The relationship of remnant cholesterol and abdominal obesity in children: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundPrevious studies found that remnant cholesterol (RC) is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and childhood obesity is associated with cardiometabolic diseases. This study aimed to explore the relationship between RC and abdominal obesity in children.MethodsA total of 5,959 children, aged 6−12 years old, were selected from a cross-sectional study in urban-rural areas of Chongqing, China. RC was calculated by total cholesterol (TC)—high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) cholesterol—low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) cholesterol and was divided into four groups by quartiles (Q1–Q4).ResultsCompared to children with the lowest RC (Q1), children with higher RC had significantly higher odds of abdominal obesity (Q2: OR = 1.450, 95% CI: 1.131−1.859, p < 0.05; Q3: OR = 2.127, 95% CI: 1.632−2.772, p < 0.001; Q4: OR = 2.386, 95% CI: 1.819−3.130, p < 0.001). In the stratified analyses by urban-rural areas, the odds ratios were greater in rural areas (Q2: OR = 2.228, 95% CI: 1.572−3.160, p < 0.001; Q3: OR = 3.668, 95% CI: 2.191−6.140, p < 0.001; Q4: OR = 6.490, 95% CI: 2.271−18.551, p < 0.001) than in urban areas (Q2: OR = 1.644, 95% CI: 1.192−2.266, p < 0.05; Q3: OR = 2.266, 95% CI: 1.667−3.082, p < 0.001; Q4: OR = 2.711, 95% CI: 2.005−3.665, p < 0.001).ConclusionsOur study found that RC was positively correlated with abdominal obesity in children, and this association was higher for children living in rural areas

Synthesis and tribological testing of poly(methyl methacrylate) particles containing encapsulated organic friction modifier

The tribological behaviour of polymer particles containing an encapsulated, organic friction modifier (FM) is presented. Particles comprising of a poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) shall and a methanol core, into which FM was dissolved, were produced via a dispersion polymerization producing a core-shell morphology. The inclusion of these particles dramatically increased the overall concentration of FM which could be blended into dodecane. The tribological behaviour of the particles produced, both with and without encapsulated FM, was tribologically tested in pure dodecane. The addition of as little as 1.5 wt% particles was found to decrease the friction coefficient and measured wear volumes below those for dodecane saturated with FM. Data suggests that the FM delivery method may be dominated by a bursting mechanism

Performance Analysis of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Based Syngas

External chemical reactors for steam reforming and water gas shift reactions are needed for a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell system using syngas fuel. For the preheating of syngas and stable steam reforming reaction at 600 °C, residual hydrogen from a fuel cell and a certain amount of additional syngas are burned. The combustion temperature is calculated and the molar ratio of the syngas into burner and steam reformer is determined. Based on thermodynamics and electrochemistry, the electric power density and energy conversion efficiency of a PEM fuel cell based syngas are expressed. The effects of the temperature, the hydrogen utilization factor at the anode, and the molar ratio of the syngas into burner and steam reformer on the performance of a PEM fuel cell are discussed. To achieve the maximum power density or efficiency, the key parameters are determined. This manuscript presents the detailed operating process of a PEM fuel cell, the allocation of the syngas for combustion and electric generation, and the feasibility of a PEM fuel cell using syngas