The role of indium in the activation of aluminum alloy galvanic anodes

Despite six decades use of aluminum as a galvanic (sacrificial) anode, there remains a need for a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms for enhancing its efficient performance in cathodic protection systems. A few mechanisms have been proposed for the role of indium in the activation of Al-Zn-In anodes and there appears to be no general agreement on whether this element plays its depassivating role by modifying the bulk microstructure of the anode, chemical composition of its surrounding electrolyte or directly through doping the structure of the passive oxide film. These mechanisms have been critically reviewed to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of the role of indium in such applications. Moreover, the novel solidification processing called controlled diffusion solidification (CDS) has been introduced as an efficient way to surmount the poor castability of the anode alloy without any need for the addition of elements with detrimental effects on the electrochemical properties of the anode

Investigation of tidal displacements of the Earth's surface by laser ranging to GEOS-3

An analysis of laser ranging data from three stations was carried out in an attempt to measure the geometric Earth tide. Two different approaches to the problem were investigated. The dynamic method computes pass to pass apparent movements in stations height relative to short arcs fitted to several passes of data from the same station by the program GEODYNE. The quasi-geometric method reduces the dependence on unmodelled satellite dynamics to a knowledge of only the radial position of the satellite by considering two station simultaneous ranging at the precise time that the satellite passes through the plane defined by two stations and the center of mass of the Earth

The applicability of measures of socioeconomic position to different ethnic groups within the UK

In this paper we seek to tease out differences in socioeconomic position between ethnic groups. There are 3 main reasons why conventional socioeconomic indicators and asset based measures may not be equally applicable to all ethnic groups: 1) Differences in response rate to conventional socioeconomic indicators 2) Cultural and social differences in economic priorities/opportunities 3) Differences in housing quality, assets and debt within socioeconomic strata

Establishment of Human Papillomavirus Infection Requires Cell Cycle Progression

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are DNA viruses associated with major human cancers. As such there is a strong interest in developing new means, such as vaccines and microbicides, to prevent HPV infections. Developing the latter requires a better understanding of the infectious life cycle of HPVs. The HPV infectious life cycle is closely linked to the differentiation state of the stratified epithelium it infects, with progeny virus only made in the terminally differentiating suprabasal compartment. It has long been recognized that HPV must first establish its infection within the basal layer of stratified epithelium, but why this is the case has not been understood. In part this restriction might reflect specificity of expression of entry receptors. However, this hypothesis could not fully explain the differentiation restriction of HPV infection, since many cell types can be infected with HPVs in monolayer cell culture. Here, we used chemical biology approaches to reveal that cell cycle progression through mitosis is critical for HPV infection. Using infectious HPV16 particles containing the intact viral genome, G1-synchronized human keratinocytes as hosts, and early viral gene expression as a readout for infection, we learned that the recipient cell must enter M phase (mitosis) for HPV infection to take place. Late M phase inhibitors had no effect on infection, whereas G1, S, G2, and early M phase cell cycle inhibitors efficiently prevented infection. We conclude that host cells need to pass through early prophase for successful onset of transcription of the HPV encapsidated genes. These findings provide one reason why HPVs initially establish infections in the basal compartment of stratified epithelia. Only this compartment of the epithelium contains cells progressing through the cell cycle, and therefore it is only in these cells that HPVs can establish their infection. By defining a major condition for cell susceptibility to HPV infection, these results also have potentially important implications for HPV control

Where has Octvia Hill gone? : not as far as you might think

Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 1991.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 99-105).by Paul M. Lambert.M.C.P

Association between allergen component sensitisation and clinical allergic disease in children

Background: Allergen component sensitisation testing is becoming increasingly important in the diagnosis of peanut allergy. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between sensitisation and symptoms of allergic disease in children by testing a large panel of inhalants, food allergens, and allergen components. Methods: For 287 children visiting our laboratory for allergy testing, symptoms of allergic disease were recorded by standardised validated questionnaires. Specific IgE to 11 whole allergens was assessed by ImmunoCAP, and to 112 allergen components by ISAC ImmunoCAP assay. We used latent class analysis (LCA) to distinguish clinical phenotypes. Results: Inhalant and food allergen sensitisation was common, irrespective of the children's allergic symptom type. Less than 10% of the variance in symptom scores was explained by variations in the number of allergens (components) that the child was sensitised to. In LCA, 135 children (50.2%) had mild allergy, with few symptoms and sensitisation to no or few allergens, 74 children (27.5%) had more symptoms and sensitisation to inhalant allergens (respiratory allergy) and 60 children (22.3%) showed polysensitisation to a median of six allergens and had more severe symptoms of different organ systems. Adding allergen component test results to LCA failed to result in identifiable classes of allergic disease in children. Conclusions: In this group of children with allergic symptoms, referred for allergy testing by their physician, broad screening for allergen component sensitisation did not contribute to distinguishing phenotypes of allergic disease. (C) 2022 Codon Publications. Published by Codon Publications

Naval History by Conspiracy Theory: The British Admiralty before the First World War and the Methodology of Revisionism

