Utjecaj vodika u krutoj otopini čelika za opruge

This paper is concerned with the question of the brittle cracking of spring steel, which can occur already in the early stages of steel processing, i.e. during rolling, during the mechanical cutting of rolled profiles, or during any other type of mechanical manipulation where the harmful effect of remaining hydrogen has been observed. In order to investigate this question in greater depth, mechanical tests and fractographic analyses of the fracture surfaces were performed on cathodically hydrogenated test specimens of two types of spring steel, with and without alloyed nitrogen, in order to determine the critical concentration of hydrogen below which a relatively ductile fracture surface occurs, with good resistance to brittle cracking, and above which hydrogen embrittlement occurs.Ovaj rad odnosi se na problematiku krtog pucanja čelika za opruge već u njegovoj ranoj fazi prerade: pri valjanju, strojnom rezanju valjanih profila, ili kod neke druge mehaničke obrade, gdje je bio uočen škodljiv utjecaj zaostalog vodika. Pomoću uzoraka koji su bili katodno vodičeni, mehaničkog ispitivanja tih uzoraka i fraktografske analize prelomnih površina, bila je definirana kritična količina vodika. Ispod te kritične količine prisutna je još relativno žilava prelomna površina i dobra otpornost prema krhkom pucanju radi vodikove krhkosti. Iznad te vrijednosti, manifestira se vodikova krhkost

Development of silk-based scaffolds for tissue engineering of bone from human adipose derived stem cells

Silk fibroin is a potent alternative to other biodegradable biopolymers for bone tissue engineering (TE), because of its tunable architecture and mechanical properties, and its demonstrated ability to support bone formation both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we investigated a range of silk scaffolds for bone TE using human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs), an attractive cell source for engineering autologous bone grafts. Our goal was to understand the effects of scaffold architecture and biomechanics and use this information to optimize silk scaffolds for bone TE applications. Silk scaffolds were fabricated using differ- ent solvents (aqueous vs. hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP)), pore sizes (250–500 um vs. 500–1000 um) and structures (lamellar vs. spherical pores). Four types of silk scaffolds combining the properties of interest were systematically compared with respect to bone tissue outcomes, with decellularized trabecular bone (DCB) included as a ‘‘gold standard’’. The scaffolds were seeded with hASCs and cultured for 7 weeks in osteogenic medium. Bone formation was evaluated by cell proliferation and differentiation, matrix production, calcification and mechanical properties. We observed that 400–600 um porous HFIP-derived silk fibroin scaffold demonstrated the best bone tissue formation outcomes, as evidenced by increased bone protein production (osteopontin, collagen type I, bone sialoprotein), enhanced calcium deposition and total bone volume. On a direct comparison basis, alkaline phosphatase activity (AP) at week 2 and new calcium deposition at week 7 were comparable to the cells cultured in DCB. Yet, among the aqueous- based structures, the lamellar architecture induced increased AP activity and demonstrated higher equi- librium modulus than the spherical-pore scaffolds. Based on the collected data, we propose a conceptual model describing the effects of silk scaffold design on bone tissue formation.FCT: SFRH/BD/42316/2007NIH: DE161525 and EB0252

Sex- and age-related differences in the management and outcomes of chronic heart failure: an analysis of patients from the ESC HFA EORP Heart Failure Long-Term Registry

Aims: This study aimed to assess age- and sex-related differences in management and 1-year risk for all-cause mortality and hospitalization in chronic heart failure (HF) patients. Methods and results: Of 16 354 patients included in the European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Long-Term Registry, 9428 chronic HF patients were analysed [median age: 66 years; 28.5% women; mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 37%]. Rates of use of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) were high (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, beta-blockers and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists: 85.7%, 88.7% and 58.8%, respectively). Crude GDMT utilization rates were lower in women than in men (all differences: P\ua0 64 0.001), and GDMT use became lower with ageing in both sexes, at baseline and at 1-year follow-up. Sex was not an independent predictor of GDMT prescription; however, age >75 years was a significant predictor of GDMT underutilization. Rates of all-cause mortality were lower in women than in men (7.1% vs. 8.7%; P\ua0=\ua00.015), as were rates of all-cause hospitalization (21.9% vs. 27.3%; P\ua075 years. Conclusions: There was a decline in GDMT use with advanced age in both sexes. Sex was not an independent predictor of GDMT or adverse outcomes. However, age >75 years independently predicted lower GDMT use and higher all-cause mortality in patients with LVEF 6445%

Zmiany zawartości wodoru w kąpieli metalowej podczas procesu stalowniczego

Štore Steel produces steel grades for spring, forging and engineering industry applications. Steelmaking technology consists of scrap melting in Electric Arc Furnace (EAF), secondary metallurgy in Ladle Furnace (LF) and continuous casting of billets (CC). Hydrogen content during steelmaking of various steel grades and steelmaking technologies was measured. Samples of steel melt from EAF, LF and CC were collected and investigated. Sampling from Electric Arc Furnace and Ladle Furnace was carried out using vacuum pin tubes. Regular measurements of hydrogen content in steel melt were made using Hydris device. Hydrogen content results measured in tundish by Hydris device were compared with results from pin tube samples. Based on the measurement results it was established that hydrogen content during steelmaking increases. The highest values were determined in tundish during casting. Factors that influence the hydrogen content in liquid steel the most were steelmaking technology and alloying elements.Stalownia Štore Steel produkuje gatunki stali sprężynowych, stali do kucia oraz stali do innych zastosowań przemysłowych. Linia technologiczna obejmuje elektryczny piec łukowy (EAF), rafinację pozapiecową w piecu kadziowym (LF) oraz maszynę do ciągłego odlewania kęsów (COS). Badaniom poddana została zmienność zawartości wodoru w stali w zależności od gatunku stali i wybranej linii technologicznej. Zgromadzono bazę danych w postaci próbek pobieranych z pieca łukowego, pieca kadziowego oraz maszyny COS. Próbki z pieca łukowego oraz pieca kadziowego pobierano za pomocą rurek próżniowych. Przeprowadzano regularnie pomiary zawartości wodoru w stali za pomocą urządzenia Hydris. Mierzoną zawartość wodoru w kadzi pośredniej za pomocą urządzenia Hydris porównywano z zawartością wodoru w próbkach pobranych za pomocą rurek próżniowych. Bazując na opisanych pomiarach stwierdzono wzrost zawartości wodoru w stali w czasie realizowanego procesu stalowniczego. Najwyższe zawartości stwierdzono w kadzi pośredniej urządzenia COS. Czynnikami mającymi największy wpływ na zawartość wodoru w ciekłej stali była zastosowana technologia wytapiania oraz pierwiastki stopowe