Mitigation of Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI) of Carbon Steel of Different Insulating Materials: a Literature Review and Testing Analysis

Equipment often found in refineries may be enveloped in insulation and weathering jackets to maintain internal processing temperatures. In many cases moisture from the environment will penetrate the weathering jacket and infiltrate the insulation, leaching corrosive ions to the surface of metal equipment, effectively creating a corrosion cell. The goal of this project is to investigate different insulating materials for their ability to inhibit corrosion under insulation (CUI). The inhibiting mechanism utilizes water ingress that leaches ions from the insulator to bond with the surface metal and create a passive layer, inhibiting any further corrosion. This study will follow ASTM C1617-15 in order to examine the corrosion mitigating effects of three insulators. Insulators are ground down and boiled to extract leachable ions. The leachant is filtered to remove solids and then introduced to heated carbon steel coupons in a drip wise fashion over a span of four days. Insulators are ranked quantitatively on their ability to prevent corrosion based on gravimetric analysis. The mass loss corrosion rate of the insulators were: Sproule WR-1200® (4.595 mils/yr), Thermo-12® Gold (5.523 mils/yr), and Pyrogel® XT-E (24.767 mils/yr). Sproule and Thermo-12 both exhibit corrosion inhibiting ions whereas Pyrogel XT-E does not, and these results conclude the effectiveness of these insulators to mitigate corrosion

Adaptation of Semiautomated Circulating Tumor Cell (CTC) Assays for Clinical and Preclinical Research Applications

The majority of cancer-related deaths occur subsequent to the development of metastatic disease. This highly lethal disease stage is associated with the presence of circulating tumor cells (CTCs). These rare cells have been demonstrated to be of clinical significance in metastatic breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers. The current gold standard in clinical CTC detection and enumeration is the FDA-cleared CellSearch system (CSS). This manuscript outlines the standard protocol utilized by this platform as well as two additional adapted protocols that describe the detailed process of user-defined marker optimization for protein characterization of patient CTCs and a comparable protocol for CTC capture in very low volumes of blood, using standard CSS reagents, for studying in vivo preclinical mouse models of metastasis. In addition, differences in CTC quality between healthy donor blood spiked with cells from tissue culture versus patient blood samples are highlighted. Finally, several commonly discrepant items that can lead to CTC misclassification errors are outlined. Taken together, these protocols will provide a useful resource for users of this platform interested in preclinical and clinical research pertaining to metastasis and CTCs

Health professionals’ perspectives on delivering home and hospital management at diagnosis for children with type 1 diabetes: a qualitative study from the Delivering Early Care in Diabetes Evaluation (DECIDE) trial

Objective: To explore the delivery of home and hospital management at diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes in childhood and any impact this had on health professionals delivering care. Methods: This qualitative study was undertaken as part of the DECIDE randomised controlled trial where participants were individually randomised to receive initiation of management at diagnosis, to home or hospital. Semi-structured telephone interviews were planned with a purposive sample of health professionals involved with the delivery of home and hospital management, to include consultants, diabetes and research nurses, and dietitians from the eight UK centres taking part. The interview schedule focused on their experiences of delivering the two models of care; preferences, impact and future plans. Data were subject to Thematic Analysis. Results: Twenty two health professionals participated, represented by consultants, diabetes and research nurses, and dietitians. Overall, nurses preferred home management and perceived it to be beneficial in terms of facilitating a unique opportunity to understand family life and provide education to extended family members. Nurses described a special bond and lasting relationship that they developed with the home managed children and families. Consultants expressed concern that it jeopardised their relationship with families. Dietitians reported being unable to deliver short bursts of education to families in the home managed arm. All health professionals were equally divided over which was logistically easier to deliver. Conclusions: A hybrid approach, of a brief stay in hospital and early home management, offers a pragmatic solution to the advantages and challenges presented by both systems

Detection of a flow induced magnetic field eigenmode in the Riga dynamo facility

In an experiment at the Riga sodium dynamo facility, a slowly growing magnetic field eigenmode has been detected over a period of about 15 seconds. For a slightly decreased propeller rotation rate, additional measurements showed a slow decay of this mode. The measured results correspond satisfactory with numerical predictions for the growth rates and frequencies

