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Presented here is the evolution of dynamic recrystallization (DRX) with strain in Zircaloy-2 deformed at 800 °C and 10–1s−1. The flow stress showed a peak followed by softening to steady state. Specimens were deformed to predetermined strains and their microstructure was characterized using electron back scatter diffraction. DRX grains were identified using the criteria of grain orientation spread. The grain size decreased with strain up to a strain of 0.6, beyond which grain size distribution remained very similar. From grain reference orientation deviation and kernel average misorientation maps, it was seen that grain boundaries move into regions of higher dislocation density, suggesting that during hot deformation, Zircaloy-2 underwent discontinuous dynamic recrystallization. Compared to hot deformed Zr, it was observed that the final grain size of Zircaloy-2 was smaller. The final texture showed the basal poles to be aligned nearly parallel to the compression axis.

Background:Short-term mortality was not affected by the presence of diabetes mellitus (DM) after Transcatheter aortic valve replacement based on the work by Abramowitz et al. However, it remains subject of interest to see if DM has a significant impact on mortality and readmissions after transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVr).Methods:From January 2010 to August 2015, elective TMVr procedures among adults were identified using the National Readmission Database (NRD). ICD-9 codes were used to identify patients with and without DM. Multivariate linear and logistic regressions were used to calculate odds ratios for primary and secondary outcomes while adjusting for confounders.Results:Of the 4,426 patients who underwent the TMVr procedure, 1051 (23.74%) had documented DM. Patients with DM were more likely to have a high burden of comorbidities including previous myocardial infarction, dyslipidemia, obesity, anemia, and renal failure (p<0.05 for all). There was no significant difference in all-cause in-hospital mortality (aOR 0.615, p=0.301), bleeding (aOR 0.948, p=0.820), acute myocardial infarction (aOR 1.259, p=0.708), pacemaker placement (aOR 1.310, p=0.591), and 30-day cardiac readmissions (aOR 0.924, p=0.755). Patients with DM had higher odds of 30-day non-cardiac readmissions (aOR 0.481, 95% CI 0.275-0.842, p=0.0104), transfusion (aOR 0.695, 95% CI 0.499-0.967, p=0.031), and longer length of hospitalization (median 3.06 vs 2.57 days, p=0.0002). Patients with DM were at lower risk of stroke (aOR 0.120, 95% CI 0.013-1.093, p=0.06), and less likely to be discharged to a skilled nursing facility (aOR 0.637, 95% CI 0.427-0.951, p=0.027) compared to non-DM patients.Conclusion:Diabetes mellitus did not impact in-hospital mortality or 30-day cardiac readmissions after TMVr. However, DM patients had a significantly high prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidities, a longer length of stay and higher 30-day non-cardiac readmissions.