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In this study, the oxygen reduction activity of PrBaCo2O5+δ (PBC) double perovskite is remarkably enhanced by rationally tuning the calcination temperatures of the cathode precursor for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Effects of the calcination temperatures on the phase structure, microstructure, surface area and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity of PBC cathode is systematically investigated. The cathode with optimized calcination temperature (900 °C, PBC-900) shows excellent activity and stability for ORR at 600 °C in terms of area specific resistances (ASRs). A distinctive low ASR of 0.068 Ω cm2 is obtained at 600 °C for PBC-900, which is 92.6%, 34.6% and 15.0% lower than PBC-800, PBC-1000 and PBC-1100, respectively. After operating for 250 h in air at 600 °C, the ASR value of PBC-900 is not significantly reduced. Furthermore, a single cell with PBC-900 cathode delivers attractive peak power density of 1.60 W cm−2 at 600 °C. The present study suggests that the ORR activity of PBC cathode can be greatly boosted by rationally tailoring the calcination temperatures, which may bring new avenue for the design of highly active cathodes for SOFCs. more...

Objective A small thigh circumference is associated with an increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and total mortality. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between thigh circumference and hypertension in the middle-aged and elderly population. Methods A total of 9520 individuals aged 40 years and older with measurement of thigh circumference were available for analysis. The measurement of thigh circumference was performed directly below the gluteal fold of the thigh. The association of thigh circumference with hypertension was tested in logistic regression analyses and reported as odds ratio (OR) with 95% CI. Results Thigh circumference was negatively correlated with systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, and total cholesterol. Compared with the lowest thigh circumference tertile group, the risk of hypertension was significantly lower in the highest tertile group, both in overweight individuals (OR 0.68; 95% CI 0.59–0.79, P P Conclusion In the present study, large thigh circumference is associated with lower risk of hypertension in overweight and obese Chinese individuals. more...

5-Aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) is an intermediate in haem biosynthesis and has anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and other pharmacological effects. This study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with 5-ALA on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and inflammatory response of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged broiler chickens. The experiment was designed as a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with dietary 5-ALA (0 or 60 mg/kg) and LPS (injection of saline or 0.5 mg/kg BW) levels as treatments. A total of 240 one-day-old Arbor Acres broilers were distributed into four treatments consisting of six replicates of 10 birds. All the experimental broilers were intraperitoneally injected with LPS or sterile saline at 16, 18, and 20 days of age. Our results showed that dietary 5-ALA supplementation reduced (P 0.05) the feed to gain before broilers were stimulated with LPS (days 1-15). LPS challenge decreased (P 0.05) the catalase (CAT), total superoxide dismutase activities and increased the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the serum of broiler chickens. However, 5-ALA supplementation had a tendency to increase (P = 0.08) the activity of CAT and decreased (P 0.05) the content of MDA. LPS challenge showed higher (P 0.05) interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 concentrations in the serum, whereas dietary 5-ALA supplementation decreased (P 0.05) the levels of IL-1β and IL-6. Additionally, dietary 5-ALA supplementation significantly attenuated (P 0.05) the upregulation of mRNA expression levels of hepatic toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), IL-1β, and IL-2 induced by LPS challenge. Moreover, dietary 5-ALA supplementation also enhanced the mRNA expression of 5-aminolevulinate dehydratase, ferrochelatase, and haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1) as compared to the unsupplemented groups. In conclusion, our results suggested that supplementation of 60 mg/kg 5-ALA exhibited LPS-induced anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties by enhancing the HO-1 expression and inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB signalling pathway. more...

Background Corrected QT (QTc) interval has been reported to be associated with type 2 diabetes. This study aimed to explore the relationship between different glucose tolerance and QTc intervals among middle-aged and older Chinese individuals. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis that included 9898 subjects (3194 men and 6704 women) in a Chinese population. Glucose tolerance was studied during the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Insulin, blood pressure, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), serum lipids, hepatic transaminases and waist-to-hip ratio were assessed. The QTc interval was derived from ECG recordings, and the subjects were stratified based on different glucose tolerance. Results QTc interval levels were increased significantly in the subjects with abnormal glucose metabolism compared with the normal glucose regulation group. Multiple regression analyses showed that the QTc interval was significantly associated with fasting plasma glucose, 2-h OGTT plasma glucose and HbA1c. The odds ratio of prolonged QTc was 1.396 for impaired glucose regulation (IFG)/impaired fasting glucose (IGT) (95% CI 0.126–1.730), and 1.342 for type 2 diabetes (95% CI 0.142–1.577) after all potential confounders were adjusted. Conclusions Impaired glucose tolerance (IGR) and diabetes are associated with prolonged QTc intervals among middle-aged and older Chinese individuals. Abnormal glucose regulation can be used to monitor the QTc interval in the population. more...

