Prevalence and diversity of Clostridium botulinum types A, B, E and F in honey produced in the Nordic countries

A total of 294 honey samples produced in Denmark, Norway and Sweden were studied for the presence of Clostridium botulinum types A, B, E and F by using a multiplex-PCR method. The samples consisted of honeycombs taken directly from beehives, and extracted honey representing several hives or apiaries. The prevalence of C. botulinum showed a significant variation between Denmark, Norway and Sweden, the proportions of positive samples being 26%, 10% and 2%, respectively. The major serotype detected was type B. When analysed with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) using restriction enzyme SacII, the 24 strains isolated produced eight different PFGE patterns. At a similarity level of 95%, four clusters were produced, three of which contained 20 of the 24 analysed strains. One of the clusters included isolates from both Denmark and Norway.     

Blood and milk neutrophil chemiluminescence and viability in primiparous and pluriparous dairy cows during late pregnancy,around parturition and early lactation

Extensive studies have shown the polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) dysfunction inextricably links to parturition. To investigate the effect of parity on PMN function, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) stimulated luminol-amplified chemiluminescence (CL) and viability of blood and milk PMN were investigated in primiparous and pluriparous dairy cows during periparturient period. The CL kinetics of blood and milk PMN and hematological profiles were also assessed. Milk PMN CL was always lower than blood PMN CL. Blood and milk PMN CL and milk PMN viability were significantly higher in primiparous cows throughout the study. Blood PMN CL in pluriparous cows showed a sharper decrease. Both in pluriparous and in primiparous cows, minimal blood PMN CL appeared at periparturient day (PPD) 2. After PPD 7, blood PMN CL recovery rate was faster in primiparous cows. Milk PMN CL was minimal at PPD 2 in both groups. Whereas no changes were observed in blood PMN viability, the viability of milk PMN in primiparous cows was substantially higher than in pluriparous cows. The number of circulating eosinophils and immature neutrophils was substantially higher in primiparous cows throughout the study. The CL kinetics of blood PMN at PPD -2 and 2 and of milk PMN at PPD 2 exhibited different responses to PMA, with higher intensity and durability, peaking and subsiding more slowly in primiparous dairy cows. The pronounced reduction in PMN CL and viability in milk PMN of pluriparous cows may be involved in the underlying mechanisms that make these animals more susceptible to periparturient infectious diseases.     

Error analysis of a Galerkin method to solve the forward problem in MEG using the boundary element method

Sources of brain activity, e.g. epileptic foci, can be localized with Magnetoencephalography (MEG) measurements by recording the magnetic field outside the head. For a successful surgery a very high localization accuracy is needed. The most often used conductor model in the source localization is an analytic sphere, which is not always adequate, and thus a realistically shaped conductor model is needed. In this paper we examine a Galerkin method with linear basis functions to solve the forward problem in MEG using the boundary element method. Its accuracy is compared to the collocation method with constant and linear basis functions. The accuracies are determined for a unit sphere for which analytic solutions are available. The Galerkin method gives a clear improvement in the accuracy of the forward problem especially for the tangential component of the magnetic field. At realistic MEG measurement distances from the brain the Galerkin method reaches a given accuracy with lower computational costs than the collocation methods starting from a few hundreds of unknowns. With larger meshes the difference for the Galerkin method increases significantly.     

Mechanical recycling of nanocellulose containing multilayer packaging films

The aim of this study was to demonstrate mechanical recycling of low density polyethylene (LDPE) films coated with a thin layer of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs). CNF acts as an effective barrier against oxygen and mineral oil residues. Two different CNF grades were tested, and both were applied onto plasma activated LDPE film using a pilot coating line. The coated films were shredded with the help of liquid nitrogen, compacted and compounded with virgin LDPE and compatibilizer, and processed into cast films and injection molded test specimens. The CNF coatings were completely blent as microscale agglomerates in the LDPE matrix. The effect of these agglomerates on the barrier and heat sealing properties was statistically insignificant compared to recycled uncoated LDPE. The mechanical properties were only moderately changed. CNF‐coated LDPE films can therefore be recycled back into films without sacrificing the characteristic properties of the base polymer. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 46237.     

