Phase-transformation and precipitation kinetics in vanadium micro-alloyed steels by in-situ, simultaneous neutron diffraction and SANS

In-situ Neutron Diffraction and Small-Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) are employed for the first time simultaneously in order to reveal the interaction between the austenite to ferrite phase transformation and the precipitation kinetics during isothermal annealing at 650 and at 700 °C in three steels with different vanadium (V) and carbon (C) concentrations. Austenite-to-ferrite phase transformation is observed in all three steels at both temperatures. The phase transformation is completed during a 10 h annealing treatment in all cases. The phase transformation is faster at 650 than at 700 °C for all alloys. Additions of vanadium and carbon to the steel composition cause a retardation of the phase transformation. The effect of each element is explained through its contribution to the Gibbs free energy dissipation. The austenite-to-ferrite phase transformation is found to initiate the vanadium carbide precipitation. Larger and fewer precipitates are detected at 700 than at 650 °C in all three steels, and a larger number density of precipitates is detected in the steel with higher concentrations of vanadium and carbon. After 10 h of annealing, the precipitated phase does not reach the equilibrium fraction as calculated by ThermoCalc. The external magnetic field applied during the experiments, necessary for the SANS measurements, causes a delay in the onset and time evolution of the austenite-to-ferrite phase transformation and consequently on the precipitation kinetics

Vaccine coverage in children, adolescents and adults with type 1 diabetes and their close contacts in Crete

Background Individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are at increased risk of infections from vaccine-preventable diseases. This study focuses on compliance of T1D patients to the recommended vaccination schedule, vaccination of their close contacts for influenza and on factors potentially contributing to vaccination program deviations. Methods The study population comprised children, adolescents and adults with T1D under follow-up at the Department of Pediatrics University Hospital and the Diabetic Center General Hospital, Heraklion, Crete-Greece. Data were extracted, following informed consent, from individual’s vaccination booklet, medical files and telephone interview. Vaccination records, demographic parameters, glycemic control and influenza vaccination of close contacts were assessed. Results The study included 258 participants (111 children/adolescents, 147 adults). Vaccination coverage for influenza was 76.7% for children, 64.4% for adults, for PCV 90.9% for children, but only 10.8% for the 23-valent, for hepatitis B 99% for children and 78.2% for adults. Youngsters were vaccinated against Hib 91.9%, meningococcus C 98.2%, measles-mumps-rubella 90.3%, chickenpox 86.4%, hepatitis A 76.5% and HPV 42.5%. Less than 65% of all individuals were fully vaccinated for diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis and meningococcus ACWY. Approximately 50% of the 605 close contacts were not vaccinated against influenza. Individuals with better glycemic status seemed to adhere to the recommended schedule and had a better vaccinated family environment. Conclusions Vaccination coverage for T1D individuals was sufficient regarding the majority of routine childhood vaccines, but less for adolescence and group-specific vaccines. Their family contacts were not sufficiently vaccinated for influenza. Targeted interventions are required in order to increase vaccination rates

Sesame Meal, Vitamin E and Selenium Influence Goats' Antioxidant Status

This study aimed to determine the impact of sesame meal, selenium (Se), and vitamin E (VitE) on goats' oxidative status. Thirty mid-lactation crossbred goats were divided into five homogeneous groups, and were fed 1 kg of alfalfa hay and 1.2 kg of concentrates daily. The control group (C) received a basal diet. In the concentrates of the treated groups, 10% of the soybean meal was replaced by sesame meal and no extra VitE or Se (SM), or an extra 60 mg of VitE (SME), or 0.1 mg organic Se (SMSe), or their combination (60 mg VitE and 0,1 mg organic Se/kg of concentrate (SMESe). In the plasma of the goats, the dietary treatments did not affect glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione transferase, catalase, superoxide dismutase activities, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, or the total antioxidant capacity. A reduction and a trend for lower protein carbonyls content was found in goats fed SM (p = 0.03) and SME (p = 0.06) compared to SMESe. In the milk, the lactoperoxidase activity decreased with SMSe and SMESe. A numerical decrease in the total antioxidant capacity and an increase in the MDA content in the milk of the SMESe group compared with the other treated groups was found. In mid-lactation goats, SM improves the oxidative status of both the organism and the milk

Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Objectives: Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) is a common finding in patients with diabetes. Moreover, patients with diabetes and ASB have a greater risk for symptomatic urinary tract infections and associated severe complications. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of ASB, as well as to identify independent risk factors and related pathogens associated with ASB in female and male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). Methods: This prospective case-control study was performed at the University hospital, and the Venezeleion General Hospital, Heraklion, Greece between 2012 and 2019. All patients with T2D attending the diabetes and hypertension outpatient clinics at both hospitals were enrolled, and data regarding their medical history and clinical and laboratory profiles were recorded. Asymptomatic patients with positive urine cultures were assigned as cases while those with negative urine cultures were designated as controls. Results: A total of 437 adult patients of which 61% were female and 39% were male patients with a mean age of 70.5 ± 9.6 years, were enrolled. The prevalence of ASB was 20.1%, in total. ASB was noted in 27% of female participants and 9.4% of male participants. Higher glycated hemoglobin (OR = 3.921, 95%CI: 1.521–10.109, p p p < 0.001). Conclusions: Development of ASB was associated with specific factors, some of which may be modifiable. Interestingly, high B12 was found to be negatively associated with ASB

Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Objectives: Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) is a common finding in patients with diabetes. Moreover, patients with diabetes and ASB have a greater risk for symptomatic urinary tract infections and associated severe complications. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of ASB, as well as to identify independent risk factors and related pathogens associated with ASB in female and male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). Methods: This prospective case-control study was performed at the University hospital, and the Venezeleion General Hospital, Heraklion, Greece between 2012 and 2019. All patients with T2D attending the diabetes and hypertension outpatient clinics at both hospitals were enrolled, and data regarding their medical history and clinical and laboratory profiles were recorded. Asymptomatic patients with positive urine cultures were assigned as cases while those with negative urine cultures were designated as controls. Results: A total of 437 adult patients of which 61% were female and 39% were male patients with a mean age of 70.5 &plusmn; 9.6 years, were enrolled. The prevalence of ASB was 20.1%, in total. ASB was noted in 27% of female participants and 9.4% of male participants. Higher glycated hemoglobin (OR = 3.921, 95%CI: 1.521&ndash;10.109, p &lt; 0.001) and urinary tract infection within the previous year (OR = 13.254, 95%CI: 2.245&ndash;78.241, p &lt; 0.001) were independently positively associated with ASB, while higher levels of vitamin B12 were independently negatively associated with ASB (OR = 0.994 per ng/mL, 95%CI: 0.989&ndash;0.999, p &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: Development of ASB was associated with specific factors, some of which may be modifiable. Interestingly, high B12 was found to be negatively associated with ASB

Interaction of precipitation with austenite-to-ferrite phase transformation in vanadium micro-alloyed steels

The precipitation kinetics of vanadium carbides and its interaction with the austenite-to-ferrite phase transformation is studied in two micro-alloyed steels that differ in vanadium and carbon concentrations by a factor of two, but have the same vanadium-to-carbon atomic ratio of 1:1. Dilatometry is used for heat-treating the specimens and studying the phase transformation kinetics during annealing at isothermal holding temperatures of 900, 750 and 650 °C for up to 10 h. Small-Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) and Atom Probe Tomography (APT) measurements are performed to study the vanadium carbide precipitation kinetics. Vanadium carbide precipitation is not observed after annealing for 10 h at 900 and 750 °C, which is contrary to predictions from thermodynamic equilibrium calculations. Vanadium carbide precipitation is only observed during or after the austenite-to-ferrite phase transformation at 650 °C. The precipitate volume fraction and mean radius continuously increase as holding time increases, while the precipitate number density starts to decrease after 20 min, which corresponds to the time at which the austenite-to-ferrite phase transformation is finished. This indicates that nucleation and growth are dominant during the first 20 min, while later precipitate growth with soft impingement (overlapping diffusion fields) and coarsening take place. APT shows gradual changes in the precipitate chemical composition during annealing at 650 °C, which finally reaches a 1:1 atomic ratio of vanadium-to-carbon in the core of the precipitates after 10 h

<i>C1q</i> Gene Polymorphism Is Associated with Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background and Objectives: Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) appears to have a higher prevalence in diabetics and has been associated with various genetic polymorphisms of the innate immune system. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the C1q gene that encodes for the trigger molecule of the classical complement pathway increase the risk of bacterial infections as well as other diseases. In the present study, we sought to investigate the association of C1q rs292001 (G > A) SNP with ASB in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, performed at the University and the Venizeleion General Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece, 75 adult male and female Cretan patients with T2D and ASB and 75 adult male and female Cretan patients with T2D but without ASB were enrolled and genotyped for rs292001 SNP of C1q gene. Genetic analysis was based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RLFPs) methods. Results: Τhe frequency of homozygotes for the G/G genotype of C1q rs292001 was significantly higher in patients with T2D and ASB than in the control group (p-value = 0.0480, OR = 2.952, 95% CI: 1.052–7.542). Conclusions: Τhe present study provides the first evidence of an association between the C1q rs292001 SNP and an increased susceptibility for ASB in an adult Cretan population with T2D, thus suggesting that this SNP can be encountered as a risk factor for the presence of ASB in patients with T2D

Interaction of precipitation with austenite-to-ferrite phase transformation in vanadium micro-alloyed steels

\u3cp\u3eThe precipitation kinetics of vanadium carbides and its interaction with the austenite-to-ferrite phase transformation is studied in two micro-alloyed steels that differ in vanadium and carbon concentrations by a factor of two, but have the same vanadium-to-carbon atomic ratio of 1:1. Dilatometry is used for heat-treating the specimens and studying the phase transformation kinetics during annealing at isothermal holding temperatures of 900, 750 and 650 °C for up to 10 h. Small-Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) and Atom Probe Tomography (APT) measurements are performed to study the vanadium carbide precipitation kinetics. Vanadium carbide precipitation is not observed after annealing for 10 h at 900 and 750 °C, which is contrary to predictions from thermodynamic equilibrium calculations. Vanadium carbide precipitation is only observed during or after the austenite-to-ferrite phase transformation at 650 °C. The precipitate volume fraction and mean radius continuously increase as holding time increases, while the precipitate number density starts to decrease after 20 min, which corresponds to the time at which the austenite-to-ferrite phase transformation is finished. This indicates that nucleation and growth are dominant during the first 20 min, while later precipitate growth with soft impingement (overlapping diffusion fields) and coarsening take place. APT shows gradual changes in the precipitate chemical composition during annealing at 650 °C, which finally reaches a 1:1 atomic ratio of vanadium-to-carbon in the core of the precipitates after 10 h.\u3c/p\u3