Kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) extract annuls chronic insulininduced insulin resistance in l6 skeletal muscle cells

Kiwi fruit has long been believed to be beneficial to human health due to its numerous biological actions; however the pharmacological mechanisms associated with these benefits are incompletely understood. In the present study, the effects of ‘Halla Gold’ (Actinidia chinensis var.), a new kiwifruit cultivar bred by the Jeju Rural Development Administration (RDA), on chronic insulin-induced insulin resistance in L6 skeletal muscle cells was investigated. Chronic insulin reduced phosphorylation of Akt and GSK-3α/β, and increased phosphorylation of glycogen synthase (GS). Furthermore, glucose consumption and glucose transporter 4 (Glut4) translocation to the plasma membrane were inhibited. However, ‘Halla Gold’ extract (HGE) increased phosphorylation of Akt and GSK-3α/β concomitantly with decreased phosphorylation of GS. Moreover, HGE improved insulin-stimulated glucose consumption by facilitating Glut4 translocation and this stimulation was suppressed by inhibition of PI3 kinase. Together, our data suggest that ‘Halla Gold’ extract abolishes chronic insulin-induced insulin resistance through the PI3K/Akt pathway.     

Preparation of Pt/C electrocatalysts using an incipient precipitation method

Highly loaded and dispersed Pt/C catalysts, used as cathodic electrocatalysts in low temperature fuel cells, were prepared using a new method involving the slow addition of a Pt precursor to a solution containing dispersed carbon powder and a reducing agent. During this process, the added Pt precursor was reduced instantaneously into fine particles and adsorbed onto the carbon surface in the solution. A Pt loading of 55 wt% was obtained, which was close to the nominal amount of Pt, 60 wt%, added in the preparation step. The average particle size of Pt was about 4.2 nm, according to X-ray diffraction. The surface area of the Pt measured by cyclic voltammetry was about 61.4 m²/(g of Pt). The activity of the prepared Pt/C, as an electrode of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell, was increased by 34.8% and 15.0%, according to the half- and single-cell tests, respectively, compared to the activity of one prepared using a conventional precipitation method.     

Primary water stress corrosion cracking in alloy 600 and intergranular crack growth rate

The effects of the stress intensity factor and dissolved hydrogen on the crack growth rate in primary water reactor environments was investigated with alloy 600 with continuous carbide films at grain boundaries. A primary water stress corrosion cracking of intergranular fracture mode was observed. The intergranular crack growth rate decreased with a decreasing stress intensity factor, and the dissolved hydrogen content influenced the crack growth rate. Such results are consistent with those reported previously.     

Increased quality and functionality of kimchi when fermented in Korean earthenware (onggi)

Kimchi was fermented in onggi and other containers at 4 °C for 4 weeks. Two types of onggi were used: glazed and nonglazed onggi. Other containers such as polyethylene plastic containers, polypropylene containers for use in a kimchi refrigerator, stainless steel and glass bottles were used. During the fermentation, kimchi fermented in onggi showed relatively stable acidity change compared with those in the other containers. Also it showed higher lactic acid bacteria multiplication (10⁸–10⁹ cfu g^?1 at 4th week) but slower general aerobic bacteria multiplication than the others. The springiness of kimchi fermented in onggi was more than 50% at 4th week, it is higher than the others. Its carbonic acid taste and overall acceptability were excellent in sensory evaluations. The antioxidative and cancer‐cell antiproliferative activities were also greater in kimchi fermented in onggi than the others. Between the two types of onggi, nonglazed onggi showed better results in both properties and functionalities of kimchi. Onggi showed higher gas permeability than polyethylene plastic containers and glass bottles because of its porous structure, and lactic acid bacteria could have benefited from this condition. It possibly contributes to optimal ripening of kimchi resulting in better properties, especially texture and taste, and health functionalities.     

