Correlating the properties of near-room-temperature first- and second-order magnetocaloric materials

Several magnetocaloric materials have been proposed since the discovery of the Giant Magnetocaloric Effect. Although some have great potential as magnetocaloric refrigerants or working materials in thermomagnetic motors/generators, only a few have been tested experimentally or had their properties incorporated into validated mathematical models. While experiments are limited by material costs and specialized equipment to determine magnetic field-dependent properties such as specific heat capacity and magnetization, the development of correlation methods must ensure data quality and resolution over a wide range of conditions to reduce interpolations errors. Aiming to keep the number of baseline experimental data points at a minimum, we propose a fitting procedure to correlate thermomagnetic quantities (i.e., isofield specific heat capacity, magnetization and isothermal entropy change) that is accurate at intermediate (i.e., not directly measured) temperatures and applied magnetic fields. The method has been applied to different first-order materials (La(Fe,Mn,Si) H and MnFeP As ) and second-order materials (Gd and Gd Y ) with a good reproducibility of the isofield specific heat capacity, entropy–temperature diagram, adiabatic temperature change and magnetization behavior around room temperature at applied fields between 0 and 2 T

Portuguese recommendations for the use of biological therapies in patients with psoriatic arthritis - 2015 update

OBJECTIVE: To update recommendationsforthe treatment of psoriatic arthritis with biological therapies, endorsed by the Portuguese Society of Rheumatology (SPR). METHODS: These treatment recommendations were formulated by Portuguese rheumatologists based on literature evidence and consensus opinion. At a national meeting the 16 recommendations included in this document were discussed and updated. The level of agreement among Portuguese Rheumatologists was assessed using an online survey. A draft of the full text of the recommendations was then circulated and suggestions were incorporated. A final version was again circulated before publication. RESULTS: A consensus was achieved regarding the initiation, assessment of response and switching biological therapies in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Specific recommendations were developed for several disease domains: peripheral arthritis, axial disease, enthesitis and dactylitis. CONCLUSION: These recommendations may be used for guidance in deciding which patients with PsA should be treated with biological therapies. They cover a rapidly evolving area oftherapeutic intervention.Asmore evidence becomes available and more biological therapies are licensed, these recommendations will have to be updated

Determinant Factors of Dividend Payments in Brazil

This study identifies factors that shaped cash disbursement distribution policies employed by Brazilian public companies listed on the Brazilian Securities, Commodities and Futures Exchange (BM&FBOVESPA) from 1995 to 2011. Relationships between Dividends/Total Assets and potential determinants discussed in the literature, including firm size, corporate governance, profitability, leverage, market to book, liquidity, investment, risk, profit growth, information asymmetry and agency conflict, are examined. The following econometric methods are employed: (1) Tobit, given the nature of the dividend data, and (2) the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) to control for endogenous regressors. Significant positive variables found include size, return on assets (ROA), market to book, liquidity and profit growth. It can thus be inferred that larger firm size, profitability, market value, liquidity and profit growth correlate with greater firm pro pensity to distribute money to shareholders, thus supporting the theory of corporate finance. Significant negative variables found include leverage, liquidity squared, capex, beta and tag along 100%. It is thus inferred that more significantly leveraged companies that invest more heavily in fixed assets and that exhibit high liquidity, higher risk and less conflict between controlling and minority shareholders will be less likely to pay dividends to shareholders.</p