Effect of stators geometry on the resonance sensitivity of capacitive MEMS

open4openFrangi, A.; Laghi, G.; Minotti, P.; Langfelder, G.Frangi, ATTILIO ALBERTO; Laghi, Giacomo; Minotti, Paolo; Langfelder, Giacom

Practice parameters for the treatment of colonic diverticular disease: Italian Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery (SICCR) guidelines

The mission of the Italian Society of Colorectal Surgery (SICCR) is to optimize patient care. Providing evidence-based practice guidelines is therefore of key importance. About the present report it concernes the SICCR practice guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of diverticular disease of the colon. The guidelines are not intended to define the sole standard of care but to provide evidence-based recommendations regarding the available therapeutic options

Effect of High Hydrostatic Pressure on the Metabolite Profile of Striped Prawn (Melicertus kerathurus) during Chilled Storage

A variety of metabolites contribute to the freshness and taste characteristics of seafood. This study investigated the effects of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP; 400, 500, and 600 MPa) for 10 min) on the metabolome of striped prawn during chilled storage, in relation to microorganisms’ development. All treated samples showed lower viable counts throughout storage compared to the untreated counterparts. The limit of acceptability from a microbiological point of view was extended from 9 to as many as 35 days by 600 MPa treatment. Metabolites were quantified by 1H-NMR through a targeted-untargeted metabolomic approach. Molecules linked to nucleotides’ degradation and amines’ anabolism suggested an overall freshness improvement granted by HHP. Notably, putrescine and cadaverine were detected only in untreated prawn samples, suggesting the inactivation of degradative enzymes by HHP. The concentration of molecules that influence umami perception was significantly elevated by HHP, while in untreated samples, the concentration of molecules contributing to a sour taste gradually increased during storage. As metabolomics was applied in its untargeted form, it allowed us to follow the overall set of metabolites related to HHP processing and storage, thus providing novel insights into the freshness and taste quality of striped prawn as affected by high hydrostatic pressure

Lack of mutation at codon 531 of SRC in advanced colorectal cancers from Italian patients

A truncating mutation (C to T transition) at codon 531 of the human protooncogene c-src, possibly accounting for the activation of c-src tyrosine kinase, has been recently identified in a subset of advanced colorectal cancer from North-American patients. However, two subsequent studies have failed to confirm the occurrence of SRC 531 mutation in colorectal cancers from North-European and Asiatic patients, raising the hypothesis that the genetic activation of src in colon cancer might be restricted to patients belonging to specific ethnic groups. We investigated a large series of colorectal cancers from Italian patients (155 cases) with a high prevalence of liver metastasis (43%). Using a PCR-RFLP assay, the occurrence of a SRC 531 mutation was ruled out in all the investigated specimens of primary tumours and/or metastases. Our results demonstrate that SRC Gln531AMB plays no role in the development or in the progression of colorectal cancer among Italian patients. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.co

The use of sodium bicarbonate for marination of broiler breast meat

This study aimed at evaluating marination performances and effect on meat quality traits of sodium bicarbonate, used alone or in combination with sodium chloride, when compared with sodium trypolyphosphate by using advanced analytical tools including low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). A total of 140 samples (cylindrical shape of 1×4 cm size) were obtained from a batch of 24h post mortem broiler breast meat (Ross 708, females, 47 day-old). Six of the groups were used for subsequent marination treatments, while the last group was kept as non-marinated control (C). Samples were subjected to vacuum tumbling in a special equipped laboratory rotary evaporator with a 12% (w/w) water:meat ratio using 6 marinade solutions: 7.7% (w/w) NaCl (S); 2.3% Na4O7P2 (w/w) (P); 2.3% (w/w) NaHCO3 (B); 7.7% (w/w) NaCl and 2.3% Na4O7P2 (w/w) (SP); 7.7% (w/w) NaCl and 2.3% (w/w) NaHCO3 (SB); 7.7% (w/w) NaCl, 2.3% Na4O7P2 (w/w) and 2.3% (w/w) NaHCO3 (SPB). Samples marinated with bicarbonate alone or in combination (B, SB and SPB) significantly increased (P<0.05) meat pH by approximately 0.7 units compared to the control, whilst phosphate alone or in combination with salt increased (P<0.05) the pH by 0.2 units. Combination containing all ingredients (SPB) produced the highest marinade performances, however sodium bicarbonate with salt (SB) was able to guarantee a better marinade uptake and water retention ability in respect to phosphates (SP). According to LR-NMR, the combined use of bicarbonate and/or phosphate with sodium chloride determined a remarkable increase of proportion of entrapped water into myofibrillar spaces, while extra-myofibrillar water fraction was not modified. Moreover water gain following marination does not correspond to an increase of freezable water amount as detected by DSC. In conclusion, bicarbonate is a very promising marinating agent and it can be exploited to develop processed poultry products with no added phosphates in order to match the request to avoid the nutritional drawbacks recently indicated with the use of phosphates

