Exercise training in obese rats does not induce browning at thermoneutrality and induces a muscle-like signature in brown adipose tissue

Aim: Exercise training elicits diverse effects on brown (BAT) and white adipose tissue (WAT) physiology in rodents housed below their thermoneutral zone (i.e., 28–32°C). In these conditions, BAT is chronically hyperactive and, unlike human residence, closer to thermoneutrality. Therefore, we set out to determine the effects of exercise training in obese animals at 28°C (i.e., thermoneutrality) on BAT and WAT in its basal (i.e., inactive) state. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 12) were housed at thermoneutrality from 3 weeks of age and fed a high-fat diet. At 12 weeks of age half these animals were randomized to 4-weeks of swim-training (1 h/day, 5 days per week). Following a metabolic assessment interscapular and perivascular BAT and inguinal (I)WAT were taken for analysis of thermogenic genes and the proteome. Results: Exercise attenuated weight gain but did not affect total fat mass or thermogenic gene expression. Proteomics revealed an impact of exercise training on 2-oxoglutarate metabolic process, mitochondrial respiratory chain complex IV, carbon metabolism, and oxidative phosphorylation. This was accompanied by an upregulation of multiple proteins involved in skeletal muscle physiology in BAT and an upregulation of muscle specific markers (i.e., Myod1, CkM, Mb, and MyoG). UCP1 mRNA was undetectable in IWAT with proteomics highlighting changes to DNA binding, the positive regulation of apoptosis, HIF-1 signaling and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction. Conclusion: Exercise training reduced weight gain in obese animals at thermoneutrality and is accompanied by an oxidative signature in BAT which is accompanied by a muscle-like signature rather than induction of thermogenic genes. This may represent a new, UCP1-independent pathway through which BAT physiology is regulated by exercise training

Evaluation of Volunteer Barley Interference on Growth Indices of Some Wheat CultivarsCultivars

Abstract \ud To evaluate interference effects of volunteer barley on growth indices of six wheat cultivars, a study conducted in Sabzevar region during 2007-2008 growing season. The experiment was established as randomized complete block design with factorial arrangement and three replications. The treatments were six wheat cultivars in weedy and weed free situation. The studied cultivars including: 1- Chamran 2- Gascogen 3- Mahdavi 4- Pishtaz 5- Shiraz and 6- Falat with densities of 350, 375, 375, 400, 400, 325 seed m-2. Valfajr cultivar was used as a volunteer barley with density of 50 plant m-2. Base on variance analyze results volunteer barley interference reduced grain yield, leaf aria index, relative growth rate, crop growth rate, height and dry matter accumulation of wheat cultivars. The maximum of grain yield in monoculture and mixedculture was obtained in Shiraz and Mahdavi cultivars, respectively and the minimum values was found in Gascogen and Chamran cultivars, respectively. The maximum of leaf area index in monoculture and mixedculture were in Mahdavi cultivar, which could be caused by higher height and thus increased shading on volunteer barley and limitation on its growth. Comparison of cultivars relative growth rate in monoculture and mixedculture showed that Mahdavi cultivar had minimum reduction of relative growth rate. Moreover crop growth rate of Shiraz cultivar in monoculture and Mahdavi cultivar in mixedculture was greater than other cultivars. Results showed that yield of evaluated cultivars in volunteer barley interference situation were affected by height, leaf area index, relative growth rate, crop growth rate and accumulated dry matter, and Mahdavi cultivar showed better performance in these traits.\ud \ud Keywords: Grain yield, Competition, Leaf area index, Relative growth rate, Crop growth rate, Dry matter accumulatio

Effect of fly ash and silica fume on hardened properties of foam concrete

WOS: 000452815000001In this study, the effects of foam content as well as fly ash and silica fume inclusion on some physical and mechanical properties of foam concrete, subjected to various curing regimes, were researched. Totally, forty-five series of foam concrete mixtures were prepared at three replacement levels of fly ash and silica fume (0, 10 and 20%, by weight of cement), at three foam contents (0, 31 and 47%, by volume) and at three curing regimes (7- and 28-day standard water curing and autoclave curing). Density, water absorption, compressive strength and thermal conductivity values of the mixtures were determined on prismatic specimens with dimensions of 40 x 40 x 160 mm. The density (oven dry), water absorption, compressive strength and thermal conductivity results of the foam concrete were found to be between 873-1998 kg/m(3), 3.5-35.9%, 1.5-88.1 MPa and, 0.239-0.942 W/m.K, respectively. A balanced benefit with regard to both compressive strength and water absorption of foam concrete was found in the mix with density of 1320 kg/m(3). Particularly in the mixtures having high foam content, silica fume introduction resulted in superior compressive strength values and greater compressive strength/thermal conductivity ratios than fly ash introduction. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Performance of steel micro fiber reinforced mortar mixtures containing plain, binary and ternary cementitious systems

