Ternary carbodiimide compound, Ba0.9Sr0.1NCN with distorted rutile-type structure

Ternary carbodiimides, Ba1-xSrxNCN (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 0.8, and 1.0) were prepared by an ammonolysis reaction with a (Ba,Sr)CO3 precursor obtained by a polymerized complex method. A new orthorhombic carbodiimide was obtained at x = 0.1. It coexists with SrNCN-type solid solutions between x = 0.2 and 0.5. The crystal structure of Ba0.9Sr0.1 NCN was determined using single-crystal X-ray and powder neutron diffraction data, and was found to adopt an orthorhombic Pnnm crystal structure. In this structure, both Ba2+ and Sr2+ cations are situated in an octahedron of N atoms of NCN2- anionic groups, and the (Ba/Sr)N-6 octahedra form a distorted rutile-type structure with C atoms bridging the N atoms

The Effect of Voluntary Exercise on Gut Microbiota in Partially Hydrolyzed Guar Gum Intake Mice under High-Fat Diet Feeding

Although dietary fiber treatment alters the gut microbiota and its metabolite production, it is unclear whether or not exercise habits can have a supplemental effect on changes in gut microbiota in dietary fiber-treated mice. To clarify the supplemental effect of voluntary exercise on gut microbiota in partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG), which is a soluble dietary fiber, treated mice under high-fat diet (HFD) feeding, 4-week-old male C57BL/6J mice (n = 80) were randomly divided into two dietary groups: the control-diet (CD) and HFD. Then, each dietary group was treated with or without PHGG, and with or without wheel running. After the experimental period, measurement of maximal oxygen consumption, a glucose tolerance test and fecal materials collection for analysis of gut microbiota were carried out. Voluntary exercise load in PHGG treatment under HFD feeding showed the supplemental effect of exercise on obesity (p < 0.01) and glucose tolerance (p < 0.01). Additionally, in both CD and HFD groups, voluntary exercise accelerated the decrease in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio in mice fed with PHGG (p < 0.01). These findings suggest that voluntary exercise might activate the prevention of obesity and insulin resistance more via change in gut microbiota in mice administrated with PHGG