Broadband dielectric spectroscopy, pulsed field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance (PFG NMR), and differential scanning calorimetry are combined to study charge transport and dipolar relaxations in novel hyperbranched polyamide amines. The dielectric spectra are dominated by conductivity contributions at higher temperatures (masking out the structural α-relaxation process), whereas two secondary dipolar relaxation processes are observed at lower temperatures for the two samples investigated. Based on Einstein and Einstein−Smoluchowski relations, the diffusion coefficient is extracted from the dielectric spectrain quantitative agreement with independent PFG NMR measurements. It exhibits a Vogel−Fulcher−Tammann temperature dependence, while the effective number density of the charge carriers varies only weakly with temperature. Charge transport and structural α-relaxation are found to be characterized by a decoupling index of ∼7 for the hyperbranched polymers studied.

Wavefront-guided LASIK and small-incision lenticule extraction were safe and effective for the correction of myopic astigmatism, although there was a trend toward undercorrection with small-incision lenticule extraction.

Background Impaired sleep is a common complaint among patients undergoing major surgery and may be a contributing factor in postoperative pain. The provision of eye masks to patients after cardiac surgery may reduce postoperative pain through improvements in sleep quality. Objective To examine the effect of nocturnal eye masks on postoperative pain and sleep quality in cardiac surgical patients. Methods In this randomized controlled trial, 70 adult patients who had undergone cardiac surgery requiring immediate postoperative care in the intensive care unit were randomly assigned to sleep with or without nocturnal eye masks for the first 3 nights in the unit. A visual analog scale was used to assess pain intensity, and the Arabic version of the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire was used to assess subjective sleep quality. Results A total of 66 patients completed the trial. A statistically significant difference was found between groups in mean total Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire score over the 3-day study period (P = .001), with the intervention group reporting better sleep quality. A statistically significant difference was also found between groups in mean pain score on days 1, 2, and 3 (P < .001), with the intervention group having less pain. Conclusion Nocturnal eye masks are a simple, low-risk, low-cost intervention that may contribute to reductions in perceived pain in cardiac surgery patients.

SMILE and WFG LASIK are efficacious and safe procedures for the correction of low and moderate myopia, but WFG LASIK allows a more predictable outcome and better aberrometric control. [J Refract Surg. 2017;33(5):298-304.].

The relaxation strength at the glass transition for semi-crystalline polymers observed by different experimental methods shows significant deviations from a simple two-phase model. Introduction of a rigid amorphous fraction, which is non-crystalline but does not participate in the glass transition, allows a description of the relaxation behavior of such systems. The question arises when does this amorphous material vitrify. Our measurements on PET identify no separate glass transition and no devitrification over a broad temperature range. Measurements on a low molecular weight compound which partly crystallizes supports the idea that vitrification of the rigid amorphous material occurs during formation of crystallites. The reason for vitrification is the immobilization of co-operative motions due to the fixation of parts of the molecules in the crystailites. Local movements ([$-relaxation) are only slightly influenced by the crystallites and occur in the whole non-crystalline fraction.