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The objective in this work was to obtain a fine fraction of kraft pulp, with as high concentration as possible, in a pilot-scale fractionation with micro-perforated screen baskets. The influence of screen basket surface, hole size, feed concentration, pulp type and refining segment design was investigated. The results showed that a smooth screen basket surface improved the fractionation efficiency of the unrefined pulp compared to a profiled screen basket, despite a larger hole size. A significantly higher fine fraction concentration was obtained when using refined hardwood pulp compared to when using softwood pulp, which was explained with its lower average fibre length and narrower and thus more flexible fibre fragments. The pilot trials also showed that the screening process could be operated at feed concentrations similar to those directly after a refiner, 30-40 g/l. This was demonstrated in a process layout with partial recirculation where a refiner and a micro-perforated screen basket were operated in series in pilot scale.

In this study, fines-enriched pulp (FE-pulp)-the fine fraction of highly-refined kraft pulp-was benchmarked against highly-refined kraft pulp (HRK-pulp) as a strength agent in eucalyptus chemithermomechanical pulp (CTMP). Both the FE-pulp and the HRK-pulp were produced from unbleached softwood kraft pulp, and equal amounts of those strength agents were added to the original CTMP, as well as to washed CTMP, where most of the fines had been removed. The effects of the added strength agents were evaluated with laboratory handsheets. The FE-pulp proved to be twice as effective as HRK-pulp. Both HRK-pulp and FE-pulp increased the strength of the CTMP handsheets. The bulk of the handsheets decreased, however, as well as the drainability. The addition of 5% FE-pulp resulted in the same strength increase as an addition of 10% HRK-pulp, as well as the same decrease in bulk and CSF. For the handsheets of washed CTMP, the strengths were not measurable; the CTMP lost the sheet strength when the CTMP-fines content was reduced through washing. The reduced strength properties were compensated for by the addition of chemical pulp fines that proved to be an efficient strength agent. The addition of 5% FE-pulp restored the strength values, and at a higher bulk and higher drainability. Application: In this study, we show how the strength of a CTMP sheet can be improved by adding fine material from kraft pulp.

The objective for this work was to investigate the possibility to use a pressure screen equipped with a micro-perforated screen basket to produce a fine fraction from bleached chemical pulp. Trials were performed with unrefined bleached chemical hardwood pulp, and with unrefined and refined bleached chemical softwood pulp. The effect of feed concentration, feed flow, and volumetric fine fraction flow was evaluated. The difference between the fine fraction (i. e. the particles passing the screen) and the feed was analysed by studying the fibre morphology. The results showed that high feed concentration was positive for both the fine fraction concentration and the separation efficiency. A higher fine fraction concentration was also obtained when using hardwood pulp, which was explained by the shorter fibre length. Refining of the pulp prior to the fractionation proved beneficial, as a larger share of the refined pulp passed the screen, resulting in a twice as high concentration of the fine fraction when compared to unrefined pulp.

The objective of this pilot scale trial, was to evaluate fines-enriched pulp (FE-pulp) as a strength agent in amiddle ply of a board product.A typical CTMP-based middle ply was produced on the FEX pilot paper machine. The stock consisted of CTMP,refined hardwood and softwood pulp, and filler. FE-pulp as strength agent was compared with glue pulp, ahighly refined chemical pulp. FEX sheets and hand sheets made of pulp mixtures were evaluated. Also, thedewatering and pressing conditions on the paper machine were compared.The results confirmed the results of earlier experiments with handsheets; FE-pulp used as strength agent showedto be twice as efficient as glue pulp regarding strength properties without impairing the bulk. Further, thedewatering conditions and press dryness's on the paper machine was comparable at these additions. Thus, allthese results imply that addition of FE-pulp can replace the double amount of glue pulp as a strength agent.

The objective was to optimize the production of fines-enriched pulp (FE-pulp) from chemical pulp.The first trial was a continuous production of FE-pulp with unbleached and bleached never-dried softwood. Thepulp was refined using a JC00 equipped with SF filling, and screened with a micro-perforated screen basket with250 μm diameter holes, but the produced FE-pulp got low concentration, below 3 g/l.The second trial aimed at optimised conditions, using dried bleached softwood. Three fillings, microbar, AA andFF were evaluated in a JC01 refiner, where microbar was most energy efficient. Microbar and AA reachedtargeted FE-pulp concentration, 10 g/l. The refined pulps were screened with different hole diameters, where, asexpected, larger hole diameters resulted in higher concentration but also lower fines content in the FE-pulps.The last trial, the microbar filling was evaluated for never-dried softwood pulp, unbleached and bleached. Now,the refining of unbleached softwood gave 3 times more fines per kWh/ton compared with first trial.These trials demonstrated the importance of the right refining conditions regarding effect of refiner and type offilling to achieve glue-pulp with high enough fines content. With the right conditions, it was possible to produceFE-pulp with high concentration at moderate energy consumption.

