Experimental Study on the Corrosion of Carbon Steel and Aluminum Alloy in Firefighting Protein Foam Concentrates

The corrosion of mild steel and Al alloy in Fomtec P 6% and 6% P Profoam 806 protein-based foam concentrates was investigated. Weight-loss data for steel showed corrosion penetration of 0.745 mipy in Fomtec and 2.269 mipy in Profoam, whereas for Al alloy the penetration levels were 0.474 and 1.093 mipy, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy allowed characterization of the metallic surface covered or free from corrosion products. Values of corrosion potential, corrosion current density and corrosion penetration were calculated by using potentiodynamic polarization curves. Electrochemical impedance spectra illustrated the change in polarization resistance during anodic polarization. Data obtained by accelerated electrochemical methods confirm the greater aggressiveness of the Profoam concentrate compared to Fomtec concentrate.

Biodegradability of lactide–caprolactone macromonomers in wastewater

A desire to develop biorenewable materials has led to lactide–caprolactone copolymers being used in adhesive, medical, and pharmaceutical products. Use of this alternative material may diminish human impact on the environment and create products that are biocompatible. One advantage of these materials compared with other typical petroleum-based polymers is that they are easily degraded by microorganisms. In this study, the biodegradation of representative lactide–caprolactone macromonomers and an acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive incorporating these macromonomers was followed by a respirometric method using a consortium of microorganisms found in a typical wastewater treatment facility. The weight loss data of lactide–caprolactone macromonomers showed that the lowest molecular weight macromonomers with a high percentage of lactide had the greatest weight loss, which could have been caused by the greater number of ester linkages. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance data showed that for lower molecular weight copolymers, there was a preferential loss of caprolactone. Promisingly, testing of the full acrylic adhesives showed that they were easily degraded and thus provided a route to more environmentally friendly adhesive products.

Efficacy of Weight Loss Interventions in United States Active Duty Military Populations: A Systematic Review

ABSTRACT Background Since the beginning of overseas contingency operations, the percent of service members who are considered overweight or obese has tripled to 15% for men and 20% for women. This has implications for national security if the country is unable to staff its military with fit-to-fight individuals. The purpose of this systematic review is to move policy efforts forward by illuminating the efficacy of several lifestyle interventions for active duty service members since 2001. It aims to both identify common aspects of successful interventions and also identify interventions without success so DoD leaders may replace those initiatives. Materials and Methods The electronic database PubMed was searched from September 11, 2001 to May 15, 2020. Studies were included if the target population was United States active duty service members from any branch, the study included an intervention, and the measured outcome was weight loss. Seven studies met final inclusion criteria. Results Interventions with corresponding weight loss data are summarized in Table III. This review found that there is not a sufficient body of evidence to determine if interventions to aid active duty service members in losing weight are effective. Conclusion However, as a collection, the studies could support the notion that military members get the best results when interventions are convenient, modern, personalized, and accessible. More studies are needed, and future studies with larger sample sizes and longer durations would be valuable in determining efficacy of weight loss interventions. Undoubtedly, enrollment and compliance is difficult with military member moves and competing mission requirements. Ideally, the DoD should work to aggregate the efforts in this field, as many initiatives are not captured, shared, and utilized by other installations or other services. Data silos and unpublished or underdeveloped research reactively addresses issues and does not proactively address them. Policy change will need to be nested in further research, as well as consider the food environment on bases and possible prevention efforts.

Effects of Water-loading Weight Loss on the Physiological Response in College Wrestlers

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of water-loading weight loss on physiologic response.METHODS: Thirteen consenting university wrestlers (weight 71.5±8.0 kg, BMI 25.0±2.0 kg/m²) randomly divided into the weight loss (WL) group (n=6) and water-loading weight loss (WWL) group (n=7). Wrestlers performed 2-week weight loss program targeting average of 5-10% of body weight reduction, under the supervision of a coach. Participants were instructed to drink 1.5-2 L and 6-7 L daily during the first week in the WL and WWL groups, respectively. Both groups were gradually reduced water intake and didn’t drink water the day before weighing. Anthropometric characteristics, hematocrit (HCT), serum electrolytes, aldosterone, and cortisol were measured before and after weight loss. Data were analyzed with two-way ANOVA using SPSS. The significance level was set at p<.05.RESULTS: After 2 weeks, the weight (p=.004), BMI (p<.001), lean body mass (p<.001), body water composition (p<.001), and SBP (p=.046) were reduced significantly in both groups. However, there was no statistically significant between-group difference in all parameters of body composition and SBP. The HCT and chloride (Cl-) decreased in both WL and WWL groups (p=.018 and p=.006, respectively). Serum aldosterone and cortisol significantly increased in both groups (p<.001). In particular, cortisol was significantly lower in the WWL than in WL group.CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that a large-volume hydration before water restriction for weight loss can be a safe method.