A minor amount of CO2 in air usually causes a detrimental effect on oxygen activation over a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) cathode because insulating surface carbonate is easily formed, which inhibi... more...

BACKGROUND Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is now regarded as the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Recent research has suggested that serum creatinine (SCr) may be an indicator of MetS and its related diseases. We aimed to investigate the association between SCr and NAFLD in Chinese adults. METHODS A cross-sectional sample of 8862 subjects aged 40 years or older (40-73 years) from China were analysed in this study. The anthropometric measurements, laboratory tests, and hepatic ultrasonography were conducted. NAFLD presence was defined by hepatic ultrasound in the absence of other liver diseases. RESULTS NAFLD subjects had higher SCr than those without NAFLD (66.8 μmol/L vs. 65.6 μmol/L, p more...

Background An association between hemoglobin and metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been reported. However, the relationships between hemoglobin and individual MetS components remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated these associations at baseline and at the 3-year follow-up. Methods We enrolled 9960 middle-aged and elderly subjects (6726 women and 3234 men) and performed a 3-year follow-up cohort study. All subjects completed a questionnaire and underwent anthropometric measurements and laboratory tests. Logistic regression models were developed to assess the association between hemoglobin and MetS and its components. Results MetS was present in 45.1% of women and 41.4% of men at baseline. The hemoglobin concentration was positively correlated with SBP, DBP, TGs, WC, FPG, insulin, HOMA-IR, BMI and uric acid (p p Conclusions Hemoglobin may play a role in predicting new-onset MetS in both women and men. Hemoglobin was notably correlated with future risk of high TGs, low HDL-c, hyperuricemia, and NAFLD among women and abdominal obesity, low HDL-c, hyperuricemia, and NAFLD among men. more...

Background The effects of visceral adiposity on decreased lung function have drawn much attention. Recently, the visceral adiposity index (VAI) has been proposed as a visceral fat distribution and dysfunction marker. However, the relationship between the VAI and lung function has not been investigated. The objective of the study was to analyze the association between the VAI and lung function and evaluate the potential of VAI as a predictor of lung function. Methods We collected data from a population-based study of 1786 subjects aged 40 years or older. All subjects completed a questionnaire and underwent anthropometric measurements and laboratory tests. Linear and logistic regression models were developed to assess the association between the VAI and lung function. Results The VAI was inversely related to FVC%predicted in men and negatively associated with both FVC%predicted and FEV1%predicted in women. In the linear regression analysis, the decrease in FVC%predicted associated with each 10% increase in the VAI was 1.127% in men and 1.943% in women; the decrease in FEV1%predicted associated with each 10%increase in the VAI was 0.663% in men and 1.738% in women. Further regression analysis revealed that the VAI was positively correlated with FVC and FEV1 impairment in women. Conclusions We were the first to show a clear correlation between the VAI and lung function impairment in the Chinese population. The VAI could be a simple and reliable approach in daily practice, and individuals, especially women with a high VAI, should receive additional screening and preventive interventions for respiratory disease. more...

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Rice is the representative of hydrophilic and humid crops, which consumes a large amount of water in the field. Southern China is the main rice-producing area. Relatively, weak water-saving awareness under the condition of abundant rainfall, climate change, and seasonal drought results in water shortage increasingly prominent. Based on the comprehensive consideration of rice water demand, water production function, water sensitivity index, and so on, an optimal allocation model of irrigation water under insufficient irrigation conditions is constructed to maximize the total yield of rice crops. The multi-constraint model is solved by the target approximation algorithm and the genetic algorithm. The results show that the genetic algorithm can effectively allocate the limited irrigation water. more...

Background The mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) is a proxy for upper body subcutaneous fat and a reliable screening measure for identification of individuals with abnormal local fat distribution. The purpose of present study was to evaluate the association between MUAC and metabolic syndrome (MetS) as well as other metabolic phenotype in the middle-aged and elderly population. Methods We measured the MUAC in a cross-sectional sample with a total of 9787 subjects aged 40 years and older in Shanghai, China. The measurement of MUAC is performed on the right arm using a non‐elastic tape held midway between the acromion and the olecranon processes in duplicate, with arm hanging loosely at the side of the body. The MetS was defined according to the Joint Statement of the International Diabetes Federation Task Force on Epidemiology and Prevention. The association of MUAC with MetS was tested in logistic regression analyses and reported as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results T he prevalence of MetS, overweight, and central obesity raised sharply from the smaller MUAC groups to the larger MUAC groups both in men and women. MUAC was positively correlated with waist circumference, BMI, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, triglycerides, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and inversely correlated with adiponectin and HDL-cholesterol after adjusting for age and gender. As the MetS components accumulated, the MUAC increased concomitantly. The risk of MetS in the highest MUAC quartile was significant higher (odds ratio 1.77; 95% confidence interval 1.51-2.09) than the lowest quartile after adjustment of potential confounders. Conclusion Our results indicated that large MUAC is an independent risk factor of MetS in Chinese individuals. more...

Background The mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) is a proxy for subcutaneous fat in the upper body and is a reliable screening measure for identifying individuals with abnormal regional fat distribution. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between MUAC and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in middle-aged and elderly individuals. Methods We measured the MUAC in a cross-sectional sample with a total of 9787 subjects aged 40 years and older. The measurement of MUAC is performed on the right arm using a non-elastic tape held midway between the acromion and the olecranon processes in duplicate, with the arm hanging loosely at the side of the body. The MetS was defined according to the Joint Statement of the International Diabetes Federation Task Force on Epidemiology and Prevention. Results MUAC was positively correlated with waist circumference (r = 0.437, P P P Conclusion Large mid-upper arm circumference is significantly associated with metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and elderly individuals. more...

Reducing the operating temperatures of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) to the intermediate-temperature range (IT, 400–650 °C) can bring about several benefits including cost effectiveness, prolonged lifetime and flexible sealing. Nevertheless, the accompanying deterioration of cathodic activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) introduces a large obstacle for commercial applications of IT-SOFCs. Herein, a new perovskite SrCo0.8Ti0.1Ta0.1O3-δ (SCTT) is developed by co-doping titanium and tantalum into the B-site of parent SrCoO3 oxide, which may tackle this problem. At 400–650 °C, SCTT shows high electrical conductivities (65–142 S cm−1), appropriate oxygen vacancy concentrations (0.23–0.27) and high bulk diffusion capability due to a synergy between the two dopants in SCTT. Consequently, SCTT exhibits a favorable ORR activity with an area-specific resistance of only 0.17 Ω cm2 at 500 °C on samaria-doped ceria electrolyte, and the corresponding cell generates a high peak power density (PPD) of 0.90 W cm−2 at 500 °C with negligible performance decay for 180 h. Additionally, SCTT performs well in protonic ceramic fuel cells, achieving a PPD of 0.78 W cm−2 at 650 °C and a high durability for ~176 h at 550 °C. This work provides a new promising cathode material that may accelerate the commercialization of IT-SOFC technology. more...

ObjectiveTo investigate the association between hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) 7.0%–8.0% and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with different baseline 10-year atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) risk stratification.Research design and methodsA prospective population-based cohort of 10 060 adults aged 40–70 years in Chongming District of Shanghai was established in 2011. These participants were followed up for 3.25 years and CVD information was recorded. We investigated this association between HbA1c categories and incident CVD stratified by the 10-year ASCVD risk using multiple Cox regression analysis among 1880 patients with T2DM without CVD history. CVD events were defined as cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction or non-fatal stroke.ResultsThe corresponding incidence of CVD per 1000 person-years for the HbA1c≤6.5%, 6.6%–6.9%, 7.0%–8.0% and >8.0% groups were 12.5, 21.8, 22.9 and 28.9, respectively. The HbA1c>8.0% group was significantly associated with a higher CVD risk in patients with T2DM. The HbA1c 7.0%–8.0% group was significantly associated with a higher CVD risk in patients with T2DM with moderate baseline ASCVD risk (HR 2.48; 95% CI 1.15 to 5.32).ConclusionHbA1c of 7.0%–8.0% may result in a significantly higher CVD risk among patients with T2DM with moderate baseline ASCVD risk, which support the use of HbA1c combined with baseline ASCVD risk assessment to determine future glucose-lowering treatment decisions among patients with T2DM with basic to moderate risk. more...