Damaging Cardiac and Cancer Genetic Variants in the LVAD Population

Background: Next generation sequencing technology, coupled with population genetic databases, have made broad genetic evaluation relatively inexpensive and widely available. Our objective was to assess the prevalence of potentially damaging cancer and cardiac gene variants in advanced non-ischemic cardiomyopathy patients. Methods: Explanted human heart tissue procured at LVAD placement was obtained from the University of Nebraska Medical Center Heart Tissue Bank. Genomic DNA was isolated from tissues and amplified by PCR using targeted ampliseq primer pools from an inherited disease panel. Individual libraries were amplified by emulsion PCR on Ion Sphere particles and sequencing was performed on a PGM sequencer (Ion torrent) using the Ion 316 chip. The Ion Torrent browser suite was used to map the reads and call the variants. The identified single nucleotide polymorphisms, insertions, and deletions were then annotated and characterized with ANNOVAR. Non-synonymous mutations with a population frequency of less than or equal to 1% were identified and analyzed utilizing an open source integrative genomics viewer. Amino acid substitution effects on protein function were determined by a bioinformatics algorithm. Myocardial recovery was defined as an improvement in EF to greater than 45% at three months post implant. Results: Our sample population included 12 males and 2 females with an average age of 49 and an average EF at presentation of 17%. Damaging cardiac gene variants were present in 11/14 patients. Only 1 of the 11 patients with damaging cardiac gene variants improved their ejection fraction to greater than 45% post LVAD. Two of the 2 patients without mutations improved their ejection fraction to greater than 45%, p-value=.04. Nine of the 14 patients in this population had damaging oncogene mutations. Conclusions: Damaging variants in cancer and cardiac genes are common in end-stage non-ischemic cardiomyopathy patients undergoing LVAD placement. Genetic variation likely contributes to disease progression and cancer risk

Role of the complement pathway in inflammatory skin diseases: a focus on hidradenitis suppurativa

Although the role of immune dysregulation in hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) has yet to be elucidated, recent studies identified several complement abnormalities in patients with HS. The complement system serves a critical role in the modulation of immune response and regulation of cutaneous commensal bacteria. Complement is implicated in several inflammatory skin diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus, angioedema, pemphigus, bullous pemphigoid, and HS. A model of HS pathogenesis is proposed, integrating the role of commensal bacteria, cutaneous immune responses, and complement dysregulation. The role of complement in disease pathogenesis has led to the development of novel anticomplement agents and clinical trials investigating the efficacy of such treatments in HS

Involving lay and professional stakeholders in the development of a research intervention for the DEPICTED Study

Aim: This paper focuses on stakeholders’ active involvement at key stages of the research as members of a Stakeholder Action Group (SAG), particularly in the context of lay stakeholder involvement. Some challenges that can arise and wider issues (e.g. empowerment, the impact of user involvement) are identified and explored within the literature on service user involvement in health care research, reflecting on the implications for researchers. Background: In the DEPICTED study, lay and professional stakeholders were actively involved in developing a complex research intervention. Lay stakeholders comprised teenage and adult patients with diabetes, parents and patient organization representatives. Professional stakeholders were from a range of disciplines. Methods: Three 1-day research meetings were attended by 13–17 lay stakeholders and 10–11 professional stakeholders (plus researchers). The SAG was responsible for reviewing evidence, advising on developing ideas for the research intervention and guiding plans for evaluation of the intervention in a subsequent trial. Formal evaluations were completed by stakeholders following each SAG meeting. Results: Throughout the first (developmental) stage of this two-stage study, lay and professional stakeholders participated or were actively involved in activities that provided data to inform the research intervention. Lay stakeholders identified the need for and contributed to the design of a patient-held tool, strongly influenced the detailed design and content of the research intervention and outcome questionnaire, thus making a major contribution to the trial design. Conclusion: Stakeholders, including teenagers, can be actively involved in designing a research intervention and impact significantly on study outcomes

"Keeping it on your radar"- assessing the barriers and facilitators to a timely diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in childhood: a qualitative study from the early detection of type 1 diabetes in youth study

