The effects of Campylobacter numbers in caeca on the contamination of broiler carcasses with Campylobacter

For the presence and number of Campylobacter, 18 broiler flocks were sampled over a period of 18 months. A total of 70% of the flocks were positive for Campylobacter, with higher prevalence found in summer and autumn, compared to winter and spring. Positive flocks showed contamination rates above 90%, in negative flocks this was lower, mostly below 50%. The enumeration showed a decrease in Campylobacter during processing of positive flocks. The numbers were highest in carcasses after scalding/defeathering (mean 5.9 log(10) cfu/carcass) and dropped by 0.7 log(10) cfu/carcass after chilling. A positive correlation was observed between the number of Campylobacter present in the caeca and the number of bacteria present on carcasses and cut products. When a negative flock was slaughtered after Campylobacter positive flocks, the number of positive samples was higher compared to the case when a negative flock had been slaughtered previously. C. jejuni was isolated from 73.6% of the poultry samples.     

Microbiological quality of sushi from sushi bars and retailers

Sushi is a traditional Japanese food, mostly consisting of rice and raw fish. Fish is considered a healthy food, but as with other animal products, consumption of raw muscle incurs potential health risks such as ingestion of pathogenic bacteria or parasites. In this study, 250 sushi samples were analyzed for their microbiological status and the prevalence of pathogenic bacteria. A comparison was made between frozen sushi from supermarkets and fresh sushi from sushi bars. Aerobic mesophilic bacteria counts differed for sushi from these two sources, with means of 2.7 log CFU/g for frozen sushi and 6.3 log CFU/g for fresh sushi. The prevalence of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was higher in the fresh samples. Salmonella was found in four (1.6%) of the sushi samples, and Listeria monocytogenes was found in three (1.2%) of the samples. These results indicate that the microbiological quality of industrially processed sushi is higher than that of freshly prepared sushi. The quality of freshly prepared sushi strongly depends on the skills and habits of the preparation cooks, which may vary.     

Nanoscale patterning of metal nanoparticle distribution in glasses

We show that electric field imprinting technique allows for patterning of metal nanoparticles in the glass matrix at the subwavelength scale. The formation of glass-metal nanocomposite strips with a width down to 150 nm is demonstrated. The results of near-field microscopy of imprinted patterns are in good agreement with the performed numerical modeling. Atomic force microscopy reveals that imprinting also results in the formation of nanoscale surface profile with the height going down with the decrease of the strip width. The experiments prove the applicability of this technique for the fabrication of nanoscale plasmonic components.     

Comparative study of different numerical models of packed bed thermal energy storage systems

This paper presents, compares and validates two different mathematical models of packed bed storage with PCM, more specifically the heat transfer during charge of the PCM. The first numerical model is a continuous model based on the Brinkman equation and the second numerical model treats the PCM capsules as individual particles (energy equation model). Using the Brinkman model the flow field inside the porous media and the heat transfer mechanisms present in the packed bed systems can be described. On the other hand, using the energy equation model the temperature gradient inside the PCM capsules can be analysed. Both models are validated with experimental data generated by the authors. The experimental set up consists mainly of a cylindrical storage tank with a capacity of 3.73 L full of spherically encapsulated PCM. The PCM used has a storage capacity of 175 kJ/kg between ?2–13 °C. The results from the energy equation model show a basic understanding of cold charging. Moreover, three different Nu correlations found in the literature were analysed and compared. All of them showed the same temperature profile of the PCM capsules; hence any of them could be used in future models. The comparison between both mathematical models indicated that free convection is not as important as forced convection in the studied case.     

Lack of WWC2 Protein Leads to Aberrant Angiogenesis in Postnatal Mice

The WWC protein family is an upstream regulator of the Hippo signalling pathway that is involved in many cellular processes. We examined the effect of an endothelium-specific WWC1 and/or WWC2 knock-out on ocular angiogenesis. Knock-outs were induced in C57BL/6 mice at the age of one day (P1) and evaluated at P6 (postnatal mice) or induced at the age of five weeks and evaluated at three months of age (adult mice). We analysed morphology of retinal vasculature in retinal flat mounts. In addition, in vivo imaging and functional testing by electroretinography were performed in adult mice. Adult WWC1/2 double knock-out mice differed neither functionally nor morphologically from the control group. In contrast, the retinas of the postnatal WWC knock-out mice showed a hyperproliferative phenotype with significantly enlarged areas of sprouting angiogenesis and a higher number of tip cells. The branching and end points in the peripheral plexus were significantly increased compared to the control group. The deletion of the WWC2 gene was decisive for these effects; while knocking out WWC1 showed no significant differences. The results hint strongly that WWC2 is an essential regulator of ocular angiogenesis in mice. As an activator of the Hippo signalling pathway, it prevents excessive proliferation during physiological angiogenesis. In adult animals, WWC proteins do not seem to be important for the maintenance of the mature vascular plexus.     

