Birthweight and Lipids in Adult Life: Population-Based Cross Sectional Study

The purpose of this study was to examine the association of birthweight with lipid profile in the general adult population. Participants in the second-wave of a nationally representative cross sectional AusDiab-study were asked to complete a birthweight questionnaire. Fasting total cholesterol (TC), LDL-C, HDL-C, and triacylglycerol levels were modeled against birthweight. Four thousand five hundred and two people reported their birthweights, mean (SD) of 3.4(0.7) kg. Females with low birthweight-LBW had higher levels of TC, LDL-C, and triacylglycerols, but no difference in HDL-C, than those with normal-birthweight-NBW;≥2.5 kg. People with LBW showed a trend toward increased risk for high TC (≥5.5 mmol/L) compared to NBW. Among females with LBW, the risk for high LDL-C (≥3.5 mmol/L) was increased compared to those of NBW. The risk for low HDL-C (<0.9 mmol/L) was increased among males with LBW compared to those with NBW. Examination of the relationship on the continuum showed no differences except for high triacylglycerol levels among females with the lowest birthweight quintile compared to the higher birthweight quintile. However, the risk for various abnormalities by birthweight quintiles was similar to that when we used the traditional definition of LBW vs. NBW. Females and males with low birthweight differ in their risk for lipids abnormalities. Females had higher risk for high LDL-C, whereas males had high risk for low HDL-C (<0.9 mmol/L). In addition, females with low birthweight had the highest triacylglycerol levels. High LDL-C, low HDL-C, and high triacylglycerols are well-recognized risk factors for cardiovascular disease.     

Post-fire behavior of CFRP retrofitted thin-walled steel tanks

Thin-walled shell structures are characterized by a lightweight structural form with high strength. This structure has many applications in various engineering fields and is considered to be a basic tool in the modern industry. This study investigates the effect of CFRP on tanks after post-fire in order to examine the buckling and post-buckling of the cylindrical tanks. Herein, post-fire was introduced at different temperatures (150°C-600°C). Ten laboratory specimens in two groups with verified temperatures, under external pressure, are examined. The models were designed to demonstrate how repairing steel tanks, which are damaged by fire, by using carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer can recover lost capacity. The results of testing under different theories and codes were compared. This study shows that the initial buckling load of the temperature group increased by 30.82% to 57.09% compared to the temperature without-CFRP group. The overall buckling load of the temperature group increased by 37.01% to 67.74% compared to the temperature without-CFRP group. The collapse load of the temperature group increased by 27.04% to 52.64% compared to the temperature without-CFRP group. And using carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer on models, which are damaged by fire, can be an improvement behavior for the buckling and post-buckling specimen tests.     

Distributed data-driven observer for linear time invariant systems

This paper is concerned with distributed data-driven observer design problem. The existing data-driven observers rely on a common assumption that all the information about the system, and the calculations based upon this information are centralized. Therefore the resulting algorithms cannot be applied to the distributed systems in which each local observer receives only a part of the output signal. On the other hand, traditional model-based distributed state estimation methods generally assume that the processes are decomposed according to the known process models, while in data-driven approaches there is no such information available. The main goal of this paper is to extend the centralized data-driven observer design approach to the distributed framework. The stability of the proposed data-driven distributed observer is also proved analytically. A quadruple-tank process is simulated to demonstrate the performance of the proposed scheme.     

基于深度脊波神经网络的电力系统短期负荷预测模型

针对电力系统负荷的非线性预测问题,本文构造了一种基于深度脊波神经网络的电力系统短期负荷预测模型。该模型的隐含层采用脊波神经元,神经元的激励函数采用脊波变换函数。对该预测模型采用受限的玻尔兹曼机学习原理进行预训练,最后利用粒子群优化算法对其进行深度优化精调。通过对某地区实际电网负荷系统进行仿真预测,结果表明,与传统的BP神经网络、脊波神经网络和常规深度神经网络模型相对比,深度脊波神经网络预测模型的日平均绝对误差百分比分别降低了1.96%、1.12%和0.3%,日最大绝对误差分别降低了3.91%、2.19%和1.78%,验证了深度脊波神经网络预测模型具有较好的预测准确度和稳定性。     

Effects of preform pore structure on infiltration kinetics and microstructure evolution of RMI-derived Cf/ZrC-ZrB2-SiC composite

Reactive melt infiltration (RMI) is often used to fabricate highly dense ceramic matrix composite by infiltration of alloy melt into porous preform. Here, C_f/B₄C-C preforms with various pore structures were prepared, and the effects of pore structure on the ZrSi₂ melt infiltration and the as-received C_f/ZrC-ZrB₂-SiC composites were investigated. Compared with the preform prepared by slurry impregnation (SI), the preform prepared by sol impregnation shows more uniform pore size distribution, which leads to more homogeneous melt infiltration, as well as more uniform formation of ZrC-ZrB₂-SiC and better mechanical properties in the composites. The calculation results of infiltration kinetics indicate that the pore radius decreases quickly during the melt infiltration. As the time needed for pore closure in sol-preform is longer than that in SI-preform, it makes the infiltration kinetics more favorable in the former preform. This study can provide guidance for the pore structure regulation in the fabrication of RMI-composites.     

