Modeling of primary dendrite arm spacing variations in thin-slab casting of low carbon and low alloy steels

Solidification structure of a High Strength Low Alloy (HSLA) steel, in terms of dendrite arm spacing distribution across the shell thickness, is studied in a breakout shell from a thin-slab caster at Tata Steel in IJmuiden. Columnar dendrites were found to be the predominant morphology throughout the shell with size variations across the shell thickness. Primary Dendrite Arm Spacing (PDAS) increases by increasing the distance from meniscus or slab surface. Subsequently, a model is proposed to describe the variation of the PDAS with the shell thickness (the distance from slab surface) under solidifiction conditions experienced in the primary cooling zone of thin-slab casting. The proposed relationship related the PDAS to the shell thickness and, hence, can be used as a tool for predicting solidifcation structure and optimizing the thin-slab casting of low alloy steels

Conductivity enhancement of binder-based graphene inks by photonic annealing and subsequent compression rolling

This paper describes a combination of photonic annealing and compression rolling to improve the conductive properties of printed binder-based graphene inks. High-density light pulses result in temperatures up to 500°C that along with a decrease of resistivity lead to layer expansion. The structural integrity of the printed layers is restored using compression rolling resulting in smooth, dense, and highly conductive graphene films. The layers exhibit a sheet resistance of less than 1.4Ω□-1 normalized to 25μm thickness. The proposed approach can potentially be used in a roll-to-roll manner with common substrates, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), and paper, paving thereby the road toward high-volume graphene-printed electronics.</p

Inkjet printed paper based frequency selective surfaces and skin mounted RFID tags : the interrelation between silver nanoparticle ink, paper substrate and low temperature sintering technique Citation for published version (APA): Inkjet printed paper base

Inkjet printing of functional frequency selective surfaces (FSS) and radio frequency identification (RFID) tags on commercial paper substrates using silver nanoparticle inks sintered using low temperature thermal, plasma and photonic techniques is reported. Printed and sintered FSS devices demonstrate performances which achieve wireless communication requirements having a forward transmission scattering parameter, S 21 , depth greater than À20 dB at 13 GHz. Printed and plasma sintered RFID tags on transfer paper, which are capable of being mounted on skin, improved read distances compared to previously reported single layer transfer RFID tags fabricated by conventional thermal sintering

Quality of vitamin K antagonist treatment during the last year of life

Limited data exist on the quality of anticoagulation in patients approaching the end of life. This study evaluated vitamin K antagonist (VKA) anticoagulation control during the last year of life, using nationwide data from Statistics Netherlands, linked to anticoagulation clinics' data and the Netherlands Cancer Registry. We included prevalent VKA users who were hospitalized with a severe medical condition and died between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2019. Anticoagulation control was assessed using time in therapeutic range (TTR), time above therapeutic range (TAR), and time below therapeutic range (TBR) and the international normalized ratio (INR) variance growth rate (VGR), which reflects INR variability. Anticoagulation control was examined by two approaches: (1) over four intervals (0–12 months, 0–9 months, 0–6 months, and 0–3 months preceding death), and (2) in 3‐month intervals (9–12, 6–9, 3–6, and 0–3 months before death) to describe temporal changes. Among 6874 VKA users in their last year of life (median age 82 [Interquartile range: 76–87] years, 46.9% female), the most prevalent severe medical conditions were heart disease (60.4%), cancer (16.2%), and hip fracture (15.2%). As death approached, TTR and TBR decreased, while TAR and mean VGR increased, particularly in the last 3 months of life. This decline was more pronounced in cancer patients and acenocoumarol users. In conclusion, the quality of VKA anticoagulation declined in the last year of life in severely ill patients, marked by reduced TTR and increased TAR and VGR, suggesting an increased bleeding risk. These findings highlight the importance of reassessing VKA use and considering discontinuation in patients approaching the end of life

Discontinuation of anticoagulants and occurrence of bleeding and thromboembolic events in vitamin K antagonist users with a life-limiting disease

Background: Data on risks and benefits of long-term anticoagulants in patients with a life-limiting disease are limited. This cohort study aims to describe (dis)continuation of anticoagulants and incidences of bleeding and thromboembolic events in vitamin K antagonist (VKA) users with a life-limiting disease. Methods: Data from five Dutch anticoagulation clinics were linked to data from Statistics Netherlands and the Netherlands Cancer registry. Prevalent VKA users diagnosed with a pre-specified life-limiting disease between 01/01/2013 and 31/12/2019 were included and followed until 31/12/2019. Hospitalization data were used to identify bleeding and thromboembolic events. Cumulative incidences of anticoagulant discontinuation were calculated, accounting for death as competing risk, and event rates were determined for both anticoagulant exposed and unexposed person-years (PYs). Results: Among 18,145 VKA users (median age 81 years, 49% females, median survival time 2.03 years), the most common life-limiting diseases were heart disease (60.0%), hip fracture (18.1%), and cancer (13.5%). One year after diagnosis, the cumulative incidence of anticoagulant discontinuation was 14.0% (95%CI: 13.5-14.6). Over 80% of patients continued anticoagulant therapy until the last month before death, with median 14 days between discontinuation and death. Event rates per 100 PYs (95%CI) were comparable during anticoagulant use and after discontinuation for bleeding 2.6 (2.4-2.8) versus 2.1 (1.5-2.8); venous thromboembolism 0.2 (0.1-0.2) versus 0.4 (0.2-0.7); and arterial thromboembolism 3.1 (2.9-3.3) versus 3.3 (2.6-4.2). Conclusion: Most VKA users with a life-limiting disease continued anticoagulant treatment during their last phase of life, with similar rates of bleeding and thromboembolic events during use and after discontinuation

Über den Ferromagnetismus dünner Schichten*

Die DöRiNGsche Berechnung der Sättigungsmagnetisierung dünner Schichten wird auf zwei weitere Schichttypen ausgedehnt. Zunächst wird eine Schicht mit einfach-kubischer Gitterstruktur und (101)-Lage der Oberfläche betrachtet und dann eine Schicht des kubisch-raumzentrierten Gitters mit (001)-Oberfläche. Dabei treten zwei neue Effekte auf: Einmal ist die Komponente des Ausbreitungsvektors senkrecht zur Oberfläche mit den anderen Komponenten gekoppelt. Zum anderen treten in beiden Fällen Oberflächenwellen auf. Zur Berechnung der Sättigungsmagnetisierung werden Näherungsannahmen gemacht, die denselben Gültigkeitsanspruch haben wie das T3/2-Gesetz. Es zeigt sich, daß bei fester Schichtlagenzahl die auf den Wert des kompakten Materials bezogene Sättigungsmagnetisierung etwas tiefer liegt als die der einfach-kubischen (001)-Schicht. Weiterhin wird untersucht, wie sich die von RADO für das kompakte Material gewonnene Abhängigkeit der lokalen Magnetisierung von dem Abstand zur Oberfläche ändert, wenn die endliche Dicke einer Schicht berücksichtigt wird.</jats:p