Well-Known and Novel Serum Biomarkers for Risk Stratification of Patients with Non-ischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy encompasses a wide spectrum of myocardial disorders, characterized by left ventricular dilatation with systolic impairment and increased risk of sudden cardiac death. In spite of all the therapeutic progress that has been made in recent years, dilated cardiomyopathy continues to be an important cause of cardiac transplant, being associated with an enormous cost burden for health care systems worldwide. Predicting the prognosis of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy is essential to individualize treatment. Late gadolinium enhancement-cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, microvolt T-wave alternans, and genetic testing have emerged as powerful tools in predicting sudden cardiac death occurrence and maximizing patient’s selection. Despite all these new diagnostic modalities, additional tests to complement or replace current tools are required for better risk stratification. Therefore, biomarkers are an easy and important tool that can help to detect patients at risk of adverse cardiovascular events. Additionally, identifying potential biomarkers involved in dilated cardiomyopathy can provide us important information regarding the diagnostic, prognostic, risk stratification, and response to treatment for these patients. Many potential biomarkers have been studied in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, but only a few have been adopted in current practice. Therefore, the aim of our review is to provide the clinicians with an update on the well-known and novel biomarkers that can be useful for risk stratification of patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.     

The Causes and Potential Injurious Effects of Elevated Serum Leptin Levels in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

Leptin is an adipokine that regulates appetite and body mass and has many other pleiotropic functions, including regulating kidney function. Increased evidence shows that chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with hyperleptinemia, but the reasons for this phenomenon are not fully understood. In this review, we focused on potential causes of hyperleptinemia in patients with CKD and the effects of elevated serum leptin levels on patient kidney function and cardiovascular risk. The available data indicate that the increased concentration of leptin in the blood of CKD patients may result from both decreased leptin elimination from the circulation by the kidneys (due to renal dysfunction) and increased leptin production by the adipose tissue. The overproduction of leptin by the adipose tissue could result from: (a) hyperinsulinemia; (b) chronic inflammation; and (c) significant lipid disturbances in CKD patients. Elevated leptin in CKD patients may further deteriorate kidney function and lead to increased cardiovascular risk.     

Effects of Berry Anthocyanins on Cognitive Performance,Vascular Function and Cardiometabolic Risk Markers: A Systematic Review of Randomized Placebo-Controlled Intervention Studies in Humans

Supplementation with anthocyanins, which are a type of flavonoids mainly found in various berries, is hypothesized to be a promising approach to lower the risk of developing cognitive decline. The aim of this systematic review was to provide a comprehensive overview of dietary intervention trials describing effects of berry anthocyanins on cognitive performance in humans, while also addressing potential underlying mechanisms. A total of 1197 articles were identified through a systematic search, and 49 studies reporting effects on cognitive performance (n = 18), vascular function (n = 22), or cardiometabolic risk markers (n = 32) were included. Significant improvements were observed on memory, while some of the studies also reported effects on attention and psychomotor speed or executive function. Vascular function markers such as brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation were also affected and consistent evidence was provided for the beneficial effects of berry anthocyanins on endothelial function. Finally, studies reported improvements in blood pressure, but effects on metabolic risk markers (e.g. carbohydrate and lipid metabolism) were less consistent. In conclusion, this review provides evidence for the beneficial effects of berry anthocyanins on cognitive performance as memory improved. Whether observed anthocyanin-induced improvements in vascular function and blood pressure underlie beneficial effects on cognitive performance warrants further study.     

计及风电置信风险的源网协调多目标优化调度

为了更为合理灵活地评估风电高估/低估给电力系统优化调度带来的风险性以及降低调度决策的保守性,基于风电机会约束提出风电高估/低估置信风险功率偏差量化计算方法,并在决策变量中引入变压器变比调节和无功补偿容量优化,构建计及风电置信风险和源网协调运行的经济/风险多目标优化调度模型。提出一种基于可行性和非劣性综合排序回溯搜索算法,从而实现对调度模型的高效准确求解。IEEE 30节点系统算例结果验证了所提方法的有效性和优越性。     

消失模精密铸造工艺研究

借助熔模铸造制壳工艺制成消失模铸造用的超薄空腔型壳，以减少消失模铸造在浇注过程中因聚苯乙烯气化而产生的铸件增碳、增氢等缺陷。聚苯乙烯模失模工艺为随炉升温至600℃，保温60min,型壳焙烧工艺为800℃焙烧1h。     

中空螺旋状不锈钢冷却水喷头的熔模精密铸造

采用熔模精密铸造工艺，生产中空螺旋状不锈钢冷却水喷头，其工艺要点是，采用热型重力浇注，在高温下进行自由浇注。同时采用先慢后快，流量由小到大的浇注方法。结果表明：铸件表面光洁，无砂眼、气孔等缺陷，铸件合格率高于90％；在实际使用中，雾化区域直径大于1．5m，雾化率大于90％，喷雾效果稳定良好；盐雾试验2000h没有锈蚀，具有优良的耐磨性和耐腐蚀性。     

碳钢精铸件表面合金化：渗硼的试验研究

应用铸件表面合金化的方法，实现了碳钢精铸件表面铸态渗硼。渗层深度可达１．０５ｍｍ，硼相的显微硬度值为８００－１０００ｇ／μｍ＾２；碳钢精铸件铸态脱碳作为可利用的因素，有助于精铸件铸态渗硼。     

TiAl基合金与陶瓷界面反应的研究

借助电子探针微区分析仪、维氏显微硬度计、光学和电子显微镜对TiAl合金与Al2O3,ZrO2以及经CaO稳定的ZrO23种陶瓷型壳的界面反应进行了研究分析。结果表明，这3种材料的化学稳定性依次升高，而经CaO稳定的ZrO2型壳与TiAl反应层的厚度仅为50μm,故可望用作钛铝合金精密铸造型壳面层材料。     

我国精铸业近十多年来的技术进步

经过十多年的快速发展，中国精铸业已初具规模，年产量已达60万t，年产值达108亿元人民币。在工艺技术上也有了不少的进展，精铸生产开始向节能、低耗、环保方向发展。介绍精铸企业在计算机技术应用、设备改进、新工艺和新材料的推广等方面的最新进展。     

铜塔铸造工艺

介绍了五台山铜塔铸造工艺,由于其结构特殊,故采用了3种工艺分别铸造而成:细砂湿模造型、树脂砂毁模贴皮造型和熔模铸造.介绍了铜塔表面化学着色技术.铜塔铸造工艺对其他相似艺术铸品具有一定的借鉴价值.