Ring Area Research Articles

Determining the thermally-stressed state of motor-driven bowls for transporting liquid slag

Slag bowls were chosen as the object of research, as important components of blast furnace, steelmaking, and ferroalloy shops of metallurgical enterprises. The main problem of operation of any slag trucks is their limited durability and frequent destruction of slag bowls. The reason for these problems is changes in the shape of the bowls during operation, manifested in the formation of narrowing places in the area of the support ring – for rail-mounted bowls, destruction of supporting pins – for rail-mounted slag trucks, or cracks in the walls. Those defects appear as a result of cyclic thermal effects of liquid slag on the bowl. Based on the results of computer simulation, it was established that the main role in the destruction of the support pins of motor-driven slag bowls belongs to temperature changes. The temperature stresses arising in the bowl are localized in the area of the slag mirror (200–250 MPa for 25L steel, 280–350 MPa for 30HML steel). The results provide grounds for improving the presented slag bowl to reduce temperature stresses in its walls and structures of the supporting trunnions. The results reported here are explained by the fact that with uneven heating of elastic bodies, temperature stresses appear, which, under certain configurations of temperature loads, lead to the destruction of structures. The findings from these studies are recommended to be used at enterprises for the design and manufacture of slag bowls, as information on the localization of dangerous places of the structure. In addition, the data presented here could be useful for metallurgical enterprises for detailed technical diagnosis of bowls in their dangerous places

Differences in urban daytime and night block vitality based on mobile phone signaling data: A case study of Kunming’s urban district

Abstract Exploring the pattern of block vitality within cities and its influencing factors is an important topic in urban vitality research, which has great significance in promoting high-quality urban development. However, existing research has paid little attention to the spatial difference characteristics of daytime and night urban vitality and the differences in their influencing factors. Using the urban area of Kunming, China, as a case study, this study explores the differences in spatial patterns of daytime and night vitality at the intra-city block scale and analyses the differences in the main influencing factors of daytime and night block vitality using spatial regression models. The study obtains the following findings: (1) daytime block vitality in Kunming’s urban district (the urban Dist. of KM) is higher than night block vitality. The First Ring Area has the highest daytime block vitality, whereas the Second Ring Area has the highest night block vitality. (2) Block vitality in the urban Dist. of KM presents a polycentric structure. (3) There are obvious differences in the factors influencing urban vitality between daytime and night, with work accessibility, functional mixing, daily consumption accessibility, floor area ratio, and average building age, having different directions of influence on daytime and night urban vitality. (4) Daytime urban vitality in the urban Dist. of KM relies on work activities, while night urban vitality relies on residential activities. The results provide a scientific basis for urban land use layout, facility construction, and higher-quality urban planning and management, thus promoting sustainable urban development.

A Generalization of the Drainage Capacity in Data-Scarce Urban Areas: An Improved Equivalent Infiltration Method

This article addresses the challenge of simulating rainstorm waterlogging in urban-scale areas where reliable drainage pipe network data are often lacking. Although methods have been developed to tackle this issue, there remains a gap in their effectiveness. We present a novel approach, the modified equivalent infiltration (MEI) method, by building upon the foundation of the Equivalent Infiltration (EI) method. This study focuses on the outer ring area of Shanghai, utilizing data from the “In-Fa” typhoon period for simulation and comparison. Our findings reveal that the MEI method, requiring the same data inputs as the EI method, surpasses its predecessor in both principle and simulation results. Additionally, the MEI method demonstrates robustness in handling rainstorm waterlogging scenarios.

