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We report on the elastocaloric effect of a superelastic Ni-Ti wire to be used in a cooling device. Initially, each evaluated wire was subjected to 400 loading/unloading training cycles in order to stabilize its superelastic behavior. The wires were trained at different temperatures, which lead to different stabilized superelastic behaviors. The stabilized (trained) wires were further tested isothermally (at low strain-rate) and adiabatically (at high strain-rate) at different temperatures (from 312 K to 342 K). We studied the impact of the training temperature and resulting superelastic behavior on the adiabatic temperature changes. The largest measured adiabatic temperature change during loading was 25 K with a corresponding 21 K change during unloading (at 322 K). A special focus was put on the irreversibilities in the adiabatic temperature changes between loading and unloading. It was shown that there are two sources of the temperature irreversibilities: the hysteresis (and related entropy generation) and the temporary residual strain immediately after unloading, respectively. The latter results in the temporary bending of the wire and reduced negative adiabatic temperature change. The paper also shows the impact of the applied strain on the adiabatic temperature changes as well as the distribution of the elastocaloric effect over the wire during loading in the case of two wires trained at different temperatures and the virgin wire, respectively. In the end, we propose guidelines about the required material properties for an efficient elastocaloric cooling device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The probiotic medicinal product TSO (Trichuris suis ova) is administered to patients with active ulcerative colitis in an ongoing clinical phase IIb trial where the typical co-medications are steroids (prednisolone or budesonide) and antibiotics (e.g., phenoxymethylpenicillin). The present pre-clinical study evaluates the effects of these co-medications on the biological activity of TSO in Göttingen Minipigs. This translationally relevant pre-clinical model allows administration of TSO with and without oral steroids or antibiotics in a manner similar to the administration to patients, followed by quantification of the biological activity of TSO. The biological activity of TSO was not affected by oral steroids but was reduced by oral antibiotics. Fecal calprotectin, the common marker of intestinal inflammation in patients with UC, did not differ between groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carlos Suárez,1,2 Fernando López,1– 3 William M Mendenhall,4 Simon Andreasen5– 7†, Lauge Hjorth Mikkelsen,7 Johannes A Langendijk,8 Stefano Bondi,9 Juan P Rodrigo,1– 3 Leif Bäck,10 Antti A Mäkitie,10– 12 Verónica Fernández-Alvarez,13 Andrés Coca-Pelaz,1– 3 Robert Smee,14 Alessandra Rinaldo,15 Alfio Ferlito16 1Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias and CIBERONC, ISCIII, Oviedo, Spain; 2Instituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias, Universidad of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain; 3Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain; 4Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA; 5Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery and Audiology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; 6Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery, Zealand University Hospital, Køge, Denmark; 7Department of Pathology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark; 8Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands; 9Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, San Raffaele Hospital, Vita-Salute University, Milan, Italy; 10Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland; 11Research Program in Systems Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; 12Division of Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases, Department of Clinical Sciences, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; 13Vascular Surgery Department, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain; 14Department of Radiation Oncology, The Prince of Wales Cancer Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia; 15University of Udine School of Medicine, Udine, Italy; 16International Head and Neck Scientific Group, Padua, Italy†Simon Andreasen passed away on February 28, 2020Correspondence: Carlos SuárezInstituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias and CIBERONC, ISCIII, Avenida de Roma s/n, Oviedo 33011, SpainEmail csuareznieto@gmail.comFernando LópezDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Avenida de Roma s/n, Oviedo 33011, SpainEmail flopez_1981@yahoo.esAbstract: The aim of this review is to analyze the latest trends in the management of non-vestibular skull base and intracranial schwannomas in order to optimize tumor control and quality of life. Non-vestibular cranial nerve schwannomas are rare lesions, representing 5– 10% of cranial nerve schwannomas. Management decisions should be individualized depending on tumor