Mechanical microscopy of the interface between yttria-partially-stabilised zirconia and porcelain in dental prostheses

In recent decades, the high strength, high toughness and appealing aesthetics of Yttria-Partially-Stabilised Zirconia (YPSZ) has made this ceramic the material of choice for dental prostheses. During manufacture YPSZ copings are veneered with porcelain to match the appearance of natural teeth and to reduce wear. However, near-interface chipping of the veneer is observed as a persistent primary failure mode. Recent studies suggest that failure is associated with the mechanical and microstructural state within a few microns of the interface. This insight has provided the motivating driver for this study: to develop and implement new characterisation techniques to improve the understanding of the YPSZ-porcelain interface and thereby reduce failure rates. Microscale characterisation of the interface was performed using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy. These studies indicated that YPSZ phase variation, elemental composition gradients and distinct microstructural features are present within 10 μm of the interface. Porcelain nanoscale voiding was found at the interface, and small angle neutron scattering confirmed that this is induced by tensile creep. High resolution (microscale) residual stress analysis was performed in YPSZ using XRD and Raman spectroscopy, and in porcelain using a new pair distribution function analysis technique. Cross-validation of these results was performed using improved implementations of the ring-core focused ion beam milling and digital image correlation technique. The variation of Young's modulus, yield strength and fracture toughness were determined using spatially resolved micropillar compression and splitting. Improved evaluation of the single-crystal stiffness of YPSZ was also performed using a new neutron diffraction based technique. The results of this analysis indicate a complex interaction within the first 50 &mu;m of the YPSZ-porcelain interface which leads to a significant reduction in porcelain toughness and an increased propensity to fail at this location.</p

Exploration of alternative supply chains and distributed manufacturing in response to COVID-19; a case study of medical face shields - Express article

Quarantine conditions arising as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) have had a significant impact on global production-rates and supply chains. This has coincided with increased demands for medical and personal protective equipment such as face shields. Shortages have been particularly prevalent in western countries which typically rely upon global supply chains to obtain these types of device from low-cost economies. National calls for the repurposing of domestic mass-production facilities have the potential to meet medical requirements in coming weeks, however the immediate demand associated with the virus has led to the mobilisation of a diverse distributed workforce. Selection of appropriate manufacturing processes and underused supply chains is paramount to the success of these operations. A simplified medical face shield design is presented which repurposes an assortment of existing alternative supply chains. The device is easy to produce with minimal equipment and training. It is hoped that the methodology and approach presented is of use to the wider community at this critical time.</p

3D local atomic structure evolution in a solidifying Al-0.4Sc dilute alloy melt revealed in operando by synchrotron X-ray total scattering and modelling

Using synchrotron X-ray total scattering and empirical potential structure refinement modelling, we studied systematically in operando condition the disorder-to-order local atomic structure transition in a pure Al and a dilute Al-0.4Sc alloy melt in the temperature range from 690 °C to 657 °C. In the liquid state, icosahedral short-range ordered Sc-centred Al polyhedrons form and most of them with Al coordination number of 10–12. As the melt is cooled to the semisolid state, the most Sc-centred polyhedrons become more connected atom clusters via vertex, edge and face-sharing. These polyhedrons exhibit partially icosahedral and partially face-centred-cubic symmetry. The medium-range ordered Sc-centred clusters with face-sharing are proved to be the “precursors” of the L12 Al3Sc primary phases in the liquid-solid coexisting state

Hadley circulation and precipitation changes control black shale deposition in the Late Jurassic Boreal Seaway

