Aging of materials at inlet and outlet fuel manifolds in a SOFC stack

Analyses performed on a stack operated for more than 4000h at 750\ub0C at high fuel utilization (80%) revealed significant differences in aging behaviour of stack components when comparing fuel inlet and fuel outlet areas. Two samples were cut from the fuel inlet and outlet manifolds of the operated SOFC stack. The glass-ceramic sealing material and the interconnect alloy were exposed to a dual atmosphere (external air and internal fuel stream). The fuel composition was dry H2/N2 (60:40 vol. %) at the inlet and H2O/H2/N2 (48:12:40 vol. %) at the outlet. The stack was operated in co-flow configuration, with a large excess of air. It was found that the interfaces between the seal and the alloy were significantly affected by the difference in fuel composition. The sealant exposed to the outgoing air was significantly polluted by chromium generated in the stack and transported by the air stream. These investigations therefore reveal that the long-term evolution of the sealing and of the metallic support depends on the local conditions in the stack, as well as on additional interactions with other degradation phenomena

Identification of sex determination genes and their evolution in Phlebotominae sand flies (Diptera, Nematocera)

Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera, Nematocera) are important vectors of several pathogens, including Leishmania parasites, causing serious diseases of humans and dogs. Despite their importance as disease vectors, most aspects of sand fly biology remain unknown including the molecular basis of their reproduction and sex determination, aspects also relevant for the development of novel vector control strategies

Cecal volatilome and microbiota profile of organic chickens supplemented with black soldier fly live larvae

Insects have shown to be a potential nutritional replacement in poultry nutrition as substitute of traditional protein sources, with positive effects on gut microbiota. However, only few studies have investigated the effects of live black soldier fly (BSF) live larvae provision on short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and microbiota composition in chicken’s gut. Label naked neck (LNN, n. 240) chickens were reared in an organic production system from 21 to 82 days of age and randomly allocated into four experimental groups (10 birds/pen, 6 replicates/treatment) according to bird gender and larvae provision. Experimental groups were fed with 10% supplementation of BSF live larvae, based on the expected daily feed intake (DFI). At slaughter, samples of cecal digesta were collected from 60 animals (15 birds/treatment), frozen and stored at -80°C until to be analyzed by SPME-CG-MS and DNA sequencing techniques, respectively. Results showed that seven SCFAs were identified, with butyrate as the most abundant. Even if no significant differences were found between treatments, the cecal SCFAs concentration in insect-fed animals were noticed to be less variable than control group. Cecal microbiota analyses of birds fed with BSF live larvae, showed a higher incidence of Coprobacillus, Synergistaceae and Christensenellaceae, with the latter to having the potential to degrade chitin’s insect meal, a compound with immunoregulatory properties. In conclusion, results showed that even a dietary 10% supplementation of BSF live larvae can slightly improve microbiota profile and potentially, SCFAs production in LNN chickens. These results confirm what observed in recent studies on broilers, but with lower (5% of DFI) live larvae inclusion levels. Financial support for Poultrynsect project was provided by transnational funding bodies under the Joint SUSFOOD2/CORE Organic Call 2019

Sensorial evaluation of breast of chicken reared in organic system and supplemented with live black soldier fly larvae

Live larvae fed to poultry has shown to provide good nutrients and bioactive compounds with positive effects on bird's health. However, trials on chicken reared for meat consumption are still scarce. A total of 240 Label naked neck (LNN) birds were reared from 21 to 82 days of age, and four experimental groups (10 birds/pen, 6 replicates/treatment) were considered according to the birds’ gender and larvae provision. Experimental groups were fed 10% supplementation of black soldier fly (BSF) live larvae based on the daily feed intake. Birds (12/diet, 2 birds/pen) were slaughtered according to the standard EU regulations. Following storage at 4°C for 24 h, breast fillets were excised, vacuum packaged and transported to the laboratory for analysis. Vacuum packed breasts were cooked in a water bath at 75°C for 45 min, then breast color and drip loss were measured. Sensory descriptive analysis was performed, in duplicate, by 11 trained judges, experts in sensory evaluation with a specific software for sensory data acquisition, (FIZZ Biosystèmes), using a nine points intensity scale. Results were elaborated by a statistical analysis using R software. Color measurement, drip loss percentage and sensorial profiles were analyzed through the ANOVA and post hoc test (Tukey’s HSD). No significant differences were found in mean percentages of drip loss while color measurement showed only differences based on chicken gender and only for the b* (yellowness) parameter that resulted higher in females. Concerning sensory evaluation, no significant differences were found. In conclusion, results highlighted that a dietary 10% supplementation of BSF live larvae did not affected sensorial quality of breast fillets of LNN chickens reared in an organic production system. The authors acknowledge the financial support for Poultrynsect project provided by transnational funding bodies under the Joint SUSFOOD2/CORE Organic Call 2019

Can black soldier fly live larvae supplementation modify gut histomorphology of organic chickens?