size, location and associated functional deficits. Generally, large sized schwannomas exerting significant mass effect with increased intracranial pressure are treated surgically. In some cases, even after optimal skull base resection, it is not possible to achieve a gross total resection because tumor location and extent and/or to reduce morbidity. Thus, subtotal resection followed by stereotactic radiosurgery or fractioned radiotherapy offers an alternative approach. In certain cases, stereotactic radiosurgery or radiotherapy alone achieves good tumor control rates and less morbidity to gross total resection. Finally, given the slow growth rate of most of these tumors, observation with periodic radiographic follow-up approach is also a reasonable alternative for small tumors with few, if any, symptoms.Keywords: schwannoma, head and neck, cranial nerves, non-vestibular, skull base

In a fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) structure designed using the emerging damage tolerance and structural health monitoring philosophy, sensors and models that describe crack propagation will enable a structure to operate despite the presence of damage by fully exploiting the material’s mechanical properties. When applying this concept to different structures, sensor systems and damage types, a combination of damage mechanics, monitoring technology, and modelling is required. The primary objective of this article is to demonstrate such a combination. This article is divided in three main topics: the damage mechanism (delamination of FRP), the structural health monitoring technology (fibre Bragg gratings to detect delamination), and the finite element method model of the structure that incorporates these concepts into a final and integrated damage-monitoring concept. A novel method for assessing a crack growth/damage event in fibre-reinforced polymer or structural adhesive-bonded structures using embedded fibre Bragg grating (FBG) sensors is presented by combining conventional measured parameters, such as wavelength shift, with parameters associated with measurement errors, typically ignored by the end-user. Conjointly, a novel model for sensor output prediction (virtual sensor) was developed using this FBG sensor crack monitoring concept and implemented in a finite element method code. The monitoring method was demonstrated and validated using glass fibre double cantilever beam specimens instrumented with an array of FBG sensors embedded in the material and tested using an experimental fracture procedure. The digital image correlation technique was used to validate the model prediction by correlating the specific sensor response caused by the crack with the developed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of two different water-soluble carbohydrate extracts (renga renga lily extract and Acacia extract), and two commercially available prebiotic compounds, Fibregum and Raftifeed-IPE, on the performance of broiler chickens subjected to a necrotic enteritis (NE) challenge model. These treatments were compared with negative control and a positive (Zn-bacitracin) control treatments. An overall 8.8% NE-related mortality was recorded, with mean jejunal and ileal lesion scores in dead birds ranging from 3.03 to 3.90 in all challenged groups except the positive control groups. NE-specific deaths or clinical abnormalities were not observed with unchallenged control and positive control groups. At 7 days post-challenge, the concentration of specific IgY antibodies against the α-toxin of Clostridium perfringens in the serum was lower (P < 0.05) in birds fed the positive control and Fibregum-supplemented diets than in the negative control group. However, birds fed Fibregum had increased (P < 0.05) IgM concentration compared with those fed Acacia extract and lily extract. The Fibregum-fed group also had higher (P < 0.05) IgA concentrations in serum than did the positive-control and lily extract-supplemented groups at 14 days but this effect did not persist to 21 days. The results from the present study demonstrated that supplementation with water-soluble carbohydrates from two plant sources was not effective in controlling NE. However, the prebiotic compound Fibregum was found to be having some immunomodulatory effects. Addition of Zn-bacitracin and monensin was highly effective in counteracting the negative effects of the disease challenge. The continued use of antibiotics in poultry diets poses a health risk to the birds and humans, as bacteria develop resistance to such products. This study was aimed at identifying natural alternatives to antibiotics to control intestinal disorders in poultry. None of the test products was as efficient as an antibiotic but they showed some antibiotic qualities to different degrees and are worthy of further testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of the key cereal grains and a microbial enzyme supplement on broiler chicken performance, gut microflora and intestinal function. Ingestion of the barley-based diet was associated with low 28-day body weight, decreased feed intake and high FCR. The