Background Rhabdomyolysis is a leading cause of acute kidney injury. The pathophysiological process involves oxidative stress and inflammation. Hydrogen-rich saline (HRS) is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. This study explored the protective effect of pretreatment with HRS on the development of glycerol-induced rhabdomyolysis acute kidney injury. Materials and methods Forty-eight rats were randomly divided into four equal groups. Group 1 served as the control, group 2 was given 50% glycerol (10 mL/kg, intramuscular), group 3 was given glycerol after 7 d pretreatment with high dose HRS (10 mL/kg/d, intraperitoneal), and group 4 was given glycerol after 7 d pretreatment with low dose HRS (5 mL/kg/d, intraperitoneal). Renal health was monitored by serum creatinine (Cr), urea, and histologic analysis; rhabdomyolysis was monitored by creatine kinase (CK) levels; and oxidative stress was monitored by kidney tissue reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) levels. Inflammation was monitored by interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) evaluation. Results Glycerol administration resulted in an increase in the mean histologic damage score, serum Cr, urea and CK, kidney tissue ROS, malondialdehyde, 8-OH-dG, GSH-PX, IL-6, and TNF-α, and a decrease in kidney tissue superoxide dismutase activity. All these factors were significantly improved by both doses of HRS, but the mean histologic damage score, urea, Cr, CK, ROS, 8-OH-dG, GSH-PX, IL-6, and TNF-α for the high dose HRS treatment group were even lower. Conclusions Pretreatment by HRS ameliorated renal dysfunction in glycerol-induced rhabdomyolysis by inhibiting oxidative stress and the inflammatory response. more...

Subjects with metabolic syndrome (MetS) had lower FVC and FEV1 than non-MetS subjects and decreased gradually with the increasing number of MetS components. After adjusting for potential risk factors, the lowest quartile of FVC and FEV1 was associated with increased risk of MetS. more...

Competing on service is an absolute must in today’s business environment. The globalization of business and the increase in competitive pressures have prompted many firms to develop logistics as a part of their corporate strategy for cost and service advantages, To fully satisfy the increasing requirements of customers for one-stop services, many logistics service providers (LSPs) have taken initiatives to broaden the scope of their services in P.R.China, Based on surveyed ,we found out industry firms hope the third party logistics(3PL) to reduce logistics costs and provide integrated logistics services, 3PL could make logistics strategy to satisfy customers requirements. more...

The association between white blood cell (WBC) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been studied before, but whether different WBC subtypes were related to NAFLD was not detailed. The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between WBC subtypes and NAFLD cross-sectionally and prospectively. The detailed research design has been described previously. At baseline, there were 9930 participants who had complete information, in the end a total of 8079 participants (2588 men and 5491 women) were eventually included in this study. Hepatic ultrasound examination was performed on each participant at baseline and at the end of follow-up. Alcohol abuse and hepatitis were excluded. WBC subtypes and other serum indices were measured at baseline. We found that the total WBC, neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts were independently associated with the prevalence and incidence of NAFLD. After multiple adjustments for age, gender, body mass index (BMI), insulin, HOMA-IR, TG, TC, LDL, and HDL, increased odds ratios (ORs) for new onset NAFLD were observed from the 1st to the 4th quartiles of WBC, neutrophil, and lymphocyte (all P more...

BACKGROUND: The association between adiponectin and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been studied before, but most of the studies are cross‐sectional and cannot prove a causal link. OBJECTIVE: To prospectively investigate the relationship between serum adiponectin levels and the incidence of NAFLD in 3 years. Subjects and methods. A total of 1325 subjects aged 40 to 70 from the Chongming District of Shanghai, China, were included. All of them did not have fatty liver according to the liver ultrasound examination at entry; alcohol abuse and hepatitis were also excluded. Serum adiponectin levels and other indices were measured at baseline. After 3 years of follow‐up, hepatic ultrasound examination was performed on each participant again to detect fatty liver. RESULTS: The serum adiponectin levels at entry were significantly lower in subjects who developed NAFLD compared with those who did not develop NAFLD after 3 years (1.75 ± 0.89 ug/mL vs 2.37 ± 1.01 ug/mL, P more...

