Space-storable oxidizer valve Final report

Fabrication and acceptance testing, fluorine compatibility testing, valve refurbishment and testing, environmental testing, and design of space storable oxidizer valv

Zeolite-feldspar epiclastic rocks as flux in ceramic tile manufacturing

Low-cost, naturally-occurring mixtures of feldspar and zeolite occurring in epiclastic rocks are promising substitutes for conventional quartz-feldspathic fluxes in ceramic bodies, since their fusibility and low hardness are expected to improve both grinding and sintering. Three epiclastic outcrops, with a different zeolite-to-feldspar ratio, were characterized (XRPD, fusibility) and tested in porcelain stoneware bodies; their behaviour during processing was appraised and compared with that of a reference. The addition of an epiclastic rock (20 wt.%), replacing rhyolite and aplite fluxes, brought about some significant advantages, mainly represented by better grindability, lower firing temperature with improved mechanical strength and lower porosity. Disadvantages concern increased slip viscosity, worse powder compressibility, resulting in larger firing shrinkage, and a darker colour of the tiles due to relatively high amounts of iron oxide

Rotational arherectomy in the distal left anterior descending coronary artery through an internal mammary artery graft.

We report the case of a 53-year-old white man who began complaining of dyspnoea and angina 19 months after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Coronary angiography revealed the presence of a long and critical stenosis in the native left anterior descending coronary artery, shortly after distal anastomosis of the left internal mammary artery. After failed predilatations with standard or cutting balloons, we successfully used the rotablator system, which allowed us to implant a bare-metal stent in the native left anterior descending coronary artery. However, stent deployment caused long linear graft dissection, which was reduced by drug-eluting stent implantation in the proximal and distal segments of the left internal mammary artery

Advances in understanding the relationship between sleep and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Abstract: Starting from the consolidated relationship between sleep and cognition, we reviewed the available literature on the association between Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and sleep. This review analyzes the macrostructural and microstructural sleep features, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses criteria (PRISMA).We included the polysomnographic studies published in the last 15 years. The results of macrostructural parameters are mixed. Almost half of the 18 selected investigations did not find dierences between sleep architecture of children with ADHD and controls. Five studies observed that children with ADHD show a longer Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep duration than controls. Eight studies included microstructural measures. Remarkable alterations in sleep microstructure of ADHD are related to slow wave activity (SWA) and theta oscillations, respectively, during Non-REM (NREM) and REM sleep. Specifically, some studies found higher SWA in the ADHD group than controls. Similarly, higher theta activity appears to be detrimental for memory performance and inhibitory control in ADHD. These patterns could be interpreted as a maturational delay in ADHD. Also, the increased amount of these activities would be consistent with the hypothesis that the poor sleep could imply a chronic sleep deprivation in children with ADHD, which in turn could aect their cognitive functioning

ARMA Modelling for Sleep Disorders Diagnose

Part 10: Control and DecisionInternational audienceDifferences in EEG sleep spindles constitute a promising indicator of sleep disorders. In this paper Sleep Spindles are extracted from real EEG data using a triple (Short Time Fourier Transform-STFT; Wavelet Transform-WT; Wave Morphology for Spindle Detection-WMSD) algorithm. After the detection, an Autoregressive–moving-average (ARMA) model is applied to each Spindle and finally the ARMA’s coefficients’ mean is computed in order to find a model for each patient. Regarding only the position of real poles and zeros, it is possible to distinguish normal from Parasomnia REM subjects

Hyponatremia in patients with heart failure

Mild hyponatremia is encountered frequently in patients hospitalized for worsening heart failure. Admission plasma sodium concentration appears to be an independent predictor of increased mortality after discharge and rehospitalization. Recent studies have suggested that correction of hyponatremia may be associated with improved survival. This hypothesis is currently being studied in large prospective randomized clinical trials

Real-world use of oral versus subcutaneous semaglutide in a cohort of type 2 diabetic patients: which option to which patient?

Purpose To evaluate the variables influencing the therapeutic choice toward oral versus subcutaneous semaglutide in a cohort of diabetic subjects.Methods We retrospectively collected data of 292 patients followed at the Diabetes Unit of the University Hospital of Siena and the Hospital of Grosseto, who were prescribed oral (n = 115) or subcutaneous (n = 177) semaglutide between October 2021 and October 2022.Results Oral semaglutide was preferentially prescribed in older subjects with longer disease duration in replacement of other antidiabetic drugs, while subcutaneous semaglutide was preferentially prescribed in add-on to metformin in subjects with higher body weight and BMI. After 6 months, both formulations significantly improved glycemic control and body weight, however injectable semaglutide showed a greater efficacy on A1c levels, weight loss, BMI and waist circumference reduction. No differences were found in terms of adverse events.Conclusion In our experience, injectable semaglutide is preferred in patients with excess weight and shorter disease duration, while the oral formulation was used later and especially after therapeutic failure of previous therapies. Follow-up data indicate similar tolerability and efficacy of both formulations, despite subcutaneous semaglutide demonstrated greater efficacy

Benefits on coronary restenosis from elective paclitaxel-eluting stent implantation in patients aged 75 years and older

OBJECTIVE: Elderly patients are increasingly referred for revascularisation yet have been underrepresented in some large clinical trials. Although the advent of drug-eluting stents has dramatically reduced clinical events related to restenosis, older age remains one of the most important correlates of adverse outcome, even after an elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We sought to evaluate the impact of paclitaxel-eluting stents on coronary restenosis in elderly patients undergoing elective PCI. METHODS: Patients undergoing successful elective PCI with stenting of de novo coronary artery lesions were identified and screened for participation in this study. All patients included in our analysis were divided into two cohort groups: patients aged or=75 years (elderly cohort). We evaluated the six-month incidence of target lesion revascularisation (TLR) and major adverse cardiac events, which included TLR, death and myocardial infarction. RESULTS: A total of 171 (58 aged >or=75 years) consecutive patients were enrolled in the study. At six months, TLR rate was similar in both groups [1.77 vs. 1.72%, odds ratio (OR) 0.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.08-10.9, P = 0.98, in the younger and elderly group, respectively]. Even the rate of major adverse cardiac events was comparable between the two groups (7.96 vs. 8.62%, OR 1.09, 95% CI 0.34-3.41, P = 0.88, in the younger and elderly group, respectively). Also the angiographic restenosis rates were comparable between patients or=75 years (4.42 vs. 3.46%, P = 0.76). CONCLUSIONS: After elective paclitaxel-eluting stent implantation, there is no difference in coronary restenosis in younger and elderly patients, suggesting an age-independent efficacy

Activation of the motor cortex during phasic rapid eye movement sleep

When dreaming during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, we can perform complex motor behaviors while remaining motionless. How the motor cortex behaves during this state remains unknown. Here, using intracerebral electrodes sampling the human motor cortex in pharmacoresistant epileptic patients, we report a pattern of electroencephalographic activation during REM sleep similar to that observed during the performance of a voluntary movement during wakefulness. This pattern is present during phasic REM sleep but not during tonic REM sleep, the latter resembling relaxed wakefulness. This finding may help clarify certain phenomenological aspects observed in REM sleep behavior disorder