supplemental enzyme increased feed intake and weight gain of the chickens on a wheat-based diet. The pH of the gizzard and caecal contents varied with the grain type. Enzyme supplementation reduced ileal viscosity, particularly in birds that received the diet based on wheat. The birds on the barley-based diet had lower ileal digestibility of dry matter, protein and energy than those given maize and sorghum-based diets. The ileal digestibility of starch was increased by enzyme supplementation. Enzyme supplementation increased the number of total anaerobic bacteria in the gizzard of birds fed on sorghum and increased lactobacilli in the gizzard of those fed both sorghum and wheat. The birds fed the sorghum-based diet had the lowest counts of caecal total anaerobic bacteria and lactobacilli. Jejunal villus height and villus:crypt ratio of birds fed the barley-based diet were the lowest when compared with those fed the other diets. Enzyme application induced an increase in villus height and villus:crypt ratio of birds on wheat, crypt depth on barley and a reduction in crypt depth of chickens on the sorghum-based diets. The highest activity of maltase and the lowest activity of sucrase were observed in tissue from birds fed on maize and sorghum-based diets respectively. The differences in the performance of broilers on cereal grains could be explained by changes in intestinal morphology, enzyme activities and gut microflora as well as nutrient digestibility. The improved performance by supplemental enzyme in wheat-fed chickens was associated with beneficial changes in intestinal morphology and digesta viscosity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in mice, multiple blood samples need to be taken within a few hours from conscious mice. Today, a number of essential parameters may be analysed on very small amounts of plasma, thus reducing the number of animals to be used. It is, however, crucial to obtain high-quality plasma or serum in order to avoid increased data variation and thereby increased group sizes. The aim of this study was to find the most valid and reproducible method for withdrawal of blood samples when performing OGTT. Four methods, i.e. amputation of the tail tip, lateral tail incision, puncture of the tail tip and periorbital puncture, were selected for testing at 21°C and 30°C after a pilot study. For each method, four blood samples were drawn from C57BL/6 mice at 30 min intervals. The presence of clots was registered, haemolysis was monitored spectrophotometrically at 430 nm, and it was noted whether it was possible to achieve 30-50 μL blood. Furthermore, a small amount of extra blood was sampled before and after the four samplings for testing of whether the sampling induced a blood glucose change over the 90 min test period. All methods resulted in acceptable amounts of plasma. Clots were observed in a sparse number of samples with no significant differences between the methods. Periorbital puncture did not lead to any haemolysed samples at all, and lateral tail incision resulted in only a few haemolysed samples, while puncture or amputation of the tail tip induced haemolysis in a significant number of samples. All methods, except for puncture of the tail tip, influenced blood glucose. Periorbital puncture resulted in a dramatic increase in blood glucose of up to 3.5 mmol/L indicating that it is stressful. Although lateral tail incision also had some impact on blood glucose, it seems to be the method of choice for OGTT, as it is likely to produce a clot-free non-haemolysed sample, while periorbital sampling, although producing a high quality of sample, induces such a dramatic change in blood glucose that it should not be applied for OGTT in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of mannanoligosaccharide (MOS) on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility and gut development of broilers given a corn or a wheat-based diet over a 21-day experimental period. Dietary MOS improved the growth performance of birds given the wheat-based diet compared to that of birds given the corn-based diet during 7–21 days of age. In line with this, the ileal digestibility of starch was increased by MOS at 21 days of age. The addition of MOS modulated the development of gut microflora. From day 7 to day 21, the numbers of mucosa-associated coliforms along the small intestine were decreased; whereas the numbers of mucosa-associated lactobacilli were increased by MOS, regardless of the cereal type in the diets. Dietary MOS also reduced the counts of coliforms and Clostridium perfringens in the caeca of birds by 21 days of age. Villus height at the jejunum was not affected by MOS but the crypt depth and the muscularis thickness were reduced. The specific activities of maltase and alkaline phosphatase were increased in birds given the MOS-supplemented diet; whereas the development of leucine aminopeptidase was delayed by MOS. All these changes in the mucosal morphology and function were dependent on the type of cereal and/or the age of the birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Single layer dense films