The Evolving Role of Fetuin-A in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: An Overview from Liver to the Heart

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is strongly associated to the features of metabolic syndrome which can progress to cirrhosis, liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the most common cause of mortality in people with NAFLD is not liver-related but stems from atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). The prevalence of NAFLD is on the rise, mainly as a consequence of its close association with two major worldwide epidemics, obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). The exact pathogenesis of NAFLD and especially the mechanisms leading to disease progression and CVD have not been completely elucidated. Human fetuin-A (alpha-2-Heremans Schmid glycoprotein), a glycoprotein produced by the liver and abundantly secreted into the circulation appears to play a role in insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and inflammation. This review discusses the links between NAFLD and CVD by specifically focusing on fetuin-A’s function in the pathogenesis of NAFLD and atherosclerotic CVD.     

智能打壳装置

在一台HAL 2 3 0电解槽上安装了 5个带有节能系统 (EnergySavingSystem)的汽缸和一个可用于快速测试寿命的“虚拟”ESS汽缸。测试的目的是使用ESS系统在正常操作中估计空气节省量和证明包括ESS系统在内的打壳装置的预期寿命周期能达到 8年。测试表明ESS系统的预期寿命超过 8年 ,与传统系统相比 ,可节省 5 9%的空气。如果全部使用该系统 ,可节省 65 %的能量。     

Defect classification using a new feature for pulsed eddy current sensors

The objective of this study is to identify defects such as surface cracks, subsurface defects and metal losses using feature based pulsed eddy current sensors. A new feature, termed as the rising point, related to the propagation time of electromagnetic waves in metallic targets is proposed for defect classification. Experimental studies of the validation, robustness of the new feature of rising time are reported. In addition to other features, defects can be detected and quantified robustly and lift-off can also be derived from the rising time. Conclusion and further work are derived on the basis of the findings.     

On the role of hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity in aqueous heterophase polymerization

This paper reports on experimental results of aqueous heterophase polymerizations with monomers of quite different solubility in water ranging from the water-soluble 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate to lauryl methacrylate with solubility in water of only about 10⁻⁴ mM. A calorimetric study revealed the strong influence of both the hydrophilicity of the monomer and the stirrer speed on the rate of polymerization in the absence of surfactants. In order to obtain maximum latex yield and high efficiency (which is a measure considering colloidal properties, polymerization recipe, and polymerization parameters) the initiator-surfactant combination must be properly chosen in dependence on the hydrophilicity of the monomer. Results are presented for sodium alkyl sulfates or disodium-N-stearoyl-l-glutamate as surfactant and potassium peroxodisulfate, or poly(ethylene glycol)-azo- compounds, or 2,2′-azobis(N-2′-methylpropanoyl-2-amino-alkyl-1)-sulfonates as initiators.     

Radiation-induced wood plastic composites under combinations of monomers

Radiation-induced wood plastic composites (WPC) were prepared from five varieties of Bangladeshi timbers, using seven different types of monomers. The mixtures of double and triple monomers were investigated along with the single-monomer system for the preparation of composites. Among the three systems, single-monomer process showed the highest polymer loading with butylmethacrylate (BMA). Tensile strength (TS) property, represented as T_f = TS_wpc/TS_wood was determined. Highest T_f values were achieved with the soft wood. The effects of dose and dose rate, monomer concentration, and swelling agent were also studied. Suitable total dose was found to be 3 Mrad at 0.8 Mrad/h, and methanol exhibited the best swelling ability for the woods at a ratio of 1 : 9 v/v in all the monomer investigated.     

Squaring down of general MIMO systems to invertible uniform rank systems via pre- and/or post-compensators

Pre- and/or post-compensators are designed to square down a general MIMO system to a uniform rank system, the structure of which is almost similar to a SISO system. The method of squaring down either does not change the finite zero structure of the given MIMO system or simply adds additional finite zeros in the left half s-plane. The significance of such a squaring down lies in the simplicity of the structure of a uniform rank system lending itself for easy analysis and control design.     

Langmuir probe RF plasma compensation using a simulation method

The problem of Langmuir probe data deformation due to RF pickup by the probe is treated through a computer simulation method. It is pointed out that proper RF compensations can be obtained by treatment of the Langmuir probe raw data through the use of computer software. It is demonstrated that correct, RF unaffected probe I–V$I\text{–}V$ characteristics can be accurately reproduced from the RF contaminated data. This eliminates the need for the use of any filters or other hardware procedures. User friendly matlab based software is presented. The software automatically retrieves the correct RF I–V$I\text{–}V$ characteristics for single Langmuir probe data which consequently allows for proper evaluation of plasma parameters such as the plasma electron temperature, electron number density and the electron energy distribution function (EEDF)     

Single mask fabrication process for movable MEMS devices

The current work reports on the realization of movable micromachining devices using self-aligned single-mask fabrication process. Only dry etching process utilizing inductively coupled plasma reactive ion etching was used to release 3D micro structures from single crystal silicon substrate. No wet etching process is required to release the structures as is the case with silicon on insulator (SOI) wafers. Also the developed process does not require an SOI substrate and accordingly dispensing with the application of a wet etching step, thus yielding uniform structures without stiction. The optimized process was applied to realize thermally actuated microgrippers. The article presents the development of the fabrication process and demonstrates the operation of the fabricated device. The optimized process provides an avenue for low cost fabrication of movable micromachining devices without the use of complicated wet etching steps typically associated with SOI substrates.     

Towards a distributed multi-agent framework for shared resources scheduling

Nowadays, manufacturers have to share some of their resources with partners due to the competitive economic environment. The management of the availability periods of shared resources causes a problem because it is achieved by the scheduling systems, which assume a local environment where all resources are on the same site. Therefore, distributed scheduling with shared resources is an important research topic. In this communication, we introduce the architecture and behaviour of DSCEP framework (Distributed, Supervisor, Customer, Environment, and Producer) under shared resources situation with disturbances. We are using a simple example of manufacturing system to illustrate the ability of DSCEP framework to solve the shared resources scheduling problem in complex systems.     

Polymer waste recycling over “used” catalysts

Catalytic degradation of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) was carried out under nitrogen using a laboratory fluidised bed reactor operating at 360 °C with catalyst to polymer feed ratio of 2:1 and at 450 °C with catalyst to polymer feed ratio of 6:1 under atmospheric pressure. The catalysts used in this study were ZSM-5, US-Y, ASA, fresh FCC (fluid catalytic cracking) commercial catalyst (Cat-A) and equilibrium FCC catalysts with different levels of metal poisoning were studied. The initial results for polymer degradation at 360 °C (catalyst to polymer ratio of 2:1) in a fluidised bed reactor in terms of the yield of volatile hydrocarbon products were: model catalysts>commercial FCC catalyst>E-Cats. However, when the process conditions more closely resembled to FCC conditions, the fresh commercial FCC catalyst was more favourable in terms of the yield of volatile hydrocarbon products. The degradation of HDPE over E-Cats although reduced was similar to ASA in product selectivity and yield, and the level of metal contamination did not affect the product stream generated. A simple economic evaluation of polymer recycling process is reported showing that a catalytic system based on E-Cats appears comparable in costs to a commercial thermal cracking plant.