Effect of ochratoxin A on the intestinal mucosa and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues in broiler chickens

The immunotoxic effect of ochratoxin A (OTA) on the intestinal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue and its cytotoxic action on the intestinal epithelium were studied in broiler chickens experimentally treated with the toxin. From the 7th day of life, 80 male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were randomly divided into four groups of 20 birds each. The three experimental groups (E1-3) were treated with OTA for 28 days (E1: 50 μg/kg body weight [bw]/day; E2: 20 μg/kg bw/day; E3: 1 μg/kg bw/day) and the fourth group served as control. Histological examination of the intestinal mucosa and immunohistochemical staining for identification of CD4+, CD8+, TCR1 and TCR2 lymphocytes in the duodenum, jejunum and ileocaecal junction were performed, and CD4+/CD8+ and TCR1/TCR2 ratios were calculated. OTA toxicity resulted in decreased body weight gain, poorer feed conversion ratio, lower leukocyte and lymphocyte count, and altered intestinal mucosa architecture. After 14 days of exposure to OTA, immunohistochemistry showed a significant reduction of the lymphocyte population in the intestinal epithelium and the lamina propria. After 28 days of exposure, an increase in the CD4+ and CD8+ values in both the duodenum and jejunum of chickens in Groups E1 and E2 was observed, but the TCR1 and TCR2 lymphocyte counts showed a significant reduction. No significant changes were observed in Group E3. The results indicate that OTA induced a decrease in leukocyte and lymphocyte counts and was cytotoxic to the intestinal epithelium and the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue, altering the intestinal barrier and increasing susceptibility to various associated diseases

ESPON Italian evidence in changing Europe

Il volume, che rientra nelle attività dell’ESPON Contact Point Italia, accoglie i risultati del contributo dei Partner Italiani allo sviluppo dei progetti del Programma ESPON 2013, acronimo di European Observation Network for Territorial Development and Cohesion. I testi sintetizzano ed evidenziano, tra l’altro, le relazioni con le politiche di sviluppo regionale dell’Italia, inserendole in un quadro di cooperazione transnazionale che coinvolge 28 + 4 paesi dell’Unione europea. Affrontando aspetti della politica territoriale europea che spaziano dall’innovazione e conoscenza all’accessibilità, dal policentrismo alle aree metropolitane, dalla migrazione alla globalizzazione, gli Autori mettono in luce la posizione dell’Italia e delle regioni anche rispetto agli obiettivi fissati da Europe 2020. Uno spazio è dedicato alle esperienze regionali che hanno trovato in ESPON uno stimolo e un’occasione di confronto; come pure ai concetti che sottendono il lessico, i principi di orientamento e i nuovi modelli della pianificazione in Europa; e alle esperienze formative rivolte alle giovani generazioni e ai decision maker Il libro si inquadra nelle iniziative del Semestre di Presidenza Italiana dell’Unione europea ed è cofinanziato dal Ministero delle Infrastrutture e dei Trasporti (MIT) responsabile nazionale del Programma ESPON. E’ rivolto ai ricercatori, agli utilizzatori istituzionali, ai policy maker, ai “practioner” e ai “non specialisti”, tra cui gli studenti, affinché possano fare propri i risultati dell’impegno costante, rigoroso e rispettoso delle diversità territoriali che hanno contraddistinto, dal 2007 ad oggi, il contributo della ricerca, anche sperimentale e applicata, alla crescita della società italiana come parte integrante del sistema europeo. L’Osservatorio ESPON, per chi ancora non lo conosce, può rappresentare un viaggio nel territorio europeo, nelle sue diversità territoriali, economiche, sociali, culturali da integrare e rendere coese, sostenibili, mantenendo e sviluppando potenziali di competitività crescenti e, nel contempo, innovando e diffondendo nuovi modi, metodologie, strumenti e prassi per fare del territorio un bene comune e condiviso. Dati, riferimenti e raccomandazioni politiche utili alla crescita del Paese completano il quadro. Presentazione del Ministro delle Infrastrutture, On. Maurizio Lupi Postfazione del Direttore della Coordination Unit del Programma ESPON, Peter MehlbyeThe book is part of the activities of ESPON Contact Point Italy. It includes the results of the contribution of the Italian partners in the development of projects under the ESPON 2013 Programme, which stands for European Observation Network for Territorial Development and Cohesion. The texts summarise and highlight, among other things, the relations with the regional development policies of Italy, placing them in a framework of transnational cooperation involving the 28 + 4 EU Countries. Addressing aspects of European territorial policy, ranging from innovation and knowledge accessibility, from the polycentrism to metropolitan areas, from migration to globalization, the authors highlight the position of Italy and of regions also in relation to the objectives set by Europe 2020. A place is devoted to the regional experiences that in the ESPON found a stimulus and an opportunity for discussion, as well as to the concepts behind the vocabulary, to the principles of guidance, and new planning models in Europe, and to the training experiences aimed at the younger generations and the decision makers The book forms part of the initiatives of the Italian Presidency of the European Union and is co-financed by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transportation (MIT) in charge of the national ESPON Programme. It is aimed at researchers, institutional users, policy makers, at "practitioners" and "non-specialists" including students, so that they can make use of the results of the constant and rigorous work also respectful of the territorial diversities that have characterized the experimental and applied research since 2007, so contributing to the growth of Italian society as an integral part of the European system. The ESPON Monitoring Centre, for those who still do not know, can be a journey into the European territory, its territorial, economic, social, cultural diversities to integrate and make cohesive and sustainable, by maintaining and developing the increasing potentials of competitiveness and, at the same time, by innovating and disseminating new ways, methodologies, tools and practices to make the territory a common and shared good. Data, references and useful policy recommendations to the growth of the country are also included in the book. Presentation by the Minister of Infrastructure, Mr. Maurizio Lupi Afterword by the Director of the Coordination Unit ESPON Programme , Peter Mehlby

