Health, well-being and second homes: An outline of current research and policy challenges

Healthy living environments and housing conditions are important foci of Nordic health and welfare policies. However, policies and research on living conditions have mostly explored people’s permanent living environments, adhering to thinking about health in terms of fixity in place. What has not been acknowledged is that a considerable amount of Nordic people live in a continuous interaction of more than one place of dwelling. An illustrative example of the significance of mobile lifestyles is the use of second homes. Second home tourism is usually assumed to increase health and well-being. However, research on well-being and the health effects of second home tourism has been limited. In this paper we propose a research framework to approach second homes and well-being by identifying place and mobility as the key aspects in comprehending the relationship between health, wellbeing and second homes. Furthermore, we argue that the mobile lifestyles considerably challenge existing regulatory frameworks and provision of services as multi-local living is not systematically accounted for. Failing to acknowledge mobile lifestyles and multiple dwelling will degrade possibilities to respond to the current and long-term challenges of the distribution of health and welfare.Healthy living environments and housing conditions are important foci of Nordic health and welfare policies. However, policies and research on living conditions have mostly explored people’s permanent living environments, adhering to thinking about health in terms of fixity in place. What has not been acknowledged is that a considerable amount of Nordic people live in a continuous interaction of more than one place of dwelling. An illustrative example of the significance of mobile lifestyles is the use of second homes. Second home tourism is usually assumed to increase health and well-being. However, research on well-being and the health effects of second home tourism has been limited. In this paper we propose a research framework to approach second homes and well-being by identifying place and mobility as the key aspects in comprehending the relationship between health, wellbeing and second homes. Furthermore, we argue that the mobile lifestyles considerably challenge existing regulatory frameworks and provision of services as multi-local living is not systematically accounted for. Failing to acknowledge mobile lifestyles and multiple dwelling will degrade possibilities to respond to the current and long-term challenges of the distribution of health and welfare

CT differentiation of enlarged mediastinal lymph node due to anthracosis from metastatic lymphadenopathy: a comparative study proven by endobronchial US-guided transbronchial needle aspiration

PURPOSEAnthracosis often results in mediastinal nodal enlargement. The aim of this comparative study was to evaluate if it is possible to differentiate endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) proven anthracotic lymph nodes from malignant lymph node enlargement by means of multislice computed tomography (MSCT).METHODSWe compared the MSCT findings of 89 enlarged lymph nodes due to anthracosis with 54 malignant lymph nodes (non-small cell lung cancer 75.9%, small cell lung cancer 18.5%, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma 5.6%). The lymph nodes were assessed for density (calcification, fat, and necrosis), shape (oval, round), contrast enhancement, and contour (sharp, ill-defined).RESULTSMalignant lymph nodes showed significantly greater axis diameters (P < 0.001). Both anthracotic and malignant nodes were most often oval (86.5% of all malignant nodes vs. 81.5% of all anthracotic nodes, P = 0.420) and showed confluence in a remarkable percentage (28.1% vs. 42.6%, P = 0.075). Anthracotic nodes showed calcifications more often (18% vs. 0%, P < 0.001). Malignant lymph nodes showed a significantly greater short and long axis diameter (P < 0.001), and they had a higher frequency of ill-defined contours (27.8% vs. 2.2%, P < 0.001) and contrast enhancement (27.8% vs. 5.6%, P < 0.001). Nodal necrosis, which appeared in one third of the malignant nodes, was not observed in anthracosis (35.2% vs. 0%, P < 0.001). Confluence of enlarged lymph nodes was seen in malignant lymph nodes (42.6%), as well as in lymph node enlargement due to anthracosis (28.1%, P = 0.075).CONCLUSIONOur results show that there are significant differences in MSCT findings of malignant enlarged lymph nodes and benign lymph node enlargement due to anthracosis

Model uncertainty-based evaluation of process strategies during scale-up of biopharmaceutical processes

Reliable scale-up of biopharmaceutical production processes is key in Quality by Design. In this study, a model-based workflow is described to evaluate the bioprocess dynamics during process transfer and scale-up computationally. First, a mathematical model describes the bioprocess dynamics of different state variables (e.g., cell density, titer). Second, the model parameter probability distributions are de- termined at different scales due to measurement uncertainty. Third, the quantified parameter distribu- tions are statistically compared to evaluate if the process dynamics have been changed. This workflow was tested for the scale-up of an antibody-producing CHO fed-batch process. Significant differences were identified between the process development (30 ml) and implementation (250 ml) scale, and the feeding strategy was validated using model-assisted Design of Experiments. Then, the validated process strategy was successfully scaled up to 2 l laboratory and 50 l pilot scale. In summary, the proposed workflow enables a knowledge-driven evaluation tool for bioprocess development. ©2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, projects: 031 B0305, 031 B0577

