Resveratrol Affects Insulin Signaling in Type 2 Diabetic Goto-Kakizaki Rats

Resveratrol is a biologically active diphenolic compound exerting multiple beneficial effects in the organism, including anti-diabetic properties. This action is, however, not fully elucidated. In the present study, we examined effects of resveratrol on some parameters related to insulin signaling, and also on diabetes-associated dysregulation in Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats with congenital type 2 diabetes. Resveratrol was given at the dose of 20 mg/kg b.w. for 10 weeks. It was shown that the expression and phosphorylation levels of insulin receptor in the skeletal muscle of GK rats were significantly decreased, compared with control animals. However, these changes were totally prevented by resveratrol. Liver expression of the insulin receptor was also reduced, but in this case, resveratrol was ineffective. Resveratrol was also demonstrated to significantly influence parameters of insulin binding (dissociation constant and binding capacity) in the skeletal muscle and liver. Moreover, it was shown that the expression levels of proteins related to intracellular glucose transport (GLUT4 and TUG) in adipose tissue of GK rats were significantly decreased. However, treatment with resveratrol completely abolished these changes. Resveratrol was found to induce normalization of TUG expression in the skeletal muscle. Blood levels of insulin and GIP were elevated, whereas proinsulin and GLP-1 diminished in GK rats. However, concentrations of these hormones were not affected by resveratrol. These results indicate that resveratrol partially ameliorates diabetes-associated dysregulation in GK rats. The most relevant finding covers the normalization of the insulin receptor expression in the skeletal muscle and also GLUT4 and TUG in adipose tissue.     

Mo–Si–B alloys for ultra-high-temperature space and ground applications: liquid-assisted fabrication under various temperature and time conditions

Journal of Materials Science - Boron-doped molybdenum silicides have been already recognized as attractive candidates for space and ground ultra-high-temperature applications far beyond limits of...     

Effect of Ti,Nb, and Ti + Nb Coatings on the Bond Strength-Structure Relationship in Al/Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> Joints

There is a growing interest in metal-ceramic bonding for wide range of applications in electronic devices and high technology industry for fabrication of metal matrix composites and bonding of ceramic components to metals. The object of the work was to study the effect of Ti, Nb, and Ti + Nb thin films deposited by PVD method on alumina substrates on structure and bond strength properties of Al/Al₂O₃ joints. The joints were fabricated using the results of a wetting experiment and the sessile drop method at a temperature of 1223 K in a vacuum of 0.2 MPa for 30 min of contact. The structure of the metal/ceramic interface was investigated using scanning electron microscopy. The elemental distribution at the metal-ceramic interface was analyzed using energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. Transmission electron microscopy was also used to investigate some aspects of the metal/ceramic interface. The bond strength properties of joints were measured using shear test. The shear strength results demonstrated significant improvement of shear strength of Al/Al₂O₃ joints due to the application of Ti + Nb thin film on alumina substrate. Microstructural investigations of the interface indicated that Al/coating/Al₂O₃ couples have diffusion transition interface which influences the strengthening of these joints. A conclusion could be drawn that the presence of thin film layers changes the character of interaction and leads to the formation of new reaction products in the bonding layer.     

The Pro-Apoptotic Effect of Silica Nanoparticles Depends on Their Size and Dose,as Well as the Type of Glioblastoma Cells

Despite intensive investigations, nanoparticle-induced cellular damage is an important problem that has not been fully elucidated yet. Here, we report that silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) demonstrated anticancer influence on glioblastoma cells by the induction of apoptosis or necrosis. These effects are highly cell type-specific, as well as dependent on the size and dose of applied nanoparticles. Exposure of LN-18 and LBC3 cells to different sizes of SiNPs—7 nm, 5–15 nm, or 10–20 nm—at dosages, ranging from 12.5 to 1000 µg/mL, for 24 and 48 h reduced the viability of these cells. Treatment of LN-18 and LBC3 cells with 7 nm or 10–20 nm SiNPs at doses ≥50 µg/mL caused a strong induction of apoptosis, which is connected with an increase of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. The 5–15 nm SiNPs exhibited distinct behavior comparing to silica nanoparticles of other studied sizes. In contrast to LBC3, in LN-18 cells exposed to 5–15 nm SiNPs we did not observe any effect on apoptosis. These nanoparticles exerted only strong necrosis, which was connected with a reduction in ROS generation. This suggests that SiNPs can trigger different cellular/molecular effects, depending on the exposure conditions, the size and dose of nanoparticles, and cell type of glioblastoma.     

Mechanical Properties and the Microstructure of Al2O3/Al/Al2O3 Joints with the Surface Modification of Alumina by a Thin Layer of Ti + Nb

Al₂O₃/Al/Al₂O₃ joints were formed by liquid-state bonding of alumina substrates covered with a thin Ti + Nb coating of 900 nm thickness with the use of an Al interlayer of 30 μm at 973 K under a vacuum of 0.2 mPa for 5 min. The bond strength of the joints was examined by a four-point bending test at 295, 373, and 473 K. Optical, scanning, and transmission electron microscopies were applied for detailed characterization of the interface structure and failure characteristics of fractured joint surfaces. The analysis of the results has shown that (i) bonding occurred due to the formation of a reactive interface on the metal side of the joint in the presence of Al₃Nb(Ti) precipitates and (ii) modification of Al₂O₃ by a thin layer of Ti + Nb increases the hardness at the interface and makes it possible to achieve reliable joints working at elevated temperatures.     