Influence of the Spark Plasma Sintering temperature on the structure and dielectric properties of BaTi(1-x)ZrxO3 ceramics

In this work, structural and dielectric properties of BaTi(1-x)ZrxO3 (BTZ) ceramics prepared by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) from powders obtained via Self-propagating High-temperature Synthesis (SHS) are shown to be strongly affected by the sintering temperature. In addition, a post-annealing treatment in air of the as-prepared ceramics leads to a transition from the hexagonal to the tetragonal and cubic phases. The SPS ceramics corresponding to compositions 0.05 ≤ x ≤ 0.20 and obtained at a sintering temperature of 1200 °C exhibit a standard ferroelectric behavior. In contrast, a diffuse phase transition is observed for the case of ceramics sintered at higher temperatures. Finally, the BTZ ceramic containing 5 at.% of Zr displays the best dielectric permittivity and piezoelectric properties as compared to the other compositions taken into account

Coupling in situ synchrotron radiation with ex situ spectroscopy characterizations to study the formation of Ba1−xSrxTiO3 nanoparticles in supercritical fluids

High quality barium strontium titanate (BaxSr1 − xTiO3 with 0 ≤ x ≤ 1-BST) nanoparticles can be synthesized using supercritical fluids technology. Well crystallized particles of 20 nm with a narrow size distribution were produced in a single step. The reaction is achieved at relatively low temperature (T < 400 °C) and in tens of seconds. The combination of in situ synchrotron wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) and ex situ analyses in the form of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) leads to an understanding of the influence of the substitution of barium cations with strontium ones on the BST nanoparticle growth. A correlation between particle size, density of -OH groups at the surface of the particles and BST composition is exhibited; the higher the -OH density and the lower the strontium concentration, the larger the particles. This confirms that the formation of BST nanoparticles in supercritical fluids is governed by a sol-gel mechanism

Insights into BaTi_1–<i>y</i>Zr_<i>y</i>O₃ (0 ≤ <i>y</i> ≤ 1) Synthesis under Supercritical Fluid Conditions

