Tensile properties, microstructural evolution and fracture toughness of Al 2014 alloy subjected to cryorolling followed by warm rolling (CR + WR) have been investigated in the present study. The solution-treated (ST) ...Tensile properties, microstructural evolution and fracture toughness of Al 2014 alloy subjected to cryorolling followed by warm rolling (CR + WR) have been investigated in the present study. The solution-treated (ST) Al 2014 alloy is cryorolled followed by warm rolling process at different temperatures (110, 170 and 210 ℃). The mechanical properties and microstructural features of deformed and undeformed Al 2014 alloys were characterised by optical microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The CR + WR samples at 170 ℃ showed an improved hardness (179 HV), tensile (UTS 499 MPa, YS 457 MPa) and fracture toughness (KQ = 37.49 MPa y/m, Kee = 37.39 MPa √m and J integral = 33.25 kJ/mm^2) with respect to ST alloy as measured from the tensile and fracture toughness test. The improved mechanical properties of CR + WR alloy are attributed to grain boundary strengthening, combined recovery and recrystallisation, precipitation hardening and dynamic ageing effect during the deformation. The precipitation of metastable spherical phase Al2Cu was responsible for the improved tensile and fracture properties of finegrained Al 2014 alloy observed in the present work.展开更多
Cytomegalovirus(CMV) infection is an important contributor to the morbidity and mortality associated with bone marrow transplantation(BMT). Infection may lead to CMV disease involving multiple organs such as pneumonia...Cytomegalovirus(CMV) infection is an important contributor to the morbidity and mortality associated with bone marrow transplantation(BMT). Infection may lead to CMV disease involving multiple organs such as pneumonia, gastroenteritis, retinitis, central nervus system involvement and others. CMV seropositivity is an important risk factor and approximately half of BMT recipients will develop clinically significant infection most commonly in the first 100 d post-transplant. The commonly used tests to diagnose CMV infection in these patients include the pp65 antigenemia test and the CMV DNA polymerase chain reaction(PCR) assay. Because of its greater sensitivity and lesser turnaround time, the CMV PCR is nowadays the preferred test and serves as a main guide for pre-emptive therapy. Methods of CMV prevention include use of blood products from seronegative donors or leukodepleted products. Prophylaxis or pre-emptive therapy strategies for CMV prevention may be used post-transplant with the latter becoming more common. The commonly used antivirals for pre-emptive therapy and CMV disease management include intravenous gancyclovir and foscarnet. The role of intravenous immunoglobulin, although used commonly in CMV pneumonia is not clear.展开更多
Process safety in chemical industries is considered to be one of the important goals towards sustainable development. This is due to the fact that, major accidents still occur and continue to exert significant reputat...Process safety in chemical industries is considered to be one of the important goals towards sustainable development. This is due to the fact that, major accidents still occur and continue to exert significant reputational and financial impacts on process industries. Alarm systems constitute an indispensable component of automation as they draw the attention of process operators to any abnormal conditi on in the plant. Therefore, if deployed properly, alarm systems can play a critical role in helping plant operators ensure process safety and profitability. How-ever, in practice, many process plants suffer from poor alarm system configuration which leads to nuisance alarms and alarm floods that compromise safety. A vast amount of research has primarily focused on developing sophisticated alarm management algorithms to address specific issues. In this article, we provide a simple, practical, systematic approach that can be applied by plant engineers (i.e., non-experts) to improve industrial alarm system performance. The proposed approach is demonstrated using an industrial power plant case study.展开更多
Formation of coronary artery pseudoaneurysm after percutaneous coronary intervention is rarely reported. A close review of available literature indicates a trend of growing incidence in recent times. Here, we present ...Formation of coronary artery pseudoaneurysm after percutaneous coronary intervention is rarely reported. A close review of available literature indicates a trend of growing incidence in recent times. Here, we present a case of coronary pseudoaneurysm developing in the left circumflex artery within 50 days of sirolimus-eluting stent implantation in a 47-year-old man who was treated for triple-vessel coronary artery disease. Initially, the patient refused any further treatment. However, considering the rapid growth of pseudoaneurysm and increased severity of symptoms at subsequent follow-up, we decided to treat giant pseudoaneurysm with embolization coils. The procedure was successful and the patient remained asymptomatic thereafter.展开更多
Objective:To evaluate the survival outcomes for a cohort of nasopharyngeal cancer with intracranial extension(ICE)treated with induction chemotherapy(ICT)followed by chemo-intensity-modulated radiotherapy(CTRT)at a te...Objective:To evaluate the survival outcomes for a cohort of nasopharyngeal cancer with intracranial extension(ICE)treated with induction chemotherapy(ICT)followed by chemo-intensity-modulated radiotherapy(CTRT)at a tertiary cancer center.Methods:We retrospectively analyzed 45 patients with histologically proven,non-metastatic NPC with ICE treated at our institute between October 2008 and October 2016.Patients were classified as minor ICE or major ICE,based on the extent of ICE.All the patients received 2-3 cycles of a taxane-based ICT regimen followed by CTRT.Radiotherapy was delivered with"riskadapted"intensity-modulated radiotherapy(IMRT)technique in all patients.Results:After a median follow up of 45 months(range:8-113 months),the estimated 5-year DFS,LRFS,DMFS,and OS of the entire cohort was 58%,82%,67%and 74%respectively.On multivariate analysis,histological subtype was an independent predictor of LRFS,and age was an independent predictor of DFS.The extent of ICE showed only a trend towards worse DFS(P=0.06).None of the factors significantly predicted for DMFS or OS.Gender,N-stage,and response to ICT did not significantly affect any of the outcomes.Grade 2 or worse subcutaneous fibrosis was seen in 22%of patients and grade 2 or worse xerostomia was seen in 24%of patients at last follow up.Thirty-three percent of the patients developed clinical hypothyroidism at last follow up.None of the patients experienced any neurological or vascular complications.Conclusions:Taxane-based induction chemotherapy followed by chemo-intensity modulated radiotherapy resulted in excellent locoregional control and survival with acceptable toxicities in patients of nasopharyngeal cancer with intracranial extension.Distant metastasis continues to be the predominant problem in these patients.展开更多
文摘Tensile properties, microstructural evolution and fracture toughness of Al 2014 alloy subjected to cryorolling followed by warm rolling (CR + WR) have been investigated in the present study. The solution-treated (ST) Al 2014 alloy is cryorolled followed by warm rolling process at different temperatures (110, 170 and 210 ℃). The mechanical properties and microstructural features of deformed and undeformed Al 2014 alloys were characterised by optical microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The CR + WR samples at 170 ℃ showed an improved hardness (179 HV), tensile (UTS 499 MPa, YS 457 MPa) and fracture toughness (KQ = 37.49 MPa y/m, Kee = 37.39 MPa √m and J integral = 33.25 kJ/mm^2) with respect to ST alloy as measured from the tensile and fracture toughness test. The improved mechanical properties of CR + WR alloy are attributed to grain boundary strengthening, combined recovery and recrystallisation, precipitation hardening and dynamic ageing effect during the deformation. The precipitation of metastable spherical phase Al2Cu was responsible for the improved tensile and fracture properties of finegrained Al 2014 alloy observed in the present work.
