SGLT2is and Renal Protection: From Biological Mechanisms to Real-World Clinical Benefits

In recent years, following the publication of results from several RCTs, first on cardiovascular and more recently on renal outcomes, SGLT2is have become the standard of care to prevent diabetic kidney disease and slow its progression. This narrative review focuses on biological mechanisms, both renal and extrarenal, underlying kidney protection with SGLT2is. Furthermore, data from cardiovascular as well as renal outcome trials, mostly conducted in diabetic patients, are presented and discussed to provide an overview of current uses as well as the future therapeutic potential of these drugs.     

Autonomic Nervous System in Obesity and Insulin-Resistance—The Complex Interplay between Leptin and Central Nervous System

The role of the autonomic nervous system in obesity and insulin-resistant conditions has been largely explored. However, the exact mechanisms involved in this relation have not been completely elucidated yet, since most of these mechanisms display a bi-directional effect. Insulin-resistance, for instance, can be caused by sympathetic activation, but, in turn, the associated hyperinsulinemia can activate the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system. The picture is made even more complex by the implicated neural, hormonal and nutritional mechanisms. Among them, leptin plays a pivotal role, being involved not only in appetite regulation and glucose homeostasis but also in energy expenditure. The purpose of this review is to offer a comprehensive view of the complex interplay between leptin and the central nervous system, providing further insights on the impact of autonomic nervous system balance on adipose tissue and insulin-resistance. Furthermore, the link between the circadian clock and leptin and its effect on metabolism and energy balance will be evaluated.     

A fan‐equipped reactor for dust explosion tests

A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model was developed with the aim at simulating the turbulent flow field and associated dust dispersion in an agitated spherical explosion vessel. Simulations were performed in the presence of two counter‐rotating fans and also after having switched‐off the fans. Numerical results have shown that the dust mainly accumulates at the center of the sphere in the space left by the four vortices formed. After the switch‐off of the fans, the dust particles start filling the empty volumes inside the sphere, reaching a quite uniform distribution (with concentration equal to the nominal value) and simultaneously ensuring a controlled value of turbulent kinetic energy. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 1572–1580, 2015     

Stability Is Not Everything: The Case of the Cyclisation of a Thrombin-Binding Aptamer

With the aim of developing a new approach to obtain improved aptamers, a cyclic thrombin-binding aptamer (TBA) analogue (cycTBA) has been prepared by exploiting a copper(I)-assisted azide–alkyne cycloaddition. The markedly increased serum resistance and exceptional thermal stability of the G-quadruplex versus TBA were associated with halved thrombin inhibition, which suggested that some flexibility in the TBA structure was necessary for protein recognition.     

Mechanical properties of virgin and recycled polyolefin‐based composite laminates reinforced with jute fabric

Polyolefin‐based composite laminates reinforced with jute fabric were prepared by compression molding and investigated in terms of flexural properties and impact behavior. The use of a virgin polypropylene as the matrix was compared with two polyolefin matrices coming from discarded car bumpers and selected packaging wastes, respectively, and mainly constituted by mixtures of polyethylene and polypropylene resins. The influence of a coupling agent (maleated polypropylene) was always considered in order to improve the interfacial adhesion and, consequently, the composite strength. The effect of this coupling agent, clearly dependent on the amount of polypropylene phase in the overall mixture, was found to be satisfactory only in the case of virgin polypropylene‐based systems. These latter, in presence of maleated polypropylene, have shown higher flexural parameters, lower propagation energy and higher breaking impact load with respect to uncompatibilized ones. Results were supported by morphological observations of impact surfaces, always highlighting a poor adhesion at the reinforcement–matrix interface except in compatibilized virgin polypropylene‐based laminates. POLYM. COMPOS., 36:2022–2029, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineer     

混凝土坝裂缝变形的不确定性分析模型

混凝土坝裂缝的发生和发展受到不确定因素影响。将大坝系统及其安全监控看作一个受诸多因素影响的不确定性系统,结合裂缝实测资料,应用近似推理模型和信息分配法,建立了裂缝变形的不确定性分析模型。     

鄂尔多斯盆地高自然伽马异常特征

为了加深对盆地深部和浅部高自然伽马异常特征综合分析研究,揭示高自然伽马异常地质成因,从而 促进盆地多种能源矿产协同开发研究,针对收集大量的地球物理测井资料、地质资料及其他相关成果,绘制并分 析了相关成果图。研究中遵循从单孔测井曲线特征分析到典型剖面研究,并按层对高自然伽马的平面分布特征 进行分析研究。化验测试结果和自然伽马能谱测井成果研究表明,在本区,自然伽马异常增大主要是由于铀的 活化和聚集,导致铀元素增加而引起。相关研究表明,盆地深部和浅部的铀异常具有一定的关系,盆地历经的沉 积环境变迁是铀元素富集的主导因素。     

天然气加热炉的腐蚀原因及防护对策

天然气加热炉的腐蚀是一个普遍现象.本文从引起腐蚀的因素人手,详细剖析腐蚀发生的原因,提出监测和治理相结合的方法,系统地介绍了几种常用的防腐技术,包括添加缓蚀剂、使用耐腐蚀材料、界面涂层、电化学防腐及其它相关防腐技术.     

Temperature wave‐trains of periodically forced networks of catalytic reactors

Networks of N identical catalytic reactors with periodically switched inlet and outlet sections are studied for first‐order irreversible exothermic reactions. Switching strategies with inlet and outlet sections periodically jumping a fixed number n_s of reactors are considered and the mechanisms governing the formation of traveling temperature wave‐trains are analyzed as n_s and N are varied. To this aim, a geometric approach to the analysis of the network energy balance is developed. Based on this approach, infinite domains of traveling temperature wave‐trains are predicted for any n_s and N. Analytical approximations are derived for the stability limits and the spatiotemporal patterns of these regimes. Stability boundaries predicted analytically include for any solution the largest part of the stability region computed by numerical simulation. Moreover, good agreement is found between the structure of the spatiotemporal patterns computed numerically and that predicted based on the proposed approach. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2012