Water and Air Redistribution within a Dual Permeability Porous System Investigated Using Neutron Imaging

AbstractA ponded infiltration experiment was conducted under simultaneous imaging to investigate variations in quasi-saturated hydraulic conductivity a process frequently observed in infiltration experiments in soils with wide grain -size distribution. An artificially prepared heterogeneous sample composed of coarse quartz sand (representing pathways of preferential flow) and fine porous ceramic (representing soil matrix) was investigated. The sample was 34.5mm high and 29.0mm in diameter. Sequences of neutron radiography images (RI) of pixel size 0.045 × 0.045mm were taken at one angle during particular transient phases of the flow process. During quasi-steady state flow stages of the experiment radiography images were acquired in range of angles 0-180° in 0.9° step and. 3D neutron tomograms (TI) were then developed. Using the data a quantitative evaluation of the spatial and temporal distribution of water content within the sample was conducted. For every RI and TI the amount of water in particular pixels and voxels, respectively, was calculated by subtracting the image of dry sample. The accuracy of the water content estimates derived from the images was checked by comparing them to the corresponding gravimetrically determined water content data. Heavy water with equilibrium air saturation was introduced into the sample during two recurrent infiltrations. Thirty five hours later, during second infiltration, the inflow was switched to degassed heavy water in order to remove residual air present in the sample. During the first twelve hours of first infiltration run flow rate through the sample decreased from 3.7cm/hour to 1.0cm/hour at the end of the “steady state flow” stage. The flow rate in second run decreased from 3.6cm/hour to 1.6cm/hour. Comparison of the tomogram of the sample at the beginning and one taken at the end of the steady state flow stage in each run shows an increase of water content in the porous ceramic, while the water content in the coarse sand decreased. On the contrary, during the subsequent infiltration with degassed water the flow rate increased to its maximum value of 10.5cm/hour. The tomograms confirmed removal of the residual air during this stage. Increased water content in the coarse quartz sand was evident on a tomogram made at the end of the degassed water infiltration. The results show that the residual air saturation and its spatial distribution strongly affected the water flow in the quasi-saturated heterogeneous media representing natural soil

New insights into early bronze age damascene technique north of the alps

Damascening, defined in this context as the inlay of one metal into a different metal base, is a rare decorative technique in the Early Bronze Age, known only from seven bronze artefacts found north of the Alps. This paper reports on the first thorough scientific examination of one such find, the axe from Thun-Renzenbühl grave no. 1. This interdisciplinary project involving several institutions in Germany and Switzerland investigated the axe by means of neutron radiographic imaging and X-ray microprobe methods, supported by microscopic examination. The result is an attempt to reconstruct the fabrication and decoration process and to reconsider the enigmatic question of the origins of the damascene technique north of the Alp

Effect of Adjunct Metformin Treatment in Patients with Type-1 Diabetes and Persistent Inadequate Glycaemic Control. A Randomized Study

Despite intensive insulin treatment, many patients with type-1 diabetes (T1DM) have longstanding inadequate glycaemic control. Metformin is an oral hypoglycaemic agent that improves insulin action in patients with type-2 diabetes. We investigated the effect of a one-year treatment with metformin versus placebo in patients with T1DM and persistent poor glycaemic control.One hundred patients with T1DM, preserved hypoglycaemic awareness and HaemoglobinA(1c) (HbA(1c)) > or = 8.5% during the year before enrolment entered a one-month run-in on placebo treatment. Thereafter, patients were randomized (baseline) to treatment with either metformin (1 g twice daily) or placebo for 12 months (double-masked). Patients continued ongoing insulin therapy and their usual outpatient clinical care. The primary outcome measure was change in HbA(1c) after one year of treatment. At enrolment, mean (standard deviation) HbA(1c) was 9.48% (0.99) for the metformin group (n = 49) and 9.60% (0.86) for the placebo group (n = 51). Mean (95% confidence interval) baseline-adjusted differences after 12 months with metformin (n = 48) versus placebo (n = 50) were: HbA(1c), 0.13% (-0.19; 0.44), p = 0.422; Total daily insulin dose, -5.7 U/day (-8.6; -2.9), p<0.001; body weight, -1.74 kg (-3.32; -0.17), p = 0.030. Minor and overall major hypoglycaemia was not significantly different between treatments. Treatments were well tolerated.In patients with poorly controlled T1DM, adjunct metformin therapy did not provide any improvement of glycaemic control after one year. Nevertheless, adjunct metformin treatment was associated with sustained reductions of insulin dose and body weight. Further investigations into the potential cardiovascular-protective effects of metformin therapy in patients with T1DM are warranted.ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00118937

Diverse Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 Drug Resistance Profiles at Screening for ACTG A5288: A Study of People Experiencing Virologic Failure on Second-line Antiretroviral Therapy in Resource-limited Settings

CITATION: Wallis, C. L. et al. Diverse Human Immunodeficiency Virus–1 drug resistance profiles at screening for ACTG A5288 : a study of people experiencing virologic failure on second-line antiretroviral therapy in resource-limited settings. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 71(7): e170–e177. doi:10.1093/cid/ciz1116The original publication is available at https://academic.oup.com/cid/Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) drug resistance profiles are needed to optimize individual patient management and to develop treatment guidelines. Resistance profiles are not well defined among individuals on failing second-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Methods: Resistance genotypes were performed during screening for enrollment into a trial of third-line ART (AIDS Clinical Trials Group protocol 5288). Prior exposure to both nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and non-NRTIs and confirmed virologic failure on a protease inhibitor-containing regimen were required. Associations of drug resistance with sex, age, treatment history, plasma HIV RNA, nadir CD4+T-cell count, HIV subtype, and country were investigated. Results: Plasma HIV genotypes were analyzed for 653 screened candidates; most had resistance (508 of 653; 78%) to 1 or more drugs. Genotypes from 133 (20%) showed resistance to at least 1 drug in a drug class, from 206 (32%) showed resistance to at least 1 drug in 2 drug classes, and from 169 (26%) showed resistance to at least 1 drug in all 3 commonly available drug classes. Susceptibility to at least 1 second-line regimen was preserved in 59%, as were susceptibility to etravirine (78%) and darunavir/ritonavir (97%). Susceptibility to a second-line regimen was significantly higher among women, younger individuals, those with higher nadir CD4+ T-cell counts, and those who had received lopinavir/ritonavir, but was lower among prior nevirapine recipients. Conclusions: Highly divergent HIV drug resistance profiles were observed among candidates screened for third-line ART in LMIC, ranging from no resistance to resistance to 3 drug classes. These findings underscore the need for access to resistance testing and newer antiretrovirals for the optimal management of third-line ART in LMIC.https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/71/7/e170/5625392?login=truePublishers versio