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The curing of polyester-based clearcoats has been studied by using thermal analysis methods. Polyester resins are used as raw materials for coil coatings. The aim of this work was to [...]

Suicidal ideation is a key risk factor for suicidal behaviour among depressed individuals. To explore underlying cognitive patterns associated with suicidal ideation, the present study compared early maladaptive schemas (EMSs) among psychiatric outpatients in treatment for major depressive disorder with and without current suicidal ideation.

Background and Aims: To characterize predictors of failure when treating critical limb ischemia (CLI) patients with an endovascular intervention as the first-line strategy.Patients and Methods: This retrospective, registry-based study included 217 consecutive patients with 240 chronic critically ischemic limbs treated with infrainguinal percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) during 2006–2007 at Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland. The primary outcome measures were death, major (above-ankle) amputation, and the need for surgical re-intervention within 6 months after the primary procedure. The secondary outcome measures were overall major amputation and survival rates as well as the overall need for surgical or any other (surgical or endovascular) type of re-intervention. Predictors of outcome endpoints were identified with a univariate screen, and a Cox regression model was used in the multivariate analysis.Results: Compared to ulcer, gangrene was significantly more strongly associated with amputation within 6 months post-procedurally as well as during the whole follow-up period (p = 0.028). The patient's inability to walk upon hospital arrival was a significant predictor of death, amputation and surgical re-intervention. Mediasclerotic ankle-brachial index (ABI) was an independent predictor of amputation as well as endovascular re-interventions.Conclusions: The strong predictors of poor outcome after endovascular revascularization for patients with CLI are cardiac morbidity, the inability to ambulate upon hospital arrival, and gangrene as a manifestation of CLI. The risk of amputation seems to be significantly higher for gangrene than for ulcer and this matter should be taken into account in the clinical classifications for CLI.

Objectives: This study was planned to evaluate the prognostic impact of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in patients with critical leg ischemia (CLI) undergoing infrainguinal revascularization.Materials and Methods: 1425 patients who underwent infrainguinal revascularization for CLI were the subjects of the present analysis. Ninety-five patients had ESRD (eGFR < 15 ml/min/m2), and of them 66 (70%) underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and 29 (30%) underwent bypass surgery.Results: ESRD patients had significantly lower overall survival (at 3-year, 27.1% vs. 59.7%, p < 0.0001), leg salvage (at 3-year, 57.7% vs. 83.0%, p<0.0001), and amputation free survival (at 3-year, 16.2% vs. 52.9%, p < 0.0001) than patients with no or less severe renal failure. The difference in survival was even greater between 86 one-to-one propensity matched pairs (at 3-year, 23.1% vs. 67.3%, p < 0.0001). ESRD was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality (RR 2.46, 95%CI 1.85–3.26). Logistic regression showed that age = 75 years was the only independent predictor of 1-year all-cause mortality (OR 4.92, 95%CI 1.32–18.36). Classification and regression tree analysis showed that age = 75 years and, among younger patients, bypass surgery for leg ulcer and gangrene were associated with significantly higher 1-year mortality.Conclusions: Lower limb revascularization in patients with CLI and end-stage renal failure is associated with favourable leg salvage. However, these patients have a very poor survival and this may jeopardize any attempt of revascularization. Further studies are needed to identify ESRD patients with acceptable life expectancy and who may benefit from lower limb revascularization.

The interrelationship between the network formation process and performance properties makes cure process studies critically important in the coil-coating industry. The objective of this work was to introduce thermal analysis into the evaluation of curing of uncured samples and in studies of the glass-transition temperatures of cured samples. Thermal analysis, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to characterize gelation and curing of three types of samples: paints, coated sheets, and free films. In addition to the generally used three-point-bending and extension geometries, a cup-and-plate geometry also was used in analyzing gelation and curing of liquid samples. These thermal analyses are suited to the purpose of characterizing coil coatings. A correlation between PMT (peak metal temperature) and measured Tg (glass-transition temperature) was found, as well as effectively distinguishing different curing conditions. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 2016–2022, 2003

