The Influence of Boron (B), Tin (Sn), Copper (Cu), and Manganese (Mn) on the Microstructure of Spheroidal Graphite Irons

Most spheroidal graphite irons (SGIs) have a matrix consisting of ferrite, pearlite, or a mix of the two. To achieve the desired matrix composition, pearlite promoters such as Mn, Cu, or Sn, are added to the molten metal. Among these elements, Sn is the most potent pearlite promoter. However, each has a different impact on the solidification, graphite precipitation, eutectoid transformation, and ultimately the final structure of the material. Research has shown that B promotes ferrite in fully pearlitic grades where Cu and Mn were used to promote pearlite. The present work investigates the effect of B in SGI with additions of Sn, Cu, and Mn, and the effects of varying amounts of the different pearlite promoters on the matrix composition. The results show that Mn alone at levels of approximately 0.9 wt% is not enough to promote a fully pearlitic matrix, while 0.5 wt% Cu combined with 0.67 wt% Mn is sufficient. Likewise, a fully pearlitic microstructure can be obtained by alloying with 0.06 wt% Sn and 0.67 wt% Mn. B was found to promote ferrite in fully pearlitic SGI alloyed with Sn or Cu. However, in the absence of those elements, B promoted pearlite when alloyed with just Mn. Graphite protrusions were observed on the graphite nodule surface only for B-added alloys with Sn and Cu. In these cases, it is believed B promotes ferrite by changing the growth mechanism of graphite after solidification from spherical to lamellar. However, a different graphite morphology is observed when B is added with just Mn. Thermal analysis data is in agreement with the microstructural observations regarding the ferrite promoting effect of B

International Consensus Statement on Rhinology and Allergy: Rhinosinusitis

Background: The 5 years since the publication of the first International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Rhinosinusitis (ICAR‐RS) has witnessed foundational progress in our understanding and treatment of rhinologic disease. These advances are reflected within the more than 40 new topics covered within the ICAR‐RS‐2021 as well as updates to the original 140 topics. This executive summary consolidates the evidence‐based findings of the document. Methods: ICAR‐RS presents over 180 topics in the forms of evidence‐based reviews with recommendations (EBRRs), evidence‐based reviews, and literature reviews. The highest grade structured recommendations of the EBRR sections are summarized in this executive summary. Results: ICAR‐RS‐2021 covers 22 topics regarding the medical management of RS, which are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Additionally, 4 topics regarding the surgical management of RS are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Finally, a comprehensive evidence‐based management algorithm is provided. Conclusion: This ICAR‐RS‐2021 executive summary provides a compilation of the evidence‐based recommendations for medical and surgical treatment of the most common forms of RS

General health, vitality, and social function after sinus surgery in chronic rhinosinusitis

Objectives Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has an impact on health‐related quality of life (HRQOL). The objective of this study was to examine generic and disease‐specific HRQOL and symptoms in CRS patients with (CRSwNP) and without (CRSsNP) nasal polyps before and 6 months after sinus surgery, and to identify preoperative patient factors associated with HRQOL outcome in the two groups separately. Methods This prospective, observational study consisted of 220 CRSwNP and 196 CRSsNP patients. Generic and disease‐specific HRQOL were measured using the Short‐Form‐Health‐Survey (SF‐36) and Sino‐Nasal‐Outcome‐Test (SNOT‐20). Symptoms were assessed on a visual analog scale. Results Preoperatively, CRSwNP patients reported worse score in general health (SF‐36), rhinologic subset (SNOT‐20): nasal obstruction, nasal discharge, and altered sense of smell compared to CRSsNP patients, who reported worse score in physical role, bodily pain, ear/face subset, and facial pain. After surgery, generic and disease‐specific HRQOL and symptoms improved in both groups. CRSwNP patients had greater improvement in general health, vitality and social function, nasal obstruction, and altered sense of smell, compared to CRSsNP‐patients. In both groups, higher age, daily smoking, and having had sinus surgery previously were associated with less generic HRQOL improvement, in addition to female sex and allergy in CRSsNP patients. Conclusion The greater improvement in general health, vitality, and social function after surgery may indicate a greater potential for generic HRQOL improvement in CRSwNP patients compared to CRSsNP patients. Female sex and allergy was associated with less improvement of generic HRQOL in the CRSsNP group, but not in the CRSwNP group.publishedVersion© 2019 The Authors. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution‐NonCommercial‐NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non‐commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made

A comparison of minimal cross sectional areas, nasal volumes and peak nasal inspiratory flow between patients with obstructive sleep apnea and healthy controls

