Unusual association of ST-T abnormalities, myocarditis and cardiomyopathy with H1N1 influenza in pregnancy: two case reports and review of the literature.

Introduction Myocarditis is rarely reported as an extra-pulmonary manifestation of influenza while pregnancy is a rare cause of cardiomyopathy. Pregnancy was identified as a major risk factor for increased mortality and morbidity due to H1N1 influenza in the pandemic of 2009 to 2010. However, to the best of our knowledge there are no previous reports in the literature linking H1N1 with myocarditis in pregnancy. Case presentation We report the cases of two pregnant Caucasian women (aged 29 and 30), with no pre-existing illness, presenting with respiratory manifestations of H1N1 influenza virus infection in their third trimester. Both women developed evidence of myocarditis. One woman developed acute respiratory distress syndrome, almost reaching the point of requiring extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation, and subsequently developed persistent cardiomyopathy; the other recovered without any long-term consequence. Conclusions While it is not possible to ascertain retrospectively if myocarditis was caused by either infection with H1N1 virus or as a result of pregnancy (in the absence of endomyocardial biopsies), the significant association with myocardial involvement in both women demonstrates the increased risk of exposure to H1N1 influenza virus in pregnant women. This highlights the need for health care providers to increase awareness amongst caregivers to target this 'at risk' group aggressively with vaccination and prompt treatment

Silver electrodeposits in ion-exchanged oxide glasses

Silver electrodeposits have been grown within a wide range of oxide glass sytems. The latter are first of all subjected to an alkali-metal–silver-ion exchange reaction. The experimental configuration ensures two-dimensional growth. The fractal dimension of the electrodeposits has been estimated for each sample. Glasses having lithium ions (in the original composition) show a fractal dimension around 1.85 whereas those containing sodium ions give a fractal dimension of 1.68 for their respective silver deposits. Dendritic growth has been observed in glasses containing nanometer-sized metal particles of either bismuth or aluminum. The fractal dimension of all the electrodeposits appears to increase as the length scale is reduced

Interface controlled electrical and magnetic properties in Fe-Fe3O4-silica gel nanocomposites

Iron nanoparticles with a shell of Fe3O4Fe3O4 phase with a total diameter of 5.3 nm have been grown within a silica gel matrix in the percolative configuration by suitable reduction followed by oxidation treatments. dc electrical resistivity measurements were carried out in the temperature range 80–300 K. The resistivity of the nanocomposites was found to be about 7 orders of magnitude lower than that of the reference gel. The electrical conduction has been explained on the basis of a small polaron hopping mechanism. The activation energy in the case of the composites was calculated from experimental data to be about one-fifth that for the reference sample. An interfacial amorphous phase is believed to cause such reduction in resistivity. The effective dielectric constant of this phase was estimated to be about four times that of the reference glass. Magnetization measurements on these specimens were carried out in the temperature range 5–300 K both in zero field cooled and field cooled states. A peak in the magnetization at ∼120 K was ascribed to an order–disorder (Verwey) transition. Another peak at ∼55 K was explained as arising due to a spin glass like disorder at the interface between the ferromagnetic iron ores and the ferrimagnetic Fe3O4Fe3O4 shell. A loop shift was observed as a result of the spin freezing below this temperature

Rapid Frequency Response From Smart Loads in Great Britain Power System

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Aspects of Network Harmonic Impedance Modelling in High Voltage Distribution Networks

This paper evaluates the performance of five leading power system analysis softwares in terms of network harmonic impedance calculation for High Voltage distribution grids. Based on a set of systematic case studies the first part of the work presents a comparative analysis of the software packages in calculation of first resonance point. The different network element models and load models and their impact on the resonance parameters are discussed in detail. The second part of the research work assesses the sensitivity of the resonance parameters (impedance magnitude and frequency) depending on the change of certain network model parameters and compares the results amongst the different software packages. This gives an idea about the robustness of frequency and magnitude response at the resonance point and points out the most sensitive parameter in a HV network

Magnetodielectric effect in nickel nanosheet-Na-4 mica composites

Nickel nanosheets of thickness 0.6 nm were grown within the nanochannels of Na-4 mica template. The specimens show magnetodielectric effect at room temperature with a change of dielectric constant as a function of magnetic field, the electric field frequency varying from 100 to 700 kHz. A decrease of 5% in the value of dielectric constant was observed up to a field of 1.2 Tesla. This is explained by an inhomogeneous two-component composite model as theoretically proposed recently. The present approach will open up synthesis of various nanocomposites for sensor applications.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figure

Impact of load dynamics on torsional interactions

This paper evaluates the impact of load dynamics on torsional interactions by considering a mix of static and dynamic loads aggregated at the bulk transmission level. This is essential to investigate the importance of detailed load modelling for subsynchronous resonance (SSR) studies to accurately assess damping contribution and capture system dynamics. SSR interaction with dynamic loads is investigated for both direct on line and drive connected motor loads. Damping contribution from dynamic loads is also assessed based on their location and size. The interaction of dynamic loads with classical SSR phenomenon is observed and introduced as the new concept of (Subsynchronous Resonance Load Interactions (SSR-LI)). SSRLI assumes critical importance for scenarios where the load and generation centers are in close electrical proximity and impact of loads on torsional damping is significant. Finally, the scope for using existing converter interfaced motors for torsional mode damping has been discussed

Dielectronic Recombination of Argon-Like Ions

We present a theoretical investigation of dielectronic recombination (DR) of Ar-like ions that sheds new light on the behavior of the rate coefficient at low-temperatures where these ions form in photoionized plasmas. We provide results for the total and partial Maxwellian-averaged DR rate coefficients from the initial ground level of K II -- Zn XIII ions. It is expected that these new results will advance the accuracy of the ionization balance for Ar-like M-shell ions and pave the way towards a detailed modeling of astrophysically relevant X-ray absorption features. We utilize the AUTOSTRUCTURE computer code to obtain the accurate core-excitation thresholds in target ions and carry out multiconfiguration Breit-Pauli (MCBP) calculations of the DR cross section in the independent-processes, isolated-resonance, distorted-wave (IPIRDW) approximation. Our results mediate the complete absence of direct DR calculations for certain Ar-like ions and question the reliability of the existing empirical rate formulas, often inferred from renormalized data within this isoelectronic sequence