Measurements of hydrogen content in bulk niobium by Thermal Desorption Spectroscopy

The hydrogen content of bulk niobium has been studied by Thermal Desorption Spectroscopy. The work has been focussed initially on the influence of the vacuum firing and the surface chemical treatment. It is planned to extend the investigation to niobium samples of different quality and origin to ascertain the interest of using the Thermal Desorption Spectroscopy technique to qualify the raw niobium sheets to be used for cavity manufacturin

Taloudellinen eriarvoisuus lasten arjessa

Tutkimuksessa tarkastellaan taloudellista eriarvoisuutta lapsuudentutkimuksen viitekehyksessä ja lasten näkökulmista käsin. Tutkimuksessa kysytään, mitkä taloudellisten resurssien erot jäsentyvät lasten näkökulmista tarkasteltuina merkityksellisinä, mitä lapset itse käsittävät eriarvoisuudella sekä miten he eriarvoisuuden kokevat. Tutkimuksessa tarkastellaan myös sitä, minkälaisissa yhteyksissä taloudellinen eriarvoisuus lasten arjessa esiintyy, mitä seurauksia eriarvoisuudella lasten elämässä on ja minkälaisia keinoja ja toimintamalleja lapsilla on puuttua taloudelliseen eriarvoisuuteen omassa arjessaan. Tutkimus on laadullinen tutkimus. Tutkimusaineisto koostui keväällä 2011 kerätyistä viides- ja kahdeksasluokkalaisten lasten teemahaastatteluista ja eläytymistarinoista sekä lasten eläytymistarinoihin liittämistä piirustuksista. Analyysimenetelmänä käytettiin laadullista sisällönanalyysiä. Analyysissa kiinnitettiin huomiota erityisesti lasten eriarvoisuuden kokemuksiin sekä eriarvoisuutta koskeviin ajatuksiin ja merkityksenantoihin. Tutkimus osoittaa taloudellisen eriarvoisuuden olevan läsnä lasten arjessa monin eri tavoin, erityisesti erilaisina kuluttamisen ja kulutusmahdollisuuksien eroina. Kuluttaminen on osa lasten arkea, ja siihen sisältyy tiettyjä odotuksia, joista lapset ovat tietoisia ja joista poikkeamisen he saattavat kokea haastavana. Tutkimuksessa kuvataan, miten lasten väliset erot kulutusresursseissa tuottavat eriarvoisuutta, joka edelleen määrittää lapsen sosiaalista osallisuutta ja asemaa vertaisryhmässä. Taloudellinen samanarvoisuus voi olla ystävyyden mahdollistava tekijä, kun taas taloudellinen eriarvoisuus voi pahimmillaan johtaa syrjimiseen, ryhmästä ulos sulkemiseen ja kiusaamiseen. Tutkimus osoittaa, miten lapset omalla toiminnallaan rakentavat aktiivisesti omia strategioitaan selviytyäkseen tilanteista, joissa lasten väliset taloudelliset erot ovat läsnä.15,00 euro

MEASUREMENTS OF HYDROGEN CONTENT IN BULK NIOBIUM BY THERMAL DESORPTION SPECTROSCOPY

The hydrogen content of bulk niobium has been studied by Thermal Desorption Spectroscopy. The work has been focussed initially on the influence of the vacuum firing and the surface chemical treatment. It is planned to extend the investigation to niobium samples of different quality and origin to ascertain the interest of using the Thermal Desorption Spectroscopy technique to qualify the raw niobium sheets to be used for cavity manufacturing

Toe pressure and toe brachial index are predictive of cardiovascular mortality regardless of the most diseased arterial segment in symptomatic lower-extremity artery disease—A retrospective cohort study