The effect of top and bottom lids on natural convection inside a vertical cylinder

Natural convection experiments inside a vertical cylindrical cavity were performed for Rayleigh numbers of 1.08 × 10¹⁰–2.11 × 10¹³ and for four different geometrical arrangements: both-open (pipe-shape), bottom-closed (cup-shape), top-closed (cap), and both-closed (cavity) cylinders. A copper electroplating system was employed for the measurements of heat transfer rates using analogy concept. The lids used to close top or bottom were adiabatic; i.e. inactive surfaces in the electrodeposition experiments. The bottom-closed cavity showed the highest heat transfer rates and then followed both-closed, both-open, top-closed ones in both laminar and turbulent flows. The results were in satisfactory agreements with the existing correlations developed for similar geometrical configurations and the empirical correlations were derived. The numerical simulations were carried out using the FLUENT 6.2 to explain the measured results. The analysis of the streamline and the local Nusselt number gave explanations for the observation.     

Hydrogen‐rich gas production from ethanol steam‐reforming reaction using NiZr‐loaded MCM‐48 catalysts at mild temperature

The rich‐hydrogen generation from ethanol steam reforming over NiZr, which is used as an anode material in solid oxide fuel cells, ‐loaded MCM‐48 (NiZr/MCM‐48) catalyst was investigated in this study. We used an impregnation approach to synthesize an MCM‐48 (70.0 wt‐%) support loaded with bimetallic NiZr (30.0‐wt%, Ni:Zr atomic ratio = 4:6, 5:5, and 6:4), and the prepared catalysts were applied to the steam‐reforming reactions of ethanol. These three bimetallic NiZr/MCM‐48 catalysts exhibited significantly higher reforming reactivity than the mono‐metal, Ni‐loaded MCM‐48 (Ni/MCM‐48) catalyst. The hydrogen production was started from 350°C over the three NiZr/MCM‐48 catalysts, compared to above 550°C over the Ni/MCM‐48 catalyst. The catalytic performance was affected by the Zr content. The H₂ production and ethanol conversion were maximized at 85% and 95%, respectively, over Ni₄Zr₆/MCM‐48 at 750°C for 1 h at CH₃CH₂OH:H₂O = 1:1 and a gas hourly space velocity of 4000 h^‐1. This high performance was maintained for up to 60 h. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Molecular composites created by the solution blending of polyaniline and sulfonated poly(ether sulfone)

New conducting thermally stable blends of polyaniline (PANi) with sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) as a matrix were prepared by a solution‐blending method. Camphorsulfonic acid (CSA) was used as a protonic agent for PANi. A sulfonyl group was introduced into the poly(ether sulfone) to enhance the coulomb interaction among the blends. The influence of the sulfonated group in poly(ether sulfone) was monitored with electrical property measurements. Ultraviolet–visible spectra of the blend compositions showed a well‐developed polaron band. The compatibility of the blends, that is, hydrogen bonding and dispersion at the molecular level, was ascertained with X‐ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy; these supported intermolecular interaction. A smooth and uniform morphology was observed in the blends. The electrical conductivity of the blends increased up to 14 S/cm with the protonation of the PANi complex with CSA, and the percolation threshold was found to be 2 wt % PANi. These new blends showed increases in conductivity and compatibility over other PANi–poly(ether sulfone) blends. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Factors Associated with Use of Interactive Cancer Communication System: An Application of the Comprehensive Model of Information Seeking

In order to provide insights about cancer patients' online information seeking behaviors, the present study analyzes individuals' transaction log data and reports on how demographics, disease‐related factors, and psychosocial needs predict patterns of service use within a particular Interactive Cancer Communication System (ICCS). Study sample included 294 recently diagnosed breast cancer patients. Data included pretest survey scores of demographic, disease‐related, and psychosocial factors and automatically collected ICCS use data over the 4‐month intervention. Statistical analyses correlated pre‐test survey scores with subsequent, specific types of ICCS service usage. Patterns of online cancer information seeking differed according to the patients' characteristics, suggesting that lower income, less educated women and those lacking in information‐seeking competence use the computer and online services to the same or a greater degree if those services are made available to them. Results of this study can inform more effective resource development for future eHealth applications.