The discharge mechanism of the high-temperature arc

The mechanism of the high temperature Ar arc is interpreted considering those essential points in which it deviates from the known arcs based on earlier measurements and experiments. The following points are discussed individually: the charge carrier balance, the energy balance, the volt amp characteristics, and the difference between high temperature arcs in Ar and N. Besides the volt amp characteristic of a 10 mm long arc in Ar between 10 and 200 amp, the anode fall, cathode fall, and arc gradient were obtained with the aid of probes. The difference between Ar and N arcs are attributed to variations of the heat conditions and electrical conditions at different temperatures of the gas

Improved functionalization of oleic acid-coated iron oxide nanoparticles for biomedical applications

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles can providemultiple benefits for biomedical applications in aqueous environments such asmagnetic separation or magnetic resonance imaging. To increase the colloidal stability and allow subsequent reactions, the introduction of hydrophilic functional groups onto the particles’ surface is essential. During this process, the original coating is exchanged by preferably covalently bonded ligands such as trialkoxysilanes. The duration of the silane exchange reaction, which commonly takes more than 24 h, is an important drawback for this approach. In this paper, we present a novel method, which introduces ultrasonication as an energy source to dramatically accelerate this process, resulting in high-quality waterdispersible nanoparticles around 10 nmin size. To prove the generic character, different functional groups were introduced on the surface including polyethylene glycol chains, carboxylic acid, amine, and thiol groups. Their colloidal stability in various aqueous buffer solutions as well as human plasma and serum was investigated to allow implementation in biomedical and sensing applications.status: publishe

Effects of alirocumab on types of myocardial infarction: insights from the ODYSSEY OUTCOMES trial

Aims  The third Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction (MI) Task Force classified MIs into five types: Type 1, spontaneous; Type 2, related to oxygen supply/demand imbalance; Type 3, fatal without ascertainment of cardiac biomarkers; Type 4, related to percutaneous coronary intervention; and Type 5, related to coronary artery bypass surgery. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction with statins and proprotein convertase subtilisin–kexin Type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors reduces risk of MI, but less is known about effects on types of MI. ODYSSEY OUTCOMES compared the PCSK9 inhibitor alirocumab with placebo in 18 924 patients with recent acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and elevated LDL-C (≥1.8 mmol/L) despite intensive statin therapy. In a pre-specified analysis, we assessed the effects of alirocumab on types of MI. Methods and results  Median follow-up was 2.8 years. Myocardial infarction types were prospectively adjudicated and classified. Of 1860 total MIs, 1223 (65.8%) were adjudicated as Type 1, 386 (20.8%) as Type 2, and 244 (13.1%) as Type 4. Few events were Type 3 (n = 2) or Type 5 (n = 5). Alirocumab reduced first MIs [hazard ratio (HR) 0.85, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.77–0.95; P = 0.003], with reductions in both Type 1 (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.77–0.99; P = 0.032) and Type 2 (0.77, 0.61–0.97; P = 0.025), but not Type 4 MI. Conclusion  After ACS, alirocumab added to intensive statin therapy favourably impacted on Type 1 and 2 MIs. The data indicate for the first time that a lipid-lowering therapy can attenuate the risk of Type 2 MI. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol reduction below levels achievable with statins is an effective preventive strategy for both MI types.For complete list of authors see http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehz299</p

Effect of alirocumab on mortality after acute coronary syndromes. An analysis of the ODYSSEY OUTCOMES randomized clinical trial

