Effects of Rolling Reduction and Strength of Composed Layers on Bond Strength of Pure Copper and Aluminium Alloy Clad Sheets Fabricated by Cold Roll Bonding

Three types of clad sheets, Cu/Al, Cu/AA5052, and Cu/AA5083, were produced by cold roll bonding with the rolling reduction of 50% and 75%. Tensile shear tests which give tensile shear strength were performed in order to assess the bond strength. Scanning electron microscopy was performed on the fractured interface produced by the tensile shear tests, which suggests that the fracture occurs within the Al alloy layer. The tensile shear strengths considering the area fraction of deposit of Al alloy on Cu side were compared with the shear stress converting from the ultimate tensile strengths. As a result, the tensile shear strength of the clad sheets is attributed to the shear strength of Al alloy layer close to the well bonded interface. A simple model was proposed that explains the effects of the rolling reduction and area fraction of deposit of Al alloy

Sirt1 expression is associated with CD31 expression in blood cells from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background: Cigarette smoke induced oxidative stress has been shown to reduce silent information regulator 1 (Sirt1) levels in lung tissue from smokers and patients with COPD patients. Sirt1 is known to inhibit endothelial senescence and may play a protective role in vascular cells. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are mobilized into circulation under various pathophysiological conditions, and are thought to play an important role in tissue repair in chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD). Therefore, Sirt1 and EPC-associated mRNAs were measured in blood samples from patients with COPD and from cultured CD34+ progenitor cells to examine whether these genes are associated with COPD development. Methods: This study included 358 patients with a smoking history of more than 10 pack-years. RNA was extracted from blood samples and from CD34+ progenitor cells treated with cigarette smoke extract (CSE), followed by assessment of CD31, CD34, Sirt1 mRNA, miR-34a, and miR-126-3p expression by real-time RT-PCR. Results: The expression of CD31, CD34, Sirt1 mRNAs, and miR-126-3p decreased and that of miR-34a increased in moderate COPD compared with that in control smokers. However, no significant differences in these genes were observed in blood cells from patients with severe COPD compared with those in control smokers. CSE significantly decreased Sirt1 and increased miR-34a expression in cultured progenitor cells. Conclusion: Sirt1 expression in blood cells from patients with COPD could be a biomarker for disease stability in patients with moderate COPD. MiR-34a may participate in apoptosis and/or senescence of EPCs in smokers. Decreased expression of CD31, CD34, and miR-126-3p potentially represents decreased numbers of EPCs in blood cell from patients with COPD

The Impact of Tofogliflozin on Physiological and Hormonal Function, Serum Electrolytes, and Cardiac Diastolic Function in Elderly Japanese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

The sodium glucose transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor tofogliflozin is a glucose-lowering drug that causes the excretion of surplus glucose by inhibiting SGLT2. Because of tofogliflozin’s osmotic diuresis mechanism, patients’ serum electrolytes, body fluid levels, and cardiac function must be monitored. We retrospectively analyzed the cases of 64 elderly Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who received tofogliflozin for 3 months. Their HbA1c, serum electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride), hematocrit, brain natriuretic peptide (cardiac volume load marker) and renin and aldosterone (RAA; an index of regulatory hormones involved in body fluid retention) were continuously monitored during the investigation period. Renal function and cardiac function (by echocardiography) were assessed throughout the period. HbA1c significantly decreased (β1=−0.341, p<0.0001, linear regression analysis [LRA]). Most of the hormonal, electrolyte, and physiological parameters were maintained throughout the study period. In these circumstances, E/e’ tended to decrease (β1=−0.382, p=0.13, LRA). Compared to the baseline, E/e’ was significantly decreased at 1 and 3 months (p<0.01, p<0.05). In the higher E/e’ group (E/e’≥10, n=34), E/e’ decreased significantly (β1=−0.63, p<0.05, LRA). ΔE/e’ was correlated with body-weight change during treatment (r=0.64, p<0.01). The 3-month tofogliflozin treatment improved glycemic control and diastolic function represented by E/e’ in T2DM patients, without affecting serum electrolytes, renal function, or RAA. No negative impacts on the patients were observed. Three-month tofogliflozin treatment lowered glucose and improved cardiac diastolic function

Ischemic Stroke in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure: From the KCHF Registry

[Background] Heart failure (HF) is a known risk factor for ischemic stroke, but data regarding ischemic stroke during hospitalization for acute decompensated HF (ADHF) are limited. [Methods and Results] We analyzed the data from a multicenter registry (Kyoto Congestive Heart Failure [KCHF] Registry) that enrolled 4056 consecutive patients with ADHF in Japan (mean age, 78 years; men, 2238 patients [55%]; acute coronary syndrome [ACS], 239 patients [5.9%]). We investigated the incidence and predictors of ischemic stroke during hospitalization for ADHF. During the hospitalization, 63 patients (1.6%) developed ischemic stroke. The median interval from admission to the onset of ischemic stroke was 7 [interquartile range: 2–14] days, and the most common underlying cause was cardioembolism (64%). Men (OR, 1.87; 95%CI, 1.11–3.24), ACS (OR, 2.31; 95%CI, 1.01–4.93), absence of prior HF hospitalization (OR, 2.21; 95%CI, 1.24–4.21), and high B‐type natriuretic peptide (BNP)/N‐terminal proBNP (NT‐proBNP) levels (above the median) at admission (OR, 3.15; 95%CI, 1.84–5.60) were independently associated with ischemic stroke. In patients without ACS, the independent risk factors for ischemic stroke were fully consistent with those in the main analysis. Higher quartiles of BNP/NT‐proBNP levels were significantly associated with higher incidence of ischemic stroke (P for trend, <0.001). Patients with ischemic stroke showed higher in‐hospital mortality, longer length of hospital stay, and poorer functional status at discharge. [Conclusions] During hospitalization for ADHF, 1.6% of the patients developed ischemic stroke. Men, ACS, absence of prior HF hospitalization, and high BNP/NT‐proBNP levels at admission were independently associated with ischemic stroke

EJECTION OF SMALL SEDIMENTARY PARTICLES INTO A CYLINDRICAL BATH BY SWIRL MOTION OF BUBBLING JET

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SWIRL MOTION CAUSED BY TOP LANCE GAS INJECTION IN BOTTOMLESS CYLINDRICAL VESSEL

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