Development of glass-stalks-unsaturated polyester hybrid composites

The aim of this study is to investigate the possibility to use agro-residues of the vinification process as a cheaper and eco-friendly fillers to prepare unsaturated polyester composites for interior design building sector. Experimental unsaturated polyester–based resin composite samples, reinforced with grape stalks, were prepared by a simple casting technique. The glass microspheres were added in the mixing to increase the mechanical and physical properties of the final materials. A silane coupling agent was used to increase the interface adhesion between resin and grape stalks. The samples were subjected to several tests. Unfilled samples were analyzed by Differential Scanning calorimetry (DSC). Prepared silanized and non-silanized composites were completely characterized in order to study the effect of stalk fibers concentration on the mechanical, chemical and physical properties. The results showed that mechanical and physical properties for silanized composites were superior to non-silanized composites. The presence of stalks, up to 50% wt. increased Young's Modulus preserving a satisfactory tensile strength and hardness in comparison with the neat resin properties. Then, the final results showed that grape stalks from winemaking can be satisfactory used as natural filler resource to produce composites for interior furniture

80/20 Principle: Application in Manufacturing Companies

Responding to the request of a company in pushing the income statement in profit, the authors of this article propose to apply to the products contribution margin the 80/20 principl

Capacidade predatória de Orius insidiosus predando Aphis gossypii sob o efeito da temperatura e variação da umidade relativa e fotoperíodo.

Estudou-se a capacidade predatória de Orius insidiosus predando o pulgão do algodoeiro Aphis gossypii sob o efeito da temperatura (25ºC) em diferentes umidades relativas (50, 60 e 70%) e fotoperíodos (10:14; 14:10 e 12:12 de luz:escuro). Folhas de algodoeiro cultivar DeltaOpal foram individualizada e infestada com quinze ninfas de terceiro/quarto estádio de A. gossypii e em seguida liberado um adulto do predador O.insidiosus. As avaliações foram realizadas diariamente, quantificando-se sobrevivência, longevidade e o número de pulgões predados por dia e total. A sobrevivência do predador foi afetada pelos fotoperíodos, enquanto que quando mantidos em umidade relativa de 50%, houve uma taxa menor de sobrevivência. A longevidade foi menor quando o predador estava condicionado ao fotoperíodo de 14:10 (luz:escuro). As condições testadas influenciaram na taxa diária e total de predação para fase adulta de O. insidiosus. O predador quando submetido a alta umidade relativa (70%) favoreceu maior taxa de predação

Desenvolvimento de metodologia de criação e multiplicação de Aphis gossypii: avanços e sucessos.

Estudos sobre as mais diversas formas de controle de pragas e utilização de inimigos naturais, exigem artrópodes em quantidade e qualidade

On-therapy impedance-pH monitoring can efficiently characterize PPI-refractory GERD and support treatment escalation

Background: On-therapy impedance-pH monitoring is recommended in patients with documented GERD and PPI-refractory heartburn in order to establish whether the unremitting symptom is reflux-related or not. Aims: To define on-PPI cut-offs of impedance-pH metrics allowing proper interpretation of on-therapy impedance-pH monitoring. Methods: Blinded expert review of impedance-pH tracings performed during double-dosage PPI, prospectively collected from 150 GERD patients with PPI-refractory heartburn and 45 GERD patients with PPI-responsive heartburn but persisting extra-esophageal symptoms. Acid exposure time (AET), number of total refluxes (TRs), post-reflux swallow-induced peristaltic wave (PSPW) index, and mean nocturnal baseline impedance (MNBI) were assessed. On-PPI cut-offs were defined and evaluated with ROC analysis and the area under curve (AUC). Results: All the four impedance-pH metrics significantly differed between PPI-refractory and PPI-responsive heartburn cases. At ROC analysis, AUC was 0.73 for AET, 0.75 for TRs, 0.81 for PSPW index, and 0.71 for MNBI; best cut-offs were ≥1.7% for AET, ≥45 for TRs, ≤36% for PSPW index, and ≤ 1847 Ω for MNBI; AUC of such cut-offs was 0.66, 0.71, 0.73, and 0.68, respectively. Analysis of PSPW index and MNBI added to assessment of AET and TRs significantly increased the yield of on-therapy impedance-pH monitoring in the PPI-refractory cohort (97% vs. 83%, p < 0.0001). Notably, suboptimal acid suppression as shown by AET ≥1.7% was detected in 43% of 150 PPI-refractory cases. Conclusions: We have defined on-PPI cut-offs of impedance-pH metrics by which comprehensive assessment of impedance-pH tracings, including analysis of PSPW index and MNBI can efficiently characterize PPI-refractory GERD and support treatment escalation

Physical Models of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Flows: Some Developments and Recent Applications

Experimental studies on wind engineering require the use of different types of physical models of boundary layer flows. Small-scale models obtained in a wind tunnel, for example, attempt to reproduce real atmosphere phenomena like wind loads on structures and pollutant dispersion by the mean flow and turbulent mixing. The quality of the scale model depends on the similarity between the laboratory-generated flow and the atmospheric flow. Different types of neutral atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) including full-depth and part-depth simulations are experimentally evaluated. The Prof. Jacek Gorecki wind tunnel of the UNNE, Argentina, and the Prof. Joaquim Blessmann closed-return wind tunnel of the UFRGS, Brazil, were used to obtain the experimental data. Finally, some recent wind engineering applications of this type of physical wind models are shown

