Investigation and Mechanical Modelling of Pure Molybdenum at High Strain-Rate and Temperature

This work shows the results obtained from the investigation of the mechanical behavior of two batches of pure molybdenum specimens (≥99.97 % Mo, Mo1 supplied by Plansee and Mo2 supplied by AT&M) under static and dynamic loading conditions at different temperatures, both under tensile and compressive loading conditions. Due to its properties molybdenum has applications in several fields including nuclear. At this moment, it is a good candidate for structural material application for Beam Intercepting Devices of the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, Geneva. The experimental tests in tensile loading condition were performed on small dog-bone specimens. A series of tests at room temperature and a range of strain-rates was performed in order to obtain information about the strain-rate sensitivity of the material. A series of tests at different temperatures in both static and high dynamic loading conditions was performed in order to obtain information about the thermal softening of the material. The dynamic tests were performed using the Hopkinson Bar technique, and the heating of the specimen was performed using an induction coil system. The experimental tests in compression were carried out on cylindrical specimens at room temperature and a range of strain-rates. The experimental data were analyzed via a numerical inverse method based on Finite Element numerical simulations. This approach allows to obtain the effective stress versus strain curves, which cannot be derived by using standard relations since instability and necking were present. Moreover, it also allows the non-uniform distribution of strain-rate and temperature inside the specimen to be accounted for. The results obtained from compression tests confirm the data obtained in tension in terms of strain-hardening and strain-rate sensitivity, even if the material exhibits a tension–compression asymmetry of the behavior. The analysis of the hardening, temperature and strain-rate sensitivities reveals that a unique standard visco-plastic model could not be defined to reproduce the material strength behavior under different loading conditions, especially over wide range of variation of the variables of interest

Improved treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis with fluconazole plus probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14

To determine the ability of probiotic lactobacilli to improve the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) using a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled trial. Fifty-five women diagnosed with VVC by vaginal discharge positive for Candida spp. (according to culture method) associated with at least one of the symptoms (itching and burning vaginal feeling, dyspareunia and dysuria), were treated with single dose of fluconazole (150 mg) supplemented every morning for the following 4 weeks with two placebo or two probiotic capsules (containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14). At 4 weeks, the probiotic treated group showed significantly less vaginal discharge associated with any of the above mentioned symptoms (10.3%vs 34.6%; P = 0.03) and lower presence of yeast detected by culture (10.3%vs 38.5%; P = 0.014). This study has shown that probiotic lactobacilli can increase the effectiveness of an anti-fungal pharmaceutical agent in curing disease. This novel finding of probiotic lactobacilli augmenting the cure rate of yeast vaginitis, not only offers an alternative approach to a highly prevalent condition that adversely affects the quality of life of women around the world, but also raises the question of how this combination works.FAPESP[04/14580-0]FAPESP[06/06595-2]CAPES[6159/06-2]Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC

Concepts of disease and their relationship to health-seeking behaviour in Chuquisaca department, south Bolivia

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:D191713 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo