Improvement of thermal conductivity of carbonaceous matrix in monolithic Al2O3–C refractory composite by surface-modified graphites

The thermal conductivity of the matrix part of alumina - carbon unshaped refractory has been estimated to accurately interpret its thermophysical and thermomechanical behavior. The properties of precalcined composite matrix containing either as-received or surface-modified graphite in equal quantity (20.0 wt%) have been investigated at three different temperatures (110,550,900 degrees C). The thermal compatibility or degradation of both kinds of carbonaceous matrices had been correlated with respective scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analyses. The monolithic matrices were also subjected to X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies to distinguish between their phase evolution patterns. A synergestic study on an equivalent graphite-free formulation was also carried out. The thermal shock resistance profile of respective castables had been addressed to confirm the superiority of surface-treated graphites. Nanoengineering at graphite surface was conceived by Rietveld analysis of the (004) peak that substantiated the additional influence of calcium aluminate coating on selective clumping and partial exfoliation of graphite sheets

Ezetimibe added to statin therapy after acute coronary syndromes

BACKGROUND: Statin therapy reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and the risk of cardiovascular events, but whether the addition of ezetimibe, a nonstatin drug that reduces intestinal cholesterol absorption, can reduce the rate of cardiovascular events further is not known. METHODS: We conducted a double-blind, randomized trial involving 18,144 patients who had been hospitalized for an acute coronary syndrome within the preceding 10 days and had LDL cholesterol levels of 50 to 100 mg per deciliter (1.3 to 2.6 mmol per liter) if they were receiving lipid-lowering therapy or 50 to 125 mg per deciliter (1.3 to 3.2 mmol per liter) if they were not receiving lipid-lowering therapy. The combination of simvastatin (40 mg) and ezetimibe (10 mg) (simvastatin-ezetimibe) was compared with simvastatin (40 mg) and placebo (simvastatin monotherapy). The primary end point was a composite of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, unstable angina requiring rehospitalization, coronary revascularization ( 6530 days after randomization), or nonfatal stroke. The median follow-up was 6 years. RESULTS: The median time-weighted average LDL cholesterol level during the study was 53.7 mg per deciliter (1.4 mmol per liter) in the simvastatin-ezetimibe group, as compared with 69.5 mg per deciliter (1.8 mmol per liter) in the simvastatin-monotherapy group (P<0.001). The Kaplan-Meier event rate for the primary end point at 7 years was 32.7% in the simvastatin-ezetimibe group, as compared with 34.7% in the simvastatin-monotherapy group (absolute risk difference, 2.0 percentage points; hazard ratio, 0.936; 95% confidence interval, 0.89 to 0.99; P = 0.016). Rates of pre-specified muscle, gallbladder, and hepatic adverse effects and cancer were similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: When added to statin therapy, ezetimibe resulted in incremental lowering of LDL cholesterol levels and improved cardiovascular outcomes. Moreover, lowering LDL cholesterol to levels below previous targets provided additional benefit