of La0.8Sr0.2Cr0.97V0.03O3 (LSC) and MnCr2O4 with a thickness of 500 nm were deposited on a commercially available ferritic alloy (Crofer 22APU) by large-area Pulsed Laser Deposition. The deposited samples were subsequently oxidized at 1173 K for 500 h in humidified air. The effects of the deposited thin films on the growth rate and the morphology of the oxide were investigated by weight gain measurements as well as by scanning electron microscopy. The growth of the oxide scales was reduced by both coatings, and most effectively by the LSC coating. The overall oxidation resistance and oxidation growth mechanism of the coated samples are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: La0.8Sr0.2Cr0.97V0.03O3− δ (LSC) is commonly studied as a ceramic interconnect material as well as a coating material for metallic interconnects for solid oxide fuel cell applications. However, it is difficult to sinter this type of material to high density. In order to overcome this problem and to study the material in form of a thin film we have used Pulsed Laser Deposition to obtain a dense, uniform film with the right stochiometry. Investigation of preparation-parameter dependence of the LSC films deposited on a stainless steel substrate during pulsed-laser deposition was carried out. The LSC films were deposited with KrF excimer laser (248 nm) on a stainless steel substrate at different oxygen pressure and substrate temperatures. The substrate temperature (873–1073 K) and the oxygen background pressure (5–20 Pa) were varied in order to obtain optimal growth conditions. The surface morphology and structural information of the films were obtained using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction, respectively. Under the optimal preparation-parameter conditions: substrate temperature of 1023 K and an oxygen pressure of 10 Pa the structure of the film agreed with the target structure and the SEM micrographs show that the surfaces are homogeneous, smooth, crack-free and dense. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A 2 × 2 factorial experiment with pigs was undertaken to investigate the effect of particle size (fine and coarse) and feed processing (pelleted and non- pelleted) on morphological characteristics in the small intestine, cecum, and colon of pigs and on the adhesion of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium DT12 to the ileum in vitro. Ninety-six pigs (average BW = 33 ± 7 kg) were fed the experimental diets. After 4 wk, 24 pigs were selected (six pigs per diet) and euthanized, and tissue samples were taken from the mid and distal small intestine, cecum, and distal colon. The effects of particle size and feed processing on villus height and crypt depth in the small intestine were minor. Feeding coarse diets increased (P = 0.05) the crypt depth in the colon. The crypt depth was 420 ± 12 and 449 ± 12 μm in pigs fed finely and coarsely ground feed, respectively. Pigs fed pelleted diets had a larger (P = 0.01) staining area for neutral mucins, as well as for acidic and sulfomucins on the villi of the distal small intestine than pigs fed nonpelleted diets. The area was 41,46, and 33% larger for neutral, acidic, and sulfomucins, respectively. The mucin- staining areas of the crypts in the cecum and the colon were hot affected by the experimental diets. Examination of lectin binding characteristics of the distal small intestine and the cecum did not reveal any differences between the experimental diets. Using a pig intestine organ culture model, Salmonella adhered less (P < 0.05) to the ileal tissue of pigs fed the nonpelleted diets than to those fed pelleted diets; the adherence was 60% less in these pigs. Results of this study suggest that pigs fed pelleted diets secrete mucins that are capable of binding Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium DT12 and thereby allowing for colonization. Therefore, pigs fed a nonpelleted diet are better protected against Salmonella infections than pigs fed a pelleted diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxide microstructure and oxidation kinetics of the alloy Fe0.78Cr0.22 were examined at 1173 K in air and in 7% H2/93% Ar, both containing 1 or 12% water vapour. Oxide whiskers and ridges were observed on the chromia scales grown under reducing conditions, while they were absent from the chromia scales grown in air. This difference is caused by vaporization of chromium species from the scale grown in air. The growth mechanism of whiskers is discussed. The chromia scales were found to adhere much better to the alloy when grown in hydrogen/argon than in air. This is probably caused by a scavenge of impurities under reducing conditions. The growth rate of the scales is independent of the oxygen activity, which is explained by an interstitial growth mechanism of the chromia scales. The growth rate decreases with increasing water content in air. This is caused by a simultaneous vaporization of chromium species from the scale during the growth. In contrast to steady-state growth of chromia scales, the breakaway oxidation is highly affected by the