Lipoprotein(a) in android obesity and NIDDM

OBJECTIVE: To assess the level of serum lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] in nonobese and obese NIDDM subjects with android body distribution. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Serum Lp(a) levels were measured in 30 long-standing NIDDM patients (duration of diabetes 12.5 +/- 3 years, mean +/- SD), with 15 of the patients being obese of android distribution (BMI > 30 kg/m2 and waist-to-hip ratio > 0.8). In addition, there were 15 android obese nondiabetic subjects and 10 healthy subjects serving as the control group. RESULTS: All groups of patients in this study (diabetic, obese, and obese diabetic) showed significantly higher levels of Lp(a) than the healthy control group. Lp(a) concentrations were significantly higher in NIDDM patients with android type of obesity than in nondiabetic androids (24.1 +/- 5.6 vs. 14.8 +/- 2.4 mg/dl, P < 0.001). Significantly greater levels of Lp(a) were found in nonobese subjects with diabetes when compared with obese subjects without diabetes (22.3 +/- 4.1 vs. 14.8 +/- 2.4 mg/dl, P < 0.001). Furthermore, Lp(a) serum concentrations were not dependent on the degree of glycemic control (controlled NIDDM 23.6 +/- 5.0 vs. uncontrolled NIDDM 21.4 +/- 2.7 mg/dl, NS), but were much greater in subjects with diabetes complicated by vascular disease (complicated 26.3 +/- 5.0 vs. uncomplicated 20.5 +/- 2.7 mg/dl, P < 0.001). No correlation was found between Lp(a) and other lipid parameters in this study. CONCLUSIONS: Lp(a) levels are significantly elevated in both android-obese and nonobese NIDDM patients regardless of the degree of glycemic control. Lp(a) is an independent risk factor showing greater elevations in those subjects complicated with diabetic vascular diseases.     

Frequency dependence of the complex dielectric constant of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose

The dielectric constant, ε′, and dielectric loss, ε″, were determined for three solid carboxymethyl cellulose samples having different levels of substitution and different degrees of polymerization over a frequency range of 0.1 – 10 000 kHz at temperatures from 10–60°C. In contrast to the two relaxation processes, γ and β, previously observed in native cotton cellulose, only one relaxation process within a frequency range of 0.1 – 1 kHz was identified. It was found that the dielectric properties do not only depend on the degree of substitution, but also on the weight-average degree of polymerization and uniformity of distribution.     

Boundary element analysis of thin plates internally bounded by rigid patches

Procedures are described for modelling a structural system consisting of thin Kirchhoff plates with internal patch areas capable of displacing as rigid flat surfaces. The physical prototype for these patches could be interconnection points for one-dimensional frame type elements of various shapes and layout, rigidly connected at these finite size 'joints' in the plate. The numerical procedure for modelling the thin plate is the Direct Boundary Element Method (DBEM) and a simple overview of this procedure is provided. Potential trouble spots, of which the user should be aware, are described. The paper will be of interest to structural engineers for analysis of frames having both plate and simple frame elements, for example, building frames; and also to researchers seeking the greater detail that this refined procedure can provide. As a practical tool, the methods described are computationally competitive with existing procedures, including the more rugged approaches used by building structural engineers for dynamic and torsional analysis.     

Effect of the percentage carbon equivalent on the nodule characteristics,density and modulus of elasticity of ductile cast iron

Successful melting and Mg treatment were conducted using a vortex unit which produced spheroidal graphite (SG) Fe ingots having a percentage carbon equivalent (%CE) ranging from 3.782 to 5.240. Microstructure examination revealed graphite nodules embedded in a white matrix (unetched condition). The variation of %CE proved to have a pronounced effect on the nodule characteristics. The nodule count showed a maximum value at %CE of 4.613. For metal-mould ingots it reached a value of 1584 nodules mm^–2, while for sand-mould ingots it reached a value of 970 nodules mm^–2. Nodule size was found to be inversely proportional to the nodule count for both sand- and metal-mould ingots. The nodularity of all ingots was, in general, higher than 95%. The density of SG Fe was found to decrease gradually (at %CE=3.782) from 7242 to 6969 kg m^–3. The modulus of elasticity (E) showed a boat-like curve having minimum values of 189 and 192 GPa for the sand and metal moulds, respectively.     

Optical properties of evaporated Ge20Se80−x Tl x thin films

Chalcogenide glasses with composition Ge₂₀Se_80–x Tl _x (x=10, 15, 20, 25, 35%) have been prepared by the usual melt-quenching technique. Thin films of the mentioned compositions have been prepared by the electron beam evaporation. In addition, another set taken from the composition ofX=30 at % with different thicknesses (d=14.7, 30.0, 56.5, 70.0, 101.0, 180.0 nm) have been taken into consideration. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed the amorphous nature of the prepared films. It was found that, in contrast to the optical gap (E _op), both the extent of the band tailing (B), and the band gap (E _e) increase with increasing thallium content. In other side,E _op showed thickness independency. The refractive index (n) showed obvious dependence on both composition and thickness also on the energy of the incident radiation.     

