Inhibition of Chloride Induced Crevice Corrosion in Alloy 22 by Fluoride Ions

Alloy 22 (N06022) is highly resistant to localized corrosion. Alloy 22 may be susceptible to crevice corrosion in pure chloride (Cl{sup -}) solutions under aggressive environmental conditions. The effect of the fluoride (F{sup -}) over the crevice corrosion induced by chloride ions is still not well established. The objective of the present work was to explore the crevice corrosion resistance of this alloy to different mixtures of fluorides and chlorides. Cyclic potentiodynamic polarization (CPP) tests were conducted in deaerated aqueous solutions of pure halide ions and also in different mixtures of chloride and fluoride at 90 C and pH 6. The range of chloride concentration [Cl{sup -}] was 0.001 M {le} [Cl{sup -}] {le} 1 M and the range of molar fluoride to chloride ratio [F{sup -}]/[Cl{sup -}] was 0.1 {le} [F{sup -}]/[Cl{sup -}] {le} 10. Results showed that Alloy 22 was susceptible to crevice corrosion in all the pure chloride solutions but not in the pure fluoride solutions. Fluoride ions showed an inhibitor behavior only in mixtures with a molar ratio [F{sup -}]/[Cl{sup -}] > 2. For mixtures with a molar ratio [F{sup -}]/[Cl{sup -}] of 7 and 10 the inhibition of crevice corrosion was complete

Passivity of Alloy 22 in Chloride and Fluoride Containing Solutions

The aim of the present work was to study the passive behavior of Alloy 22 in chloride and fluoride containing solutions varying the heat treatment of the alloy, the halide concentration and the pH of the solution at 90 C. General corrosion behavior was studied using electrochemical techniques, which included open circuit potential monitoring over time, potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements carried out at open circuit and at passive potentials. Corrosion rates obtained by EIS measurements after 24 h immersion were below 0.5 {micro}m/year. The corrosion rates were practically independent of the solution pH, short term corrosion potential (E{sub corr}), alloy heat treatment and halide ion nature and concentration. Polarization resistance (R{sub P}) values increased with open circuit potential and the polarization time at constant potential in 1M NaCl, pH 6, 90 C. This was attributed to an increase in the oxide film thickness and oxide film aging. Capacitance measurements indicated that passive oxide on Alloy 22 presented a double n-type/p-type semiconductor behavior in the passive potential range

Environmental and Geometrical Conditions to Sustain Crevice Corrosion in Alloy 22

Alloy 22 (N06022) is highly resistant to localized corrosion. Under aggressive environmental conditions Alloy 22 may be susceptible to crevice corrosion in hot chloride (Cl{sup -}) solutions. The objective of the present work was to explore the environmental and geometrical conditions for crevice corrosion to occur. Electrochemical tests were performed using PCA and prismatic mill annealed Alloy 22 specimens in chloride solutions. Crevice corrosion current density was found to be a function of applied potential. i{sub CREV} values ranged from 40 {micro}A/cm{sup 2} to 20 mA/cm{sup 2}. Such low values of current density explained the absence of pitting corrosion in Alloy 22 at any potential. Decreasing of the effective diffusion distance in a propagating crevice is thought to cause crevice corrosion stifling or repassivation after long anodic polarization. Crevice corrosion breakdown potential is expected to decrease with potential scan rate, approaching repassivation potential for low scan rates. The lowest corrosion potential of Alloy 22 in hydrochloric acid solutions at which active corrosion exists was proposed as the lowest possible repassivation potential for crevice corrosion

Corrosion Behavior of Alloy 22 in Chloride Solutions Containing Organic Acids

Alloy 22 (N06022) is a nickel based alloy containing alloying elements such as chromium, molybdenum and tungsten. It is highly corrosion resistant both under reducing and under oxidizing conditions. Electrochemical studies such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were performed to determine the corrosion behavior of Alloy 22 in 1M NaCl solutions at various pH values from acidic to neutral at 90 C. Tests were also carried out in NaCl solutions containing oxalic acid or acetic acid. It is shown that the corrosion rate of Alloy 22 was higher in a solution containing oxalic acid than in a solution of the same pH acidified with HCl. Acetic acid was not corrosive to Alloy 22. The corrosivity of oxalic acid was attributed to its capacity to form stable complex species with metallic cations from Alloy 22

