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A major problem of state-of-the-art Nb$_3$Sn accelerator magnets is their long training due to thermo-mechanical perturbations. Increasing the specific heat, $C_p$, of the Rutherford cable would reduce and/or eliminate training by limiting the coils temperature rise. This paper studies feasibility of increasing the $C_p$ of Rutherford-type cables by using thin composite Cu/$Gd_2$O$_3$ and Cu/$Gd_2$O$_2$S tapes produced by Hyper Tech Research, Inc. The tape can be either wrapped around the cable, placed on the cable wide faces under the insulation, and/or inserted as a core. Wire samples outfitted with these high-$C_p$ ribbons, or tapes, were prepared and tested at FNAL for their Minimum Quench Energy (MQE). At 90%I$_c$ and 15 T, the average gain of MQE of the Nb$_3$Sn wire soldered to the Cu/$Gd_2$O$_2$S 55 micrometer thick ribbon was 2.5, and further increased at larger transport currents.

BackgroundEvidence demonstrates sex differences in disease presentation, physical function, treatment response and drug retention in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Data from observational cohort studies indicate female sex is associated with reduced effectiveness of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFis)1,2. Although, conflicting results are also reported3,4. We sought to validate prior studies using data from a large multinational cohort based on real-life clinical practice.ObjectivesTo investigate sex differences in treatment response and drug retention rates in clinical practice among patients with PsA, treated with their first TNFi.MethodsData from biologic-naïve PsA patients initiating a TNFi in the EuroSpA registries were pooled. In the primary analysis, propensity-score weighting was applied to assess the causal effect of sex on low disease activity (LDA) according to DAS28-CRP at 6 months. A generalized linear regression model was used to estimate the causal risk difference (RD) and relative risk (RR) of sex on LDA. Possible covariates influencing the outcome were determined a priori and selected based on availability in the database (ResultsIn total, 7,679 PsA patients with available data on DAS28-CRP at 6 months were assessed for treatment response. Baseline characteristics are shown in the Table 1. In the adjusted analysis, the probability for females to have LDA was 17% (RR, 0.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.81 to 0.85) lower compared to males and the difference in probability for having LDA was 13 percentage points (RD, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.11 to 0.15). The survival analysis included 18,599 PsA patients with available data on retention rates. The TNFi 6/12/24-month retention rates were significantly lower in females (81%/68%/56%) compared to males (89%/80%/69%), see Figure 1.Table 1.Baseline characteristics of all biologic-naïve PsA patients treated with their first TNFi and available DAS28-CRP at 6 month, data pooled across all countriesFemaleMaleMean (SD), median [IQR] or percentagesMean (SD), median [IQR] or percentagesAge (years)49.7 (12.5)47.8 (11.9)Disease duration (years)4.0 [1.0, 10.0]4.0 [1.0, 10.0]TNFi start year 1999-200929%29% 2010-201326%27% 2014-201625%24% 2017-202020%20%Concomittant csDMARD75%77%DAS28-CRP4.4 (1.2)4.2 (1.2)DAPSA2832 (16)29 (16)CRP (mg/L)7.0 [3.0, 17.0]8.0 [3.3, 19.0]SJC (0-28)3.0 [1.0, 6.0]3.0 [1.0, 6.0]TJC (0-28)6.0 [2.0, 10.0]4.0 [2.0, 9.0]VAS pain, mm61 (23)55 (23)VAS fatigue, mm62 (26)53 (27)Data are as observed, mean (SD), median [IQR] or percentage. TNFi, tumor necrosis factor inhibitor; csDMARD, Conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; DAS28-CRP, Disease Activity Score 28-joint count C reactive protein; DAPSA28, Disease Activity in PsA 28; CRP, C-reactive protein; SJC, swollen joint count; TJC, tender joint count.ConclusionTreatment efficacy and retention rates are lower among female patients with PsA initiating their first TNFi. Females presented with higher 28-tender joint count and higher scores on patient reported outcomes at baseline, reflecting differences in disease expression. Recognizing these sex differences is of relevance for customized patient care and may improve patient education.References[1]Højgaard, et al. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2018 Sep 1;57(9):1651-1660.[2]Vieira-Sousa, et al. J Rheumatol. 2020 May 1;47(5):690-700.[3]Kristensen, et al. Ann Rheum. Dis. 2008 Mar;67(3):364-9.[4]Iervolino, et al. J Rheumatol. 2012 Mar;39(3):568-73.AcknowledgementsNovartis Pharma AG and IQVIA for supporting the EuroSpA collaboration.Disclosure of InterestsPasoon Hellamand Grant/research support from: Novartis, Marleen G.H. van de Sande Speakers bureau: UCB, Consultant of: Abbvie, Eli Lily, Novartis, UCB, Grant/research support from: Novartis, Janssen, UCB and Eli Lilly, Lykke Midtbøll Ørnbjerg Grant/research support from: Novartis, Thomas Klausch: None declared, Nina Trokovic: None declared, Tuulikki Sokka-Isler Consultant of: Abbvie, Amgen, BMS, Celgene, DiaGraphIT, Medac, MSD, Novartis, Orionpharma, Pfizer, Roche, Sandoz, and UCB, Maria Jose Santos Speakers bureau: Abbvie, AstraZeneca, Lilly, Novartis and Pfizer, Elsa Vieira-Sousa Speakers bureau: MSD, Celgene, Novartis, Janssen, Abbvie and Pfizer, Consultant of: MSD, Celgene, Novartis, Janssen, Abbvie and Pfizer, Grant/research support from: MSD, Celgene, Novartis, Janssen, Abbvie and Pfizer, Anne Gitte Loft Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Janssen, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, and UCB, Consultant of: AbbVie, Janssen, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, and UCB, Grant/research support from: Novartis, Bente Glintborg Grant/research support from: Pfizer, Abbvie, BMS, Mikkel Østergaard Speakers bureau: Abbvie, BMS, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Celgene, Eli-Lilly, Hospira, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Novo, Orion, Pfizer, Regeneron, Roche, Sandoz, Sanofi and UCB, Consultant of: Abbvie, BMS, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Celgene, Eli-Lilly, Hospira, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Novo, Orion, Pfizer, Regeneron, Roche, Sandoz, Sanofi and UCB, Grant/research support from: Abbvie, BMS, Merck, Celgene, Novartis, Ulf Lindström: None declared, Johan K Wallman Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Celgene, Eli Lilly and Novartis, Brigitte Michelsen Grant/research support from: Novartis, Burkhard Moeller Speakers bureau: MSD, Synergy, Eli Lilly, Bristol-Myers-Squibb, Janssen-Cilag, AbbVie and Pfizer, Raphael Micheroli: None declared, Catalin Codreanu Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Ewopharma, Lilly, Novartis and Pfizer, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Ewopharma, Lilly, Novartis and Pfizer, Corina Mogosan Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Ewopharma, Lilly, Novartis and Pfizer, Consultant of: AbbVie, Ewopharma, Lilly, Novartis and Pfizer, Karin Laas Speakers bureau: Amgen, Janssen, Novartis and Abbvie, Ziga Rotar Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Novartis, MSD, Medis, Biogen, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Sanofi, Lek and Janssen, Consultant of: Abbvie, Novartis, MSD, Medis, Biogen, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Sanofi, Lek and Janssen, Karen Minde Fagerli: None declared, Matija Tomsic Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Amgen, Biogen, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Medis, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi, Sandoz-Lek, Consultant of: Abbvie, Amgen, Biogen, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Medis, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi, Sandoz-Lek, Isabel Castrejon Speakers bureau: Lilly, BMS, Janssen, MSD and Abbvie, Consultant of: Lilly, BMS, Janssen, MSD and Abbvie, Manuel Pombo-Suarez Consultant of: Abbvie, MSD and Roche, Björn Gudbjornsson Speakers bureau: Amgen and Novartis, Consultant of: Amgen and Novartis, Thorvardur Love: None declared, Karel Pavelka Speakers bureau: Pfizer, MSD, BMS, UCB, Amgen, Egis, Roche and AbbVie, Consultant of: Pfizer, MSD, BMS, UCB, Amgen, Egis, Roche and AbbVie, Jakub Zavada Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Elli-Lilly, Sandoz, Novartis, Egis and UCB, Consultant of: Abbvie, Elli-Lilly, Sandoz, Novartis, Egis and UCB, Gökçe Kenar: None declared, Handan Yarkan-Tuğsal: None declared, Merete Lund Hetland Grant/research support from: Abbvie, Biogen, BMS, Celltrion, Eli Lilly, Janssen Biologics B.V, Lundbeck Fonden, MSD, Medac, Pfizer, Roche, Samsung Biopies, Sandoz and Novartis, Irene van der Horst-Bruinsma Speakers bureau: BMS, AbbVie, Pfizer and MSD, Consultant of: Abbvie, UCB, MSD, Novartis and Lilly, Grant/research support from: MSD, Pfizer, AbbVie and UCB