Flexible Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Tape Based on Ag Nanostructured Substrate for On-Site Analyte Detection.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has emerged as a powerful surface analytical technique that amplifies Raman scattering signals of molecules adsorbed onto metal nanostructured surfaces. The droplet reaction method has recently been employed to fabricate large-scale microring patterns of silver (Ag) nanostructures on rigid substrates, which enables sensitive detection within the ring area. However, these rigid substrates present limitations for direct on-site detection of analyte residues on irregular sample surfaces. There is a need to develop soft and flexible SERS substrates that can intimately conform to arbitrary surfaces. In this study, we presented a SERS substrate using flexible and adhesive tape as the supporting material. This SERS tape was fabricated by repeatedly transferring presynthesized Ag nanostructures from a rigid substrate to the tape. For a model compound adenine, our SERS tape exhibited a good linear response from 5 × 10-4 M to 5 × 10-5 M with a low limit of detection (LOD) of 5 × 10-7 M and displayed a SERS enhancement factor (EF) of 3.2 × 105. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of SERS intensity achieved was as low as 1.93%, indicating its outstanding uniformity. The as-prepared SERS tape was used for in situ detection of pesticide residue on an apple surface and dye residue on human hair. Leveraging the large surface area of Ag nanostructure patterns from the droplet reaction, the developed SERS tape demonstrates excellent performance in terms of sensitivity and uniformity. The successful detection of analyte residues on arbitrary surfaces of apple and human hair highlights the potential of this flexible SERS tape for real-world applications across various industries for enhanced diagnostic accuracy.

Polysaccharide from Clitocybe squamulosa: Gel-forming properties and its compound effect with food thickener

To study the gel-forming properties of polysaccharide from the fruiting body of Clitocybe squamulosa (CSFP) and its degradation product (UH-CSFP), the changes in steady-state and dynamic rheological properties of CSFP and UH-CSFP under different conditions (polysaccharide mass fraction, temperature, pH, and salt ion concentration) were studied. Polysaccharides with good gel-forming properties were selected and mixed with common edible thickeners (gelatin, guar gum, and locust bean gum), after which the properties of the composite gel were assessed. The steady-state rheological results showed that CSFP and UH-CSFP were pseudoplastic fluids, their apparent viscosity decreased with increasing temperature, the viscosity was greatest when the pH was 7. The addition of Na+ and Ca2+ could increase the viscosity, and the viscosity of UH-CSFP was lower than that of CSFP at the same mass fraction. The results of dynamic rheology indicated that G´ and G´´ of CSFP and UH-CSFP increased with increasing mass fraction, pH, and ion concentration (0.01 M to 1 M), and G´´ was always smaller than G´ indicating weak gel behavior. The thixotropy-related experimental results showed that the thixotropy ring area of CSFP and UH-CSFP increased with increasing mass fraction, the ring area of CSFP was larger than that of UH-CSFP, and the gel strength of CSFP was greater than that of UH-CSFP. The results of CSFP and three types of edible gels showed that the composite gels were pseudoplastic fluids, and their apparent viscosity was ranked (in descending order) as follows: guar bean gum, locust bean gum, and gelatin. The addition of CSFP improved the gel-forming properties of guar gum but did not significantly improve the gel properties of locust bean gum and gelatin. This study provides a theoretical basis for the selection of processing methods and the application of polysaccharides.

Structural Design and Analysis of Large-Diameter D30 Conical Polycrystal Diamond Compact (PDC) Teeth under Engineering Rotary Mining Conditions.

In the realm of engineering rotary excavation, the rigid and brittle nature of the Polycrystal Diamond Compact (PDC) layer poses challenges to the impact resistance of conical teeth. This hinders their widespread adoption and utilization. In this paper, the Abaqus simulation is used. By optimizing the parameters of the radius of the cone top arc, we analyzed the changing law of the parameters of large-diameter D30 series conical PDC teeth, such as the equivalent force, impact force, and energy absorption of the conical teeth during the impact process, and optimized the best structure of the conical PDC teeth. After being subjected to a high temperature and high pressure, we synthesized the specimen for impact testing and analyzed the PDC layer crack extension and fracture failure. The findings reveal the emergence of a stress ring below the compacted area of the conical tooth. As the radius of the cone top arc increases, so does the area of the stress ring. When R ≥ 10 mm, the maximum stress change is minimal, and at R = 10 mm, the stress change in its top unit is relatively smooth. Optimal impact resistance is achieved, withstanding a total impact work value of 7500 J. Extrusion cracks appear in the combined layer part of PDC layers I and II, but the crack source is easy to produce in the combined layer of PDC layer II and the alloy matrix and extends to both sides, and the right side extends to the surface of the conical tooth in a "dragon-claw". The failure morphology of the conical teeth includes ring shedding at the top of the PDC layer, the lateral spalling of the PDC layer, and the overall cracking of the conical teeth. Through this study, we aim to promote the popularization and application of large-diameter conical PDC teeth in the field of engineering rotary excavation.