Revisionist interpretations of British naval policy in the Fisher era claim that an elaborate smoke screen was created to hide the Royal Navy’s real policies; while documents showing the true goals were systematically destroyed. By asserting this, revisionists are able to dismiss those parts of the documentary record that contradict their theories, while simultaneously excusing the lack of evidence for their theories by claiming it has been destroyed. This article shows that this methodology is misleading and untenable

A multi-state model incorporating estimation of excess hazards and multiple time scales

As cancer patient survival improves, late effects from treatment are becoming the next clinical challenge. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy, for example, potentially increase the risk of both morbidity and mortality from second malignancies and cardiovascular disease. To provide clinically relevant population-level measures of late effects, it is of importance to (1) simultaneously estimate the risks of both morbidity and mortality, (2) partition these risks into the component expected in the absence of cancer and the component due to the cancer and its treatment, and (3) incorporate the multiple time scales of attained age, calendar time, and time since diagnosis. Multi-state models provide a framework for simultaneously studying morbidity and mortality, but do not solve the problem of partitioning the risks. However, this partitioning can be achieved by applying a relative survival framework, by allowing is to directly quantify the excess risk. This paper proposes a combination of these two frameworks, providing one approach to address (1)-(3). Using recently developed methods in multi-state modeling, we incorporate estimation of excess hazards into a multi-state model. Both intermediate and absorbing state risks can be partitioned and different transitions are allowed to have different and/or multiple time scales. We illustrate our approach using data on Hodgkin lymphoma patients and excess risk of diseases of the circulatory system, and provide user-friendly Stata software with accompanying example code

Head-to-head trials of antibiotics for bronchiectasis

Background The diagnosis of bronchiectasis is defined by abnormal dilation of the airways related to a pathological mechanism of progressive airway destruction that is due to a 'vicious cycle' of recurrent bacterial infection, inflammatory mediator release, airway damage, and subsequent further infection. Antibiotics are the main treatment option for reducing bacterial burden in people with exacerbations of bronchiectasis and for longer‐term eradication, but their use is tempered against potential adverse effects and concerns regarding antibiotic resistance. The comparative effectiveness, cost‐effectiveness, and safety of different antibiotics have been highlighted as important issues, but currently little evidence is available to help resolve uncertainty on these questions. Objectives To evaluate the comparative effects of different antibiotics in the treatment of adults and children with bronchiectasis. Search methods We identified randomised controlled trials (RCTs) through searches of the Cochrane Airways Group Register of trials and online trials registries, run 30 April 2018. We augmented these with searches of the reference lists of published studies. Selection criteria We included RCTs reported as full‐text articles, those published as abstracts only, and unpublished data. We included adults and children (younger than 18 years) with a diagnosis of bronchiectasis by bronchography or high‐resolution computed tomography who reported daily signs and symptoms, such as cough, sputum production, or haemoptysis, and those with recurrent episodes of chest infection; we included studies that compared one antibiotic versus another when they were administered by the same delivery method. Data collection and analysis Two review authors independently assessed trial selection, data extraction, and risk of bias. We assessed overall quality of the evidence using GRADE criteria. We made efforts to collect missing data from trial authors. We have presented results with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) as mean differences (MDs) or odds ratios (ORs). Main results Four randomised trials were eligible for inclusion in this systematic review ‐ two studies with 83 adults comparing fluoroquinolones with β‐lactams and two studies with 55 adults comparing aminoglycosides with polymyxins. None of the included studies reported information on exacerbations ‐ one of our primary outcomes. Included studies reported no serious adverse events ‐ another of our primary outcomes ‐ and no deaths. We graded this evidence as low or very low quality. Included studies did not report quality of life. Comparison between fluoroquinolones and β‐lactams (amoxicillin) showed fewer treatment failures in the fluoroquinolone group than in the amoxicillin group (OR 0.07, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.32; low‐quality evidence) after 7 to 10 days of therapy. Researchers reported that Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection was eradicated in more participants treated with fluoroquinolones (Peto OR 20.09, 95% CI 2.83 to 142.59; low‐quality evidence) but provided no evidence of differences in the numbers of participants showing improvement in sputum purulence (OR 2.35, 95% CI 0.96 to 5.72; very low‐quality evidence). Study authors presented no evidence of benefit in relation to forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁). The two studies that compared polymyxins versus aminoglycosides described no clear differences between groups in the proportion of participants with P aeruginosa eradication (OR 1.40. 95% CI 0.36 to 5.35; very low‐quality evidence) or improvement in sputum purulence (OR 0.16, 95% CI 0.01 to 3.85; very low‐quality evidence). The evidence for changes in FEV₁ was inconclusive. Two of three trials reported adverse events but did not report the proportion of participants experiencing one or more adverse events, so we were unable to interpret the information. Authors' conclusions Limited low‐quality evidence favours short‐term oral fluoroquinolones over beta‐lactam antibiotics for patients hospitalised with exacerbations. Very low‐quality evidence suggests no benefit from inhaled aminoglycosides verus polymyxins. RCTs have presented no evidence comparing other modes of delivery for each of these comparisons, and no RCTs have included children. Overall, current evidence from a limited number of head‐to‐head trials in adults or children with bronchiectasis is insufficient to guide the selection of antibiotics for short‐term or long‐term therapy. More research on this topic is needed