New climate simulations using the HadCM3L model with a paleogeography of the Late Jurassic [155.5 Ma], and proxy-data corroborate that warm and wet tropical-like conditions reached as far north as the UK sector of the Jurassic Boreal Seaway [~35oN]. This is associated with a northern hemisphere Jurassic Hadley cell and an intensified subtropical jet which both extend significantly polewards than in the modern (July-September). Deposition of the Kimmeridge Clay Formation [KCF] occurred in the shallow, storm-dominated, epeiric Boreal Seaway. High resolution paleo-environmental proxy data from the Kimmeridge Clay Formation [KCF; ~155–150 Ma], UK are used to test for the role of tropical atmospheric circulation on meter-scale heterogeneities in black shale deposition. Proxy and model data show that the most organic-rich section [eudoxus to mid-hudlestoni zones] is characterised by a positive δ13Corg excursion and up to 37 wt% total organic carbon [%TOC]. Orbital-modulation of organic carbon burial primarily in the long eccentricity power band combined with a clear positive correlation between %TOC carbonate-free and the kaolinite/illite ratio supports peak organic carbon burial under the influence of very humid climate conditions, similar to the modern tropics. This re-interpretation of large-scale climate relationships, supported by independent modelling and geological data, has profound implications for atmospheric circulation patterns and processes affecting marine productivity and organic carbon burial further north along the Boreal Seaway, including the Arctic

Manufacturing technologies and joining methods of metallic thin-walled pipes for use in high pressure cooling systems

Small diameter thin-walled pipes, typically with a diameter less than 20 mm and a ratio of outer diameter to wall thickness is 20 or above, have increasingly become a key value adding factor for a number of industries including medical applications, electronics and chemical industries. In high-energy physics experiments, thin-walled pipes are needed in tracking detector cooling systems where the mass of all components needs to be minimised for physics measurement reasons. The pipework must reliably withstand the cooling fluid operation pressures (of up to 100 bar), but must also be able to be reliably and easily joined within the cooling system. Suitable standard and/or commercial solutions combining the needed low mass and reliable high-pressure operation are poorly available. The following review of literature compares the various techniques that exist for the manufacture and joining of thin-walled pipes, both well-established techniques and novel methods which have potential to increase the use of thin-walled pipes within industrial cooling systems. Gaps in knowledge have been identified, along with further research directions. Operational challenges and key considerations which have to be identified when designing a system which uses thin-walled pipes are also discussed

Concurrent Oral 1 - Therapy of rheumatic disease: OP4. Effectiveness of Rituximab in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register (BSRBR)

Background: Rituximab (RTX) in combination with methotrexate (MTX) has been licensed since 2006 for the management of severe active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in patients who have failed at least one anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy. Published clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of RTX in improving both clinical symptoms and patients' physical function. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of RTX in RA patients treated in routine clinical practice by examining clinical and patient reported outcomes six months after receiving a first course of RTX. Methods: The analysis involved 550 RA patients registered with the BSRBR, who were starting RTX and were followed up for at least 6 months. Change in Disease Activity Score (DAS28) and European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response were used to assess the clinical response while change in Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) score was used to assess the physical function of the patients 6 months after starting RTX. The change in DAS28 and HAQ was compared between seronegative and seropositive patients and anti-TNF naïve patients versus anti-TNF failures. The response was also compared between patients receiving RTX in combination with MTX, other non-biologic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (nbDMARDs) or no nbDMARDs. Results: The mean (s.d.) age of the cohort was 59 (12) years and 78% of the patients were females. The patients had a mean (s.d.) of 15 (10) years of disease duration. 16% were biologic naïve while 84% were anti-TNF failures. 32% of the patients were seronegative and 68% were seropositive. The mean (95% CI) DAS28 at baseline was 6.2 (6.1, 6.3) which decreased to 4.8 (4.7, 4.9) at 6 months of follow up. 16% were EULAR good responders, 43% were moderate responders and 41% were non responders. The mean (95% CI) change in HAQ was −0.1 (−0.2, −0.1) (Table 1). The mean change in DAS28 was similar in seropositive and seronegative patients (p = 0.18) while the anti-TNF naïve patients showed a greater reduction in DAS28 scores than anti-TNF failures (p = 0.05). Patients receiving RTX in combination with MTX showed similar changes in DAS28 and HAQ compared to patients receiving RTX alone or with other nbDMARDs. Conclusions: RTX has proven to be effective in the routine clinical practice. Anti-TNF naïve patients seem to benefit more from RTX treatment than anti-TNF failures. Disclosure statement: The authors have declared no conflicts of interes

Overview of the TCV tokamak experimental programme

The tokamak a configuration variable (TCV) continues to leverage its unique shaping capabilities, flexible heating systems and modern control system to address critical issues in preparation for ITER and a fusion power plant. For the 2019-20 campaign its configurational flexibility has been enhanced with the installation of removable divertor gas baffles, its diagnostic capabilities with an extensive set of upgrades and its heating systems with new dual frequency gyrotrons. The gas baffles reduce coupling between the divertor and the main chamber and allow for detailed investigations on the role of fuelling in general and, together with upgraded boundary diagnostics, test divertor and edge models in particular. The increased heating capabilities broaden the operational regime to include T (e)/T (i) similar to 1 and have stimulated refocussing studies from L-mode to H-mode across a range of research topics. ITER baseline parameters were reached in type-I ELMy H-modes and alternative regimes with \u27small\u27 (or no) ELMs explored. Most prominently, negative triangularity was investigated in detail and confirmed as an attractive scenario with H-mode level core confinement but an L-mode edge. Emphasis was also placed on control, where an increased number of observers, actuators and control solutions became available and are now integrated into a generic control framework as will be needed in future devices. The quantity and quality of results of the 2019-20 TCV campaign are a testament to its successful integration within the European research effort alongside a vibrant domestic programme and international collaborations

A prospective observational cohort study comparing the treatment effectiveness and safety of ciclosporin, dupilumab and methotrexate in adult and paediatric patients with atopic dermatitis: results from the UK-Irish A-STAR register

Background The main conventional systemic atopic dermatitis (AD) treatments are methotrexate (MTX) and ciclosporin (CyA). Dupilumab was the first novel systemic agent to enter routine clinical practice. There are no head-to-head randomised controlled trials or real-world studies comparing these agents directly. Network meta-analyses provide indirect comparative efficacy and safety data and have shown strong evidence for dupilumab and CyA. Objectives The aim of this study was to compare the real-world clinical effectiveness and safety of CyA, dupilumab and MTX in AD. Methods We compared the effectiveness and safety of these systemic agents in a prospective observational cohort study of adult and paediatric patients recruited into the UK-Irish Atopic eczema Systemic TherApy Register (A-STAR). Treatment effectiveness measures included Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI), Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM), Peak Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale (PP-NRS), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and children’s DLQI (cDLQI). Minimum duration of treatment was 28 days and follow-up was 12 months. Adjusted Cox-regression was used to compare the hazards of achieving EASI-50, EASI-75 and EASI-90 over time, and linear mixed-effects models were used to estimate changes in efficacy scores. Treatment safety was assessed by examining adverse events (AEs) at follow-up visits. Results 488 patients (n=311 adults and n=177 children/adolescents) on dupilumab (n=282), methotrexate (n=149), or CyA (n=57) were included. CyA and MTX were primarily used first line, while dupilumab was mainly a second line systemic as per UK National Institute of Clinical and Care Excellence (NICE) recommendations. EASI-50, EASI-75 and EASI-90 were achieved more rapidly in the dupilumab and CyA groups compared to MTX. After adjustment for previous severity, the reduction in EASI, POEM, PP-NRS and DLQI was greater for patients treated with dupilumab compared to MTX. In severe patients the reduction in EASI, POEM, and PP-NRS was even greater with CyA. The incidence of AEs was similar across groups (734, 654 and 594 per 10,000 person-month on CyA, dupilumab and MTX respectively). Conclusions This real-world comparison of CyA, dupilumab and MTX in AD suggests that dupilumab is consistently more effective than MTX and that CyA is most effective in very severe disease within one follow-up year