This study conducted according to a 4×4 Latin square with 28 d periods and four ruminally cannulated Finnish Ayrshire cows investigated the effect of protein supplements differing in amino acid (AA) profile and rumen undegradable protein content on postruminal AA supply and milk production. Mammary metabolism of plasma AA and other nutrients were also studied. The basal diet (Control; 13.4% crude protein) consisted of grass silage and barley in a ratio of 55:45 on a dry matter basis. The other three isonitrogenous diets (17.0% crude protein) were control+fishmeal (FM), control+soybean meal (SBM), and control+corn gluten meal (CGM). The protein supplements replaced portions of dry matter of the control diet maintaining the silage to barley ratio constant for all diets. Dry matter intake was limited to 95% of the preexperimental ad libitum intake and was similar (mean 19.8 kg/d dry matter) across the diets. Protein supplements increased milk, lactose, and protein yields but did not affect yields of energy-corrected milk or milk fat. Milk protein yield response was numerically lowest for diet SBM. Protein supplements increased milk protein concentration but decreased milk fat and lactose concentrations. Microbial protein synthesis and rumen fermentation parameters were similar across the diets, except for an increased rumen ammonia concentration for diets supplemented with protein feeds. Protein supplements increased N intake, ruminal organic matter and N, and total tract organic matter, N, and neutral detergent fiber digestibilities. Protein supplements also increased N and AA flows into the omasum, with SBM giving the lowest and CGM the highest flows. This was associated with an unchanged microbial N flow and a higher undegraded dietary N flow. The omasal flows of individual AA reflected differences in total N flow and AA profile of the experimental diets. Differences in AA flows did not always reflect plasma AA concentrations. The results indicated that AA supply of dairy cows fed a grass silage-cereal diet can be manipulated using protein supplements differing in ruminal protein degradability and AA profile. Lower milk production response to SBM than that to FM and CGM appeared to be related mainly to lower N and AA supplies arising from a high ruminal protein degradability of SBM. Histidine appeared to be the first limiting AA for milk protein synthesis on the control diet. Mammary gland may regulate AA uptake according to requirements.

Four ruminally cannulated dairy cows were used to examine the effect of diet on the AA composition of rumen bacteria and protozoa, and the flow of microbial and nonmicrobial AA entering the omasal canal. Cows were offered grass-red clover silage alone, or that supplemented with 5.1 kg DM of barley, 1.9 kg DM of rapeseed meal, or 5.1 kg DM of barley and 1.9 kg DM of rapeseed meal according to a 4 × 4 Latin square design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. During the first 10 d of each period, cows had free access to silage and, thereafter intake was restricted to 95% of ad libitum intake. Postruminal digesta flow was assessed using the omasal canal sampling technique in combination with a triple marker method. Liquid- (LAB) and particle- (PAB) associated bacteria were isolated from digesta in the reticulorumen and protozoa from digesta entering the omasal canal. Microbial protein flow was determined using 15N as a microbial marker. Flows of AA entering the omasal canal were similar in cows fed silage diets supplemented with barley or rapeseed meal. However, rapeseed meal increased nonmicrobial AA flow while barley increased the flow of AA associated with LAB and protozoa. Diet had negligible effects on the AA profile of microbial fractions. Comparison of AA profiles across diets indicated differences between LAB and PAB for 10 out of 17 AA measured. Rumen bacteria and protozoa were found to be different for 14 out of 15 AA measured. For grass silage-based diets, energy and protein supplementations appear to alter postruminal AA supply through modifications in the proportionate contribution of microbial and nonmicrobial pools to total protein flow rather than as a direct result of changes in the AA profile of microbial protein.

