The effect of a high-polyphenol Mediterranean diet (Green-MED) combined with physical activity on age-related brain atrophy: The Dietary Intervention Randomized Controlled Trial Polyphenols Unprocessed Study (DIRECT PLUS)

Background: The effect of diet on age-related brain atrophy is largely unproven. Objectives: We aimed to explore the effect of a Mediterranean diet (MED) higher in polyphenols and lower in red/processed meat (Green-MED diet) on age-related brain atrophy. Methods: This 18-mo clinical trial longitudinally measured brain structure volumes by MRI using hippocampal occupancy score (HOC) and lateral ventricle volume (LVV) expansion score as neurodegeneration markers. Abdominally obese/dyslipidemic participants were randomly assigned to follow 1) healthy dietary guidelines (HDG), 2) MED, or 3) Green-MED diet. All subjects received free gym memberships and physical activity guidance. Both MED groups consumed 28 g walnuts/d (+440 mg/d polyphenols). The Green-MED group consumed green tea (3-4 cups/d) and Mankai (Wolffia-globosa strain, 100 g frozen cubes/d) green shake (+800 mg/d polyphenols). Results: Among 284 participants (88% men; mean age: 51 y; BMI: 31.2 kg/m2; APOE-ε4 genotype = 15.7%), 224 (79%) completed the trial with eligible whole-brain MRIs. The pallidum (-4.2%), third ventricle (+3.9%), and LVV (+2.2%) disclosed the largest volume changes. Compared with younger participants, atrophy was accelerated among those ≥50 y old (HOC change: -1.0% ± 1.4% compared with -0.06% ± 1.1%; 95% CI: 0.6%, 1.3%; P Conclusions: A Green-MED (high-polyphenol) diet, rich in Mankai, green tea, and walnuts and low in red/processed meat, is potentially neuroprotective for age-related brain atrophy.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03020186

Growth, selectivity and adhesion of CVD-deposited copper from Cu+1 (hexafluoroacetylacetonate trimethylvinylsilane) and dichlorodimethylsilane

Copper films have been deposited by low-pressure (1\u201320 mTorr) chemical vapour deposition using Cu1+ (hexafluoroacetylacetonate) trimethylvinylsilane onto SiO2 patterned substrates having seed layers of W, TiN and Al. Blanket deposition is observed for all growth temperatures in the range 140 \ub0C 64 Tg 64 240 \ub0C. However, depending on the initial substrate seed layer and pre-treatment, the relative strength of the copper-oxide and copper-seed layer bond can be dramatically altered particularly when growth is carried out in the presence of dichloromethylsilane (DCDMS). The degree of selectivity as well as film morphology is also found to be sensitive to the initial pre-treatment, growth temperature and flow rate of DCDMS.NRC publication: Ye

TUM-M0409

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Catalytic-oxidation of Methane To C-2 Hydrocarbons

The oxidative coupling of methane has been tested over a series of silicalite-supported catalysts. Both methane and natural gas were used as reactants and the results showed that the selectivity and the yield of ethylene were always higher with natural gas as feed. The influence of the concentration of manganese and sodium on the catalyst activity and selectivity has been studied. Experiments conducted with methane or ethane as reactant, in the presence or in the absence of the gas phase oxygen, showed that adsorbed oxygen species plays an important role in the methane activation and that carbon oxides derive mainly from the methyl radicals issued from methane. Kinetic results are also reported