Magnetostrictive materials for aerospace applications

Structural health monitoring of composite structures to detect barely visible damage is vitally important for the aerospace industry. This research has investigated amorphous magnetostrictive wires (Fe77.5Si7.5B15 and Co72.5Si12.5B15), as a possible solution to monitoring aerospace composites. The different amorphous wires were either embedded into the composite or epoxied on to the surface. How the wires effected the structure of the composite along with ultimate tensile strength was studied. Inductance measurements were used to study the strain within the composite, which provided a non-intrusive method of monitoring the composite

2023 ESC Guidelines for the management of endocarditis

Cardiolog

Measurements of fiducial cross-sections for t\bart production with one or two additional b-jets in pp collisions at √s =8 TeVusing the ATLAS detector

Fiducial cross-sections for $t\bar{t}$ production with one or two additional $b$-jets are reported, using an integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb$^{-1}$ of proton--proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV at the Large Hadron Collider, collected with the ATLAS detector. The cross-section times branching ratio for $t\bar{t}$ events with at least one additional $b$-jet is measured to be 950 $\pm$ 70 (stat.) $^{+240}_{-190}$ (syst.) fb in the lepton-plus-jets channel and 50 $\pm$ 10 (stat.) $^{+15}_{-10}$ (syst.) fb in the $e \mu$ channel. The cross-section times branching ratio for events with at least two additional $b$-jets is measured to be 19.3 $\pm$ 3.5 (stat.) $\pm$ 5.7 (syst.) fb in the dilepton channel ($e \mu$,\,$\mu\mu$, and \,$ee$) using a method based on tight selection criteria, and 13.5 $\pm$ 3.3 (stat.) $\pm$ 3.6 (syst.) fb using a looser selection that allows the background normalisation to be extracted from data. The latter method also measures a value of 1.30 $\pm$ 0.33 (stat.) $\pm$ 0.28 (syst.)\% for the ratio of $t\bar{t}$ production with two additional $b$-jets to $t\bar{t}$ production with any two additional jets. All measurements are in good agreement with recent theory predictions.Comment: 41 pages plus author list + cover page (58 total), 9 Figures, 16 tables, submitted to EPJC, all figures including auxiliary figures are available at https://atlas.web.cern.ch/Atlas/GROUPS/PHYSICS/PAPERS/TOPQ-2014-10

Prompt and non-prompt J/psi elliptic flow in Pb plus Pb collisions at root S-NN=5.02 TeV with the ATLAS detector

The elliptic flow of prompt and non-prompt J/ \u3c8 was measured in the dimuon decay channel in Pb+Pb collisions at sNN=5.02 TeV with an integrated luminosity of 0.42nb-1 with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The prompt and non-prompt signals are separated using a two-dimensional simultaneous fit of the invariant mass and pseudo-proper decay time of the dimuon system from the J/ \u3c8 decay. The measurement is performed in the kinematic range of dimuon transverse momentum and rapidity 9 < pT< 30 GeV , | y| < 2 , and 0\u201360% collision centrality. The elliptic flow coefficient, v2, is evaluated relative to the event plane and the results are presented as a function of transverse momentum, rapidity and centrality. It is found that prompt and non-prompt J/ \u3c8 mesons have non-zero elliptic flow. Prompt J/ \u3c8v2 decreases as a function of pT, while for non-prompt J/ \u3c8 it is, with limited statistical significance, consistent with a flat behaviour over the studied kinematic region. There is no observed dependence on rapidity or centrality

Search for squarks and gluinos in final states with hadronically decaying tau-leptons, jets, and missing transverse momentum using pp collisions at root s = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

A search for supersymmetry in events with large missing transverse momentum, jets, and at least one hadronically decaying τ-lepton is presented. Two exclusive final states with either exactly one or at least two τ-leptons are considered. The analysis is based on proton-proton collisions at √s=13  TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36.1  fb⁻¹ delivered by the Large Hadron Collider and recorded by the ATLAS detector in 2015 and 2016. No significant excess is observed over the Standard Model expectation. At 95% confidence level, model-independent upper limits on the cross section are set and exclusion limits are provided for two signal scenarios: a simplified model of gluino pair production with τ-rich cascade decays, and a model with gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking (GMSB). In the simplified model, gluino masses up to 2000 GeV are excluded for low values of the mass of the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP), while LSP masses up to 1000 GeV are excluded for gluino masses around 1400 GeV. In the GMSB model, values of the supersymmetry-breaking scale are excluded below 110 TeV for all values of tanβ in the range 2 ≤ tanβ ≤ 60, and below 120 TeV for tanβ > 30.M. Aaboud … D. Duvnjak … P. Jackson … J.L. Oliver … A. Petridis … A. Qureshi … A.S. Sharma … M.J. White … et al. [The ATLAS Collaboration

A measurement of material in the ATLAS tracker using secondary hadronic interactions in 7 TeV pp collisions

Knowledge of the material in the ATLAS inner tracking detector is crucial in understanding the reconstruction of charged-particle tracks, the performance of algorithms that identify jets containing b-hadrons and is also essential to reduce background in searches for exotic particles that can decay within the inner detector volume. Interactions of primary hadrons produced in pp collisions with the material in the inner detector are used to map the location and amount of this material. The hadronic interactions of primary particles may result in secondary vertices, which in this analysis are reconstructed by an inclusive vertex-finding algorithm. Data were collected using minimum-bias triggers by the ATLAS detector operating at the LHC during 2010 at centre-of-mass energy √ s = 7 TeV, and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 19 nb−1 . Kinematic properties of these secondary vertices are used to study the validity of the modelling of hadronic interactions in simulation. Secondary-vertex yields are compared between data and simulation over a volume of about 0.7 m3 around the interaction point, and agreement is found within overall uncertainties