High-throughput evaluation of hemolytic activity through precise measurement of colony and hemolytic zone sizes of engineered Bacillus subtilis on blood agar.

Biosurfactants have remarkable characteristics, such as environmental friendliness, high safety, and excellent biodegradability. Surfactin is one of the best-known biosurfactants produced by Bacillus subtilis. Because the biosynthetic pathways of biosurfactants, such as surfactin, are complex, mutagenesis is a useful alternative to typical metabolic engineering approaches for developing high-yield strains. Therefore, there is a need for high-throughput and accurate screening methods for high-yield strains derived from mutant libraries. The blood agar lysis method, which takes advantage of the hemolytic activity of biosurfactants, is one way of determining their concentration. This method includes inoculating microbial cells onto blood-containing agar plates, and biosurfactant production is assessed based on the size of the hemolytic zone formed around each colony. Challenges with the blood agar lysis method include low experimental reproducibility and a lack of established protocols for high-throughput screening. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effects of the inoculation procedure and media composition on the formation of hemolytic zones. We also developed a workflow to evaluate the number of colonies using robotics. The results revealed that by arranging colonies at appropriate intervals and measuring the areas of colonies and hemolytic rings using image analysis software, it was possible to accurately compare the hemolytic activity among several colonies. Although the use of the blood agar lysis method for screening is limited to surfactants exhibiting hemolytic activity, it is believed that by considering the insights gained from this study, it can contribute to the accurate screening of strains with high productivity.

Research on the Spatiotemporal Characteristics of Block Vitality based on LBS Data and the Impact Mechanisms of the Built Environment -Taking the Third Ring Road in Fuzhou City as an example

Using location-based services (LBS) data from the third ring area in Fuzhou city, this study analyzes the spatiotemporal characteristics of block vitality by measuring the density of active population gatherings. It explores the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of block vitality based on a geographically and temporally weighted autoregressive model (GTWAR), considering built environment features such as POI density, functional mix, and road network density. Additionally, it investigates their interactions using a geographic detector and compares differences between weekdays and weekends across five daily periods. Key findings include:(1) The overall urban vitality in the region exhibits a spatial pattern of “one core, two centers, multiple sub-centers, and multiple clusters” and undergoes spatiotemporal dynamic changes across five periods, characterized by ‘dispersion, agglomeration, deep agglomeration, and dispersion.” (2) The marginal effects of POI density, functional mix, and road network density on block vitality exhibit instability in both spatial and temporal dimensions.(3)Interaction effects between two factors exert a more significant impact on block vitality than the effects of individual factors, with interaction types including dual-factor enhancement and nonlinear enhancement.(4)Differences exist in the spatiotemporal characteristics of block vitality, built environment influences, and their interactions between weekdays and weekends.