High-field accelerator magnets made of state-of-the-art Nb3Sn Rutherford cables demonstrate relatively long trainings due to sudden heat depositions originated by thermo-mechanical perturbations in the magnet coils. Coil sensitivity to these perturbations can be reduced by increasing the specific heat, Cp , of major coil components - strands, or whole cable, or epoxy. The R&D on all these three approaches is in progress. This paper studies feasibility of increasing the Cp of Rutherford-type cables by using a thin composite Cu/Gd2O3tape. The tape can be either wrapped around the cable, placed on the cable wide faces under the insulation, and/or inserted as a core. Cu/Gd2O3ribbons with ∼30% of Gd2O3powder and two different thicknesses were produced by Hyper Tech Research, Inc. Wire and cable samples outfitted with these high- Cp ribbons, or tapes, were prepared and tested at FNAL for the Minimum Quench Energy ( MQE ). At 80% Ic , the MQE gain average over the tested magnetic field range of the NbTi cable with high- Cp tape on both sides was ∼1.3. The MQE gain average of the NbTi wire wrapped with the high- Cp ribbon was 3.1.

we present magnetic, mechanical and thermal modeling results for a 3 Tesla actively shielded whole body MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) magnet consisting of coils with a square cross section of their windings. The magnet design was a segmented coil type optimized to minimize conductor length while hitting the standard field quality and DSV (Diameter of Spherical Volume) specifications as well as a standard, compact size 3 T system. It had an overall magnet length and conductor length which can lead to conduction cooled designs comparable to NbTi helium bath cooled 3 T MRI magnets. The design had a magnetic field homogeneity better than 10 ppm (part-per-million) within a DSV (Diameter of Spherical Volume) of 48 cm and the total magnet winding length of 1.37 m. A new class of MgB(2) strand especially designed for MRI applications was considered as a possible candidate for winding such magnets. This work represents the first magnetic, mechanical and thermal design for a whole-body 3 T MgB(2) short (1.37 m length) MRI magnet based on the performance parameters of existing MgB(2) wire. 3 Tesla MRI magnet can operate at 20 K at 67 % of its critical current.

BackgroundEvidence reveals sex differences in physiology, disease presentation and response to treatment in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Pooled data from four randomized controlled trials demonstrated reduced treatment efficacy of a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) in females compared to males with ankylosing spondylitis1. However, real-life evidence confirming these data in large cohorts is scarce. We sought to validate prior studies using data from a large multinational cohort based on real-life clinical practice.ObjectivesTo investigate sex differences in treatment response and drug retention rates in clinical practice among patients with axSpA, treated with their first TNFi.MethodsData from biologic-naïve axSpA patients initiating a TNFi in the EuroSpA registries were pooled. In the primary analysis, propensity-score weighting was applied to assess the causal effect of sex on clinically important improvement (CII) according to ASDAS-CRP at 6 months. A generalized linear regression model was used to estimate the causal risk difference (RD) and relative risk (RR) of sex on CII. Possible covariates influencing the outcome were determined a priori and selected based on availability in the database (ResultsIn total, 6,451 axSpA patients with available data on ASDAS-CRP at baseline and 6 months were assessed for treatment response. Baseline characteristics are shown in the Table 1. In the adjusted analysis, the probability for females to have CII was 15% (RR, 0.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.82 to 0.89) lower compared to males and the difference in probability for having CII was 9.4 percentage points (RD, 0.094; 95% CI, 0.069 to 0.12). The survival analysis included 28,608 axSpA patients with available data on retention rates. The TNFi 6/12/24-month retention rates were significantly lower in females (81%/69%/58%) compared to males (89%/81%/72%), see Figure 1.Table 1.FemaleMaleMean (SD), Median [IQR] or percentagesMean (SD), Median [IQR] or percentagesAge (years)42.0 (12.1)41.4 (12.3)Fulfilment of mNYC66%80%Disease duration (years)2.0 [1.0, 7.0]3.0 [1.0, 9.0]TNFi start year Start 1999-20097.2%9.8% Start 2010-201326%27% Start 2014-201637%36% Start 2017-202030%27%BASDAI, mm59 (20)54 (21)BASFI, mm48 (25)46 (24)ASDAS, units3.5 (0.9)3.5 (1.0)CRP (mg/L)6.7 [2.5, 16.0]11.9 [4.0, 25.0]SJC (0-28)0 [0, 0]0 [0, 0]TJC (0-28)0 [0, 2]0 [0, 1]VAS pain, mm63 (22)59 (24)VAS fatigue, mm65 (25)59 (26)mNYC, modified New York criteria; TNFi, tumor necrosis factor inhibitor; BASDAI, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Indexf; BASFI, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index; ASDAS, Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score; CRP, C-reactive protein; SJC, swollen joint count; TJC, tender joint count; VAS, visual analogue scale.ConclusionTreatment efficacy and retention rates are lower among female patients with axSpA initiating their first TNFi. Females presented with lower C-reactive protein levels and higher scores on patient reported outcomes at baseline, reflecting differences in disease expression. Recognizing these sex differences is of relevance for customized patient care and may improve patient education.References[1]van der Horst-Bruinsma et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2013 Jul;72(7):1221-4.AcknowledgementsNovartis Pharma AG and IQVIA for supporting the EuroSpA collaboration.Disclosure of InterestsPasoon Hellamand Grant/research support from: Novartis, Marleen G.H. van de Sande Speakers bureau: UCB, Consultant of: Abbvie, Eli Lily, Novartis and UCB, Grant/research support from: Novartis, Janssen, UCB and Eli Lilly, Lykke Midtbøll Ørnbjerg Grant/research support from: Novartis, Thomas Klausch: None declared, Michael Nurmohamed Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Janssen and Celgene, Consultant of: Abbvie, Grant/research support from: Abbvie, Amgen, Pfizer, Galapagos, BMS, Ronald van Vollenhoven Consultant of: AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Biogen, BMS, Galapagos, Janssen, Miltenyi, Pfizer, UCB and speaker fees from Abbvie, Galapagos, GSK, Janssen, Pfizer, R-Pharma and UCB, Grant/research support from: BMS, GSK and UCB, Dan Nordström Consultant of: Abbvie, BMS, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche and UCB, Anna-Mari Hokkanen Grant/research support from: MSD, Maria Jose Santos Speakers bureau: Abbvie, AstraZeneca, Lilly, Novartis and Pfizer, Elsa Vieira-Sousa Speakers bureau: MSD, Celgene, Novartis, Janssen, Abbvie and Pfizer, Consultant of: MSD, Celgene, Novartis, Janssen, Abbvie and Pfizer, Grant/research support from: MSD, Celgene, Novartis, Janssen, Abbvie and Pfizer, Anne Gitte Loft Consultant of: AbbVie, Janssen, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche and UCB, Grant/research support from: Novartis, Bente Glintborg Grant/research support from: Pfizer, Abbvie and BMS, Mikkel Østergaard Speakers bureau: Abbvie, BMS, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Celgene, Eli-Lilly, Hospira, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Novo, Orion, Pfizer, Regeneron, Roche, Sandoz, Sanofi and UCB, Consultant of: Abbvie, BMS, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Celgene, Eli-Lilly, Hospira, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Novo, Orion, Pfizer, Regeneron, Roche, Sandoz, Sanofi and UCB, Grant/research support from: Abbvie, BMS, Merck, Celgene and Novartis, Ulf Lindström: None declared, Johan K Wallman Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Celgene, Eli Lilly and Novartis, Brigitte Michelsen Grant/research support from: Novartis, Adrian Ciurea Speakers bureau: AbbVie and Novartis, Michael J. Nissen Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Janssens, Novartis and Pfizer, Consultant of: AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Janssens, Novartis and Pfizer, Catalin Codreanu Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Ewopharma, Lilly, Novartis and Pfizer, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Ewopharma, Lilly, Novartis and Pfizer, Corina Mogosan Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Ewopharma, Lilly, Novartis and Pfizer, Consultant of: AbbVie, Ewopharma, Lilly, Novartis and Pfizer, Gary Macfarlane Grant/research support from: GSK, Gareth T. Jones Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Pfizer, UCB, Amgen and GSK, Karin Laas Speakers bureau: Amgen, Janssen, Novartis and Abbvie, Ziga Rotar Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Novartis, MSD, Medis, Biogen, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Sanofi, Lek and Janssen, Consultant of: Abbvie, Novartis, MSD, Medis, Biogen, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Sanofi, Lek and Janssen, Matija Tomsic Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Amgen, Biogen, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Medis, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi and Sandoz-Lek, Consultant of: Abbvie, Amgen, Biogen, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Medis, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi and Sandoz-Lek, Isabel Castrejon Speakers bureau: Eli Lilly, BMS, Janssen, MSD and Abbvie, Consultant of: Eli Lilly, BMS, Janssen, MSD and Abbvie, Manuel Pombo-Suarez Consultant of: Abbvie, MSD and Roche, Björn Gudbjornsson Speakers bureau: Amgen and Novartis, Consultant of: Amgen and Novartis, Arni Jon Geirsson: None declared, Eirik kristianslund: None declared, Jiří Vencovský Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Argenx, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Eli-Lilly, Gilead, MSD, Novartis, Octapharma, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi and UCB, Consultant of: Abbvie, Argenx, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Eli-Lilly, Gilead, MSD, Novartis, Octapharma, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi and UCB, Lucie Nekvindova: None declared, Semih Gulle: None declared, Berrin Zengin: None declared, Merete Lund Hetland Grant/research support from: Abbvie, Biogen, BMS, Celltrion, Eli Lilly, Janssen Biologics B.V, Lundbeck Fonden, MSD, Medac, Pfizer, Roche, Samsung Biopies, Sandoz and Novartis, Irene van der Horst-Bruinsma Speakers bureau: BMS, AbbVie, Pfizer and MSD, Consultant of: Abbvie, UCB, MSD, Novartis and Lilly, Grant/research support from: MSD, Pfizer, AbbVie and UCB.

