Explore the vast range of titles available.

Coatings based on refractory metals and compounds have been used in various industries since the last century due to their high thermal and heat resistance, as well as their excellent mechanical and tribological properties. Advances have made it possible to apply high-tech methods for their production, which has improved their availability and expanded their range of applications. A promising area of use of coatings based on refractory systems is the anticorrosion protection of structural materials. The high wear resistance and anticorrosion ability of these materials will allow for the protection of critical units of equipment of various industries from the complex destructive effects of factors of chemical and mechanical nature. For the effective choice of coating composition, it is necessary to know the basic characteristics of refractory material layers and the method of their production. The purpose of this article is to summarize modern scientific data on methods of obtaining refractory coatings, as well as on their composition, structure, and protective properties. The information presented in this review will bridge the gap between research and industrial development and expand the niche area of utilization.

During the past decade, refractory high-entropy alloys (RHEA) have attracted great attention of scientists, engineers and scholars due to their excellent mechanical and functional properties. The W-containing RHEAs are favored by researchers because of their great application potential in aerospace, marine and nuclear equipment and other high-temperature, corrosive and irradiated fields. In this review, more than 150 W-containing RHEAs are summarized and compared. The preparation techniques, microstructure and mechanical properties of the W-containing RHEAs are systematically outlined. In addition, the functional properties of W-containing RHEAs, such as oxidation, corrosion, irradiation and wear resistance have been elaborated and analyzed. Finally, the key issues faced by the development of W-containing RHEAs in terms of design and fabrication techniques, strengthening and deformation mechanisms, and potential functional applications are proposed and discussed. Future directions for the investigation and application of W-containing RHEAs are also suggested. The present work provides useful guidance for the development, processing and application of W-containing RHEAs and the RHEA components.

Refractory anaemia with ring sideroblasts (RARS) and marked thrombocytosis (RARS-T) is a provisional entity in the World Health Organisation 2008 classification and has previously been shown to have a high proportion of JAK2(V617F) (Janus Kinase 2) and SF3B1 (Splicing Factor 3B subunit 1) mutations. The purpose of the present study was to analyse the frequency of SF3B1 mutations in a large cohort of 111 patients with RARS-T and 33 patients with RARS and to explore the prognostic impact of SF3B1 mutational status on RARS-T. The frequency of SF3B1 mutations in RARS-T (96/111, 86.5%) and RARS (28/33, 84.8%) was similar. In RARS-T, median survival was better in SF3B1-mutated patients than in SF3B1-non-mutated patients (6.9 and 3.3 years, respectively, P=0.003). RARS can be differentiated from RARS-T by the frequency of JAK2(V617F) (0% vs 48.6%). In RARS-T patients, SF3B1 (P=0.021) and JAK2 mutations (P=0.016) were independent factors for a better prognosis. Altogether, our results confirm that RARS-T is an independent entity that should be recognised by the next World Health Organisation classification. The assessment of SF3B1 mutations is of prognostic interest in RARS-T patients. Younger age, JAK2(V617F) and SF3B1 mutations are the main predicting factors for survival in RARS-T.

Abstract BACKGROUND Middle meningeal artery (MMA) embolization has emerged as a promising treatment for chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH). OBJECTIVE To determine the safety and efficacy of MMA embolization. METHODS Consecutive patients who underwent MMA embolization for cSDH (primary treatment or recurrence after conventional surgery) at 15 centers were included. Clinical details and follow-up were collected prospectively. Primary clinical and radiographic outcomes were the proportion of patients requiring additional surgical treatment within 90 d after index treatment and proportion with > 50% cSDH thickness reduction on follow-up computed tomography imaging within 90 d. National Institute of Health Stroke Scale and modified Rankin Scale were also clinical outcomes. RESULTS A total of 138 patients were included (mean age: 69.8, 29% female). A total of 15 patients underwent bilateral interventions for 154 total embolizations (66.7% primary treatment). At presentation, 30.4% and 23.9% of patients were on antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapy, respectively. Median admission cSDH thickness was 14 mm. A total of 46.1% of embolizations were performed under general anesthesia, and 97.4% of procedures were successfully completed. A total of 70.2% of embolizations used particles, and 25.3% used liquid embolics with no significant outcome difference between embolization materials (P > .05). On last follow-up (mean 94.9 d), median cSDH thickness was 4 mm (71% median thickness reduction). A total of 70.8% of patients had >50% improvement on imaging (31.9% improved clinically), and 9 patients (6.5%) required further cSDH treatment. There were 16 complications with 9 (6.5%) because of continued hematoma expansion. Mortality rate was 4.4%, mostly unrelated to the index procedure but because of underlying comorbidities. CONCLUSION MMA embolization may provide a safe and efficacious minimally invasive alternative to conventional surgical techniques. Graphical Abstract Graphical Abstract

