Novel Silver-Functionalized Poly(ε-Caprolactone)/Biphasic Calcium Phosphate Scaffolds Designed to Counteract Post-Surgical Infections in Orthopedic Applications

In this study, we designed and developed novel poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)-based biomaterials, for use as bone scaffolds, through modification with both biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP), to impart bioactive/bioresorbable properties, and with silver nitrate, to provide antibacterial protection against Staphylococcus aureus, a microorganism involved in prosthetic joint infections (PJIs). Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) showed that the samples were characterized by square-shaped macropores, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis confirmed the presence of PCL and BCP phases, while inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP–MS) established the release of Ag⁺ in the medium (~0.15–0.8 wt% of initial Ag content). Adhesion assays revealed a significant (p < 0.0001) reduction in both adherent and planktonic staphylococci on the Ag-functionalized biomaterials, and the presence of an inhibition halo confirmed Ag release from enriched samples. To assess the potential outcome in promoting bone integration, preliminary tests on sarcoma osteogenic-2 (Saos-2) cells indicated PCL and BCP/PCL biocompatibility, but a reduction in viability was observed for Ag-added biomaterials. Due to their combined biodegrading and antimicrobial properties, the silver-enriched BCP/PCL-based scaffolds showed good potential for engineering of bone tissue and for reducing PJIs as a microbial anti-adhesive tool used in the delivery of targeted antimicrobial molecules, even if the amount of silver needs to be tuned to improve osteointegration.     

Effects of dietary protein level on ewe milk yield and nitrogen utilization, and on air quality under different ventilation rates

The experiment, which lasted 53 d, was conducted during the winter (February and March) of 2004 and used 48 Comisana ewes in mid lactation. A 2 x 2 factorial design was used, with ewes receiving two levels of dietary crude protein (CP) (moderate, 16% CP v. low, 13% CP) in the dry matter (DM) and being exposed to two ventilation rates (moderate, 47 m3/h v. low, 23.5 m3/h per ewe) for each dietary treatment. Air concentrations of NH3 and of microorganisms were measured twice weekly. Milk yield was recorded daily. Individual milk samples were analysed weekly for composition and fortnightly for bacteriological characteristics. After the last milk sampling (day 49 of the study period), four animals from each group were placed in a metabolism box and their individual faeces and urine were collected for three consecutive days. Amounts of urine and faeces excreted, and urinary and faecal N outputs were measured. The 16% CP diet resulted in a lower milk casein content and a higher milk urea concentration than the 13% CP diet, as well as in a reduced gross efficiency of utilization of dietary N, a greater amount of N excreted and a higher total coliform concentration in milk. The moderate ventilation rate resulted in higher yields of milk, irrespective of CP content. Significant interactions of CP level x ventilation rate were found for the amounts of urine, of total water and of faecal N, and for mesophilic concentration in milk, the highest values being displayed by the ewes fed the 16% CP diet and exposed to the low ventilation rate. The moderate dietary CP level and low ventilation rate had a deleterious effect on air concentrations of microorganisms and ammonia. Results suggested that a reduction of dietary CP level from 16 to 13% of DM had no detrimental effect on ewe milk yield in mid lactation and could even improve some of its nutritional and hygienic characteristics. Our findings also indicate that the choice of a proper ventilation rate is critical for high efficiency of production in the lactating ewe, especially in intensively managed flocks receiving diets high in CP.     

Are Biometric Parameters Helpful to Assess the Health Risk of Consuming Organochlorine Compounds Contaminated Silver European Eel (Anguilla anguilla)?

Several organochlorine compounds (OCs) were measured in European eels from the Tevere river (Italy). It followed that some of them are still important chemical contaminants. Concentrations of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) are hazardous for the consumer health; those of the 6 indicator polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are often close to the current European maximum residue limit and always higher than the former limit. The relationship between OC concentrations, biometric parameters and the lipid content was then investigated. A strong positive correlation with eel size emerged for the indicator PCBs and DDTs concentrations expressed on wet weight basis. This is explained by the corresponding higher lipid percentage that characterizes bigger eels and the absence of a dilution effect for compounds of main concerns. On the basis of the PCB‐TDI threshold for a 70 kg person, we suggest that 1 should consume no more than 2 eels per week each weighing about 100 g. Thus, we conclude that eel consumption should be limited and restricted to eels relatively shorter and lighter.     

Thermal Treatments for Fruit and Vegetable Juices and Beverages: A Literature Overview

Fruit and vegetable juices and beverages are generally preserved by thermal processing, currently being the most cost‐effective means ensuring microbial safety and enzyme deactivation. However, thermal treatments may induce several chemical and physical changes that impair the organoleptic properties and may reduce the content or bioavailability of some nutrients; in most cases, these effects are strongly dependent on the food matrix. Moreover, the efficacy of treatments can also be affected by the complexity of the product and microorganisms. This review covers researches on this topic, with a particular emphasis on products derived from different botanical sources. Technologies presented include conventional and alternative thermal treatments. Advances toward hurdle‐based technology approaches have been also reviewed.     