BackgroundIn axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) is a key patient-reported outcome. However, one or more of its components may be missing when recorded in clinical practice.ObjectivesTo determine whether an individual patient’s BASDAI at a given timepoint can be reliably calculated with different single imputation techniques and to explore the impact of the number of missing components and/or differences between missingness of individual components.MethodsReal-life data from axSpA patients receiving tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) from 13 countries in the European Spondyloarthritis (EuroSpA) Research Collaboration Network were utilized [1]. We studied missingness in BASDAI components based on simulations in a complete dataset, where we applied and expanded the approach of Ramiro et al. [2]. After introducing one or more missing components completely at random, BASDAI was calculated from the available components and with three different single imputation techniques: possible middle value (i.e. 50) of the component and mean and median of the available components. Differences between the observed (original) and calculated scores were assessed and correct classification of patients as having BASDAIResultsA total of 19,894 axSpA patients with at least one complete BASDAI registration at any timepoint were included. 59,126 complete BASDAI registrations were utilized for the analyses with a mean BASDAI of 38.5 (standard deviation 25.9). Calculating BASDAI from the available components and imputing with mean or median showed similar levels of agreement (Table 1). When allowing one missing component, >90% had a difference of ≤6.9 mm between the original and calculated scores and >95% were correctly classified as BASDAI90% (Figure 1, upper panels). As expected, it was observed that regardless of the BASDAI component set to missing and the imputation technique used, correct classification of patients as BASDAITable 1.Level of agreement between the original and calculated BASDAI and correct classification for BASDAILevel of agreement with Dif≤6.9 mm* (%)Correct classification for BASDAI1 missing componentAvailable93.996.9Value 5073.996.3Mean94.296.8Median93.196.82 missing componentsAvailable83.794.8Value 5040.792.8Mean83.594.8Median82.894.73 missing componentsAvailable71.992.6Value 5028.187.3Mean72.292.6Median69.792.2* The levels of agreement with a difference (Dif) of ≤6.9 mm between the original and calculated scores were based on the half of the smallest detectable change. Agreement of >90% was considered as acceptable. ** Correct classification of >95% was considered as acceptable.Figure 1.Level of agreement between the original and calculated BASDAI and correct classification for BASDAIConclusionBASDAI calculation with available components gave similar results to single imputation of missing components with mean or median. Only when missing one of BASDAI components 5 or 6, single imputation techniques can reliably calculate individual BASDAI scores. However, missing any single component value results in misclassification of patients with original BASDAI scores close to 40.References[1]Ørnbjerg et al. (2019). Ann Rheum Dis, 78(11), 1536-1544.[2]Ramiro et al. (2014). Rheumatology, 53(2), 374-376.AcknowledgementsNovartis Pharma AG and IQVIA for supporting the EuroSpA collaboration.Disclosure of InterestsStylianos Georgiadis Grant/research support from: Novartis, Myriam Riek Grant/research support from: Novartis, Christos Polysopoulos Grant/research support from: Novartis, Almut Scherer Grant/research support from: Novartis, Daniela Di Giuseppe: None declared, Gareth T. Jones Speakers bureau: Janssen, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Pfizer, UCB, Amgen, GSK, Merete Lund Hetland Grant/research support from: Abbvie, Biogen, BMS, Celltrion, Eli Lilly, Janssen Biologics B.V, Lundbeck Fonden, MSD, Medac, Pfizer, Roche, Samsung Biopies, Sandoz, Novartis, Mikkel Østergaard Speakers bureau: Abbvie, BMS, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Celgene, Eli-Lilly, Hospira, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Novo, Orion, Pfizer, Regeneron, Roche, Sandoz, Sanofi, UCB, Consultant of: Abbvie, BMS, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Celgene, Eli-Lilly, Hospira, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Novo, Orion, Pfizer, Regeneron, Roche, Sandoz, Sanofi, UCB, Grant/research support from: Abbvie, BMS, Merck, Celgene, Novartis, Simon Horskjær Rasmussen Grant/research support from: Novartis, Johan K Wallman Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Bente Glintborg Grant/research support from: Pfizer, Abbvie, BMS, Anne Gitte Loft Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Janssen, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, UCB, Consultant of: AbbVie, Janssen, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, UCB, Karel Pavelka Speakers bureau: Pfizer, MSD, BMS, UCB, Amgen, Egis, Roche, AbbVie, Consultant of: Pfizer, MSD, BMS, UCB, Amgen, Egis, Roche, AbbVie, Jakub Zavada Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Elli-Lilly, Sandoz, Novartis, Egis, UCB, Consultant of: Abbvie, Elli-Lilly, Sandoz, Novartis, Egis, UCB, Merih Birlik: None declared, Ayten Yazici Grant/research support from: Roche, Brigitte Michelsen Grant/research support from: Novartis, Eirik kristianslund: None declared, Adrian Ciurea Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Pfizer, Consultant of: AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Pfizer, Michael J. Nissen Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Janssens, Novartis, Pfizer, Consultant of: AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Janssens, Novartis, Pfizer, Ana Maria Rodrigues Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Amgen, Consultant of: Abbvie, Amgen, Grant/research support from: Novartis, Pfizer, Amgen, Maria Jose Santos Speakers bureau: Abbvie, AstraZeneca, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Gary Macfarlane Grant/research support from: GSK, Anna-Mari Hokkanen Grant/research support from: MSD, Heikki Relas Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Celgene, Pfizer, UCB, Viatris, Consultant of: Abbvie, Celgene, Pfizer, UCB, Viatris, Catalin Codreanu Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Ewopharma, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Ewopharma, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Corina Mogosan: None declared, Ziga Rotar Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Novartis, MSD, Medis, Biogen, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Sanofi, Lek, Janssen, Consultant of: Abbvie, Novartis, MSD, Medis, Biogen, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Sanofi, Lek, Janssen, Matija Tomsic Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Amgen, Biogen, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Medis, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi, Sandoz-Lek, Consultant of: Abbvie, Amgen, Biogen, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Medis, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi, Sandoz-Lek, Björn Gudbjornsson Speakers bureau: Amgen, Novartis, Consultant of: Amgen, Novartis, Arni Jon Geirsson: None declared, Pasoon Hellamand Grant/research support from: Novartis, Marleen G.H. van de Sande Speakers bureau: Eli Lilly, Novartis, UCB, Janssen, Abbvie, Consultant of: Eli Lilly, Novartis, UCB, Janssen, Abbvie, Grant/research support from: Eli Lilly, Novartis, UCB, Janssen, Abbvie, Isabel Castrejon: None declared, Manuel Pombo-Suarez Consultant of: Abbvie, MSD, Roche, Bruno Frediani: None declared, Florenzo Iannone Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Amgen, AstraZeneca, BMS, Galapagos, Janssen, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, UCB, Consultant of: Abbvie, Amgen, AstraZeneca, BMS, Galapagos, Janssen, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, UCB, Lykke Midtbøll Ørnbjerg Grant/research support from: Novartis

BackgroundOlder age, male sex, multimorbidity and glucocorticoids emerged in rheumatic patients as risk factors for severe COVID-19.ObjectivesWe aimed to evaluate the frequency and severity of COVID-19 in a well-defined cohort of patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM).MethodsWe analyzed medical records of IIM patients diagnosed and followed at our secondary/tertiary center between January 2005 and December 2021.ResultsDuring the 204-month period IIM was newly diagnosed in 191 patients, of whom 52 died before COVID-19 pandemic. Of the remaining 139 patients (69.8% females; 9 polymyositis, 47 dermatomyositis; 38 antisynthetase syndrome, 26 overlap syndrome; 17 immune mediated necrotizing myopathy; 2 inclusion body myositis), SARS-CoV-2 infection was proven in 13 (9.4%) patients (61.5% females, mean (SD) age at infection 62.9 (±16.8 years)). Seven/13 COVID-19 patients (53.8%) had a diagnosis of antisynthetase syndrome. At the time of infection IIM was in a remission in 12/13 patients and relapsed 5 weeks earlier in one patient. Seven patients were without immunomodulatory therapy, 1 patient was on steroids alone, 2 on DMARD alone, 3 on steroids and DMARD; a mean daily prednisolone equivalent dose was 5 mg). Eleven/13 (84.6%) patients had mild COVID-19 (one had an asymptomatic infection) and were treated symptomatically, while 2 patients were hospitalized due to severe infection (respiratory insufficiency). Table 1 shows clinical characteristics and duration of COVID-19 symptoms. During pandemic overall 9/139 (6.5%) patients with IIM died, including one patient due to COVID-19.Table 1.Characteristics of COVID-19 in IIM patientsLegend: IIM idiopathic inflammatory myopathy; PM polymyositis, DM dermatomyositis; ASyS antisynthetase syndrome, OS overlap syndrome; IMNM immune mediated necrotizing myopathy; F female; M male; DMARD immunomodulatory drug.ConclusionIn our IIM cohort, antisynthetase syndrome represented a higher relative risk for COVID-19 compared to other IIIM subtypes.Disclosure of InterestsNone declared