In recent years, research in the field of the sustainable production of refractory ceramics has become topical. Significant attention has been paid to the use of secondary raw materials for obtaining high-quality materials. The purpose of the current study was to develop new high-temperature porous materials based on the magnesium sulfate-refractory clay–chamotte–aluminum system using environmentally friendly raw components. To synthesize porous refractories, rice husk and the by-products of its thermal processing were used as substitutes for ingredients usually introduced into the composition of high-temperature materials. Ground rice husk was used as both a burnout additive and a silica source. It was added to the mixture instead of chamotte. An organic condensate from rice husk pyrolysis was used as a binder. A sodium silicate solution, after activating pyrolyzed rice husk with alkali, was also tested as a binder. These liquid ingredients served as replacements for lignosulfonate and liquid glass. The new raw material components and the porous refractories obtained with their use were studied using methods of chemical analysis, XRD, GC-MS, TA, SEM, and EDS. Standard methods for studying the properties of refractories were used to evaluate the physicomechanical and thermal characteristics of the experimental materials. The sample with the maximum content of rice husk (14.4 wt.%) and organic condensate from its pyrolysis (10.5 wt.%) demonstrated promising properties as a light porous refractory: an apparent porosity of 44%, a volumetric weight of 1.1 g·cm−3, compressive strength of 2.1 MPa, tensile strength in bending of 4.5 MPa, bond strength of 0.01 MPa, thermal shock resistance of 155 thermal cycles, and thermal conductivity of 0.05 W (m·K)−1. It can be used as a prospective thermal insulating material.

To report our clinical experience with bevacizumab in a cohort of Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) patients with severe hepatic involvement and/or refractory anemia. Observational, ambispective study of the Institutional Registry of HHT at Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires. Patients were treated with bevacizumab due to iron deficiency refractory anemia secondary to nasal/gastrointestinal bleeding and/or high output cardiac failure. We describe basal clinical data, bevacizumab schedules, efficacy outcomes and adverse events. Wilcoxon signed ranks test and longitudinal analysis were conducted. Twenty adult patients were included from July 2013 to June 2019. Clinical indications were: 13 for anemia, 4 for heart failure and 3 for both. In the anemia group, median pretreatment hemoglobin was 8.1 g/dl [IQR: 7.2-8.4] and median transfusion requirement was 4 units [2-6]. In heart failure group, pretreatment median cardiac index was 4.5 L/min/m2 [4.1-5.6] and cardiac output was 8.3 L/min [7.5-9.2]. Bevacizumab 5 mg/kg/dose every 2 weeks for 6 applications was scheduled. By the end of induction, median hemoglobin at 3 months was 10.9 g/dl [9.5-12.8] (p = 0.01) and median transfusion requirement 0 units [0-1] (p<0.01), and this effect was more or less sustained during a year. Regarding heart failure group, two patients had complete hemodynamic response and achieved liver transplantation and two had partial response. No serious adverse events were registered. Bevacizumab is a promising line of treatment for HHT patients with refractory anemia. For patients with high output cardiac failure, bevacizumab may be useful as bridge therapy awaiting for liver transplantation.

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) are composed of 5–35 at% of five or more elements, have high configurational entropy, do not form intermetallic compounds, and have a single-phase face-centered cubic structure or body-centered cubic structure. In particular, refractory HEAs (RHEAs), based on refractory materials with excellent mechanical properties at high temperatures, have high strength and hardness at room temperature and excellent mechanical properties at low and high temperatures. In this study, the Ti-Nb-Cr-V-Ni-Al RHEAs were deposited using direct energy deposition (DED). In the microstructure of Ti-Nb-Cr-V-Ni-Al, the sigma, BCC A2, and Ti2Ni phases appeared to be different from the BCC A2, BCC B2, and Laves phases predicted in the phase diagram. This microstructure was similar to that of the casted Ti-Nb-Cr-V-Ni-Al and had a constructed fine grain size. It was found that the growth of these microstructures was due to the DED process, which has a fast solidification rate. The fine grain size caused high hardness, and the microhardness of the Ti-Nb-Cr-V-Ni-Al was measured to be about 900 HV. In addition, in order to analyze the thermal properties of Ti-Nb-Cr-V-Ni-Al composed of the refractory material, the heat-affected zone (HAZ) was analyzed through a preheating test. The HAZ was decreased, owing to the high thermal diffusivity of Ti-Nb-Cr-V-Ni-Al.

W NbMoTa refractory high-entropy alloys with four different tungsten concentrations ( = 0, 0.16, 0.33, 0.53) were fabricated by laser cladding deposition. The crystal structures of W NbMoTa alloys are all a single-phase solid solution of the body-centered cubic (BCC) structure. The size of the grains and dendrites are 20 μm and 4 μm on average, due to the rapid solidification characteristics of the laser cladding deposition. These are much smaller sizes than refractory high-entropy alloys fabricated by vacuum arc melting. In terms of integrated mechanical properties, the increase of the tungsten concentration of W NbMoTa has led to four results of the Vickers microhardness, i.e., = 459.2 ± 9.7, 476.0 ± 12.9, 485.3 ± 8.7, and 497.6 ± 5.6. As a result, NbMoTa alloy shows a yield strength (σ ) and compressive strain (ε ) of 530 Mpa and 8.5% at 1000 °C, leading to better results than traditional refractory alloys such as T-111, C103, and Nb-1Zr, which are commonly used in the aerospace industry.

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by necrotizing small-vessel inflammation, frequently complicated by severe anemia and progressive renal injury. Anemia, affecting 73-92% of AAV patients, arises from multifactorial mechanisms including renal dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and iron dysregulation. Despite conventional immunosuppressive therapies, refractory anemia remains a significant challenge, with limited strategies targeting inflammation-driven hepcidin dysregulation. A 56-year-old woman presented with myeloperoxidase-specific antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA) positive AAV, transfusion-dependent anemia (hemoglobin: 56 g/L), and advanced chronic kidney disease with 55% tubulointerstitial atrophy. Initial management included cyclophosphamide, glucocorticoids, erythropoietin, and transfusions, yielding only a transient rise in hemoglobin (Hb) that rapidly declined despite treatment. Following the initiation of rituximab (RTX), her Hb level improved to 88 g/L within four weeks and normalized to 127 g/L after four biweekly infusions (500 mg each). Concurrently, MPO-ANCA titers decreased from 1:1280 to 1:80, and pulmonary infiltrates resolved. However, renal function remained impaired (serum creatinine: 229 µmol/L) due to irreversible fibrosis. This case demonstrates RTX's dual efficacy in suppressing autoimmunity and alleviating anemia, potentially through indirect effects on inflammatory pathways and iron metabolism. Early RTX use may reduce transfusion dependency and help stabilize renal function in refractory AAV, though advanced fibrosis limits recovery. These findings support RTX as a first-line option in AAV patients with severe anemia and evolving renal injury.

Hotspots cause instability in sealpots within CFB-type power plants due to refractory cracks, bed material buildup, or retention. These impair boiler performance and increase load. Per API 936 standards, surface temperatures over 200°C cause unavoidable hotspots. Replacing refractory material is crucial to prevent this. At Teluk Sirih PLTU, replacing castable refractory with Blumam HS plastic refractory restored boiler performance. The plastic refractory, containing P2O3 for formability, has a Coal Crushing Strength of 26 MPa, suitable for operations at ±907°C. Post-replacement, heat transfer analysis showed a shell temperature around the sealpot of 87.79°C, and thermographic monitoring during commissioning recorded 88.2°C. These results confirm the success of the refractory upgrade, eliminating hotspots and meeting performance expectations.