oxygen activity in the reaction atmosphere. A low oxygen activity can protect the alloy from the catastrophic oxidation behaviour observed at larger oxygen activities. Tuning of oxygen activity may be useful for long-term oxidation of Fe–Cr alloys under reducing conditions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The oxygen transport in La1−xSrxFe1−yMnyO3−δ (LSFM) with 0≤x≤0.5 and y=0.2 and 0.3 has been examined with a thermogravimetric method. As long as x≤y, the oxygen transport was found to be very slow while the oxygen transport increased several orders of magnitude when x>y. For two compositions—La0.5Sr0.5Fe0.7Mn0.3O3−δ (I) and La0.6Sr0.4Fe0.8Mn0.2O3−δ (II)—oxygen chemical diffusion coefficients were determined and found to increase from 1.5×10−5 to 5.6×10−5 cm2 s−1 for composition (I) and from 1.4×10−6 to 1.4×10−4 cm2 s−1 for composition (II) in the temperature range 750–1000 °C. The activation energy for the oxygen chemical diffusion was found to be 66 kJ mol−1 for La0.5Sr0.5Fe0.7Mn0.3O3−δ and 136 kJ mol−1 for La0.6Sr0.4Fe0.8Mn0.2O3−δ. The oxygen surface exchange constants were found to vary between 2.5×10−4 and 1.8×10−2 cm s−1. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The fraction of extractable extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and the shear sensitivity (kSS) are key parameters with respect to sludge dewatering, affecting the dry matter content of dewatered sludge and the dewatering rate and conditioner demand, respectively. Methods are described for determination of the two key parameters by use of the same laboratory test reactor. The implications of such characterisation with respect to dewatering are discussed based on examples of application to sludge processing and novel process development for sludge minimisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most characteristic traits that distinguish Abiotrophia strains from other streptococci are nutrient requirements, satellitism and pyrrolidonyl arylamidase activity. The presence of Abiotrophia strains was studied in early dental plaque formed on sucrose-containing and sucrose-free (glucose-containing) diets. The isolates were from 0- to 3-day dental plaque formed on the buccal surface of a lower premolar in six subjects. Identification of Abiotrophia strains was based on their pyrrolidonyl arylamidase activity. They were among the predominant cultivable microorganisms isolated from diluted suspensions of early dental plaque formed on both diets. Using biochemical tests without testing for pyrrolidonyl arylamidase activity, the Abiotrophia strains would be biochemically identified as Streptococcus mitis or unidentified streptococci, and many isolates first classified as unidentified streptococci were Abiotrophia strains. Generally, identifications using partial 16S rRNA sequences confirmed the identifications obtained biochemically. However, Abiotrophia elegans and Gemella strains were biochemically identified as Abiotrophia adiacens. Abiotrophia strains produce hydrogen sulfide, which may influence the metabolism and ecology of dental plaque and act as a virulence factor in periodontal disease. They are not able to grow on tryptic soy agar. In the present study, some S. mitis strains were not able to grow on mitis salivarius agar, and some Abiotrophia... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background There is growing evidence that exposure to small size particulate matter increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Methods We investigated plaque progression and vasodilatory function in apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE-/-) mice exposed to TiO2. ApoE-/- mice were intratracheally instilled (0.5 mg/kg bodyweight) with rutile fine TiO2 (fTiO2, 288 nm), photocatalytic 92/8 anatase/rutile TiO2 (pTiO2, 12 nm), or rutile nano TiO2 (nTiO2, 21.6 nm) at 26 and 2 hours before measurement of vasodilatory function in aorta segments mounted in myographs. The progression of atherosclerotic plaques in aorta was assessed in mice exposed to nanosized TiO2 (0.5 mg/kg bodyweight) once a week for 4 weeks. We measured mRNA levels of Mcp-1, Mip-2, Vcam-1, Icam-1 and Vegf in lung tissue to assess pulmonary inflammation and vascular function. TiO2-induced alterations in nitric oxide (NO) production were assessed in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Results The exposure to nTiO2 was associated with a modest increase in plaque progression in aorta, whereas there were unaltered vasodilatory function and expression levels of Mcp-1, Mip-2, Vcam-1, Icam-1 and Vegf in lung tissue. The ApoE-/- mice exposed to fine and photocatalytic TiO2 had unaltered vasodilatory function and lung tissue inflammatory gene expression. The unaltered NO-dependent vasodilatory function was supported by observations in HUVECs where the NO production was only increased by exposure to nTiO2. Conclusion Repeated exposure to nanosized TiO2 particles was associated with modest plaque progression in ApoE-/- mice. There were no associations between the pulmonary TiO2 exposure and inflammation or vasodilatory dysfunction.