Fines-enriched pulp (FE-pulp) was benchmarked against glue pulp as strength agent in eucalypt CTMP. FE-pulp was produced by combining high intensity multiple-pass refining with a fractionation in a micro-perforated screen basket. The fraction passing through the holes of the screen is the FE-pulp. The FE-pulp comprises of secondary fines, created in the refiner, and flexible, fibrillated highly-refined fibres or fibre fragments. Glue pulp is highly refined kraft pulp, commonly added as a strength agent in middle plies of board products, or between plies to increase the plybond. Equal amounts of FE-pulp and glue pulp were added to the original CTMP as well as to washed CTMP, where most of the CTMP-fines had been removed. The effects of the strength agents were evaluated using laboratory sheets. Both glue pulp and FE-pulp increased the strength of the CTMP sheets. The bulk of the sheets decreased however. When 5 % FE-pulp was added, the tensile index increased by more than 50 %, and the tensile energy absorption and z-strength increased by more than 100 %. FE-pulp proved to be twice as effective as glue pulp. The addition of 5 % FE-pulp resulted in the same relative strength increase as an addition of 10 % glue pulp. The washed CTMP lost all strength when the CTMP-fines content was reduced from 17 % to 3% through washing. The addition of 5 % FE-pulp restored the strength values, and at a higher bulk. The drainability in terms of CSF of that stock was much higher when compared to the original pulp.

Refined bleached chemical softwood was fractionated using a hydrocyclone in a fine and a coarse fraction. The trials were done at three inject concentrations, three coarse fraction volume ratios, and with pulps refined with two refining levels. A large difference in sheet properties between fine and coarse fraction was observed. Compared with the feed pulp, the relative change in the sheet properties increased more in the fine fractions than it decreased in the coarse fractions. Increased fines proportion had a positive effect on all properties up to a certain level when a further improvement could not be observed. Interestingly, the fine fractions of both refining levels reached the same absolute strength level, both for the tensile properties and z-strength. The fine fractions at the highest coarse fraction mass ratios contained more fines, and the mean fibre was shorter and narrower. This led to higher density but also a decrease of the stretch-at-break and z-strength values. When comparing these results with previous fractionation results for unrefined pulp, it was found that inject concentration did not have a large effect on thickening in the present study. As for the refined pulp, the tensile index increased with fines proportion for the unrefined pulp, however, only up to a certain fines proportion where a maximum values was reached. The increase was larger for the refined pulps which had higher fines proportion.

The influence of the refining process on the morphological changes of a chemical softwood pulp was investigated. The Voith LR40 industrial-like laboratory low consistency refiner was used, where the pulp was refined with five refining segments with differences in bar widths, groove widths, and cutting angles. The refined pulp was characterized with a fibre analyser with a spatial resolution of approximately 4 μm/pixel and a wide size range. The fines fraction of the refined pulp was also characterized with an imaging flow cytometer with a spatial resolution of 0.33 μm/pixel and a narrower size range. The fibre analyser measurements showed that the mean length, width, and aspect ratio of the fines decreased monotonically with accumulated refining energy. The imaging flow cytometer with its higher spatial resolution showed little change in fines morphology with accumulated refining energy. The morphology of the fines was more dependent on the applied specific refining energy than the design of the refining segment. However, a segment with much finer grooves and bars, initially designed for hardwood, gave significantly less fibre shortening, fines generation, external fibrillation, kink, and fines that were more fibrillar, compared to the other segments.Grant: The authors of this work would like to thank Prof. Lars Mattsson, Thomas Grahn, and Eva Ålander for fruitful discussions. The discussions with Lorentzen & Wettre were of great assistance. The financial support of the Swedish Energy Agency and the Önnesjöstiftelsen to the PhD project, and of the Fibre and Stock Design research programme to this evaluation study is gratefully acknowledged., Funding Details: Swedish Energy Agency

