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The article describes the design of powder aligning fixtures for the compression molding of radially anisotropic NdFeB magnet rings. The implications of the high fields required are discussed, with particular reference to the limitations imposed on the aspect ratio of the magnets that can be satisfactorily aligned. Features for enhancing the magnitude of the aligning field in the mold cavity, e.g., a magnetic shunt to shield the inner core and tapering of the upper plate are discussed. These issues are illustrated by means of a design study on a powder aligning fixture for a NdFeB magnet ring with an outer diameter of 26 mm and a wall thickness of 3 mm. Extensive finite element analysis is employed to investigate the role of various features, and to optimize the geometry. The findings of the design study are validated by comparison with measurements on a prototype fixture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) has been reported to be a powerful predictor of peritoneal dialysis patient survival. However, it is unclear as to whether this is related to cardiac dysfunction or chronic volume overload., Methods: To investigate the relationship between BNP, cardiac function and fluid volume overload, we reviewed multifrequency bioimpedance, transthoracic echocardiography and serum N-terminal probrain-type natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) in 115 stable peritoneal dialysis outpatients attending for assessment of peritoneal dialysis and transport status., Results: In this cross-sectional study, the median NTproBNP was 251 (118-605) pmol/L. On simple univariate analysis, NTproBNP was associated with markers of residual renal function, volume overload, hypertension and hypertensive cardiac disease and inflammation [reduced serum albumin and raised C-reactive protein]. However, on multivariate logistical regression analysis, the strongest association for log NTproBNP was with the estimated right ventricular end-systolic pressure (β = 0.02, F = 11.5, P = 0.001), followed by log 24-h urine volume (β = -0.19, F = 10.7, P = 0.002), extracellular/total body water ratio (β = 13.5, F = 6.1, P = 0.017) and the number of different antihypertensive medications prescribed (β = 0.15, F = 8.7, P = 0.005)., Conclusion: In this cross-sectional study, although NTproBNP was associated with residual renal function, cardiac hypertrophy, volume overload and inflammation on simple univariate analysis, on further examination NTproBNP was predominantly affected by factors associated with volume overload, and these results require confirmation in a prospective study.

In the title compound, [Au(2)(C(6)H(8)N(2)S(4))(C(18)H(15)P)(4)]·2CHCl(3), the digold complex resides on a crystallographic inversion center and co-crystallizes with two mol-ecules of chloro-form solvent. The piperazine-1,4-dicarbodithio-ate linker has an almost ideal chair conformation. The geometry about the gold atoms is severely distorted tetra-hedral punctuated by a very acute S-Au-S bite angle.