Exploring the low temperature tempering range of low alloy quenched and tempered steels

Abstract It is well known that quenched and tempered alloy steel components with ultimate tensile strength in excess of 1400 MPa are seldom employed as mechanical components, due to their not adequate ductility, as ascertained by multiple researches performed during World War II and soon after. Nevertheless, use of low temperature tempered steels in some niche applications, as well as researches performed on surface heat treated high carbon steels and on their behavior upon tempering in the vicinity of 200°C have stemmed into renewed interest in quenched and low temperature tempered low alloy steels. Application to 36NiCrMo16 steel bars is examined here, by means of tensile and hardness tests and fractographic and metallographic examinations after quenching and tempering in the 160 to 440 °C temperature range

Metallo-Dielectric Multilayer Structure for Lactose Malabsorption Diagnosis through H2 Breath Test

A metallo-dielectric multilayer structure is proposed as a novel approach to the analysis of lactose malabsorption. When lactose intolerance occurs, the bacterial overgrowth in the intestine causes an increased spontaneous emission of H2 in the human breath. By monitoring the changes in the optical properties of a multilayer palladium-polymeric structure, one is able to detect the patient's disease and the level of lactose malabsorption with high sensitivity and rapid response

High sensitivity photonic crystal pressure sensor

A two-dimensional photonic crystal microcavity coupled with a waveguide is proposed to realise a high sensitive force sensor, designed on a GaAs membrane. A theoretical model is developed to evaluate the change of the refractive index induced by the application of the force onto a sensing surface. A linear calibration curve is obtained relating the resonant drop position to the applied force

Wide-band optical field concentrator for low-index core propagation

We propose a novel chirped structure consisting of a low index polymer core bounded by modulated multilayer claddings, to realize an optical field concentrator with virtually zero propagation losses in a wide spectral range, independent of wave polarization. In spite of the absence of the total internal reflection mechanism, properly designed multilayer claddings ensure the achievement of unitary transmittance in a wide spectral range, including the widely used wavelengths for optical communications. Several cladding geometries obtained by varying the thicknesses of the cladding layers are reported and discussed.Comment: submitted to the Journal of the European Optical Societ

Effectiveness and safety of vedolizumab in a matched cohort of elderly and nonelderly patients with inflammatory bowel disease: the IG-IBD LIVE study

Vedolizumab registration trials were the first to include elderly patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD), but few real-life data have been reported in this population. Aims: We investigated the effectiveness and safety of vedolizumab in matched cohorts of elderly and nonelderly UC and CD patients. Methods: The Long-term Italian Vedolizumab Effectiveness (LIVE) study is a retrospective-prospective study including UC and CD patients who started vedolizumab from April 2016 to June 2017. Elderly patients (≥65 years) were matched clinically 1:2 to nonelderly patients (18-64 years); the 2 groups were followed until drug discontinuation or June 2019. Results: The study included 198 elderly (108 UC, 90 CD) and 396 matched nonelderly patients (205 UC, 191 CD). Nonelderly UC patients had a significantly higher persistence on vedolizumab compared to elderly patients (67.6% vs. 51.4%, p = 0.02). No significant difference in effectiveness was observed between elderly and nonelderly CD patients (59.4% vs. 52.4%, p = 0.32). Age ≥65 years was associated with lower persistence in UC; for CD, previous exposure to anti-TNF-α agents, Charlson comorbidity index >2 and moderate-to-severe clinical activity at baseline were associated with lower persistence. There were recorded 130 adverse events, with comparable rates between the two groups. A Charlson comorbidity index >2 was associated with an increased risk of adverse events. Conclusion: Vedolizumab can be considered a safe option in elderly IBD patients. Its effectiveness in elderly UC patients may be reduced, while no age-dependent effect on effectiveness was observed in CD

Accessible opera : overcoming linguistic and sensorial barriers

The desire to make media available for all has been rapidly accepted and implemented by most European countries. Opera, as one of the many audiovisual representations, also falls under the category of production which needs to be made accessible and this article aims to analyse how opera has gone through a complete transformation to become a cultural event for all, overcoming not only linguistic but also sensorial barriers. The first part of the article analyses the various forms of translation associated with opera and the main challenges they entail. The second presents different systems used to make opera accessible to the sensorially challenged, highlighting their main difficulties. Examples from research carried out at the Barcelona's Liceu opera house are presented to illustrate various modalities, especially audio description. All in all, it is our aim to show how translated-related processes have made it possible to open opera to a wider audience despite some initial reluctance

Meritocratic aspects concerning civil servant career: comparative study in Central and Eastern European countries

Central and Eastern Europe has known in the last 20 years profound changes. The shift from a dictatorial system to a democratic system forced the states from this area to adopt structural measures for all public institutions. In this context, the institution of "civil servant" could not remain unaffected. In the period of communist regimes, the institution of "civil servant" did not exist, the civil servant being just a simple employee of the state. Work relations were the same as for any employee. The shift to another political system, the democratic one, determined the reconsideration the role and the place of public administration, and implicit of civil servant in the framework of the state system. In this context, it has been a shift from the statute of simple employee to that of civil servant, representing the power of the state. In the process of accession to the European Union, the states from Central and Eastern Europe have been permanently pressured to clearly define a strategy concerning the competitiveness of public administration, concerning the statute and the career of civil servant. In the context of democratisation, we can notice that the principle of meritocracy has become a key principle in the civil servant's career. The term "meritocracy" is often used in order to describe a type of society in which wealth and social position are obtained mainly through competition or through ability or proved competences. A position invested with responsibilities and social prestige has to be acquired and not inherited or obtained by arbitrary criteria. Meritocracy represents also the term used to describe or to criticise a society in competition that accepts inequitable disparities of income, wealth and social position. Taking into account the above considerations, the present paper aims to achieve an analysis of meritocratic aspects in the systems of planning and promotion of civil servant's career in Central and Eastern Europe

Endo-therapies for biliary duct-to-duct anastomotic stricture after liver transplantation: outcomes of a nationwide survey

BACKGROUND: The most appropriate endo-therapeutic approach to biliary anastomotic strictures is yet to be defined. AIM: To retrospectively report on the endo-therapy of duct-to-duct anastomotic strictures during 2013 in Italy. METHODS: Data were collected from 16 Endoscopy Units at the Italian Liver Transplantation Centers (BASALT study group). RESULTS: Complete endo-therapy and follow-up data are available for 181 patients: 101 treated with plastic multistenting, 26 with fully covered self-expandable metal stenting (SEMS) and 54 with single stenting. Radiological success was achieved for 145 patients (80%), i.e. 88% of plastic multistenting, 88% of SEMS and 61% of single stenting (p<0.001 vs plastic multistenting; p<0.05 vs SEMS)]. After first-line endo-therapy failure, the patients underwent a second-line endo-therapy with plastic multistenting for 25%, fully covered SEMS for 53% and single stenting for 22% of cases, and radiological success was achieved for 84%, i.e. 100%, 85%, and 63% with plastic multistenting, SEMS and single stenting (p<0.05 vs plastic multistenting or SEMS), respectively. Procedure-related complications occurred in 7.8% of ERCP. Overall clinical success was achieved in 87% of patients after a median follow-up of 25 months. CONCLUSION: Plastic multistenting is confirmed as the preferred first-line treatment, while fully covered SEMS as rescue option for biliary anastomotic strictures. Single stenting has sub-optimal results and should be abandoned. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved