Residual stress measurements and analysis by destructive and non-destructive techniques

This investigation is focused on the evaluation of residual stresses resulting from cold deformation and welding in candidate target structural materials such as martensitic Alloys EP-823 and HT-9, and austenitic Type 304L stainless steel (SS). Measurements of residual stresses were performed by both destructive and nondestructive techniques including ring-core (RC), neutron diffraction (ND) and positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS). The results obtained by the PAS method indicate that the residual stresses in the cold-worked specimens were significantly enhanced with increased level of cold reduction. Residual stress measurements by the RC method on welded specimens consisting of similar materials revealed tensile stresses on both sides. The welded specimens consisting of similar and dissimilar materials showed compressive residual stresses on one side (Alloy EP-823) and tensile stresses on the other side (Type 304L SS). In general, a good agreement in the measured residual stresses was observed based on their comparisons on different configurations of testing specimens using state-of-the art experimental techniques

Genetics of Stalk and Seed Quality Traits in Maize (Zea Mays L.) With Lfy Gene.

Parenchyma cell death (PCD) in stalk internodes of maize (Zea mays L.) is related to stalk rot. Spread of stalk rotting fungi is restricted by living parenchyma cells. A previously reported correlation coefficient of 0.70 between leaf midrib cell death (LMCD) and PCD indicated that selection for LMCD might result in low PCD, thus improving stalk quality. Inheritance of PCD and LMCD in maize possessing the leafy (Lfy) gene needs to be investigated. Experiments were conducted in three environments to estimate general (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects for PCD and LMCD via a diallel cross among seven Lfy synthetics and to determine the effect of Lfy gene on PCD and LMCD. Eight weeks after planting, five consecutive leaves per plant, beginning with the sixth leaf from the base of a plant, were visually rated for LMCD. Twenty one days after mid silk, the first four stalk internodes above brace roots of 10 leafy and 10 non-leafy plants in each of the 21 F\sb1 crosses were split longitudinally and visually rated for PCD. The PCD of third stalk internode and LMCD of third leaf were reliable in differentiating genotypes. SCA was more important than GCA for PCD, whereas GCA was more important than SCA for LMCD. A632 syn, B73 syn, Mo17 syn, and Wf9 syn showed negative GCA effects for PCD, whereas A632 syn, B73 syn, and Hy syn showed negative GCA effects for LMCD. The Lfy plants had significantly lower PCD and LMCD than the non-Lfy plants, suggesting that extra leaves in the Lfy plants probably produced supplemental photosynthate and thus had a favorable effect on PCD and LMCD. The current knowledge of inheritance of maize seed quality traits, though important to breeders, is limited. Seed from the 21 F\sb1 crosses were evaluated for seven seed quality traits. SCA was more important than the GCA for most seed quality traits. Significant additive genetic correlations (r $\ge$ 0.84) among seed weight, dry matter, and vigor index suggested that selection for heavier seed may result in improved seedling vigor. Results revealed superiority of Hy syn and Hy syn x Mo17 syn cross for seed quality

Primary Cardiac Allograft Dysfunction-Validation of a Clinical Definition

Background.Heart transplantation is an established treatment for advanced heart failure. Primary allograft dysfunction (PGD) is reported in up to 40 % of transplants and is associated with a poor outcome.Methods.As part of Heart Evaluation and Retrieval for Transplantation study, an investigation of the assessment of donor hearts for transplantation, we proposed a clinical definition ffecting one or both ventricles accompanied by hypotension, low 72 hours (in the absence of hyper acute rejection and technical mine the prospective application of this definition to 290 heart d non-PGD cases. Results. Ninety-four of 290 transplants the PGD group at 24, 48, and 72 hours after transplantation fo ra o c ty. have acceptable function before organ retrieval may be ex-OriginalClinicalScienceçGeneral30 years.6 This has been attributed to improvements in dono

Optimizing knowledge and behavioral intention of women and their partners in the perinatal period in South Africa : a randomized control trial study protocol in the Tshwane district, Gauteng province, South Africa

