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Activators of 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide1-[beta]-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR), metformin, and exercise activate atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) and ERK and stimulate glucose transport in muscle by uncertain mechanisms. Here, in cultured L6 myotubes: AICAR- and metformin-induced activation of AMPK was required for activation of aPKC and ERK; aPKC activation involved and required phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1 (PDK 1) phosphorylation of Thr410-PKC-[xi]; aPKC Thr410 phosphorylation and activation also required MEKl-dependent ERK; and glucose transport effects of AICAR and metformin were inhibited by expression of dominant-negative AMPK, kinase-inactive PDK1, MEK1 inhibitors, kinase-inactive PKC-[xi], and RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated knockdown of PKC-[xi]. In mice, muscle-specific aPKC (PKC-[lambda]) depletion by conditional gene targeting impaired AICAR-stimulated glucose disposal and stimulatory effects of both AICAR and metformin on 2-deoxyglucose/glucose uptake in muscle in vivo and AICAR stimulation of 2-[[sup.3]H]deoxyglucose uptake in isolated extensor digitorum longus muscle; however, AMPK activation was unimpaired. In marked contrast to AICAR and metformin, treadmill exercise-induced stimulation of 2-deoxyglucose/glucose uptake was not inhibited in aPKC-knockout mice. Finally, in intact rodents, AICAR and metformin activated aPKC in muscle, but not in liver, despite activating AMPK in both tissues. The findings demonstrate that in muscle AICAR and metformin activate aPKC via sequential activation of AMPK, ERK, and PDK1 and the AMPK/ERK/PDK1/aPKC pathway is required for mefformin- and AICAR-stimulated increases in glucose transport. On the other hand, although aPKC is activated by treadmill exercise, this activation is not required for exercise-induced increases in glucose transport, and therefore may be a redundant mechanism. tissue-specific atypical PKC activation by AMPK; primacy of AMPK in muscle atypical PKC activation; redundant activation of atypical PKC during exercise doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00392.2009

The effectiveness of an airfoil with moving surface boundary-layer control (MSBC) was investigated. The effects of the angles of attack, rate of momentum injection, including the rotating cylinder surface condition on the surface pressure distribution and aerodynamic coefficients were determined. Findings revealed that a multielement panel technique, representing the flow separation by free vortex lines, provides the overall aerodynamics of an airfoil with the MSBC with adequate precision.

The evaluation of the dynamic fracture toughness and Charpy transition properties of a 16 mm thick 2.25Cr-1Moreheater header pipe exposed at 813 K for 120,000 h by instrumented impact test (IIT) is presented. The method presented for estimating dynamic fracture toughness from IIT of Charpy specimens give reliably conservative results without the need for precracking.

Polyurethane networks between hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) and butanediol (BD) were prepared using toluene diisocyanate (TDI) as the curative. HTPB and BD were taken at equivalent ratios viz.: 1:0, 1:1, 1:2, 1:4, and 1:8. Crosslink density (CLD) was theoretically calculated using a-model equations developed by Marsh. CLD for the polyurethane networks was experimentally evaluated from equilibrium swell and stress-strain data. Young's modulus and Mooney-Rivlin approaches were adopted to calculate CLD from stress-strain data. Experimentally obtained CLD values were enormously higher than theoretical values especially at higher BD/HTPB equivalent ratios. The difference in the theoretical and experimental values for CLD was explained in terms of local crystallization due to the formation of hard segments and hydrogen bonded interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroxyl-terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) cured by a mixture of methyl tris (methyl ethyl ketoxime) silane and 3-aminopropyl triethoxy silane system is known for satisfactory mechanical properties and chemical resistance. The effect of nanoclay on this poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) system is explored in this study. Organically modified clay (montmorillonite) nanocomposites of PDMS were processed by solution blending followed by cross linking. The effect of nanoclay content on the mechanical, barrier, thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were investigated in detail. X-ray diffraction studies reveal exfoliated nature of the nanoclay layers in the composites. The mechanical properties, such as tensile strength and elongation at break of PDMS, improved substantially on reinforcement with nanoclay. The maximum enhancement in properties occurred at a nanoclay content of 2-3%. Cross-link density increased with increase in nanoclay concentration up to 3% and decreased with further addition. The barrier properties were not significantly altered by the incorporation of nanoclay. Initial decomposition temperatures marginally increased at lower loading levels of nanoclay, whereas a reverse trend is observed at higher loadings. The glass transition temperature remains practically the same for all the compositions. The study demonstrates that nanoclay addition is an effective method for improving the properties of PDMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]