Corrosion Behavior of the As-cast and Heat-treated ZA27 Alloy

Corrosion behaviour of the as-cast and heat-treated ZA27 alloy was examined. The alloy was prepared by conventional melting and casting route and then thermally processed by applying T4 heat treatment regime (solutionizing at 370 °C for 3 hours followed by water quenching and natural aging). Corrosion rate of the as-cast and heat-treated ZA27 alloy was determined in 3.5 wt. % NaCl solution through immersion test using both weight loss method and polarization resistance measurements. It was shown that applied thermal treatment resulted in increased ductility of the heat-treated alloy and had a small beneficial effect on the corrosion resistance of ZA27 alloy

Identifying Trends in Masterplanning: A Typological Classification System

This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of the following article: Robert Adam, and Claire Jamieson, ‘Identifying trends in masterplanning: A typological classification system’, URBAN DESIGN International, Vol. 19 (4): 274-290, December 2014. The final publication is available at Springer via https://doi.org/10.1057/udi.2013.24.This article reports research carried out to develop a new typological method for the analysis of masterplans. This quantitative method of analysis can be used to produce comparative data that will help in the comparison of urban design typologies and their development over time. This article sets out the research to date, describing how the initial aims have developed from simple analysis to the creation of an analytical tool with wide applications. Comprising a detailed taxonomy of urban design features gathered from a wide database of recent and emerging masterplans, the system provides opportunities for further study such as trends, qualitative comparison against quantitative measurement, and comparison of aims and outcomes. This article will describe the methodology and process of research, while elaborating on the potential of the tool.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

Corrosion of Metal-Matrix Composites with Aluminium Alloy Substrate

The corrosion behaviour of MMCs with aluminium alloy matrix was presented. The corrosion characteristics of boron-, graphite-, silicon carbide-, alumina- and mica- reinforced aluminium MMCs were reviewed. The reinforcing phase influence on MMCs corrosion rate as well as on various corrosion forms (galvanic, pitting, stress corrosion cracking, corrosion fatique, tribocorrosion) was discussed. Some corrosion protection methods of aluminium based MMCs were describe

Nasal obstruction and smell impairment in nasal polyp disease: correlation between objective and subjective parameters

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (NP) represents an invalidating disorder that causes mainly nasal blockage and loss of smell. The aim of this study is to investigate correlations between individual subjective and objective parameters of stable NP disease. 65 NP patients scored their sinonasal symptoms on a visual analogue scale (VAS) and questionnaires (SNOT-22 and SF-36). Peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) measurement, Sniffinatm Sticks (SS) smell test, blood analysis for eosinophilia, total IgE and culture for Staphylococcus aureus (SA) were performed. VAS scores for nasal blockage correlated with the SNOT-22 and SF-36 scores, which was not observed for VAS of other symptoms. VAS scores for nasal blockage correlated well with PNIF values as well as VAS scores for smell dysfunction and SS results (both p <0.001). NP size correlated with VAS scores for nasal blockage (p <0.01) but not with VAS for other symptoms. NP size showed an inverse correlation with PNIF and SS scores (both p <0.05). Blood eosinophilia correlated with subjective smell reduction (p <0.05). The presence of SA or total IgE levels were not associated with symptoms of NP disease. PNIF and SS are good tools to evaluate symptoms of nasal obstruction and smell reduction in NP disease. Nasal blockage is the only symptom that correlates well with NP size and SNOT-22 scores, whereas smell reduction correlates with blood eosinophili

Conjunctival effects of a selective nasal pollen provocation

Several clinical and experimental observations suggest that allergen deposition in the nose may partially be responsible for the induction of conjunctival symptoms in allergic rhinitis. The aims of this study were to evaluate the induction of conjunctival symptoms by selective nasal allergen provocation and to assess the feasibility of the different tools for evaluation of conjunctival allergic inflammation. Grass pollen allergic subjects with rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms during the pollen season (n = 12) underwent a nasal sham and grass pollen provocation extra-seasonally. Nasal and conjunctival symptoms were scored using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) system at baseline, 15 min, 1 h and 24 h after provocation. In addition to Peak Nasal Inspiratory flow (PNIF) measurements, conjunctival inflammation and vascular congestion were evaluated and histamine and substance P levels in tear fluid were measured. Selective nasal grass pollen provocation induced ocular pruritus, lacrimation and conjunctival vascular congestion. PNIF values correlated inversely with lacrimation (r = -0.71, P <0.001) and ocular pruritus (r = -0.41, P <0.05). Four out of 11 patients showed a conjunctival eosinophilic inflammation and levels of histamine (r = 0.73, P <0.05) and substance P (r = 0.67, P = 0.05) in tear fluid correlated with conjunctival symptoms. Selective nasal grass pollen provocation induced conjunctival inflammation, ocular pruritus and lacrimation, which correlated with histamine and substance P levels in tear fluid and inversely with the PNIF values. These data show a naso-ocular interaction in allergic rhinitis and offer objective tools for evaluation of conjunctival inflammation in allergic rhinoconjunctiviti

Conjunctival effects of a selective nasal pollen provocation

status: publishe

Dexamethasone-induced apoptosis of freshly isolated human nasal epithelial cells concomitant with abrogation of IL-8 production

SUMMARY Background: Human nasal epithelial cells (hNECs) are the first line of immune defense and are able to produce mediators that recruit, activate and prolong survival of immune cells, among which IL-8 takes an important place. Studies on IL-8 and effects of dexamethasone on hNECs have been hampered by methodological shortcomings. The purpose of the study is to investigate the contribution of freshly isolated hNECs to IL-8 production in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwithNP). Secondly, the effects of dexamethasone treatment on hNEC apoptosis and IL-8 production are investigated. Methodology: hNECs were freshly isolated from nasal polyp tissue and healthy inferior turbinate of NP patients (n=12) and from inferior turbinates of healthy donors (n=19) by protease treatment and two negative selection procedures. hNECs were incubated with IL-1β (10ng/ml), TNFα (10ng/ml) or dexamethasone (10, 100 and 1000 Amicrog/ml). After 24h, IL-8 levels were determined in the supernatants by ELISA. Finally, hNECs were incubated with increasing doses of dexamethasone and stained with trypan-blue and annexin-FITC/PI to study apoptosis. Results: hNECs isolated from nasal turbinates of healthy and NP patients and polyp tissue from NP patients produced similar levels of IL-8. IL-1β induced higher levels of IL-8 production in all types of hNECs without differences between control and NP tissue. Dexamethasone induced apoptosis of hNECs concomitant with abrogation of IL-8 production by hNECs. Conclusions: IL-8 production by human nasal epithelial cells does not differ between NP and healthy tissue under baseline nor stimulatory conditions. Dexamethasone induces apoptosis of hNECs and abrogates IL-8 productio