Аналитическое описание порообразования при установившейся ползучести металлов

На основании обобщения синтезной теории пластичности и ползучести аналитически описан процесс порообразования в металле во время установившейся ползучести. Получены соотношения между объемом микропор и деформацией установившейся ползучести при разных уровнях напряжения. Аналитически полученные результаты хорошо согласуются с экспериментальными.На основі узагальнення синтезної теорії пластичності і повзучості представлено аналітичний опис процесу пороутворення за усталеної повзучості металів. Отримано співвідношення між об’ємом мікропор і деформацією усталеної повзучості за різних рівнів напруження. Аналітичні результати добре узгоджуються з експериментальними.Using generalization of the synthetic theory of plasticity and creep, we provide the analytical description of void formation in a metal under steady-state creep conditions. We obtained the relations between the size of microvoids and the steady-state creep strain for various stress levels. Analytical results are in a good agreement with the available experimental data

Українська діаспора Кабардино-Балкарії

Кабардино-Балкарська республіка – суб’єкт Російської Федерації. За даними статистичного управління за 2000 рік, у республіці проживало близько 15 тисяч етнічних українців. З них в Нальчику - 5725 чоловік

Aerobic capacity and disease activity in children, adolescents and young adults with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)

Background: As patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) progress into adulthood, long-term outcome is determined by disease activity, physical and psychosocial development. Decreased aerobic capacity may play a critical role in health-related outcomes in JIA, since it has been linked with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in late adulthood. The objectives of the current study are to examine the aerobic capacity and its relation to parameters of disease activity in children, adolescents and young adults with JIA.Methods: Sixty-three patients with JIA (aged 10-27 years) were cross sectional studied regarding their aerobic capacity and correlations were made to demographic, disease-related variables, and medication utilization. in a cross-sectional study group of 63 patients of all subtypes. Patients were divided in three age groups, 10-13 years; 14-17 years and 18-27 years.Results: Reduced aerobic capacity is found in clinical remission as well as active disease in all subtypes and all age groups. Aerobic capacity is more impaired in active disease shown by DAS 28, JADAS 27, ESR and serum thrombocyte counts. Lower haemoglobin has a negative impact. Long-term used medication including methotrexate and corticosteroids didn't influence outcome. There is no association with current sports participation.Conclusion: Reduced aerobic capacity is present in adolescents and young adults with JIA, both in active disease and in patients with remission. Measures of aerobic capacity may serve as important outcome measure in JIA

New insights into the kinetics and variability of egg excretion in controlled human hookworm infections

Four healthy volunteers were infected with 50 Necator americanus infective larvae (L3) in a controlled human hookworm infection trial and followed for 52 weeks. The kinetics of fecal egg counts in volunteers was assessed with Bayesian multilevel analysis, which revealed an increase between weeks 7 and 13, followed by an egg density plateau of about 1000 eggs/g of feces. Variation in egg counts was minimal between same-day measurements but varied considerably between days, particularly during the plateau phase. These analyses pave the way for the controlled human hookworm model to accelerate drug and vaccine efficacy studies

Treatment of fetal heart block with maternal steroid therapy: case report and review of the literature.

The presence of maternal autoantibodies to SS-A/Ro and/or SS-B/La is associated with the development of fetal heart block. There are data suggesting that maternal treatment with steroids might reverse heart block. We report on a pregnancy in a mother with secondary Sjögren syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus with presence of autoantibodies to SS-A/Ro and SS-B/La, which was complicated by the development of incomplete fetal heart block. Oral dexamethasone treatment could not prevent progression to complete heart block and was associated with a number of complications.A review of the literature revealed 19 studies (including ours) in which 93 cases of fetal heart block were treated with maternal steroid therapy. Complete heart block proved irreversible in all cases; and of 13 fetuses with incomplete heart block which received maternal steroid therapy, three had a reduction in their degree of block and one reverted to sinus rhythm. Maternal steroid therapy, initiated early in pregnancy and potentially preventing the onset of heart block, did not decrease the incidence of heart block in nine studies with 43 cases. Furthermore, the literature review revealed numerous serious side effects of maternal steroid administration during pregnancy. Data on these potential side effects are lacking in the 28 studies discussed in this review. Maternal dexamethasone therapy to prevent or treat fetal heart block remains, in our opinion, a questionable intervention and can as yet not be recommended in the clinical situation

Use and perceived relevance of health-related Internet sites and online contact with peers among young people with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

OBJECTIVE: \ud To evaluate the frequency of use and relevance of health-related Internet (HRI) sites and online peer support groups and their association with demographic, disease-related and psychosocial variables in young people with JIA.\ud \ud METHODS: \ud In a cross-sectional study, 176 young people (10-27 years of age) with JIA were asked to complete a questionnaire. The frequency of using HRI sites (regarding information, medication use and aspects of JIA relating to social life), online peer contact and perceived relevance of HRI sites and online peer communication were determined. Associations with demographic variables, disease activity, medication, emotional behaviour and coping were also examined.\ud \ud RESULTS: \ud Seventy-one per cent of the 142 respondents had used the Internet to search for general information on JIA, but specific topics, such as medication, were searched for less often. Twenty-five per cent of respondents had visited a forum or had contacted peers online. The perceived relevance of HRI sites and online peer contact was rated low (median 2.0 and 1.0, respectively; scale 0-10). Apart from female gender (P < 0.01), none of the demographic and disease-related factors were associated with HRI site use. Coping styles, confrontation and reassuring thoughts were associated with increased HRI site use, but only in males. Internalizing and externalizing problem behaviour were not significantly associated.\ud \ud CONCLUSION: \ud The frequency of HRI site use among young people with JIA was less than expected and was considered of low relevance. HRI sites in their present form cannot replace traditional information as an additional source to increase knowledge

Long-term followup of patients with Sjogren's syndrome

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Collaboration of patients and health professionals in development and research of care-intervention : Case example presented by a patient research partner

Background Patient participation in research and in development of interventions has become a hot topic. Research on health beliefs of stakeholders shows that patients do have other views on health and well-being than health professionals without any experience of a chronic condition themselves (Ubel 2003, Huber 2014). Additionally, including the patients' perspective in research is a necessary condition for reaching patient-related-outcomes (De Wit 2014). Moreover, active involvement of patients is a critical factor for the actual use of an intervention in healthcare (Van Gemert-Pijnen 2011). Thus, including the patients' perspective has significant value. EULAR recommendations aim to stimulate the collaboration with patient (research) partners. Sharing examples may help both patients as health professionals to undertake these valued steps. Objectives To share experiences of the collaboration between patient research partners and health professionals in building an online self-management training, and in developing the framework and outcome measures of research on the efficacy of the intervention. Methods Patient partners and health professionals formed a research team who collaborated in all stages of development and research. The team conducted online focus groups among adult patients, a card sorting task and cluster analyses, all focusing on patients' needs and preferences. Results of this study were used to develop the content and structure of the online intervention. Results Throughout the process experiences and perspectives of patients were used to guide the development and research. Consequently, the results yielded in an online expert-patient guided intervention, tailored to the needs, life, disease stage, and goals of the patient. Hence, the framework of research is customized to these results. In sustaining constructive collaboration in development and research, we found it important to be clear about expectations and roles of all involved in the research team. Conclusions The involvement of patients had major influences on input, the details of the intervention, the framework of research including outcome measures customized to individual needs. To secure collaboration agreement about the roles and (load-taking) capacities of each research partner is essential. Concurrently, it is important to be clear about expectations, responsibilities, and ways of communication between all involved. Including patients in the development of interventions and research benefits all stakeholders and the product that results from the collaboration