Synthesis and Consolidation of Nanostructured Nb₂C-Al₂O₃ Composite.

Although an extremely hard ceramic material, niobium carbide has low fracture toughness to use wide applications. To fabricate nanostructured composite is common method to improve fracture toughness. Nanopowder mixture of Nb₂C and Al₂O₃ were synthesized according to the reaction (Al₄C₃+6Nb+3O₂ → 3Nb₂C+2Al₂O₃) from Al₄C₃ and Nb powders by high-energy ball milling.

Treadmill exercise increases cell proliferation without altering of apoptosis in dentate gyrus of Sprague-Dawley rats.

The effects of forced treadmill exercise on cell proliferation and apoptosis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus in Sprague-Dawley rats were investigated. The animals were classified into three groups: the control group, the easy exercise group, and the moderate exercise group. In the control group, rats were left on the treadmill without running for 30 min per day, while rats in the exercise groups were made to run on the treadmill for the same duration.