Expression of ion transport-associated proteins in human efferent and epididymal ducts

Appropriate intraluminal microenvironment in the epididymis is essential for maturation of sperm. To clarify whether the anion transporters SLC26A2, SLC26A6, SLC26A7, and SLC26A8 might participate in generating this proper intraluminal milieu, we studied the localization of these proteins in the human efferent and the epididymal ducts by immunohistochemistry. In addition, immunohistochemistry of several SLC26-interacting proteins was performed: the Na(+)/H(+) exchanger 3 (NHE3), the Cl(-) channel cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), the proton pump V-ATPase, their regulator Na(+)/H(+) exchanger regulating factor 1 (NHERF-1), and carbonic anhydrase II (CAII). Our results show that SLC26A6, CFTR, NHE3, and NHERF-1 are co-expressed on the apical side of the nonciliated cells, and SLC26A2 appears in the cilia of the ciliated cells in the human efferent ducts. In the epididymal ducts, SLC26A6, CFTR, NHERF-1, CAII, and V-ATPase (B and E subunits) were co-localized to the apical mitochondria rich cells, while SLC26A7 was expressed in a subgroup of basal cells. SLC26A8 was not found in the structures studied. This is the first study describing the localization of SLC26A2, A6 and A7, and NHERF-1 in the efferent and the epididymal ducts. Immunolocalization of human CFTR, NHE3, CAII, and V-ATPase in these structures differs partly from previous reports from rodents. Our findings suggest roles for these proteins in male fertility, either independently or through interaction and reciprocal regulation with co-localized proteins shown to affect fertility, when disrupted.     

Evaluation of a gas chromatographic method for detection of irradiation of chicken and a chicken meat product

A method was developed for the detection of irradiation of chicken and chicken meat products. The method consists of the extraction of fat from chicken skin or a chicken meat product, separation of hydrocarbons with an alumina column and gas chromatography (GC) and GC-mass spectrometry analyses of the hydrocarbons 16:2, 16:3, 17:1 and 17:2 formed from oleic, linoleic and stearic acids during irradiation. These hydrocarbons were only detected in irradiated samples at doses of 5 and 10 kGy. The mean concentrations of the hydrocarbons were linearly related to the dose levels of irradiation in the case of chicken fat. The concentrations of two of the hydrocarbons (16:2 and 17:1) gave the best correlation with dose. When a dose of 10 kGy was used, the concentrations of major degradation products were 1.5-5.0 mg/kg fat. The same relationship was not found in the case of chicken meat products because the amounts of hydrocarbons detected after irradiation with the same doses were similar. On the basis of this study it was clearly demonstrated that it is possible to judge analytically whether or not a chicken sample or a chicken meat product has been irradiated at doses of 5 or 10 kGy. It should also be possible to recognise samples irradiated with doses below 5 kGy.     

X-ray characterization of starch-based solid foams

Wide- and small-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS and SAXS) and X-ray microtomography were used to study the structure of brittle, solid foams made by extrusion of whole grain barley flour and additional whey protein isolate (WPI) and polydextrose (PD). The structure of the extrudates was described in a coarse way from nano- to microscale, and the effects of additives were discussed. The additives were observed to affect the structure in many scales, for instance, by inducing differences in the crystal structure of starch and in the microscale pore structure observed with both SAXS and X-ray microtomography. The most significant effects were introduced by WPI, but these were highly reduced in the presence of PD. Differences were also seen in lamellar structures of starch, which were probably formed due to retrogradation and observed with SAXS in powder samples soaked in water before the measurements.     

Influence of microstructure and chemical composition of sputter deposited TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> thin films on in vitro bioactivity

Functionalisation of biomedical implants via surface modifications for tailored tissue response is a growing field of research. Crystalline TiO₂ has been proven to be a bone bioactive, non-resorbable material. In contact with body fluids a hydroxyapaptite (HA) layer forms on its surface facilitating the bone contact. Thus, the path of improving biomedical implants via deposition of crystalline TiO₂ on the surface is interesting to follow. In this study we have evaluated the influence of microstructure and chemical composition of sputter deposited titanium oxide thin films on the in vitro bioactivity. We find that both substrate bias, topography and the flow ratio of the gases used during sputtering affect the HA layer formed on the films after immersion in simulated body fluid at 37°C. A random distribution of anatase and rutile crystals, formed at negative substrate bias and low Ar to O₂ gas flow ratios, are shown to favor the growth of flat HA crystal structures whereas higher flow ratios and positive substrate bias induced growth of more spherical HA structures. These findings should provide valuable information when optimizing the bioactivity of titanium oxide coatings as well as for tailoring process parameters for sputtered-based production of bioactive titanium oxide implant surfaces.     

A single line linearly polarized source for Mössbauer spectroscopy

A single line source of linearly polarized radiation in a conventional Mössbauer setup working at room temperature with ⁵⁷Co in Cr matrix was constructed. The ordered Fe₃Si was used as a filter. The estimated degree of polarization of the source depends on the preparation and thickness of the polarizer. The best polarization degree (92 ± 8)% was achieved. The measurements with polarized radiation lead to significant simplification of the complex spectra and allow to study components arising from various polarizations separately. In particular, it is possible to extract Δm = (1, −1) and Δm = 0 transitions by use of a linearly polarized beam. Moreover polarized beam can be used for determination of texture parameters related to spatial arrangements of spins in the plane perpendicular to the radiation beam. Such parameters are not easily measurable by other methods. The Mössbauer spectra of invar Fe₆₅Ni₃₅ measured by monochromatic linearly polarized radiation are shown as an example.