Reliable irogane alloys and niiro patination—further study of production and application to jewelry

Japanese metalworkers use a wide range of irogane alloys (shakudo, shibuichi), which are colored with a single patination solution (niiro eki). This approach allows different alloys to be combined in one piece and patinated, producing a multi-colored piece of metalwork. At present the niiro patination process is unreliable. In this study we develop a deeper understanding of the effect of patination solution ingredients on color. We have tested a synthetic niiro solution, comparing the color results with traditional niiro solution patination. Surface products have been analyzed to determine how they are influenced by both the niiro solution and cleaning procedures during patination. A large range of shibuichi and shakudo alloys have been produced to determine the full color pallette. This work also explores the use of alternative processes for the patination of irogane alloys, examining the effect of laser marking and anodizing on irogane alloys

Japanese irogane alloys and patination – a study of production and application

Japanese metalworkers use a wide range of irogane alloys (shakudo, shibuichi), which are colored with a single patination solution (niiro). This approach allows different alloys to be combined in one piece and patinated, producing a multi-colored piece of metalwork. At present the production of irogane alloys and their patination is an unreliable process. This study aims to develop reliable alloy production and a safe, easy-to use and repeatable patination process using standard ingredients available from chemical suppliers. The study has examined the production of shakudo and shibuichi alloys, characterizing the alloys produced by casting into cloth molds in hot water, into steel molds, and produced using continuous casting. The influence of traditional polishing methods was assessed using surface texture (Sa) measurements. Traditional rokusho, an ingredient of the niiro solution, was analyzed by XRF and XRD. Niiro patinated surfaces on a range of alloys were examined using XRD and L*a*b* color measurements.</p

Synthesis and tribology of Sialon/TiB2 ceramic composites

The inclusion of TiB2 particles in a Si3N4 or sialon matrix has the potential to improve the materials properties over those of the Si3N4 alone. The combination of the excellent properties of sialon and the high hardness of the TiB2 makes these materials potentially suitable for tribological applications. This research has investigated the use of chemical reactions that can take place during sintering to synthesise TiB2 from TiN and BN. The reactions not only produce TiB2 but simultaneously synthesise the matrix material. The sialon matrix is used as a flexible receptor for excess nitrogen and oxygen. Using such reactions, sialonlTiB 2 composites were successfully produced by both hot pressing and pressureless sintering. It was shown that these materials achieve densities close to the theoretical and contain only the required phases of TiB2 and ~ sialon. Pressureless sintered materials also contain residual sintering aid as an intergranular phase. The composites wee characterised with respect to their microstructure, hardness, fracture toughness and tribological properties. A specially designed wear test apparatus was constructed for the tribological testing. The pin-on-disc apparatus was capable of testing the small volumes of material (minimum diameter of disc ~ 15mm) typically produced at the development stage. The materials were found to have high hardness and reasonable fracture toughness which was attributed primarily to the properties of the matrix phase with some possible toughening from the presence of TiB 2 . Tribological testing revealed high dry sliding coefficients of friction (Jl) for the composites sliding on themselves and reasonable values for the wear coefficient (k) were measured. Wear was found to be dominated by tribochemical reactions forming tribofilms which act to reduce wear of the disc. However, the presence of TiB2 was not seen to contribute directly to the tribological properties of these materials and the usefulness of this type of composite is questioned

The use of friction stir welding for the production of Mokume Gane-Type materials

Mokume gane is a highly desirable and unique decorative material but production is difficult at both workshop and industrial levels. This paper describes a novel method for producing mixed metal, multi-colored, layered materials using friction stir welding (FSW) and compares the results with mokume gane made by a number of different conventional methods. FSW was invented in 1991 by TWI, a UK-based research and technology organization, and has found widespread use in the joining of aluminum and, more recently, steels. By adapting FSW it has been possible to successfully bond many layers of dissimilar metals such as silver, copper and brass, etc., while simultaneously producing unique patterns in the metal, minimizing further processing, reducing waste and potentially lowering costs. The technique avoids many of the problems experienced in workshop production, e.g., melting of lack of bonding, while allowing production of small, customized ingots and mass production of large sheets, with up to several square meters possible

Determination of the Cause of the Differing Ballistic Performance of 9mm DM11 Bullets from Two Manufacturers

In London, firearm threats faced by police during criminal activity include 9mm handguns and submachine guns. The UK Home Office body armour standards have included 9mm DM11 A1B2, manufactured originally by Dynamit Nobel under RWS branding, for over a decade. The recently published 2017 UK Home Office body armour standard continues to specify the 9mm DM11 A1B2, however, the specified manufacturer has changed to Metallwerk Elisenhütte GmbH (MEN). The DM11 A1B2 bullet comprises a copper coated steel full metal jacket with a lead core and bullets from both are specified to the same drawings and dimensional tolerances. However, during empirical testing against soft armour systems differences have been observed in the Vmean measured by CPA for the 2 bullets. As a result, body armour systems designed to pass the standard tests using the RWS 9mm DM11 A1B2 bullet manufactured may have a lesser safety margin when subject to impact with the equivalent MEN bullet. This paper reports on the results of an investigation in to the causes of the differing performance of the two sources of 9mm DM11 A1B2 bullets. It includes a study of the metallurgy of the steel jacket, dimensional and mass comparisons and a range of high strain rate testing to compare the properties and deformation behaviour of the two bullet types. Ballistic tests have been performed to demonstrate how the difference in performance may be related to the observed differences in the steel jacket metallurgy and the resulting differing deformation behaviour. The study has shown that the root cause of the differing performance is due primarily to differences in the steel used for the jackets by the different manufacturers. This work has important consequences for the UK body armour industry and others testing with the 9mm DM11 round

Clinical outcomes and response to treatment of patients receiving topical treatments for pyoderma gangrenosum: a prospective cohort study

Background: pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is an uncommon dermatosis with a limited evidence base for treatment. Objective: to estimate the effectiveness of topical therapies in the treatment of PG. Methods: prospective cohort study of UK secondary care patients with a clinical diagnosis of PG suitable for topical treatment (recruited July 2009 to June 2012). Participants received topical therapy following normal clinical practice (mainly Class I-III topical corticosteroids, tacrolimus 0.03% or 0.1%). Primary outcome: speed of healing at 6 weeks. Secondary outcomes: proportion healed by 6 months; time to healing; global assessment; inflammation; pain; quality-of-life; treatment failure and recurrence. Results: Sixty-six patients (22 to 85 years) were enrolled. Clobetasol propionate 0.05% was the most commonly prescribed therapy. Overall, 28/66 (43.8%) of ulcers healed by 6 months. Median time-to-healing was 145 days (95% CI: 96 days, ∞). Initial ulcer size was a significant predictor of time-to-healing (hazard ratio 0.94 (0.88;80 1.00); p = 0.043). Four patients (15%) had a recurrence. Limitations: No randomised comparator Conclusion: Topical therapy is potentially an effective first-line treatment for PG that avoids possible side effects associated with systemic therapy. It remains unclear whether more severe disease will respond adequately to topical therapy alone

Silk garments plus standard care compared with standard care for treating eczema in children: a randomised controlled, observer blind, pragmatic trial (CLOTHES Trial)

