Growth and Segregation of Intermenallic Phases in Zirconium Alloys

Relations between the processes of growth of intermetallic inclusions and their surface segregation in binary and ternary alloys of zirconium are presented. An increased surface concentration of iron atoms was observed, and is associated with intermetallic inclusion growth with increased annealing temperature of the deformed alloys. Modelling the asymmetric growth of these intermetallic inclusions, leading to their migration, have enabled the determination of the diffusion coefficient of iron in these intermetallics. Keywords: Zirconium alloys, Iron state, Mössbauer effec

Pressure-induced unconventional superconductivity in the heavy-fermion antiferromagnet CeIn3: An 115In-NQR study under pressure

We report on the pressure-induced unconventional superconductivity in the heavy-fermion antiferromagnet CeIn3 by means of nuclear-quadrupole-resonance (NQR) studies conducted under a high pressure. The temperature and pressure dependences of the NQR spectra have revealed a first-order quantum-phase transition (QPT) from an AFM to PM at a critical pressure Pc=2.46 GPa. Despite the lack of an AFM quantum critical point in the P-T phase diagram, we highlight the fact that the unconventional SC occurs in both phases of the AFM and PM. The nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/T1 in the AFM phase have provided evidence for the uniformly coexisting AFM+SC phase. In the HF-PM phase where AFM fluctuations are not developed, 1/T1 decreases without the coherence peak just below Tc, followed by a power-law like T dependence that indicates an unconventional SC with a line-node gap. Remarkably, Tc has a peak around Pc in the HF-PM phase as well as in the AFM phase. In other words, an SC dome exists with a maximum value of Tc = 230 mK around Pc, indicating that the origin of the pressure-induced HF SC in CeIn3 is not relevant to AFM spin fluctuations but to the emergence of the first-order QPT in CeIn3. When the AFM critical temperature is suppressed at the termination point of the first-order QPT, Pc = 2.46 GPa, the diverging AFM spin-density fluctuations emerge at the critical point from the AFM to PM. The results with CeIn3 leading to a new type of quantum criticality deserve further theoretical investigations

Prognostic value of vascular remodeling parameters in the development of adverse cardiovascular events in patients with gastric cancer

Aim. To determine a possible prognostic marker for adverse cardiovascular events in patients with gastric cancer by studying the early and long-term effects of multiagent chemotherapy (MAC) on the structural and functional vascular wall parameters.Material and methods. The study included 25 patients with newly diagnosed gastric cancer who received courses of chemotherapy with platinum-based agents and fluoropyrimidines. All patients before, immediately after MAC courses and in the long-term period underwent a non-invasive assessment of vascular wall and endothelial function (photoplethysmography (PPG)). In the survivors’ cohort, a correlation analysis was performed to assess the risk of future cardiovascular events depending on changes of PPG parameters.Results. Before the MAC courses, cancer patients had endothelial dysfunction (mean occlusion index, 1,7 (1,4; 1,9), N>1,8) and structural vascular wall disorders (mean stiffness index, 8,9 m/s (7,7; 9,7), N<8 m/s, mean reflection index, 32,4% (27,5; 37,7), N<30%). All indicators significantly worsened after MAC in the form of endothelial dysfunction progression and vascular remodeling: mean occlusion index, 1,3 (1,2; 1,5) (p<0,0002), stiffness index, 10,3 m/s (9,5; 11,2) (p<0,0001), reflection index, 40,2% (35,5; 43,6) (p<0,001). Long-term follow-up averaged 2,9 years (2,3-3,7 years). All-cause and cardiovascular mortality was 32% and 12%, respectively. Nine patients developed a cardiovascular events (CVEs) (de novo, progression of prior CVD). Significant changes of vascular indicators in the long-term period was not revealed. A trend towards association between increased reflection index and a higher probability of cardiovascular pathology was revealed (OR 1,20, 95% CI 1,01-1,55, p=0,081).Conclusion. In this study, for the first time, a comprehensive assessment of the effect of MAC on endothelial dysfunction and vascular stiffness, including, in the long-term follow-up period, was carried out in patients with gastric cancer. A significant aggravation of all parameters of vascular remodeling immediately after treatment in the absence of their significant dynamics in the future has been proven. A possible prognostic marker, namely the reflection index, of an unfavorable cardiac outcome in patients with gastric cancer has been identified, which requires further study