BackgroundPatients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) represent a fragile population with an increased infection risk. In a recent study1 older age, a higher number of comorbidities, higher disease activity, and prednisolone ≥10 mg qd were associated with worse COVID-19 outcomes.ObjectivesWe aimed to evaluate the frequency and severity of COVID-19 in a well-defined GCA cohort.MethodsWe reviewed medical records of histologically and/or by imaging proven GCA patients diagnosed between September 2011 and February 2020 at our secondary/tertiary center and followed during the COVID-19 pandemic between March 2020 and December 2021 (22 months). Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the studied population.ResultsOf 314 GCA patients diagnosed for the first time during a 102-month period, 49 patients died before March 2020. Of the remaining 265 patients (69.4% females), SARS-CoV-2 infection was proven by PCR test in 39 (14.7%) patients (74.2% females, mean (SD) age at infection 76.2 (±9.6 years), 13 (33.3%) with large vessel GCA and 16 with cranial limited GCA). At the time of SARS-Cov-2 infection GCA was in a stable remission in 38 patients (13 without therapy, 10 on steroids alone, 9 on leflunomide monotherapy, 6 on steroids plus leflunomide (10 or 20 mg qd), 1 on ustekinumab; mean prednisolone equivalent dose of 4.6 mg qd) and relapsed in one patient 6 weeks earlier (prednisolone 30 mg plus leflunomide). Data on clinical manifestations of COVID-19 were available for 33 (84.6%) patients and are presented in Table 1, part A. Twenty-nine/39 (74.4%) patients had mild COVID-19 and were symptomatically treated at home, while 10 patients had severe infection (defined as a need of hospitalization and/or death), and one of those patients died due to COVID-19. One patient developed a transient neurologic ischemic attack related to COVID-19. Table 1, part B shows differences in GCA demographic and treatment at the time of mild vs. severe infection. We found no differences in gender, age, GCA type and GCA treatment between those with mild vs. severe COVID. Three patients developed COVID-19 after receiving two doses of anti-COVID vaccine (1.4% breakthrough rate). Overall, of 257 GCA patients eligible for vaccination, 210 (81.7%) were vaccinated by the end of December 2021.ConclusionA quarter of our GCA patients had severe COVID-19. Low doses of glucocorticoids and treatment with leflunomide were not associated with severe COVID-19 course in our cohort.References[1]Sattui SE, et al. Lancet Rheumatol 2021; doi: 10.1016/S2665-9913(21)00316-7Disclosure of InterestsNone declared

BackgroundPolymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is common in patients over the age of 50 years. Clinical symptoms promptly respond to glucocorticoid therapy, but there are wide variations of dosage tapering, treatment duration and rate of relapses. In Slovenia epidemiology of PMR is unknown.ObjectivesWe aimed to determine the incidence rate of PMR, the clinical characteristics, the relapse frequency and length of glucocorticoid therapy.MethodsA detailed single centre retrospective review of medical records of all patients diagnosed with PMR between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2016 was performed at the Department of Rheumatology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia–the only secondary level rheumatology institution in serving the Central Slovenian and Gorenjska regions, which represent ~40% (7×105) of the Slovenian adult population. The outcomes were assessed up to1 October 2021.ResultsDuring the 3-year period 494 patients (460 from Ljubljana and Gorenjska regions) were diagnosed with PMR (64% females, median (IQR) age 75 (69, 80) years), resulting in an annual sex- and age-standardised incidence rate (IR) per 105 adults ≥ 50 years of 46.0 (95% CI 42.0, 50.4), with a female/male ratio of 1.5 (95% CI 1.3, 1.7). The IR peaked between 70–85 years (Figure 1). There was no seasonal variation in IR. The median (IQR) times from symptom onset, and from referral to rheumatology consultation were 6 (4, 11) weeks, and 1 (1, 1) day, respectively. 86% were referred by their GPs, 7% by other internists, and 6% by infectious disease specialists, and the rest by other specialists.At presentation, 96% had morning stiffness (71% lasting >45 minutes), 99% shoulder pain, 94% pelvic girdle pain, 49% weight loss, 13% peripheral arthritis, and 12% body temperature >37°C. Data on US of shoulders and hips was complete, partial, or missing for 38%, 24%, 39%, respectively. Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) or C-reactive protein (CRP) was present in 98% of patients, the median (IQR) ESR was 55 (42, 71) and CRP 49 (26, 79) mg/l, and 58% had anaemia. RF and ACPA were positive in 4% and 3%, respectively. 8/12 had ACPA values less than 2× the reference value. During follow-up ACPA was repeated in 8/12 patients and negativized in 6/8 patients. Among other pre-existing conditions, 51 (10%) had history of malignancy diagnosed a median 7 (3–11) years prior to diagnosis of PMR. EULAR/ACR classification criteria for PMR were fulfilled in 68% and 71% based on clinical and extended ultrasound criteria (missing items were imputed with 0), respectively. 14 (3%) patients had clinically overt concurrent giant cell arteritis (GCA).All patients were treated with methylprednisolone, administered orally in 99.4%, 93% started at 16mg qd. By the end of follow-up, 295 (60%) patients successfully discontinued methylprednisolone after a median of 117 (104, 143) weeks. Steroid sparing leflunomide and methotrexate were used by 66 (13%) and 27 (6%) patients, respectively. During a median follow-up of 150 (98, 244) weeks, 146 (30%) had at least one relapse. Median time to first relapse was 111 (50, 141) weeks. 54% relapsed after glucocorticoid discontinuation after a median time of 4 (2, 18) weeks, 9% presented with GCA, 12% relapsed due to treatment non-adherence. During the follow-up 6% were diagnosed with malignancies.Conclusion(1) With the IR of 46 per 105 adults ≥50 years, PMR is more common as rheumatoid arthritis in Slovenia. (2) A considerable proportion of patients required long-term glucocorticoid treatment, leaving a huge unmet need for safer therapeutic options.Disclosure of InterestsNone declared

BackgroundSmall molecule inhibitors targeting members of the bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) protein family (BRD2, BRD3, BRD4) have anti-inflammatory properties in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). BET proteins are readers of acetylated histone side chains and activators of transcription. BRD3 is an understudied member of BET proteins.ObjectivesTo analyse individual functions of BET proteins and mechanisms underlying BET inhibition in RA synovial fibroblasts (SF).MethodsThe expression of BRD2, BRD3, and BRD4 was silenced by lenti-viral transduction followed by TNF stimulation (10 ng/µl, 24h). Silencing was confirmed by Western blotting. Transcriptomes were determined by RNA-seq (Illumina NovaSeq 6000, n=3). Pathway enrichment analysis for KEGG and Reactome databases was conducted with significantly affected genes (± fold change > 1.5, FDR < 0.05). SF were treated with I-BET (1 µM) and TNF (10 ng/µl, 24h). Autophagy was evaluated by Western blotting using the conversion of LC3B as a marker (n=9). I-BET-induced global changes on post-translational histone modifications were analysed by mass spectrometry (Mod Spec, Active Motif; n=2; 120h protocol) and Western blotting (H3K27ac, H3K18ac, total acH3; n=7; 24h and 120h protocol). For this purpose, SF were stimulated with I-BET (1 µM) for 24h, and either co-stimulated with TNF (24h protocol), or washed with PBS, followed by a 24h stimulation with TNF 120h after the I-BET treatment (120h protocol).ResultsSilencing of BRD2 and BRD4 in SF was, in contrast to silencing of BRD3, associated with high levels of cell death, and therefore not analyzed further. We detected 257 and 324 differentially expressed genes (DEG) that were affected by BRD3 silencing in unstimulated and TNF-stimulated SF, respectively. 105 DEG overlapped between the two groups. DEG were enriched in inflammatory pathways such as “TNF signaling pathway”, “rheumatoid arthritis”, “Toll-like receptor cascades”, “MAPK signaling pathway”, “IL-17 signaling pathway” and “signaling by interleukins”. Furthermore, pathway enrichment analysis suggested a role for BRD3 in different stress-associated pathways, including “DNA repair”, “chaperone mediated autophagy”, “cellular responses to stress”, and “autophagy”. In line with the pathway enrichment analysis, I-BET induced levels of LC3B-II in unstimulated (4.3 fold, p=0.07) and TNF-stimulated (2.9 fold, p=0.07) SF, indicating a role of BET proteins in the regulation of autophagy. To further study the mechanisms underlying I-BET-mediated suppression of gene expression, we analyzed potential effects of I-BET on histone modifications. Mod Spec analysis indicated that I-BET induced profound changes in chromatin modifications, with a global reduction of acetylation on different histone side chains. We confirmed some of these differences in independent samples. I-BET treatment reduced mean TNF-induced levels of total acH3 by 25.2% (120h; p=0.0303), of H3K18ac by 35.3% (24h; p=0.0288) and by 29.3% (120h; p=0.0373) and of H3K27ac by 41.7% (120h; p=0.0587).ConclusionBRD3 acts as an upstream regulatory factor that integrates the response to inflammatory stimuli and stress conditions in SF. Our data suggest that BET inhibitors do not only prevent the reading of acetylated histone side chains, but also directly affect the chromatin structure, in particular by downregulating global levels of histone acetylation.Disclosure of InterestsMalgorzata Maciukiewicz: None declared, Larissa Moser: None declared, Monika Krosel: None declared, Tanja Seifritz: None declared, Matija Tomsic: None declared, Britta Maurer Speakers bureau: Boehringer-Ingelheim, Consultant of: Novartis, Boehringer Ingelheim, Janssen-Cilag, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Protagen, Novartis Biomedical Research, Oliver Distler Consultant of: Abbvie, Caroline Ospelt: None declared, Kerstin Klein Grant/research support from: Novartis Foundation for biomedical research (2019)

BackgroundActivated fibroblasts are the main drivers of skin fibrosis in SSc. We have recently identified dimethyl alpha-ketoglutarate (dm-aKG) as a potential repressor of myofibroblast differentiation and profibrotic activity in cultured skin fibroblasts.ObjectivesTo further analyse the clinical translation of our findings by investigating the antifibrotic capacity of dm-aKG on explanted skin biopsies from SSc patients.MethodsWe cultured forearm punch skin biopsies from SSc patients (n=10) for 24h ex vivo in the presence/absence of 6 mM dm-aKG. Thereafter, skin biopsies (n=4) were dissociated into single cells using a combined mechanical-enzymatic dissociation protocol, followed by single cell (sc)RNA-seq library preparation (10x Genomics) and sequencing (Illumina, NovaSeq6000, 50,000 reads/cell). We mapped the scRNA-seq reads to the reference genome GRCh38.p13 and analysed the data with R/Bioconductor tools. We deconvoluted cell types in bulk skin transcriptomes from SSc cohorts (GSE: 45485, 59785, 9285, 32413) using human skin scRNA-seq data1. The secretion of IL-6, procollagen-1, PRO-C1 (N-terminal type I collagen pro-peptide), C1M (MMP-degradation fragment of type I collagen), and fibronectin (FBN-C) from cultured skin (n=10) was measured in supernatants by ELISA. We analysed gene and protein expression in TGFβ-activated healthy and SSc dermal fibroblasts (DF, n=10) treated or not with dm-aKG using qPCR, Western blot and ELISA. Contractile properties of DF were assessed by gel contraction assay. Traction forces generated by DF were determined by reference-free traction force microscopy.ResultsDissociated cultured SSc skin exhibited comparable cell yield and viability in the presence (20,203; 89%) and absence (25,280; 93%) of dm-aKG, respectively. scRNA-seq skin analysis included 20,869 high quality single cell profiles segregating into 10 distinct skin cell populations (Figure 1A). This analysis demonstrated decreased proportion of fibroblasts and increased proportion of keratinocytes in dm-aKG treated skin (p0.5, FDRIL6, STAT1) and extracellular matrix (ECM) organization (hub genes MMP1, ITGB3) as top downregulated biological processes in fibroblasts in dm-aKG treated SSc skin (Figure 1C), coinciding with a decreased abundance of proinflammatory skin fibroblast subpopulation. Specifically, these cells were identified as the main source of IL6 (Figure 1D) and were enriched in SSc skin as revealed by deconvolution analysis of skin transcriptomes. Furthermore, dm-aKG reduced the secretion of IL-6, procollagen-1 and C1M, but not pro-C1 and FBN-C, from cultured skin explants. In cultured DF, dm-aKG blocked the inflammatory (IL-6, pSTAT3), profibrotic (aSMA, Fibronectin, Procollagen-1, Pro-C1) and contractile activities, and significantly diminished traction forces exerted by DF on the matrix substrate.Figure 1.scRNA-seq – comparison of untreated and dm-aKG treated paired skin biopsies. (A) UMAP plot with annotated skin cells, (B) differential abundance of main skin cell types, (C) volcano plot of DE genes with top downregulated gene ontology (GO) pathways in dm-aKG treated skin fibroblasts, (D) IL6 expression in untreated (blue) and treated (pink) skin fibroblasts.ConclusionDm-aKG broadly interferes with inflammatory and ECM organizational activities of skin fibroblasts in culture and in explanted skin from SSc patients. These results confirm that dm-aKG might represent a potential new therapeutic approach for efficient targeting of skin inflammation and fibrosis in SSc.References[1]He H et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2020AcknowledgementsThis work was supported by a research grant from FOREUM Foundation for Research in Rheumatology and University Medical Centre Ljubljana.Disclosure of InterestsBlaž Burja: None declared, Dominique Paul: None declared, Reto Gerber: None declared, Sam G. Edalat: None declared, Muriel Elhai Speakers bureau: BMS, Elena Pachera: None declared, Rahel S. Zingg: None declared, Francesca Michela Pramotton: None declared, Sofie Falkenløve Madsen: None declared, Kristina Buerki: None declared, Giampietro Costanza: None declared, Michael Whitfield: None declared, Anne-Christine Bay-Jensen: None declared, Snežna Sodin-Šemrl: None declared, Matija Tomsic: None declared, Gabriela Kania: None declared, Hubert Rehrauer: None declared, Oliver Distler Speakers bureau: Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Janssen, Medscape, Consultant of: Abbvie, Acceleron, Alcimed, Amgen, AnaMar, Arxx, AstraZeneca, Baecon, Blade, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Corbus, CSL Behring, 4P Science, Galapagos, Glenmark, Horizon, Inventiva, Kymera, Lupin, Miltenyi Biotec, Mitsubishi Tanabe, MSD, Novartis, Prometheus, Roivant, Sanofi and Topadur, Grant/research support from: Kymera, Mitsubishi Tanabe, Boehringer Ingelheim, Ziga Rotar: None declared, Mark Robinson: None declared, Katja Lakota: None declared, Mojca Frank Bertoncelj: None declared.

BackgroundIn patients with ANCA associated vasculitis (AAV) a higher mortality rate due to COVID-19 has been observed compared to general population1.ObjectivesWe aimed to evaluate the frequency and severity of COVID-19 in a well-defined AAV cohort.MethodsMedical records of AAV cases diagnosed at our secondary/tertiary rheumatology center between January 2010 and February 2020 and followed during the COVID-19 pandemic between March 2020 and November 2021 were analyzed.ResultsDuring the 122-month period, AAV was newly diagnosed in 117 patients. Fifteen patients died before the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic. Of the remaining 102 patients (68.8% females, 42 (41.2%) GPA; 32 (31.4%) MPA; 19 (18.6%) EGPA and 8 (7.8%) not further clinically subclassified AAV), SARS-CoV-2 infection was documented by PCR test in 11 (10.8%) patients (9 (81.8%) females; mean (SD) patient age at COVID-19 65.3 (±20.4) years; 7 GPA and 4 MPA). Five patients had mild COVID-19 symptomatically treated at home, and 6 patients had severe infection. Clinical features of COVID-19 are presented in Table 1. Three patients (27.3%) died due to COVID-19. There were 5 additional deaths of AAV patients during pandemic period, all these related to cancer progression.At the time of diagnosed COVID-19, AAV was in remission in 10 patients and relapsed 2 months prior in one patient. All patients except one were receiving immunomodulatory treatment (steroids only 2; DMARDs only 4; steroids + DMARDs 4).Of the 97 patients eligible for vaccination against COVID-19 (5 AAV patients died before vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 were available), 79 (81.4%) received by the end of November 2021 at least one dose, including 2 patients that later developed COVID-19 (both fully vaccinated; 2.5% breakthrough rate).Table 1.Presentation of COVID-19 in AAV patientsConclusionOur study shows that COVID-19 heralds a poor prognosis in AAV, with over 50% patients having severe disease and 25% deaths.References[1]Kronbichler A, et al. Autoimmun Rev 2021 doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2021.102986Disclosure of InterestsNone declared

In the push to develop high power electric aircraft, superconducting technology promises to significantly reduce mass and volume of motors and generators. However, challenges related to AC-loss and thermal management are a significant factor in preventing the proliferation of aerospace superconducting technologies. Increasing the resistance of the metal matrix stabilization has only gone so far in reducing coupling currents for higher frequency applications. In this research, Multiphysics simulations of a single composite filament were used to investigate stability decreases when using very high thermal conductivity electrical insulator (CsI) or metal-to-insulator transitioning material (V2O3) to replace the slightly resistive metal matrix typically used for a low AC loss MgB2 composite wire. The insulators separate the MgB2 filaments entirely, only allowing transient current sharing to occur with the high purity Nb diffusion barrier or with the metallic state V2O3. These simulations show that for these very low AC-loss composites at 20 K, instability will become a major issue due to reductions in current sharing. With higher electrical conductivity metal-to-insulator materials, higher thermal conductivity impregnation materials, and thicker metallic diffusion barriers it may be possible to find a reasonable balance between AC-loss and stability.

