Endothelial bound lipoprotein lipase (LpL) depletion in hypoalbuminemia results from decreased endothelial binding, not decreased secretion

Hypertriglyceridemia in nephrotic (NS) and Nagase analbuminemic rats (Analb) results from reduced triglyceride clearance. NS and Analb have reduced or absent albumin, reduced plasma oncotic pressure (π), but Analb lack proteinuria. The heparin releasable lipoprotein lipase (LpL) pool in both models is greatly reduced, suggesting reduced LpL is related to low albumin or π and not proteinuria. To determine the cause of endothelial LpL reduction, we studied effectors of endothelial LpL (eLpL) levels from gene expression, to delivery and endothelial binding. eLpL was measured as heparin releasable activity. eLpL and secretion rate was measured in isolated hearts perfused with heparin. mRNA levels were measured in rat hearts by kinetic RT-PCR. Finally, binding of 125I-LpL by competition assays rat endothelial cells measured serum-induced changes in affinity. eLpL in vivo was reduced in nephrotic and Analb rats. While the eLpL pool was reduced in isolated perfused hearts, neither LpL secretion by isolated hearts nor myocardial mRNA was reduced in NS or Analb. Binding of LpL to RAEC preincubated with serum from either NS or Analb was reduced compared to control. LpL mRNA levels and release rate was not altered in hearts from NS rats, while eLpL is depleted, suggesting that reduced eLpL in NS is not the result of reduced delivery. The finding that NS serum alters LpL binding to RAEC suggests LpL depletion results from decreased binding rather than defective delivery. This in turn is a consequence of reduced serum albumin or π but does not require proteinuria

Thermo – mechanical properties of SPS produced self-healing thermal barrier coatings containing pure and alloyed MoSi2 particles

Yttria – partially stabilised zirconia (YPSZ) MoSi2 composites have been designed to prolong the lifetime of the matrix by self – healing cracks during thermal cycling. The healing reaction at high temperatures is based on the decomposition of MoSi2, leading to a volumetrically expanding reaction product, which seals the crack. In this work, coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and the fracture toughness of composites containing MoSi2 particles, produced by spark plasma sintering (SPS) have been compared to conventional YPSZ. The CTE mismatch between YPSZ and MoSi2 was found to be small, implying that thermally induced mismatch stresses will be small and the composites have a similar CTE to conventional YPSZ. Fracture toughness was found not to be affected by the particles and showed similar values to unreinforced YPSZ. Cracks introduced by indentation have been shown neither to prefer, or avoid, the particles suggesting that such a composite system is capable of autonomously activating the self – healing reaction

Evaluation of interface adhesion of hot-dipped zinc coating on TRIP steel with tensile testing and finite element calculation

Abstract In this work, a methodology for the determination of the interface adhesion strength of zinc coating on TRIP steel is present. This method consists of a conventional tensile test in combination with finite element calculation. The relation between the average interface crack length and the applied tensile stress is determined on the partially delaminated coating with in-situ tensile test. The delamination process of zinc coating on steel substrate is simulated by using a two-grain finite element model with different interface adhesion strengths. By comparing the experimental observation with the finite element calculations, the interface adhesion strength is estimated. The interface adhesion strength of the zinc coating on transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) steel is found as high as 160 MPa. The influences of microstructural parameters of zinc coating including zinc grain orientation and grain size on the delamination behavior of the zinc coating are also analyzed with the finite element model

Signaling in Secret: Pay-for-Performance and the Incentive and Sorting Effects of Pay Secrecy

Key Findings: Pay secrecy adversely impacts individual task performance because it weakens the perception that an increase in performance will be accompanied by increase in pay; Pay secrecy is associated with a decrease in employee performance and retention in pay-for-performance systems, which measure performance using relative (i.e., peer-ranked) criteria rather than an absolute scale (see Figure 2 on page 5); High performing employees tend to be most sensitive to negative pay-for- performance perceptions; There are many signals embedded within HR policies and practices, which can influence employees’ perception of workplace uncertainty/inequity and impact their performance and turnover intentions; and When pay transparency is impractical, organizations may benefit from introducing partial pay openness to mitigate these effects on employee performance and retention