Supercritical fluid extraction was used to extract naphthoquinone pigments from Lithospermum erythrorhizon Sieb. et Zucc. The crude extracts were separated and purified by high-speed counter-current chromatography with light petroleum–ethyl acetate–methanol–water (5:5:8:2, v/v) as the two-phase solvent system. Three kinds of naphthoquinone pigments including 17.6 mg of β-hydroxyisovalerylshikonin (I), 17.6 mg of acetylshikonin (II), and 19.7 mg of isobutyrylshikonin (III) were obtained from 150 mg crude sample. The purity of these compounds was 96.7, 99.3 and 95.5%, respectively, as determined by liquid chromatograph. Their structures were identified by 1H NMR and 13C NMR. more...

Composite electrodes composed of a perovskite-type La 0.8 Sr 0.2 Sc 0.1 Mn 0.9 O 3− δ (LSSM) and a fluorite-type scandium-stabilized zirconia (ScSZ) were prepared and evaluated as potential cathodes for intermediate-temperature solid-oxide fuel cells. Characterization was made by phase reaction, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, step current polarization and I – V tests. The phase reaction between LSSM and ScSZ occurred at 1150 °C or higher; however, it had a minor effect on the electrode performance. The formation of a composite electrode led to an obvious improvement in both charge transfer and surface-related processes. With the increase of ScSZ content, the rate-limiting step of oxygen reduction reaction steadily changed from mainly a surface diffusion process to an electron transfer process. The optimal ScSZ content and sintering temperature of the electrode layer were found to be 20 wt.% and 1100–1150 °C, respectively. Under optimal conditions, an anode-supported single cell with LSSM + ScSZ composite cathode showed high power densities of ∼1211 and 386 mW cm −2 at 800 and 650 °C, respectively. more...

Perovskite-type La0.8Sr0.2ScyMn1−yO3−δ oxides (LSSMy, y = 0.0–0.2) were synthesized and investigated as cathodes for solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) containing a stabilized zirconia electrolyte. The introduction of Sc3+ into the B-site of La0.8Sr0.2MnO3−δ (LSM) led to a decrease in the oxides’ thermal expansion coefficients and electrical conductivities. Among the various LSSMy oxides tested, LSSM0.05 possessed the smallest area-specific cathodic polarization resistance, as a result of the suppressive effect of Sc3+ on surface SrO segregation and the optimization of the concentration of surface oxygen vacancies. At 850 °C, it was only ∼0.094 Ω cm2 after a current passage of 400 mA cm−2 for 30 min, significantly lower than that of LSM (∼0.25 Ω cm2). An anode-supported cell with a LSSM0.05 cathode demonstrated a peak power density of 1300 mW cm−2 at 850 °C. The corresponding value for the cell with LSM cathode was 450 mW cm−2 under the same conditions. The LSSM0.05 oxide may potentially be a good cathode material for IT-SOFCs containing doped zirconia electrolytes. more...

(Ba(0.5)Sr(0.5))(1+x)Co(0.8)Fe(0.2)O(3-delta), or BSCF(I + x), (0

SrCoO 3− δ is a material with multiple phase structures. The influence of Sc 3+ doping in the B-site of SrCoO 3− δ on its lattice structure/phase stability, electrical conductivity, and cathode performance for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs) was investigated by X-ray diffraction, four-probe dc conductivity and impedance spectroscopy measurements, respectively. The introduction of large-size Sc 3+ (0.745 A) cation together with the sol–gel synthesis technique, led to a substantial stabilization of the cubic phase of SrCoO 3− δ —even at a Sc 3+ doping amount as low as 5 mol%. Such stabilization resulted in a sharp increase in the electrical conductivity of the material, which was found to be p-type in nature. A maximum electrical conductivity and favourable cubic phase stability of the material was reached at the Sc 3+ doping concentration of 5–10 mol%. A further increase of Sc 3+ doping, however, lowered the electrical conductivity due to the blocking effect of Sc 3+ for the electron conduction. An area specific resistance (ASR) as low as 0.25 Ωcm 2 was reached at 600 °C for SrSc 0.1 Co 0.9 O 3− δ as a cathode material based on Sm 0.15 Ce 0.85 O 1.925 electrolyte. more...