MgB2 wires with 114, 192 and 342 filaments of size 14–19 µm manufactured by HyperTech Research, Inc. have been subjected to low-temperature DC measurements. R(T), I–V characteristics, critical currents, stress and strain tolerances of these wires differing by filament architecture and filament size sheathed by resistive CuNi alloys were measured and compared with the literature data. It was found that these fine-filamentary wires have high engineering current densities not reduced by twisting up to 10 mm, sufficient strain tolerances and therefore are promising for future applications where minimized AC losses are required due to resistive sheaths, thin MgB2 filaments and short twist pitches.

We report the synthesis and characterization of MgB2 made from nano-boron and doped with graphene in the following mole percentages, x = 0, 3.0 and 12.0. The effect of graphene doping on the normal state resistivity (ρ), superconducting transition temperature (Tc), irreversibility and upper critical fields (Hirr and Hc2), and critical current density (Jc), as well as the pinning force (Fp) were evaluated. We found that the graphene doping has a positive impact on the above mentioned properties. In the case of the optimally doped (x = 3.0%) sample, the critical current density at 5 K corresponds to 1.4 × 105 A/cm2 for 2 T field, whereas the undoped sample showed 9.6 × 104 A/cm2 for the same field, i.e., 1.5 times improvement. Furthermore, the optimally doped sample showed a Jc of nearly 1 × 104 A/cm2 at 5 K, 8 T, which is a significantly high value. The upper critical field has been enhanced to 13 T at 20 K for the optimal doping level. The flux pinning behavior has been evaluated from the curve of flux pinning force against applied magnetic field, and it reveals that the maximum pinning has been improved by nearly 1.2 times at 20 K, due to the graphene doping.

This paper presents the results of work, experimental and simulation, performed on an YBCO pancake coil to develop a detect-and-activate-the-heater (DAH) protection technique. In this DAH protection technique a ldquoprotection heaterrdquo (PH) is activated, upon the detection of a quench zone in a coil, to create an additional normal zone to absorb the stored magnetic energy sufficient to keep the initially quenched zone (hot spot) from overheating. It is computed that a protection heater for most coils needs to cover only a fraction of the winding to keep the quenched zone from overheating. The pancake coil used in the experiment, 100-mm i.d., 190-mm o.d., and 4.3-mm height, is dry-wound with copper plated YBCO tape, 4.3-mm wide, 96.3- mum thick, 100-m long, and is turn-to-turn insulated with 38 mum thick Nomex spacer. The pancake stores a magnetic energy of 30 J at an operating current of 80 A at 65 K. Because the smaller the magnet size, the less applicable the assumption of adiabatic conditions is and also the more beneficial NZP becomes that would otherwise be negligible in ldquolargerdquo magnets, the hot spot temperature observed in the experiment with this ldquosmallrdquo test coil was much less than that computed based on the assumptions of adiabatic conditions and no NZP. To validate the basic concept and consequences of DAH protection technique either a test coil has to be large or if the same coil is to be used, it should be tested at the temperature range close to 20-30 K so that the coil can carry a large current and thus store a large magnetic energy.

This paper presents the results of a study of 2-dimensional normal zone propagation (NZP) in winding pack models comprised of 12 straight YBCO tapes stacked with wet, i.e., epoxied, insulating spacers. In each winding pack, the YBCO tapes were connected electrically in series in such a way that a transport current through the YBCO tapes zigzagged from one end of the winding pack to the other end of the winding pack. An insulated heater strip placed at the middle of the stack was energized to trigger a quench in YBCO tapes with a combination of heater taps which permits the length of the heated section to be varied for 1- or 2-dimensional NZP. Voltage taps of various lengths were placed within the winding packs to measure the transverse and longitudinal NZP speeds. Measurements with wet-spacers in which a large contact thermal resistance at each YBCO tape and spacer interface is chiefly responsible for very slow transverse NZP velocities, effectively eliminate the interface thermal resistance, resulting in faster transverse NZP speeds. Numerical simulation that neglects interface thermal resistance agrees quite well with experiment.

MgB2 samples were prepared using as-supplied commercial 96% boron with strong crystalline phase and the same 96% boron (B) after ball milling. The effects of the properties of the starting B powder on the superconductivity were evaluated. We observed that samples using ball-milled 96% B, in comparison with the one made from the as-supplied 96% B, were characterized by small grain size, broadened full width at half maximum (FWHM), and enhanced magnetic critical current density (Jc). Jc reached 2 times 103 A cm-2 at 5 K and 8 T. The improved pinning of these samples seems to be caused by enhanced grain boundary pinning at high field.

Various MgB2 wires with different sheath materials provided by Hyper Tech Research Inc., have been tested in the superconducting fault current limiter (SFCL) desktop tester at 24–26 K in a self-field. Samples 1 and 2 are similarly fabricated monofilamentary MgB2 wires with a sheath of CuNi, except that sample 2 is doped with SiC and Mg addition. Sample 3 is a CuNi sheathed multifilamentary wire with Cu stabilization and Mg addition. All the samples with Nb barriers have the same diameter of 0.83 mm and superconducting fractions ranging from 15% to 27% of the total cross section. They were heat-treated at temperatures of 700 °C for a hold time of 20–40 min. Current limiting properties of MgB2 wires subjected to pulse overcurrents have been experimentally investigated in an AC environment in the self-field at 50 Hz. The quench currents extracted from the pulse measurements were in a range of 200–328 A for different samples, corresponding to an average engineering critical current density (Je) of around 4.8 × 104 A cm−2 at 25 K in the self-field, based on the 1 µV cm−1 criterion. This work is intended to compare the quench behaviour in the Nb-barrier monofilamentary and multifilamentary MgB2 wires with CuNi and Cu/CuNi sheaths. The experimental results can be applied to the design of fault current limiter applications based on MgB2 wires.

Aiming to demonstrate feasibility and practicality of a low cost superconducting MRI magnet system targeted for use in small hospitals, rural communities and underdeveloped countries, MIT-Francis Bitter Magnet Laboratory has developed a 0.6 T/650 mm room temperature bore demonstration coil wound with multifilament MgB2 conductor and cooled via an innovative cryogenic design/operation. The coil is to be maintained cold by solid nitrogen kept in the solid state by a cryocooler. In the event of a power failure the cryocooler is automatically thermally decoupled from the system. In this paper we present details of the MgB2 conductor, winding process, and preliminary theoretical analysis of the current-carrying performance of the conductively cooled coils in zero background field and over the 10-30 K temperature range

Textured La/sub 2/Zr/sub 2/O/sub 7/, Gd/sub 2/O/sub 3/, and Er/sub 2/O/sub 3/ were studied as buffer layer materials for long length YBCO coated conductors. Buffer layers were grown on Ni tapes using La, Zr, Gd, and Er organometallic compounds which were dissolved into solvents to obtain smooth films via a non-vacuum, reel-to-reel sol-gel process. Films were annealed at 900/spl deg/C-1200/spl deg/C under a flowing 4%H/sub 2/-Ar gas mixture. The buffer layers were characterized by ESEM, EDS, XRD, and DTA. It was found that textured, continuous, crack- and pinhole-free La/sub 2/Zr/sub 2/O/sub 7/, Gd/sub 2/O/sub 3/, and Er/sub 2/O/sub 3/ buffer layers were obtained.

Polycrystalline Ni has been used as a substrate for high-current, coated YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub x/ superconductors. For many conductors, Ni is rolled to large deformation and annealed to produce a cube texture. In this study, Ni was rolled to >95% reduction and annealed in 5% H/sub 2//95% He at 300-1000/spl deg/C for various times. The resulting substrates were examined by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray and electron diffraction, and surface interferometry. Key determinations for the Ni were extent of in-plane and out-of-plane texture, surface smoothness, and grain size. The extent of texture was approximately independent of annealing temperature and increased slightly with annealing time. Annealing at temperatures >600/spl deg/C increased surface roughness, primarily due to grain-boundary grooving. Grain growth was fastest at 1000/spl deg/C and was proportional to time to the 0.1 power.

Direct peritectic growth (DPG) is a novel process in which textured YBCO thick films are deposited directly onto an unoriented silver alloy. No buffer layer is employed between the YBCO superconducting film and the silver alloy substrate. The textured YBCO grains have been obtained through peritectic solidification over a wide range of temperature and time. No observable reaction of the substrate was found with the YBCO melt at the maximum processing temperatures near the peritectic point (from 950/spl deg/C to 1030/spl deg/C). The transport J/sub c/ has reached a respectable value of 8/spl times/10/sup 4/ A/cm/sup 2/ at 77 K and in zero magnetic field. In this paper, we show that the DPG method is capable of producing highly textured YBCO thick films, which are scalable to long lengths with low cost.

