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High temperature superconducting wire is frequently prepared by the powder-in-tube technique. The process of making superconductors comprises the multi-step drawing of single filament tubes that are subsequently placed in a new silver tube forming a multifilament wire. A study demonstrates how two of the main parameters, the reduction and semi-die angle, influence the drawing stress and the powder compaction of the single filament wire during drawing.

In an effort to explore factors which maintain fear of physical sensations, repeated administration of 35% [CO.sub.2] was used with college students scoring high and low on the Anxiety Sensitivity Index. Half of each group was administered 12 [CO.sub.2] trials, while the other half received 9 [CO.sub.2] trials, followed by a dishabituation trial (Trial 10) and 2 more [CO.sub.2] administrations (Trials 11 and 12). Measures included subjective anxiety, heart rate, skin conductance, and number of panic symptoms reported. Results indicated a nonsignificant trend for the High ASI group to show increased pre-inhalation anxiety across trials, while the Low ASI group showed a rapid reduction in pre-inhalation anxiety. Post-inhalation skin conductance mirrored this pattern, although rapid reduction in post-inhalation heart rate was observed. Overall, the High ASI participants showed a notable lack of fear reduction across trials. Results are discussed in light of sensitization as a factor contributing to anticipatory anxiety, with implications for understanding the etiology and maintenance of Panic Disorder.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare dynamic and static whole-body (WB) [18F]NaF PET/CT scan methods used for analysis of bone plasma clearance in patients with chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD). Methods: Seventeen patients with CKD-MBD underwent a 60-min dynamic scan followed by a 30-min static WB scan. Tracer kinetics in four thoracic vertebrae were analysed using nonlinear regression and Patlak analysis using image-derived arterial input functions. The static WB scan was analysed using a simplified Patlak method requiring only a single data point in combination with a fixed y-intercept value (V0), both obtained using a semi-population function. The semi-population function was constructed by combining a previously derived population input function in combination with data from venous blood samples. Static WB scan analysis data, obtained from the semi-population input functions, was compared with paired data obtained using dynamic input functions. Results: Bone plasma clearance (Ki) from Patlak analyses correlated well with nonlinear regression analysis, but Ki results using Patlak analysis were lower than Ki results using nonlinear regression analysis. However, no significant difference was found between Ki obtained by static WB scans and Ki obtained by dynamic scans using nonlinear regression analysis (p = 0.29). Conclusion: Bone plasma clearance measured from static WB scans correlates with clearance data measured by dynamic analysis. Static [18F]NaF PET/CT scans can be applied in future studies to measure Ki in patients with CKD-MBD, but the results should not be compared uncritically with results obtained by dynamic scan analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The final dilution of urine is regulated via aquaporin-2 water channels in the distal part of the nephron. It is unclear whether urine dilution ability in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease patients (ADPKD patients) differs from other patients with similar degree of impaired renal function (non-ADPKD patients). The purpose of this case control study was to measure urine dilution ability in ADPKD patients compared to non-ADPKD patients and healthy controls. Methods. Eighteen ADPKD, 16 non-ADPKD patients (both with chronic kidney disease, stage I-IV), and 18 healthy controls received an oral water load of 20 ml/kg body weight. Urine was collected in 7 consecutive periods. We measured free water clearance (CH2O), urine osmolality, urine output, fractional excretion of sodium, urine aquaporin2 (u-AQP2), and urine epithelial sodium channel (u-ENaC). Blood samples were drawn four times (at baseline, 2 h, 4 h, and 6 hours after the water load) for analyses of plasma osmolality, vasopressin, renin, angiotensin II, and aldosterone. Brachial and central blood pressure was measured regularly during the test. Results. The three groups were age and gender matched, and the patient groups had similar renal function. One hour after water load, the ADPKD patients had an increased CH2O compared to non-ADPKD patients (2.97 ± 2.42 ml/min in ADPKD patients vs. 1.31 ± 1.50 ml/min in non-ADPKD patients, p 0.029). The reduction in u-AQP2 and u-ENaC occurred earlier in ADPKD than in non-ADPKD patients. Plasma concentrations of vasopressin, renin, angiotensin II, and aldosterone and blood pressure measurements did not show any differences that could explain the deviation in urine dilution capacity between the patient groups. Conclusions. ADPKD patients had a higher CH2O than non-ADPKD patients after an oral water load, and u-AQP2 and u-ENaC were more rapidly reduced than in non-ADPKD patients. Thus, urine-diluting capacity may be better preserved in ADPKD patients than in non-ADPKD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effect of water deprivation and hypertonic saline infusion on urinary AQP2 excretion in healthy humans. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 280: F860-F867, 2001.