Background: The differences in nasal geometry and function between OSA patients and healthy individuals are not known. Our aim was to evaluate the differences in nasal geometry and function using acoustic rhinometry (AR) and peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) between an OSA population and healthy controls. Methodology: The study was designed as a prospective case-control study. Ninety-three OSA patients and 92 controls were enrolled from 2010 to 2015. The minimal cross-sectional area (MCA) and the nasal cavity volume (NCV) in two parts of the nose (MCA0-3/NCV0-3 and MCA3-5.2/NCV3-5.2) and PNIF were measured at baseline and after decongestion. Results: The mean MCA0-3 in the OSA group was 0.49 cm2; compared to 0.55 cm2 in controls. The mean NCV0-3 correspondingly was 2.51 cm3 compared to 2.73 cm3 in controls. PNIF measured 105 litres/minute in the OSA group and 117 litres/minute in the controls. Conclusions: OSA patients have a lower minimum cross-sectional area, nasal cavity volume and peak inspiratory flow compared to controls. Our study supports the view that changes in the nasal cavity may contribute to development of OSA.</jats:p

The determining factors of peak nasal inspiratory flow and perception of nasal airflow in asthmatics

Background: The effect of pulmonary pathology on peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) remains largely unknown. We investigated an association between a diagnosis of asthma and of lung function on PNIF when adjusted for possible confounders. Further, we investigated the perception of nasal obstruction in asthmatics compared to healthy controls when adjusted for PNIF. Methodology: Eighty-seven asthmatics and 92 non-asthmatic controls underwent PNIF (categorized into groups of high, medium and low), acoustic rhinometry (AR) and spirometry, and we assessed symptoms of nasal obstruction on visual analogue scales (VAS) in three categories. Results: PNIF was significantly associated with asthma and forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) (% predicted). Other factors associated with PNIF were the degree of nasal obstruction measured both subjectively on a VAS and objectively with AR, age and disease status. Asthma patients were 19 times more likely to be in a higher VAS category compared to non-asth- matic controls independent of PNIF group. Conclusion: Special care has to be taken when interpreting PNIF values in patients with asthma or reduced FEV1 (% predicted). The sensation of nasal obstruction in asthmatics is different from controls despite being in the same PNIF group.</jats:p

pyxem/kikuchipy: kikuchipy 0.10.0

&lt;p&gt;kikuchipy is an open-source Python library for processing, simulating and indexing of electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) patterns.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;See below, the &lt;a href="https://kikuchipy.org/en/stable/changelog.html"&gt;changelog&lt;/a&gt; or the &lt;a href="https://github.com/pyxem/kikuchipy/compare/v0.9.0...v0.10.0"&gt;GitHub changelog&lt;/a&gt; for all updates from the previous release.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h1&gt;Changed&lt;/h1&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li&gt;Minimum Python version is now 3.8. (&lt;a href="https://github.com/pyxem/kikuchipy/pull/674"&gt;#674&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;Minimum NumPy version is now 1.23.0. (&lt;a href="https://github.com/pyxem/kikuchipy/pull/674"&gt;#674&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;Minimum Numba version is now 0.57.0. (&lt;a href="https://github.com/pyxem/kikuchipy/pull/674"&gt;#674&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;Minimum scikit-image version is now 0.22.0. (&lt;a href="https://github.com/pyxem/kikuchipy/pull/674"&gt;#674&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;Upon creation of an &lt;code&gt;EBSDDetector&lt;/code&gt;, the following attributes are forced to be floats: sample tilt, tilt, azimuthal angle, binning, pixel size, and the projection centers (PCs). (&lt;a href="https://github.com/pyxem/kikuchipy/pull/677"&gt;#677&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;Simpler string representation of an &lt;code&gt;EBSDDetector&lt;/code&gt;, also showing the sample tilt. (&lt;a href="https://github.com/pyxem/kikuchipy/pull/677"&gt;#677&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;Exclude PyEBSDIndex versions 0.3.0 and 0.3.1 since these versions cannot perform Hough indexing with Dask arrays. This was previously unintentionally supported due to a side-effect. It should now be supported going forward. (&lt;a href="https://github.com/pyxem/kikuchipy/pull/678"&gt;#678&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;h1&gt;Fixed&lt;/h1&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li&gt;The order of the new shape of the detector of a downsampled EBSD signal, returned from &lt;code&gt;downsample()&lt;/code&gt;, was previously previously incorrect, (n columns, n rows). This is now correct, (n rows, n columns). (&lt;a href="https://github.com/pyxem/kikuchipy/pull/674"&gt;#674&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt