FEM modeling of magnetic microwire and its using for stress monitoring inside the composite beam

The proposed article is devoted to the stress evaluation inside the composite beam using the embedded magnetic microwire sensors. The interlaminar stresses with high values can occur inside the composite structures during the operation. It is essential to monitor the stresses and to increase the lifetime of the composite materials by prediction using the research results from the stress distribution estimation and also during the operation using the embedded magnetic microwire-based sensors. In the article the results of the mechanical stress distribution between the magnetic microwire coating and core and the discussion about the experimental application of the magnetic microwire inside the composite beam are presented

Aquarium Nitrification Revisited: Thaumarchaeota Are the Dominant Ammonia Oxidizers in Freshwater Aquarium Biofilters

Ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) outnumber ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in many terrestrial and aquatic environments. Although nitrification is the primary function of aquarium biofilters, very few studies have investigated the microorganisms responsible for this process in aquaria. This study used quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) to quantify the ammonia monooxygenase (amoA) and 16S rRNA genes of Bacteria and Thaumarchaeota in freshwater aquarium biofilters, in addition to assessing the diversity of AOA amoA genes by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and clone libraries. AOA were numerically dominant in 23 of 27 freshwater biofilters, and in 12 of these biofilters AOA contributed all detectable amoA genes. Eight saltwater aquaria and two commercial aquarium nitrifier supplements were included for comparison. Both thaumarchaeal and bacterial amoA genes were detected in all saltwater samples, with AOA genes outnumbering AOB genes in five of eight biofilters. Bacterial amoA genes were abundant in both supplements, but thaumarchaeal amoA and 16S rRNA genes could not be detected. For freshwater aquaria, the proportion of amoA genes from AOA relative to AOB was inversely correlated with ammonium concentration. DGGE of AOA amoA genes revealed variable diversity across samples, with nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) indicating separation of freshwater and saltwater fingerprints. Composite clone libraries of AOA amoA genes revealed distinct freshwater and saltwater clusters, as well as mixed clusters containing both freshwater and saltwater amoA gene sequences. These results reveal insight into commonplace residential biofilters and suggest that aquarium biofilters may represent valuable biofilm microcosms for future studies of AOA ecology

Lung cancer and occupational social status : The synergy study

Introduction Several studies associated low socioeconomic status (SES) with lung cancer. However, many were not able to consider smoking behaviour appropriately. We took advantage of the international SYNERGY study of pooled case-control studies with detailed information of smoking habits and the occupational history to study the association between lung cancer and occupationally derived SES. Methods Twelve case-control studies from Europe and Canada were included. We estimated SES based on the subjects' complete occupational histories using the International Socio-Economic Index of Occupational Status (ISEI) and the European Socio-economic Classification (ESeC). ISEI was categorised into four equidistant categories comprising the same number of codes and, secondly, according to quartiles of the sex-specific score distribution among control subjects. We calculated odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) by unconditional logistic regression, adjusting for age, study, and smoking behaviour, and stratified by sex. Subgroup analyses by lung cancer histological subtype, study region, birth cohort, education, and occupational exposure to known lung carcinogens were also carried out. Result We included 17 021 cases and 20 885 control subjects into the final analysis. There was a strongly elevated association of lung cancer with low SES in the analysis adjusted for age and study. Adjustment for smoking attenuated the associations, however, a social gradient with lung cancer persisted. Comparing the lowest vs highest SES category in men yielded: ISEI OR=1.84 (95% CI: 1.61 to 2.09) and ESeC OR=1.53 (95% CI: 1.44 to 1.63). ORs for women were slightly lower: ISEI OR=1.54 (95% CI: 1.20 to 1.98) and ESeC OR=1.34 (95% CI: 1.19 to 1.52). Discussion Low SES remained an independent risk factor for lung cancer even after controlling for smoking habits