Field Trial on Glucose-Induced Insulin Response in High-Yielding Dairy Cows under Different Environmental Temperatures

This study aimed to evaluate glucose-induced insulin response in cows exposed to different temperature-humidity index. Twenty early lactating Holstein-Friesian cows were divided into 2 equal groups based on season, as summer (SU) and spring (SP). SP cows were not exposed to heat stress, while SU cows were exposed to moderate or severe heat stress. Milk production was recorded daily. Starting from day 30 of lactation, intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) was carried out three times at 30-day intervals. Blood samples were taken before (basal) and after glucose infusion, and glucose and insulin were measured at each sample point. The homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) index was calculated. Milk yield from days 30 to 40 and 64 to 90 of lactation were higher in SP cows than in SU cows. Basal glucose did not differ on days 30 and 60 of lactation, while basal insulin and HOMA were lower in SU compared to SP cows. On day 90 of lactation, SU cows had higher basal glucose, whereas basal insulin and HOMA did not differ. IVGTT results revealed that glucose tolerance was affected by heat stress such that SU cows had higher glucose clearance. Insulin responses to IVGTT did not differ on days 30 and 60 of lactation. Heat stress had a marked effect on insulin secretion on day 90 of lactation, illustrated by higher increments, peak concentrations and area under the curve for insulin in SU cows. Overall, season differences in glucose tolerance depend not only on heat stress and milk production but also on the stage of lactation

Intelligent design and optimization of machining fixtures

U radu je predstavljen integralni sustav za projektiranje i optimizaciju konstrukcije naprava za strojnu obradu. Dio sustava za optimizaciju omogućuje, s jedne strane, određivanje optimalnih pozicija elemenata za baziranje i stezanje kako bi se postigla potrebna točnost i kvaliteta obrađene površine izratka, a s druge strane, generiranje konstrukcije naprava bez kolizija. Dio sustava za projektiranje osigurava izbor pojedinih elemenata naprava na osnovi prethodno definiranih produkcijskih pravila. Prilagođeni kriteriji izbora definirani su za elemente za baziranje, elemente za stezanje, elemente za vođenje alata, elemente za podešavanje položaja alata, elemente tijela naprava, elemente za povezivanje i nadogradne elemente. Sustav je baziran na geometrijskim karakteristikama i karakterističnim obilježjima djela, kao i dodatnim informacijama o obradi i informacijama iz tehnološkog procesa. Sustav je razvijan za operacije tokarenja, bušenja, glodanja i brušenja koje se izvode na rotacijskim i prizmatičnim radnim predmetima. U radu su djelomično prikazani izlazni rezultati razvijenog sustava. Na kraju rada dani su odgovarajući zaključci i istaknuti mogući pravci daljih istraživanja.This work presents an integral system for machining fixture layout design and optimization. The optimization module of this system allows determination of optimal positions of locating and clamping elements, which provides required accuracy and surface quality, while at the same time guarantees design of collision-free fixtures. The design module performs selection of required fixture elements based on a set of predefined production rules. Adequate criteria for the selection of fixture elements are defined for locating, clamping, tool guiding, and tool adjustment elements, as well as for fixture body elements, connecting elements and add-on elements. The system uses geometry and feature workpiece characteristics, as well as the additional machining, and process planning information. It has been developed to accommodate machining processes of turning, drilling, milling, and grinding of rotational and prismatic workpieces. A segment of output results is also shown. Finally, conclusions are presented with directions for future investigation

Retinal venular oxygen saturation is associated with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy in young patients with type 1 diabetes

Purpose To determine the contribution of retinal vessel density (VD), central retinal vessel diameter and retinal oxygen (O2) saturation independently of other known risk factors in the development of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR). Methods Macular optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), central retinal artery/vein equivalent diameter (CRAE/CRVE) measurements and retinal oximetry were performed in a cross-sectional study of 166 eyes from 166 individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) aged 14–30 years. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to investigate whether O2 saturation, retinal vessel diameters and vessel density in the deep capillary plexus (VD-DCP) were associated with NPDR, when adjusting for known risk factors. The individuals were allocated to one group without and one group with NPDR. Results Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that age (OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.04–1.49) and AV-difference in O2 saturation (OR = 0.85, 95% CI 0.77–0.93) were significantly associated with NPDR. Conclusion Our findings suggest that age and lower AV-O2 saturation difference contribute to explaining the grade of NPDR independently of other well-known risk factors. Reduced delivery of O2 to the retinal tissue is associated with the development of NPDR in young patients with T1D and should be given appropriate weight in the risk stratification at early stages of the disease

