Centrifugal casting of glass plates: a finite-element analysis of process parameter influence

For the first time, glass centrifugal casting is analyzed by finite-element viscoplastic models. First of all, the sensitivity of the process parameters is analyzed on the radius lengthening of a glass gob during casting using central processing unit time-saving models. The suitability of glass for centrifuging is evaluated, taking its temperature, viscosity, mould rotation speed and time dependency, casting time and initial gob shape into account. A refined finite-element analysis of an NBS-710 plate production is then achieved. The results are used in decision-aid process design curves which allow the manufacturer to efficiently adjust process parameters with regard to the desired final shape

Computation procedure for the temperature in hot glass application to the finite element Simulation of hollow glass forming

Α new incremental procedure is developed for the thermal analysis in 3D glass products considering the one-dimensional analytical solutions for a semi-infmite glass wall. When coupled to a code being capable of computing large mechanical deformations, this allows to analyze efficiently the glass flow during the pressing, self-deformation and blowing processes. The forming of a reference tumbler is analyzed via finite element simulations. For each forming step, the temperature distribution is calculated from the pressing parameters; pertinent results are found for this first application

A prospective assessment of the inter-laboratory variability of biochemical markers of fibrosis (FibroTest) and activity (ActiTest) in patients with chronic liver disease

BACKGROUND: Biochemical markers for liver fibrosis (FibroTest) and necroinflammatory features (ActiTest) are an alternative to liver biopsy in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Our aim was to assess the inter-laboratory variability of these tests, and their 6 components (γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, alanine aminotransferase, α(2)-macroglobulin, haptoglobin, apolipoprotein A1, and total bilirubin) and to identify factors associated with this variability. RESULTS: Serum of 24 patients with chronic hepatitis C or severe alcoholic liver disease were prospectively recorded and analyzed in one reference center and in 8 additional laboratories. When γ-glutamyl transpeptidase and alanine aminotransferase were expressed in international units, there was no significant difference between laboratories in the results of FibroTest or ActiTest; kappa statistics were greater than 0.50 with only 0.8% of cases (3/384) with a discordance of more than one stage. The main factor significantly associated with variability was the expression of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase and alanine aminotransferase, as multiples of upper limit of reference values. The use of standardized method with pyridoxal phosphate reduced the variability of alanine aminotransferase expression, and standardized original Szasz method reduced the variability of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase expression. CONCLUSIONS: The variability of FibroTest and ActiTest was acceptable without clinical consequences for the prediction of the stage of liver fibrosis and grade of activity. Standardized methods and assay calibration should be used and expression of alanine aminotransferase and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase in multiples of the upper limit of reference values should not be employed

ATTEINTE PULMONAIRE DANS LA MALADIE DE KAWASAKI

PARIS6-Bibl. St Antoine CHU (751122104) / SudocPARIS-BIUM (751062103) / SudocSudocFranceF

Linearity and stationarity of the pharmacokinetics of tiludronate in horses

Two studies were conducted in order to assess the linearity and stationarity of the pharmacokinetics of tiludronate in horses. For each study, plasma concentrations of tiludronate were measured by HPLC-UV at regular intervals and noncompartmental analysis was performed. First, single intravenous administrations of 0.05 (group 1, n = 5), 0.1 (group 2, n = 5) and 0.2 mg/kg (group 3, n = 5) were performed in healthy male adult horses. A linear relationship between groups was found for C5min (C5min = 0.0726 + 11.8589 * dose) as well as for AUC0-inf (AUC0-inf = -0.632561 + 30.9649 * dose). Clearance ranged from 0.033 to 0.044 L/h/kg and was not significantly different between groups. MRT (h) were 3.96, 4.95 and 9.40 and VDss (L/kg) were 0.16, 0.19 and 0.28 for the 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg doses respectively. Second, 10 daily intravenous administrations at a dosage rate of 0.1 mg/kg were administered to 4 healthy horses. Plasma tiludronate concentrations were measured after the 1st and 10th dose as well as 8 hours after each dose. The mean plasma accumulation ratio between the 1st and the 10th dose was 1.31 ± 0.48. Medians of the tiludronate concentration values measured in plasma 8 hours post-dose were not statistically different between doses. Maximum and minimum concentrations of tiludronate (mg/L) following the last dose were 0.91 and 0.04 respectively. It was concluded that the pharmacokinetics of tiludronate in horses are linear from 0.05 to 0.2 mg/kg IV and stationary after 10 IV administrations of 0.1 mg/kg

Deep venous thrombus characterization: ultrasonography, elastography and scattering operator

A thrombus or a blood clot is the result of blood coagulation which is a natural process to prevent bleeding. An inappropriate formation of a thrombus in a deep vein is known as Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT). The main complication of a DVT is a Pulmonary Embolism (PE) which occurs when a thrombus breaks loose and travels to the lungs. DVT, PE, or both are also known as Venous thromboembolism (VTE). It affects an estimated 300,000–600,000 Individuals just in the United States per year and can cause considerable morbidity and mortality. This multifactorial disease related to advanced age, immobility, surgery or obesity is an important public health issue. Our project is looking to link the VTE epidemiology (risk factors, patient history, PE) to the thrombus structure. To reach our goals, we are collecting ultrasonography (echogenicity) and elastography (stiffness) of human thrombus. This manuscript describes our approach to create and preprocess a database using Toshiba Aplio 500. Our approaches to characterize the thrombus structure with ultrasound images are also described. The feature extraction is made with the scattering operator. Obtained features are then reduced using Principal Component Analysis and are analyzed to evaluate our approach

How to upgrade a leadless pacemaker to cardiac resynchronization therapy

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