Nutrient adequacy during weight loss interventions: a randomized study in women comparing the dietary intake in a meal replacement group with a traditional food group

Background  

Safe and effective weight control strategies are needed to stem the current obesity epidemic. The objective of this one-year study was to document and compare the macronutrient and micronutrient levels in the foods chosen by women following two different weight reduction interventions.     

Acute drug induced hepatitis secondary to a weight loss product purchased over the internet

Background  

Many people now seek alternative methods of weight loss. The internet provides a readily available source of weight reduction products, the ingredients of which are often unclear. The authors describe a case of acute hepatitis in a 20 year old woman caused by such a product purchased over the internet.     

Association of Methylentetraydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) 677 C > T gene polymorphism and homocysteine levels in psoriasis vulgaris patients from Malaysia: a case-control study

Background  

The methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) enzyme catalyzes the reduction of 5, 10-methylenetetrahydrofolate to 5-methyltetrahydrofolate and methyl donors. The methyl donors are required for the conversion of homocysteine to methionine. Mutation of MTHFR 677 C > T disrupts its thermostability therefore leads to defective enzyme activities and dysregulation of homocysteine levels.     

Antioxidant intake,plasma antioxidants and oxidative stress in a randomized,controlled, parallel,Mediterranean dietary intervention study on patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Background  

Previously we have reported that patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) obtained a significant reduction in disease activity by adopting a Mediterranean-type diet. The present study was carried out to investigate the antioxidant intake, the plasma levels of antioxidants and a marker of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde) during the study presented earlier.     

Homocysteine and cognitive impairment; a case series in a General Practice setting

Background  

An elevated blood level of homocysteine is a risk factor for cognitive impairment and dementia. Homocysteine can be lowered by folate and/or vitamin B₁₂ supplementation; antioxidants might also be required for optimal reduction in neurovascular tissue. This report presents clinical and radiological findings from administering the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine together with B vitamins to cognitively impaired patients with hyperhomocysteinaemia.     

No effect of short-term amino acid supplementation on variables related to skeletal muscle damage in 100 km ultra-runners - a randomized controlled trial

Background  

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of short-term supplementation of amino acids before and during a 100 km ultra-marathon on variables of skeletal muscle damage and muscle soreness. We hypothesized that the supplementation of amino acids before and during an ultra-marathon would lead to a reduction in the variables of skeletal muscle damage, a decrease in muscle soreness and an improved performance.     

Selective Catalytic Reduction of NO with CH<Subscript>4</Subscript> Over In–Fe/Sulfated Zirconia Catalysts

Abstract  

In–Fe loaded sulfated zirconia (SZ) was firstly studied for the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO with methane and exhibited higher activity than In/SZ and Fe/SZ. The addition of iron to the In/SZ increases its surface area and strong acid sites, which can be helpful for the SCR of NO.     

Validation of the MEDFICTS dietary questionnaire: A clinical tool to assess adherence to American Heart Association dietary fat intake guidelines

Background  

Dietary assessment tools are often too long, difficult to quantify, expensive to process, and largely used for research purposes. A rapid and accurate assessment of dietary fat intake is critically important in clinical decision-making regarding dietary advice for coronary risk reduction. We assessed the validity of the MEDFICTS (MF) questionnaire, a brief instrument developed to assess fat intake according to the American Heart Association (AHA) dietary "steps".     

Cu/SBA-15 is an Efficient Solvent-Free and Acid-Free Catalyst for the Rearrangement of Benzaldoxime into Benzamide

Abstract  

Cu/SBA-15 catalysts with various Cu loadings in the range of 5–20 wt% were prepared by an impregnation method and characterized by N₂ adsorption, X-ray diffraction, temperature programmed reduction and X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopic techniques. Cu/SBA-15 catalysts are found to be highly active and selective for the Beckmann rearrangement of benzaldoxime into benzamide under solvent-free and acid-free conditions.     