The first joint ESGAR/ ESPR consensus statement on the technical performance of cross-sectional small bowel and colonic imaging

Objectives: To develop guidelines describing a standardised approach to patient preparation and acquisition protocols for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound (US) of the small bowel and colon, with an emphasis on imaging inflammatory bowel disease. Methods: An expert consensus committee of 13 members from the European Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology (ESGAR) and European Society of Paediatric Radiology (ESPR) undertook a six-stage modified Delphi process, including a detailed literature review, to create a series of consensus statements concerning patient preparation, imaging hardware and image acquisition protocols. Results: One hundred and fifty-seven statements were scored for agreement by the panel of which 129 statements (82 %) achieved immediate consensus with a further 19 (12 %) achieving consensus after appropriate modification. Nine (6 %) statements were rejected as consensus could not be reached. Conclusions: These expert consensus recommendations can be used to help guide cross-sectional radiological practice for imaging the small bowel and colon. Key points: • Cross-sectional imaging is increasingly used to evaluate the bowel • Image quality is paramount to achieving high diagnostic accuracy • Guidelines concerning patient preparation and image acquisition protocols are provided

Gaping of pectoralis minor muscles: magnitude and characterization of an emerging quality issue in broilers

Recently, a certain number of broiler abattoirs located in different Countries around the World have signaled an emerging quality issue termed "gaping" because of the separation of the fiber bundles affecting the external portion of the bipinnate pectoralis minor muscle. Thus, after defining the criteria to classify the muscles as Normal (NORM), Moderate (MOD), or Severe (SEV) cases, the incidence of gaping under commercial conditions was assessed on a total of 8,600 P. minor obtained from broiler chickens belonging to 43 flocks during a 6-mo period. Then, a total of 180 P. minor were selected based on previously defined criteria to evaluate the main quality traits (pH, color, water-holding/-binding capacity and tenderness), proximate composition, water mobility, and thermal properties as well as metabolic profile through 1H-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy. The average incidence of gaping defect was found to be 16.8% (8.8 and 8.0% MOD and SEV cases, respectively). As for the main quality traits, a reduction in ultimate pH was observed as the severity of the gaping defect increased, with SEV muscles displaying significantly lower values in comparison with NORM (5.96 vs. 6.02; P < 0.01), while MOD showed intermediate values (5.99). Concurrently, if compared with their NORM counterpart, MOD and SEV exhibited higher lightness (53.6 and 54.2 vs. 51.8; P < 0.01) coupled with higher (P < 0.05) cooking losses and longer (P < 0.05) transversal relaxation time of extra-myofibrillar water fraction. Overall, no significant differences were found concerning proximate composition and thermal properties. With regard to the metabolic profile, a significantly lower (P < 0.001) glutamine concentration was found in MOD and SEV muscles that, concurrently, revealed significant (P < 0.05) variations in the metabolites involved in energy-generating pathways. Overall, these findings evidenced that the gaping defect affecting broilers' P. minor muscles have strong similarities with the pale-soft-exudative condition previously described in poultry and likely results from the biochemical processes taking place during the post-mortem conversion of muscle to meat

An environmental sustainability roadmap for partially substituting agricultural waste for sand in cement blocks

Agricultural waste can be used in cement block production for a number of reasons, including its environmental, economic, and labor benefits. This study examines the mechanical, durability, and cost-effectiveness characteristics of cement blocks. A cement block made from agriculture waste promotes sustainable construction practices, since waste agriculture is often dumped in landfills and regarded as a waste material. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions produced by the construction sector, either from the firing of clay bricks or from the production of cement, contribute significantly to global warming. In many developing countries, air pollution from agricultural activities is primarily accounted for the emissions from agricultural machinery and openly burning agro-waste. Farming is one of the leading causes of water and soil pollution. Hence, adopting agricultural waste into cement production would significantly reduce the environmental impact of concrete structures. The goal of this research is to determine whether agricultural waste products, such as vermiculite, pistachio shells, sugarcane bagasse, and coconut husks, can be used to substitute sand in concrete blocks. The water absorption capacity of waste materials, density, flexural strength, fire resistance, and compressive strength of waste materials as admixtures in concrete were evaluated using experimental tests. In most cases, the concrete blocks made from agricultural waste were strong enough to satisfy ASTM standards. The specimens containing coconut husks and pistachio shells, among others, were found to be fairly strong and durable, even when isolating them from water