Evaluation of the effect of ultrasonic degassing on components produced by low pressure die casting

Ultrasonic processing is known to be an efficient means of aluminium melt degassing with additional benefits of being economical and environment friendly. This paper describes the performance of ultrasonic degassing in preparing melt for low pressure die casting (LPDC). Efficiency of ultrasonic degassing is compared with conventional Ar rotary degassing by direct measurements of hydrogen concentration in the melt with a Foseco Alspek-H probe and by reduced pressure test in different stages of the casting process. Significant reduction in dross formation along with similar efficiency of hydrogen degassing was shown for ultrasonic degassing as compared with conventional Ar rotary degassing. Mechanical properties, microstructure and porosity level of the components produced by LPDC after both degassing techniques are determined. Results show that the components produced after ultrasonic degassing treatment have similar hardness, tensile properties, porosity level and microstructure as the components degassed with conventional Ar rotary degassing.The European Union’s Seventh Framework Program managed by the Research Executive Agency (REA;FP7/2007–2013) under grant agreement number 286344 (www.ultragassing.eu)

Empagliflozin inhibits Na + /H + exchanger activity in human atrial cardiomyocytes

Aims Recent clinical trials have proven gliflozins to be cardioprotective in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. However, the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. A potential inhibition of cardiac Na+/H(+)exchanger 1 (NHE1) has been suggested in animal models. We investigated the effect of empagliflozin on NHE1 activity in human atrial cardiomyocytes. Methods and results Expression of NHE1 was assessed in human atrial and ventricular tissue via western blotting. NHE activity was measured as the maximal slope of pH recovery after NH(4)(+)pulse in isolated carboxy-seminaphtarhodafluor 1 (SNARF1)-acetoxymethylester-loaded murine ventricular and human atrial cardiomyocytes. NHE1 is abundantly expressed in human atrial and ventricular tissue. Interestingly, compared with patients without heart failure (HF), atrial NHE1 expression was significantly increased in patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction and atrial fibrillation. The largest increase in atrial and ventricular NHE1 expression, however, was observed in patients with end-stage HF undergoing heart transplantation. Importantly, acute exposure to empagliflozin (1 mu mol/L, 10 min) significantly inhibited NHE activity to a similar extent in human atrial myocytes and mouse ventricular myocytes. This inhibition was also achieved by incubation with the well-described selective NHE inhibitor cariporide (10 mu mol/L, 10 min). Conclusions This is the first study systematically analysing NHE1 expression in human atrial and ventricular myocardium of HF patients. We show that empagliflozin inhibits NHE in human cardiomyocytes. The extent of NHE inhibition was comparable with cariporide and may potentially contribute to the improved outcome of patients in clinical trials

Efectos de dos microorganismos autóctonos benéficos en la calidad de semillas de Canavalia ensiformis (L.)

Beneficial indigenous microorganisms (BIMs) or efficient microorganisms (EM) can have a positive effect on stimulating root development and improving plant nutrition, which helps greater agricultural production. This research was developed with the objective of evaluating the effect of IHPLUS® and ME-50 on the seed production of Canavalia ensiformis (L.). For this, plots of 75.6 m2 were established, using BIMs, IHPLUS® and ME-50 as treatments; in addition to a control treatment. Foliar applications were made weekly with doses of 50 ml/L. Results much superior to those of the control were obtained with the application of IHPLUS® and EM-50 in the mass of the legume with seed and without seed, length of the legume, as well as in the length, width and thickness of the seed. Also, the number of seeds per legume was significantly higher when applying IHPLUS® and in the same way, the best seed yields were obtained with this treatment, doubling those obtained by the control treatment.Los microorganismos autóctonos benéficos (MABs) o eficientes (ME) pueden tener un efecto positivo sobre la estimulación del desarrollo de las raíces y la mejora en la nutrición de las plantas lo que ayuda a una mayor producción agrícola. Esta investigación se desarrolló con el objetivo de evaluar el efecto del IHPLUS® y el ME-50 en la producción de semilla de Canavalia ensiformis (L.). Para esto se establecieron parcelas de 75.6 m2, empleando como tratamientos los MABs, IHPLUS® y ME-50; además de un tratamiento testigo. Se realizaron aplicaciones foliares semanalmente con dosis de 50 ml/L. Se obtuvieron resultados muy superiores a los del testigo con la aplicación de IHPLUS® y EM-50 en la masa de la legumbre con semilla y sin semilla, largo de la legumbre, así como en el largo, ancho y grosor de la semilla. También, la cantidad de semillas por legumbre fue significativamente superior al aplicar el IHPLUS® y de igual manera se obtienen con este tratamiento los mejores rendimientos de semilla, duplicando los obtenidos por el tratamiento testigo