Plastronic Inc. is working on a project for the Ballistic Missile Defence Organization to improve the strength and AC loss characteristics of Bi-based high temperature superconductors (HTS) for AC applications like motors, generators, and transmission cables. High strength, high amperage conductor is made by encapsulating bundles of HTS tapes with a nonsilver sheath. With this technique, Cu-alloy spacers can be placed between Bi-2223/Ag HTS tapes to de-couple the tapes under AC currents. AC losses were measured on conductor bundles with and without Cu-alloy spacers at AC currents up to 70 A and frequencies from 50 to 400 Hz. At frequencies up to about 100 Hz, it was found that the bundle with resistive barriers had AC loss equal to the sum of individual tapes as expected from the Norris ellipse model. At higher frequencies, the Cu-alloy barrier was not as effective in reducing the AC loss. For single tapes, Zr-oxide was used to coat the HTS filaments before stacking to form a multifilament tape. AC loss measurements of 6-filament tapes with and without the oxide coating showed little effect of the coating when the loss was normalized to the square of the critical current as the theory suggests.

(Bi,Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10 tapes have been fabricated by a tubular wire process which offers the advantages of near-net shape manufacturing and a lower ratio of silver to superconductor compared with the conventional powder-in-tube technique. Critical currents as high as 15 A have been achieved at 77 K in short sections of tapes fabricated by this process. The development of critical current with heat treatment time and the magnetic-field dependence of critical current of the tapes made by this process are found to be similar to those of tapes fabricated under identical conditions by the powder-in-tube technique.

Among key design and operation issues for MgB(2) relevant to MRI magnets are: uniformity of current-carrying capacity over long lengths (>2 km) of wire; and reliability of a splicing technique. This paper presents experimental results of current-carrying capacities of a small test coil and joints, both made from MgB(2) round wires, multifilament and monofilament (mono), manufactured by Hyper Tech Research, Inc. The test coils were wound with 95-m long unreacted, C (carbon)-doped MgB(2) multifilament wire, sintered at 700°C for 90 min. The critical currents were measured in the 4.2 K–15 K and 0 T–5 T ranges. We have modified our original splicing technique, proven successful with unreacted, un-doped MgB(2) multifilament wire sintered at 570°C, and applied it to splice both un-doped and C-doped mono wires sintered at 700°C. Most consistently good results were obtained using the un-doped mono wires. Also presented are results of a small joint-coil-PCS assembly of mono wire, operated in persistent mode at 50 A at >10 K.

An alternative mechanism for improvement of J c has been reported by the author's group in SiC-MgB 2 composite which was made by pre-mixing SiC and B, followed by Mg diffusion and reaction. In contrast to the common practice of improving the J c , and H c2 of MgB 2 through chemical substitution, it shows only a small decrease in the critical temperature, T c , and little increase in resistivity, ρ. The further analysis indicated that, there is no SiC decomposition and C substitution, the enhancement of properties is induced by thermal strain caused by the different thermal expansion coefficients (α) of the MgB 2 and SiC phases for SiC-MgB 2 composite. The thermal strain in the MgB 2 phase was demonstrated with x-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. By taking advantage of residual thermal strains, we are able to design a composite with only a small decrease in T c , and little increase in ρ, but a significant improvement in J c and H c2 . The strain engineering was applied to the grapheme doping to MgB 2 where graphene has low to negative thermal expansion coefficient. It was found that the graphene doping at even 1% level achieved the optimally J c (H) performance (1×104 A/cm2 at 5 K, 8 T), compared to the level for other carbon containing dopants at 5–10% level. The upper critical field has been enhanced to 13 T at 20 K for the optimal doping level. Another unique feature for grapheme doping is the very low resistivity, good grain connectivity in low field range and following δT pinning rather than δl for near all doped MgB 2 . The Raman studies show that the active E 2g mode was split into two parts: the softened mode corresponding to tensile strain and the hardened mode attributed to the carbon substitution effect.

The study evaluated the systemic inflammatory response and endothelium-dependent and independent function of the brachial artery (BA) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with and without antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).The study group consisted of 42 women with SLE (21 without APS; mean age 36.1 ± 9.1, and 21 with APS; mean age 43.9 ± 13.1) and 22 healthy controls (mean age 43.5 ± 10.3). Endothelium-dependent functional response was evacuate using the flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD) of brachial artery and endothelium-independent vasodilatation by application of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN). Using biochemical methods, circulating inflammatory markers were determined.In comparison to controls, in both groups of patients endothelium-dependent dilation of BA was significantly reduced, and there were no differences in FMD between patients with or without APS: SLE - 7.7% (11.9-12.1), SLE+APS 7.8% (2.4-12.8), controls - 14.6% (11.2-21.1), p0.001. However, endothelium-independent dilation of the brachial artery was significantly lower in SLE-APS patients than in controls and also lower than in the SLE group: SLE - 24.3% (15.0-28.6), SLE+APS-17.4% (13.1-22.6), controls - 23.0% (17.8-30.1), p=0.015 vs. p=0.027. Patients with SLE had significantly higher values of VCAM-1, hs-CRP, and fibrinogen than controls. In patients with SLE+APS, an additional significant increase of inflammatory markers was registered.The results of our study indicate that patients with SLE have deteriorated endothelium-dependent and those with APS also independent vascular function which could be, together with increased inflammatory response, involved in vascular complications in these patients. The presence of APS aggravates systemic inflammatory response.

Access to biologic treatment in rheumatoid arthritis in Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries

Plasma synthesized boron powder has been prepared under a variety of RF plasma conditions to examine the suitability of these powders for the preparation of powder‐in‐tube MgB2 wire. Particle size emerging from the RF torch typically ranges from 5 nm to 200 nm and lattice imaging studies in a transmission electron microscope show large portions of both amorphous and beta rhombohedral crystalline material. In situ powder‐in‐tube wire that is made with a continuous tube filling and forming process consistently gives critical current densities ranging from 20,000 to 100,000 A/cm2 at 5 K and 5 Tesla for a powder containing about 4% carbon. As the temperature rises, the critical current density of 100,000 A/cm2 occurs at 4.3 T at 10 K, 3.5 T at 15 K, and 2.5 T at 20 K. In preparation for studies of an ex‐situ powder‐in‐tube process, we have studied the size of reacted MgB2 powder formed in a magnesium vapor. Reaction rates are much slower than for solid state diffusion in the in‐situ process and care is needed to hold particle size under the micrometer range.

Coupled magneto-optical imaging and local misorientation angle mapping have been used to demonstrate the percolative nature of supercurrent flow in YBa2Cu3O7−x(YBCO) coated conductors grown on deformation-textured Ni substrates. Barriers to current flow occur at many YBCO grain boundaries (GBs) which have propagated through the buffer layers from the underlying Ni substrate, and all Ni GBs with misorientation angles >4° initiate percolative current flow. This type of current barrier is characteristic of the conductor form and has been found to exist in samples with Jc(0 T,77 K) values >2 MA/cm2. Sharpening of the local substrate texture or improving in low-angle GB properties should lead to higher Jc values.

Glutathione S-transferases (GST); GST-mu1 (GSTM1), GST-pi1 (GSTP1) and GST-theta1 (GSTT1) have peroxidase activity towards cytotoxic metabolites produced in inflammatory reactions, the main feature of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Genetic polymorphisms in GSTM1, GSTP1 and GSTT1 modify the enzyme conjugation capacity and may be associated with the activity of RA.A genotyping approach was used to analyze GSTM1-0, GSTT1-0 and GSTP1 Ile105Val and Ala114Val polymorphisms in 213 RA patients. Disease activity was assessed by the disease activity score of 28 joint counts (DAS28) twice for each patient and mean DAS28 values were calculated.The patients with GSTT1-0 genotype had a higher risk for developing high activity RA than the patients with GSTT1 genes present (p=0.028, OR=2.761, 95% CI=1.114-6.843). An interaction between the GSTT1 polymorphism and smoking was observed. In the group of smokers, the carriers of a homozygous deletion GSTT1 had an 8.5-fold higher risk for developing high disease activity than the patients with the GSTT1-1 genotype (p=0.004, OR=8.640, 95% CI=1.995-37.426). GSTM1 and GSTP1 polymorphisms were not associated with the disease activity.Our results suggest that the presence of the GSTT1-0 genotype contributed to higher disease activity in RA patients. The risk for developing highly active RA was the highest in smokers with the GSTT1-0 genotype.

It has been shown that subelements of niobium or niobium alloy tubes, clad with copper and with tin or tin alloy cores can be restacked in large numbers and drawn to finished wire with few ductility problems. These multi‐subelement restacks have been heat treated under a series of different conditions, the aim being to produce materials with low a.c. losses and good intermediate field stability.The process does not employ any electron beam welding, hot isostatic pressing or extrusion and, as a result, is more economical than the conventional internal‐tin approach normally used for these materials.Critical current densities in the non‐copper area as high as 2220 A/mm2 at 12 T have been achieved.