Background The role of clothing in the management of eczema (syn. atopic dermatitis, atopic eczema) is poorly understood. This trial evaluated the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of silk garments (in addition to standard care) for the management of eczema in children with moderate to severe disease. Methods and findings This was a parallel group randomised controlled, observer-blind trial. Children aged 1 to 15 years with moderate to severe eczema were recruited from secondary care and the community in five UK centres. Participants were allocated using on-line randomisation (1:1) to standard care, or standard care plus silk garments; stratified by age and recruiting centre. Silk garments were worn for 6 months. Primary outcome (eczema severity) was assessed at baseline, 2, 4 and 6 months, by nurses blinded to treatment allocation using the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI), which was log-transformed for analysis (intention-to-treat analysis). Safety outcome: number of skin infections. Three hundred children were randomised (26th Nov 2013 to 5th May 2015): 42% girls, 79% white, mean age 5 years. Primary analysis included 282/300 (94%) children (n = 141 in each group). The garments were worn more often at night than in the day (median of 81% of nights (25th to 75th centile 57% to 96%) and 34% of days (25th to 75th centile 10% to 76%)). Geometric mean EASI scores at baseline, 2, 4 and 6 months were 9·2, 6·4, 5·8, 5·4 for silk clothing and 8·4, 6·6, 6·0, 5·4 for standard care. There was no evidence of any difference between the groups in EASI score averaged over all follow up visits adjusted for baseline EASI score, age and centre (adjusted ratio of geometric means: 0·95, 95% CI 0·85 to 1·07). This confidence interval is equivalent to a difference of -1·5 to 0·5 in the original EASI scale units which is not clinically important. Skin infections occurred in 36/142 (25%) and 39/141 (28%) for silk clothing and standard care respectively. Even if the small observed treatment effect was genuine, the incremental cost per QALY was £56,881 in the base case analysis from an NHS perspective, suggesting that silk garments are unlikely to be cost-effective within currently accepted thresholds. Main limitations: whilst minimising detection bias, use of an objective primary outcome may have underestimated treatment effects. Conclusions Silk clothing is unlikely to provide additional benefit over standard care in children with moderate to severe eczema

The Long-Baseline Neutrino Experiment: Exploring Fundamental Symmetries of the Universe

The preponderance of matter over antimatter in the early Universe, the dynamics of the supernova bursts that produced the heavy elements necessary for life and whether protons eventually decay --- these mysteries at the forefront of particle physics and astrophysics are key to understanding the early evolution of our Universe, its current state and its eventual fate. The Long-Baseline Neutrino Experiment (LBNE) represents an extensively developed plan for a world-class experiment dedicated to addressing these questions. LBNE is conceived around three central components: (1) a new, high-intensity neutrino source generated from a megawatt-class proton accelerator at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, (2) a near neutrino detector just downstream of the source, and (3) a massive liquid argon time-projection chamber deployed as a far detector deep underground at the Sanford Underground Research Facility. This facility, located at the site of the former Homestake Mine in Lead, South Dakota, is approximately 1,300 km from the neutrino source at Fermilab -- a distance (baseline) that delivers optimal sensitivity to neutrino charge-parity symmetry violation and mass ordering effects. This ambitious yet cost-effective design incorporates scalability and flexibility and can accommodate a variety of upgrades and contributions. With its exceptional combination of experimental configuration, technical capabilities, and potential for transformative discoveries, LBNE promises to be a vital facility for the field of particle physics worldwide, providing physicists from around the globe with opportunities to collaborate in a twenty to thirty year program of exciting science. In this document we provide a comprehensive overview of LBNE's scientific objectives, its place in the landscape of neutrino physics worldwide, the technologies it will incorporate and the capabilities it will possess.Comment: Major update of previous version. This is the reference document for LBNE science program and current status. Chapters 1, 3, and 9 provide a comprehensive overview of LBNE's scientific objectives, its place in the landscape of neutrino physics worldwide, the technologies it will incorporate and the capabilities it will possess. 288 pages, 116 figure

Emollients for preventing atopic eczema: Cost‐effectiveness analysis of the BEEP trial

BackgroundRecent discoveries have led to the suggestion that enhancing skin barrier from birth might prevent eczema and food allergy. ObjectiveTo determine the cost‐effectiveness of daily all‐over‐body application of emollient during the first year of life for preventing atopic eczema in high‐risk children at 2 years from a health service perspective. We also considered a 5‐year time horizon as a sensitivity analysis. MethodsA within‐trial economic evaluation using data on health resource use and quality of life captured as part of the BEEP trial alongside the trial data. Parents/carers of 1394 infants born to families at high risk of atopic disease were randomised 1:1 to the emollient group, which were advised to apply emollient (Doublebase Gel or Diprobase Cream) to their child at least once daily to the whole body during the first year of life or usual care. Both groups received advice on general skin care. The main economic outcomes were incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio (ICER), defined as incremental cost per percentage decrease in risk of eczema in the primary cost‐effectiveness analysis. Secondary analysis, undertaken as a cost‐utility analysis, reports incremental cost per Quality‐Adjusted Life Year (QALY) where child utility was elicited using the proxy CHU‐9D at 2 years. ResultsAt 2 years, the adjusted incremental cost was £87.45 (95% CI −54.31, 229.27) per participant, whilst the adjusted proportion without eczema was 0.0164 (95% CI −0.0329, 0.0656). The ICER was £5337 per percentage decrease in risk of eczema. Adjusted incremental QALYs were very slightly improved in the emollient group, 0.0010 (95% CI −0.0069, 0.0089). At 5 years, adjusted incremental costs were lower for the emollient group, −£106.89 (95% CI −354.66, 140.88) and the proportion without eczema was −0.0329 (95% CI −0.0659, 0.0002). The 5‐year ICER was £3201 per percentage decrease in risk of eczema. However, when inpatient costs due to wheezing were excluded, incremental costs were lower and incremental effects greater in the usual care group. ConclusionsIn line with effectiveness endpoints, advice given in the BEEP trial to apply daily emollient during infancy for eczema prevention in high‐risk children does not appear cost‐effective