The Structure and Bond Strength of Composite Carbide Coatings (WC-Co + Ni) Deposited on Ductile Cast Iron by Thermal Spraying

An investigation was conducted to determine the role of Ni particles in the WC-Co coating produced with the supersonic method on microstructure, mechanical, and wear properties in a system of type: WC-Co coating/ductile cast iron. The microstructure of the thermal-sprayed WC-Co + Ni coating was characterized by scanning electron and transmission electron microscopes as well as the analysis of chemical and phase composition in microareas (EDS, XRD). The microstructure of the WC-Co + Ni coating consisted of large, partially molten Ni particles and very fine grains of WC embedded in cobalt matrix, coming to the size of nanocrystalline. Moreover, the results were discussed in reference to examination of bending strength considering cracking and delamination in the system of (WC-Co + Ni)/ductile cast iron as well as hardness and wear resistance of the coating. It was found that the addition of Ni particles was significantly increase resistance to cracking and wear behavior in the studied system.     

Determination of Histamine in Some Foods by Isotachophoretic Method with Simple Sample Preparation

A one-dimensional capillary isotachophoretic method in cationic system of the separation has been applied for histamine determination in food samples. The proposed electrolyte system consisted of 0.01 M potassium hydroxide with l-valine to pH = 9.9 as the leading electrolyte and 0.02 M 2-amino-2-hydroxymethyl-propane-1,3-diol adjusted to pH = 8.3 with 0.1 M hydrochloric acid as terminating electrolyte. Proposed method was characterized by linearity range 5–50 mg L⁻¹ and R ² = 0.9982, accuracy (recoveries ranged from 95% to 102%), detection (2.10 mg L⁻¹), and quantification (7.01 mg L⁻¹) limits. The sample preparation for proposed electrophoretic method included only simple extraction with trichloroacetic acid with filtration and derivatisation stage are avoided. The histamine concentration was determined in meat (turkey, chicken, beef and pork) and meat products (ripened sausage and dry-cured ham), fish (smoked salmon and mackerel), and different kind of mildew and mold ripened cheeses samples. The histamine content ranged from not detected level for fresh meat to 29.63 mg 100 g⁻¹ for cheese samples. The reversed phase HPLC was applied as reference method and the F-Snedecor test and the t test were employed to compare the precision and accuracy of the both methods. Positive correlations were found between the two analytical methods for histamine determination in food products. The obtained results indicate that the proposed electrophoretic method is simple, precise, accurate, and convenient.     

Stabilization of phytosterols in rapeseed oil by natural antioxidants during heating

Antioxidants are substances that can reduce negative changes in fat. Many antioxidants are very effective during storage, but during heating they lose their properties. It is very important to find antioxidants that will be stable at high temperatures and protect fat throughout the entire frying process. The aim of this study was to estimate the effect of natural and synthetic antioxidants on changes in phytosterols of rapeseed oil during heating. Oil with antioxidants was heated at 180 °C for 4 h in a Rancimat® and in an Oxidograph®. Ethanol extract of rosemary, ethanol extract of green tea, and BHT were used in the study. The contents of phytosterols (sitosterol, campesterol, avenasterol, brassicasterol, stigmasterol) and oxyphytosterols (7α‐ and 7β‐hydroxysterol, 5α,6α‐ and 5β,6β‐epoxysterol, 7‐ketosterol and triols) were estimated by gas chromatography. In all samples with antioxidants, a lower decrease of phytosterols and a lower increase of total oxyphytosterols were observed in comparison with the control sample (without antioxidant). The antioxidant effect depends on the type of the antioxidant and the heating conditions. The best results were observed in samples with natural antioxidants. BHT was a substance that protected phytosterols as well, but not as effectively as the other antioxidants.     

Mechanical and Tribological Properties of HVOF-Sprayed (Cr<Subscript>3</Subscript>C<Subscript>2</Subscript>-NiCr+Ni) Composite Coating on Ductile Cast Iron

The aim of the investigations was to compare the microstructure, mechanical, and wear properties of Cr₃C₂-NiCr+Ni and Cr₃C₂-NiCr coatings deposited by HVOF technique (the high-velocity oxygen fuel spray process) on ductile cast iron. The effect of nickel particles added to the chromium carbide coating on mechanical and wear behavior in the system of Cr ₃ C ₂ -NiCr+Ni/ductile cast iron was analyzed in order to improve the lifetime of coated materials. The structure with particular emphasis of characteristic of the interface in the system of composite coating (Cr ₃ C ₂ -NiCr+Ni)/ductile cast iron was studied using the optical, scanning, and transmission electron microscopes, as well as the analysis of chemical and phase composition in microareas. Experimental results show that HVOF-sprayed Cr₃C₂-NiCr+Ni composite coating exhibits low porosity, high hardness, dense structure with large, partially molten Ni particles and very fine Cr₃C₂ and Cr₇C₃ particles embedded in NiCr alloy matrix, coming to the size of nanocrystalline. The results were discussed in reference to examination of bending strength considering cracking and delamination in the system of composite coating (Cr ₃ C ₂ -NiCr+Ni)/ductile cast iron as well as hardness and wear resistance of the coating. The composite structure of the coating provides the relatively good plasticity of the coating, which in turn has a positive effect on the adhesion of coating to the substrate and cohesion of the composite coating (Cr₃C₂-NiCr+Ni) in wear conditions.