Effect of chill cooling conditions on cooling rate,microstructure and casting/chill interfacial heat transfer coefficient for sand cast A319 alloy

A combination of experiments and numerical analyses were used to examine the cooling conditions, solidification microstructure and interfacial heat transfer in A319 cast in a chilled wedge format. Both solid copper chills and water cooled chills, with and without a delay in water cooling, were examined in the study. Various chill preheats were also included. The goal of the investigation is to explore methods of limiting heat transfer during solidification directly beside the chill and increasing cooling rates during solidification away from the chill. Within the range of conditions examined in the study, chill preheat was found to have only a small effect on cooling rates between 5 and 50 mm from the chill/casting interface, pour superheat a moderate effect and water cooling a significant effect. In comparison to the results for the solid chill, the solidification time at 5 mm with water cooling applied at the beginning of mould filling is reduced from 56 to 15 s and at 50 mm from 588 to 93·5 s. Furthermore, the average cooling rate during solidification is increased from 1·9 to 7·06°C s^?1 at 5 mm and from 0·18 to 1·13°C s^?1 at 50 mm. At 50 mm, for example, the increased cooling rate achieved with water translates into a reduction in secondary dendrite arm spacing from 40 to 25 μm or ～40%. Delaying the water cooling by 10 s facilitated slow cooling rates at 5 mm (similar to those achieved with a solid chill) and high cooling rates 50 mm from the chill. A temperature based correlation was found to be suitable for characterising the behaviour of the interfacial heat transfer coefficient in the solid shill castings, whereas a time based correlation was needed for the water cooled castings.     

Altered tight junction structure contributes to the impaired epithelial barrier function in ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Mechanisms of diarrhea in ulcerative colitis (UC) are still unknown. Functional and structural characterization of epithelial barrier and transport properties in ulcerative colitis (UC) was performed. METHODS: Inflamed sigmoid colon epithelium from UC patients was studied by alternating current impedance analysis to determine the pure epithelial resistance as a measure of intestinal barrier function. Tight junction (TJ) structure was investigated by freeze-fracture electron microscopy. RESULTS: Although total wall resistance was reduced in UC by 50%, impedance analysis uncovered a much more pronounced barrier defect. Epithelial resistance decreased from 95 +/- 5 to 20 +/- 3 omega3. cm2, which in conventional analysis is masked by an increase in subepithelial resistance from 14 +/- 1 to 36 +/- 3 omega3. cm2 caused by inflammation. This was paralleled by a change in epithelial cell TJ structure in UC. Strand count decreased from 6.94 +/- 0.25 to 4.76 +/- 0.47 at the surface and from 7.26 +/- 0.31 to 5.46 +/- 0.37 in the crypts. Conclusions: The inflamed colonic mucosa in UC has an impaired barrier function that is much more pronounced than previously assumed. An altered TJ structure contributes to this barrier defect which, because of increased back leak, can reduce net ion transport. Thus, a leak-flux mechanism contributes to the diarrhea in UC.     

Optimal fluid control can normalize cardiovascular risk markers and limit left ventricular hypertrophy in thrice weekly dialysis patients

Increased hemodialysis frequency can make fluid overload easier to treat, although most patients are still treated thrice weekly. Chronic fluid overload is associated with left ventricular hypertrophy and elevated serum cardiac biomarkers, recognized as mortality risk factors. Serum cardiac troponin T (cTnT), N‐terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP), left ventricular mass index by cardiac magnetic imaging, and ambulatory blood pressure was measured in 30 thrice weekly hemodiafiltration patients. Time‐averaged fluid overload (TAFO) was quantified by bioimpedance spectroscopy. In the study group, left ventricular hypertrophy was found to be 26% by cardiac magnetic resonance. Ambulatory blood pressure was 130 mmHg (112–151) requiring a low equivalent dose of medication of 0.25 units (0–1). Significantly, lower levels of left ventricular mass index (P < 0.05) were associated in those patients with TAFO <1 L or NT‐proBNP <1200 pg/mL or cTnT <0.1 ug/L. In the subgroups, 16 patients had normal cTnT (<0.03 ug/L), 16 patients had NT‐proBNP <400 pg/mL, and 20 patients had TAFO <1 L. Nine patients had both cTnT <0.03 ug/L and NT‐proBNP <400 pg/mL. Normally hydrated thrice‐weekly hemodiafiltration patients can have cardiac biomarker and TAFO levels indistinguishable from the normal healthy population. Obtaining TAFO by bioimpedance monitoring can offer a practical alternative to serum cardiac biomarkers.     

