An evaluation of the Shandon Papspin liquid-based oral test using a novel cytologic scoring system

Objectives. The aim of this study was to evaluate a cost-effective oral liquid-based cytology screening test, Shandon Papspin (PS). Study Design. We compared the diagnostic accuracy of PS with surgical biopsy in 69 patients. Transepithelial cytology specimens were obtained with the use of cervical cytobrushes. Cytology specimens were graded and scored by using a novel oral cytologic grading and scoring system. Results. Histologic diagnosis of dysplasia or malignancy was made in 51/69 cases, and cytology identified 49/51 cases, with a sensitivity of 96% and specificity of 100%. The best cutoff value for distinguishing reactive/mildly dysplastic lesions from high grade/invasive squamous cell carcinoma was determined to be a cytologic score of 3, representing a sensitivity of 95% and specificity of 96%. Conclusions. PS appears to be an accurate and economical test for detection of high-risk dysplasias and cancers, but the real significance of this method will be its diagnostic accuracy in studies focusing strictly on lesions with a low level of clinical concern. © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

The flow behavior and microstructural evolution of Ti-5Al-5Mo-5V-3Cr during subtransus isothermal forging

High-strength metastable beta alloys, for example, Ti-5Al-5Mo-5V-3Cr, have replaced steel as the material of choice for large components, such as the main truck beam on the latest generation of airframes. The production of these components is carried out by hot near-net-shape forging, during which process variable control is essential to achieve the desired microstructural condition and subsequent mechanical properties. The flow behavior and microstructural evolution during subtransus isothermal forging of Ti-5Al-5Mo-5V-3Cr has been investigated for two different starting microstructures and analysis has incorporated previously published results. The flow behavior, irrespective of initial microstructural condition, is found to be very similar at strains a parts per thousand yen0.35. It is thought that this is due to a common microstructural state being reached, where dynamic recovery of the beta phase is the dominating deformation mechanism. At strains < 0.35, the flow behavior is believed to be dominated by the morphology and volume fraction of the alpha phase. Small globular alpha particles are thought to have little effect on the flow behavior, while the observed flow softening is directly linked to the fragmentation of acicular alpha precipitates