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Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is considered to be an insulin-resistance syndrome, but recent evidence suggests that MetS has multiple physiological origins which may be related to atherosclerosis. This study investigated clustering patterns of metabolic risk factors and its association with sub-clinical atherosclerosis.This study used factor analysis of 11 metabolic factors in 1374 individuals to define clustering patterns and determine their association with carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT). Eleven metabolic factors were used: body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting blood insulin (FBI), serum triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and adiponectin. Two regression analyses were done, the first using individual metabolic variables and the second using each factor from the factor analysis to evaluate their relationships with CIMT.Four clustering patterns, insulin-resistance factor (FBG, FBI, HOMA-IR), obesity-inflammatory factor (BMI, WC, hsCRP), blood pressure factor (SBP, DBP) and lipid metabolic factor (HDL-C, TG, adiponectin) were categorized. In a multivariate regression model after adjustment for age, sex, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and smoking history (pack year), insulin resistance factor (B = 11.09, p = 0.026), obesity-inflammatory factor (B = 18.50, p0.001), blood pressure factor (B = 12.84, p = 0.010) and lipid metabolic factor (B = - 11.55, p = 0.023) were found to be significantly associated with CIMT.In conclusion, metabolic risk factors have four distinct clustering patterns that are independently associated with sub-clinical atherosclerosis.

The authors manufactured the metal hydrides (Ti0·88Mg0·12)H2 and (Ti0·88Mg0·12)H0·7 by a very easy and cheap way using the mechanical milling of Ti–12Mg blending powder in liquid milling media such as isopropyl alcohol, hexane and heptane as hydrogen sources. The powder was analysed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and convergent beam electron diffraction (CBED) patterns parallel with the chemical analysis by EDX and ion coupled plasma (ICP) measurements. The hydriding reaction began when the mechanically milled particle achieved nanometre size. (Ti0·88Mg0·12)H2 was manufactured in isopropyl alcohol and hexane media, and (Ti0·88Mg0·12)H0·7 in heptane, while the Ti–12Mg blending powder milled in argon atmosphere formed the solid solution of hexagonal close packed (hcp) structure.

Nanocrystalline Cu–Co (Cu–25Co by atomic fraction) powder for giant magnetoresistance (GMR) application has been synthesised by laser ablation method. The effect of Co precipitating evolution on the GMR properties during annealing has been investigated using energy filtered transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM) and X-ray diffraction. The as synthesised Cu–Co powder was 10 nm in diameter and formed a solid solution with an fcc structure. On the thermal stability during annealing the Cu–Co powder, the grain growth commenced before the phase separation of Cu and Co. As the result of the phase separation, nanocrystalline fcc Co particles with an average diameter of 5 nm were uniformly dispersed in Cu matrix. The relationship between the GMR property and the microstructural evolution of Co precipitate could be understood by the compositional profile showing a sinusoidal shape from EFTEM images.