Background: Previous trials of PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9) inhibitors demonstrated reductions in major adverse cardiovascular events, but not death. We assessed the effects of alirocumab on death after index acute coronary syndrome. Methods: ODYSSEY OUTCOMES (Evaluation of Cardiovascular Outcomes After an Acute Coronary Syndrome During Treatment With Alirocumab) was a double-blind, randomized comparison of alirocumab or placebo in 18 924 patients who had an ACS 1 to 12 months previously and elevated atherogenic lipoproteins despite intensive statin therapy. Alirocumab dose was blindly titrated to target achieved low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) between 25 and 50 mg/dL. We examined the effects of treatment on all-cause death and its components, cardiovascular and noncardiovascular death, with log-rank testing. Joint semiparametric models tested associations between nonfatal cardiovascular events and cardiovascular or noncardiovascular death. Results: Median follow-up was 2.8 years. Death occurred in 334 (3.5%) and 392 (4.1%) patients, respectively, in the alirocumab and placebo groups (hazard ratio [HR], 0.85; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.98; P=0.03, nominal P value). This resulted from nonsignificantly fewer cardiovascular (240 [2.5%] vs 271 [2.9%]; HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.74 to 1.05; P=0.15) and noncardiovascular (94 [1.0%] vs 121 [1.3%]; HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.59 to 1.01; P=0.06) deaths with alirocumab. In a prespecified analysis of 8242 patients eligible for ≥3 years follow-up, alirocumab reduced death (HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.65 to 0.94; P=0.01). Patients with nonfatal cardiovascular events were at increased risk for cardiovascular and noncardiovascular deaths (P<0.0001 for the associations). Alirocumab reduced total nonfatal cardiovascular events (P<0.001) and thereby may have attenuated the number of cardiovascular and noncardiovascular deaths. A post hoc analysis found that, compared to patients with lower LDL-C, patients with baseline LDL-C ≥100 mg/dL (2.59 mmol/L) had a greater absolute risk of death and a larger mortality benefit from alirocumab (HR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.56 to 0.90; Pinteraction=0.007). In the alirocumab group, all-cause death declined wit h achieved LDL-C at 4 months of treatment, to a level of approximately 30 mg/dL (adjusted P=0.017 for linear trend). Conclusions: Alirocumab added to intensive statin therapy has the potential to reduce death after acute coronary syndrome, particularly if treatment is maintained for ≥3 years, if baseline LDL-C is ≥100 mg/dL, or if achieved LDL-C is low. Clinical Trial Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01663402

Application of optical method for the analysis delay between control injector coil and beginning of the fuel injection

W artykule przedstawiono zastosowanie metody optycznej do pomiaru opóźnienia pomiędzy wysterowaniem cewki wtryskiwacza a fizycznym wystąpieniem wtrysku paliwa. W tym celu zastosowano diodę w zakresie fal podczerwonych i fotodiodę jako detektor. Wtrysk paliwa następuje pomiędzy tymi elementami powodując spadek napięcia na fotodiodzie i rejestrację czasu wtrysku paliwa. Pomiary zostały przeprowadzone na stanowisku testowania pomp i wtryskiwaczy firmy CSM “Autoelektronika Kędzia”.This paper describes the use of optical methods for measuring the delay between the control coil of injector and the real occurrence of fuel injection. For this purpose LED diode was used in the infrared spectrum and a photodiode as detector. Fuel injection takes place between these elements causing the voltage drop in the photodiode circuit, and fuel injection time record. The measurements were made on the testing bench of pumps and injectors CSM "Autoelektronika Kędzia"

Optimize the testing process common rail fuel injectors

W artykule przedstawiono optymalizację metody pozwalającej na testowanie wtryskiwaczy common rail. Standardowe testy wtryskiwacza obejmują kilka punktów pracy. Pomiary te są czasami niewystarczające, ponieważ wtryskiwacze szczególnie po naprawie w pewnych obszarach pracy mogą pracować w nieprawidłowy sposób. Z kolei dokładne testowanie wtryskiwaczy wymaga przeprowadzenia pomiarów dawek paliwa w wielu punktach pracy wtryskiwacza i prowadzi do znacznego wydłużenia czasu testu. Optymalizacja procesu testowania pozwala przy nieznacznym zwiększeniu ilości pomiarów w odniesieniu do standardowych testów i uwzględnieniu zakładanej przez producenta odchyłki od wartości wzorcowej oraz tendencji zmian tej odchyłki na dokładniejszą weryfikację poprawności działania wtryskiwaczy. Pomiary zostały przeprowadzone na Stanowisku Testowania Pomp i Wtryskiwaczy firmy CSM “Autoelektronika Kędzia”.This paper presents a method to optimize the testing common rail injectors. Standard tests injector includes several operating points. These measurements are sometimes insufficient, since the injectors particularly after repair work in certain areas can be operated in an incorrect manner. The precise adjustment of injectors requires a dose measurements at multiple points fuel injector working and leads to a significant prolongation of the test. Optimize the testing process allows with a slight increase in the number of measurements in relation to the standard tests and taking into account the assumed by the manufacturer of the deviation from the reference value and the deviation trends for accurate verification of the correct operation of the injectors. The measurements were made on the testing bench of pumps and injectors CSM "Autoelektronika Kędzia"