Design and baseline characteristics of the finerenone in reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in diabetic kidney disease trial

Background: Among people with diabetes, those with kidney disease have exceptionally high rates of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality and progression of their underlying kidney disease. Finerenone is a novel, nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that has shown to reduce albuminuria in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) while revealing only a low risk of hyperkalemia. However, the effect of finerenone on CV and renal outcomes has not yet been investigated in long-term trials. Patients and Methods: The Finerenone in Reducing CV Mortality and Morbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease (FIGARO-DKD) trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of finerenone compared to placebo at reducing clinically important CV and renal outcomes in T2D patients with CKD. FIGARO-DKD is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, event-driven trial running in 47 countries with an expected duration of approximately 6 years. FIGARO-DKD randomized 7,437 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate >= 25 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and albuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio >= 30 to <= 5,000 mg/g). The study has at least 90% power to detect a 20% reduction in the risk of the primary outcome (overall two-sided significance level alpha = 0.05), the composite of time to first occurrence of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure. Conclusions: FIGARO-DKD will determine whether an optimally treated cohort of T2D patients with CKD at high risk of CV and renal events will experience cardiorenal benefits with the addition of finerenone to their treatment regimen. Trial Registration: EudraCT number: 2015-000950-39; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02545049

Phase Formation during the Synthesis of the MAB Phase from Mo-Al-B Mixtures in the Thermal Explosion Mode

This work focused on the production of the MoAlB MAB phase through self-propagating, high-temperature synthesis in the thermal explosion mode. The influence of the method of a Mo-Al-B-powder reaction mixture preparation on the combustion temperature, mechanism, and stages of the MAB phase formation in the combustion process was investigated. The combustion temperatures of the mixtures obtained in the rotary ball mill and high-speed planetary ball mill were 1234 and 992 °C, respectively. The formation of intermediate compounds Mo3Al8 and α-MoB in the combustion front, along with MoAlB, was established using the time-resolved X-ray diffraction method. In the case of the mixture prepared in a ball mill, the primary interaction in the combustion front occurred through the Al melt, and in the case of using a planetary mill, solid-phase reactions played an important role. The mechanical activation of the mixture in a planetary mill also accelerated the processes of phase formation. The method of a reaction mixture preparation has virtually no effect on the MoAlB MAB phase content in combustion products (92–94%), but it does affect their structure. The synthesis products have a lamellar structure composed of MAB grains with a thickness of ~0.4 μm and a length of ~2–10 μm

Oxidation Resistance of γ-TiAl Based Alloys Modified by C, Si and Y₂O₃ Microdopants

This work aimed to study the oxidation resistance of γ-TiAl based alloy, doped with small concentrations of carbon, silicon, and yttrium oxide in air at 800 and 1100 °C for 30 h. The TNM-B1 alloy samples were produced via high-energy ball milling, self-propagating high-temperature synthesis, and hot isostatic pressing techniques. The microstructure, oxidation kinetics at 800–1100 °C, scale structure, and oxidation mechanism were studied. The oxidation of alloys modified with carbon and silicon at 1100 °C was characterized by the formation of a three-layer coating. The Y2O3 modified alloy performed the greatest oxidation resistance at 1100 °C and promoted the formation of a dense Al2O3 interlayer

Structure and Properties Evolution of AZhK Superalloy Prepared by Laser Powder Bed Fusion Combined with Hot Isostatic Pressing and Heat Treatment

The structure and properties of samples obtained by the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) method from the AZhK alloy, intended for the manufacture of heavily loaded body parts with operating temperatures up to 800 °C, have been studied. The optimal mode of LPBF, ensuring the attainment of the minimal residual porosity of 0.02%, was identified for the superalloy AZhK. Additionally, the evolution of the microstructure of LPBF samples after hot isostatic pressing (HIP) and heat treatment (HT) was studied using optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The macrostructure of LPBF samples is represented by columnar grains oriented in the direction of predominant heat dissipation, perpendicular to the build plate. At the microlevel, the structure consists of colonies of columnar dendrites. Nb4AlC3 and Nb6C4 carbides, as well as the Mo2Hf Laves phase, are precipitated in the interdendritic region as a result of doping element segregation. The low strength of the LPBF samples (σ = 967 ± 10 MPa) is caused by the fact that there are no reinforcing particles and by high internal stress due to high crystallization speed. HIP and HT were found to have a favorable effect on the structure and properties of the LPBF samples. The post-treatment resulted in uniform distribution of γ′-phase precipitates sized up to 250 nm in the matrix bulk and carbides at grain boundaries, as well as Laves phase dissolution. Therefore, the strength characteristics were significantly improved: by 45% at room temperature and by 50% at elevated temperatures. High strength and ductility were attained (at 20 °C, σ20 = 1396 ± 22 MPa and δ = 19.0 ± 3.0 %; at 650 °C, σ650 = 1240 ± 25 MPa and δ = 15.8 ± 1.5%; at 750 °C, σ750 = 1085 ± 23 MPa and δ = 9.1 ± 2.3%). An ejector-type part was fabricated, and its geometric parameters coincided with those in the electronic models. After conducting computed tomography, it was found that there are no defects in the form of non-fusion and microcracks within the volume of the part; however, it was observed that the pore size is ≥20 μm

Multi-angle spectrophotometry as a tool for determination of film parameters on single-layer structures

Ta–Si–C–N single-layer films have been synthesized by direct current magnetron sputtering on fused quartz substrates. The structural perfection of the films has been studied using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy. The optical parameters of the films have been studied using multi-angle spectrophotometry. The spectral dependences of the transmission coefficients of substrates and structures were measured for normal incidence of light in the wavelength range 200–2500 nm. We show that the transmittance spectrum of the specimen has an oscillating pattern due to interference phenomena that are typical for layered structures. The reflectance of the films and the substrates has been measured in the 200–2500 nm region for small incidence angles. The difference between the reflection coefficient at the maximum of the interference of the film and the corresponding reflection coefficient of the substrate at the same wavelength shows that the absorption in the film is low. A formula for determination of the film absorption index based on the measured parameters has been derived. The experimental and calculated data have been used for plotting the absorption spectra of the substrate, structure and film. Discrete refractive indices in the 400–1200 nm region have been calculated for reflections at two incidence angles by determining the positions of interference maxima in the reflectivity spectral responses. The results have been approximated using the Cauchy equation. The film thickness has been estimated to be df = 1046 nm ± 13%. The spectra of film extinction coefficients have been plotted with and without allowance for reflection. Obtained values of the refractive and absorption indices with and without reflection have been summarized in a table