Association of Absolute and Relative Handgrip Strength with Prevalent Metabolic Syndrome in Adults: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2014–2018

Maintaining or improving muscular strength may be a key preventive strategy for metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, whether the association of handgrip strength (HGS), as a well-established marker of whole-body muscular strength, with the prevalent metabolic syndrome (MetS) varies with age stratification remains unclear. Additionally, whether absolute of relative HGS is superior to another in predicting MetS is less clear. We examined the association of both relative and absolute HGS with the prevalence of MetS in different age groups. Korean adults aged ≥19 years (n = 28,146; 55.7% female) from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2014–2018) were examined. HGS was categorized using tertile split (highest, intermediate, lowest) and participants were stratified into different age groups at 10-year intervals. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the association between absolute/relative HGS tertiles and MetS with adjustment for covariates. Lower odds of MetS were observed across lower absolute HGS tertiles and the associations were significant in young participants (19–29 years) in both sexes (odds ratio (OR): 0.59 (95% CI: 0.38–0.92) for intermediate and OR: 0.55 (95% CI: 0.34–0.89) for lowest in males; OR: 0.36 (95% CI: 0.20–0.65) for intermediate and OR: 0.42 (95% CI: 0.24–0.74) for lowest in females; all p < 0.05). By contrast, higher odds of MetS were observed across lower relative HGS in all age groups in both sexes (in total participants, OR: 2.32 (95% CI: 2.06–2.62) for intermediate and OR: 3.69 (95% CI: 3.27–4.16) for lowest in males and OR: 2.04 (95% CI: 1.83–2.28) for intermediate and OR: 3.28 (95% CI: 2.94–3.65) for lowest in females all p < 0.05). The associations of both absolute and relative HGS with MetS attenuated with an increase in age. Our findings suggest that poor relative HGS, as a marker of muscular strength, and not absolute HGS, may be associated with a higher risk of MetS in adults. Our findings also suggest that relative HGS may overestimate MetS in young adults

Effects of cross-sectional change on the isotachphoresis process for protein-separation chip design

A 2D finite volume method (FVM)-based computer simulation model has been developed for isota-chophoresis (ITP) in three different 20 mm long micro-channels to assist the design of a protein separation chip. The model is based on three major equations, i.e. the mass conservation, charge conservation and electro-neutrality equations. In this study, the ITP system has four negatively-charged components, namely, hydrochloric acid, caproic acid, acetic acid, and benzoic acid, and one positively-charged component, namely, histidine, for use as a background electrolyte (BE). The calculations were performed under the action of a nominal electric field of -5,000 V/m. For the validation of our model, the results of our simulation in a straight channel are compared with the results of a 1D-based open program (SIMUL5), and all the physico-chemical properties are obtained from the SIMUL5. Unlike 1D ITP separation, spatially-changed micro-channel shapes provided different separation and moving times as well as a quasi steady state time compared to the 1D results obtained during the ITP process. Dispersion analysis is also conducted using a 2D moment analysis to investigate the effect of 2D geometries on ITP separation. © Springer-Verlag 2010.1

Spontaneous Pt Deposition on Defective Surfaces of In₂O₃ Nanocrystals Confined within Cavities of Hollow Silica Nanoshells: Pt Catalyst-Modified ITO Electrode with Enhanced ECL Performance

Although the deposition of metallic domains on a preformed semiconductor nanocrystal provides an effective pathway to access diverse hybrid nanocrystals with synergistic metal/semiconductor heterojunction interface, those reactions that take place on the surface of semiconductor nanoscrystals have not been investigated thoroughly, because of the impediments caused by the surface-capping organic surfactants. By exploiting the interfacial reactions occurring between the solution and nanoparticles confined with the cavities of hollow nanoparticles, we propose a novel nanospace-confined strategy for assessing the innate reactivity of surfaces of inorganic semiconductor nanoparticles. This strategy was adopted to investigate the newly discovered process of spontaneous Pt deposition on In₂O₃ nanocrystals. Through an in-depth examination involving varying key reaction parameters, the Pt deposition process was identified to be templated by the defective In₂O₃ surface via a unique redox process involving the oxygen vacancies in the In₂O₃ lattice, whose density can be controlled by high-temperature annealing. The product of the Pt-deposition reaction inside the hollow silica nanoparticle, bearing In₂O₃-supported Pt catalysts inside the cavity protected by a porous silica shell, was proved to be an effective nanoreactor system which selectively and sustainably catalyzed the reduction reaction of small-sized aromatic nitro-compounds. Moreover, the surfactant-free and electroless Pt deposition protocol, which was devised based on the surface chemistry of the In₂O₃ nanoparticles, was successfully employed to fabricate Pt-catalyst-modified ITO electrodes with enhanced electrogenerated chemiluminescece (ECL) performance