Associations between macular OCT angiography and nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy in young patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Background/Objective. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is increasingly used to supplement ophthalmoscopy in the diagnosis and follow-up of diabetic retinopathy. Our objective was to confirm if OCTA parameters can predict the development of nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) and to clarify if any single OCTA parameter is associated with NPDR independently of well-known risk factors in young type 1 diabetes (T1D) patients. Methods. OCTA of both eyes was performed in a cross-sectional study of 14 to 30-year-old individuals with at least 10-year duration of T1D and controls recruited from the Norwegian Atherosclerosis and Childhood Diabetes (ACD) study. Vessel density (VD) and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area in the superficial and deep capillary plexus (SCP and DCP), total retinal volume (TRV), and central macular thickness (CMT) were calculated using automated software. Univariate and multivariate ordered logistic regression (OLR) models were used accordingly. Results. We included 168 control eyes and 315 T1D eyes. Lower VD in DCP (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.51–0.83), longer diabetes duration (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.22–1.87), and higher waist circumference (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.02–1.14) were significantly associated with progression of NPDR. VD in SCP and DCP were significantly lower in T1D patients without diabetic retinopathy than in controls. Conclusions. Sparser VD in DCP is significantly associated with severity of NPDR, supporting that OCTA might detect the earliest signs of NPDR before it is visible by ophthalmoscopy

Pollution and moisture infiltration effect assessment based on data-driven analysis for aircraft heritage protection

International audienceThe paper deals with monitoring and analyzing the indoor environmental parameters through remote data collection to evaluate the pollution and moisture infiltration effects on aircraft heritage conservation. First, based on the meteorological and pollution data, the moisture penetration and airborne pollution infiltration into indoor spaces of a heritage site (hangar) with stored historic aircrafts are determined. The hangar under investigation is located in the Aviation museum Kbely, Prague, Czech Republic. The determination is performed by wet/dry cycles (fluctuations) evaluation and applying ISO 11844 methodology to outdoor pollution infiltration into the interior. Next, a time of wetness (ToW) is determined indoors according to ISO 9223, rather as an environmental than a surface parameter as dewing and exceeding high humidity level (approxl RH 80% at T>0 °C) are considered. The actual moisture adsorption onto polluted surfaces of aircraft artifacts is then dependent on the hygroscopic corrosion products developed. Such an adsorption prolongs actual surface ToW. In addition to ToW, even the deposition rate of indoor pollutants, particularly sulphur dioxide and chlorides, are considered and the atmosphere corrosivity is estimated by applying the ISO standardized statistical models for aluminium. The resulting iso-corrosivity figures out the aggressiveness of the hangar environment from the point of view of aircraft material susceptibility to corrosion and degradation

Climate for Culture: assessing the impact of climate change on the future indoor climate in historic buildings using simulations

Background The present study reports results from the large-scale integrated EU project “Climate for Culture”. The full name, or title, of the project is Climate for Culture: damage risk assessment, economic impact and mitigation strategies for sustainable preservation of cultural heritage in times of climate change. This paper focusses on implementing high resolution regional climate models together with new building simulation tools in order to predict future outdoor and indoor climate conditions. The potential impact of gradual climate change on historic buildings and on the vast collections they contain has been assessed. Two moderate IPCC emission scenarios A1B and RCP 4.5 were used to predict indoor climates in historic buildings from the recent past until the year 2100. Risks to the building and to the interiors with valuable artifacts were assessed using damage functions. A set of generic building types based on data from existing buildings were used to transfer outdoor climate conditions to indoor conditions using high resolution climate projections for Europe and the Mediterranean. Results The high resolution climate change simulations have been performed with the regional climate model REMO over the whole of Europe including the Mediterranean region. Whole building simulation tools and a simplified building model were developed for historic buildings; they were forced with high resolution climate simulations. This has allowed maps of future climate-induced risks for historic buildings and their interiors to be produced. With this procedure future energy demands for building control can also be calculated. Conclusion With the newly developed method described here not only can outdoor risks for cultural heritage assets resulting from climate change be assessed, but also risks for indoor collections. This can be done for individual buildings as well as on a larger scale in the form of European risk maps. By using different standardized and exemplary artificial buildings in modelling climate change impact, a comparison between different regions in Europe has become possible for the first time. The methodology will serve heritage owners and managers as a decision tool, helping them to plan more effectively mitigation and adaption measures at various levels. Keywords: Climate change; High resolution climate modelling; Whole building simulation; Indoor climates; Damage and risk assessmen