A series of internal‐tin type Nb3Sn sublements which had Nb‐7.5 wt%Ta filaments and various level of Ti doping were investigated. Titanium was introduced into the Sn core of the subelements such that the core contained 0 at% to 2.8 at% Ti before reaction. A series of pre‐reaction and reaction heat treatment were then given to these strands. The Ti and Sn distributions were mapped throughout the strand cross‐sections for samples removed at various stages of the heat treatment. The formation rates of Nb3Sn phases containing different levels of Ti were determined. Transport current, upper critical field, and the compositions of the A15 regions were measured for strands doped with various levels of Ti. The influence of simultaneous Ti and Ta doping on the upper critical field as well as high field Jc optimization was investigated.

Five rotor coils (four plus a spare) intended for a prototype 2 MW generator were fabricated and tested. For each coil, multifilamentary MgB2 strand was wound around a stepped former in a wind and react mode using S‐glass insulation in combination with vacuum epoxy impregnation. The stepped, ellipsoidal coils had maximum in‐plane dimensions of 26.7 cm×13.1 cm and a total thickness of 5.4 cm, and were wound with approximately 580 m of MgB2 strand per coil. Each of the coils were measured separately for Ic and magnetic field in the bore at 4.2 K and for one coil Ic and B were also measured as a function of temperature. The bore field as a function of position along the z‐axis was also determined near the critical current at 4.2 K. The coils typically reached 186 A at 4.2 K generating a 1.7 T field, while at 20 K the Ic was 117 A with a bore field of 1.1 T field.

AC transport current and applied magnetic field loss measurements have been made on MgB2 superconducting strands. We tested six‐filament strands made via an in‐situ route with Nb chemical barriers, a Cu‐inter‐filamentary matrix, and ODS Cu (glidcop) outer sheaths. Strands were untwisted and measured in self magnetic field at temperatures from 4.2 K to Tc. Transport ac losses agreed reasonably well with theoretical predictions for a wire of round cross‐section. AC losses in applied magnetic field perpendicular to the wire axis have been measured in fields up to 140 mT (peak) in frequency range 50–200 Hz in liquid helium bath at 4.2 K. There is a reasonable agreement of the losses with the critical state model at 50 Hz. At 200 Hz the losses are dominated by eddy currents in Cu matrix. Eddy current losses in the glidcop sheath are negligibly small.

The high-threshold sensory afferents, which express trkA, are predominantly involved in terminal collateral sprouting in the skin of adult mammals. We explored which sensory axons are capable of sprouting into the end-to-side coapted nerve in the rat.The distal stump of the transected peroneal nerve was sutured to the side of the uninjured sural nerve. After 36 weeks, sprouting of sensory axons into the end-to-side coapted nerve was assessed by the electrophysiologic measurements of compound action potential and by counting the myelinated axons. The neurons in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) L5 whose axons sprouted into the end-to-side coapted nerve were retrogradely labelled by the fluorescent dye Fluorogold. The expression of trkA in sprouting DRG neurons was investigated by immunohistochemistry.Predominantly thin myelinated axons were found in the end-to-side coapted peroneal nerve. Their mean conduction velocity (CV) was between the average CVs of the Adelta and Abeta fibres in the normal sural nerves. About 90% of the sprouting DRG neurons were small and medium sized, and about 10% were large. About 85% of sprouting DRG neurons was immunoreactive to trkA, but the rest were not.Mostly the high-threshold sensory afferents sprouted into the end-to-side coapted nerve, which resembles the collateral sprouting of sensory axons in the skin. However, our results suggest that also some low-threshold mechanoreceptors can sprout after the end-to-side nerve repair.

Avascular necrosis of femoral head (AN) is a hip disorder with various risk factors, however, the underlying mechanisms are not yet understood. In order to elucidate the effect of the mechanical factors on AN we have compared a group of hips at risk for AN and a group of healthy hips with respect to biomechanical parameters: functional angle of the weight bearing area (ϑF), position of the stress pole (Θ), index of the gradient of the contact stress at the lateral border of the load bearing area (Gp) and peak contact hip stress (pmax). The test group representing hips at risk for AN consisted of 32 male hips contralateral to the necrotic hips while the control group consisted of 46 healthy male hips. The biomechanical parameters we computed with the HIPSTRESS method (based on measurements of geometrical parameters from standard anterior-posterior pelvic radiographs). The average values of parameters pertaining to both groups were compared by the unpaired two-sided Student t-test. The functional angle of the weight bearing area was on the average larger (more favorable) in the control group (112.9o±13.5o) than in the test group (105.0o±12.4o), the difference (7%) being statistically significant (p < 0.01). The position of the stress pole was more lateral (less favorable) in the test group (15.44o±7.23o) than in the control group (11.80o±7.58o), the difference (27%) being statistically significant (p = 0.037). The index of the hip stress gradient was higher (less favorable) in the test group (-17.23o±17.16o x 103m-3) than in the control group (26.05±16.85 x 103m-3), the difference (40%) being statistically significant (p = 0.028) while we found no statistically significant difference in the peak contact stress between the two groups. Our results indicate that a less favorable steep stress distribution over a smaller load-bearing area is a risk factor in AN.

Critical current density was measured at 4.2 K for MgB2 strands with and without SiC additions. In some cases measurements were performed on longer (1 m) samples wound on barrels, and these were compared to magnetic measurements. Most measurements were performed on short samples at higher fields (up to 18 T). It was found that in-situ processed strands with 10% SiC additions HT at 700-800C show improved Hr and Fp values as compared to control samples, with Hr increasing by 1.5 T. At 900C even larger improvements are seen, with Hr reaching 18 T and Fp values maximizing at 20 GN/m3., 15 pages, 1 table, six figs

ATC is developing a new strategy for the large‐scale manufacture of high‐performance Nb3Sn superconducting wire. One element of that strategy is to use a continuous tube forming process to apply a Ta diffusion barrier and Cu stabilizer onto the drawn subelements prior to restack. The motivation in the development is to make these steps a continuous operation applicable to processing large billets and long wire lengths, and to limit the cold work that is put into the Ta layer and thereby avoid barrier breakage. The process has been applied successfully on a small scale. The development of the process is presented and the results analyzed. Several things were learned that will guide the scale‐up to continuous processing. Plans for scale‐up are presented.

The case of a patient who presented with Sjögren's syndrome complicated by localised cutaneous nodular amyloidosis is reported. We discuss the possible link between these two diseases.

We report a case of a 66-year-old caucasian woman suffering from polymyositis with the anti-Jo-1 antibody. Shortly after admission to our hospital, despite the fact that the patient was given intravenous pulse methylprednisolone (1000 mg/day for 3 consecutive days), she developed severe, ventilatory-dependent, acute respiratory distress syndrome. Evaluation for infectious or noninfectious aetiologies of acute respiratory distress syndrome was unrevealing. Bronchoalveolar lavage disclosed neutrophilic alveolitis. Histological examination of a transbronchial biopsy revealed an interstitial fibrosing process and cuboidalisation of the alveolar epithelium. In addition to high-dose methylprednisolone the patient was given intravenous pulse cyclophosphamide fortnightly for six weeks and afterwards every 4 weeks. All symptoms resolved and arterial blood gases returned to normal. Remission has been maintained with azathioprine. One year after onset, polymyositis is in complete remission. This is the first report of a patient suffering from polymyositis with the anti-Jo-1 antibody who survived such a complication. Intravenous pulse cyclophosphamide was probably a life saving therapy.

The aim of our study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of serial determination of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and soluble receptors of interleukin-2 (sIL-2R) in the diagnosis of early infection in the critically ill newborns and compare it with the routinely used C-reactive protein (CRP). Fourty-six critically ill newborns (median age 8 h, range 1-96 h), treated at the multidisciplinary intensive care unit, Division for Paediatric Surgery and Intensive Care, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, were included in the study. Newborns were divided into three groups: group I microbiologically confirmed severe infection (n = 14), group II suspected but not confirmed infection (n = 12) and group III respiratory distress syndrome without laboratory signs of infection. Serum concentrations of IL-6, sIL-2R and CRP were determined on admission and at 12 and 24 h after admission. On admission the concentrations of IL-6 and sIL-2R were significantly higher in group I than in group III, but there was no difference between groups I and II. On admission area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for IL-6 was 0.756, for IL-2R 0.821 and for CRP 0.799. Repeated determination at 12 h improved diagnostic accuracy for sIL-R and CRP but not for IL-6.

In the process of developing high temperature superconducting (HTS) transmission cables, it was found that mechanical strength of the superconducting tape is the most crucial property that needs to be improved. It is also desirable to increase the current carrying capacity of the conductor so that fewer layers are needed to make the kilo-amp class cables required for electric utility usage. A process has been developed by encapsulating a stack of Bi-2223/Ag tapes with a silver or non-silver sheath to form a strengthened bundle superconductor. This process was applied to HTS tapes made by the Continuous Tube Forming and Filling (CTFF) technique pursued by Plastronic Inc. and HTS tapes obtained from other manufacturers. Conductors with a bundle of 2 to 6 HTS tapes have been made. The bundled conductor is greatly strengthened by the non-silver sheath. No superconductor degradation as compared to the sum of the original critical currents of the individual tapes was seen on the finished conductors.