The proper-ties and performance of Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-delta (PSCF)+Sm0.2Ce0.8O1.9 (SDC) (70:30 in weight ratio) composite cathode for intermediate-temperature solid-oxide fuel cells were investigated. Mechanical mixing of BSCF with SDC resulted in the adhesion of fine SDC particles to the surface of coarse BSCF grains. XRD, SEM-EDX and O-2-TPD results demonstrated that the phase reaction between BSCF and SDC was negligible, constricted only at the BSCF and SDC interface, and throughout the entire cathode with the formation of new (Ba,Sr,Sm,Ce)(Co,Fe)O3-delta perovskite phase at a firing temperature of 900, 1000, and >= 1050 degrees C, respectively. The BSCF + SDC electrode sintered at 1000 degrees C showed an area specific resistance of similar to 0.064 Omega cm(2) at 600 degrees C, which is a slight improvement over the BSCF (0.099 Omega cm(2)) owing to the enlarged cathode surface area contributed from the fine SDC particles. A peak power density of 1050 and similar to 382 mW cm(-2) was reached at 600 and 500 degrees C, respectively, for a thin-film electrolyte cell with the BSCF + SDC cathode fired from 1000 degrees C. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. more...

Nanostructured La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3−δ (LSCF) oxide powder was synthesized by a facile autocombustion process based on a modified glycine-nitrate process (GNP) using cellulose fiber as micro-reactor. As compared with the normal GNP, this novel process allows the combustion to proceed in a much more environmentally friendly and controllable way. The resulted powder is nanocrystallized with particle size of only 15–20 nm as observed by transmission electron microscopy examination. More importantly, because the metal ions could disperse homogenously in cellulose–GN precursor, SrCO3 impurity was effectively suppressed. The concentrations of SrCO3 impurity in LSCF products were determined by carbon dioxide–temperature-programmed desorption technique, which decreased to as low as 1.3 wt% from cellulose–GN process, in contrast to 4.3 wt% from the normal GNP. These features resulted in the attractive improvement of its cathode performance in solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The interfacial resistances of only ∼0.70 and ∼0.36 Ω·cm2 at 600° and 650°C under air, respectively, were observed, which was about two times better than the LSCF cathode derived from the normal GNP. A peak power density of ∼346 mW/cm2 was achieved at 600°C with cellulose–GN-derived LSCF cathode based on thin-film Sm0.2Ce0.8O1.9 electrolyte SOFC using 3% humidified H2 as the fuel. more...

Hydrazine was examined as a fuel for a solid-oxide fuel cell (SOFC) that employed atypical nickel-based anode. An in situ catalytic decomposition of hydrazine at liquid state under room temperature and ambient pressure before introducing to the fuel cell was developed by applying a Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-delta (BSCF) oxide catalyst. Catalytic testing demonstrated that liquid N2H4 can be decomposed to gaseous NH3 and H-2 at a favorable rate and at a temperature as low as 20 degrees C and H-2 selectivity reaching values as high as 10% at 60 degrees C. Comparable fuel cell performance was observed using either the in situ decomposition products of hydrazine or pure hydrogen as fuel. A peak power density of similar to 850 MW cm(-2) at 900 degrees C was obtained with a typical fuel cell composed of scandia-stabilized zirconia and La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 cathode. The high energy and power density, easy storage and simplicity in fuel delivery make it highly attractive for portable applications. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved. more...

Table S1A. Characteristics of Men and Women Stratified by Metabolic Syndrome Status (ATPIII criteria). Table S1B. Characteristics of Men and Women Stratified by Metabolic Syndrome Status (IDF criteria). (DOC 103 kb) more...

The potential application of combined EDTA–citrate complexing process (ECCP) in intermediate-temperature solid-oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs) processing was investigated. ECCP-derived scandia-stabilized-zirconia (ScSZ) powder displayed low packing density, high surface area and nano-crystalline, which was ideal material for thin-film electrolyte fabrication based on dual dry pressing. A co-synthesis of NiO + ScSZ anode based on ECCP was developed, which showed reduced NiO(Ni) and ScSZ grain sizes and improved homogeneity of the particle size distribution, as compared with the mechanically mixed NiO + ScSZ anode. Anode-supported ScSZ electrolyte fuel cell with the whole cell materials synthesized from ECCP was successfully prepared. The porous anode and cathode exhibited excellent adhesion to the electrolyte layer. Fuel cell with 30 μm thick ScSZ electrolyte and La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 cathode showed a promising maximum peak power density of 350 mW cm−2 at 800 °C. more...

