Initial phase performance in a 30-s verbal fluency task as being reflective of aging effect.

AIM: The purpose of the present study was to investigate if performance in a 30-s verbal semantic fluency task (i.e. animal naming) across five elderly aged groups (60-64; 65-69; 70-74; 75-79; 80-84 years) would be reflective of aging effect. METHODS: We analyzed differences in performance across 5-s phases and the moment of first word production in these five age groups. RESULTS: The following results were obtained: (i) with increasing age, the total number of words produced gradually declined (P < 0.001); (ii) there were significant differences in performance among the age groups in three phases (0-5, 6-10, 16-20 s) (P < 0.05); and (iii) the first word production within the first 5-s phase was significantly delayed in the 75-79 years and 80-84 years age groups compared with the rest of the age groups. CONCLUSIONS: Performance in the initial 5-s phase might be sensitive to cognitive degeneration in normal older adults.

Succinonitrile as a corrosion inhibitor of copper current collectors for overdischarge protection of lithium ion batteries.

Succinonitrile (SN) is investigated as an electrolyte additive for copper corrosion inhibition to provide overdischarge (OD) protection to lithium ion batteries (LIBs). The anodic Cu corrosion, occurring above 3.5 V (vs Li/Li(+)) in conventional LIB electrolytes, is suppressed until a voltage of 4.5 V is reached in the presence of SN. The corrosion inhibition by SN is ascribed to the formation of an SN-induced passive layer, which spontaneously develops on the copper surface during the first anodic scan. The passive layer is composed mainly of Cu(SN)2PF6 units, which is evidenced by Raman spectroscopy and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance measurements. The effects of the SN additive on OD protection are confirmed by using 750 mAh pouch-type full cells of LiCoO2 and graphite with lithium metal as a reference electrode. Addition of SN completely prevents corrosion of the copper current collector in the full cell configuration, thereby tuning the LIB chemistry to be inherently immune to the OD abuses.

Fermented garlic protects diabetic, obese mice when fed a high-fat diet by antioxidant effects.

This study examined the bioactivity of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae)-fermented aged black garlic (FBG) on obese mice supplied a high-fat diet (HFD) and its in vitro antioxidant activity. Aged black garlic (BG) exhibits potent antioxidative effects and has been subjected to extensive research. In addition, the bioactivity of some natural products is increased by fermentation. In a preliminary test, this study found that the antioxidant activity of FBG is stronger than that of BG. Therefore, it was hypothesized that the bioactivity of BG would be increased by yeast fermentation and would be a good candidate as a nutraceutical product for improving the oxidative defense systems in older patients or patients affected by various oxidative stresses, for example, diabetes and diabetic complications. To test this hypothesis, the bioactivities of FBG in diabetic and obese mice as well as the antioxidant activity in vitro were examined. After 91 days of continuous HFD supply, the mice showed marked obesity, hyperglycemia, hyperlipemia, and liver and kidney damages. Black garlic and all 3 different doses of FBG showed favorable hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, hypolipidemic, and antiobesity effects compared with the HFD control, but no hypoglycemic effects. In particular, more favorable bioactivity against all 4 HFD-induced diabetic complications was detected in the FBG-treated groups compared with the group given equivalent doses of BG. These findings suggest that the bioactivities of BG can be improved by yeast fermentation.