Aroma Characterization and Safety Assessment of a Beverage Fermented by Trametes versicolor

A cereal-based beverage was developed by fermentation of wort with the basidiomycete Trametes versicolor. The beverage possessed a fruity, fresh, and slightly floral aroma. The volatiles of the beverage were isolated by liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) and additionally by headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME). The aroma compounds were analyzed by a gas chromatography system equipped with a tandem mass spectrometer and an olfactory detection port (GC-MS/MS-O) followed by aroma (extract) dilution analysis. Thirty-four different odor impressions were perceived, and 27 corresponding compounds were identified. Fifteen key odorants with flavor dilution (FD) factors ranging from 8 to 128 were quantitated, and their respective odor activity values (OAVs) were calculated. Six key odorants were synthesized de novo by <i>T. versicolor</i>. Furthermore, quantitative changes during the fermentation process were analyzed. To prepare for the market introduction of the beverage, a comprehensive safety assessment was performed

In Situ Synthesis of Photocatalytically Active Hybrids Consisting of Bacterial Nanocellulose and Anatase Nanoparticles

Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is an extraordinary biopolymer with a wide range of potential technical applications. The high specific surface area and the interconnected pore system of the nanofibrillar BNC network suggest applications as a carrier of catalysts. The present paper describes an in situ modification route for the preparation of a hybrid material consisting of BNC and photocatalytically active anatase (TiO₂) nanoparticles (NPs). The influence of different NP concentrations on the BNC biosynthesis and the resulting supramolecular structure of the hybrids was investigated. It was found that the number of colony forming units (CFUs) and the consumption of glucose during biosynthesis remained unaffected compared to unmodified BNC. During the formation of the BNC network, the NPs were incorporated in the whole volume of the accruing hybrid. Their distribution within the hybrid material is affected by the anisotropic structure of BNC. The photocatalytic activity (PCA) of the BNC-TiO₂ hybrids was determined by methanol conversion (MC) under UV irradiation. These tests demonstrated that the NPs retained their PCA after incorporation into the BNC carrier structure. The PCA of the hybrid material depends on the amount of incorporated NPs. No alteration of the photocatalyst’s efficiency was found during repeated PCA tests. In conclusion, the in situ integration of photocatalytically active NPs into BNC represents an attractive possibility to extend its fields of application to porous filtering media for drinking water purification and air cleaning

Ternary Metastable Nitrides ε‑Fe₂<i>TM</i>N (<i>TM</i> = Co, Ni): High-Pressure, High-Temperature Synthesis, Crystal Structure, Thermal Stability, and Magnetic Properties

High-pressure, high-temperature synthesis gives access to ternary metastable nitrides ε-Fe₂<i>TM</i>N (<i>TM</i> = Co, Ni) as bulk materials for the first time. Both ε-Fe₂CoN and ε-Fe₂NiN crystallize isostructural to ε-Fe₃N as evidenced by X-ray powder diffraction data. The lattice parameters of the new compounds are slightly smaller than those of ε-Fe₃N owing to the reduced atomic radii of the metal atoms. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy of metallographic samples show homogeneous metal ratios corresponding to compositions Fe_1.99(6)Co_1.01(6)N and Fe_1.97(2)Ni_1.03(2)N. Extended X-ray absorption fine spectra indicate that cobalt and nickel occupy iron positions. Thermal analysis measurements reveal decomposition of both ternary nitrides above 920 K. ε-Fe₂CoN disintegrates into N₂ and iron–cobalt alloy, while ε-Fe₂NiN decays into N₂, iron–nickel alloy as well as α-Fe. The replacement of iron by cobalt or nickel essentially lowers the saturation magnetization from roughly 6.0 μ_B/f.u. for ε-Fe₃N to nearly 4.3 μ_B/f.u. for ε-Fe₂CoN and 3.1 μ_B/f.u. for ε-Fe₂NiN. In parallel, the Curie temperature decreases from 575(3) K for ε-Fe₃N to 488(5) K for ε-Fe₂CoN and 234(3) K for ε-Fe₂NiN. Calculations of the formation enthalpies illustrate that the phases ε-Fe₂<i>TM</i>N (<i>TM</i> = Co, Ni) are thermodynamically unfavorable at ambient conditions which is consistent with our experimental observations. The substitution of one Fe by Co (Ni) yields one (two) more electrons per formula unit which reduces the magnetic interactions. First-principles analysis indicate that the replacement has a negligible influence on the electron occupation numbers and spin moments of the N and unsubstituted Fe sites, but decreases the local magnetic moments on the substituted Fe positions because the extra electrons occupy the minority-spin channel formed by states of the <i>TM</i> atoms