Haemodynamic and clinical effects of ularitide in decompensated heart failure

Aims: Ularitide is a synthetic form of urodilatin, a natriuretic peptide produced in the kidney with vasodilating, natriuretic, and diuretic effects, that offers promise for the management of decompensated heart failure (DHF). We assessed the efficacy and safety of ularitide in treating patients with DHF. Methods and results: In this Phase II randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 221 DHF patients received either placebo (n=53) or ularitide at 7.5 ng/kg/min (n=60), 15 ng/kg/min (n=53), or 30 ng/kg/min (n=55) as a 24-h continuous infusion. At 6 h, ularitide demonstrated a significant decrease in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (P=0.052, P=0.000004, P=0.000002, respectively) and improved dyspnoea score in the 7.5, 15, and 30 ng/kg/min ularitide group (P=0.0026, P=0.0026, P=0.0013, respectively). Ularitide reduced systemic vascular resistance and increased cardiac index for the 15 and 30 ng/kg/min groups (P=0.017, P=0.00002, respectively). Systolic blood pressure (BP) decreased dose dependency. Heart rate and serum creatinine were unchanged through day 3. Most frequently reported drug-related adverse events through day 3 in all ularitide groups were dose-dependent BP decrease and hypotension. Conclusion: Ularitide lowered cardiac filling pressures and improved dyspnoea without apparent early deleterious effects on renal function in DHF patients. These results suggest that ularitide may play a role in the management of DHF. © The European Society of Cardiology 2006. All rights reserved

Haemodynamic and clinical effects of ularitide in decompensated heart failure

Aims: Ularitide is a synthetic form of urodilatin, a natriuretic peptide produced in the kidney with vasodilating, natriuretic, and diuretic effects, that offers promise for the management of decompensated heart failure (DHF). We assessed the efficacy and safety of ularitide in treating patients with DHF. Methods and results: In this Phase II randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 221 DHF patients received either placebo (n=53) or ularitide at 7.5 ng/kg/min (n=60), 15 ng/kg/min (n=53), or 30 ng/kg/min (n=55) as a 24-h continuous infusion. At 6 h, ularitide demonstrated a significant decrease in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (P=0.052, P=0.000004, P=0.000002, respectively) and improved dyspnoea score in the 7.5, 15, and 30 ng/kg/min ularitide group (P=0.0026, P=0.0026, P=0.0013, respectively). Ularitide reduced systemic vascular resistance and increased cardiac index for the 15 and 30 ng/kg/min groups (P=0.017, P=0.00002, respectively). Systolic blood pressure (BP) decreased dose dependency. Heart rate and serum creatinine were unchanged through day 3. Most frequently reported drug-related adverse events through day 3 in all ularitide groups were dose-dependent BP decrease and hypotension. Conclusion: Ularitide lowered cardiac filling pressures and improved dyspnoea without apparent early deleterious effects on renal function in DHF patients. These results suggest that ularitide may play a role in the management of DHF. © The European Society of Cardiology 2006. All rights reserved

Alirocumab after acute coronary syndrome in patients with a history of heart failure

Aims Patients with heart failure (HF) have not been shown to benefit from statins. In a post hoc analysis, we evaluated outcomes in ODYSSEY OUTCOMES in patients with vs. without a history of HF randomized to the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor alirocumab or placebo. Methods and results Among 18 924 patients with recent acute coronary syndrome (ACS) receiving intensive or maximum-tolerated statin treatment, the primary outcome of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) was compared in patients with or without a history of HF. The pre-specified secondary outcome of hospitalization for HF was also analysed. Overall, 2815 (14.9%) patients had a history of HF. Alirocumab reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and lipoprotein(a) similarly in patients with or without HF. Overall, alirocumab reduced MACE compared with placebo [hazard ratio (HR): 0.85; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.78-0.93; P = 0.0001]. This effect was observed among patients without a history of HF (HR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.70-0.86; P < 0.0001), but not in those with a history of HF (HR: 1.17; 95% CI: 0.97-1.40; P = 0.10) (P-interaction = 0.0001). Alirocumab did not reduce hospitalization for HF, overall or in patients with or without prior HF. Conclusion Alirocumab reduced MACE in patients without a history of HF but not in patients with a history of HF. Alirocumab did not reduce hospitalizations for HF in either group. Patients with a history of HF are a high-risk group that does not appear to benefit from PCSK9 inhibition after ACS. Key Question Patients with heart failure (HF) have not been shown to benefit from statins. In a post hoc analysis of the ODYSSEY OUTCOMES trial in patients with recent acute coronary syndrome (ACS), we evaluated major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with or without a history of HF assigned to treatment with the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor alirocumab or placebo. Key Finding Alirocumab reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol similarly in patients with or without HF. However, alirocumab reduced MACE among patients without a history of HF, but not in those with a history of HF. Take Home Message The current hypothesis-generating analysis does not provide a basis to recommend PCSK9 inhibitors to patients with recent ACS and a history of HF. A prospective placebo-controlled evaluation of PCSK9 inhibition in this setting is warranted