--Arginine vasopressin (AVP) mediates water transport in the renal collecting ducts by forming water channels of aquaporin-2 (AQP2) in the apical plasma membrane. AQP2 is excreted in human urine. We wanted to test the hypothesis that urinary excretion of AQP2 (u-AQP2) reflects the effect of AVP on the renal collecting ducts during water deprivation and hypertonic saline infusion in healthy subjects. Fifteen healthy subjects underwent a 24-h period of fluid restriction. Urine and blood samples were collected at timed intervals. Fifteen healthy subjects were given 7 ml/kg 3% hypertonic saline infusion for 30 min. Urine and blood samples were collected at timed intervals. During fluid restriction, the u-AQP2 rate increased from 3.9 (25th percentile: 3.1; 75th percentile: 5.2) to 7.6 (5.9-9.1; P [is less than] 0.001) ng/min, and the plasma AVP (p-AVP) level increased from 0.5 (0.4-0.6) to 3 (1.7-3.3) pmol/l. There was a positive correlation between the maximum change in u-AQP2 rate and the maximum change in p-AVP (r = 0.57, P [is less than] 0.03). During the infusion study, u-AQP2 rate was at maximum 90 min after the infusion [baseline: 4.5 ng/min (3.5-4.8); 90 min: 5 ng/min (4.5-6.0) P [is less than] 0.02]. p-AVP increased from 1.0 (0.9-1.1) to 1.5 (1.2-1.8; P [is less than] 0.002) pmol/]. There was a positive correlation between the maximum change in u-AQP2 rate and the maximum change in p-AVP (r = 0.83; P [is less than] 0.0001). It can be concluded that p-AVP and u-AQP2 are increased during thirst and hypertonic saline infusion and that u-AQP2 reflects the action of AVP on the collecting ducts. arginine vasopressin; healthy subjects; urinary output; aquaporin-2

This paper presents a numerical investigation of microscopic lubricant flows from the cavities to the plateaus of the surface roughness of metal sheets during forming processes. This phenomenon, called micro-plasto-hydrodynamic lubrication, was observed experimentally in various situations such as compression sliding tests, strip drawing and cold rolling. It leads to local friction drop and wear reduction. It is therefore critical to achieve a good understanding of this phenomenon. As to move towards that goal, a multiscale fluid-structure interaction model is developed to model lubricant flows at the microscopic scale. These simulations are made possible through the use of the Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) formalism. In this paper, this methodology is used to study plane strip drawing. The numerical model is able to predict the onset of lubricant escape and the amount of lubricant flowing on the plateaus. Numerical results exhibit good agreement with experimental measurements. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During Intensive Observation Period 15a (20 October 2012) of the first Special Observation Period of the Hydrological cycle in the Mediterranean Experiment, northeastern Spain experienced heavy precipitation (130 mm in 24 h) associated with a retrograde regeneration mesoscale convective system (MCS) developing in the exit region of the Ebro River Valley (ERV). The life cycle of the MCS that brought intense hourly rainfall (34 mm) from the foothills of the Iberian Plateau to the central Pyrenees, as well as the detailed structure of the moist marine flow upstream, were analysed using a combination of ground-based, airborne and space-borne observations as well as model analyses. Over the Balearic Sea, the southwesterlies along the northeastern flank of a surface low converged with southeasterlies from North Africa, creating a near-surface moisture tongue in the region of the Balearic Islands, and a southeast-northwest oriented convergence line within a cloud cluster advecting from northern Africa. Airborne lidar measurements, acquired upstream of the ERV, evidenced water vapour mixing ratios in excess of 15 g kg−1 in the marine atmospheric boundary layer. In the mid-level (700 hPa), the presence of an elevated moisture plume from tropical Africa contributed about one third to the large moisture content present over the western Mediterranean Sea. In this moist environment, the MCS was initiated over the orography of the northeastern tip of the Iberian plateau, due to the combined influence of the approaching convergence line ahead of the surface low and the convergence resulting from weak northwesterlies channelled in the ERV and the easterlies impinging on the coastal range. After the initiation phase, the MCS further developed over the foothills of the Iberian Plateau and moved into the ERV and along the southern flank of the Pyrenees, thanks to the penetration of the warm and moist maritime southeasterly flow through the narrow gap between the northeastern part of the Iberian Plateau and the Catalan coastal range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This study presents an analysis of a 14-year data set of 30-min averaged experimental UVI values derived from ground-based broadband irradiance measurements, satellite-derived total ozone observations and total solar radiation recorded in Barcelona ( NE Spain). Most maximum daily UVI values do occur at noon (82% of cases between 11:30 and 13:00 UTC). Considering all seasons, the maximum daily UVI presents a bimodal, approximately symmetrical, frequency distribution with a maximum around UVI class 2 (22%) and UVI 7 and 8 classes (23%) while June median presents a value of 8.2. According to attenuation criteria there is a preponderance of Clear sky days (77%) compared to Broken (22%) and Overcast (8%) conditions, which concentrate mostly in October, November and December (reaching 20% of days). An additional classification in terms of World Health Organisation UVI intensity categories indicates that 40% of days exceeded the Lower threshold of UVI category Moderate ( UVI values above 5.5), from them 21% of days had UVI values considered Very High (above 9.5) and one single case was classified as Extreme ( UVI above 10.5). UVI values above 7.5 were found under Broken sky conditions in June, July and August. Additionally UVI diurnal daily cycles have also been analyzed in terms of selected percentile values and maximum levels. Under all sky conditions UVI median values exceed the lower threshold of category High (5.5) from April to late August around noon (in June from 10:00 to 14:30 UTC). These results provide an exhaustive quantitative description of average and extreme values of experimental UVI values observed in the region and can be of interest for a wide range of applications, including ground-based UV modelling through the use of radiative transfer models, trend analysis or verification of UVI forecasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]