Simulation of the stretch blow moulding process: from the modelling of the microstructure evolution to the end-use elastic properties of polyethylene terephthalate bottles

The original publication is available at www.springerlink.comThe whole stretch blow-moulding process of PET bottles is simulated at the usual process temperature in order to predict the elastic end-use properties of the bottles. An anisotropic viscoplastic constitutive law, coupled with microscopic variables, is dentified from uniaxial tensile tests performed at different strain rates and temperatures. The microstructure evolution is characterised by crystallinity measurements from interrupted tests and frozen samples. For each specimen tested, the Young modulus is measured at room temperature. Numerical simulations of the blow moulding process are run using the C-NEM method. A micromechanical modelling is post-processed after the simulation to predict the elastic properties. Predictions of Young modulus distributions in bottles are in agreement with the ones measured on blow-moulded bottles

Serological status for BTV-8 in French cattle prior to the 2015 re-emergence

International audienceUndetected in Europe since 2010, bluetongue virus serotype 8 (BTV-8) re-emerged in August 2015 in Central France. To gain insight into the re-emergence on the French territory, we estimated the seroprevalence in cattle before the detection of BTV-8 in 2015, in areas differentially affected by the current outbreak. A retrospective survey based on the analysis of stored sera was thus conducted in the winter preceding the re-emergence in seven French departments including the one where the virus was first detected. A total of 10,066 sera were retrieved from animals sampled in 444 different herds in winter 2014/15. Between-herd seroprevalence revealed the presence of seropositive animals in almost all herds sampled (97.4%). The animal-level seroprevalence averaged at 44%, with a strong age pattern reflecting the cumulative exposure to both natural infection and to vaccination. A multivariable analysis allowed separating the respective effects of both exposures. A higher proportion of seropositivity risk was attributed to vaccination (67.4%) than to exposure to natural infection (24.2%). The evolution of seroprevalence induced by the two main risk factors in 74 mainland departments was reconstructed between the vaccination ban (2013) and the re-emergence (2015). We showed a striking decrease in seroprevalence with time after the vaccination ban, due to population renewal, which could have facilitated virus transmission leading to the current outbreak situation

Circulation of bluetongue virus 8 in French cattle, before and after the re-emergence in 2015

International audienc

Circulation of bluetongue virus 8 in French cattle, before and after the re-emergence in 2015

International audienc

Patient-defined flares and disease activity worsening in 222 patients with psoriatic arthritis from 14 countries

Objectives: To explore patient-defined flares in psoriatic arthritis (PsA), compared to an increase in Disease Activity in Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA), and to analyze the validity of a patient-reported flare question. Methods: ReFlap (NCT03119805) was a longitudinal study in 14 countries of consecutive patients with definite PsA. Patients were seen twice in the context of usual care, 4.5±2.2 months apart. Flares were reported by patients and physicians at the second visit using a single question. DAPSA worsening was defined as a change to a higher DAPSA category. Agreement between the definitions of worsening was calculated by prevalence adjusted bias adjusted kappa (PABAK). Validity of patient-reported flare was assessed by comparing patients with versus without flare and transition to flares. Results: In 222 patients, mean disease duration 10.8±8.3 years, 127 (58.8%) males: disease activity was low (mean DAPSA 11.5±14.0); 63.3% received a bDMARD. Patient-reported flares between the 2 visits were seen in 27.0% patients (for these patients, mean 2.2±3.7 flares per patient, mean duration 12.6±21.0 days per flare). Physician- reported flares were seen in 17.6% and worsening in DAPSA in 40.1% of patients. Agreement between definitions was moderate (PABAK=0.32-0.59). Patients in flare had significantly more active disease than patients not in flare for all outcomes (all p<0.001). At the patient-level, transition to flare state was associated to a worsening in disease activity and impact outcomes. Conclusions: Patient flares were frequent and were associated with active and symptomatic disease. These findings provide preliminary validation for patient-reported flares in PsA

Determinants of patient-reported psoriatic arthritis impact of disease: an analysis of the association with gender in 458 patients from 14 countries

OBJECTIVES: Gender differences may modify symptoms, disease expression, and treatment effects. The objective was to evaluate the link between life impact and gender in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). METHODS: ReFlaP (NCT03119805) was a study in 14 countries of consecutive adult patients with definite PsA. Participants underwent comprehensive PsA assessment: Disease Activity in PSoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA), Minimal Disease Activity (MDA), and Psoriatic Arthritis Impact of Disease (PsAID). Disease activity was compared by gender using t-tests or Wilcoxon tests. The association of PsAID with gender was analyzed using hierarchical generalized linear models. RESULTS: Of 458 participants 50.2% were male, mean age (SD) 53.1 (12.6) years, PsA duration 11 (8.2) years, and 51.5% taking bDMARDs. Women versus men had worse Leeds enthesitis index: 0.8 (1.7) / 0.3 (0.9), pain [numerical rating scale 0-10 (NRS)]: 4.7 (2.7) / 3.5 (2.7), HAQ-DI: 0.9 (0.7) / 0.5 (0.6), fatigue NRS: 5.2 (3) / 3.3 (2.8), PsAID: 4.1 (2.4) / 2.8 (2.3), pandlt;0.001 for all, and were less frequently at treatment target (T2T): DAPSA (DAPSA cut-offs and#8804;4 remission, andgt;4 and and#8804;14 low disease activity): 16.9 (14.9) / 12.6 (16.6), MDA: 25.7% / 50.0%, pandlt;0.001 for all. High life impact (PsAIDand#8805;4) was associated with female gender [odds ratio (OR) 2.3], enthesitis (OR 1.34), tender joints (OR 1.10) pandlt;0.001 for all, and comorbidities (OR 1.22, p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: High life impact was independently associated with female gender, enthesitis, comorbidities, and tender joints. At T2T, women vs men had higher life impact. Life impact needs to become part of PsA T2T strategies.</p