Potential application of serological tests on fluids from carcasses: detection of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii and Sarcoptes scabiei in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Serological surveys for disease investigation of wild animal populations require obtaining blood samples for analysis, which has logistic, ethic and economic difficulties. Applying serological test to fluids collected from dead animals is an alternative. The aim of this study was to assess if antibodies could be detected in two types of fluids collected from 56 carcasses of red foxes (<it>Vulpes vulpes</it>): pleural fluid and lung extract.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>In 22 (39%) foxes antibodies against <it>Sarcoptes scabiei </it>were detected in both fluid types by ELISA and Western blot. In 46 (82%) foxes, antibodies against <it>Toxoplasma gondii </it>were detected in pleural fluid and in 41 (73%) in lung extract applying a Toxo-screen test (DAT). Antibodies were still detectable in the same fluids kept at room temperature for 28 days, although in fewer foxes (16 and 14 foxes tested for <it>T. gondii </it>in lung extract and pleural fluid respectively; and 1 and 4 tested for <it>S. scabiei </it>in lung extract and pleural fluid respectively.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results indicate the potential utility of using fluids from carcasses for antibody screening of wild animals at the population level.</p

Vall och helsäd ger mycket biogas!

I ett samarbete mellan Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet (SLU) och Lunds universitet har en forskargrupp undersökt hur snittlängden vid hackning av vall och helsäd, som biogasgrödor, påverkar metanpotentialen, energiavkastning och produktionskostnad. Resultaten visar på ett högt energiutbyte både hos vall och helsäd. Vidare är sambandet mellan snittlängd och metanpotential mer komplext än förväntat. Det verkar inte alltid vara lönt att hacka fint – tvärtom ser det i vissa fall ut till att både leda till minskat energiutbyte och kosta mer. Den viktigaste slutsatsen är att optimera metanpotential hos biogasråvaran först genom att välja rätt skördetidpunkt. Resultaten visar att det är möjligt att spara diesel och arbetstid genom att välja en längre snittlängd

ASTOR: An Autostereoscopic Optical Seethrough Augmented Reality System

We present a novel autostereoscopic optical see-through system for Augmented Reality (AR). It uses a transparent holographic optical element (HOE) to separate the views produced by two, or more, digital projectors. It is a minimally intrusive AR system that does not require the user to wear special glasses or any other equipment, since the user will see different images depending on the point of view. The HOE itself is a thin glass plate or plastic film that can easily be incorporated into other surfaces, such as a window. The technology offers great flexibility, allowing the projectors to be placed where they are the least intrusive. ASTOR’s capability of sporadic AR visualization is currently ideal for smaller physical workspaces, such as our prototype setup in an industrial environment

Nitrifierande biofilmer f\uf6r biologisk kv\ue4verening i avloppsreningsverk

Biological nitrogen removal is implemented in Swedish wastewater treatmentplants, often using biofilm processes for nitrification. Using DNA basedmethods we analyzed population dynamics and activity of nitrifying biofilms,and have tested different running strategies in a pilot plant with controlledammonium concentrations

Discrete-time models for control applications with FMI

The paper proposes an extension of FMI 2.0 for the rigorous treatment of discrete-time models. This includes the introduction of discrete-time states, the declaration of clocks in the model description and an extension of the calling interface for the external activation of clocks by an importing environment. The synchronous discrete-time extension enables for the first time the synchronization of FMUs with the environment and with other FMUs. It specializes the existing generic event mechanism of FMI 2.0 and maps to synchronous features of Modelica. Discrete-time FMUs are needed for the generation of controller code from functional models. This paper outlines different use cases, including a simple PI controller, feed forward control with a nonlinear inverse model and nonlinear model predictive control. The FMI change proposal FCP-001 and the Modelica change proposal MCP-0024 describe the proposed extensions in more detail. Test implementations exist in the simulation tools Dymola and OpenModelica and in the importing optimization solver HQP. The use cases given in this paper served for further refinement of the change proposals and the test implementations

Tensile properties of a bone cement containing non-ionic contrast media

The addition of contrast media such as BaSO4 or ZrO2 to bone cement has adverse effects in joint replacements, including third body wear and particle-induced bone resorption. Ground PMMA containing particles of the non-ionic water-soluble iodine-based X-ray contrast media, iohexol (IHX) and iodixanol (IDX), has, in bone tissue culture, shown less bone resorption than commercial cements. These water-soluble non-ceramic contrast media may change the mechanical properties of acrylic bone cement. The static mechanical properties of bone cement containing either IHX or IDX have been investigated. There was no significant difference in ultimate stress between Palacos R (with 15.0 wt % of ZrO2) and plain cement with 8.0 wt % of IHX or IDX with mass median diameter (MMD) of 15.0 or 16.0 microm, while strain to failure was higher for the latter (p < 0.02). The larger particles (15.0 or 16.0 microm) gave significantly higher (p < 0.001) ultimate tensile strengths and strains to failure than smaller sizes (2.4 or 3.6 microm). Decreasing the amount of IHX from 10.0 wt % to 6.0 wt % gave a higher ultimate tensile strength (p < 0.001) and strain to failure (p < 0.02). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed the smaller contrast media particles attached to the surface of the polymer beads, which may prevent areas of the acrylate bead surface from participating in the polymerization. In conclusion, the mechanical properties of bone cement were influenced by the size and amount of contrast medium particles. By choosing the appropriate amount and size of particles of water-soluble non-ionic contrast media the mechanical properties of the new radio-opaque bone cement can be optimized, thus reaching and surpassing given regulatory standards