Five Finnish ruminally cannulated Ayrshire cows were used in a 5 × 5 Latin square trial with 14-d periods to determine whether branched-chain amino acids (AA) are the second- or colimiting AA for milk protein synthesis on grass silage-cereal based diet. Mammary metabolism of AA as well as AA supply from the basal diet were also studied. Grass silage (17.5% crude protein) was given ad libitum with 9 kg/d as a cereal-based concentrate (13.8% crude protein). Treatments were basal diet without AA infusion (Control), abomasal infusion of AA mixture of His, Ile, Leu, and Val at 8.5, 14.9, 27.9, and 18.3 g/d, respectively, AA mixture minus Ile, AA mixture minus Leu, and AA mixture minus Val. Glucose was infused on all treatments at 250 g/d. Amino acid infusions had no effect on dry matter intake (mean 19.2 kg/d), yields of milk (mean 25.3 kg/d), energy-corrected milk (mean 25.9 kg/d), milk protein (mean 807 g/d), lactose (mean 1261 g/d), or fat (mean 1056 g/d). Milk composition was not affected by the treatments. Plasma concentrations of His and Val responded to AA infusions but concentration of Ile increased only on treatment AA mixture minus Leu, and concentration of Leu only on treatment AA mixture minus Ile. Infusion of AA mixture of His, Ile, Leu, and Val decreased plasma concentrations of Arg, Lys, Met, Phe, and Tyr. Amino acid infusions did not affect concentrations of plasma urea and energy metabolites or AA utilization by the mammary gland. Based on unchanged production parameters, the supply of His or branched-chain AA seemed not to be limiting under the current dietary conditions. Changes in plasma AA concentrations suggest either antagonism between individual AA in absorption or increased partitioning of AA into the muscle tissues. About 75% of omasal canal nonammonia nitrogen flow (427 g/d) was of microbial origin, and AA profiles of microbial protein and omasal canal digesta were fairly similar. Postruminal AA supply seems to be dependent on the basal diet, but variation may exist even within the similar basal diets.

Five Finnish Ayrshire cows were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square experiment designed to study the effects of graded doses of postruminal His infusion on milk production, arterial concentrations, and mammary uptakes of plasma amino acids (AA) as well as utilization of added His. Grass silage (16.9% CP) was given ad libitum with 8kg of cereal-based concentrate per day (11.3% CP). Treatments were abomasal or duodenal infusions of 250g of glucose/d in combination with 0, 2,4,or 6g of His/d. Infusions did not affect dry matter intake (mean 18kg/d). Infusion of His increased milk yield linearly from 27.0 to 28.8kg/d, protein yield from 861 to 919g/d and lactose yield from 1345 to 1457g/d. Milk fat yield and content changed in a cubic manner (1240, 1167, 1296, and 1177g/d and 4.60, 4.16, 4.60, and 4.09). Infusion of His had no influence on milk protein or lactose concentrations. Arterial Lys and His concentrations increased linearly, but other AA concentrations were unaffected as well as calculated arteriovenous differences and mammary AA uptakes. The extraction of His decreased linearly with an increasing amount of His. The utilization of added His (28%) was not affected by the level of infusion, and mammary AA uptake seemed to be regulated by an inverse relationship between arteriovenous difference of essential AA and calculated mammary plasma flow. This experiment confirmed that His is the first-limiting AA on grass silage-cereal based diets.

Abstract: We have done experimental research on the dissolution rate and intermetallic growth on Cu, Ni, and CuNi-alloy substrates as a function of time and Cu/Ni ratio of the substrate. Reactions that occur when CuNi metallizations are soldered with lead-free solders were investigated. The experiments were performed using Sn-3.5Ag and Sn-3.8Ag-0.7Cu solders and different CuNi alloys. To determine the rate of dissolution of the substrate material into the solder, CuNi foils of different concentrations were immersed in Sn-3.5Ag and Sn-3.8Ag-0.7Cu solder baths for soldering times ranging from 15 sec to 5 min at 250C. In addition, reflows of solder balls were made on top of bulk substrates to study the reaction when there is a practically infinite amount of CuNi available compared to the amount of solder. Thin film experiments were also done, where Ni containing under bump metallizations (UBMs) were fabricated and reflowed with eutectic SnAg solder balls. The nickel slows down the dissolution of the UBM into the solder and the formation of intermetallics during reflow compared to Cu metallizations. The solder/UBM interfaces were analyzed with SEM to find out how Ni concentration affects the reaction, and how much Ni is needed to obtain a sufficiently slow reaction rate.

