Obesity-linked insulin resistance greatly increases the risk for type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, together known as the metabolic or insulin resistance syndrome. How obesity promotes insulin resistance remains incompletely understood. Plasma concentrations of free fatty acids and proinflammatory cytokines, endoplasmic reticulum ( ER) stress, an...

We use density functional theory calculations of Pt@Cu core@shell nanoparticles (NPs) to design bifunctional poison-free CO oxidation catalysts. By calculating the adsorption chemistry under CO oxidation conditions, we find that the Pt@Cu NPs will be active for CO oxidation with resistance to CO-poisoning. The CO oxidation pathway at the Pt-Cu interface is determined on the Pt NP covered with a...

Potassium and calcium salts are well known catalysts for the reaction between carbon and O2. Current airport runway deicing agents typically use formulations containing alkali or alkaline-earth metals (see C&E News, 01/01/01, p. 30). Very effective oxidation protection of aircraft brakes is thus of great practical and fundamental interest. Phosphorus and boron compounds are known to inhibit unc...

Alloys consisting of the phases α-Mo (Mo solid solution), Mo3Si, and Mo5SiB2 (“T2”) were fabricated by ingot and powder metallurgy. A novel powder-metallurgical processing technique was developed which allows the fabrication of silicide alloys with a continuous α-Mo matrix. In these alloys the relatively ductile and tough α-Mo matrix acts as a “binder” for brittle silicide particles. An alloy p...

The stability and oxidation of copper nanoparticles stabilized with various ligands have been studied. Lauric acid-capped copper nanoparticles were prepared by a modified Brust-Schiffrin method. Then, ligand exchange with an excess of different capping agents was performed. Oxidation and stability were studied by UV-vis, XRD, and TEM. Alkanethiols and oleic acid were found to improve air stabil...

We have investigated the role of aluminum oxide films as barriers to thermal oxidation of Co, Ni, Fe, Ni Fe , Mn, Ta, Cu 80 20 and Cr in air. The oxidation of the film is monitored by measuring the electrical resistance following a brief anneal in air. We find that 0.3 and 1 nm Al protect the underlying metal film against thermal oxidation in air at temperatures of a few hundred degrees above t...