Ekstrarenalni Vilmsov tumor koji je imponovao kao funikulocela

Introduction/Objective: Extrarenal Wilms' tumor (ERWT) comprises 0.5% to 1% of all nephroblastoma cases. The most common locations of ERWT are the retroperitoneum, inguinal, lumbosacral and pelvic region, female genital organs, mediastinum and chest wall, spermatic cord and paratesticular region. ERWT most likely originates from the ectopic nephrogenic rest that undergoes a malignant transformation. The exclusion of primary renal tumor is necessary to establish the diagnosis of ERWT. Patient Review: A 15-month-old male was operated on because of a left-sided inguinal mass that clinically resembled a funicular hydrocele. The surgical exploration of the inguinal canal revealed a solid tumor located in the area of the external inguinal ring, measuring around 2cm in diameter, with no ingvinal hernia present. Complete surgical resection of the mass was performed. The histological structure of the tumor corresponded to non-anaplastic nephroblastoma (Wilms tumor), mixed type. After abdominal CT scan primary renal tumor was excluded and the diagnosis of ERWT was made. Because of microscopic tumor rests on the resection margin, the patient was treated according to the high-risk SIOP Wilms tumor protocol. The patient made a full recovery. During the 10-year follow-up, the boy has remained disease-free. Conclusion: ERWT is mostly diagnosed after the surgical removal of the specimen. The clinical resemblance of the ERWT located in the inguinal region to common benign inguinal conditions in children may lead to the omission of detailed preoperative work-up. Most children with ERWT in the inguinal region have an excellent prognosis, although most of them require adjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy after surgery.

Chromophore appended DPA-based copper(II) complexes with a diimine motif towards DNA binding and fragmentation studies.

Mixed ligand copper(II) complexes [Cu(L1)(bpy)](ClO4)21 and [Cu(L2)(bpy)](ClO4)22 (where L1 = 1-(anthracen-9-yl)-N,N-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)methanamine, L2 = 1-(pyren-1-yl)-N,N-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)methanamine and bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) were synthesised and characterised thoroughly via different analytical and spectroscopic techniques i.e., UV-vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, HRMS and EPR spectroscopy. The molecular structures of the synthesised complexes were obtained using the single-crystal X-ray diffraction technique. Both complexes exhibited penta-coordinated and acquired distorted square pyramidal geometry. The redox behaviour of complexes 1 and 2 was investigated by employing cyclic voltammetry. The DNA binding study was carried out by UV-vis spectrophotometry using double-stranded salmon sperm DNA (ds-ss-DNA). The binding constant (Kb) values of 1 and 2 were 0.11 × 104 M-1 and 1.05 × 104 M-1, respectively, which indicates that 2 has better binding ability than 1. This might be due to the higher conjugative abilities with the extended surface area of the aromatic pyrene ring compared to the anthracene moiety. The fluorescence quenching experiments were also performed with EB bound DNA (EB-DNA) and Stern-Volmer constant (KSV) values were calculated as 1.23 × 105 M-1 and 1.39 × 105 M-1 for 1 and 2, respectively, suggesting that 2 showed stronger interaction with ss-DNA than 1. The molecular docking data support the DNA-binding studies, with the sites and mode of interactions against B-DNA varying with 1 and 2. Evaluation of the DNA binding properties of the complexes to linearized plasmid DNA indicated that 2 had modest DNA binding properties, which is a pre-requisite for a genotoxic agent. The effect of 1 and 2 on cell survival was analysed using HeLa cells by MTT assay and it was observed that the IC50 values of 1 and 2 were 43.7 μM and 18.6 μM, respectively. Our study paves the way for the designing of bio-inspired novel mixed metal complexes, which shows promising results for further exploration of molecular and mechanistic studies towards the development of non-platinum based economical metallodrugs.

Comparison of retinal parameters between rhesus and cynomolgus macaques.

Nonhuman primates are important research models for basic vision research, preclinical pathogenesis, and treatment studies due to strong similarities in retinal structure and function with humans. We compared retinal parameters between 10 healthy normal rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) and 10 cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) by optical coherence tomography and electroretinography. The Heidelberg Spectralis® HRA+OCT and Roland multifocal electrophysiometer were used to analyze retinal morphology, multifocal electroretinograms (mfERGs), and full-field electroretinograms (ff-ERGs). Mean retinal thickness was lowest in the central fovea of macaques and did not differ significantly between species, but the retinal thicknesses of the nerve fiber ganglion cell layer and the inner plexiform layer were significantly different. The amplitude density of the N1 wave was lower in rhesus macaques than in cynomolgus macaques in ring and quadrant areas. Dark-adapted 3.0 oscillatory potentials (reflection of amacrine cell activity) and light-adapted 30-hz flicker ERG (a sensitive cone-pathway-driven response) waveforms of the ff-ERG were similar in both species, while the times to peaks in dark-adapted 0.01 ERG (the rod-driven response of bipolar cells) and dark-adapted 3.0 ERG (combined rod and cone system responses) as well as the implicit times of the a- and b-waves in light-adapted 3.0 ERG (the single-flash cone response) were substantially different. This study provides normative retinal parameters for nonhuman primate research on basic and clinical ophthalmology, as well as a reference for researchers in the appropriate selection of rhesus or cynomolgus macaques as models for ophthalmology studies.