Aims: After initiation of treatment in Type 1 diabetes, a period with lower insulin requirement often follows, reflecting increased insulin sensitivity and improved insulin secretion. We explored if efficiency of proinsulin processing is associated with the remission phenomenon. Methods Seventy-eight patients with new-onset Type 1 diabetes were followed prospectively for 3 years. Daily insulin dosage, HbA(1c), plasma glucose, proinsulin, C-peptide, glucagon concentrations and islet antibodies were determined at diagnosis and after 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 30 and 36 months. We studied remission, defined as an insulin dose < 0.3 U kg-1 24 h-1 and HbA(1c) within the normal range, in relation to the above-mentioned variables. Results A rise and subsequent decline in plasma proinsulin and C-peptide concentrations was observed. Forty-five per cent of the patients experienced remission at one or more times, characterized by higher proinsulin and C-peptide levels, and lower proinsulin/C-peptide ratios, indicating more efficient proinsulin processing, compared with those not in remission. Non-remission also tended to be associated with higher glucagon values. Patients entering remission were more often men, had higher BMI at diagnosis, but did not differ at baseline with respect to islet antibody titres compared with patients with no remission. Conclusions Remissions after diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes were associated with lower proinsulin/C-peptide ratios, suggesting more efficient proinsulin processing, and tended to have lower glucagon release than non-remissions. This indicates that, in remission, the residual islets maintain a secretion of insulin and glucagon of benefit for control of hepatic glucose production.

Pharmacokinetic (PK) pharmacodynamic (PD) modeling was applied to understand and quantitate the interplay between tesaglitazar (a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha/gamma agonist) exposure, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), hemoglobin (Hb), and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in type 2 diabetic patients. Data originated from a 12-week dose-ranging study with tesaglitazar. The primary objective was to develop a mechanism-based PD model for the FPG-HbA1c relationship. The secondary objective was to investigate possible mechanisms for the tesaglitazar effect on Hb. Following initiation of tesaglitazar therapy, time to new FPG steady state was similar to 9 weeks, and tesaglitazar potency in females was twice that in males. The model included aging of red blood cells (RBCs) using a transit compartment approach. The RBC life span was estimated to 135 days. The transformation from RBC to HbA1c was modeled as an FPG-dependent process. The model indicated that the tesaglitazar effect on Hb was caused by hemodilution of RBCs.

Aim To identify clinical, immunological and biochemical factors that predict remission, and its duration in a large cohort of young adults with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods In Sweden, 362 patients (15–34 years), classified as Type 1 DM were included in a prospective, nation-wide population-based study. All patients were followed at local hospitals for examination of HbA1c and insulin dosage over a median period after diagnosis of 5 years. Duration of remission, defined as an insulin maintenance dose ≤ 0.3 U/kg/24 h and HbA1c within the normal range, was analysed in relation to characteristics at diagnosis. Results Remissions were seen in 43% of the patients with a median duration of 8 months (range 1–73). Sixteen per cent had a remission with a duration > 12 months. Among patients with antibodies (ab+), bivariate analysis suggested that adult age, absence of low BMI, high plasma C-peptide concentrations, lack of ketonuria or ketoacidosis at diagnosis and low insulin dose at discharge from hospital were associated with a high possibility of achieving remission. Multiple regression showed that normal weight (BMI of 20–24.9 kg/m2) was the only factor that remained significant for the possibility of entering remission. In survival analysis among ab+ remitters, a low number of islet antibodies, one or two instead of three or four, were associated with a long duration of remissions. Conclusion In islet antibody-positive Type 1 DM, normal body weight was the strongest factor for entering remission, whilst a low number of islet antibodies was of importance for the duration.

Objectives To establish the prevalence of remaining β-cell function 8 years after diagnosis of diabetes in young adults and relate the findings to islet antibodies at diagnosis and 8 years later. Design Population-based cohort study. Setting Nationwide from all Departments of Medicine and Endocrinology in Sweden. Subjects A total of 312 young (15–34 years old) adults diagnosed with diabetes during 1987–88. Main outcome measure Plasma connecting peptide (C-peptide) 8 years after diagnosis. Preserved β-cell function was defined as measurable C-peptide levels. Three islet antibodies – cytoplasmic islet cell antibodies (ICA), glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies and tyrosine phosphatase antibodies – were measured. Results Amongst 269 islet antibody positives (ab+) at diagnosis, preserved β-cell function was found in 16% (42/269) 8 years later and these patients had a higher body mass index (median 22.7 and 20.5 kg m−2, respectively; P = 0.0003), an increased frequency of one islet antibody (50 and 24%, respectively; P = 0.001), and a lower prevalence of ICA (55 and 6%, respectively; P = 0.007) at diagnosis compared with ab+ without remaining β-cell function. Amongst the 241 patients without detectable β-cell function at follow-up, 14 lacked islet antibodies, both at diagnosis and at follow-up. Conclusions Sixteen per cent of patients with autoimmune type 1 diabetes had remaining β-cell function 8 years after diagnosis whereas 5.8% with β-cell failure lacked islet autoimmunity, both at diagnosis and at follow-up.

