work, we investigate electron transport Wnt activity across a carbon molecular junction consisting of a C-60 molecule

attached to two semi-infinite metallic open-end CNT leads in the coherent regime. Here, we put emphasis on topology of the molecular-electrode interface and gate voltage, and obtain the electrical transmission through the CNT/C-60/CNT structure, using the Green’s function method in the framework of a nearest neighbor tight-binding approximation. To this end, three Ruboxistaurin cell line different ways of coupling C-60 fullerene through one, five, and six carbon atoms to the CNT-leads in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the tube have been considered. Also, the current-voltage characteristic is calculated in the Landauer-Buttiker

formalism at room temperature. It is shown that the number of contact points between the electrodes and the molecule can play an important role in the electrical transport. Also, Selleck Belinostat the bond dimerization and a gate voltage

shift the molecular levels, where by adjusting the related parameters the electron conduction can be controlled. Our results show that the proposed structure gives rise to the resonance states and quasi-bound states (Fano resonances) close to -2.63 eV. These antiresonance states are related to the active region and independent from the coupling strength between the device and the leads. The numerical results may serve as important components of nanocircuits. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3602994]“
“BACKGROUND: The use of donation-after-circulatory-death (DCD) donors for lung transplantation has come into practice. In this study we investigated whether DCD lungs can be resuscitated after warm ischemia with normothermic ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP).

METHODS: Four hours after cardiac arrest, beagle dogs were divided into two groups (n = 6 each): those with static cold storage (SCS group) and those with normothermic EVLP (EVLP group), for 3.5 hours. Physiologic lung functions were evaluated during EVLP. In both groups, the left lungs were then transplanted and reperfused for 4 hours to evaluate post-transplant lung functions. Lung tissue adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels were measured at given time-points.

RESULTS: Lung oxygenation was significantly improved with EVLP (p < 0.01), and lung oxygenation at the end of EVLP significantly reflected post-transplant lung oxygenation (r = 0.99, p < 0.01).

“
“Background: Directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) are an effective means of presenting expert-knowledge assumptions when selecting adjustment variables in epidemiology, whereas the change-in-estimate procedure is a common statistics-based approach. As DAGs imply specific empirical relationships which can be explored by the change-in-estimate procedure, it should be possible to combine the two approaches. This paper proposes such an approach which aims to produce well-adjusted estimates for a given research question, based on plausible DAGs consistent with the data at www.selleckchem.com/products/MK-2206.html hand, combining prior knowledge and standard regression methods.

Methods:

Based on the relationships laid out in a DAG, researchers can predict how a collapsible estimator (e. g. risk ratio or

risk difference) for an effect of interest should change when adjusted on different variable sets. Implied and observed patterns can then be compared to detect inconsistencies and so guide adjustment-variable selection.

Results: Selleck Nocodazole The proposed approach involves i. drawing up a set of plausible background-knowledge DAGs; ii. starting with one of these DAGs as a working DAG, identifying a minimal variable set, S, sufficient to control for bias on the effect of interest; iii. estimating a collapsible estimator adjusted on S, then adjusted on S plus each variable not in S in turn (“”add-one pattern”") and then adjusted on the variables in S minus each of these variables in turn (“”minus-one pattern”"); iv. checking the observed add-one and minus-one patterns against the pattern implied by the working DAG and the other prior DAGs; v. reviewing the DAGs, if needed; and vi. presenting the

initial and all final DAGs with estimates.

Conclusion: This approach to adjustment-variable selection combines background-knowledge and statistics-based approaches using methods already common in epidemiology and communicates assumptions and uncertainties in a standardized graphical format. It is probably best suited to areas where there is considerable background knowledge about plausible variable relationships. Researchers may use this approach as an additional tool for selecting adjustment variables when analyzing epidemiological data.”
“Background: Although depression is the most commonly found psychiatric disorder in patients on chronic dialysis, its prevalence in earlier stages https://www.selleckchem.com/products/CX-6258.html of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is not established. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of depression in patients with different stages of CKD and the factors associated with depressive affect.

Methods: A total of 155 nondialytic patients with CKD on conservative therapy and 36 patients on hemodialysis treatment were studied. Depression was rated using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Beck Depression Inventory-Short Form (BDI-SF). Functional capacity was evaluated using the Karnofsky Performance Scale, and clinical and sociodemographic variables were also investigated.

On the basis of these experiences, we began performing repeat SPK in prior SPK recipients (n = 9). Methods: This retrospective review summarizes our experience with repeat SPK transplantation in prior SPK recipients. Mean age at retransplant was 39 yr; mean interval to retransplant was 7.8 yr. Thirty-three percent were

pre-dialysis. Eighty-nine percent of patients underwent transplant nephrectomy (five during the repeat SPK and Torin 2 three prior to it), and 78% underwent transplant pancreatectomy (four during the repeat SPK and three prior to it). Enteric drainage was performed in all repeat SPKs. Results: Median length of stay was 11 d. Perioperative complications included the following: renal artery thrombosis (1), pancreatic portal venous thrombosis (1), enteric leak (1), and hematoma (2). Overall pancreatic allograft survival was 78% at one yr and 67% at two yr. Overall

renal allograft survival was 89% at one yr and 78% at RG-7388 in vitro two yr. Patient survival at one and three yr was 100%. Conclusions: Survival of repeat SPK allografts is acceptable despite the increased technical and immunologic demands of retransplantation. Graftectomy prior to or at the time of retransplantation is often necessary.”
“Inorganic semiconductor nanoparticles, such as CdSe quantum dots, are considered to be a promising alternative to fullerene derivates for application as electron acceptors in polymer-based bulk heterojunction solar cells. The main potential advantage is the strong light absorption of CdSe nanoparticles with a spectral bandwidth, which can even be tuned, due to the quantum size effect. However, the impact of the particle size on the performance of polymer/CdSe solar cells has remained largely unexplored so far. Therefore, the influence of particle size in hybrid solar cells using a blend of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and quasi-spherical

