Electrospun spinel LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 hierarchical nanofibers as 5 v cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Spinel LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 hierarchical nanofibers with diameters of 200–500 nm and lengths of up to several tens of micrometers were synthesized using low-cost starting materials by electrospinning combined with annealing. Well-separated nanofiber precursors impede the growth and agglomeration of Li-Ni0.5Mn1.5O4 particles. The hierarchical nanofibers were constructed from attached LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 nanooctahedrons with sizes ranging from 200 to 400 nm. It is proven that these Li-Ni0.5Mn1.5O4 hierarchical nanofibers exhibit a favorable electrochemical performance. At a 0.5C (coulombic) rate, it shows an initial discharge capacity of 133 mAhg_1 with a capacity retention over 94% after 30 cycles. Even at 2, 5, 10, and 15C rates, it can still deliver a discharge capacity of 115, 100, 90, and 80 mAhg_1, respectively. Compared with self-aggregated nanooctahedrons synthesized using common sol–gel methods, the LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 hierarchical nanofibers exhibit a much higher capacity. This is owing to the fact that the self-aggregation of the unique nanooctahedron-in-nanofiber structure has been greatly reduced because of the attachment of nanopolyhedrons in the long nanofibers. This unique microstructured cathode results in the large effective contact areas of the active materials, conductive additives and fully realize the advantage of nanomaterial-based cathodes.

Salt loading in canola oil fed SHRSP rats induces endothelial dysfunction

This study aimed to determine if 50 days of canola oil intake in the absence or presence of salt loading affects: (1) antioxidant and oxidative stress markers, (2) aortic mRNA of NADPH oxidase (NOX) subunits and superoxide dismutase (SOD) isoforms and (3) endothelial function in SHRSP rats. SHRSP rats were fed a diet containing 10 wt/wt% soybean oil or 10 wt/wt% canola oil, and given tap water or water containing 1% NaCl for 50 days. Without salt, canola oil significantly increased RBC SOD, plasma cholesterol and triglycerides, aortic p22phox, NOX2 and CuZn-SOD mRNA, and decreased RBC glutathione peroxidase activity. With salt, canola oil reduced RBC SOD and catalase activity, LDL-C, and p22phox mRNA compared with canola oil alone, whereas plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) was reduced and RBC MDA and LDL-C were higher. With salt, the canola oil group had significantly reduced endothelium-dependent vasodilating responses to ACh and contractile responses to norepinephrine compared with the canola oil group without salt and to the WKY rats. These results indicate that ingestion of canola oil increases O2 - generation, and that canola oil ingestion in combination with salt leads to endothelial dysfunction in the SHRSP model.

Dietary salt intake in Australian and US children and adolescents

Dietary salt intake in Australian children exceeds recommendations and children of lower socioeconomic background consume even greater quantities. In Australian and US children, salt intake was positively associated with sugar-sweetened beverages, indicating a potential link between salt intake and obesity. Public health strategies to reduce salt intake in Australian children are required.

Cost-effectiveness of reducing salt intake in the Pacific Islands: protocol for a before and after intervention study

Background
There is broad consensus that diets high in salt are bad for health and that reducing salt intake is a cost-effective strategy for preventing chronic diseases. The World Health Organization has been supporting the development of salt reduction strategies in the Pacific Islands where salt intakes are thought to be high. However, there are no accurate measures of salt intake in these countries. The aims of this project are to establish baseline levels of salt intake in two Pacific Island countries, implement multi-pronged, cross-sectoral salt reduction programs in both, and determine the effects and cost-effectiveness of the intervention strategies.

Methods/Design
Intervention effectiveness will be assessed from cross-sectional surveys before and after population-based salt reduction interventions in Fiji and Samoa. Baseline surveys began in July 2012 and follow-up surveys will be completed by July 2015 after a 2-year intervention period.

A three-stage stratified cluster random sampling strategy will be used for the population surveys, building on existing government surveys in each country. Data on salt intake, salt levels in foods and sources of dietary salt measured at baseline will be combined with an in-depth qualitative analysis of stakeholder views to develop and implement targeted interventions to reduce salt intake.

Discussion
Salt reduction is a global priority and all Member States of the World Health Organization have agreed on a target to reduce salt intake by 30% by 2025, as part of the global action plan to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases. The study described by this protocol will be the first to provide a robust assessment of salt intake and the impact of salt reduction interventions in the Pacific Islands. As such, it will inform the development of strategies for other Pacific Island countries and comparable low and middle-income settings around the world.