Aims The aim of this study was to explore from the perspectives of key stakeholders involved in the pathway to diagnosis, the barriers and facilitators to a timely diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in childhood. Methods Qualitative interviews and free‐text analyses were undertaken in 21 parents with a child diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, 60 parents without a child diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, 9 primary healthcare professionals, 9 teachers and 3 community diabetes liaison nurses. Data were analysed thematically and 30% double coded. Results Two key themes were identified, namely the importance of widespread awareness and knowledge and seeking healthcare professional help. Parents with a child diagnosed with type 1 diabetes described seeking opinions from a number of individuals prior to seeking health professional help. Healthcare professionals recognized the rarity of the condition and the need for it to be kept on their “radar”, to ensure they considered it when examining an unwell child. The process of obtaining a primary healthcare appointment was identified as potentially playing a crucial role in the diagnostic process. However, most parents with a child diagnosed with type 1 diabetes described receiving an appointment on the day they sought it. Conclusions Knowledge and awareness of type 1 diabetes in childhood remain limited in the general population and misconceptions persist relating to how children present with this serious condition. An effective community‐based intervention to raise awareness amongst key stakeholders is required to ensure children receive a timely diagnosis once symptomatic

Camilla: A Centaur reconnaissance and impact mission concept

Centaurs, minor planets with a semi-major axis between the orbits of Jupiter and Neptune (5–30 AU), are thought to be among the most diverse small bodies in the solar system. These important targets for future missions may have recently been Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs), which are thought to be chemically and physically primitive remnants of the early solar system. While the Kuiper Belt spans distances of 30–50 AU, making direct observations difficult, Centaurs' proximity to the Earth and Sun make them more accessible targets for robotic missions. Thus, we outline a mission concept designed to reconnoiter 10199 Chariklo, the largest Centaur and smallest ringed body yet discovered. Named for a legendary Centaur tamer, the conceptual Camilla mission is designed to fit under the cost cap of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) New Frontiers program, leveraging a conservative payload to support a foundational scientific investigation to these primitive bodies. Specifically, the single flyby encounter utilizes a combined high-resolution camera/VIS-IR mapping spectrometer, a sub-mm point spectrometer, and a UV mapping spectrometer. In addition, the mission concept utilizes a kinetic impactor, which would provide the first opportunity to sample the composition of potentially primitive subsurface material beyond Saturn, thus providing key insights into solar system origins. Such a flyby of the Chariklo system would provide a linchpin in the understanding of small body composition, evolution, and transport of materials in the solar system

Epitope-specific antibody responses differentiate COVID-19 outcomes and variants of concern

BACKGROUND. The role of humoral immunity in COVID-19 is not fully understood, owing, in large part, to the complexity of antibodies produced in response to the SARS-CoV-2 infection. There is a pressing need for serology tests to assess patient-specific antibody response and predict clinical outcome. METHODS. Using SARS-CoV-2 proteome and peptide microarrays, we screened 146 COVID-19 patients’ plasma samples to identify antigens and epitopes. This enabled us to develop a master epitope array and an epitope-specific agglutination assay to gauge antibody responses systematically and with high resolution. RESULTS. We identified linear epitopes from the spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins and showed that the epitopes enabled higher resolution antibody profiling than the S or N protein antigen. Specifically, we found that antibody responses to the S-811–825, S-881–895, and N-156–170 epitopes negatively or positively correlated with clinical severity or patient survival. Moreover, we found that the P681H and S235F mutations associated with the coronavirus variant of concern B.1.1.7 altered the specificity of the corresponding epitopes. CONCLUSION. Epitope-resolved antibody testing not only affords a high-resolution alternative to conventional immunoassays to delineate the complex humoral immunity to SARS-CoV-2 and differentiate between neutralizing and non-neutralizing antibodies, but it also may potentially be used to predict clinical outcome. The epitope peptides can be readily modified to detect antibodies against variants of concern in both the peptide array and latex agglutination formats. FUNDING. Ontario Research Fund (ORF) COVID-19 Rapid Research Fund, Toronto COVID-19 Action Fund, Western University, Lawson Health Research Institute, London Health Sciences Foundation, and Academic Medical Organization of Southwestern Ontario (AMOSO) Innovation Fund