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In non-haemodialysis (HD) patients, increased epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness was significantly associated with adverse cardiovascular (CV) events. This study was designed to investigate whether EAT thickness was a useful parameter in the prediction of adverse CV events in HD patients. In addition, we also evaluated the major correlates of EAT thickness in these patients. In 189 routine HD patients, we performed a comprehensive transthoracic echocardiographic examination with assessment of EAT thickness. The definition of CV events included CV death, non-fatal stroke, non-fatal myocardial infarction, peripheral artery disease, and hospitalization for heart failure. The follow-up period for CV events was 2.5 ± 0.7 years. Thirty-one CV events were documented. The multivariable analysis demonstrated that older age, smoking status, the presence of diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease, and low albumin levels were independently correlated with adverse CV events. However, increased EAT thickness was not associated with adverse CV events (P = 0.631). Additionally, older age, female sex, low haemoglobin, and low early diastolic mitral annular velocity were correlated with high EAT thickness in the univariable analysis. In the multivariable analysis, older age and female sex were still correlated with high EAT thickness. In conclusion, high EAT thickness was associated with older age and female sex in the multivariable analysis in our HD patients. However, EAT thickness was not helpful in predicting adverse CV events in such patients. Further large-scale studies are necessary to verify this finding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bounds LX,Y ( A) and | A| of an operator A = ( a)≥0 with monotonic rows are evaluated, where X and Y are quasi-normed real valued sequence spaces. In particular, in the case where X = ℓ and Y = ℓ, our results give the results when part 0 < p ≤ 1 and 0 < q < ∞ to complement the other results with range p ≥ 1 and 0 < q < ∞. Moreover, we give a partial answer to a problem [1, Problem 7.23] which was posed by Bennett. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In [Acta Math. 80(1948), 167–190], G. G. Lorentz characterized almost convergent sequences in $$\mathbb{R}$$ (or in $$\mathbb{C}$$) in terms of the concept of uniform convergence of the de la Vallée-Poussin means. In this paper, we present Tauberian results which relate almost convergence to norm convergence or to the ( C, 1) convergence. Our results generalize Kronecker lemma. As a consequence, we prove that almost convergence and norm convergence are equivalent for the sequence of the partial sums of the Fourier series of $$f \in L^p(T)$$ (or $$f \in C(T)$$), where $$1\leq p \leq \infty$$. We also show that our results can be used to derive Fatou’s theorem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce the concept of w-almost convergent sequences. Such a definition is a weak form of almost convergent sequences given by G. G. Lorentz in [Acta Math. 80(1948),167-190]. We give a detailed study on w-almost convergent double sequences and prove that w-almost convergence and almost convergence are equivalent under the boundedness of the given sequence. The Tauberian results for w-almost convergence are established. Our Tauberian results generalize a result of Lorentz and Tauber’s second theorem. Moreover, we prove that w-almost convergence and norm convergence are equivalent for the sequence of the rectangular partial sums of the Fourier series of f ∈ L p( T2), where 1 < p < ∞. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of printed-circuit-board (PCB) surface finish and thermomechanical fatigue (TMF) on the formation and growth of intermetallic compounds (IMCs) between small outline J (SOJ) leads and Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu solder were investigated. The thickness of the IMC layer formed initially at the as-soldered SOJ/Sn-Ag-Cu interface over a Ni/Au PCB surface finish was about 1.7 times of that over the organic solderability preservative (OSP) PCB surface finish. The parabolic TMF-cycle dependence clearly suggests that the growth processes are controlled primarily by solid-state diffusion. The diffusion coefficient for the growth of the total IMC layer at the SOJ/Sn-Ag-Cu interface over the Ni/Au PCB surface finish is the same as that over the OSP PCB surface finish, and thus, the total IMC layer at the SOJ/Sn-Ag-Cu interface over the Ni/Au PCB surface finish is thicker than that over the OSP PCB surface finish. Using the Cu-Ni-Sn ternary isotherm, the anomalous phenomenon that the presence of Ni retards the growth of the Cu3Sn layer while increasing the initial growth of the Cu6Sn5 layer can be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of renal systolic time intervals measured by electrocardiographic gated Doppler ultrasonography for predicting adverse cardiac events. This longitudinal observation study enrolled 205 patients. Renal systolic time intervals, including pre-ejection period (PEP) and ejection time (ET), and ratio of renal PEP to ET, were measured by electrocardiographic gated Doppler ultrasound. The 14 adverse cardiac events identified in this population included 9 cardiac deaths and 5 hospitalizations for heart failure during an average follow up of 30.9 months (25th-75th percentile: 30-33 months). Renal PEP (hazard ratio = 1.023, P = 0.001), renal ET (hazard ratio = 0.975, P = 0.001) and renal PEP/ET (per 0.01 unit increase, hazard ratio = 1.060, P < 0.001) were associated with poor cardiac outcomes. The addition of renal PEP/ET to a Cox model containing important clinical variables and renal resistive index further improved the value in predicting adverse cardiac events (Chi-square increase, 9.996; P = 0.002). This study showed that parameters of intra-renal hemodynamics were potential predictors of adverse cardiac outcomes. However, the generalizability of these indicators need to be investigated in future large-scale studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]