Options for dust reduction from poultry houses

Large poultry houses emit high amounts of fine dust (PM10) and in many cases they exceed the ambient air quality standard set by the EU. Technologies for PM10 reduction need to be developed on short term to minimize PM10 emissions from poultry houses. Studied options for dust reduction were: application of an oil film on the litter and application of an ionization system. Rapeseed oil was sprayed daily in a quantity of 8 to 24 ml/m2 in broiler houses and 20 ml/m2 in layer houses. The ionization system was applied in a broiler house and had a voltage difference of -30kV, with a current of approximately 0.7 mA. Daily emissions of PM10 particles were determined at regular intervals by measuring concentrations at the ventilation inlet and outlet and by measuring the airflow rate. For the oil system PM10 emission reductions were in the ranges of 55 – 85% in broilers and 25 – 40% in layers. The ionization system, applied in broilers, reduced PM10 emission on average by 36%

Prevalence of diabetes, metabolic syndrome and metabolic abnormalities in schizophrenia over the course of the illness: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Patients with schizophrenia are at high risk of developing metabolic abnormalities. METHOD: A prospective study focusing on metabolic disturbances in patients with schizophrenia, including an oral glucose tolerance test, is currently ongoing at our University Hospital and affiliate services. The prevalence of metabolic abnormalities at baseline was assessed in a cohort of 415 patients with schizophrenia. The sample was divided into 4 groups according to duration of illness: first-episode patients (<1.5 years), recent-onset patients (between 1.5 and 10 years), subchronic patients (between 10 and 20 years) and chronic patients (>20 years). RESULTS: Metabolic abnormalities were already present in first-episode patients, and considerably increased with increasing duration of illness. When compared to the general population matched for age and gender, much higher rates of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and diabetes were observed for patients with schizophrenia. For MetS, the increase over time was similar to that of the general population. In contrast, the difference in the prevalence of diabetes in patients with schizophrenia and the general population dramatically and linearly increased from 1.6% in the 15–25 age-band to 19.2% in the 55–65 age-band. CONCLUSION: Thus, the current data suggest that on the one hand metabolic abnormalities are an inherent part of schizophrenic illness, as they are already present in first-episode patients. On the other hand, however, our results suggest a direct effect of the illness and/or antipsychotic medication on their occurence. The data underscore the need for screening for metabolic abnormalities in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, already starting from the onset of the illness

A morphological algorithm for improving radio-frequency interference detection

A technique is described that is used to improve the detection of radio-frequency interference in astronomical radio observatories. It is applied on a two-dimensional interference mask after regular detection in the time-frequency domain with existing techniques. The scale-invariant rank (SIR) operator is defined, which is a one-dimensional mathematical morphology technique that can be used to find adjacent intervals in the time or frequency domain that are likely to be affected by RFI. The technique might also be applicable in other areas in which morphological scale-invariant behaviour is desired, such as source detection. A new algorithm is described, that is shown to perform quite well, has linear time complexity and is fast enough to be applied in modern high resolution observatories. It is used in the default pipeline of the LOFAR observatory.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&

Intussusception of the Small Intestine Caused by a Primary Melanoma?

Although the gastrointestinal tract is a fairly frequent site of melanoma metastases, reports of small bowel intussusception caused by melanoma are very rare. We report the case of a 77-year-old man who was admitted to our hospital with epigastric pain, melena and anaemia. After clinical examination, laboratory evaluation and radiological work-up the diagnosis of a jejunal intussusception was made. Exploratory laparoscopy revealed a large tumour arising from the jejunum, approximately 20 cm distal to the angle of Treitz. Small bowel resection with an end-to-end anastomosis was performed. Histological examination showed an intestinal melanoma. There are different theories concerning the origin of malignant melanoma in the small bowel. Although the small and large intestines normally contain no melanocytes, these cells have occasionally been found in the alimentary and respiratory tracts and even in lymph nodes, which supports the theory of a primary origin of melanoma at these sites. Since this was a solitary intestinal lesion and there was no history of cutaneous melanoma, we conclude that this could be an example of a very rare primary melanoma of the small intestine

Crucial role of antibodies to pertactin in Bordetella pertussis immunity

Pertussis, a serious infectious disease of the respiratory tract caused by Bordetella pertussis, is reemerging in vaccinated populations. Efforts to curtail this disease are hampered by limited insight into the basis of protective immunity. Opsonophagocytosis was recently found to play a central role in cellular bactericidal activity against B. pertussis. In the present study, we studied the specificity of opsonic antibodies. Anti-pertactin antibodies, but not anti-pertussis toxin, anti-fimbriae, or anti-filamentous hemagglutinin antibodies, were found to be crucial for B. pertussis phagocytosis. These data are consistent with field studies showing that levels of antibodies to pertactin correlate with protection.Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriale

Crucial role of antibodies to pertactin in Bordetella pertussis immunity

Pertussis, a serious infectious disease of the respiratory tract caused by Bordetella pertussis, is reemerging in vaccinated populations. Efforts to curtail this disease are hampered by limited insight into the basis of protective immunity. Opsonophagocytosis was recently found to play a central role in cellular bactericidal activity against B. pertussis. In the present study, we studied the specificity of opsonic antibodies. Anti-pertactin antibodies, but not anti-pertussis toxin, anti-fimbriae, or anti-filamentous hemagglutinin antibodies, were found to be crucial for B. pertussis phagocytosis. These data are consistent with field studies showing that levels of antibodies to pertactin correlate with protection.Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriale

Fc receptor-mediated immunity against Bordetella pertussis

The relevance of specific Abs for the induction of cellular effector functions against Bordetella pertussis was studied. IgG-opsonized B. pertussis was efficiently phagocytosed by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). This process was mediated by the PMN IgG receptors, FcγRIIa (CD32) and FcγRIIIb (CD16), working synergistically. Furthermore, these FcγR triggered efficient PMN respiratory burst activity and mediated transfer of B. pertussis to lysosomal compartments, ultimately resulting in reduced bacterial viability. Bacteria opsonized with IgA triggered similar PMN activation via FcαR (CD89). Simultaneous engagement of FcαRI and FcγR by B. pertussis resulted in increased phagocytosis rates, compared with responses induced by either isotype alone. These data provide new insights into host immune mechanisms against B. pertussis and document a crucial role for Ig-FcR interactions in immunity to this human pathogen.Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriale

Fc receptor-mediated immunity against Bordetella pertussis

The relevance of specific Abs for the induction of cellular effector functions against Bordetella pertussis was studied. IgG-opsonized B. pertussis was efficiently phagocytosed by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). This process was mediated by the PMN IgG receptors, FcγRIIa (CD32) and FcγRIIIb (CD16), working synergistically. Furthermore, these FcγR triggered efficient PMN respiratory burst activity and mediated transfer of B. pertussis to lysosomal compartments, ultimately resulting in reduced bacterial viability. Bacteria opsonized with IgA triggered similar PMN activation via FcαR (CD89). Simultaneous engagement of FcαRI and FcγR by B. pertussis resulted in increased phagocytosis rates, compared with responses induced by either isotype alone. These data provide new insights into host immune mechanisms against B. pertussis and document a crucial role for Ig-FcR interactions in immunity to this human pathogen.Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriale

Morphological changes in 15 skeletal muscles of horses after 8 weeks of aquatraining

C