In this work, the effects of sintering temperature on the phase structure, oxygen nonstoichiometry, microstructure, electrical conductivity, and oxygen permeation behavior of perovskite La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-delta membranes were systematically studied. The sintering temperature has negligible effect on the bulk properties of the phase structure and the oxygen nonstoichiometry, but has significant influence on the microstructure and electrical conductivity of the membranes, and therefore imposes large impact on its oxygen permeability. With an increase in the sintering temperature, the grain size increased steadily from 0.3 mu m at 1000 degrees C to 3.5 mu m at 1300 degrees C, accompanied with the substantial enhancement of electrical conductivity but the decrease of activation energy for the electrical conduction. Results indicate that the grain boundary had a much lower electrical conductivity than that of the bulk. The oxygen permeation process was mainly rate-determined by the slow oxygen diffusion over the grain boundary. Higher sintering temperature lowers the activation energy for oxygen permeation and accordingly gives rise to higher oxygen permeation flux. The oxygen permeation flux could be improved more than 10 times if the sintering temperature increased from 1000 to 1300 degrees C. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. more...

A double-layer composite electrode based on Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-delta + Sm0.2Ce0.8O1.9 (BSCF + SDC) and BSCF + SDC + Ag was investigated to be a promising cathode and also anode for the electrochemical oxygen generator based on samaria doped ceria electrolyte. The Ag particles in the second layer were not only the current collector but also the improver for the oxygen adsorption at the electrode. a.c. impedance results indicated that the electrode polarization resistance, as low as 0.0058 Omega cm(2) was reached at 800 degrees C under air. In oxygen generator cell performance test, the electrode resistance dropped to half of the value at zero current density under an applied current density of 2.34 A cm(-2) at 700 degrees C, and on the same conditions the oxygen generator cell was continual working for more than 900 min a Faradic efficiency of similar to 100%. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. more...

A novel Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3 − δ + LaCoO3 (BSCF + LC) composite oxide was investigated for the potential application as a cathode for intermediate-temperature solid-oxide fuel cells based on a Sm0.2Ce0.8O1.9 (SDC) electrolyte. The LC oxide was added to BSCF cathode in order to improve its electrical conductivity. X-ray diffraction examination demonstrated that the solid-state reaction between LC and BSCF phases occurred at temperatures above 950 °C and formed the final product with the composition: La0.316Ba0.342Sr0.342Co0.863Fe0.137O3 − δ at 1100 °C. The inter-diffusion between BSCF and LC was identified by the environmental scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray examination. The electrical conductivity of the BSCF + LC composite oxide increased with increasing calcination temperature, and reached a maximum value of ∼300 S cm−1 at a calcination temperature of 1050 °C, while the electrical conductivity of the pure BSCF was only ∼40 S cm−1. The improved conductivity resulted in attractive cathode performance. An area-specific resistance as low as 0.21 Ω cm2 was achieved at 600 °C for the BSCF (70 vol.%) + LC (30 vol.%) composite cathode calcined at 950 °C for 5 h. Peak power densities as high as ∼700 mW cm−2 at 650 °C and ∼525 mW cm−2 at 600 °C were reached for the thin-film fuel cells with the optimized cathode composition and calcination temperatures. more...

Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-delta (BSCF), a mixed oxygen ionic and electronic conducting ceramic derived from SrCo0.8Fe0.2O3-delta (SCF), was re-evaluated for its possible application as an oxygen semi-permeable membrane and membrane reactor for partial oxidation of light hydrocarbons. The partial substitution of Sr2+ with Ba2+ in SCF led to an increase in the phase stability of the cubic perovskite structure. Both BSCF and SCF were found to have high oxygen nonstoichiometry. However, BSCF possessed a higher oxygen nonstoichiometry than SCF at room temperature, but a similar value at high temperatures. This resulted in the lower chemical expansion for BSCF than SCE The doping of Ba2+ in SCF led to the decrease of the electronic conductivity, but an increase in the oxygen ionic conductivity. The oxygen permeation study of the BSCF membrane demonstrated that the permeation rate was mainly rate-determined by the slow surface exchange kinetics at the oxygen lean side (or reaction side) membrane surface. The high ionic conductivity and the slow surface exchange kinetics resulted in the surface oxygen partial pressure at the reaction side membrane surface to be much higher than the surrounded atmosphere, therefore protecting the BSCF membrane from reduction. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. more...