Objective Although lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) is most often multisegmental, the predominant disease location and risk factors differ between patients. Ankle-brachial index (ABI), toe-brachial index (TBI), and toe pressure (TP) are predictive of outcome in LEAD patients. Previously, we reported a classification method defining the most diseased arterial segment (MDAS); crural (CR), femoropopliteal (FP), or aortoiliac (AOI). Current study aimed to analyze the associations between MDAS, peripheral pressure measurements and cardiovascular mortality. Materials and methods We reviewed retrospectively 729 consecutive LEAD patients (Rutherford 2–6) who underwent digital subtraction angiography between January, 2009 to August, 2011 and had standardized peripheral pressure measurements. Results In Cox Regression analyses, cardiovascular mortality was associated with MDAS and noninvasive pressure indices as follows; MDAS AOI, TP 1.30 (HR 6.71, 95% CI 1.89–23.8), and MDAS CR, TP <30 mmHg (HR 4.26, 95% CI 2.19–8.27), TBI <0.25 (HR 7.71, 95% CI 1.86–32.9), and ABI <0.25 (HR 2.59, 95% CI 1.15–5.85). Conclusions Symptomatic LEAD appears to be multisegmental with severe infrapopliteal involvement. Because of this, TP and TBI are strongly predictive of cardiovascular mortality and they should be routinely measured despite the predominant disease location or clinical presentation.Peer reviewe

CERN studies on niobium-coated 1.5 GHz copper cavities

Studies at CERN on niobium-coated 1.5 GHz superconducting cavities are aimed at understanding and possibly curing the causes of the residual resistance increase observed when increasing the accelerating gradient above 15 MV/m. Amongst the possible causes, the surface defects and roughness, the grain size, the hydrogen content and the thermal effects are currently being investigated. The present status of understanding, together with some recent results on high field operation, are presented and discussed

Crural Index and extensive atherosclerosis of crural vessels are associated with long-term cardiovascular mortality in patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease

Background and aims: Limited data exist on the association of the anatomical distribution of atherosclerotic lesions and the extent of atherosclerosis at defined arterial segments with life expectancy. We recently presented a new classification of the extent of atherosclerosis in crural vessels and showed that Crural Index (CIx) was associated with mid-term survival of symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD) patients. This study evaluates the significance of the extent of crural atherosclerosis on long-term cardiovascular mortality. Methods: 887 consecutive patients with PAD, admitted for digital subtraction angiography (DSA) at Turku University Hospital Department of Vascular Surgery (Turku, Finland) between January 1st, 2009 and July 30th, 2011, were retrospectively analysed. Each crural angiographic image was graded according to CIx criteria. Aorto-iliac and femoro-popliteal arterial segments were similarly graded according to modified TASC II criteria. CIx was used as the categorical variable for the extent of atherosclerosis in crural vessels for survival analysis. Survival was also evaluated with respect to which arterial segment was most severely affected. Causes of death were provided by the Cause of Death Registry of Statistics Finland, updated on January 23rd, 2017. Results: Altogether, 408 (46%) patients died during follow-up. The majority of deaths were due to cardiovascular causes (n = 246, 60%). Cardiovascular mortality was strongly associated with a high CIx (CIx III (Hazard ratio (HR) 2.16, Confidence interval (CI) 95% 1.23-3.80, p = 0.007)) and CIx IV (HR 3.513, 95% CI 1.93-4.565, p <0.001), as compared to CIx 0. In patients having the crural segment as the most severely affected arterial segment, cardiovascular mortality was significantly increased (HR 2.321, 95% CI 1.45-3.73, p <0.001), as was overall mortality (HR 2.177, 95% CI 1.53-3.10, p <0.001). Conclusions: High Crural Index and extensive crural vessel atherosclerosis are associated with long-term cardiovascular mortality, and both may serve as useful indicators of survival among patients with symptomatic PAD. (c) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

Social relationships, child poverty, and children's life satisfaction

Child subjective well-being is determined by various personal, social, and contextual factors. Few studies have found reliable differences in the prediction power of these factors; however, the results vary especially when it comes to sociodemographic factors, such as the effect of child’s socioeconomic background on life satisfaction. This paper examines how poverty and social relationships affect the perceived life satisfaction of Finnish schoolchildren. Drawing on survey data of Finnish schoolchildren, from grades 5, 7, and 9 (n = 1793), linear regression was used to test how life satisfaction would be associated with socio-demographic variables, poverty, and child–parent and peer relationships. The results emphasize the complex nature of the determinants of children’s life satisfaction. The greatest unique contribution for change of life satisfaction was made by the time spent with mother (β(p) = 0.189). Overall, the model showed a good fit (R2 19.9). These findings have important implications for family policies and services that promote good parenting and positive parent–child relationships. Furthermore, this study highlights relational well-being as a key determinant of children’s life satisfaction.</p

Chronic limb threatening ischemia and diabetes mellitus: the severity of tibial atherosclerosis and outcome after infrapopliteal revascularization