Zinc oxide-nickel cermet selective coatings obtained by sequential electrodeposition

The investigation of pulse electrodepositing modes influence on crystal structure, morphology and optical properties of ZnO has revealed the conditions in which quasi-one-dimensional (1D) ZnO nanorod arrays are formed as separate nanorods. Due to a sufficiently high resistance of zinc oxide, the electrodeposition of nickel on the fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO)/ZnO surfaces carried out in space between the ZnO nanorods. An incomplete filling of the gaps between nanorods by the nickel nanoparticles through subsequent Ni electrodeposition ensured the creation of ZnO–Ni graded cermets. The cermets, in which electrochemical filling of the spaces between ZnO nanorods by Ni, was performed in the pulse mode. It provided higher absorption of visible and near IR light. It was shown that the manufactured ZnO–Ni graded cermets have high light absorption combined with comparatively low thermal losses, so these cermets are promising cheap and affordable selective coatings for solar heat collectors

PK-Mercz’ influence on neuropathic pain and humoral serotonin in acute period of herpes zoster

In order to study the effectiveness of therapy PK-Merz in 43 patients with acute herpes zoster (HZ) in the dynamics studied: peculiarities of neuropathic pain using questionnaires DN4. PainDetect and VAS; quantitative content of serum and blood platelets serotonin. Before the start of antiviral treatment was a high intensity of neuropathic pain and improving the quantitative content of serum serotonin. It is shown that the use of PK-Merz in the treatment of HZ-neuralgia is effective for reducing pain and disappearance in the early stages of treatment.С целью исследования эффективности терапии ПК-Мерцему 43 пациентов в остром периоде опоясывающего герпеса (ОГ) в динамике изучены: особенности течения нейропатического болевого синдрома при помощи опросников DN4, PainDetect и ВАШ; количественное содержание серотонина сыворотки и тромбоцитов крови. До начала лечения противовирусными препаратами отмечена высокая интенсивность нейропатического болевого синдрома и повышение количественного содержания серотонина сыворотки крови. Показано, что применение ПК-Мерц при лечении герпес-зостерной невралгии является эффективным для уменьшения и исчезновения болей в ранние сроки приёма препарата

On pseudo-Riemannian manifolds with recurrent concircular curvature tensor

It is proved that every concircularly recurrent manifold must be necessarily a recurrent manifold.Comment: 5 page

The spectrum of cardiovascular complications related to immune-checkpoint inhibitor treatment : Including myocarditis and the new entity of non inflammatory left ventricular dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: The full range of cardiovascular complications related to the use of Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) is not fully understood. We aim to describe the spectrum of cardiovascular adverse events (cvAEs) by presenting our real-world experience of the diagnosis and management of these complications. METHODS: Two thousand six hundred and forty-seven (2647) patients were started on ICI treatment between 2014 and 2020. Data from 110 patients referred to the cardio-oncology service with a suspected cvAE was collected prospectively and analysed. RESULTS: Eighty-nine patients (3.4%) were confirmed to have cvAEs while on ICI therapy. Myocarditis was the most frequent event (33/89), followed by tachyarrhythmia (27/89), non-inflammatory left ventricular dysfunction (NILVD) (15/89) and pericarditis (7/89). Results from myocarditis and non-inflammatory left ventricular dysfunction cohorts were compared. Myocarditis and NILVD showed significant differences in respect toof troponin elevation, cardiac magnetic resonance abnormalities and ventricular function. Dual ICI therapy and other immune related adverse events were more frequently associated with myocarditis than NILVD. There was a significant difference in the median time from starting ICI treatment to presentation with myocarditis versus NILVD (12 vs 26 weeks p = 0.049). Through early recognition of myocarditis, prompt treatment with steroids and interruption of ICI, there were no cardiovascular in-hospital deaths. NILVD did not require steroid treatment and ICI could be restarted safely. CONCLUSIONS: The full spectrum of cardiovascular complications in patients with immune checkpoint inhibitors is much broader than initially described. Myocarditis remains the most frequent cvAE related to ICI treatment. A novel type of myocardial injury was observed and defined as Atrial tachyarrhythmias and NILVD were also frequent in this cohort. NILVD has a This differs fromdifferent presentation from ICI-related myocarditis, mainly usually presenting afterby the lack of inflammatory features on CMR and biomarkers and a later presentation in time