文摘Cytomegalovirus(CMV) infection is an important contributor to the morbidity and mortality associated with bone marrow transplantation(BMT). Infection may lead to CMV disease involving multiple organs such as pneumonia, gastroenteritis, retinitis, central nervus system involvement and others. CMV seropositivity is an important risk factor and approximately half of BMT recipients will develop clinically significant infection most commonly in the first 100 d post-transplant. The commonly used tests to diagnose CMV infection in these patients include the pp65 antigenemia test and the CMV DNA polymerase chain reaction(PCR) assay. Because of its greater sensitivity and lesser turnaround time, the CMV PCR is nowadays the preferred test and serves as a main guide for pre-emptive therapy. Methods of CMV prevention include use of blood products from seronegative donors or leukodepleted products. Prophylaxis or pre-emptive therapy strategies for CMV prevention may be used post-transplant with the latter becoming more common. The commonly used antivirals for pre-emptive therapy and CMV disease management include intravenous gancyclovir and foscarnet. The role of intravenous immunoglobulin, although used commonly in CMV pneumonia is not clear.
文摘Process safety in chemical industries is considered to be one of the important goals towards sustainable development. This is due to the fact that, major accidents still occur and continue to exert significant reputational and financial impacts on process industries. Alarm systems constitute an indispensable component of automation as they draw the attention of process operators to any abnormal conditi on in the plant. Therefore, if deployed properly, alarm systems can play a critical role in helping plant operators ensure process safety and profitability. How-ever, in practice, many process plants suffer from poor alarm system configuration which leads to nuisance alarms and alarm floods that compromise safety. A vast amount of research has primarily focused on developing sophisticated alarm management algorithms to address specific issues. In this article, we provide a simple, practical, systematic approach that can be applied by plant engineers (i.e., non-experts) to improve industrial alarm system performance. The proposed approach is demonstrated using an industrial power plant case study.
文摘Formation of coronary artery pseudoaneurysm after percutaneous coronary intervention is rarely reported. A close review of available literature indicates a trend of growing incidence in recent times. Here, we present a case of coronary pseudoaneurysm developing in the left circumflex artery within 50 days of sirolimus-eluting stent implantation in a 47-year-old man who was treated for triple-vessel coronary artery disease. Initially, the patient refused any further treatment. However, considering the rapid growth of pseudoaneurysm and increased severity of symptoms at subsequent follow-up, we decided to treat giant pseudoaneurysm with embolization coils. The procedure was successful and the patient remained asymptomatic thereafter.
文摘Objective:To evaluate the survival outcomes for a cohort of nasopharyngeal cancer with intracranial extension(ICE)treated with induction chemotherapy(ICT)followed by chemo-intensity-modulated radiotherapy(CTRT)at a tertiary cancer center.Methods:We retrospectively analyzed 45 patients with histologically proven,non-metastatic NPC with ICE treated at our institute between October 2008 and October 2016.Patients were classified as minor ICE or major ICE,based on the extent of ICE.All the patients received 2-3 cycles of a taxane-based ICT regimen followed by CTRT.Radiotherapy was delivered with"riskadapted"intensity-modulated radiotherapy(IMRT)technique in all patients.Results:After a median follow up of 45 months(range:8-113 months),the estimated 5-year DFS,LRFS,DMFS,and OS of the entire cohort was 58%,82%,67%and 74%respectively.On multivariate analysis,histological subtype was an independent predictor of LRFS,and age was an independent predictor of DFS.The extent of ICE showed only a trend towards worse DFS(P=0.06).None of the factors significantly predicted for DMFS or OS.Gender,N-stage,and response to ICT did not significantly affect any of the outcomes.Grade 2 or worse subcutaneous fibrosis was seen in 22%of patients and grade 2 or worse xerostomia was seen in 24%of patients at last follow up.Thirty-three percent of the patients developed clinical hypothyroidism at last follow up.None of the patients experienced any neurological or vascular complications.Conclusions:Taxane-based induction chemotherapy followed by chemo-intensity modulated radiotherapy resulted in excellent locoregional control and survival with acceptable toxicities in patients of nasopharyngeal cancer with intracranial extension.Distant metastasis continues to be the predominant problem in these patients.