The effects of insect meal on gut health have recently been reported in free-range and broiler chickens, but no data are available for intermediate growing chickens supplemented with black soldier fly (BSF) live larvae. Label naked neck chickens were reared from 21 to 82 days of age and randomly allotted into four groups (n=240, 10 birds/pen, 6 replicates/treatment) according to bird gender (male-M and female-F) and larvae provision (Control-C and larvae-L). LM and LF groups received 10% supplementation of BSF live larvae, based on the average daily feed intake. At slaughter, samples of liver, spleen, bursa of Fabricius, and gut were collected from 60 animals (15 birds/treatment) and routinely processed for histomorphological examination. The following morphometrical parameters were evaluated on duodenum, jejunum, and ileum: villus height (Vh), villus width (Vw), crypt depth (Cd), Vh/Cd ratio, total absorptive area, mucosal and muscular thickness. The observed histopathological findings were evaluated using a semi-quantitative scoring system (0: absent, 1: mild, 2: moderate, 3: severe). Morphometrically,Vh,TAA and mucosal tickness depended on sex ,being greater in M than in F(P<0.05). Also, Vw was influenced by the interation diet x sex, being greater in CM than in CF (P= 0,016). Apart fom Cd, all the evaluated morphometric indices depended on gu segment (P<0,001). Histologically, gut showed absent to moderate multifocal lymphoplasmacytic enteritis. Liver showed mild lymphoplasmacytic inflammation and absent to moderate multifocal vacuolar degeneration. Bursa of Fabricius presented absent to mild cortical depletion while spleen did not show any alterations. Althoug the severity of all the observed lesions was not influenced by diet (P>0.05), liver degeneration depended on sex, being higher in F than in M (P= 0,025). In conclusion, despite the slight reduction of the total absorptive area in females, results showed that BSF live larvae provision did not impair gut and general health of organic chickens, assuring a physiological, sex-dependent gut morphological asset. Financial support for Poultrynsect project was provided by transnational funding bodies under the Joint SUSFOOD2/CORE Organic Call 2019

Black soldier fly larvae used for environmental enrichment purposes: Can they affect the growth, slaughter performance, and blood chemistry of medium-growing chickens?

IntroductionThis research has been aimed at evaluating the effects of live black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) (Hermetia illucens) on the growth, slaughtering performance, and blood parameters of medium-growing chickens.MethodsA total of 240, 28-day-old, Label Rouge Naked Neck chickens were allotted to four experimental groups, according to the gender (males-females) and to the absence (control group, C) or presence (larvae group, L) of a dietary supplementation with 10% live BSFL, on the basis of the expected average daily feed intake (ADFI) (6 replicates/diet, 10 chickens/replicate). The birds were weighed weekly, and the feed consumption was recorded to calculate the average live weight, feed conversion ratio (FCR), average daily gain (ADG), and the ADFI. At 82 days of age, 2 birds/replicate (12 birds/diet) were selected and slaughtered. The blood samples were collected, and the carcass traits (carcass, breast, thigh, and organ weights and yields) were assessed.Results and discussionsOverall, the administered live BSFL did not impair the growth and slaughtering performance, or the blood traits, while the C females showed a better FCR than the treated ones (P &lt; 0.05). The live BSFL consumption time was longer for the females than for the males (P &lt; 0.001). The weight of the immune organs (spleen and bursa of Fabricius) increased as the live BSFL supplementation increased (P &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, the provision of live BSFL reduced the gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT, U/l) activity content in the blood (P &lt; 0.05). Finally, both the leukocytes (%) and the monocytes (%) were more abundant in the C groups than in the larvae ones (P &lt; 0.05 and P &lt; 0.01, respectively). In short, the supplementation of live BSFL can be used successfully as an environmental enrichment, without affecting the growth performance of male birds. Furthermore, the immune organ activity could be enhanced by the provision of live BSFL