CdSe nanoparticles on relevant cell parameters and the overall solar cell performance is systematically studied in the present work. As the most important result, an increase of the open-circuit voltage (V(OC)) can be found for smaller nanoparticles and can be explained by GSK923295 an “”effective bandgap”" model. In contrast, no significant changes of the short-circuit current density with particle size are observed. Smaller particles were found to yield a lower fill factor, compensating the gain in V(OC), so that the power conversion efficiency finally turned out to be independent of the particle size in this study. Spectral differences observed in the respective external quantum efficiency spectra of the solar cells can be attributed to size-dependent changes of the particle absorption.

35 (sIgE+) in children aged 23 years. Propensity score estimation followed by full and nearest neighbour matching was compared with standard multivariable regression models. Results: Among children without a maternal history of allergic disease, ETS was positively associated with allergic sensitization in children with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for

SPT+ of 2.32 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.284.22) and the aOR for sIgE+ was 2.53 (95% CI: 1.434.48). Contrarily, for children with a positive maternal history, the aOR for SPT+ and sIgE+ was 0.56 (95% CI: 0.241.32) and 0.43 (95% CI: 0.200.91), respectively. Conclusions: Using propensity score methods to rigorously control for confounding factors, ETS exposure was found to reduce the risk of allergic sensitization in children with a positive maternal history. 5-Fluoracil in vitro There is a strong association between early-life ETS and the development of allergic sensitization for children aged 23 years without maternal history.”
“Angiogenesis, the process by which new vessels are created from pre-existing vasculature,

has become the subject of intense research in recent years. Increased rates of angiogenesis are associated with several disease states, including cancer, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetic retinopathy. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important modulator of angiogenesis, and has been implicated in the pathology of a number of conditions, including AMD, diabetic retinopathy, CA3 chemical structure and cancer. AMD is a progressive disease of the macula and the third major cause

of blindness worldwide. If not treated appropriately, AMD can progress to involve both eyes. Until recently, the treatment options for AM D have been limited, with photodynamic therapy (PDT) the mainstay of treatment. Although PDT is effective at slowing disease progression, it rarely results in improved vision. Several therapies have been or are now being developed for neovascular AMD, with the goal of inhibiting VEGF. These VEGF inhibitors include the RNA aptamer GS-9973 order pegaptanib, partial and full-length antibodies ranibizumab and bevacizumab, the VEGF receptor decoy aflibercept, small interfering RNA-based therapies bevasiranib and AGN 211745, sirolimus, and tyrosine kinase inhibitors, including vatalanib, pazopanib, TG 100801, TG 101095, AG 013958, and AL 39324. At present, established therapies have met with great success in reducing the vision loss associated with neovascular AMD, whereas those still under investigation offer the potential for further advances. In AMD patients, these therapies slow the rate of vision loss and in some cases increase visual acuity. Although VEGF-inhibitor therapies are a milestone in the treatment of these disease states, several concerns need to be addressed before their impact can be fully realized.

Phylogenetic analysis revealed their evolutionary relationship with corresponding orthologous sequences in Arabidopsis and deduced proteins in various plant species. Expression analysis by semi-quantitative RT-PCR revealed that these genes are differentially expressed in various tissues. The expression patterns of these genes also showed regulation by various stress conditions such as exposure to signaling molecules,

salinity and oxidative stress and wounding. Additionally, the in silico promoter analysis (of AnnBj1, AnnBj2 and AnnBj3) DAPT showed the presence of different cis-responsive elements that could respond to various stress conditions. These results indicate that AnnBj genes may play important roles in adaptation of plants to various environmental stresses. (C) 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.”
“Purpose To investigate (1) the contributions of sex, age, nutritional status-and physical-fitness-related variables on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in Spanish children with cystic fibrosis, and (2) the agreement on HRQOL between children and their parents.

Methods In 28 children aged 6-17 years, body mass index percentile, percentage body fat, physical activity, pulmonary function, cardiorespiratory fitness, functional mobility, and dynamic muscle strength were

determined using objective measures. HRQOL was measured using the revised version of the cystic fibrosis questionnaire. Simple and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to determine GDC-0973 nmr the variables associated with HRQOL. To assess the agreement on HRQOL between children and parents, intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs)

were calculated.

Results Girls reported worse emotional functioning, a higher treatment BAY 73-4506 supplier burden, and more respiratory problems than boys. Greater functional mobility appeared associated with a less favourable body image and more eating disturbances. Agreement on HRQOL between children and parents was good to excellent, except for the domain of treatment burden.

Conclusions Sex and age were stronger predictors of HRQOL than nutritional status- or physical-fitness-related variables. Children reported a lower treatment burden than their parents perceived them to have.”
“The pyroelectric coefficients of laminate composites under short circuit condition have been investigated by analytical modeling and numerical simulations. Indicators for various pyroelectric/non-pyroelectric material pairs that can be utilized to determine their pyroelectric coefficient enhancement credentials have been identified. Six pyroelectric materials were paired with six non-pyroelectric/elastic materials and their pyroelectric coefficient enhancement potential and figure of merit for efficiency were investigated. The best performing partnership out of the 36 pairs was lead zirconate titanate (PZT5H)-chlorinated polyvinyl chloride thermoplastic (CPVC) for thickness ratios (R) below 0.