Background: Maternal knowledge that motivates improvements in critical perinatal health behaviors has the potential to significantly reduce maternal and neonatal mortality. However, evidence-based health information often fails to reach mothers and their partners. mHealth video micro-messages, which disseminate evidence-based perinatal health messages, have the potential to address this gap. Methods: The study will make use of a mixed method design, using both qualitative and quantitative methods. The study consists of two phases. During Phase 1, qualitative in-depth interviews will be used as part of a human-centered design approach to co-create 10 videos on priority perinatal behaviors. During Phase 2, quantitative methods (a randomized control trial) will be used to test the effectiveness of the videos in improving maternal knowledge and intended behavioral change. Discussion: We hypothesize that by engaging mothers and their partners through emotive, resonant narratives and visuals, we can facilitate the delivery of evidence-based health messages at the foundation of perinatal health, thereby motivating life-saving improvements in health behaviors during the perinatal period. Trial registration: This trial has been prospectively registered on the Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR), with the registration number PACTR202203673222680. Registration date: 14 March 2022. Trial registration WHO data set: Registry – Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR). Date: 14 March 2022. Secondary identification number - grant number: GCCSOAFMNH1. Source of support: Science for Africa Foundation. Primary sponsor – Clinton Health Access Initiative South Africa. Secondary sponsor - Stanford University School of Medicine and Heidelberg University. Contact for public & scientific queries: [email protected]; +27 123,426,911; 1166 Francis Baard St, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0028. Public title – Amandla Mama. Scientific title - Optimizing knowledge and behavioral intention of women and their partners in the perinatal period in South Africa. Countries of recruitment – South Africa. Health conditions – antenatal care. Intervention – Amandla Mama mHealth videos, short 2D animated health promotional videos that promote healthy behavior in expectant mothers. Inclusion and exclusion criteria - Expectant mothers and their partners must be 18 years and older. Study type – randomized control trial. Date of first enrollment – 14 March 2021. Sample size – plan to enrol 450 participants, participants enrolled 29 participants. Recruitment Status – suspended. Primary outcome – improving knowledge. Secondary outcome – intended behavioral change. Ethics review – Approved on 24 January 2022 by Pharma-Ethics, contact Mrs. Marzelle Haskins, [email protected]. Completion date – N/A. Summary results – N/A. IPD sharing statement – yes, through the publication of results in a journal article

Budesonide/formoterol combination in COPD: a US perspective

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a preventable and treatable disease of the lung caused primarily by exposure to cigarette smoke. Clinically, it presents with progressive cough, sputum production, dyspnea, reduced exercise capacity, and diminished quality of life. Physiologically, it is characterized by the presence of partially reversible expiratory airflow limitation and hyperinflation. Pathologically, COPD is a multicomponent disease characterized by bronchial submucosal mucous gland hypertrophy, bronchiolar mucosal hyperplasia, increased luminal inflammatory mucus, airway wall inflammation and scarring, and alveolar wall damage and destruction. Management of COPD involves both pharmacological and nonpharmacological approaches. Bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids are recommended medications for management of COPD especially in more severe disease. Combination therapies containing these medications are now available for the chronic management of stable COPD. The US Food and Drug Administration, recently, approved the combination of budesonide/formoterol (160/4.5 μg; Symbicort™, AstraZeneca, Sweden) delivered via a pressurized meter dose inhaler for maintenance management of stable COPD. The combination also is delivered via dry powder inhaler (Symbicort™ and Turbuhaler™, AstraZeneca, Sweden) but is not approved for use in the United States. In this review, we evaluate available data of the efficacy and safety of this combination in patients with COPD

Residual Stress Characterization in Structural Materials by Destructive and Nondestructive Techniques

Transmutation of nuclear waste is currently being considered to transform long-lived isotopes to species with relatively short half-lives and reduced radioactivity through capture and decay of minor actinides and fission products. This process is intended for geologic disposal of spent nuclear fuels for shorter durations in the proposed Yucca Mountain repository. The molten lead-bismuth-eutectic will be used as a target and coolant during transmutation, which will be contained in a subsystem vessel made from materials such as austenitic (304L) and martensitic (EP-823 and HT-9) stainless steels. The structural materials used in this vessel will be subjected to welding operations and plastic deformation during fabrication. The resultant residual stresses cannot be totally eliminated even by stress-relief operations. Destructive and nondestructive techniques have been used to evaluate residual stresses in the welded and cold-worked specimens. Results indicate that tensile residual stresses were generated at the fusion line of the welded specimens made from either austenitic or martensitic stainless steel, with reduced stresses away from this region. The magnitude of residual stress in the cold-worked specimens was enhanced at intermediate cold-reduction levels, showing tensile residual stresses in the austenitic material while exhibiting compressive stresses in the martensitic alloys. Comparative analyses of the resultant data obtained by different techniques revealed consistent stress patterns

Effectiveness of oseltamivir prophylaxis in influenza outbreaks in residential aged care