Aspectos biológicos de fêmeas adultas de Orius insidiosus (SAY, 1832) (HEMIPTERA: ANTHOCORIDAE) alimentadas com diferentes densidades de Aphis gossypii (GLOVER, 1877) (HEMIPTERA: APHIDIDAE)

Orius insidiosus (SAY, 1832) é uma espécie de predador importante para programas de controle biológico

Current and Novel Therapies for Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Diseases

Eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases (EGIDs) are an emerging group of pathological entities characterized by an eosinophil-predominant infiltration of different tracts of the gut in the absence of secondary causes of eosinophilia. According to the specific tract of the gut involved, EGIDs can be classified into eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), eosinophilic gastritis (EoG), eosinophilic enteritis (EoN), and eosinophilic colitis (EoC). The epidemiology of EGIDs is evolving rapidly. EoE, once considered a rare disease, now has an incidence and prevalence of 7.7 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants per years and 34.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants per year, respectively. Fewer data are available regarding non-EoE EGIDs, whose prevalence are estimated to range between 2.1 and 17.6 in 100,000 individuals, depending on age, sex, and ethnicity. Diagnosis requires the presence of suggestive symptoms, endoscopic biopsies showing abnormal values of eosinophils infiltrating the gut, and exclusion of secondary causes of eosinophilia. EoE typically presents with dysphagia and episodes of food bolus impactions, while EoG, EoN, and EoC may all present with abdominal pain and diarrhea, with or without other non-specific symptoms. In addition, although different EGIDs are currently classified as different entities, there may be overlap between different diseases in the same patient. Despite EGIDs being relatively novel pathological entities, the research on possible treatments is rapidly growing. In this regard, several randomized controlled trials are currently ongoing to investigate novel molecules, including ad-hoc steroid formulations, immunosuppressants, and mostly monoclonal antibodies that target the specific molecular mediators of EGIDs. This narrative review provides an up-to-date overview of available and investigational drugs for different EGIDs

Translational Gap between Guidelines and Clinical Medicine: The Viewpoint of Italian General Practitioners in the Management of IBS

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) guidelines are generally developed by experts, with the possibility of a translational gap in clinical medicine. The aim of our study was to assess an Italian group of general practitioners (GPs) for their awareness and use of criteria for the diagnosis and management of IBS. For this purpose, a survey was carried out involving 235 GPs, divided into two groups according to their years of activity: 65 “junior general practitioners” (JGPs) (≤10 years) and 170 “senior general practitioners” (SGPs) (>10 years). JGPs were more familiar with the Rome IV Criteria and Bristol Scale than SGPs. Abdominal pain, bowel movement frequency and bloating were the symptoms most frequently used to make a diagnosis. The most probable causes of IBS were reported to be abnormal gastrointestinal motility and psychological triggers. SGPs reported more frequently than JGPs that challenging management and patient’s request were motivations for a gastroenterological consultation. The practice of clinical medicine is still far from the guidelines provided by the specialists. Abdominal pain related to defecation and changes in bowel frequency are considered to be the more important symptoms for IBS diagnosis, but most GPs, both JGPs and SGPs, like to consider abdominal bloating as another useful symptom. Involving both gastroenterologists and GPs in developing shared guidelines would be highly desirable in order to improve IBS management strategies in everyday clinical practice

Ig Glycosylation in Ulcerative Colitis: It’s Time for New Biomarkers

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic relapsing disease, which needs a continue monitoring, especially during biological therapies. An increasing number of patients is treated with anti-Tumor Necrosis factor (TNF) drugs, and current research is focalized to identify biomarkers able to monitor the disease and to predict therapeutic outcome. Methods: We enrolled consecutive UC patients treated with anti-TNF, naïve to biologic drugs. Therapeutic outcome was evaluated after 54 weeks of treatment in terms of clinical remission (Partial Mayo Score -PMS- <2) and mucosal healing (Mayo Endoscopic Score <2). On serum samples collected at baseline and after 54 weeks of treatment, a Lectin-based ELISA assay was performed, and specific glycosylation patterns were evaluated by biotin-labelled lectins. We have also collected 21 healthy controls (NHS) samples, age and sex-matched. Results: Out of 44 UC patients enrolled, 22 achieved clinical remission and mucosal healing after 54 weeks. At baseline, when Protein A was used as coating, UC patients non-responders showed a reduced reactivity to Jacalin (JAC) in comparison with NHS (p = 0.04). After one year of treatment, a decrease in JAC binding was seen only in responders, in comparison with baseline (p = 0.04). When JAC binding was tested selecting IgG by means of Fab anti-IgG Fab, UC patients displayed an increased reactivity after anti-TNF therapy (p < 0,0001 vs controls). At baseline, PMS inversely correlates with JAC binding when Fab anti-IgG Fab was used in solid phase (r2 = 0,2211; p = 0,0033). Patients with higher PMS at baseline (PMS ≥5) presented lower binding capacity for JAC in comparison with NHS and with lower PMS patients (p = 0,0135 and p = 0,0089, respectively). Conclusion: Ig glycosylation was correlated with clinical and endoscopic activity in patients with UC. JAC protein A-selected Ig showed a possible role in predicting therapeutic effectiveness. If these data would be confirmed, Ig glycosylation could be used as biomarker in UC