Investigating the effect of overbased sulfonates on calcium sulfonate complex grease: enhancements in physicochemical, rheological, and tribological properties.

Overbased sulfonate plays a crucial role in calcium sulfonate complex grease, significantly impacting the grease's performance characteristics. Herein, the calcium sulfonate complex grease was formulated using overbased calcium sulfonate (T106D) and overbased magnesium sulfonate (T107) in ratios of 1 : 2, 1 : 1, and 2 : 1, labeled as CMSCG (1 : 2), CMSCG (1 : 1), and CMSCG (2 : 1), respectively. This study examined the effects of overbased sulfonates on the physicochemical, anti-corrosion, rheological, and tribological properties of the grease. Results showed that CMSCG (1 : 2) exhibited superior physicochemical properties, with the highest dropping point (354 °C), the lowest penetration (161 (0.1 mm)), and the least oil separation (1.25%). Exposure to a salt spray environment significantly altered the grease's rheological properties. The combination of T106D and T107 enhanced the corrosion resistance of the grease, attributed to the formation of a corrosion inhibition layer. Incorporating T107 increased both the yield stress and hysteresis area of the calcium sulfonate complex grease. The CMSCG (1 : 2), CMSCG (1 : 1), and MSCG showed the high thixotropic ring area, indicating the poor thixotropy. The calcium sulfonate complex grease formulated with T107 showed the highest yield stress (558 Pa). The friction mechanism revealed that MSCG showed the optimal friction reduction properties, and CMSCG (1 : 1) demonstrated the optimal wear resistance, which are attributed to the synergistic effects of tribo-chemical films composed of CaO, CaCO3, FeSO4, MgCO3, and iron oxide.

백제 한성기 횡혈식석실분의 분포 특성과 지방지배 방식의 다양성

The emergence and spread of stone chamber tombs with corridor(橫穴式石室墳) during Baekje’s Hanseong period are understood as closely linked to the rule of provinces however, these tombs are not evenly distributed across the area of Baekje, but concentrated in specific areas. The purpose of this article is to grasp the characteristics of the distribution of stone chamber tombs with corridor in the Hanseong period of Baekje, thereby looking into the historical and cultural implications of these characteristics. Stone chamber tombs with corridor adopted by the central Baekje in the late 4th century spread in three stages to various regions of Baekje ranging from Gyeonggi region to inland Chungcheong and the downstream region of Geumgang River. The aspects of the step-by-step distribution of stone chamber tombs with corridor show the process of Baekje’s power expansion to the area of Mahan, and verify that Baekje’s governing strategy was reflected in this process. While such a distribution of stone chamber tombs with corridor is hardly found in the distribution area of rock mound tombs (積石墳丘墓) among tomb systems in Mahan, its close correlation is confirmed in the distribution areas of earth mound tombs (盛土墳丘墓) and of ring ditched pit tombs (周溝土壙墓). And it was found that the distribution density is highest in the distribution area of ring ditched pit tombs. This implies that while Baekje tried to accomplish provincial rule by spreading stone chamber tombs with corridor intensively in the cultural area origin that was foreign to Baekje’s underlying culture, they needed not bother to spread stone chamber tombs with corridor in the cultural area because Baekje was able to govern the cultural area origin with relative ease on the basis of cultural and social sameness. That is, Baekje realized provincial rule by applying different systems according to areas of Mahan in the process of integrating the Mahan society. On the other hand, Baekje made the existing local traditional tombs disappear or coexist after spreading stone chamber tombs with corridor to local community in the distribution areas of earth mound tombs and of ring ditched pit tombs where underlying culture was different; or imposed indirect rule by granting prestige goods while respecting the existing local tombs as in the distribution area of rock mound tombs. And thus, the aspects of provincial rule were not uniform. This means that Baekje accomplished provincial rule through regulating the use of stone chamber tombs with corridor on the basis of the cultural sameness or difference of underlying culture in a broad framework, while adopting various governing strategies in detail in consideration of the circumstances of each provincial society. It appears that as for the province governing systems, multiple ruling strategies were applied, such as the central regulation and differentiation of tomb systems, the use of provincial desire for imitating the central tomb system, and the securing of support base through respect for the existing local tomb system. As a result, Baekje created circumstances in which it needed not proceed with multidirectional territorialization across all the areas including the distribution area of earth mound tombs, as well as the distribution area of rock mound tombs. And consequently, Baekje was able to win a victory in competition with Mokjiguk (目支國) and integrate the society of Mahan.

