Search

Bimekizumab (BKZ), an IgG1 monoclonal antibody that selectively inhibits IL-17F in addition to IL-17A, has shown efficacy through week (W) 52 in patients (pts) with non-radiographic/radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-/r-axSpA) in two phase III trials [1]. We compare the impact of symptom duration on the efficacy of BKZ at 2 years. In BE MOBILE 1 (nr-axSpA; NCT03928704) and 2 (r-axSpA; NCT03928743), pts were randomized to BKZ or placebo (PBO); all received BKZ from W16 to W52. At W52, pts could enter the open-label extension study (NCT04436640) and receive BKZ. We present results through W104 for pts with a duration of symptoms (DoS) ≤ 2/ > 2 years (ASAS definition of early axSpA) [2] , and ≤ 5/ > 5 years to optimize subgroup sizes. Pts who received continuous BKZ and those who switched from PBO to BKZ were pooled from W52. We present ASAS40 (non-responder imputation), ASDAS < 2.1, and change from baseline in BASDAI (CfB; multiple imputation) for pts with DoS ≤ 5/ > 5 (BE MOBILE 1 and 2) and ≤2/ > 2 (BE MOBILE 1), mean SPARCC score on sacroiliac joint MRI (observed cases) for pts with DoS ≤5/ > 5 in BE MOBILE 1. To compare the efficacy of BKZ vs PBO according to DoS, we calculated relative odds ratios (ASAS40/ASDAS < 2.1) and relative differences (BASDAI CfB/SPARCC) at W16, if sample size allowed. Better outcomes were observed with BKZ vs. PBO at W16, regardless of DoS. Results were maintained/improved through W104. At W16, more BKZ-treated pts with DoS ≤ 5/≤ 2 achieved ASAS40/ASDAS < 2.1 compared with patients with DoS > 5/ > 2, respectively. No significant differences were detected between DoS ≤ 5/ > 5 (BE MOBILE 1 and 2) or between DoS ≤ 2/ > 2 (BE MOBILE 1). At W104, more pts with DoS ≤ 5/≤ 2 achieved ASAS40/ASDAS < 2.1 (Figures 1 and 2). No significant relative difference in mean BASDAI CfB between DoS ≤ 5/ > 5 or ≤ 2/ > 2 was detected at W16 in BE MOBILE 1, but a greater improvement was seen in BASDAI in pts with DoS ≤ 5 vs. > 5 in BE MOBILE 2. Improvements in mean BASDAI were greater at W104 in pts with DoS ≤ 5/≤ 2 vs > 5/ > 2, respectively (Figure 3). Baseline SPARCC scores indicated greater inflammation in pts with DoS ≤ 5 vs > 5. BKZ treatment resulted in a reduction in mean SPARCC scores at W16; compared with PBO, no significant difference was detected between DoS ≤5/ > 5 in BE MOBILE 1 (relative difference [95% CI]: –3.10 [–8.09, 1.90]). Mean SPARCC scores remained low through W104 (DoS ≤ 5: 2.03 [ n = 40], DoS > 5: 2.83 [ n = 55]) and indicated resolution of inflammation, regardless of DoS. BKZ treatment was effective at 2 years, regardless of symptom duration, with no difference observed in treatment effect at W16 between pts with shorter symptom duration and those with longer symptom duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work evaluates the defects in high quality atomic layer deposited (ALD) HfAlOx with extremely low Al (<3% Al/(Al+Hf)) incorporation in the Hf based high-k dielectrics. The defect activation energy estimated by the high temperature current voltage measurement shows that the charged oxygen vacancies, V+/V2+, are the primary source of defects in these dielectrics. When Al is added in HfO2, the V+ type defects with a defect activation energy of Ea ~ 0.2 eV modify to V2+ type to Ea ~ 0.1 eV with reference to the Si conduction band. When devices were stressed in the gate injection mode for 1000 s, more V+ type defects are generated and Ea reverts back to ~0.2 eV. Since Al has a less number of valence electrons than do Hf, the change in the co-ordination number due to Al incorporation seems to contribute to the defect level modifications. Additionally, the stress induced leakage current behavior observed at 20 °C and at 125 °C demonstrates that the addition of Al in HfO2 contributed to suppressed trap generation process. This further supports the defect engineering model as reduced flat-band voltage shifts were observed at 20 °C and at 125 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The present work is focused on the synthesis of nanocopper and nanocopper sulphide metallic particles. The precise control of size and shape is best achievable with microemulsion technique, with in situ synthesis in microemulsion. The effect of most crucial operating parameter, water-to-surfactant molar ratio (w), on the product specification including size as well as size distribution and morphology were investigated. The variation of size was observed with variation in w for copper sulphide and copper. Product specifications were analyzed using transmission electron microscope imaging, dynamic light scattering with particle size analyzer and absorption spectra using UV-visible spectrophotometer. It was observed that bigger particles were achieved at higher water-to-surfactant ratio. From systematic study of effect of w on the size and size distribution of copper nanoparticles, the optimum value was chosen for preparation of in situ catalyst. As copper on alumina catalyst has wide catalytic applications of commercial importance, alumina was selected as support. A novel deposition method is developed successfully to deposit the copper nanoparticles from microemulsion on the support. Thus prepared catalyst was analyzed with UV-visible spectrophotometer and found to contain characteristic peak of copper at 655nm, indicating proper copper deposition on support. XRD analysis of copper on alumina catalyst confirmed presence of metallic copper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sitar is perhaps the most well known of the Indian plucked string musical instruments. It has a varying number of strings but 16–20 is usual. When played by an expert, the sitar produces a melodious sound effect. The mode of attachment of strings and or the interaction of the large number of strings, some of them being playing strings, some drone and others sympathetic, create the total acoustic environment, which also includes the global resonance structure of the instrument. This creates a sound whose complexity is difficult to model by usual mathematical methods. Fractal dimension is an effective tool for analysis in such cases. In the present paper D0 (fractal dimension), D2 (correlation dimension) and also the higher moments are studied for acoustic signals obtained from actual sitar performances. Four such performances are used for the present study. The obeying of power law indicates the presence of non-linearity in the production system. The presence of multifractality is noticed through an examination of relationship between q and Dq and the functional relationship between the Dq's. It was observed that fractal dimension might be used as a measure of signal complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The enzymatic hydrolysis of xylan has potential economic and environment-friendly applications. Therefore, attention is focused here on the discovery of new extremophilic xylanase in order to meet the requirements of industry. Methods and Results: An extracellular xylanase was purified from the culture filtrate of P. citrinum grown on wheat bran bed in solid substrate fermentation. Single step purification was achieved using hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The purified enzyme showed a single band on SDS-PAGE with an apparent molecular weight of c. 25 kDa and pI of 3·6. Stimulation of the activity by β mercaptoethanol, dithiotheritol (DTT) and cysteine was observed. Moderately thermostable xylanase showed optimum activity at 50°C at pH 8·5. Conclusion: Xylanase purified from P. citrinum was alkaliphilic and moderately thermostable in nature. Significance and Impact of the Study: The present work reports for the first time the purification and characterization of a novel endoglucanase free alkaliphilic xylanase from the alkali tolerant fungus Penicillium citrinum. The alkaliphilicity and moderate thermostability of this xylanase may have potential implications in paper and pulp industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The extraction of copper from aqueous sulfate media into ELMs using the extractant LIX 984N-C was studied. Appropriately characterized emulsions on the basis of viscosity and internal drop sizes were used to study the effect of different parameters on extraction. The effects of stirring speed, surfactant concentration, pH of the external continuous phase, carrier concentration, internal phase stripping acid concentration and initial copper concentration are reported. These results show that LIX 984N-C efficiently extracts copper at low pH values typical of leach solutions. It was found that LIX 984N-C could extract up to 80% copper from aqueous solutions at pH value of 1. Performance of LIX 984N-C was also compared with LIX 84 and LIX 84-I at different pH values. Results indicate that LIX 984N-C could open up new avenues for extraction of copper into ELMs, not only from dilute solutions, but also from sulfuric acid leach solutions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Tanpura is a multi-stringed accompanying drone instrument extensively used in classical music in India. The instrument is plucked by finger. We know that jitter, shimmer and complexity perturbations (CP) are found also in tanpura signals. The source of origin of these perturbations was reported to be related to some sort of nonlinearity associated with the strings and their mode of attachment. The objective of the present study is to see in what way fractal-dimensional analysis may be helpful to relate the apparent nonlinearity and also if there is any relation of these dimensions with different part of the signals like attack time, quasi-steady state and the decay. In the paper fractal dimension, D0 and generalized dimensions, D2 to D10 and their dynamic behavior over time are studied for 15 tanpuras having four strings each, tuned to Pa (5th note), Sa (tonic), Sa (tonic) and Sa′ (lower octave tonic). The obeying of power law indicates nonlinearity in the production source system. The presence of multifractality is studied through an examination of relationship between q and Dq and the functional relationship between Dqs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on the results of a study about histone lysine methylation that was presented at the 69th Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quantitative Biology in the U.S. in 2004. Background on the basic repeating unit of chromatin; Reasons for the insolubility of the distinct histone lysine methylation; Tabular summary of the evolutionary conservation of mono-, di-, and trimethylation.

We report the identification of genomic sequences in various anopheline mosquitoes (family Culicidae: suborder Nematocera: order Diptera) showing homology to the class II, short inverted-terminal-repeat (ITR) transposable element P from Drosophila melanogaster (family Drosophilidae; suborder Brachycera: order Diptera). Anopheles gambiae appears to have at least six distinct P elements. Other anopheline species, including four additional members of the An. gambiae species complex (An. arabiensis, An. merus, An. melas and An. quadriannulatus), Anopheles stephensi (all subgenus Cellia), An. quadrimaculatus (subgenus Anopheles) and Anopheles albimanus (subgenus Nyssorhynchus) also possess P elements similar to those found in An. gambiae. Ten distinct P element types were identified in the genus Anopheles. At least two of the An. gambiae elements appears to be intact and potentially functional. Phylogenetic analysis of the anopheline P elements reveals them to belong to a distinctly different clade from the brachyceran P elements. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Fractal behavior in the quasi-steady states of the two types of speech signals, namely, quasiperiodic and quasi-random, are studied. The signals of the first group consist of seven vowels and those for the second group consist of three variants each of three sibilants. Ten rendering of each of these signals by one native Bengali male speaker of 45 years of age are used as the signal database. Standard box-counting method is used for generating ln(p[sup q]) versus in(l/r) curves. D[sup 0], D[sup q] and the knee expanse (KE) of the curves, their interrelations and the projections on the source characteristics are the objects of analysis. D[sub 2] > D[sub 0] is found to indicate locally dense nature of the map and are found to be associated mainly with some sibilants. D[sub q] are found to be a family of simple polynomial functions of q for all signals. D[sub 0], D[sub q] and KE are related to the nature of different signals and character of the sources generating the signals. The study of fractal dimensions and the generalized dimensions for these signals reveal intermittency behavior and multifractality, which indicate basically, turbulent source or sources for speech generation. That the quasi-periodic and the quasi-random sounds are fundamentally different is reflected in the behavior of generalized fractal dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The case of a fracture of the clivus in a 10-year-old boy following a road traffic accident is reported. He also suffered a contusion of the cerebellar vermis and the management dilemma in this case is highlighted. Fracture of the clivus in a child is extremely rare; this is the second reported case and the first reported with survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the impact of recommendations from the 2019 consensus exercise conducted by radiologists and rheumatologists on the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to investigate axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) in clinical practice. A freedom of information (FOI) request was used to assess the use of MRI in the diagnosis of axSpA and radiologists' awareness of the 2019 guidance across all NHS Trusts and Health Boards in the UK, including England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales. The FOI request was sent to 150 Trusts/Health Boards, and 93 full responses were received. Of the 93 respondents (97%), 90 reported familiarity with the term axSpA and 70/93 (75%) reported familiarity with the 2019 recommendations. Awareness of recommendations regarding specific MRI features supportive of the diagnosis of axSpA was 74/93 (80%) for the sacroiliac joints (SIJs) and 66/93 (71%) for the spine. The median wait for MRI acquisition was 2–3 months. Fifty-two of the 93 (56%) reported at least some outsourcing of axSpA MRI (33%/29% for specialist/non-specialist outsourcing respectively); 32/93 (34%) reported some scans being reported in-house by non-musculoskeletal radiologists. There have been several positive developments in the understanding and use of MRI for the diagnosis of axSpA in the UK since the 2017 survey, although substantial scope for further improvement remains. Several new challenges have also emerged, including the increase in waiting times, reliance on outsourcing, and the reporting of MRI by non-musculoskeletal radiologists. • There have been improvements in several aspects of axSpA MRI practice since 2017. • Use of recommended MRI protocols and knowledge of terminology have both increased. • Availability of MRI has deteriorated, and outsourcing has emerged as a challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 21-year-old primigravida who undergone caesarean section and become tachycardic and hypotensive despite havign minimal vaginal bleeding and contracted uterus. It mentions that the patient was diagnosed to have a right-sided retroperitoneal haematoma from the pelvis to the diaphragm. It states that selective arterial embolisation and early angiography can be considered to an haemodynamically unstable patients to determine offending vessel.

Objective To determine the accuracy with which the absence of fetal breathing movements on ultrasound examination predicts spontaneous preterm birth in women with threatened preterm labor. Methods Data sources included Medline, Em base, Pascal, Biosis, Cochrane Library, Medion, National Research Register, SciSearch, conference papers, and manual searching of bibliographies of known primary and review articles. A study was selected if it used absence of fetal breathing movements on ultrasound to predict spontaneous preterm birth in women with threatened preterm labor but before advanced cervical dilatation. Two reviewers independently selected studies and extracted data on their characteristics, quality and accuracy. Accuracy data were used to form 2 × 2 contingency tables with birth within 48 h and within 7 days of testing as the reference standards. Likelihood ratios for a positive test (LR+) and negative test (LR-) were calculated as a measure of accuracy. Results There were eight studies, which included a total of 328 women, evaluating the accuracy of absence of fetal breathing movements in predicting spontaneous preterm birth in women with threatened preterm labor. There were differences in the methodological quality among the included studies. All were lacking in one or more item that make up an ideal test accuracy study. For women presenting with threatened preterm labor, meta-analysis showed a summary LR+ of 14.80 (95% CI, 6.30–34.79) with a corresponding summary LR- of 0.46 (95% CI, 0.3 6–0.58) for predicting preterm birth within 7 days, and summary LR+ of 7.84(95% CI, 1.12–54.99) and summary LR- of 0.25 (95% CI, 0.13–0.48) for predicting preterm birth within 48 h of testing. Conclusion Absence of fetal breathing movements has the potential to be a useful test in predicting preterm birth both within 7 days and within 48 h of testing. However, the available studies were deficient in their sample size and quality of methodology. Future research should be undertaken to evaluate this technology and to address the methodological deficiencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