Different particle determinants induce apoptosis and cytokine release in primary alveolar macrophage cultures

Background  

Particles are known to induce both cytokine release (MIP-2, TNF-α), a reduction in cell viability and an increased apoptosis in alveolar macrophages. To examine whether these responses are triggered by the same particle determinants, alveolar macrophages were exposed in vitro to mineral particles of different physical-chemical properties.     

Ultrahigh Active Pd Nanocatalyst Supported on Core-Sheath Conducting Polymer/Metal Oxide Composite Nanorods

Abstract  

A facile and aqueous-phase method based on the electron transfer reduction process for fabricating core-sheath structured polyaniline (PANI)/SnO₂ composite nanorods supported Pd nanocatalyst has been demonstrated. The Pd nanoparticles synthesized by this strategy have a small size of smaller than 3.0 nm. The well dispersed Pd nanoparticles with small sizes supported on core-sheath PANI/SnO₂ composite nanorods exhibited an ultrahigh catalytic activity during the catalytic reduction of p-nitrophenol into p-aminophenol by NaBH₄ in aqueous solution. The kinetic apparent rate constant (k_app) reach to be about 26.9 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹. It is believed that this method could be extended to cover many kinds of other functional composite nanomaterials where the active component is expected to bring in new features and applications.     

Solvothermal One-Step Synthesis and Effect of Carbon on Properties of Ruthenium Sulfide Catalysts

Abstract  

Solvothermal one-step synthesis method was used for the preparation of ruthenium sulfide catalysts supported on the carbon black by the reaction of Ru₃(CO)₁₂ and sulfur powder with the carbon black in i-propanol. The carbon black acted as not only a supporting substrate but also a dispersing agent for ruthenium sulfide nanoparticles in the solvothermal one-step synthesis. The oxygen reduction properties of the products prepared by the solvothermal one-step synthesis were improved in comparison with those of the catalysts prepared by physically mixing the carbon black with the solvothermally prepared ruthenium sulfide powder.     

Performance of CuO–CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Catalysts with Low Copper Content in CO Preferential Oxidation Reaction

Abstract  

CuO/CeO₂ catalysts were applied on PROX-CO reaction. The lower copper content favors the dispersion of CuO particles, the reduction of CuO and the CO adsorption was facilitated, favoring the Mars–van Krevelen’s reaction mechanism. These characteristics increased the catalyst activity especially at low temperature and H₂O/CO₂ in the feed stream.     

Correlating Enantioselectivity with Activation Energies in the Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Acetophenone Catalysed by Noyori-Type Complexes

Abstract  

The reduction of acetophenone catalysed by Ru(diphosphine)(diamine) complexes, with various diphosphine and diamine ligands, has been investigated theoretically using density functional theory. The results show a correlation between differences in the calculated activation energy (ΔE _a) and enantiomeric excess (ee) in ruthenium-based asymmetric hydrogenation catalysts, suggesting that computational procedures may be able to predict the effect on the ee of ligand substitutions.     

Effects of Reaction Variables on Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis with Co-Precipitated K/FeCuAlO<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> Catalysts

Abstract  

The effects of reduction temperature and reaction temperature, pressure and space velocity on iron-based K/FeCuAlO _x Fischer–Tropsch catalysts prepared by co-precipitation were investigated. The catalyst reduced at 150 °C deactivated quickly due to an abundance of unreduced iron species. With increasing reduction temperature, the iron oxide’s phase transformed from hematite (α-Fe₂O₃) to magnetite (Fe₃O₄) and finally to metallic iron (α-Fe). The induction period to reach steady-state catalytic activity was reduced at increased reduction temperatures due to in situ reduction by syngas during reaction. CO conversion increased with increasing reaction temperature, and selectivity to C₅+ decreased with increasing reaction pressure and space velocity. At reaction temperatures up to of 300 °C, CO₂ formation by the water–gas shift reaction was linearly correlated with the extent of CO conversion, and CO₂ formation was slightly suppressed at ≥350 °C by a reverse water–gas shift reaction.     