Background and aims: Diabetes mellitus associates with poor outcomes in chronic limb threatening ischemia but data on different hypoglycemic regimens and outcomes are lacking. We analyzed insulin-treated diabetes mellitus, non-insulin-treated diabetes mellitus, and patients without diabetes mellitus.Materials and methods: All patients with peripheral artery disease and/or diabetes mellitus and infrapopliteal revascularization in the Department of Vascular Surgery, Turku University Hospital during 2007-2015 were included. Tibial atherosclerosis was categorized into crural index classes of I-IV.Results: Of the 497 patients, 180 were insulin-treated diabetes mellitus, 94 non-insulin-treated diabetes mellitus, and 223 patients without diabetes mellitus groups (diabetes mellitus 55.1%). Insulin-treated diabetes mellitus was the most ill, youngest (insulin-treated diabetes mellitus-median: 72.4, interquartile range: 64.0-79.5 versus non-insulin-treated diabetes mellitus-76.0, interquartile range: 67.9-83.6 versus patients without diabetes mellitus-77.3, interquartile range: 68.5-83.7, p p p p = 0.046) and non-insulin-treated diabetes mellitus groups (p = 0.011) compared to surgery, but not for patients without diabetes mellitus (p = 0.15). Patients with crural index IV in insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (p = 0.001) and non-insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (p = 0.013) had higher mortality after revascularization. Crural index IV was a risk factor for limb loss (hazard ratio: 1.37, 95% confidence interval: 1.08-1.74, p = 0.008).Conclusion: Limb salvage after bypass is better for insulin and non-insulin diabetics, compared to the endovascular approach. Extensive tibial atherosclerosis is an independent risk factor for limb loss. It associates with increased mortality in both insulin and non-insulin diabetics.</p

Compared to Intermittant Claudication Critical Limb Ischemia Is Associated with Elevated Levels of Cytokines

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is the advanced stage of peripheral artery disease (PAD) and associated with an extremely poor clinical outcome. In order to understand the possible role of circulating cytokines and poor outcome associated with CLI we compared the circulating cytokine profile of patients with CLI against patients with intermittent claudication (IC). The levels of 48 circulating cytokines were examined in 226 consecutive patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) admitted for elective, non-urgent, invasive treatment of IC or CLI. The PAD patient cohort was evenly distributed between subjects with IC (46.5%) and CLI (53.5%). As accustomed in PAD, CLI was associated with higher age, chronic kidney disease and diabetes when compared to IC (P < 0.01 for all). In multivariable linear regression modeling taking into account the baseline differences between IC and CLI groups CLI was independently associated with elevated levels of a large number of cytokines: IL-1 beta, IL-1ra, IL-2R alpha, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-gamma, GM-CSF, G-CSF (P < 0.01 for all), and IL-2, IL-7, IL-12, IL-13, IL-17, bFGF, VEGF, SCGF-beta (P < 0.05 for all). The current findings indicate that CLI is associated with a circulating cytokine profile, which resembles serious medical conditions such as severe pancreatitis, sepsis, or even cancer. Compared to IC, CLI is a systemic inflammatory condition, which may explain the extremely poor outcome associated with it

Toe pressure and toe brachial index are predictive of cardiovascular mortality regardless of the most diseased arterial segment in symptomatic lower-extremity artery disease—A retrospective cohort study

ObjectiveAlthough lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) is most often multisegmental, the predominant disease location and risk factors differ between patients. Ankle-brachial index (ABI), toe-brachial index (TBI), and toe pressure (TP) are predictive of outcome in LEAD patients. Previously, we reported a classification method defining the most diseased arterial segment (MDAS); crural (CR), femoropopliteal (FP), or aortoiliac (AOI). Current study aimed to analyze the associations between MDAS, peripheral pressure measurements and cardiovascular mortality.Materials and methodsWe reviewed retrospectively 729 consecutive LEAD patients (Rutherford 2–6) who underwent digital subtraction angiography between January, 2009 to August, 2011 and had standardized peripheral pressure measurements.ResultsIn Cox Regression analyses, cardiovascular mortality was associated with MDAS and non-invasive pressure indices as follows; MDAS AOI, TP ConclusionsSymptomatic LEAD appears to be multisegmental with severe infrapopliteal involvement. Because of this, TP and TBI are strongly predictive of cardiovascular mortality and they should be routinely measured despite the predominant disease location or clinical presentation.</p