Age-related changes in the avian primary lymphoid organs (thymus and bursa of Fabricius)

The avian primary lymphoid organs, the thymus and the bursa of Fabricius, undergo age-dependent changes leading in some cases to the complete atrophy of the organ. Nevertheless, the timetable of the involutive process as well as the consequences in the structure and functionality of the organs vary largely in the time frame and structural changes among species. On the other hand, and in contrast with the large body of literature reporting the structural and functional changes in mammalian primary lymphoid organs, the age-dependent changes in avian thymus and bursa of Fabricius are scarce, fragmentary, and heterogeneous. This article reviews the current literature on this topic, and focuses primarily on the involution of the bursa of Fabricius.     

Emergent functionality among intelligent systems: Cooperation within and without minds

In this paper, the current AI view that emergent functionalities apply only to the study of subcognitive agents is questioned; a hypercognitive view of autonomous agents as proposed in some AI subareas is also rejected. As an alternative view, a unified theory of social interaction is proposed which allows for the consideration of both cognitive and extracognitive social relations. A notion of functional effect is proposed, and the application of a formal model of cooperation is illustrated. Functional cooperation shows the role of extracognitive phenomena in the interaction of intelligent agents, thus representing a typical example of emergent functionality.     

Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi OspA in Ixodes scapularis larvae by an antigen-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

We have shown that activated partial thromboplastin time values in children are considerably longer than in adults, but the causes for this observation remained unclear. Therefore, we investigated the correlation between activated partial thromboplastin time values and concentrations of clotting factors, quotients and titers of the tissue thromboplastin inhibition test, and antiphospholipid antibodies in healthy children, children with recurrent infections, and adults. Concentrations of factors VIII, IX, and HMWK were significantly lower in children than in adults. Simple linear regression analysis failed to show a correlation between the concentration of a single clotting factor and the activated partial thromboplastin time values. No significant correlation was found between activated partial thromboplastin time and elevation of the tissue thromboplastin inhibition test quotients or titers, or antiphospholipid antibodies values. The determined activated partial thromboplastin time was best described by a function including all measured coagulation factors. Our study suggests, that no single clotting factor or lupus anticoagulants are responsible for the longer activated partial thromboplastin time in healthy children, but that activated partial thromboplastin prolongation is caused by the combination of several slightly lower clotting factors.     

Aripiprazole: Effectiveness and safety under naturalistic conditions.

A retrospective study was conducted to examine aripiprazole's effectiveness and safety in a naturalistic treatment setting in both inpatients and outpatients affected by schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. All patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective and delusional disorders, and schizoid and schizotypal personality disorders treated with aripiprazole from March 1, 2005, to March 1, 2006, in the authors' community mental health service were divided into outpatient (n=26) and inpatient (n=17) groups; the average treatment periods were 204 days and 25 days, respectively. Effectiveness was evaluated by improvement of symptoms (a 25% reduction of Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale [BPRS] score from baseline) and functioning level (a 50% increase of Global Assessment of Functioning [GAF] scale score from baseline), as well as dropout rate. Adverse effects and their impact on treatment course were also evaluated. The final scores of the 2 scales showed a statistically significant difference from baseline (BPRS: p     

Unveiling the Dynamical Assembly of Magnetic Nanocrystal Zig‐Zag Chains via In Situ TEM Imaging in Liquid

The controlled assembly of colloidal magnetic nanocrystals is key to many applications such as nanoelectronics, storage memory devices, and nanomedicine. Here, the motion and ordering of ferrimagnetic nanocubes in water via liquid‐cell transmission electron microscopy is directly imaged in situ. Through the experimental analysis, combined with molecular dynamics simulations and theoretical considerations, it is shown that the presence of highly competitive interactions leads to the formation of stable monomers and dimers, acting as nuclei, followed by a dynamic growth of zig‐zag chain‐like assemblies. It is demonstrated that such arrays can be explained by first, a maximization of short‐range electrostatic interactions, which at a later stage become surpassed by magnetic forces acting through the easy magnetic axes of the nanocubes, causing their tilted orientation within the arrays. Moreover, in the confined volume of liquid in the experiments, interactions of the nanocube surfaces with the cell membranes, when irradiated at relatively low electron dose, slow down the kinetics of their self‐assembly, facilitating the identification of different stages in the process. The study provides crucial insights for the formation of unconventional linear arrays made of ferrimagnetic nanocubes that are essential for their further exploitation in, for example, magnetic hyperthermia, magneto‐transport devices, and nanotheranostic tools.