Swecare

<bold>Introduction:</bold> We hypothesised that ILO represents an inappropriate triggering of the laryngeal adductor reflex (LAR) on exposure to irritant stimuli. Pre-clinical data suggest citric acid (CA) activates airway reflexes via chemically and mechanically sensitive airway vagal afferent nerve fibres and may be a suitable agent for investigating upper airway reflex responses. We therefore investigated whether CA provokes ILO in patients diagnosed with ILO compared with refractory chronic cough (RCC) or healthy controls (HC). <bold>Methods:</bold> Participants completed two inhalation challenges during laryngoscopy (4-7 days apart), with ascending concentrations of CA or matched saline control; order of delivery was randomised sequentially and blinded to study team and participants. The primary endpoint was presence or absence of laryngeal obstruction following inhalation (defined as >50% inspiratory obstruction on video playback); 20% of recordings re-rated, both raters blinded to challenge agent and diagnosis. <bold>Results:</bold> 28 participants were randomised [10 ILO (10% male, mean±SD age 45±10yrs); 7 RCC (86% male, age 57±22yrs; 11 HC (44% male, age 56±8yrs)]. Saline control induced ILO in 1 subject (ILO group) hence responses were not statistically significant different between diagnostic groups (Fisher-Freeman-Halton Exact Test, p=0.61), whereas CA triggered ILO in all ILO patients, 2 RCC patients and no healthy controls (p<0.001). There was substantial kappa agreement for primary endpoint observations (k=0.852, p<0.01). <bold>Conclusion:</bold> These data are consistent with neuronal mechanisms mediating ILO; and suggests CA as a potential challenge agent for clinical testing.

Hole Drilling Residual Stress Evaluations in Cast Iron M. Lundberg, L. Elmquist Abstract. Incremental hole drilling for residual stress measurement are widely used in industry today and is considered to be a cheap and fairly reliable method for stress measurements. Even though the method assumes isotropic material, it has been expanded to orthotropic materials such […]

Simulation tools have improved significantly and are now capable of accurately predicting mould filling behavior. The quality of prediction is highly dependent on material properties and set-up of boundary conditions for the simulation. In this work material properties were measured and casting conditions were analyzed to accurately replicate the casting process in simulation. The sensitivity of the predictions to minor process variations commonly found in foundries was evaluated by comparing simulation and cast samples. The observed discrepancies between simulation and cast samples were evaluated and discussed in terms of their dependency on process variations. It was concluded that the simulation set-up was capable of reasonable predictions and could replicate the asymmetry of the filling however did not accurately predict the absolute value of the unfilled area. It was discovered that asymmetric flow due to variations in the orientation of the casting mould during filling could have greater influence on the predictions than the actual variation in fill time. The quality of simulation is dependent on equipment and techniques used in the foundry as well as the metallurgical model to simulate the process.

The characteristics and precipitation mechanism of particles in titanium- and aluminum-treated Hadfield steel casted during pilot-scale experiments have been studied. Light Optical Microscopy (LOM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) are utilized for the particle analysis and characterization. Additionally, thermodynamic equilibrium calculations are performed using Thermo-Calc software. Aluminum oxides, titanium carbon nitrides, titanium carbides, and manganese sulfides are the main types of particles found. The order of precipitation during solidification and chemical composition range of each type of particle are determined. Aluminum oxides are found to act as nucleation sites for titanium carbon nitrides. Thermodynamic equilibrium calculations for particles characteristics are in good agreement with the experimental findings. Titanium carbides are found to form during initial stages of the ferro-titanium additions dissolution.

The employee assistance programme (EAP) is a benefit increasingly provided by UK employers that claims to reduce the effects of 'stress' on individuals and organisations, provide a 'management tool' to improve workplace performance and productivity, and respond to critical incidents. Although the marketing literature describes services as workplace-based counselling, there is evidence to suggest what they actually offer is consultation, assessment, referral and short-term treatment to clients experiencing a wide range of serious psychological and mental health difficulties. This article describes EAPs, their history, development and operation, and reviews the evidence to support their claims for effectiveness. Because employee distress is often the result of an interaction between organisational and individual factors, the role and claims of EAPs as organisational interventions are also critically examined.