Quantifying the accuracy of numerical collapse predictions for the design of submarine pressure hulls

An overview of current design practices for submarine pressure hulls is presented, along with the results of a survey of the literature that was conducted to determine standard nonlinear numerical modelling practices for those structures. The accuracies of the conventional submarine design formulae (SDF) and nonlinear numerical analyses for predicting pressure hull collapse are estimated by comparing predicted and experimental collapse loads from the literature. The conventional SDF are found to be accurate within approximately 20%, with 95% confidence, for intact pressure hulls. The accuracy of a wide range of nonlinear numerical methods, including axisymmetric finite difference and general shell finite element (FE) models, is found to be within approximately 16% with 95% confidence. The accuracy is found to be within 9% when only higher fidelity general shell FE models are considered. It is shown how the observations taken from the survey could serve as a starting point for establishing modelling guidelines, quantifying the accuracy of nonlinear FE analysis in pressure hull collapse calculations, and introducing this method into a design procedure by way of a partial safety factor.     

Pain Sensations Associated with Electrocutaneous Stimulation

This paper discusses the results of experiments carried out to determine the feasibility of using electrocutaneous stimulation in sensory substitution systems. The sharp, pricking pain often associated with electrocutaneous stimulation has been found to be a result of thermal damage to the corneal layer of the skin. The high-energy densities required to create this damage often occur, even at moderate stimulation currents, because of the highly nonhomogeneous nature of the skin-electrode interface. However, this pain can be controlled without resorting to electrode pastes by adopting a simple procedure for applying the electrode. The dynamic range and the stability of the sensation magnitude have been measured under paste-free conditions and the conclusion is reached that electrocutaneous stimulation would be a viable alternative to mechanical stimulation in certain sensory substitution applications.     

Gamma Knife Treatment of Brainstem Metastases

The management of brainstem metastases is challenging. Surgical treatment is usually not an option, and chemotherapy is of limited utility. Stereotactic radiosurgery has emerged as a promising palliative treatment modality in these cases. The goal of this study is to assess our single institution experience treating brainstem metastases with Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS). This retrospective chart review studied 41 patients with brainstem metastases treated with GKRS. The most common primary tumors were lung, breast, renal cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Median age at initial treatment was 59 years. Nineteen (46%) of the patients received whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) prior to or concurrent with GKRS treatment. Thirty (73%) of the patients had a single brainstem metastasis. The average GKRS dose was 17 Gy. Post-GKRS overall survival at six months was 42%, at 12 months was 22%, and at 24 months was 13%. Local tumor control was achieved in 91% of patients, and there was one patient who had a fatal brain hemorrhage after treatment. Karnofsky performance score (KPS) >80 and the absence of prior WBRT were predictors for improved survival on multivariate analysis (HR 0.60 (p = 0.02), and HR 0.28 (p = 0.02), respectively). GKRS was an effective treatment for brainstem metastases, with excellent local tumor control.     

A 16S rRNA-based PCR assay for detection and identification of granulocytic Ehrlichia species in dogs, horses, and cattle

A PCR-based assay was developed for detecting DNA of granulocytic ehrlichiae in blood samples from dogs, horses, and cattle, Primers were designed from 16S rRNA sequence information to specifically amplify DNA from a newly identified Swedish Ehrlichia species. The 16S rRNA nucleotide sequence of this Swedish species differs in only two and three positions from the sequences of Ehrlichia phagocytophila and Ehrlichia equi, respectively, which were also amplified by this PCR system. For evaluation, PCR results were compared with microscopic examination of stained blood smears for the detection of granulocytes containing ehrlichiae (morulae). Thirty-four of 36 microscopically positive samples were also positive by PCR, and 6 microscopically negative samples were negative by PCR as well. Six samples, in which morulae-like structures had been seen, were negative by PCR, also at a lower annealing temperature and when a reamplification of the first PCR products was performed. The identities of the PCR products from some canine and equine isolates were verified by direct DNA sequencing and were found to be identical with the Ehrlichia sequence found in these animal species that had been obtained earlier. The sequences of a segment of approximately 600 nucleotides from two bovine isolates were identical to that of E. phagocytophila, whereas the sequence of another bovine isolate differed in two positions from that of E. phagocytophila and in three positions from the sequences of the canine and equine isolates. Serum samples were analyzed by indirect fluorescent-antibody testing. Seventy-three percent of the animals which were positive by microscopy and PCR also had positive antibody titers. However, it was not possible to rely on a single serological result for diagnosis of present infection. It was, therefore, concluded that PCR was the most reliable method, useful in the clinical laboratory for specific and early diagnosis of granulocytic ehrlichiosis in animals.     

Unknown primary carcinoma: randomised studies are needed to identify optimal treatments and their benefits

This is a retrospective review of 101 patients with unknown primary carcinoma (UPC) treated between 1989 and 1994, on whom data were collected prospectively. 92 patients received platinum-based chemotherapy and 9 had single agent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). In the platinum group, an objective response rate of 37.2% was seen, with a median duration of 4.5 months (range 1.9-17.5). There were no responses with 5-FU alone, while median survival was 6.4 months and was not different from the platinum group (P = 0.09). Considerable symptomatic resolution was noted, although the contribution of chemotherapy alone to this is difficult to define. The impact of tumour response on quality of life and survival in UPC requires further elucidation in prospective studies with a "best supportive care' arm. The superiority of platinum-based treatments reported in selected subgroups cannot be applied to the whole spectrum of UPC.