A novel perovskite-type mixed-conducting oxide of SrSc0.05Co0.95O3-delta (SSC) was synthesized by a combined EDTA-citrate complexing method. The 5 mol % of Sc3+ doping into the B-site of SrCoO3-delta (SC) through the sol-gel synthesis effectively stabilized the oxygen vacancy disordered cubic perovskite structure of the oxide, and simultaneously resulted in a substantial increase of the electrical conductivity. The oxide was fabricated into dense ceramic membrane for oxygen separation by pressing/sintering process. The oxygen permeation flux of the SSC membrane and the rate-determination step of the permeation process were investigated between 750 and 900 degrees C. The experimental results demonstrated that SSC is a promising membrane for oxygen separation with ultrahigh permeation fluxes, compared favorably with reported high oxygen semi-permeable Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-delta and SrCo0.8Fe0.2O3-delta membranes under air/helium gradient. At the condition of reduced temperature and low oxygen partial pressure at the sweep side atmosphere, the permeation process was found to be rate-determined mainly by the slow oxygen surface exchange kinetics at the air (feed) side membrane surface based on the single cell oxygen permeation study. The activation energy for the oxygen surface exchange and oxygen bulk diffusion was found to be around 126 U mol(-1) and more...

Aims: To evaluate the stability of coxsackievirus B (CVB) genome integrated with the enhanced green fluorescent protein gene (egfp) and provide valuable information for the use of the recombinant CVB variant. Methods: A CVB3 variant expressing eGFP was constructed by insertion of the egfp open-reading frame (ORF) at the 5′ end of CVB3 ORF. The recombinant virus CVB3-eGFP was serially passaged in HeLa cells. The deletions in the CVB3-eGFP genome around egfp were examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. Results: Genomic deletions of CVB3-eGFP could be observed as early as the 2nd passage. Sequencing showed that the genomic deletions caused either viral ORF shifts or partial deletions of the viral VP4 coding sequence. The 6th passage of CVB3-eGFP was checked by plaque assay for eGFP expression. All plaque-like foci showed eGFP expression. eGFP expression was also viewed in HeLa cells infected with plaque-forming viruses. Conclusions: The insertion of egfp destabilized the CVB3 genome. The genomic deletions led to lethal mutations because of the termination of viral protein synthesis due to viral ORF shift and loss of partial viral gene. These findings imply that experimental data based on CVB integrated with the reporter gene should be interpreted with caution. more...

Background A link between uric acid (UA) levels and cardiovascular diseases has been previously reported. However, its importance as a risk factor is still controversial. This study sought to determine whether elevated serum uric acid levels are associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in middle-aged and elderly Chinese individuals. Methods We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study in Shanghai, with a total of 8510 participants aged ≥40 years. The CVD included diagnosed coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke. MetS was defined according to the updated National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria for Asian Americans. Results Uric acid levels were positively associated with BMI, waist circumference, triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, glycohemoglobin, fasting plasma glucose, postprandial 2-hour plasma glucose (all P Conclusions Elevated serum uric acid level was associated with CVD, independent of conventional cardiovascular disease risk factors and metabolic syndrome. more...

Background Associations between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and osteoporotic fracture have been reported. However, the epidemiological studies are not conclusive. The objective of the study was to determine whether metabolic syndrome associates with osteoporotic fracture. Methods This was a cross-sectional study of 9930 Chinese adults aged 40 year or older in the Chongming District, Shanghai, China. A questionnaire, anthropometric measurements and laboratory tests were conducted. MetS was defined according to the updated National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria for Asian-Americans. A history of fractures was collected with an interviewer-assisted questionnaire. Osteoporotic fractures were defined as fractures that occurred due to low-trauma in 2 years prior to the study. Results Among women, the prevalence of osteoporotic fractures was significantly higher in those with MetS (3.5 vs. 2.6 %, P =0.028). However, the difference was not found in men (2.6 vs. 2.4 %, P =0.737). The presence of Mets was significantly associated with increased odds of osteoporotic fracture among women (odds ratio 1.22; 95 % confidence interval 1.12–1.54; P = 0.039) after controlling for potential confounders. The significant associations were not detected in men. Conclusions The presence of MetS was significantly associated with a recent history of osteoporotic fracture in middle-aged and elderly Chinese women. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12902-016-0106-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. more...