Summary
Background
Acute thrombotic microangiopathies (TMAs) are characterized by excessive microvascular thrombosis and are associated with markers of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in ...plasma. NETs are composed of DNA fibers and promote thrombus formation through the activation of platelets and clotting factors.
Objective
The efficient removal of NETs may be required to prevent excessive thrombosis such as in TMAs. To test this hypothesis, we investigated whether TMAs are associated with a defect in the degradation of NETs.
Methods and Results
We show that NETs generated in vitro were efficiently degraded by plasma from healthy donors. However, NETs remained stable after exposure to plasma from TMA patients. The inability to degrade NETs was linked to a reduced DNase activity in TMA plasma. Plasma DNase1 was required for efficient NET degradation and TMA plasma showed decreased levels of this enzyme. Supplementation of TMA plasma with recombinant human DNase1 restored NET‐degradation activity.
Conclusions
Our data indicate that DNase1‐mediated degradation of NETs is impaired in patients with TMAs. The role of plasma DNases in thrombosis is, as of yet, poorly understood. Reduced plasma DNase1 activity may cause the persistence of pro‐thrombotic NETs and thus promote microvascular thrombosis in TMA patients.
Implementing energy harvesters and wireless sensors in jet engines will simplify development and decrease costs by reducing the need for cables. Such a device could include a small thermoelectric ...generator placed in the cooling channels of the jet engine where the temperature is between 500-900 °C. This paper covers the synthesis of suitable thermoelectric materials, design of module and proof of concept tests of a thermoelectric module. The materials and other design variables were chosen based on an analytic model and numerical analysis. The module was optimized for 600-800 °C with the thermoelectric materials n-type Ba8Ga16Ge30 and p-type La-doped Yb14MnSb11, both with among the highest reported figure-of-merit values, zT, for bulk materials in this region. The materials were synthesized and their structures confirmed by x-ray diffraction. Proof of concept modules containing only two thermoelectric legs were built and tested at high temperatures and under high temperature gradients. The modules were designed to survive an ambient temperature gradient of up to 200 °C. The first measurements at low temperature showed that the thermoelectric legs could withstand a temperature gradient of 123 °C and still be functional. The high temperature measurement with 800 °C on the hot side showed that the module remained functional at this temperature.
The use of cemented tungsten carbide inserts in hard machining requires proper coatings and edge micro-geometries. A suitable choice of these factors enables the reduction of cutting forces, the ...increase of tool life and the improvement of workpiece surface quality. However, the effects of the edge preparation method and coating process on the substrate properties influence the performance of the insert during cutting. In this context, the influence of two different edge preparation methods (plunge-face grinding and brushing) on the performance of TiAlN-coated cemented tungsten carbide inserts during hard turning is investigated. In general, higher values of surface roughness (Rz≅0.3μm) and edge chipping (Rk≅4.5μm) were observed for brushed inserts in comparison to the ground tools (Rz≅0.2μm, Rk≅3.7μm). Moreover, higher compressive residual stresses are induced by brushing in comparison to grinding (≅500MPa against≅400MPa). In turning tests, cutting forces for the ground inserts are approximately 10% higher than for the brushed inserts. However, higher wear values are better related to lower compressive residual stresses in the substrate than to higher cutting forces.
•Edge preparation method influences the performance of coated cutting tools.•Residual stress differences between coating and substrate affect coating adhesion.•Higher compressive residual stresses on the substrate after coating decrease wear.
Reliability aspects of hydrogen-doped indium oxide Jost, Gabrielle C. E.; Hamri, Alexander N.; Köhler, Florian ...
Physica status solidi. A, Applications and materials science,
July 2016, Letnik:
213, Številka:
7
Journal Article
Recenzirano
We demonstrate an alternative route to reliably prepare hydrogen‐doped indium oxide (In2O3:H). The common hydrogen source, water vapor, was substituted in our process by hydrogen and oxygen gas. The ...resulting films showed similar optical and electrical properties. Nevertheless, the process using gaseous hydrogen led to a simplification of the deposition process. By replacing the hydrogen source we increased the reproducibility of the electrical film properties significantly, thus, paving the way for a reliable device implementation of the material. Furthermore, we investigated the degradation behavior of In2O3:H under damp heat conditions as preliminary test for long‐term durability in photovoltaic devices. The results revealed a degradation of the electrical properties that differs in detail regarding the amorphous and polycrystalline material. In the amorphous material, the main degradation is caused by loss of charge carriers, whereas in the polycrystalline material a drop of the charge carrier mobility causes a significant rise of the resistivity. However, we show that the relative degradation of the In2O3:H films is similar to other transparent contacts that are implemented in solar cells. Finally, we demonstrate that the degradation of the charge carrier mobility in the polycrystalline In2O3:H films is completely reversible by vacuum annealing at 200 °C.
Summary
A 16‐year‐old Thoroughbred mare presented with a 1‐year history of a growing mass on the rostral mandible. Biopsy performed by the referring veterinarian revealed chronic granulating fibrosis ...and stomatitis. Due to progressive loss of body condition and increasing size, the mare presented to the clinic. Radiographic examination of the mandible revealed osteolytic lesions. Mandibulectomy was performed under general anaesthesia. The horse's demeanour and feed intake improved significantly and the cosmetic outcome was acceptable. Histopathological examination confirmed a sarcoma, most likely a fibrosarcoma.
