High Temperature Property Development of Bauxite Based Bricks

Physical properties and microstructural evolution on firing of 3 types of bauxite based refractory bricks were carried out using techniques such as porosimetry,XRD and SEM.The groups differed from each other by progressive refining of the matrix or bond phase.It is revealed that such a refinement of the matrix can improve the high temperature properties of the bricks made from poor grade materials.     

On energy arguments applied to the hydrodynamic impact force

The hydrodynamic impact problem is investigated within the framework of potential-flow theory. The vertical load acting on the rigid body is derived based on either momentum or energy conservation, and using the concept of added mass together with a homogeneous Dirichlet condition for the potential on the free surface as usually done to model an impact problem. It is demonstrated that the use of this simplified dynamic free-surface condition, instead of the fully nonlinear one, has a direct influence on the computation of the loads. In particular, the equivalence of momentum and energy analysis is in general not recovered. The situation is then highlighted by performing an asymptotic analysis of the two-dimensional blunt-body asymmetric impact problem. The asymptotic solution is given explicitly and validated through comparisons with experimental results. The energy distribution is then studied. It is shown that the contradiction between momentum and energy analysis can be removed, provided that the flux of energy through the jets is taken into account in the energy balance. If the simplified free-surface condition is indeed valid in the far-field, nonlinear terms must be retained near the body, in the spray-root domains. To leading order, the energy distribution during the gravity-free inertia stage does not depend on the blunt-body shape. The general analysis based on momentum or energy conservation suggests that this result also applies for arbitrary body shape as soon as a homogeneous Dirichlet condition can be applied as a dynamical free-surface boundary condition. In this case, and for a constant vertical impact velocity, half the work performed by the body would seem to be transferred to the fluid as kinetic energy within the spray.     

Comparative efficacy of calcipotriol (MC903) cream and betamethasone 17-valerate cream in the treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis. A randomized, double-blind, parallel group multicentre study. Calcipotriol Study Group

PURPOSE: Ultrasound estimated bladder weight was compared before and after surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) to reveal a possible reversible change in bladder hypertrophy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ultrasound estimated bladder weight was measured before and after subcapsular (17) or transurethral (16) prostatectomy in 33 male patients with BPH. Sequential changes in the American Urological Association symptom score and urinary flow rate were also examined. RESULTS: Along with a significant improvement in the American Urological Association symptom scores and maximum flow rate, ultrasound estimated bladder weight decreased from 52.9 +/- 22.6 to 31.6 +/- 15.8 gm. in 12 weeks after treatment. In all but 4 patients (29 of 33, or 87.9%) ultrasound estimated bladder weight decreased to less than 35.0 gm. in 12 weeks after treatment. Interestingly, in all patients with an initial ultrasound estimated bladder weight of greater than 80 gm. the bladder weight still remained at an abnormally high level 12 weeks after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Bladder hypertrophy was completely reversible after the surgical treatment of the obstruction in the majority of patients with BPH. The measurement of ultrasound estimated bladder weight was of value in monitoring therapeutic effects in BPH patients. An extraordinarily high ultrasound estimated bladder weight of 80 gm. or more might suggest degenerative and irreversible pathological changes in the bladder detrusor.     

Isolation and characteristics of a protein-polysaccharide complex, secreted by Bifidobacterium adolescentis

Although self-help/mutual-help groups, like Alcoholics Anonymous, are important factors in the recovery of many chemically dependent individuals, the large dropout rates from such groups and the awareness that many who drop out do not return to dependent behavior raises interesting questions about other paths to sustained abstinence and recovery. Current emphasis on treatment outcome studies provides a means for researching factors in both those who recover with and without the assistance of self-help/mutual-help groups. The authors suggest some questions which might be investigated.     

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis mucosal T cells are stimulated by intestinal epithelial cells: implications for immunosuppressive therapy

BACKGROUND: Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are chronic inflammatory diseases, and their pathogenesis is attributed, in part, to alterations of the mucosal immune system. This study was designed to define the possible contribution of epithelial cells to the activation of lamina propria T lymphocytes (LPTs) in CD and UC. METHODS: LPTs isolated from CD, UC, and control surgical specimens were cocultured with freshly isolated allogeneic or autologous epithelial cells or epithelial cell lines. Resulting T-cell proliferation was evaluated by tritiated thymidine incorporation on day 5. RESULTS: When intestinal epithelial cells were used to stimulate mucosal T-cell proliferation, CD and UC LPTs were less responsive than control LPTs (p < 0.05 and p < 0.03, respectively). This difference between inflamed and control T cells was consistently observed by using a variety of different intestinal epithelial cell types. CONCLUSIONS: CD and UC mucosal T cells are hyporesponsive to activation by intestinal epithelial cells when compared with control LPTs. Elucidating the mechanism underlying the differential activation of CD and UC LPTs may help to better understand the immunopathogenesis of these conditions.     

Independent modulation of horse airway smooth muscle by epithelium and prostanoids

The effects of epithelial removal and cyclooxygenase inhibition on contractions induced by exogenous acetylcholine (ACh) and electrical field stimulation (EFS) were evaluated in horse tracheal strips and bronchial rings. Epithelial removal potentiated the response to ACh but had no influence on the response to EFS. The effect of epithelial removal was not altered by pretreating the tissues with meclofenamate, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor. In trachealis strips, meclofenamate augmented contractions induced by EFS but not by ACh. In bronchial rings, meclofenamate augmented EFS-induced contraction to a greater extent than ACh-induced contraction. These effects of meclofenamate were epithelium-independent. We conclude that horse airway epithelium produces a relaxant factor that is not a prostanoid. Endogenous prostanoids originating from non-epithelial sites inhibit only cholinergic nerves in the trachea but both parasympathetic nerves and smooth muscle in the bronchi.