Effect of Organic Acid Additions on the General and Localized Corrosion Susceptibility of Alloy 22 in Chloride Solutions

Electrochemical studies such as cyclic potentiodynamic polarization (CPP) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were performed to determine the corrosion behavior of Alloy 22 (N06022) in 1M NaCl solutions at various pH values from acidic to neutral at 90 C. All the tested material was wrought Mill Annealed (MA). Tests were also performed in NaCl solutions containing weak organic acids such as oxalic, acetic, citric and picric. Results show that the corrosion rate of Alloy 22 was significantly higher in solutions containing oxalic acid than in solutions of pure NaCl at the same pH. Citric and picric acids showed a slightly higher corrosion rate, and acetic acid maintained the corrosion rate of pure chloride solutions at the same pH. Organic acids revealed to be weak inhibitors for crevice corrosion. Higher concentration ratios, compared to nitrate ions, were needed to completely inhibit crevice corrosion in chloride solutions. Results are discussed considering acid dissociation constants, buffer capacity and complex formation constants of the different weak acids

Cardiac Afferent Denervation Abolishes Ganglionated Plexi and Sympathetic Responses to Apnea: Implications for Atrial Fibrillation

Background: The autonomic nervous system response to apnea and its mechanistic connection to atrial fibrillation (AF) are unclear. We hypothesize that sensory neurons within the ganglionated plexi (GP) play a role. We aimed to delineate the autonomic response to apnea and to test the effects of ablation of cardiac sensory neurons with resiniferatoxin (RTX), a neurotoxic TRPV1 (transient receptor potential vanilloid 1) agonist. Methods Sixteen dogs were anesthetized and ventilated. Apnea was induced by stopping ventilation until oxygen saturations decreased to 80%. Nerve recordings from bilateral vagal nerves, left stellate ganglion, and anterior right GP were obtained before and during apnea, before and after RTX injection in the anterior right GP (protocol 1, n=7). Atrial effective refractory period and AF inducibility on single extrastimulation were assessed before and during apnea, and before and after intrapericardial RTX administration (protocol 2, n=9). GPs underwent immunohistochemical staining for TRPV1. Results Apnea increased anterior right GP activity, followed by clustered crescendo vagal bursts synchronized with heart rate and blood pressure oscillations. On further oxygen desaturation, a tonic increase in stellate ganglion activity and blood pressure ensued. Apnea-induced effective refractory period shortening from 110.20+/-31.3 ms to 90.6+/-29.1 ms ( P<0.001), and AF induction in 9/9 dogs versus 0/9 at baseline. After RTX administration, increases in GP and stellate ganglion activity and blood pressure during apnea were abolished, effective refractory period increased to 126.7+/-26.9 ms ( P=0.0001), and AF was not induced. Vagal bursts remained unchanged. GP cells showed cytoplasmic microvacuolization and apoptosis. Conclusions Apnea increases GP activity, followed by vagal bursts and tonic stellate ganglion firing. RTX decreases sympathetic and GP nerve activity, abolishes apnea's electrophysiological response, and AF inducibility. Sensory neurons play a role in apnea-induced AF

Probing the near infrared stellar population of Seyfert galaxies

We employ IRTF SpeX NIR (0.8-2.4 microns) spectra to investigate the stellar population (SP), active galactic nuclei (AGN) featureless continuum (FC) and hot dust properties in 9 Sy 1 and 15 Sy 2 galaxies. Both the starlight code and the hot dust as an additional base element were used for the first time in this spectral range. We found evidence of correlation among the equivalent widths (W) Si I 1.59 microns x Mg I 1.58 microns, equally for both kinds of activity. Part of the W{Na I 2.21 microns} and W {CO 2.3 microns} strengths may be related to galaxy inclination. Our synthesis shows significant differences between Sy 1 and Sy 2 galaxies: the hot dust component is required to fit the K-band spectra of ~90% of the Sy 1 galaxies, and only of ~25% of the Sy 2; about 50 % of the Sy 2 galaxies require a $FC$ component contribution >20%, while this fraction increases to 60% in the Sy 1; also, in about 50 % of the Sy2, the combined FC and young components contribute with more than 20%, while this occurs in 90% of the Sy1, suggesting recent star formation in the central region. The central few hundred parsecs of our galaxy sample contain a substantial fraction of intermediate-age SPs with a mean metallicity near solar. Our SP synthesis confirms that the 1.1 micron CN band can be used as a tracer of intermediate-age SPs. The simultaneous fitting of SP, FC and hot dust components increased in ~150% the number of AGNs with hot dust detected and the mass estimated. The NIR emerges as an excellent window to study the stellar population of Sy 1 galaxies, as opposed to the usually heavily attenuated optical range. Our approach opens a new way to investigate and quantify the individual contribution of the three most important NIR continuum components observed in AGNs.Comment: The paper contains 14 figures and 5 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRA

Systematic review and meta-analysis appraising efficacy and safety of adrenaline for adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation

BACKGROUND: There is a beneficial effect of adrenaline during adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from cardiac arrest but there is also uncertainty about its safety and effectiveness. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of adrenaline versus non-adrenaline CPR. METHODS: PubMed, ScienceDirect, Embase, CENTRAL (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) and Google Scholar databases were searched from their inception up to 1st July 2020. Two reviewers independently assessed eligibility and risk of bias, with conflicts resolved by a third reviewer. Risk ratio (RR) or mean difference of groups were calculated using fixed or random-effect models. RESULTS: Nineteen trials were identified. The use of adrenaline during CPR was associated with a significantly higher percentage of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) compared to non-adrenaline treatment (20.9% vs. 5.9%; RR = 1.87; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.37-2.55; p < 0.001). The use of adrenaline in CPR was associated with ROSC at 19.4% and for non-adrenaline treatment - 4.3% (RR = 3.23; 95% CI 1.89-5.53; p < 0.001). Survival to discharge (or 30-day survival) when using adrenaline was 6.8% compared to non-adrenaline treatment (5.5%; RR = 0.99; 95% CI 0.76-1.30; p = 0.97). However, the use of adrenaline was associated with a worse neurological outcome (1.6% vs. 2.2%; RR = 0.57; 95% CI 0.42-0.78; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This review suggests that resuscitation with adrenaline is associated with the ROSC and survival to hospital discharge, but no higher effectiveness was observed at discharge with favorable neurological outcome. The analysis showed higher effectiveness of ROSC and survival to hospital discharge in non-shockable rhythms. But more multicenter randomized controlled trials are needed in the future

Effectiveness of steroids versus placebo in preventing upper airway obstruction after extubation in critically ill children: rationale and design of a multicentric, double-blind, randomized study

BACKGROUND: Post-extubation upper airway obstruction (UAO) is a frequent complication causing stridor and respiratory distress, which occasionally require reintubation, thereby increasing morbidity and mortality rates. Contradictory results have been obtained in studies assessing the effectiveness of steroids in preventing post-extubation UAO, and the available evidence is limited. We designed a multicentric randomized, placebo-controlled study to explore the effectiveness of dexamethasone in preventing post-extubation UAO in children. METHODS: A multicentric, prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, phase IV clinical trial has been designed. The sample will include pediatric patients who are between 1 month and 16 years of age and who have been intubated for more than 48 h. Patients who have airway disorders or who have received steroids within the previous seven days will be excluded. Patients will be randomly assigned to receive either placebo or a therapy with dexamethasone 0.25 mg/kg every 6 h to be started 6 to 12 h prior to extubation (to a total of four doses). Randomization will be performed at a 1:1 ratio. Follow-up of patients will be carried out for 48 h after extubation. The main objective of this study is to access the reduction in the incidence of moderate to severe UAO symptoms following extubation. Secondary objectives include assessing the decrease in the incidence of reintubation, evaluating the use of additional therapies for UAO, and monitoring potential side effects of dexamethasone. DISCUSSION: The results of this study will contribute to the existing evidence on prophylaxis for post-extubation airway obstruction. TRIAL REGISTRATION: EudraCT identifier: 2009-016596-30. Registered on May 11, 2010

Effects of polylinker uATGs on the function of grass HKT1 transporters expressed in yeast cells

HvHKT1 mediates K+ or Na+ uniport in yeast cells if the expression promoter is joined directly to the HvHKT1 cDNA, and Na+-K+ symport if a 59-nt polylinker is inserted. Our results show that three ATG triplets in the polylinker decreased the synthesis of the transporter and that the lower amount of transporter caused the functional change. With the rice HKT1 cDNA, the 59-nt polylinker changed the mode of Na+ uptake from K+-insensitive to K+-inhibitable. These two modes of Na+ uptake also occurred in rice plant