Gender Differences in the VDR-FokI Polymorphism and Conventional Non-Genetic Risk Factors in Association with Lumbar Spine Pathologies in an Italian Case-Control Study

Recently, the FokI polymorphism (rs2228570) in the vitamin D receptor gene (VDR) and conventional risk factors were associated with spine disorders in the Italian population, but without gender analysis. Two-hundred and sixty-seven patients (149 males, 118 females) with lumbar spine disorders were assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 254 (127 males, 127 females) asymptomatic controls were enrolled. The exposure to putative risk factors was evaluated and FokI polymorphism was detected by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). An association between lumbar spine pathologies and higher than average age; overweight; family history; lower leisure physical activity; smoking habit; higher number of hours/day exposure to vibration and more sedentary or intense physical job demand was observed in male patients. In contrast, in females, only higher age, overweight, family history and lower leisure physical activity were risk factors. FF genotype was a 2-fold risk factor to develop discopathies and/or osteochondrosis concomitant with disc herniation for both gender patients, while heterozygous Ff was protective for females only. In males only ff genotype was protective for discopathies and/or osteochondrosis and F allele was a 2-fold risk factor for hernia; discopathies; discopathies and/or osteochondrosis. Sex-related differences in voluntary behaviors, exposure to environmental risks and genetic background could be crucial for a gender-differentiated management of patients with spine disorders.     

Mechanisms of Hydrogen Induced Stress Crack Initiation and Propagation in Super Duplex Stainless Steels

Austenitic and ferritic duplex stainless steels, DSS, have recently suffered from hydrogen stress induced cracking, HISC, in subsea components with a cathodic protection. This paper provides discussions on possible HISC mechanisms. HISC initiation can occur at the ferritic grain boundaries and phase boundaries at a stress lower than the yield strength, but dominantly at phase boundaries at a stress higher than the yield strength. EBSD analysis shows that HISC in DSS results from the interaction between the dynamic plasticity by creep and hydrogen diffusion. A model on the formation of microstresses in these two phases under creep conditions is proposed, which explains why HISC occurs mainly in the ferritic phase. Discontinuous two‐dimensional HISC paths were observed. The austenitic phase acts as obstacles for crack propagation. The fracture covers “valleys” and “peaks” with the cleavage ferrite and the austenite with microfacets or striations due to the hydrogen‐enhanced localized‐plasticity.     

A comparison of Euclidean Distance,Travel Times,and Network Distances in Location Choice Mixture Models

Networks and Spatial Economics - This article investigates the selection of a distance measure in location modeling. While in the empirical literature the choice usually boils down to picking one...     

A three-dimensional carbon-coated LiFePO4 electrode for high-power applications

The fabrication process of a new, three-dimensional carbon-coated LiFePO₄ electrode by sol–gel synthesis in situ on interconnected conducting fibers of carbon paper is described. This three-dimensional structure ensures overall electrode conductivity, facilitates lithium diffusion in and out of LiFePO₄ particles and, hence, enables good cycling stability at 1C-rate and maximum pulse-power values that exceed those of planar LiFePO₄ electrodes at high electrode loading.     

Energy efficiency in transport and mobility from an eco-efficiency viewpoint

European Union countries’ current energy policies for the transport sector promote, amongst other initiatives; urban mobility plans, the renewal of fleets of cars and industrial vehicles and the introduction of biofuel. From the point of view of eco-efficiency and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), energy policies must go further. The objective of this paper is to analyse the current transport model and the policies on energy efficiency being promoted in the EU from a LCA point of view. Special attention has been paid to private vehicles, in assessing the environmental impact of the various stages of manufacture, their use and disposal, and the consequences of plans to renew fleets. How old should a vehicle ideally be so that when it is changed, the embodied energy in the materials of the vehicle is less than the gain in energy efficiency due to changing the model for example? In addition the paper analyses the different means of transport in the energy consumption-time ratio from a LCA viewpoint. The fact that reducing transport times leads to greater energy consumption gives rise to the question: how long does nature take to repair the environmental damage caused?     

Biomimetic Preparation and Characterization of Bioactive Coatings on Alumina and Zirconia Ceramics

For the preparation of bioactive coatings on alumina and zirconia ceramic surfaces a fast biomimetic method using a supersaturated solution containing Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Cl⁻, HCO₃⁻, and PO₄³⁻ ions was used. The coatings were analysed with the use of an X-ray diffraction spectrometer and a transmission electron microscope equipped with an energy-dispersive spectroscopy detector. After the precipitation both coatings were composed of poorly crystallized, nanosized, plate-like particles with the octacalcium phosphate (OCP) crystal structure. The adhesion of the coatings was improved by a heat treatment at 1050°C for 1 h. During this heat treatment the calcium phosphate layer, deposited from a supersaturated solution onto the surface of the substrates, was sintered to form a dense coating. At the same time the OCP crystal structure was transformed into that of hydroxyl apatite, the coating's crystallinity was increased, and the particles grew isotropically up to 300 nm in size. The bioactivity of the coated ceramic was confirmed before and after the heat treatment using a simple simulated body fluid test.     

Electrospinning as a useful technique for the encapsulation of living bifidobacteria in food hydrocolloids

This study shows the feasibility of using the electrospinning technique to encapsulate Bifidobacterium strains in food hydrocolloids for functional food applications. Specifically, a protein (whey protein concentrate) and a carbohydrate (pullulan) were used as encapsulation materials due to their ability to form micro, submicro and nanocapsules through an electrospraying process. The concentration of both biopolymers was adjusted so as to obtain functional hybrid capsules easier to handle as a food ingredient. Microcapsules containing the strain Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bb12 were prepared from solutions of the hydrocolloids both, in PBS and in skimmed milk, resulting in structures with different morphology and protection ability. The morphological features of the obtained systems were characterized and the viability of the encapsulated probiotic was compared to that of the same bacterium in liquid medium (PBS or skimmed milk) and freeze-dried. Freeze-drying of a mix containing bacterium and the biopolymers was also carried out for comparison. The viability tests were conducted at two different temperatures (20 °C and 4 °C) and at various relative humidities (0%, 11%, 53% and 75%). The results showed that, as expected, the survival of the bifidobacterial strain increased when stored in skimmed milk or obtained from skimmed milk solutions in comparison with those stored or obtained from PBS. Encapsulation through electrospraying substantially increased the viability of the bifidobacterial strain, especially at 20 °C. WPC demonstrated greater protection ability as encapsulation material than pullulan as it effectively prolonged the survival of the cells even at high relative humidity.     

The effect of the descent technique and truck cabin layout on the landing impact forces

The majority of injuries to truckers are caused by falls during the descent from the cab of the truck. Several studies have shown that the techniques used to descend from the truck and the layout of the truck's cabin are the principal cause of injury. The goal of the present study was to measure the effects of the descent techniques used by the trucker and the layout of the truck's cabin on the impact forces absorbed by the lower limbs and the back. Kinematic data, obtained with the aid of a video camera, were combined with the force platform data to allow for calculation of the lower limb and L₅–S₁ torques as well as L₅–S₁ compressive forces. The trucker descended from two different conventional tractor cabin layouts. Each trucker descended from cabin using either “facing the truck” (FT) or “back to the truck” (BT) techniques. The results demonstrate that the BT technique produces greater ground impact forces than the FT technique, particularly when the truck does not have a handrail. The BT technique also causes an increase in the compressive forces exerted on the back. In conclusion, the use of the FT technique along with the aids (i.e., handrails and all the steps) help lower the landing impact forces as well as the lumbosacral compressive forces.