Effect of Hydrocortisone on Mortality and Organ Support in Patients With Severe COVID-19: The REMAP-CAP COVID-19 Corticosteroid Domain Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Evidence regarding corticosteroid use for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is limited. Objective: To determine whether hydrocortisone improves outcome for patients with severe COVID-19. Design, Setting, and Participants: An ongoing adaptive platform trial testing multiple interventions within multiple therapeutic domains, for example, antiviral agents, corticosteroids, or immunoglobulin. Between March 9 and June 17, 2020, 614 adult patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 were enrolled and randomized within at least 1 domain following admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) for respiratory or cardiovascular organ support at 121 sites in 8 countries. Of these, 403 were randomized to open-label interventions within the corticosteroid domain. The domain was halted after results from another trial were released. Follow-up ended August 12, 2020. Interventions: The corticosteroid domain randomized participants to a fixed 7-day course of intravenous hydrocortisone (50 mg or 100 mg every 6 hours) (n = 143), a shock-dependent course (50 mg every 6 hours when shock was clinically evident) (n = 152), or no hydrocortisone (n = 108). Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end point was organ support-free days (days alive and free of ICU-based respiratory or cardiovascular support) within 21 days, where patients who died were assigned -1 day. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model that included all patients enrolled with severe COVID-19, adjusting for age, sex, site, region, time, assignment to interventions within other domains, and domain and intervention eligibility. Superiority was defined as the posterior probability of an odds ratio greater than 1 (threshold for trial conclusion of superiority >99%). Results: After excluding 19 participants who withdrew consent, there were 384 patients (mean age, 60 years; 29% female) randomized to the fixed-dose (n = 137), shock-dependent (n = 146), and no (n = 101) hydrocortisone groups; 379 (99%) completed the study and were included in the analysis. The mean age for the 3 groups ranged between 59.5 and 60.4 years; most patients were male (range, 70.6%-71.5%); mean body mass index ranged between 29.7 and 30.9; and patients receiving mechanical ventilation ranged between 50.0% and 63.5%. For the fixed-dose, shock-dependent, and no hydrocortisone groups, respectively, the median organ support-free days were 0 (IQR, -1 to 15), 0 (IQR, -1 to 13), and 0 (-1 to 11) days (composed of 30%, 26%, and 33% mortality rates and 11.5, 9.5, and 6 median organ support-free days among survivors). The median adjusted odds ratio and bayesian probability of superiority were 1.43 (95% credible interval, 0.91-2.27) and 93% for fixed-dose hydrocortisone, respectively, and were 1.22 (95% credible interval, 0.76-1.94) and 80% for shock-dependent hydrocortisone compared with no hydrocortisone. Serious adverse events were reported in 4 (3%), 5 (3%), and 1 (1%) patients in the fixed-dose, shock-dependent, and no hydrocortisone groups, respectively. Conclusions and Relevance: Among patients with severe COVID-19, treatment with a 7-day fixed-dose course of hydrocortisone or shock-dependent dosing of hydrocortisone, compared with no hydrocortisone, resulted in 93% and 80% probabilities of superiority with regard to the odds of improvement in organ support-free days within 21 days. However, the trial was stopped early and no treatment strategy met prespecified criteria for statistical superiority, precluding definitive conclusions. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02735707