Penerapan Keselamatan dan Kesehatan Kerja Masyarakat Sekitar Ring Satu Industri Besar di Kelurahan Bontoa

Bontoa Village is an industry ring area so it has access to industry, both cement and other industries. Many community members earn their livelihood by working in industrial areas, so efforts must be made to promote occupational safety and health. The aim of outreach activities is to increase the ability to prevent early access to unwanted accidents. The method of this activity is lecture and question and answer. Before the lecture there was a pretest and after that a posttest was held. Participants in this activity are people at high risk of being affected by accidents and occupational health in Bontoa Village. The results of this activity show an increase in knowledge based on post-counseling practice. Therefore, it is recommended to carry out community service activities in other areas so that zero accidents occur.
 Key words: community service, work accidents, occupational health, knowledge, high risk workers.

Improved outcomes of localized diffuse large B-cell lymphoma at the Waldeyer ring in comparison to the sinonasal area in the rituximab era.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) of the head-and-neck area primarily involves the Waldeyer ring (WR) and sinonasal area (SN). However, the differential clinical outcomes between patients with WR-DLBCL and those with SN-DLBCL in the rituximab era remain unclear. To avoid confounding factors contributed by advanced DLBCL with WR and SN involvement, we assessed the clinical outcomes of patients with stage I/II WR-DLBCL and SN-DLBCL and compared them with those having corresponding stages of DLBCL in the lymph nodes but without other extranodal involvement (LN-DLBCL) in the same period. We compared the patients' clinical characteristics, treatment modalities, event-free survival (EFS), and overall survival (OS) among the three subgroups. We analyzed 67, 15, and 106 patients with WR-DLBCL, SN-DLBCL, and LN-DLBCL, respectively, between January 2000 and December 2019. All patients received front-line rituximab-based regimens, and > 80% received rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone-based regimens. More patients with SN-DLBCL had revised International Prognostic Index (R-IPI) score 3 (27%) when compared with those with WR-DLBCL (7%) and those with LN-DLBCL (10%, p = 0.181). Patients with WR-DLBCL, LN-DLBCL, and SN-DLBCL had 5-year EFS and OS rates of 80.7%, 59.5%, and 41.9% (p = 0.021) and 83.7%, 70.8%, and 55.8% (p = 0.032), respectively. Compared to patients with LN-DLBCL, those with WR-DLBCL also had a significantly favorable 5-year EFS rate (p = 0.021) and 5-year OS rate (p = 0.023). Three of the 15 patients with SN-DLBCL experienced lymphoma recurrence in the brain after front-line treatment. In multivariate analyses, R-IPI scores of 1-2 and 3 served as significantly poor prognostic factors for patients with poor EFS and OS. Compared to patients with LN-DLBCL, patients with WR-DLBCL receiving front-line rituximab-based treatments had favorable clinical outcomes; however, patients with SN-DLBCL had worse clinical outcomes. Further studies on molecular prognostic factors and treatment strategies for SN-DLBCL are warranted.