Hetero-nanostructured metal oxide-based hybrid photocatalysts for enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting – A review

This review is mainly focused on nanostructured metal oxide-based efficient photocatalysts for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting applications. Owing to their distinctive physical and chemical properties, metal-oxide nanostructures have attracted a wide research interest for solar power-stimulated water splitting applications. Hydrogen generation by solar energy-assisted water splitting is a clean and eco-friendly route that can solve the energy crisis and play a significant role in efforts to save the environment. In this review, synthesis strategies, control of morphology, band-gap properties, and photocatalytic application of solar water splitting using hierarchical hetero-nanostructured metal oxide-based photocatalysts, such as titanium dioxide (TiO₂), zinc oxide (ZnO), and tungsten/wolfram trioxide (WO₃), are discussed.     

Feasible Preparation of a Thin‐Film Composite Nanofiltration (TFC NF) Membrane with Enhanced Skin–Substrate Adhesion and Compaction Resistance: In Situ Construction of Rigid–Flexible Polymer Composited Microspheres (CPs) in the Casting Solution

Novel microspheres (CPs) composited by rigid and flexible polymers are synthesized and embedded in the supporting membranes to enhance both the skin–substrate adhesion and compaction resistance of the thin‐film composite (TFC) nanofiltration membranes. The CPs are in situ formed in the casting solution after the rigid poly(p‐phenylene terephthamide) (PPTA) is produced in the flexible poly(m‐phenylene isophthalamide) (PMIA) solution. Then the PPTA/PMIA in situ blending membranes are prepared by using the NIPs method, and the TFC NF membranes are fabricated via interfacial polymerization on them. The CPs are characterized via polarizing microscopy and TEM. The surface morphology and chemical composition of the blended membranes are characterized by using FESEM, AFM, FTIR, and WCA, respectively. As the results show, the supporting membrane with higher PPTA content exhibits higher permeability, thermal stability, and compaction resistance. Moreover, the adhesion strength between the TFC functional layer and the supporting membrane is improved significantly. It is proposed that this improvement can be attributed to the CPs that are exposed on the top surface of the supporting membrane, which leads to a great enhancement because of the anchoring effect between the functional layer and the CPs.     

Detailed Insight into the Interaction of Bicyclic Somatostatin Analogue with Cu(II) Ions

Somatostatin analogues are useful pharmaceuticals in peptide receptor radionuclide therapy. In previous studies, we analyzed a new bicyclic somatostatin analogue (BCS) in connection with Cu(II) ions. Two characteristic sites were present in the peptide chain: the receptor- and the metal-binding site. We have already shown that this ligand can form very stable imidazole complexes with the metal ion. In this work, our aim was to characterize the intramolecular interaction that occurs in the peptide molecule. Therefore, we analyzed the coordination abilities of two cyclic ligands, i.e., P1 only with the metal binding site and P2 with both sites, but without the disulfide bond. Furthermore, we used magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy to better understand the coordination process. We applied this method to analyze spectra of P1, P2, and BCS, which we have described previously. Additionally, we analyzed the MCD spectra of P3 ligand, which has only the receptor binding site in its structure. We have unequivocally shown that the presence of the Phe-Trp-Lys-Thr motif and the disulfide bond significantly increases the metal binding efficiency.     

The Protective Effects of the Autophagic and Lysosomal Machinery in Vascular and Valvular Calcification: A Systematic Review

Background: Autophagy is a highly conserved catabolic homeostatic process, crucial for cell survival. It has been shown that autophagy can modulate different cardiovascular pathologies, including vascular calcification (VCN). Objective: To assess how modulation of autophagy, either through induction or inhibition, affects vascular and valvular calcification and to determine the therapeutic applicability of inducing autophagy. Data sources: A systematic review of English language articles using MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science (WoS) and the Cochrane library. The search terms included autophagy, autolysosome, mitophagy, endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-phagy, lysosomal, calcification and calcinosis. Study characteristics: Thirty-seven articles were selected based on pre-defined eligibility criteria. Thirty-three studies (89%) studied vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) calcification of which 27 (82%) studies investigated autophagy and six (18%) studies lysosomal function in VCN. Four studies (11%) studied aortic valve calcification (AVCN). Thirty-four studies were published in the time period 2015–2020 (92%). Conclusion: There is compelling evidence that both autophagy and lysosomal function are critical regulators of VCN, which opens new perspectives for treatment strategies. However, there are still challenges to overcome, such as the development of more selective pharmacological agents and standardization of methods to measure autophagic flux.     

HIP法制备CuCr触头的真空电击穿特性

采用热等静压(HIP)固相烧结法制备了近乎完全致密、低氧、氮含量的CuCr合金材料,研究了在不同烧结温度下制备CuCr合金的Cr相颗粒度、电击穿场强及击穿区域,给出了CuCr合金Cr相粒子半径与击穿场强的关系式。结果表明:随着HIP烧结温度的上升,CuCr触头材料的Cr相颗粒度也将逐渐增大,导致真空电击穿场强减小,与此同时真空电击穿烧蚀面积增大,烧蚀坑深度逐步加深。