La fatigue est fréquente chez les patients (pts) avec une spondylarthrite ankylosante (SA), associée à des douleurs et une incapacité fonctionnelle [1]. Le tofacitinib (tofa) est un JAK inhibiteur oral autorisé pour traiter la SA. Des améliorations plus importantes de la fatigue ont été observées avec le tofa vs placebo chez des pts SA.2 Il s'agit ici d'une analyse post-hoc afin d'estimer le délai d'amélioration de la fatigue chez les pts SA traités par tofa. Il s'agit de données d'un essai de phase 3 (NCT03502616) chez des pts SA recevant du tofa 5 mg deux fois par jour (2X/J) ou PBO pendant 16 semaines (S16) ; après 16S, tous les pts ont reçu en ouvert du tofacitinib jusqu'à S48.2 La fatigue a été évaluée par le score FACIT-F total (Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy Fatigue) (score de 0 à 52 ; des scores plus élevés indiquent moins de fatigue3). Une série d'analyse des délais de survenu des événements a été effectuée à l'aide de modèles non paramétriques de Kaplan–Meier. Les délais médians pour les améliorations du score FACIT-F ont été évaluées en fonction de différents seuils. Le premier événement d'amélioration a été défini comme le délai à partir de l'inclusion avec une amélioration du score FACIT-F d'au moins 5 %, 10 %, 15 %, etc., jusqu'à 100 %. Les délais médians aux événements basés sur les modifications absolues du score FACIT-F ont également été étudiées. Dans l'ensemble, 269 pts ont été évalués ; les caractéristiques des pts à l'inclusion ont déjà été rapportées.2 Les délais médians d'amélioration initiale du score FACIT-F étaient significativement (p < 0,05) plus courts chez les pts recevant du tofacitinib 5 mg 2X/J vs PBO ; le délai médian d'amélioration initiale de 30 % du score FACIT-F était de 16 semaines chez les pts recevant du tofa 5 mg 2X/J ; alors qu'il n'a pas été atteint par les pts recevant le PBO à S16. Plus de pts recevant du tofa 5 mg 2X/J vs PBO ont connu des événements d'amélioration jusqu'à S16 (Tableau 1) ; 36,1 % des pts recevant du tofa 5 mg 2X/J ont connu une amélioration de 50 % de la fatigue jusqu'à S16, contre 19,9 % des pts sous PBO. Chez les pts SA, les améliorations de la fatigue, telles que déterminées par le score FACIT-F, on été observé plus vite avec des seuils plus importants avec le tofa vs PBO jusqu'à S16. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Le bimékizumab (BKZ), un anticorps monoclonal qui inhibe de manière sélective l'interleukine (IL)-17A et l'IL-17F, a montré son efficacité clinique et un bon profil de tolérance chez des patients atteints de spondylarthrite ankylosante (SA) traités sur une période allant jusqu'à 96 semaines [1,2]. Sont présentés ici les critères patients (PRO) intermédiaires à 3 ans chez des patients souffrant de SA active et traités par BKZ dans une étude de recherche de dose de phase IIb (BE AGILE ; NCT02963506) et son extension en ouvert (NCT03355573). Le schéma de l'étude BE AGILE a été décrit précédemment [1]. Les patients traités par BKZ 160 mg ou 320 mg toutes les 4 semaines (S) à S48 dans BE AGILE étaient éligibles pour l'étude d'extension. Pendant l'extension, tous les patients ont reçu BKZ à 160 mg toutes les 4S. Les résultats sont rapportés dans la population totale d'analyse (FAS) de l'extension (patients entrés dans l'extension, ayant reçu ≥ 1 dose de BKZ et ≥ 1 mesure valide de la variable d'efficacité durant cette période). Sont notamment rapportés les résultats suivants : BASDAI, BASDAI50, BASFI, fatigue, raideur matinale douleur rachidienne (échelle numérique), composantes physique (PCS) et mentale (MCS) du SF-36 et ASQoL. Les données manquantes pour les variables continues ont été imputées au moyen d'une imputation multiple (MI ; basée sur l'hypothèse des données manquantes aléatoires) et d'une imputation des non-répondeurs (NRI) pour les variables dichotomiques. Un total de 262/303 (86 %) patients randomisés dans l'étude BE AGILE ont complété la S48 sous BKZ 160 mg ou 320 mg, parmi lesquels 255/262 (97 %) sont entrés dans l'étude d'extension (FAS : 254). Entre l'inclusion et la S48 de BE AGILE, les patients traités par BKZ ont montré des améliorations cliniquement pertinentes pour l'activité de la maladie (BASDAI, BASDAI50), la fonction physique (BASFI), la fatigue, la raideur matinale, la douleur rachidienne et la qualité de vie (SF-36 PCS et MCS, ASQoL) (Fig. 1). Les améliorations rapportées concernant les mesures continues d'efficacité ont dépassé les seuils publiés de différence minimale importante (DMI), d'amélioration minimale cliniquement importante (AMCI) et/ou de différence minimale cliniquement importante (DMCI) (Fig. 1) [3,4]. L'efficacité pour tous les PRO a été maintenue ou a continué à s'améliorer entre la S48 et la S144 ou S156 (Fig. 1). Le traitement par BKZ a été associé à une efficacité conséquente et soutenue sur 3 ans chez des patients atteints de SA active ; ceci est vrai pour l'activité de la maladie rapportée par les patients, la fonction, la fatigue, la raideur matinale, la douleur rachidienne et la qualité de vie. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transformational epidural steroid (TFES) is commonly used to treat lumbosacral radicular pain. However, very few studies have systematically evaluated the quality of analgesia following such procedures with respect to time. Objective: To evaluate long-term efficacy of TFES in patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy. Materials and Methods: A prospective study including 30 patients having lumbosacral radiculopathy secondary to prolapsed disc. Outcome variables were the amount of improvement just after the procedure and thereafter at 24 hrs, 1 month, 6 month and 1 year post-procedure, respectively, using visual analog scale (VAS) and numeric rating scale (NRS). Patients also filled Roland-Morris questionnaire pre-procedure, 6 month and 1 year follow-up. All patients received Ibuprofen for 3 days following the procedure, to alleviate post- procedural pain. An option of rescue surgery was reserved in case of unbearable pain (>7 VAS), appearance of sudden motor deficit or if patient opts for surgery. Same injection was repeated if at any point of time pain had >5 in VAS. Results: As per NRS, almost all patients had complete pain relief (mean 98%) immediate postprocedure. At 24 hrs, the score was 79%, at 1 month 60%, at 6 months 58.5% and at 1 year 59%. Preprocedure VAS was 9.2 and thereafter 0.6, 1.8, 3.9, 3.8 and 4.2 at similar time points. Roland-Morris score was 18/24, 10/24, 9/24, at pre-procedure, at 6 months and at 1 year, respectively. No complication was noted in any patient except post procedural local pain. Conclusion: Quality of pain relief produced by TFES was significant. Long-term quality of pain relief was better in patients with pain duration less than 6 months. Even though, the study was designed to inject the drug once, many of the patients required second injection. A further study with multiple injections at prefixed time interval might probably result in a better overall outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Lightly crosslinked natural rubber can be stretched by 600% or more, and recovers almost completely. It is often regarded as a model highly elastic material and characterized by a strain energy function to describe its stress–strain behavior under various types of deformation. A number of such functions have been proposed; some of them appear in current finite element programs. They are usually validated by comparison with measured stress–strain relations by Treloar [7] [L.R.G. Treloar, Stress–strain data for vulcanized rubber under various types of deformation, Trans. Faraday Soc. 40 (1944) 59–70] and Jones and Treloar [15] [D.F. Jones, L.R.G. Treloar, The properties of rubber in pure homogeneous strain, J. Phys. D Appl. Phys. 8 (1975) 1285–1304]. But Treloar pointed out that the relations at high strains became markedly irreversible, and he did not assign a strain energy function for strains greater than about 300%. Rivlin''s universal relation between torsional stiffness and tensile stress [14] [R.S. Rivlin, Large elastic deformations of isotropic materials. Part V1: further results in the theory of torsion, shear and flexure, Philos. Trans. R. Soc. A 243 (1949) 251–288] is applied here to show that a typical elastic solid cannot be described by any strain energy function at strains greater than about 300%. Elastic strain energy functions for higher strains, or for other rubbery materials, are thus of doubtful value unless evidence for reversibility of stress–strain relations is adduced or the applicability of a strain energy function is demonstrated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Complementary studies, involving computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses and wind tunnel (WT) testing, have been carried out at the Institute for Aerospace Research (IAR) to investigate the wind-loading effects on the prototype, spherical Canadian/US Very Large Optical Telescope (VLOT) structure. The VLOT is currently in the first phase of design and these preliminary studies were part of an IAR/HIA (Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics) collaboration supporting the development of an integrated design model (IM) of the VLOT. The 51-m-diameter enclosure is spherical in shape, with the lower one-quarter removed to provide a flat base. The opening through which the telescope sees is 24m in diameter and can be positioned at a range of zenith (elevation) angles from 0° to 60° for the full 360° azimuth range. The primary purpose of the CFD/WT studies was to assess the capability of a fully unsteady Lattice-Boltzmann CFD code to predict wind loads on the enclosure and telescope structures for use in telescope design by performing comparisons with the wind tunnel measurements. Both cavity resonance due to flow over the opening and vortex shedding from the spherical structure were observed in the wind tunnel experiments and the CFD computations. The CFD code predicted three simultaneously excited cavity modes that were identical to those measured. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Noninvasive left ventricular (LV) pressure estimation in obese patients has not been well described. Simultaneous B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and echocardiographic Doppler examinations were performed in patients with dyspnea undergoing cardiac catheterization. Patients were divided into body mass index (BMI) >35 (markedly obese), 31 to 35 (obese), and < or =30 kg/m2 (nonobese). BNP levels and mitral early diastolic/tissue Doppler annular velocity (E/Ea) were compared with invasively measured LV end-diastolic and pre-atrial (pre-A) pressures. Seventy-two patients were studied. Except for BMI, LV mass index, and LV diastolic dimension, there were no significant differences in baseline, echocardiographic Doppler, or hemodynamic characteristics among the groups. However, BNP was significantly lower in markedly obese compared with obese and nonobese patients (116 +/- 187 vs 241 +/- 674 and 277 +/- 352 pg/ml, respectively; p = 0.03). BNP did not correlate with LV pre-A pressure in markedly obese patients (R = 0.13, p = 0.47), whereas BNP significantly correlated with this variable in the obese (R = 0.64) and nonobese (R = 0.58) groups. Mitral E/Ea significantly correlated with LV pre-A and LV end-diastolic pressures in all BMI groups. In markedly obese patients with dyspnea, BNP did not correlate with invasively measured LV filling pressure, whereas this correlated in obese and nonobese patients. However, mitral E/Ea significantly correlated with LV filling pressures in all BMI groups. In conclusion, BNP is not recommended for LV filling pressure estimation in ambulatory patients with dyspnea with BMI >35 kg/m2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A stoichiometric dense MgAl2O4 spinel has been prepared according to a conventional double stage firing process using AlCl3 as a sintering aid. A stoichiometric mixture of aluminum trihydroxide and caustic MgO was calcined at 1300 °C for 1 h in order to achieve a desired degree of spinelization. AlCl3 in different amounts, i.e. 0.911, 1.822 and 2.733 wt.%, was coated on spinelized powder using wet-impregnation technique and sintered at different temperatures ranging from 1500 to 1600 °C for 1 h. Among the spinels sintered at 1550 °C for 1 h, spinel incorporated with 2.733 wt% AlCl3 has exhibited superior properties in terms of bulk density, apparent porosity and water absorption. Further, this sintered stoichiometric spinel incorporated with 2.733 wt.% AlCl3 was characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive analysis with X-rays (EDAX) and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). EDAX analysis revealed that AlCl3 as a sintering aid helps in reducing the Na2O present in the raw materials composition after sintering. EPMA studies revealed that spinel prepared in this study is well comparable with the commercial spinel (Alcoa, AR-78, USA). Finally, 20 wt.% of the stoichiometric spinel incorporated with 2.733 wt.% AlCl3 prior to sintering was added to high-Al2O3 and MgO–C refractories to evaluate its effect on slag erosion and penetration resistance as well as on repeated permanent linear change (PLC) of these bricks. By the addition of stoichiometric MgAl2O4 spinel, the slag erosion and penetration resistance of high Al2O3 and MgO–C refractories was improved remarkably, and their PLCs exhibited more steady and stable positive values after spinel addition. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article focuses on monitoring patients suffering with ankylosing spondylitis and undergoing anti- tumor necrosis factor (TNF) monotherapy. Topics discussed include blood test monitoring of tumour necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) monotherapy, blood tests correlated to electronic and paper medical records by retrospective analysis, and patients showing pre-existing haematological abnormalities.