Production and enzymatic degradation of poly(ε-caprolactone)/graphene oxide composites

Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) based composites containing different graphene oxide (GO) contents (0.1, 0.2 and 0.5 wt%) were produced by the solution mixing method followed by compression molding and enzymatically degraded in a pH 7.4 phosphate buffer solution containing Pseudomonas lipase at 37 °C. Morphological changes, molecular weight, calorimetric and mechanical properties were analyzed according to graphene oxide content. The study of tensile properties showed that the composites increased their Young’s modulus, while tensile strength and elongation at break decreased to significantly less than that of neat PCL. PCL composite crystallinity was evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). It was found that incorporating GO can reduce nucleation activity as well as crystallization rates, from 67.6% for neat PCL to 50.6% for a composite with 0.5 wt% GO content. For enzymatic degradation, the weight loss data showed that incorporating GO into the PCL significantly altered enzymatic degradation. The presence of GO did not alter PCL’s hydrolysis mechanism, but did slow down composite enzymatic degradation in proportion to the percentage of filler content.

SAT0329 IS THE RATE OF LUNG FUNCTION DECLINE THE SAME IN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS-ASSOCIATED ILD (SSC-ILD) WHO EXPERIENCE WEIGHT LOSS? DATA FROM THE SENSCIS TRIAL

Background:In the SENSCIS trial, nintedanib reduced the progression of SSc-ILD vs placebo, as shown by a lower rate of decline in forced vital capacity (FVC). The adverse event (AE) profile of nintedanib was characterised mainly by gastrointestinal (GI) events, including weight loss.Objectives:Assess FVC decline and AEs in subgroups by weight loss ≤5% vs >5% over 52 weeks in the SENSCIS trial.Methods:Patients with SSc-ILD with first non-Raynaud symptom <7 years before screening and ≥10% fibrosis of the lungs on an HRCT scan were randomised to nintedanib or placebo. In a non-randomised comparison, we analysed the rate of decline in FVC (mL/year) and AEs over 52 weeks in subgroups by weight loss (≤5% vs >5%) over 52 weeks.Results:In the nintedanib (n=288) and placebo (n=288) groups, respectively, 112 (38.9%) and 43 (14.9%) patients had weight loss >5% over 52 weeks. At baseline, patients with weight loss >5% over 52 weeks had a higher mean age (57.0 vs 52.9 years), greater proportion of females (81.3% vs 72.9%), and similar mean BMI (26.5 vs 25.7 kg/m2, respectively) and FVC % predicted (71.0% vs 73.1%, respectively) vs patients with weight loss ≤5%. In the placebo group, the mean (SE) annual rate of decline in FVC was similar between patients who had weight loss ≤5% and >5% over 52 weeks (-92.7 [14.7] mL/year and -96.4 [34.9] mL/year, respectively). The estimated annual rate of decline in FVC was lower in patients treated with nintedanib than placebo, with between-group differences in patients who had weight loss ≤5% and >5% of 49.9 mL/year [95% CI 4.2, 95.6]) and 30.2 mL/year [95% CI -50.5, 110.9]), respectively, with no evidence of heterogeneity between subgroups by weight loss (p=0.68 for interaction). Standardised differences in baseline values of potential confounders were <0.2 (indicating negligible differences). The most frequent AEs in patients treated with nintedanib were diarrhoea (74.4% and 77.7% of patients with weight loss ≤5% and >5%, respectively), nausea (30.1% and 33.9%, respectively) and vomiting (19.3% and 33.3%, respectively). In the nintedanib and placebo groups, respectively, AEs leading to discontinuation of study drug occurred in 17.0% and 8.6% of patients with weight loss ≤5%, and 14.3% and 9.3% of patients with weight loss >5% over 52 weeks.Conclusion:In the SENSCIS trial in patients with SSc-ILD, a greater proportion of patients treated with nintedanib than placebo had weight loss >5% over 52 weeks. The rate of decline in FVC was numerically lower in the nintedanib group than in the placebo group both in patients with weight loss ≤5% and >5% over 52 weeks. AEs leading to discontinuation of nintedanib were not more frequent in patients with weight loss >5% vs ≤5%.References:Disclosure of Interests: :Alain LESCOAT: None declared, Stéphane Jouneau Grant/research support from: AIRB, Boehringer Ingelheim, LVL Medical, Novartis, Roche, Bellorophon Therapeutics, Biogen, Fibrogen, Galecto Biotech, Gilead Sciences, Pharm-Olam, Pliant Therapeutics, Savara Pharmaceuticals/Serendex Pharmaceuticals, Consultant of: Actelion, AIRB, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, Genzyme, GlazoSmithKline, LVL Medical, Mundipharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, Bruno Crestani Grant/research support from: AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi, Consultant of: AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Roche, Sanofi, Speakers bureau: AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Roche, Sanofi, Gabriela Riemekasten Consultant of: Cell Trend GmbH, Janssen, Actelion, Boehringer Ingelheim, Speakers bureau: Actelion, Novartis, Janssen, Roche, GlaxoSmithKline, Boehringer Ingelheim, Pfizer, Yasuhiro Kondoh Consultant of: Boehringer Ingelheim, Asahi Kasei Pharma, Janssen, Shionogi, Speakers bureau: Boehringer Ingelheim, Asahi Kasei Pharma, Janssen, Eisai, KYORIN, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, Novartis, Shionogi, Vanessa Smith Grant/research support from: The affiliated company received grants from Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO), Belgian Fund for Scientific Research in Rheumatic diseases (FWRO), Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co and Janssen-Cilag NV, Consultant of: Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co, Speakers bureau: Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co and UCB Biopharma Sprl, Nina Patel Grant/research support from: Boehringer Ingelheim, Consultant of: Boehringer Ingelheim, Speakers bureau: Genentech, John Huggins Consultant of: I was a site PI for the SENSCIS trial for Boehringer Ingelheim, Christian Stock Employee of: Employee of Boehringer Ingelheim, Martina Gahlemann Employee of: Employee of Boehringer Ingelheim, Margarida Alves Employee of: Employee of Boehringer Ingelheim, Christopher Denton Grant/research support from: GlaxoSmithKline, CSL Behring, and Inventiva, Consultant of: Medscape, Roche-Genentech, Actelion, GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi Aventis, Inventiva, CSL Behring, Boehringer Ingelheim, Corbus Pharmaceuticals, Acceleron, Curzion and Bayer