Monitoring and predicting the risk of violence in residential facilities. No difference between patients with history or with no history of violence

none34noopende Girolamo, Giovanni; Buizza, Chiara; Sisti, Davide; Ferrari, Clarissa; Bulgari, Viola; Iozzino, Laura; Boero, Maria Elena; Cristiano, Giuseppe; De Francesco, Alessandra; Giobbio, Gian Marco; Maggi, Paolo; Rossi, Giuseppe; Segalini, Beatrice; Candini, Valentina; Andreose, Suor; Basso, Pasquale; Beneduce, Rossella; Bertolotti, Pietro; Braida, Vanda; Bonelli, Marina; Bongiorno, Fanny; Bussi, Riccardo; Castagno, Elisa; Dominicis, Fabio; Ghersi, Loredana; Greppo, Stefania; Sodano, Alessandro Jaretti; Leporatti, Massimo; Presti, Eleonora Lo; Milone, Valeria; Panigada, Fausto; Pasquadibisceglie, Livia; Rigamonti, Danilo; Rillosi, Lucianade Girolamo, Giovanni; Buizza, Chiara; Sisti, Davide; Ferrari, Clarissa; Bulgari, Viola; Iozzino, Laura; Boero, Maria Elena; Cristiano, Giuseppe; De Francesco, Alessandra; Giobbio, Gian Marco; Maggi, Paolo; Rossi, Giuseppe; Segalini, Beatrice; Candini, Valentina; Andreose, Suor; Basso, Pasquale; Beneduce, Rossella; Bertolotti, Pietro; Braida, Vanda; Bonelli, Marina; Bongiorno, Fanny; Bussi, Riccardo; Castagno, Elisa; Dominicis, Fabio; Ghersi, Loredana; Greppo, Stefania; Sodano, Alessandro Jaretti; Leporatti, Massimo; Presti, Eleonora Lo; Milone, Valeria; Panigada, Fausto; Pasquadibisceglie, Livia; Rigamonti, Danilo; Rillosi, Lucian

Blood chemistry of medium-growing male and female chickens supplemented black soldier fly live larvae

Effects of live larvae provision on poultry chemical blood parameters have been poorly investigated. This study aims to evaluate the changes in blood chemistry parameters in medium-growing chickens supplemented black soldier fly (BSF) live larvae. Two hundred and forty 21d old sexed Label Naked Neck birds were divided into 4 experimental groups: females fed basal organic feed (BOF), males fed BOF, females fed BOF + 10% BSF live larvae supplementation based on the expected daily feed intake (DFI) and males fed BOF + 10% BSF live larvae supplementation based on the DFI (6 replicates/diet, 10 birds/replicate). Blood samples were collected at slaughter (82d old) from 2 birds/pen (12 birds/treatment). Serum samples were used for biochemical analysis. A compact liquid chemistry analyzer system (BT 1500 vet–Futurlab) was used to determine the concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (U/I), aspartate aminotransferase (U/I), creatinine total proteins (mg/dl), uric acid (mg/dl), cholesterol (mg/dl), triglycerides (mg/dl), gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT, U/I), phosphorus (mg/dl) and magnesium (mg/dl). Data were analyzed by GLMM (SPSS software, P<0.05). Overall, the blood parameters were not affected by the live larvae supplementation (P>0.05) in both sexes, thus being indicative of a good health status of the birds. Moreover, the GGT was detected in lower concentrations in the supplemented groups than in the control groups (P<0.05), suggesting a positive effect on the hepatic function. In conclusion, the live BSF larvae provision did not negatively affect the blood parameters of medium-growing chickens and could be beneficial for bird hepatic activity

Blood chemistry of medium-growing male and female chickens supplemented black soldier fly live larvae

Effects of live larvae provision on poultry chemical blood parameters have been poorly investigated. This study aims to evaluate the changes in blood chemistry parameters in medium-growing chickens supplemented black soldier fly (BSF) live larvae. Two hundred and forty 21d old sexed Label Naked Neck birds were divided into 4 experimental groups: females fed basal organic feed (BOF), males fed BOF, females fed BOF + 10% BSF live larvae supplementation based on the expected daily feed intake (DFI) and males fed BOF + 10% BSF live larvae supplementation based on the DFI (6 replicates/diet, 10 birds/replicate). Blood samples were collected at slaughter (82d old) from 2 birds/pen (12 birds/treatment). Serum samples were used for biochemical analysis. A compact liquid chemistry analyzer system (BT 1500 vet–Futurlab) was used to determine the concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (U/I), aspartate aminotransferase (U/I), creatinine total proteins (mg/dl), uric acid (mg/dl), cholesterol (mg/dl), triglycerides (mg/dl), gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT, U/I), phosphorus (mg/dl) and magnesium (mg/dl). Data were analyzed by GLMM (SPSS software, P<0.05). Overall, the blood parameters were not affected by the live larvae supplementation (P>0.05) in both sexes, thus being indicative of a good health status of the birds. Moreover, the GGT was detected in lower concentrations in the supplemented groups than in the control groups (P<0.05), suggesting a positive effect on the hepatic function. In conclusion, the live BSF larvae provision did not negatively affect the blood parameters of medium-growing chickens and could be beneficial for bird hepatic activity