Resistance training with soy vs whey protein supplements in hyperlipidemic males

Background  

Most individuals at risk for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) can reduce risk factors through diet and exercise before resorting to drug treatment. The effect of a combination of resistance training with vegetable-based (soy) versus animal-based (whey) protein supplementation on CVD risk reduction has received little study. The study's purpose was to examine the effects of 12 weeks of resistance exercise training with soy versus whey protein supplementation on strength gains, body composition and serum lipid changes in overweight, hyperlipidemic men.     

The Effect of Copper Loading on the Selective Catalytic Reduction of Nitric Oxide by Ammonia Over Cu-SSZ-13

Abstract  

The effect of Cu loading on the selective catalytic reduction of NO_x by NH₃ was examined over a series of Cu ion-exchanged (20–80%) SSZ-13 zeolite catalysts. High NO reduction efficiencies (80–95%) were obtained over all catalyst samples between 250 and 500 °C, and at the gas hourly space velocity of 200,000 h⁻¹. Both NO reduction and NH₃ oxidation activities under these conditions were found to increase slightly with increasing Cu loading at low temperatures. However, NO reduction activity was suppressed with increasing Cu loadings at high temperatures (>500 °C) due to excess NH₃ oxidation. The optimum Cu ion exchange level appears to be ~40–60% since higher than 80% NO reduction efficiency was obtained over 50% Cu ion-exchanged SSZ-13 up to 600 °C. The NO oxidation activity of Cu-SSZ-13 was found to be low regardless of Cu loading, although it was somewhat improved with increasing Cu ion exchange level at high temperatures. During the “fast” SCR (i.e., NO/NO₂ = 1), only a slight improvement in NO_x reduction activity was obtained for Cu-SSZ-13. Regardless of Cu loading, near 100% selectivity to N₂ was observed; only a very small amount of N₂O was produced even in the presence of NO₂. The apparent activation energies for NO oxidation and NO SCR were estimated to be ~58 and ~41 kJ/mol, respectively.     

Catalytic Amination of Octanol for Synthesis of Trioctylamine and Catalyst Characterization

Abstract  

Synthesis of trioctylamine by the amination of octanol and ammonia under atmospheric pressure over an excellent Ni–Cu catalyst supported on diatomite is studied in this article. The key factor for the synthesis is the preparation of catalyst with a high activity and selectivity. The activity and selectivity can be adjusted by varying the Ni to Cu ratios. The optimum molar ratio of Ni to Cu was 1.25:1. For the catalyst with a Ni/Cu ratio of 1.25:1, the conversion of octanol and the selectivity of trioctylamine reached 100 and 97.3%, respectively, at 5 h. The reaction of dioctylamine with octanol was the rate-determining step for the formation of trioctylamine. The Physical properties of catalysts, such as particle size, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area, valence state of catalyst elements, morphology and reduction properties of catalysts were investigated by using X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms (BET), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Transmission electron microscopy, and temperature programmed reduction, respectively. The reaction scheme of catalytic amination of octanol with ammonia was discussed.     

Behavior of Pt Atoms on Oxide Supports During Reduction Treatments at Elevated Temperatures,Characterized by Aberration Corrected Stem Imaging

Abstract  

Aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy at the sub-?ngstr?m resolution allows imaging the structure of catalytic materials at the single atom level and permits fundamental studies of the behavior of heavy metal catalytic species as a result of elevated temperature gas-treatments. The present study is aimed at understanding the development of clusters and nanoparticles of Pt on γ-alumina during reduction treatments of a pre-oxidized highly dispersed catalyst. A special built ex situ reactor and a specimen holder allowing cyclic anaerobic transfer between the reactor and microscope were used for the study. The number of atoms in a nascent cluster can be determined along with the general shape of the cluster. Reduction experiments without air exposure of the sample showed that although clusters are formed at 500 °C, many Pt atoms are not associated with the cluster and are still dispersed on the catalyst support. After a 700 °C reduction, all of the Pt atoms are associated with the clusters. Movement of the clusters on the catalyst support is different depending upon the catalyst support.