AbstractOzone application was investigated for its effectiveness in the removal of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) from bleaching effluent. The objectives were to compare the efficiency of ozone reaction on Na-EDTA solution with pure Fe3+-EDTA complex and EDTA complexes in bleaching effluent, and to test if changing pH and addition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) increases the removal of EDTA. Small ozone doses destroyed high proportions of Na-EDTA. This effect was diminished when EDTA formed complexes with other metal ions. It was shown that EDTA present in bleaching effluent was more easily oxidizable than in pure Fe3+-EDTA solution. Variation of initial pH value had no significant influence on the removal of Na-EDTA. Addition of hydrogen peroxide did not increase degradation of EDTA in bleaching effluent.

The reference method for immunoglobulin G (IgG) avidity determination includes reagent-consuming serum titration. Aiming at better IgG avidity diagnostics, we applied a logistic model for the reproduction of antibody titration curves. This method was tested with well-characterized serum panels for cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, rubella virus, parvovirus B19, and Toxoplasma gondii. This approach for IgG avidity calculation is generally applicable and attains the diagnostic performance of the reference method while being less laborious and twice as cost-effective.

Abstract: Several under bump metallization (UBM) schemes using CuNi alloys as the solderable layer were investigated. Nickel slows down dissolution of the UBM into the solder and formation of intermetallics during reflow. To study the intermetallic reaction, CuNi foils of different concentrations were immersed in a eutectic PbSn solder bath for reaction times ranging from 30 seconds to 30 minutes. It was observed that when 10% and 20% Ni is added into copper, the intermetallic forms a continuous layer, instead of the discrete scallops seen in pure Cu/solder interfaces. However, the thickness of the intermetallic remained about the same. For 30% and 45% Ni alloys a definite decrease in the intermetallic thickness was observed compared to the lower Ni alloys. Actual under bump metallizations were also made on Si wafers to study the reactions when there is a limited supply of CuNi available. Cr or Ti was used as the adhesion layer, and the solderable layer was a copper-nickel alloy, instead of pure copper used in the conventional UBM scheme. The metal layers were deposited on a wafer by evaporation and patterned into contact pads. Eutectic PbSn solder balls were reflowed on top of the pads. SEM micrographs of the intermetallic that forms at the UBM/solder interface show the refining effect of Ni in the interfacial microstructure. Since nickel metallizations often have high stresses, stress in the UBMs was measured by the wafer curvature method. Stress vs Ni content plots show that while stresses increase somewhat with the Ni content, the adhesion layer under the CuNi layer has a much larger effect on the stress. UBMs with Cr/CrCu adhesion layer had stresses ranging from about 300 to 600 MPa, while the stresses in UBMs with Ti/TiNi layers were between 70 and 350 MPa.

We studied the expression of laminin chains in embryonic and adult human kidney by indirect immunofluorescence with monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). In embryonic human kidney, immunoreactivity for laminin alpha 1, beta 1, and gamma 1 chains was found in basement membranes (BMs) of primary vesicles, in comma- and S-shaped bodies, and in more mature stages of glomeruli and in tubules. The beta 2 chain of laminin was absent in the early glomerular structures but was prominent in BMs of maturing glomeruli (GBMs) and Bowman's capsule (BCBMs) and was also detectable in some tubules. Both the beta 2 and alpha 2 chains were variably seen in medullary tubule BMs. In adult human kidney, laminin alpha 1 chain was seen in GBMs and all tubule BMs (TBMs) as well as in arterial smooth muscle BMs (SMBMs). Laminin beta 1 chain reactivity was found in all TBMs, but not in GBMs or SMBMs. In the glomerulus, a distinct mesangial type of reaction was revealed with the MAbs to beta 1 and alpha 2 chains. The GBMs and SMBMs reacted with MAbs to the beta 2 chain, but reactivity was lacking in BCBMs. Laminin gamma 1 chain immunoreactivity was weakly present in BCBMs, GBMs, and SMBMs. The alpha 3 and beta 3 chains could not be detected in developing or adult human nephron. The results show that during development the BMs in human nephron undergo distinct changes, laminin beta 1 chain being transiently co-expressed with alpha 1 chain during early glomerular development and then becoming replaced by the beta 2 chain, which, on the other hand, disappears from the BCBMs on maturation. The alpha 2 chain appears to emerge in the mesangium late during development.

