Microscopic Modeling of the Growth of Order in an Alloy: Nucleated and Continuous Ordering

We study the early-stages of ordering in $Cu_3 Au$ using a model Hamiltonian derived from the effective medium theory of cohesion in metals: an approach providing a microscopic description of interatomic interactions in alloys. Our simulations show a crossover from a nucleated growth regime to a region where the ordering does not follow any simple growth laws. This mirrors the experimental observations in $Cu_3 Au$. The kinetics of growth, obtained from the simulations, is in semi-quantitative agreement with experiments. The real-space structures observed in our simulations offer some insight into the nature of early-stage kineticsComment: 13 pages, Revtex, 3 postscript figures in a second file

Design and baseline characteristics of the finerenone in reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in diabetic kidney disease trial

Background: Among people with diabetes, those with kidney disease have exceptionally high rates of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality and progression of their underlying kidney disease. Finerenone is a novel, nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that has shown to reduce albuminuria in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) while revealing only a low risk of hyperkalemia. However, the effect of finerenone on CV and renal outcomes has not yet been investigated in long-term trials. Patients and Methods: The Finerenone in Reducing CV Mortality and Morbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease (FIGARO-DKD) trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of finerenone compared to placebo at reducing clinically important CV and renal outcomes in T2D patients with CKD. FIGARO-DKD is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, event-driven trial running in 47 countries with an expected duration of approximately 6 years. FIGARO-DKD randomized 7,437 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate >= 25 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and albuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio >= 30 to <= 5,000 mg/g). The study has at least 90% power to detect a 20% reduction in the risk of the primary outcome (overall two-sided significance level alpha = 0.05), the composite of time to first occurrence of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure. Conclusions: FIGARO-DKD will determine whether an optimally treated cohort of T2D patients with CKD at high risk of CV and renal events will experience cardiorenal benefits with the addition of finerenone to their treatment regimen. Trial Registration: EudraCT number: 2015-000950-39; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02545049

Measurement approach of mean heat transfer coefficient for packed bed of vegetables

The non-invasive measurement approach of the mean heat transfer coefficient for the packed bed of vegetables may be thought as still open issue. There is a clear need for the assessment of heat transfer conditions for various types of fruits and vegetables in order to accurately predict the thermal load that is necessary to select refrigeration equipment for cold storage chamber. Additionally, there is significant development in numerical modelling of heat and mass transfer processes in cold storage chambers for fruits and vegetables which requires precise heat transfer prediction. The theoretical basis for the indirect measurement approach of mean heat transfer coefficient for the packed bed of vegetables that is based on single blow technique is presented and discussed in the paper. The approach based on the modified model of Liang and Yang was presented and discussed. The testing stand consisted of a dedicated experimental tunnel along with auxiliary equipment and measurement system are presented. The geometry of the tested vegetables bed were presented. Selected experimental results of heat transfer are presented and discussed for the packed bed of carrots. These results were presented as dimensionless relationship. The obtained results were compared with the existing dimensionless relationships developed for the packed bed consisting of elements of various regular shapes

From the laboratory to healthy seed tubers - report on the implementation of the project FITOEXPORT in the Bonin Research Center of IHAR-PIB

Oddział IHAR-PIB w Boninie jest członkiem konsorcjum realizującego projekt FITOEXPORT finanso- wany przez NCBiR w ramach programu GOSPOSTRATEG. Zadanie wykonywane w Boninie ma na celu opracowanie i wdrożenie w laboratoriach PIORiN multipleksowego testu RT-PCR w czasie rze- czywistym do wykrywania wirusów Y, L, M, S, A, X oraz wiroida PSTVd. Taki test opracowano w fazie badawczej projektu, a obecnie trwają prace nad jego adaptacją do wykrywania patogenów na masową skalę w celu usprawnienia urzędowej certyfikacji sadzeniaków ziemniaka przez PIORiN

Exergy analysis of operation of two-phase ejector in compression refrigeration systems

Paper deals with theoretical analysis of possible efficiency increase of compression refrigeration cycles by means of application of a two-phase ejector. Application of the two phase ejector in subcritical refrigeration system as a booster compressor is discussed in the paper. Results of exergy analysis of the system operating with various working fluids for various operating conditions have been shown. Analysis showed possible exergy efficiency increase of refrigeration compression cycle

Analysis of fouling thermal resistance of feed-water heaters in steam power plants

In this paper a problem is discussed of thermal degradation of shell-and-tube recuperative feed-water heaters due to heat transfer surface fouling. Application (to an example steam cycle of power plant) of DIAGAR software system intended for the analysing of impact of degradation of a particular heat exchanger on whole recuperative system performance, is presented. On the basis of the systematically performed simulative calculations it was concluded that the degradation of feed-water heaters of the lowest extraction pressure results in an additional load imposed on the heaters of higher extraction pressures, moreover it was estimated that the degradation of the heaters due to presence of sediments of the thermal resistance reaching 5*10-4 m2*K/W, has resulted in the drop of turbine set efficiency by about 0.3%. Such drop depends on a given configuration of degree of degradation of particular feed-water heaters applied in a considered turbine set