Global patient outcomes after elective surgery: prospective cohort study in 27 low-, middle- and high-income countries.

BACKGROUND: As global initiatives increase patient access to surgical treatments, there remains a need to understand the adverse effects of surgery and define appropriate levels of perioperative care. METHODS: We designed a prospective international 7-day cohort study of outcomes following elective adult inpatient surgery in 27 countries. The primary outcome was in-hospital complications. Secondary outcomes were death following a complication (failure to rescue) and death in hospital. Process measures were admission to critical care immediately after surgery or to treat a complication and duration of hospital stay. A single definition of critical care was used for all countries. RESULTS: A total of 474 hospitals in 19 high-, 7 middle- and 1 low-income country were included in the primary analysis. Data included 44 814 patients with a median hospital stay of 4 (range 2-7) days. A total of 7508 patients (16.8%) developed one or more postoperative complication and 207 died (0.5%). The overall mortality among patients who developed complications was 2.8%. Mortality following complications ranged from 2.4% for pulmonary embolism to 43.9% for cardiac arrest. A total of 4360 (9.7%) patients were admitted to a critical care unit as routine immediately after surgery, of whom 2198 (50.4%) developed a complication, with 105 (2.4%) deaths. A total of 1233 patients (16.4%) were admitted to a critical care unit to treat complications, with 119 (9.7%) deaths. Despite lower baseline risk, outcomes were similar in low- and middle-income compared with high-income countries. CONCLUSIONS: Poor patient outcomes are common after inpatient surgery. Global initiatives to increase access to surgical treatments should also address the need for safe perioperative care. STUDY REGISTRATION: ISRCTN5181700

Optimisation of Perioperative Cardiovascular Management to Improve Surgical Outcome II (OPTIMISE II) trial: study protocol for a multicentre international trial of cardiac output-guided fluid therapy with low-dose inotrope infusion compared with usual care in patients undergoing major elective gastrointestinal surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Postoperative morbidity and mortality in older patients with comorbidities undergoing gastrointestinal surgery are a major burden on healthcare systems. Infections after surgery are common in such patients, prolonging hospitalisation and reducing postoperative short-term and long-term survival. Optimal management of perioperative intravenous fluids and inotropic drugs may reduce infection rates and improve outcomes from surgery. Previous small trials of cardiac-output-guided haemodynamic therapy algorithms suggested a modest reduction in postoperative morbidity. A large definitive trial is needed to confirm or refute this and inform widespread clinical practice. METHODS: The Optimisation of Perioperative Cardiovascular Management to Improve Surgical Outcome II (OPTIMISE II) trial is a multicentre, international, parallel group, open, randomised controlled trial. 2502 high-risk patients undergoing major elective gastrointestinal surgery will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio using minimisation to minimally invasive cardiac output monitoring to guide protocolised administration of intravenous fluid combined with low-dose inotrope infusion, or usual care. The trial intervention will be carried out during and for 4 hours after surgery. The primary outcome is postoperative infection of Clavien-Dindo grade II or higher within 30 days of randomisation. Participants and those delivering the intervention will not be blinded to treatment allocation; however, outcome assessors will be blinded when feasible. Participant recruitment started in January 2017 and is scheduled to last 3 years, within 50 hospitals worldwide. ETHICS/DISSEMINATION: The OPTIMISE II trial has been approved by the UK National Research Ethics Service and has been approved by responsible ethics committees in all participating countries. The findings will be disseminated through publication in a widely accessible peer-reviewed scientific journal. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN39653756.The OPTIMISE II trial is supported by Edwards Lifesciences (Irvine, CA) and the UK National Institute for Health Research through RMP’s NIHR Professorship

