GLP-1, an important incretin hormone plays an important role in the regulation of glucose homeostasis. However, the therapeutic use of native GLP-1 is limited due to its short half-life. We recently developed a novel GLP-1 mimetics (supaglutide) by genetically engineering recombinant fusion protein production techniques. We demonstrated that this formulation possessed long-lasting GLP-1 actions and was effective in glycemic control in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes rodent models. Here, we investigated the effects of supaglutide in regulating energy homeostasis in obese mice. Mice were fed with high-fat diet (HFD) for 6 months to induce obesity and then subjected to supaglutide treatment (300μg/kg, bi-weekly for 4weeks), and placebo as control. Metabolic conditions were monitored and energy expenditure was assessed by indirect calorimetry (CLAMS). Cold tolerance test was performed to evaluate brown-adipose tissue (BAT) activities in response to cold challenge. Glucose tolerance and insulin resistance were evaluated by intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test and insulin tolerance tests. Liver and adipose tissues were collected for histology analysis. Expression of uncoupling protein 1(Ucp1) in adipose tissues was evaluated by Western blotting. We found that supaglutide treatment reduced body weight, which was associated with reduced food intake. Compared to the placebo control, supaglutide treatment improved lipid profile, i.e., significantly decreased circulating total cholesterol levels, declined serum triglyceride and free fatty acid levels. Importantly, the intervention significantly reduced fatty liver, decreased liver triglyceride content, and concomitantly ameliorated liver injury exemplified by declined hepatic alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartic transaminase (AST) content. Remarkably, supaglutide reduced hepatic lipid accumulation and altered morphometry in favor of small adipocytes in fat. This is consistent with the observation that supaglutide increased tolerance of the mice to cold environment associated with up-regulation of Ucp1 in the inguinal fat. Furthermore, supaglutide improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in the obese mice suggesting improved glucose and energy homeostasis. Our findings suggest that supaglutide exerts beneficial effect on established obesity through reducing energy intake and is associated with brown remodeling of white adipose tissue.

Due to the properties of shape memory effect and super-elasticity, shape memory alloy (SMA) is added into glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) face-sheets of foam core sandwich panels to improve the impact resistence performance by many researchers. This paper tries to discuss the failure mechanism of sandwich panels with GF/ epoxy face-sheets embedded with SMA wires and conventional 304 SS wire nets under low-velocity impact and compression after impact (CAI) tests. The histories of contact force, absorbed energy and deflection during the impact process are obtained by experiment. Besides, the failure modes of sandwich panels with different ply modes are compared by visual inspection and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). CAI tests are conducted with the help of digital image correlation (DIC) technology. Based on the results, the sandwich panels embedded with SMA wires can absorb more impact energy, and show relatively excellent CAI performance. This is because the SMA wires can absorb and transmit the energy to the outer region of GFRP face-sheet due to the super-elasticity-behavior. The failure process and mechanism of the CAI test is also discussed.

In this paper, we manufactured a novel sandwich panel that comprised of the foam core and the hybrid facesheets by vacuum-assisted resin infusion process. In the hybrid facesheets, the reinforcing phases are made of woven glass fabric cloth in company with wire nets, while the matrix is epoxy resin. Four categories of specimens with different wire nets contents are designed. To investigate the impact resistance ability of the designed sandwich panel, low-velocity impact tests are performed with respect to the contact load, absorbed energy, and failure mode. Compression-after-impact test is conducted to determine the residual mechanical properties of the postimpact sandwich panels. Digital image correlation technology is adopted to measure the strain distribution in the panels in compression-after-impact test. Results show that wire nets in the facesheet of the sandwich panel could enhance the energy absorb ability as well as the compression-after-impact strength significantly. Fiber/wire nets breaking, delamination, and foam core cracking are the main damage modes formed in the impact event, while the incident energy is mainly absorbed by wire nets breaking. In compression-after-impact test, bucking and delamination are the main damage modes, and the compressive stability is enhanced by the wire nets.

As a result of the high specific strength/stiffness to mass ratio, filament wound composite pressure vessels are extensively used to contain gas or fluid under pressure. The ability to in-situ monitor the composite pressure vessels for possible damage is important for high-pressure medium storage industries. This paper describes an in-situ monitoring method to permanently monitor composite pressure vessels for their structural integrity. The sensor is made of a multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) that can be embedded in the composite skin of the pressure vessels. The sensing ability of the sensor is firstly evaluated in various mechanical tests, and in-situ monitoring experiments of a full-scale composite pressure vessel during hydraulic fatigue cycling and pressurization are performed. The monitoring results of the MWCNT sensor are compared with the strains measured by the strain gauges. The results show that the measured signal by the developed sensor matches the mechanical behavior of the composite laminates under various load conditions. In the hydraulic fatigue test, the relationship between the resistance and the strain is built, and could be used to quantitative monitor the filament wound pressure vessel. The bursting of the pressure vessel can be detected by the sharp increase of the MWCNT sensor resistance. Embedding the MWCNT sensor into the composite pressure vessel is successfully demonstrated as a promising method for structural health monitoring.