Lithological Investigation of The Drill Core from a Sedimentary Cover in the Area of the Siljan Ring, Central Sweden

The ring structure of Siljan, located in the central part of Sweden, is considered by many researchers to be a meteorite (impact) crater. Impact craters are among the most complex geological objects on the Earth. The origin and formation of these structures still raises many questions. To find answers to these questions we need reliable geological information about the structure of the crater and the composition of the rocks. Information about the thickness and geological structure of the Siljan Ring area sedimentary cover will help to understand the process of the Siljan Ring structure’s formation as well as other similar geological formations on the Earth. Here, we present the results of laboratory studies of sedimentary rock samples taken from four exploration wells drilled in the vicinity of the Siljan Ring crater, which made it possible to compile their detailed lithological description. The laboratory studies included a structural analysis of the samples, and a texture and mineralogical analysis in thin sections. A structure analysis was carried out visually, while structural and mineralogical analyses were carried out on thin sections using a polarizing microscope and a scanning electron microscope. The main components of the rocks (minerals and fragments), along with their ratio and secondary transformations, were determined. The results of the structural analysis of the samples, and the textural and mineralogical analysis of the rocks in thin sections, showed that the sediments’ composition in the sedimentary cover near the Siljan Ring structure changes in different areas in accordance with their facies and stratigraphic characteristics. Furthermore, a change in the thickness of the sections and the succession sequences of rock units was established. A change of this nature is presumably caused by tectonic disturbances of an endogenous or impact source.

Progression of retinitis pigmentosa on static perimetry, optical coherence tomography, and fundus autofluorescence

In retinitis pigmentosa (RP), photoreceptor degeneration leads to progressive visual field loss and visual impairment. Several therapeutic trials are ongoing aiming to establish effective treatments. Although functional evaluations are commonly used in clinical trials, residual ellipsoid zone (EZ) measurement on optical coherence tomography has been shown to be more sensitive to detect disease progression. Establishment of sensitive outcome measurement is essential to develop new therapeutic strategies. In the current study, we evaluated the progression rates of the disease in 76 eyes of 76 patients with RP, using the residual EZ length, ring-shaped macular hyperautofluorescent (AF), and visual field. Decrease rates measured by the residual EZ area and by the hyper-AF ring area were strongly positively correlated (P < 0.0001, r = 0.71). The reduction rates of the residual EZ length and hyper-AF ring radius were constant regardless of their baseline measurements. Faster annual reduction rates of the hyper-AF ring area or radius were significantly correlated with faster visual field progression (P = 0.03, r = 0.25 and P = 0.004, r = 0.33, respectively). These findings support the usage of morphological measurements such as EZ or hyper-AF ring measurements as outcome measurement for future clinical trials for RP.

Delineating and Characterizing the Metropolitan Fringe Area of Shanghai—A Spatial Morphology Perspective

The metropolitan fringe area is of great significance to a city’s future growth. However, relatively little attention has been paid to delineating and characterizing the metropolitan fringe area from a spatial morphology perspective, which contributes to the planning and design of metropolitan fringe areas. Therefore, the aim of this study is to develop a morphology–based method to delineate the metropolitan fringe area and investigate the characteristics of its spatial morphology. Drawing upon a large–scale dataset on the spatial morphology of Shanghai, this study finds that the metropolitan fringe area is generally circular in shape and is dominated by residential, industrial, agricultural and forestry land. The metropolitan fringe area accounts for 24.65% of the total area of Shanghai and is mainly located between its outer ring and suburban ring areas. The distributions of spatial characteristics of the metropolitan fringe area suggest that the area has a relatively lower level in terms of building height, building density, and development intensity. Furthermore, the metropolitan fringe area of Shanghai contains five key spatial elements, including residential and industrial clusters, shadow spaces accompanying clusters, corridor lines, green wedges, and surfaces. The interaction of the five spatial elements lays the foundation for the prototype of the spatial structure of the metropolitan fringe area of Shanghai, which is of great significance to understanding the heterogeneity within the metropolitan fringe area in terms of the distribution of spatial morphological characteristics. Such heterogeneity also needs to be considered in the planning and design of the metropolitan fringe area.

Evaluation of Factors Affecting the MgO–C Refractory Lining Degradation in a Basic Oxygen Furnace

Identification of the factors influencing refractory lining wear and its residual thickness in the basic oxygen furnace (BOF) is a prerequisite for optimizing the steelmaking process. In this study, the factors that contribute significantly to the wear of the refractory lining in the most stressed areas of the banded lining (i.e., the trunnion ring area and slag line area) are identified. Knowledge of the rate at which a given factor acts on refractory wear is closely related to the development of technological procedures aimed at limiting its influence. This research evaluates the technological causes and describes the lining wear mechanism and the thermodynamic parameters of the reactions between the MgO–C metal, slag, and gunning material phases. In researching the topic, real operational data were processed using statistical methods and data analysis, which were supported by thermodynamic modeling of chemical reactions. The results show that the combination of technological factors, mechanical action of the raw materials, blowing and free oxygen in the metal, silicon from the pig iron, and slag viscosity have the greatest influence on the residual thickness of the MgO–C refractory lining in BOFs. Refractory gunning material consumption, its effect on campaign length, and the cost-effectiveness of repair work were also analyzed.

3D atrial stiffness in chronic mitral regurgitation: impact of sex, regurgitation mechanism and valve geometry - the 3D-PRIME study

Abstract Background Chronic mitral regurgitation (MR) is both a cause and a consequence of progressive left atrial (LA) remodeling. The degree of LA stiffness in relation to clinical risk factors as well as atrio-valvular remodeling has not been reported in patients with MR. Aims To assess the severity and determinants of 3D LA stiffness in chronic MR. Methods In the prospective 3D-PRIME (3D Echocardiography and Cardiovascular Prognosis in Mitral Regurgitation) study, 100 patients with chronic MR (70±13years, 38% women, 55% with a history of atrial fibrillation (AF), 42% with severe MR) recruited at one heart valve center were investigated with 2D and 3D transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography. MR severity was quantified by the regurgitant fraction and MR classified as primary (54%), atrial functional (26%) or ventricular functional (20%). 3D LA volume (LAV) was measured at end-diastole (min LAV) and end-systole (max LAV), and 3D LA function assessed in by the emptying fraction (EF) and the peak strain in the reservoir phase (LASr). LA stiffness was estimated from the ratio: mitral peak E-wave velocity divided by the mitral annular e’ velocity (E/e´) / LASr and classified as high for age if ≥ 0.55. Results High LA stiffness for age was present in 58% of patients and more often in those with a history of AF (73% vs. 45%) and in severe vs moderate MR (70% vs. 42%) (both p &amp;lt;0.01). Patients with high LA stiffness had larger LAVs with lower LA EF, lower right ventricular ejection fraction, increased mitral annulus area, and larger mitral valve leaflets (all p&amp;lt;0.05). Men had considerably larger LAVs in all MR subgroups, and highly stiff LAs in atrial functional MR compared to women (p &amp;lt;0.05, Figure) despite similar MR severity (regurgitation fraction 50% vs 52%, respectively). In multiple regression analysis, after stepwise removal of the following factors: MR severity, mitral leaflet to ring area ratio, and right ventricular ejection fraction, increased LA stiffness was independently associated with male sex, history of AF, lower LA EF and lower mitral intertrigonal diameter (R2 0.40, p &amp;lt;0.001, Table). Conclusion LA is stiff for age in over half of patients with chronic MR, excessively stiff in men with atrial functional MR, and associated with specific changes in mitral valve geometry and LA function. This gives mechanistic insights into the complex atrio-valvular interplay in chronic MR.Figure.Table.