Ultrasonic degassing of aluminium alloys: basic studies and practical implementation

Ultrasonic processing is known to be an efficient means of aluminium melt degassing and structure modification with additional benefits of being economical and environment friendly. The present paper reports on the kinetics of ultrasonic degassing and regassing of foundry luminium alloys and on pilot scale degassing trials. Efficiency of ltrasonic degassing is compared with conventional Ar rotary degassing. Direct measurements of hydrogen concentration in the melt by Foseco Alspek-H probe are used along with reduced pressure test. The effects of ultrasonic processing on porosity are studied using three-dimensional X-ray tomography.The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Program managed by REA – Research Executive Agency (FP7/2007-2013) under Grant Agreement number 286344 (www.ultragassing.eu)

Development of New Photoswitchable Azobenzene Based γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Uptake Inhibitors with Distinctly Enhanced Potency upon Photoactivation

A series of nipecotic acid derivatives with new azo benzene based photoswitchable N-substituents was synthesized and characterized in their (E)- and (Z)-form for their functional inhibitory activity at gamma aminobutyric acid transporters subtype 1 (GAT1), the most common gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) transporter subtype in the central nervous system (CNS). This led to the identification of the first photoswitchable ligands exhibiting a moderate uptake inhibition of GABA in their (E)- but distinctive higher inhibitory potency in their (Z)-form resulting from photoirradiation. For the most efficient photoactivatable nipecotic acid derivative displaying an N-but-3-yn-1-yl linker with a terminal diphenyldiazene unit, an inhibitory potency of 4.65 +/- 0.05 (pIC(50)) was found for its (E)-form. which increased by almost two log units up to 6.38 +/- 0.04 when irradiated. The effect of this photoswitchable mGATl inhibitor has also been evaluated and confirmed in patch-clamp recordings in acute hippocampal slices from mice

Antibacterial activity of the sponge Suberites domuncula and its primmorphs: potential basis for epibacterial chemical defense

The epibacterial chemical defense of the marine sponge Suberites domuncula was explored by screening sponge extract, sponge primmorph (3-D aggregates containing proliferating cells) extract and sponge-associated as well as primmorph-associated bacteria for antibacterial activity. 16S rDNA sequencing revealed that the antimicrobially active bacteria belonged to the a- and γ-subdivisions of Proteobacteria ( α-Proteobacterium MBIC 3368, Idiomarina sp. and Pseudomonas sp., respectively). Moreover, a recombinant perforin-like protein was cloned from S. domuncula that displayed strong antibacterial activity. Based on these observations, it is proposed that the sponge may be provided with a direct (by producing antibacterial metabolites) as well as an indirect (with the help of associated bacteria) epibacterial defense

Antimicrobial Activities and Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption / Ionization Mass Spectrometry of Bacillus Isolates from the Marine Sponge Aplysina aerophoba

The aim of this study was to isolate bacteria that are resistant to the strong antimicrobial metabolites characteristic of Aplysina aerophoba. For this purpose, bacterial isolation was performed on agar plates to which sponge tissue extract had been added. Following screening for antifungal and antimicrobial activities, 5 strains were chosen for more detailed analyses. 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing revealed that all isolates belonged to the genus Bacillus, specifically B. subtilis and B. pumilus. Using a combination of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ ionization mass spectrometry typing of whole cells and antimicrobial bioassays against selected reference strains, the bioactive metabolites were identified as lipopeptides