Steel micro fibers provide strengthening, toughening and durability improvement mechanisms in cementitious composites. However, there is not much data in the literature regarding how the extent of their effectiveness changes depending on the type of matrix being reinforced. For clarifying this point, the influence of a constant volumetric ratio (1%) of 6 mm long steel micro fibers on the performance of 5 mortar mixtures was investigated and were prepared using plain, binary and ternary cementitious systems. A total of 10 mixtures were cast. The mineral admixtures used in the study include silica fume (SF), metakaolin (MK) and a Class C fly ash (FA). While the replacement levels of SF and MK were 10% by weight of the total mass of the binder, this ratio was chosen as 30% for FA. In addition to the behavior of the mixtures under compressive, flexural and impact loads, abrasion, water absorption, chloride ion penetration, freezing-thawing resistance and drying shrinkage characteristics of the mixtures were determined. Test results indicate that generally the refinement in the pore structure of the matrix provided by mineral admixtures and the increase in resistance against growth and coalescence of micro-cracks provided by fibers produce a synergistic effect and improve the investigated performances of the mixtures. © 2016, College Publishing. All rights reserved

Değişik uçucu küllerin yüksek plastisiteli kilin serbest basınç dayanımına etkisi

This paper presents an experimental investigation into the stabilization of a soft clay obtained from a military zone in Izmir with two different fly ashes. 5, 10, 15 and 20 % by weight of the soil was replaced with fly ash. In addition to the neat soil sample, the optimum moisture contents and maximum dry unit weights of four soil-fly ash mixtures prepared from each fly ash were determined by Standard Proctor Tests. The unconfined compressive strengths of the samples prepared at optimum moisture contents were determined at 1/7,28 and 90 days. It was found that, inclusion of fly ash improved the properties of the soil. The improvements were more pronounced with increasing fly ash content of the mixture and lime content of the fly ash. The fact was attributed to the pozzolanic reaction and pore refinement effect of fly ash as well as its free lime content.Bu çalışmada, İzmir Çiğli Jet Üssünden temin edilen bir tip yumuşak kilin, iki farkh uçucu kül ile stabilizasyonu üzerine bir deneysel araştırma sunulmaktadır. Bu amaçla, kuru-kil ağırlığının % 5,10, 15 ve 20'si oranlarında uçucu kül içeren farklı uçucu kül-kil karışımları hazırlanmıştır. Katkısız zemine ek olarak, kireç içeriği farklı iki uçucu külden yukarıda verilen oranlarda kül eklenerek hazırlanan dörder numunenin Standart Proktor deneyi ile optimum su muhtevaları ve maksimum kuru birim hacim ağırlıkları belirlenmiştir. Optimum su muhtevasında sıkıştırılarak hazırlanan uçucu kül-zemin numunelerinin, 1, 7, 28 ve 90 günlük serbest basınç dayanımları ölçülmüştür. Deneysel çalışma sonunda, eklenen uçucu külün zeminin serbest basınç mukavemetini artırdığı görülmüştür. Bu artışın uçucu kül tipine bağlı olarak değişimler gösterdiği tespit edilmiştir. Artan kül içeriği ve külün kireç içeriğine bağlı olan bu artışlar, puzolanik reaksiyon, uçucu külün boşlukları doldurma etkisi ve uçucu külün serbest kireç içeriğinin etkisi ile açıklanabilir

Comparison of recycled glass and recycled concrete aggregates bearing mortar mixtures exposed to high temperature, abrasion and drying

In this study, the effects of recycled glass (RG) and recycled concrete (RC) fine aggregates on the drying-shrinkage, carbonation, high temperature and abrasion resistance of mortar mixtures were investigated comparatively. In addition, durability performance of the mortar mixtures was investigated through micro-structural analysis. For this purpose, 9 different mortar mixtures were prepared by replacing 25, 50, 75 and 100 wt.% of crushed-limestone fine aggregate with recycled glass and recycled concrete aggregates. Except for the abrasion resistance, the RG mixtures showed better durability performance than the control mixture. However, the RC mixtures containing more than 50% recycled aggregate showed lower performance than the control mixture. © 2018, College Publishing. All rights reserved

Optimising High Lime Fly Ash Content By Means of Silica Fume Incorporation to Control Alkali-Silica Reaction and Drying Shrinkage of Mortars

WOS: 000506639500008In this study, the effect of binary and ternary cementitious systems composed of portland cement, high-lime fly ash and silica fume on the compressive strength, alkali-silica reaction (ASTM C 1567) and drying shrinkage of mortar mixtures was researched. For this purpose, binary and ternary binders were prepared with partial replacement of cement with either fly ash (15wt% and 30wt%) or silica fume (5wt%) or both mineral admixtures (15wt+%5wt% and 30wt%+5wt%). An alkali reactive basalt aggregate was used in this study. It was found that partial replacement of cement with high-lime fly ash reduced the strength of mortar mixtures even up to 28-days. Besides, addition of 5% silica fume had not a significant effect on the early strength of fly ash-bearing mixtures. However, silica fume inclusion improved the 28-day strength of mixtures. in terms of alkali-silica reaction (ASR), the fly ash with lower lime content reduced the 14-day expansion more than that of fly ash with higher lime content. the opposite results were the case in 28-day ASR expansions. the ASR expansions of the fly ash-bearing mixtures were significantly reduced by the introduction of the additional 5% silica fume to these mixtures. However, silica fume incorporation remarkably increased the drying shrinkage values of the mixtures. Finally, fly ash with higher lime content was found to be more satisfactory in terms of compressive strength, alkali-silica reaction and drying shrinkage in the ternary binder system