Influenza outbreaks in Aged Care Facilities (ACFs) can lead to hospitalizations and deaths. Influenza can spread rapidly through ACFs if precautionary measures are not taken. Along with influenza vaccination and precautionary hygiene measures, Oseltamivir Prophylaxis (OP) may be effective in reducing the attack rate of influenza by preventing new cases. A cohort study was carried out to investigate the effectiveness of OP use during influenza outbreaks in ACFs located within South Western Sydney Local Health District from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2018. The main outcome assessed was the rate of OP failure (new cases of influenza in patients treated with OP) among ACF residents. Subgroups and various predictors of OP failure were investigated including presence of a dementia ward, high care ward, and days to Public Health Unit (PHU) notification. The cohort consisted of 86 ACF outbreaks involving 10,064 residents. OP prevented 90% of influenza cases during influenza outbreaks [0.1 RR (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.08–0.12); P < 0.0001]. ACFs with dementia wards had a 44% (0.56 relative risk (RR) (95% CI: 0.34–0.93); P < 0.05) lower OP failure rate. ACFs with high level care had an 87% (0.13 RR (95% CI: 0.05–0.38); P < 0.05) lower OP failure rate. OP is highly effective in preventing new cases of influenza during outbreaks in ACFs, especially in ACFs with dementia or high care wards. Mandatory reporting of influenza outbreaks to PHUs would ensure that ACFs are supported throughout the outbreak, which will facilitate reductions in hospitalizations and mortality. © 2020 South Western Sydney Local Health District

Variability and Stability for Kernel Iron and Zinc Contents in the ICRISAT Mini Core Collection of Peanut

Iron and zinc are essential minerals in human and animal nutrition. Low genetic variability has been a major bottleneck in genetic enhancement of the nutritional status of food crops and/or cultivars. Recently, peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is gaining importance as a food in the world. We assessed the nutritional quality of 184 peanut mini core accessions along with four control cultivars to identify stable genotypes with high kernel Fe and Zn contents and with good agronomic performance for use in crop improvement. Significant genotypic and genotype × environment interactions were observed for both nutritional traits and all agronomic traits in the entire mini core collection and within each of subsp. fastigiata Waldron and subsp. hypogaea. Forty-eight accessions with higher Fe content, 43 accessions with high Zn content, and 23 accessions high in both minerals coupled with superior agronomic traits were identified. Among them, ICG 4750, ICG 7963, ICG 14705, and ICG 15419 were highly diverse and stable for either or both nutrients, produced pod yield similar to or greater than the control cultivars, and have high shelling percentage, except ICG 15419, and high 100-seed weight, except ICG 4750. High positive correlation between Fe and Zn contents in peanut kernels will be desirable and useful for breeders as selection for either of the nutrients would be effective for both the nutrients

Trends in antimicrobial resistance patterns in Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Australia and New Zealand : a meta-analysis and systematic review

(1) Background: The widespread development of resistance among Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) clinical isolates has been reported by surveillance systems around the world. This meta-analysis estimated the changes in susceptibility patterns among antibiotics under surveillance in Australia and New Zealand. (2) Methods: Articles published in English from 1980–2018, from Australia or New Zealand, that met the selection criteria were included. The meta-analysis was carried out using the R statistical software. (3) Results: In Australia, there has been decreasing susceptibility of gonococcal isolates to selected antimicrobials over time. Azithromycin (Odds Ratio (OR): 0.73; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.64–0.82) and ceftriaxone (OR: 0.69; 95% CI 0.59–0.80) showed decreasing levels of susceptibility each year. Western Australia (OR: 0.76; 95% CI 0.60–0.96) and Victoria (OR: 0.74; 95% CI 0.60–0.90) also had decreasing levels of susceptibility to ceftriaxone over time compared with other states and territories. (4) Conclusions: The results highlight the need for the development of new approaches for managing cases of gonorrhoea. Improved antimicrobial stewardship, enhanced surveillance and contact tracing are needed to identify and respond to changes in antibiotic resistance in a timely manner. Increasing awareness and public health follow-up of cases can help to interrupt the cycle of infection and limit transmission

High glucose stimulates the expression of erythropoietin in rat glomerular epithelial cells

It has been reported that the levels of erythropoietin are associated with diabetes mellitus. Glomerular epithelial cells, located in the renal cortex, play an important role in the regulation of kidney function and hyperglycemia-induced cell loss of glomerular epithelial cells is implicated in the onset of diabetic nephropathy. This study investigated the effect of high glucose on erythropoietin and erythropoietin receptor expression in rat glomerular epithelial cells. We found that 25 mM D-glucose, but not mannitol or L-glucose, stimulated erythropoietin mRNA and protein expression in a time dependent manner (>4 h) in rat glomerular epithelial cells. In addition, 25 mM glucose, but not mannitol or L-glucose, also increased the phosphorylation of erythropoietin receptor, suggesting a role for erythropoietin receptor phosphorylation in erythropoietin synthesis. We conclude that high glucose stimulates erythropoietin production and erythropoietin receptor phosphorylation in rat glomerular epithelial cells