Enhanced miscibility and strain resistance of blended elastomer/π‐conjugated polymer composites through side chain functionalization towards stretchable electronics

This work presents improved compatibility in an elastomer/π‐conjugated polymer blend through side chain functionalization of the electronic polymer. Poly[(3‐(6‐bromohexyl)thiophene)‐ran‐(3‐hexylthiophene)] (P3Br_xHT, x = 0%–100%) was synthesized (i) to improve miscibility with polybutadiene (PB) elastomer through altered π–π interactions and (ii) to covalently bond across phase‐segregated interfaces. Functionalization led to morphology with reduced domain sizes to improve crack onset strain from 7% to 40%. Furthermore, UV‐activated crosslinking reinforced mechanically weak interfaces and yielded at least an additional 40% increase in crack onset strain. Charge mobility in PB/P3Br_xHT organic field‐effect transistors showed minimal dependence on bromide concentration and no negative effects from crosslinking. Functionalization was an effective method to reduce brittleness in PB/P3Br_xHT blends through morphology modification and crosslinking to improve stability towards strain for potential stretchable electronic applications. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry     

Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) as fat replacer in sweet pan breads

The effects of gel from ground chia (Salvia hispanica L.) were studied as a fat replacer in sweet pan breads. This substitution was addressed to reduce the total amount of fat in the product and to improve the nutritional value of the products regarding the fatty acid composition. The effects on the baking results were determined by assessing common baking evaluations and texture analysis after 2 and 48 h. The doughs were characterised with rheometer and rheofermentometer measurements. Rheometer measurements revealed that the replacement resulted in softer doughs with decreasing values for storage and loss moduli with increasing chia content. The yeast activity was increased with incorporated chia gel compared to the control. The best results for the baking experiments were obtained with 25% fat replacement through ground chia gel. Here, the highest volume yield with the softest crumb even after 48 h was achieved.     

Old patients with hypertension. A 25-year observational study of a geographically defined population (Dalby), aged 67 years at entry

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of hypertension and other risk factors on mortality, in particular cardiovascular mortality, in a geographically defined population of elderly subjects. DESIGN: An observational 25-year study of a total population. SETTING: The local health centre in the village of Dalby in southern Sweden. SUBJECTS: All men and women born in 1902 or 1903, living in Dalby, were, at the age of 67, invited for medical and psychological examinations. The population comprised 188 subjects (109 men and 79 women); 156 (83%) of them took part in the first medical examination. Blood pressure, heart rate, weight and height were measured and laboratory tests performed at entry. Blood pressures were thereafter recorded six times, and this report is based on a 25-year follow-up period ending in October 1994. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Survival analyses were performed, based on definition of underlying causes of death, divided into all-cause and cardiovascular. RESULTS: At entry, females had higher blood pressure than males, both at baseline and during the first 16 years of the study, regardless of whether they were hypertensives or not. Most men smoked but only a few women. At the end of the follow-up of the present study in 1994, 138 out of 156 (88%) subjects had died and only 18 (12%) remained alive; 78 (57%) had died of a cardiovascular disease. In men, a diagnosis of hypertension as well as increased blood pressure at entry was associated with increased mortality. In women this was the case for blood pressure and risk of cardiovascular mortality. In men, both systolic and diastolic blood pressures during the study were significant risk factors for death, whereas in women this was not the case. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly male hypertensives ran an increased mortality risk even though they were treated according to the then current guidelines; female hypertensives seemed to run the same risk of dying as normotensive females.     

Renewal in construction projects: tracing effects of client requirements

Several studies identify clients as important drivers of innovation in the construction industry. How clients contribute to innovation is however less investigated. In two case studies of health care construction projects, we investigate how client requirements create renewal in the form of intra- as well as inter-project effects. Using an inter-organizational framework of actors, resources and activities (the ARA model), it is possible to identify a variation of effects. The paper concludes that both client requirements and their associated renewal effects are results of interaction in time as well as space. Renewal effects crossing individual projects are dependent on relationships among two or more actors that continue to interact in subsequent projects. In addition, these effects relate to several dimensions of interaction and include how actors relate in new ways, how resources are combined and how activities are organized. Thus, by adopting an interactive perspective, it is possible to reveal how construction clients can contribute to renewal such as innovation and learning, directly and indirectly, within and across projects. Finally, we suggest that managers need to consider the role of long-term business relationships in achieving increased renewal in construction.