Type 2 diabetes is associated with increased risks of cognitive dysfunction and brain abnormalities. The extent to which risk factor modification can mitigate these risks is unclear. We investigated ...the associations between incident dementia, cognitive performance, and brain abnormalities among individuals with type 2 diabetes, according to the number of risk factors on target, compared with control subjects without diabetes.
Prospective data were from UK Biobank of 87,856 individuals (
= 10,663 diabetes,
= 77,193 control subjects; baseline 2006-2010), with dementia follow-up until February 2018. Individuals with diabetes were categorized according to the number of seven selected risk factors within the guideline-recommended target range (nonsmoking; guideline-recommended levels of glycated hemoglobin, blood pressure, BMI, albuminuria, physical activity, and diet). Outcomes were incident dementia, domain-specific cognitive performance, white matter hyperintensities, and total brain volume.
After a mean follow-up of 9.0 years, 147 individuals (1.4%) with diabetes and 412 control subjects (0.5%) had incident dementia. Among individuals with diabetes, excess dementia risk decreased stepwise for a higher number of risk factors on target. Compared with control subjects (incidence rate per 1,000 person-years 0.62 95% CI 0.56; 0.68), individuals with diabetes who had five to seven risk factors on target had no significant excess dementia risk (absolute rate difference per 1,000 person-years 0.20 -0.11; 0.52; hazard ratio 1.32 0.89; 1.95). Similarly, differences in processing speed, executive function, and brain volumes were progressively smaller for a higher number of risk factors on target. These results were replicated in the Maastricht Study.
Among individuals with diabetes, excess dementia risk, lower cognitive performance, and brain abnormalities decreased stepwise for a higher number of risk factors on target.
Summary
In this cohort of relatively young and well-treated participants with type 2 diabetes, we found no association between diabetes status and a history of previous fractures and recent falls. ...Furthermore, no association between diabetes severity and previous fractures or recent falls was found.
Introduction
In this study, we examined the association between glucose metabolism status and historical fractures or recent falls and the effect of diabetes severity (glucose control, insulin use, and diabetes duration) on falls and fractures in the participants with type 2 diabetes.
Methods
Cross-sectional data from 2005 participants of the Maastricht Study. Falls in the past 6 months and fractures ≥age 50 were assessed by questionnaire. Glucose metabolism status (normal glucose metabolism, impaired glucose metabolism, or type 2 diabetes) was based on the oral glucose tolerance test and medication use.
Results
In the completely adjusted model, the odds for a fall were not significantly higher in those with impaired glucose metabolism status (OR (95%CI) 1.28 (0.93–1.77)) or with type 2 diabetes (OR (95%CI) 1.21 (0.80–1.81)) compared with the group with normal glucose metabolism. Within the group with type 2 diabetes, there were no significant differences with regard to reported falls between participants with HbA1c >7 % (53 mmol/mol) versus HbA1c ≤7 % (OR (95%CI) 1.05 (0.58–1.90)), insulin users versus non-insulin users (OR (95%CI) 1.51 (0.79–2.89)), and with a diabetes duration >5 versus ≤5 years (OR (95%CI) 0.52 (0.46–1.47)). Similarly, neither glucose metabolism status nor diabetes severity was associated with prior fractures.
Conclusions
Glucose metabolism status was not significantly associated with previous fractures and recent falls. In addition, in this cohort of relatively young and well-treated participants with type 2 diabetes, diabetes severity was not associated with previous fractures and recent falls.
Here we present a description of the UKCA StratTrop chemical mechanism, which is used in the UKESM1 Earth system model for CMIP6. The StratTrop chemical mechanism is a merger of previously ...well-evaluated tropospheric and stratospheric mechanisms, and we provide results from a series of bespoke integrations to assess the overall performance of the model.
The Energetic Particle Detector Rodríguez-Pacheco, J.; Wimmer-Schweingruber, R. F.; Mason, G. M. ...
Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin),
10/2020, Letnik:
642
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
After decades of observations of solar energetic particles from space-based observatories, relevant questions on particle injection, transport, and acceleration remain open. To address these ...scientific topics, accurate measurements of the particle properties in the inner heliosphere are needed. In this paper we describe the Energetic Particle Detector (EPD), an instrument suite that is part of the scientific payload aboard the Solar Orbiter mission. Solar Orbiter will approach the Sun as close as 0.28 au and will provide extra-ecliptic measurements beyond ∼30° heliographic latitude during the later stages of the mission. The EPD will measure electrons, protons, and heavy ions with high temporal resolution over a wide energy range, from suprathermal energies up to several hundreds of megaelectronvolts/nucleons. For this purpose, EPD is composed of four units: the SupraThermal Electrons and Protons (STEP), the Electron Proton Telescope (EPT), the Suprathermal Ion Spectrograph (SIS), and the High-Energy Telescope (HET) plus the Instrument Control Unit that serves as power and data interface with the spacecraft. The low-energy population of electrons and ions will be covered by STEP and EPT, while the high-energy range will be measured by HET. Elemental and isotopic ion composition measurements will be performed by SIS and HET, allowing full particle identification from a few kiloelectronvolts up to several hundreds of megaelectronvolts/nucleons. Angular information will be provided by the separate look directions from different sensor heads, on the ecliptic plane along the Parker spiral magnetic field both forward and backwards, and out of the ecliptic plane observing both northern and southern hemispheres. The unparalleled observations of EPD will provide key insights into long-open and crucial questions about the processes that govern energetic particles in the inner heliosphere.
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