Background Differentiation between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes in adults is difficult at diagnosis. In this study we tested the hypothesis that autoantibodies at diagnosis are predictive for insulin treatment within 3 years in patients initially not classified as Type 1 diabetes. Methods In a nationwide population-based study, blood samples were obtained from 764 patients, all diagnosed with diabetes during a 2-year period. At diagnosis, 583 (76%) were classified as Type 1, 110 (14%) as Type 2 and 71 (9.3%) could not be classified. Results Among patients not classified as Type 1 diabetes, 52 (47%) of Type 2 and 42 (59%) of unclassified patients were positive for islet cell antibodies CICA), glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (GADA) or tyrosine phosphatase antibodies (IA-2A). These patients (n=94) had lower body mass index (BMI) (p<0.001) and lower C-peptide (p<0.001) compared to the autoantibody negative patients (n=87). Compared to clinically classified Type 1 diabetes patients positive for autoantibodies (n=477), they have higher BMI (p<0.001), higher C-peptide (p<0.001) and the same levels of ICA, GADA and IA-2A. After 3 years, 93% of autoantibody positive patients initially not classified as Type 1 were on insulin. When ICA, GADA, IA-2A, BMI and C-peptide were tested in a multiple logistic regression, only GADA was signiificant for insulin treatment within 3 years (OR = 18.8, 95% CI 1.8-191) in patients treated with diet or oral drugs at diagnosis. Conclusions A correct classification is difficult in adult diabetic patients. The presence of pancreatic autoantibodies, especially GADA, at diagnosis of diabetes are highly predictive for insulin therapy within 3 years from diagnosis. Copyright ⌐ 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the course of clinical remission in adult patients (16-50 years of age) with type 1 diabetes and to identify factors predictive of the occurrence and length of remission. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. SUBJECTS: Sixty-two consecutive patients (43 men and 19 women) with new onset IDDM, 27 +/- 8 years at diagnosis and treated with multiple insulin injections from the beginning. SETTING: Department of Medicine, Uppsala University Hospital and Orebro Medical Centre, Sweden. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Length and occurrence of remission (defined as maintenance of HbA1c < or = 6.5% and an insulin dosage of < or = 0.4 U kg-1 day-1 for a minimum of 1 month) in relation to nine biochemical and clinical factors at diagnosis. RESULTS: Sixty-one per cent of the patients entered remission. The duration of remission was longer in males than females (10 +/- 12 vs. 2 +/- 3 months; P < 0.01). Male gender, normal serum bicarbonate at onset and a short time of classic symptoms before onset were predictive markers (P < 0.01; P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively) for longer duration of remission. Low serum bicarbonate levels at onset were associated with lower occurrence of remission. Blood glucose, body mass index (BMI), and age at diagnosis did not influence the occurrence or the duration of remission. CONCLUSIONS: In most adult patients with new onset of type 1 diabetes remission is induced when using multiple insulin injection therapy. Male patients seem particularly prone to remission, and the length and extent of beta-cell strain prior to diagnosis strongly influences its course.

The influence of the refining process on the morphological changes of a chemical softwood pulp was investigated. An industrial-like laboratory refiner was used, where the pulp was refined with five refining segments with differences in bar widths, groove widths, and cutting angles. The refined pulp was characterized with a fibre analyser with a spatial resolution of approximately 4 µm/pixel and a wide size range. The fines fraction of the refined pulp was also characterized with an imaging flow cytometer with a spatial resolution of 0.33 µm/pixel and a narrower size range. The fibre analyser measurements showed that the mean length, width, and aspect ratio of the fines decreased monotonically with accumulated refining energy. The imaging flow cytometer with its higher spatial resolution showed little change in fines morphology with accumulated refining energy. The morphology of the fines was more dependent on the applied specific refining energy than the design of the refining segment. However, a segment with much finer grooves and bars, initially designed for hardwood, gave significantly less fibre shortening, fines generation, external fibrillation, kink, and fines that were more fibrillar, compared to the other segments., QS 2016