Chemistry modification of high oxygen-carbon powder by plasma melting

State-of-the-art melting of tantalum and tantalum alloys has relied on electron beam (EB) or vacuum-arc remelting (VAR) for commercial ingot production. The limited number of melting techniques for these materials are the result of high melting temperatures and reactivity with conventional mold/crucible materials. In addition, the required vacuum levels used in the EB and VAR processes limit these techniques to relatively low interstitial content material due toe extensive outgassing during melting. Plasma arc melting (PAM) provides and alternative for melting tantalum and offers the advantage or processing under inert or other gases rather than vacuum, The plasma process is not sensitive to materials outgassing and allows for the direct recycling of material that would otherwise be reprocessed by chemical extraction. The current work examines melting of high interstitial content tantalum powder by the plasma arc process. Various cover gases of argon-hydrogen and helium-hydrogen were investigated to determine best melt quality. Melted ingots were characterized by chemical and metallographic methods to determine overall interstitial content, compound and morphology

Phase Behavior of Aqueous Na-K-Mg-Ca-CI-NO3 Mixtures: Isopiestic Measurements and Thermodynamic Modeling

A comprehensive model has been established for calculating thermodynamic properties of multicomponent aqueous systems containing the Na{sup +}, K{sup +}, Mg{sup 2+}, Ca{sup 2+}, Cl{sup -}, and NO{sub 3}{sup -} ions. The thermodynamic framework is based on a previously developed model for mixed-solvent electrolyte solutions. The framework has been designed to reproduce the properties of salt solutions at temperatures ranging from the freezing point to 300 C and concentrations ranging from infinite dilution to the fused salt limit. The model has been parameterized using a combination of an extensive literature database and new isopiestic measurements for thirteen salt mixtures at 140 C. The measurements have been performed using Oak Ridge National Laboratory's (ORNL) previously designed gravimetric isopiestic apparatus, which makes it possible to detect solid phase precipitation. Water activities are reported for mixtures with a fixed ratio of salts as a function of the total apparent salt mole fraction. The isopiestic measurements reported here simultaneously reflect two fundamental properties of the system, i.e., the activity of water as a function of solution concentration and the occurrence of solid-liquid transitions. The thermodynamic model accurately reproduces the new isopiestic data as well as literature data for binary, ternary and higher-order subsystems. Because of its high accuracy in calculating vapor-liquid and solid-liquid equilibria, the model is suitable for studying deliquescence behavior of multicomponent salt systems

Serological evidence of early remodeling in high-risk non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes

INTRODUCTION: Non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (ACS) represents a spectrum of risk, with electrocardiographic (ECG) changes and a positive troponin being associated with higher morbidity and mortality. Ischaemia produces alterations in the collagenous component of the heart, even in the absence of myocyte necrosis. Collagen turnover can be assessed biochemically with C-propeptide for type I collagen (PICP) and C-telopeptide for type I collagen (CITP) being markers of collagen synthesis and degradation respectively. Tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) is a marker of inhibition of degradation. METHODS: Fifty-two patients with non-ST elevation acute ACS were recruited and dichotomised into high- and low-risk groups based on ECG and troponin level. Sequential measurements of plasma PICP, CITP and TIMP-1 were performed over a 48 hour period. RESULTS: Twenty were classified as low-risk (negative troponin and normal ECG) and 32 as high-risk. PICP was within the normal range at all time points in both groups. However, admission CITP was higher in the high-risk group (3.7 vs. 2.6 ng/ml, p<0.001) and, unlike the low-risk group, demonstrated a further rise over 48 h. Similarly, mean TIMP-1 displayed a sequential change over time in the high-risk group only, and admission level was higher compared to the low-risk group (302 vs. 221 ng/ml, p<0.01). DISCUSSION: There is serological evidence of time-dependent altered collagen metabolism in high-risk ACS, which is not present in the low-risk group. This may reflect a degree of remodeling and may aid risk stratification of patients presenting with non-ST elevation ACS

Mode selection in doubly-resonant optical parametric oscillators

By using a computer model to calculate the threshold for each signal and idler mode-pair in doubly resonant optical parametric oscillators, we investigate the effects of the three principal tuning parameters (temperature, cavity length, and pump wavelength) on the mode selection. Through consideration of type I and type II noncritical phase-matched geometries for lithium triborate optical parametric oscillators, we illustrate that the tuning behavior depends on the difference between the refractive indexes experienced by the signal and idler fields

Chemistry modification of high oxygen-carbon powder by plasma melting: Follow up to complete the story

State of the art melting of tantalum and tantalum alloys has relied on electron beam (EB) or vacuum arc remelting (VAR) for commercial ingot production. Plasma arc melting (PAM) provides an alternative for melting tantalum that contains very high levels of interstitials where other melting techniques can not be applied. Previous work in this area centered on plasma arc melt quality and final interstitial content of tantalum feedstock containing excessive levels of interstitial impurities as a function of melt rate and plasma gas. This report is an expansion of this prior study and provides the findings from the analysis of second phase components observed in the microstructure of the PAM tantalum. In addition, results from subsequent EB melting trials of PAM tantalum are included

Pericardiocentesis practice in the United Kingdom

Background:  Pericardial effusions frequently present challenging clinical dilemmas. Whether or not to drain an effusion, and if so by what method, are two common decisions facing cardiologists. We performed a survey to evaluate pericardiocentesis practice in the United Kingdom (UK). Methods:  A total of 640 questionnaires were sent to all cardiologists in the UK Directory of Cardiology in March 2003. Results:  A total of 274 (43%) completed questionnaires were returned, 88% from consultants, equally distributed between tertiary referral centres and district general hospitals. More than 1500 procedures were performed, largely using a paraxiphoid approach (89%). Clinical tamponade was the commonest indication for pericardiocentesis (83%). However, the majority of respondents (69%) considered echocardiographic features alone an indication for pericardiocentesis, even in the absence of clinical tamponade. The commonest perceived indications for drainage were right ventricular diastolic collapse and right atrial collapse (69% and 33% of respondents respectively). For guidance, 82% use echocardiography, either alone or with fluoroscopy or the electrocardiogram (ECG) injury trace. 11% employ fluoroscopy alone or with the ECG injury trace. The remaining 11% stated that they would use the ECG injury trace alone or use no guidance. Using the ECG injury trace alone is said by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines to offer an inadequate safeguard. Reported complications included ventricular puncture (n = 12, 0.8%) and hepatic damage (n = 4, 0.3%). Conclusion:  Pericardiocentesis practice varies substantially in the UK. Many cardiologists would perform pericardiocentesis based on echocardiographic features alone. 11% of cardiologists use guidance that is considered inadequate by the ESC guidelines