The production of BaTi_1–<i>y</i>Zr_<i>y</i>O₃ (0 ≤ <i>y</i> ≤ 1, BTZ) nanocrystals is known to be challenging due the low reactivity of zirconium precursors. Here we have successfully studied the impact of zirconium on the BTZ particle formation in sub- and supercritical fluid conditions along the entire solid solution. <i>In situ</i> synchrotron wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) analyses were conducted in batch at 150 and 400 °C to follow, in real time, the BTZ crystallite synthesis. This approach revealed the complexity behind the nucleation and growth mechanisms of ABO₃ nanocrystals, especially toward high zirconium content (more than 50 atomic %). This type of substitution induces, among other things, microstrain within the structure. Moreover, for the cases of BaTi_0.4Zr_0.6O₃ and BaTi_0.2Zr_0.8O₃, the experiments showed the apparition of two crystallite size populations. In the BaTi_0.4Zr_0.6O₃ case, at 400 °C, these two size populations merged into a single one after at least 8 min; in contrast to what was observed for the case of BaTi_0.2Zr_0.8O₃. This is a manifestation of how with increasing the zirconium content the particles become more refractory and in these cases the temperature is not high enough to enable their ripening. It is important to note that this behavior was not observed for particles produced at 400 °C using a flow synthesis method, with a residence time of only 50 s. There, the particles presented a single size population close to the one obtained after 8 min in batch. This thus suggests that for batch syntheses a longer time is required to achieve a similar product quality to the one obtained with a flow process

Specific core-shell approaches and related properties in nanostructured ferroelectric ceramics

Interfaces are a major issue when designing ferroelectric nanostructured materials with tailored properties. In a context of integration and multifunctionality in the field of electronics, several strategies have been developed to control the microstructure and defect chemistry of interfaces that strongly impact the macroscopic properties. The suitability of the core-shell approaches that allow a subtle tuning of interface phenomena at different scales has been widely demonstrated. We focus here on the flexibility of the core-shell approach devoted to the processing of nanostructured ferroelectric composites. Our strategy relies on the use of advanced synthesis processes to design ferroelectric grains coated with shells of different nature, morphology and crystallinity. Typical examples will be reviewed with a specific attention on their impact on both microstructure and dielectric properties. Our approach, based also on the use of fast sintering technique, provides a guidance to design 3D bulk nanostructured ferroelectrics while controlling and/or exploiting size, interface and defects chemistry. The contribution of specific spectroscopies to probe interfacial chemistry and defects is underlined. The high density of interfaces in core-shell materials is obviously an advantage to target additional functionality such as magneto-electric coupling. This is illustrated in 3D composites and one dimensional nanostructures that coaxially combine electric and magnetic materials. The core-shell approach described here could be transferred to a much broader range of materials covering many functionalities provided a deeper understanding of the interfaces at the atomic scale is achieved and a further development of low temperature processing is reached

Simple synthesis and characterization of vertically aligned Ba0.7Sr0.3TiO3 –CoFe2O4 multiferroic nanocomposites from CoFe2 nanopillar arrays

A new strategy to elaborate (1-3) type multiferroic nanocomposites with controlled dimensions and vertical alignment is presented. The process involves a supported nanoporous alumina layer as a template for growth of free-standing and vertically aligned CoFe2 nanopillars using a room temperature pulsed electrodeposition process. Ba0.70Sr0.30TiO3–CoFe2O4 multiferroic nanocomposites were grown through direct deposition of Ba0.7Sr0.3TiO3 films by radio-frequency sputtering on the top surface of the pillar structure, with in situ simultaneous oxidation of CoFe2 nanopillars. The vertically aligned multiferroic nanocomposites were characterized using various techniques for their structural and physical properties. The large interfacial area between the ferrimagnetic and ferroelectric phases leads to a magnetoelectric voltage coefficient as large as ~320 mV cm−1 Oe−1 at room temperature, reaching the highest values reported so far for vertically architectured nanocomposite systems. This simple method has great potential for large-scale synthesis of many other hybrid vertically aligned multiferroic heterostructures