Dietary stearic acid and risk of cardiovascular disease: Intake,sources, digestion,and absorption

Individual FA have diverse biological effects, some of which affect the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). In the context of food-based dietary guidance designed to reduce CVD risk, fat and FA recommendations focus on reducing saturated FA (SFA) and trans FA (TFA), and ensuring an adequate intake of unsaturated FA. Because stearic acid shares many physical properties with the other long-chain SFA but has different physiological effects, it is being evaluated as a substitute for TFA in food manufacturing. For stearic acid to become the primary replacement for TFA, it is essential that its physical properties and biological effects be well understood.     

清洁镀铬用紫色硫酸铬

紫色硫酸铬是一种新型清洁镀铬（Cr^3 镀铬）的原料，在镀铬中显示了优良的性能，特别是镀液无需预电解处理亦能得到满意镀层这一实验结论，使清洁镀铬工艺实现工业生产又向前迈进了一步，介绍了它的制法，技术要求，物相分析及使用效果。     

基于信息微传递机制的粒子群算法

针对粒子群算法易陷入局部最优,导致收敛速度慢、寻优精度不高的不足,提出基于信息微传递机制的粒子群算法(IM PSO).引入信息微传递机制,将整个种群划分为多组多层,每组粒子逐层学习最优信息,防止算法早熟;采用逃离策略,当检测到粒子具有趋同行为时,改变粒子的飞行方向,增强算法寻优能力;使用动态边界化策略,动态缩小粒子的寻优区域,提高算法搜索效率.实验结果表明,IM PSO算法在收敛精度、收敛速度方面优于其它6种算法.     

Restoration of stormwater retention capacity at the allotment-scale through a novel economic instrument

Urbanisation results in changes to runoff behaviour which, if not addressed, inevitably degrade receiving waters. To date, most stormwater management has focussed on the streetscape and public open space. Given that much of the catchment imperviousness is located on private land, we developed and tested a novel economic instrument (a uniform price auction) for encouraging allotment-scale stormwater retention. We evaluated bids using an integrated environmental benefit index (EBI), based on the ability of the proposed works to reduce runoff frequency, pollutant loads and to reduce potable water demand. The uniform price auction resulted in 1.4 ha of impervious areas being effectively 'disconnected' from the stormwater system. The EBI provided an objective and transparent method of comparing bids, which varied in the type of works proposed (e.g. rainwater tank, rain-garden), the cost and the resulting environmental benefit. Whilst the pilot auction was a success, the public subsidy of works undertaken was around 85%, meaning that property owners a relatively small private benefit in the works. Future auction rounds will be revised to (i) test an EBI which is more focussed on the protection of streams (assessing changes to runoff frequency, baseflow volumes and water quality) and (ii) provide an auction process which is simpler to understand, and provides greater practical support for landholders who wish to undertake works.     

Retention of heavy metals by stormwater filtration systems: breakthrough analysis

Biofiltration systems are widely used to mitigate the impacts of stormwater on receiving waters, however their long-term capacity to retain heavy metals has not previously been assessed. Accelerated-dosing laboratory experiments were used to assess the likelihood of breakthrough occurring for three different types of soil-based filter media that are commonly used in stormwater biofilters. In all cases, breakthrough of zinc (Zn) was observed, but not of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu) and lead (Pb). If biofiltration systems are sized so that they are large relative to their catchment (at least 2-3% of its area) or have a deep filter layer (at least 0.5 m deep), then breakthrough will not occur for at least ten years and probably longer. However, after the equivalent of 12-15 years of operation, Cd, Cu and Zn had accumulated in the filter media to levels that exceeded human health and/or ecological guidelines. Further, depending on the design, it is possible that spent filter media may be classified as contaminated soil and thus require special disposal.     

Aberrant protein expression in plasma and kidney tissue during experimental obstructive nephropathy

Kidney failure is a major health problem worldwide. Patients with end-stage renal disease require intensive medical support by dialysis or kidney transplantation. Current methods for diagnosis of kidney disease are either invasive or insensitive, and renal function may decline by as much as 50% before it can be detected using current techniques. The goal of this study was, therefore, to identify biomarkers of kidney disease (associated with renal fibrosis) that can be used for the development of a non-invasive clinical test for early disease detection. We utilized two protein-profiling technologies (SELDI-TOF MS and 2-D) to screen the plasma and kidney proteome for aberrantly expressed proteins in an experimental mouse model of unilateral uretric obstruction, which mimics the pathology of human renal disease. Several differentially regulated proteins were detected at the plasma level of day-3-obstructed animals, which included serum amyloid A1, fibrinogen α, haptoglobin precursor protein, haptoglobin and major urinary proteins 11 and 8. Differentially expressed proteins detected at the tissue level included ras-like activator protein 2, haptoglobin precursor protein, malate dehydrogenase, α enolase and murine urinary protein (all p<0.05 versus controls). Immunohistochemistry was used to confirm the up-regulation of fibrinogen. Interestingly, these proteins are largely separated into four major classes: (i) acute-phase reactants (ii) cell-signaling molecules (iii) molecules involved in cell growth and metabolism and (iv) urinary proteins. These results provide new insights into the pathology of obstructive nephropathy and may facilitate the development of specific assay(s) to detect and monitor renal fibrosis.     

Detection of probe dither motion in near-field scanning optical microscopy

The probe-to-sample separation in near-field scanning optical microscopes can be regulated by a noncontact shear-force sensing technique. The technique requires the measurement of a minute dither motion applied to the probe. We have characterized an optical detection method for measuring this motion to determine the optimum detection configuration in terms of sensitivity and stability. A scalar diffraction model of the detection method is developed for calculating sensitivity, and experimental results are found to be in good agreement with the theoretical predictions. We find that maximum sensitivity and stability cannot be achieved simultaneously, and it may be desirable in practice to trade sensitivity for enhanced stability.     

Optical systems design for a stratospheric lidar system

The optical systems for the transmitter and receiver of a high-power lidar for stratospheric measurements have been designed and analyzed. The system requirements and design results are presented and explained. An important and driving factor of this design was the requirement for a small image diameter in the plane of an optical chopper to allow the high-intensity lidar returns from the lower atmosphere to be shielded from the detection system. Some results relevant to the optical performance of the system are presented. The resulting system has been constructed and is now in operation at the Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii, and is making regular measurements of stratospheric ozone, temperature, and aerosol profiles.