Carrot (Daucus Carota L.) Peels Extract as an Herbal Corrosion Inhibitor for Mild Steel in 1M HCl Solution

The inhibition of corrosion on mild steel in 1M HCl solution was evaluated by utilizing carrot (Daucus carota L.) peels (CP) extract. Study performed by gravimetric and Potentiodynamic polarization techniques. Various concentrations of CP extracts ranging from 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 (v/v) were used and corrosion rate (CR) on mild steel and inhibition efficiency (IE) were investigated at three temperatures (298K, 308K, and 323K). Corrosion rate increase with the increase in temperature. As inhibitor concentration increases, corrosion rate decreases and IE decreases at elevated temperature. The substantial reduction in CR with the increase in the concentration of CP extract was noted at studied temperatures. However, the increase in the CR at each CP extract along with the increase in the temperature tallied to the increase in kinetic activities at the electrolyte and metal interface. Results show that with the increase of 0.5 g/l CP extract, about 3 times lower CR of mild steel at studied temperatures than in pure 1M HCl solution affirm its robust inhibitive efficiency. Comparatively large change in the anodic Tafel slope and gradual decline in CR with an increase in the CP extract concentration confirmed the restricted dissolution of mild steel. Surface examination suggest that a layer of inhibitor material adsorbed on the surface of mild steel at low temperature is responsible for high IE and this phenomenon is characterized as chemisorption. Weight loss data used to test three well known adsorption isotherm Langmuir, Temkin and Freundlich models and found that data is fitted well to all the models to certain extent however Freundlich Isotherm is found to be best fitted with as the correlation coefficient (R2) values reaching to unity, which showed the applicability of the models to the process.

Brushite cement containing gelatin: evaluation of mechanical strength and in vitro degradation

Calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) are potential materials for repairing bone defects, mainly due to their excellent biocompatibility and osteoconductivity. Nevertheless, their low mechanical properties limit their usage in clinical applications. The gelatin addition may improve the mechanical and biological properties of CPCs, but their solubility in water may increase the porosity of the cement during degradation. Thus, the aim of this work was to investigate the influence of gelatin on the setting time, compressive strength and degradation rate of a brushite cement. CPCs were prepared with the addition of 0, 5, 10 and 20 wt% of gelatin powder in the solid phase of the cement. The results indicated that the setting time increased with gelatin. Furthermore, cement with 20 wt% of gelatin had an initial compressive strength of 14.1±1.8 MPa while cement without gelatin had 4.5±1.2 MPa. The weight loss, morphology and compressive strength were evaluated after degradation in Ringer’s solution. According to the weight loss data, gelatin was eliminated of samples during degradation. It was concluded that the presence of gelatin improved CPCs mechanical properties; however, as degradation in Ringer’s solution evolved, cement compressive strength decreased due to gelatin dissolution and, consequently, an increase in sample porosity.

Radiopaque and biodegradable beads fabricated with Lipiodol and polycaprolactone for transarterial chemoembolization

Embolic beads for transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) should possess radiopacity and biodegradability at the same time, to be visualized in a body under fluoroscopy and CT scanning to avoid complicating disease. In this study, we fabricated radiopaque and biodegradable beads composed of Lipiodol (LPD) (ethiodized oil) and polycaprolactone (PCL), a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer. LPD/PCL beads were first fabricated with a home-made microfluidic device. By changing the flow-rate ratio in the microfluidic device, the mean diameter of LPD/PCL beads could be well controlled. The radiopacity was evaluated by the fluoroscopic imaging and the CT number measurements. Furthermore, the biodegradability was evaluated by collecting the weight loss data of LPD/PCL immersed in lipase/PBS solution and PBS. The results showed that LPD/PCL beads obtained in this study had sufficient radiopacity and biodegradability, which would be an alternative embolic agent for TACE.