Aerial transport of organochlorines to Scandinavia as well as to Arctic areas has been observed in recent years. Atmospheric transport, wet and dry deposition and the tendency towards cold condensation are likely the major reasons for many organochlorine compounds being detected in nonpolluted northern areas. This paper presents the monthly collected bulk deposition results of PAHs (31 congeners), PCBs (6 congeners) and HCHs (3 congeners) from the summer seasons of 1993–1996. The detection limits for PAHs, PCBs and HCHs vary from 0.01 to 1 ng/1 and depositions were calculated as micrograms per square metre. The deposition of PAHs have been clearly decreasing both in Lapland and in southern Finland. The deposition of PCBs have been about three times larger in 1994 and 1995 than in 1993 or 1996 in Lapland. PCB deposition in 1995 was also two to three times larger than in other years in southern Finland. There have not been any trends in the deposition of HCHs in Lapland, but in Southern Finland HCH deposition has clearly been smaller from 1994–1995 than in other years.

In a commercial Al-2·5% Mg alloy stress relaxation runs are well described by Hart's low temperature flow law and show essentially friction controlled flow behaviour, ranging from nearly anelastic to plastic flow, depending on the time, temperature and strain. Anelasticity during repeated relaxations indicates substantial strain aging during the initial relaxation run. Initial stages of relaxations show yield point like transients in the temperature/strain regime, where yield points are observed also in the tensile test.

This paper reports an investigation of the workhardening properties of 316 stainless steel, commercial purity aluminum, and OFHC copper at room temperature by using a state-variable approach. Based on the results of experiments, it is proposed that a generalized workhardening correlation can be formulated by using two state variables only, the structural state parameter and the inelastic strain rate. Particularly, an absolute workhardening coefficient is proposed to be a product of two parts. The athermal part, which is structure dependent only, will be approached at low homologous temperatures and/or high strain rates, while the strain rate sensitive part describes a dynamic recovery contribution at high homologous temperatures and/or low strain rates. Correspondingly, based on this approach a new way of separating thermal and athermal contributions to workhardening rate are suggested. Moreover, it is shown that a single master curve can be constructed to display the dependence of workhardening coefficient on structure and strain rate.

Abstract: The strain aging and load relaxation behavior of type 316 stainless steel (SS) at room temperature were studied. It is shown that rapid aging occurs in 316 SS at room temperature to an extent that affects the load relaxation behavior of the material. Qualitatively, the aging behavior was found to agree with those reported earlier for Fe-Ni-C-alloys, and the observed aging characteristics could be explained by using an earlier proposed vacancy-interstitial mechanism. The load relaxation behavior is analyzed in terms of Hart’s state variable model. Effects of strain aging and strain hardening on the load relaxation behavior and the scaling of the relaxation curves are determined. It is shown that aging can be accounted for by a time-dependent change in a model parameter, which is dependent on the mobile dislocation density and the dislocation mobility. In addition, a dependency on plastic state of the same parameter previously held constant was found. It is concluded that this phenomenon, which in 316 SS could be rationalized in terms of increasing forest dislocation density, is likely to be more general, and a provision for it should be made in the state variable theory.

Idiopathic detrusor instability is a common cause of lower urinary tract symptoms at all ages and in both sexes. Treatment initially is conservative and often includes drug therapy. Terodiline has the theoretical advantage of being a drug with anticholinergic and calcium channel blocking effects. Theoretically, by using a drug with dual action the beneficial effect of reduced detrusor overactivity might occur at a dosage below that likely to lead to the troublesome side effects experienced by patients who take pure anticholinergic agents. A total of 70 female patients completed a study characterized by extremely strict inclusion criteria and a tight protocol. Other novel elements to the study were the extensive use of urinary diaries for symptom evaluation, standardized urodynamic studies agreed upon by the participating centers and the dose titration design of the trial.

We studied the distribution of the alpha 1-alpha 6 subunits of beta 1 integrins in developing and adult human kidney using a panel of mAbs in indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. Uninduced mesenchyme displayed a diffuse immunoreactivity for only the alpha 1 integrin subunit. At the S-shaped body stage of nephron development, several of the alpha subunits were characteristically expressed in distinct fetal nephron segments, and the pattern was retained also in the adult nephron. Thus, the alpha 1 subunit was characteristically expressed in mesangial and endothelial cells, the alpha 2 in glomerular endothelium and distal tubules, the alpha 3 in podocytes, Bowman's capsule, and distal tubules, and the alpha 6 subunit basally in all tubules, and only transiently in podocytes during development. Unlike the alpha 3 and alpha 6 subunits, the alpha 2 subunit displayed an overall cell surface distribution in distal tubules. It was also distinctly expressed in glomerular endothelia during glomerulogenesis. The beta 4 subunit was expressed only in fetal collecting ducts, and hence the alpha 6 subunit seems to be complexed with the beta 1 rather than beta 4 subunit in human kidney. Of the two fibronectin receptor alpha subunits, alpha 4 and alpha 5, only the latter was expressed, confined to endothelia of developing and adult blood vessels, suggesting that these receptor complexes play a minor role during nephrogenesis. The present results suggest that distinct integrins play a role during differentiation of specific nephron segments. They also indicate that alpha 3 beta 1 and alpha 6 beta 1 integrin complexes may function as basement membrane receptors in podocytes and tubular epithelial cells.

A family is described in which the first child, who had developed normally, died at the age of 19 months of a disease resembling atypical recidivous hepatitis. The second child of the family showed symptoms of cerebral irritation at the age of 2 days, and later had apneas. He died at the age of 56 hrs. In the autopsy the microscopic findings of the liver revealed intensive fatty degeneration of a peculiar kind, and the epithelium of renal tubules was also vacuolized. It seems apparent that these infants suffered from a new disorder of fat metabolism, fatal familial hepatic steatosis, which is so far known only inadequately.

The results of bead chain urethrocystography on 74 patients with postoperative urinary stress incontinence (USI) are reported. USI occurred after vaginal plastic operation, vaginal hysterectomy or suprapubic surgery performed for repair of uterovaginal prolapse and/or USI. The findings in the bead chain urethrocystographic examination varied depending on the type of operation. Distribution by type (Green) based on loss of the posterior urethrovesical (PUV) angle and the angle of the urethral inclination is not suitable for every case of postoperative USI, for 20% of the cases displayed a normal PUV angle during straining. The so-called base plate (Hutch) on the floor of the bladder did not remain flat during straining in any of the patients examined. In the planning of treatment for a patient with postoperative USI attention should be paid not only to the urethral inclination and PUV angle but also to the anterior urethrovesical (AUV) angle and the position of the UV junction at rest and during straining.

Venous sequelae were studied in 93 female patients undergoing minor gynaecological procedures. They were premedicated with diazepam i.v. dissolved in a fat emulsion (Diazemuls) injected to a superficial vein of the right hand. The patients observed the site of injection for 14 days and recorded their findings. Twenty-eight per cent reported mild tenderness and 7.5% mild or moderate swelling of short duration. Signs of thrombophlebitis were found in 2.2%. Thrombophlebitis after injection can be prevented effectively and safely using fat emulsion as a solvent for diazepam.

In 104 patients undergoing anaesthesia of short duration, two different solvents, propylene glycol and cremophor, were compared in a double-blind trial. Diazepam 10 mg in a coded solution was injected into a superficial vein of the hand using a small-gauge needle. The vein was examined after 14 days. The frequency of thrombophlebitis with propylene glycol was 62.2% and with cremophor 3.4% (P> 0.001). The frequency of pain on injection was also in favour of the new solvent (P < 0.001). The possibility of anaphylactic reactions accredited to cremophor, however, restricts the use of the new injection.

Bupivacaine without adrenaline (20 ml of 0.5 per cent solution) was used for paracervical block in 11 normal parturients in whom there were no signs of foetal asphyxia. Maternal and foetal plasma concentrations of bupivacaine were determined by gas chromatography from serial venous samples. The intrauterine acid-base balance of the child was observed before and after block from blood samples taken by Saling's technique. The maternal plasma concentrations remained below 0.7 μg/ml (median). At the time of birth the bupivacaine concentration in maternal plasma was in all cases higher than that in umbilical vein blood. After block there were no appreciable changes in the foetal acid-base balance.