Processing and microstructural evolution of powder metallurgy Zn-22 Pct Al eutectoid alloy containing nanoscale dispersion particles

The present article deals with the processing and microstructural evolution of powder metallurgy (PM) Zn-22Al pct eutectoid alloy. The powder material was produced through inert gas atomization and then cryomilled in liquid nitrogen. The milled powder particles were consolidated by hot isostatic pressing (“hipping”) followed by thermomechanical treatment, resulting in a two-phase microstructure. The microstructures were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The principal processing factors and microstructural characteristics associated with the major processing steps, including spray atomization, mechanical milling (MM), consolidation, and heat treatment, were evaluated and discussed. Hot isostatic pressing and extrusion followed by heat treatment to produce the superplastic structure (Al-rich phase and Zn-rich phase) are effective in elimination porosity. A TEM examination of the microstructure of the alloy after processing reveals the presence of nanodispersion particles that are not uniformly distributed. The formation of the dispersions was attributed to the interaction between the powder material (primarily Al phase) and environmental elements such as oxygen and nitrogen during milling. Moreover, the size and distribution of the dispersions present in the bulk material met the anticipated requirements for serving as inhibitors for grain growth and barriers for dislocation movement. The TEM observations on crept specimens reveal extensive dislocation/dispersion interactions.     

DynMo-TE: Dynamic simulation model of space reactor power system with thermoelectric converters

A space reactor power system (SRPS) has been developed for avoidance of single point failures in reactor cooling and energy conversion. The sectored compact reactor (SCoRe) in this system is lithium-cooled and the reactor core is divided into six equal sectors with liquid metal heat pipes dividers. These reactor sectors are neutronically, but not thermal-hydraulically, coupled. Each sector has its own primary and secondary circulating lithium loops, which are thermally coupled both in a SiGe thermoelectric (TE) power conversion assembly (PCA) and a thermoelectric conversion assembly (TAC) that powers the electromagnetic pumps in the primary and secondary loops. Each secondary loop also has a separate, segmented radiator panel that is optimized for low specific mass and low liquid lithium inventory. The primary loops transport the thermal power generated in the reactor to six PCAs that nominally supply a total of 111.5 kW_e to the load at 450 V DC. Each of the 12 primary and secondary loops has its own bellows-type accumulator that is designed to regulate the lithium pressures in the loops. A dynamic simulation model of this thermoelectric SRPS (DynMo-TE) has been developed and used to investigate the transient operation of the system during a startup from a fully-thawed condition at 600 K, to nominal steady-state operation at which the lithium coolant exits the reactor at only 1179 K. Also investigated is the load-following characteristic of the SCoRe-TE SRPS, following a change in the electrical load demand.     

Sensitivity analysis of the scattering parameters of microwave filters using the adjoint network method

A novel approach is presented to calculate the sensitivities of the scattering parameters of microwave filters obtained with the full‐wave mode‐matching (MM) technique. Using only the MM simulation of the original network, the sensitivities of the scattering parameters with respect to all designable parameters are obtained. The adjoint network method (ANM) is applied to the generalized scattering matrices of the different filter components. This guarantees good accuracy of the calculated sensitivities. The implementation details are discussed for N‐resonator ridge waveguide filters. Excellent agreement is obtained between the sensitivities calculated using ANM and those obtained using the expensive central differences. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2006.     

Mechanical properties of iron processed by severe plastic deformation

In the present study, the mechanical properties of Fe processed via severe plastic deformation (equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP)) at room temperature were investigated for the first time. The grain size of annealed Fe, with an initial grain size of about 200 μm, was reduced drastically during ECAP. After eight passes, the grain size reaches 200 to 400 nm, as documented by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The value of microhardness during pressing increases 3 times over that of the starting material after the first pass and increases slightly during subsequent pressing for higher-purity Fe. Examination of the value of microhardness after eight passes as a function of post-ECAP annealing temperature shows a transition from recovery to recrystallization, an observation that resembles the behavior reported for heavily deformed metals and alloys. The tensile and compression behaviors were examined. In tension, a drop in the engineering stress-engineering strain curve beyond maximum load was observed both in the annealed Fe and the ECAP Fe. This drop is related to the neck deformation. The fracture surface, examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), shows vein patterns, which is different from the dimples found on the fracture surface of annealed Fe. In compression, an initial strain-hardening region followed by a no-strain-hardening region was observed in the ECAP Fe. The yield strength in tension of the ECAP Fe was observed to be higher than that in compression. The strengthening mechanisms and softening behavior are discussed.