Effect of galactooligosaccharides delivered in ovo on meat quality traits of broiler chickens exposed to heat stress

ABSTRACT: A study was carried out to evaluate meat quality traits in fast-growing chickens stimulated in ovo with trans-galactoolighosaccarides (GOS) and exposed to heat stress. On day 12 of egg incubation, 3,000 fertilized eggs (Ross 308) were divided into prebiotic group (GOS) injected with 3.5 mg GOS/egg, saline group (S) injected with physiological saline, and control group (C) uninjected. After hatching, 900 male chicks (300 chicks/treatment) were reared in floor pens in either thermoneutral (TN; 6 pens/group, 25 birds/pen) or heat stress conditions (HS, 30°C from 32 to 42 D; 6 pens/group, 25 birds/pen). At 42 D of age, 15 randomly chosen birds/treatment/temperature were slaughtered and the pectoral muscle (PM) was removed for analyses. Data were analyzed by GLM in a 3 × 2 factorial design. In ovo treatment had no effect on PM weight, pH, water-holding capacity, and shear force. GOS and S birds had lighter (L*, P < 0.01) PM than C group, whereas the latter showed a higher (P < 0.05) yellowness index (b*) compared to S group. Proximate composition, cholesterol, and intramuscular collagen properties were not affected by treatment. As for fatty acid composition, only total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) content and n-6 PUFA were slightly lower in GOS group compared to S. Heat stress had a detrimental effect on PM weight (P < 0.01) and increased meat pH (P < 0.01). PM from HS chickens was darker with a higher b* index (P < 0.05) and had a higher (P < 0.01) lipid content and a lower (P < 0.05) total collagen amount. Total saturated fatty acids (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), and PUFA were similar among groups. Significant interactions between factors were found for fatty acid composition: GOS decreased (P < 0.01) SFA and increased (P < 0.05) MUFA contents in HS birds. In conclusion, in ovo injection of GOS could mitigate the detrimental effect of heat stress on some meat quality traits

Fabrication and characterization of thin piezoelectric β-poly(vinylidene fluoride) films

The polymer polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) has four phases, each characterized by different molecular configurations of the polymer chains. In its beta phase it arranges in an all-trans configuration with dipolar symmetry, exhibiting piezoelectric effects. During the production of thin PVDF films by spin-coating, the polymer chains are not aligned and the dipoles are not oriented. To achieve the desired piezoelectric behavior, it is necessary to optimize both the chain alignment and the dipole orientation processes. We here present an easy procedure to maximize the percentage of the beta phase in the polymer production. The efficiency and reliability of such method has been assessed through Fourier-Transform Infra-Red and Raman spectroscopies, while the morphological differences of the two phases have been analyzed through Scanning Electron Microscopy. The results confirm the efficiency of this method

Effect of galactooligosaccharides delivered in ovo on meat quality traits of broiler chickens exposed to heat stress

A study was carried out to evaluate meat quality traits in fast-growing chickens stimulated in ovo with trans-galactoolighosaccarides (GOS) and exposed to heat stress. On day 12 of egg incubation, 3,000 fertilized eggs (Ross 308) were divided into prebiotic group (GOS) injected with 3.5 mg GOS/egg, saline group (S) injected with physiological saline, and control group (C) uninjected. After hatching, 900 male chicks (300 chicks/treatment) were reared in floor pens in either thermoneutral (TN; 6 pens/group, 25 birds/pen) or heat stress conditions (HS, 30°C from 32 to 42 D; 6 pens/group, 25 birds/pen). At 42 D of age, 15 randomly chosen birds/treatment/temperature were slaughtered and the pectoral muscle (PM) was removed for analyses. Data were analyzed by GLM in a 3 × 2 factorial design. In ovo treatment had no effect on PM weight, pH, water-holding capacity, and shear force. GOS and S birds had lighter (L*, P &lt; 0.01) PM than C group, whereas the latter showed a higher (P &lt; 0.05) yellowness index (b*) compared to S group. Proximate composition, cholesterol, and intramuscular collagen properties were not affected by treatment. As for fatty acid composition, only total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) content and n-6 PUFA were slightly lower in GOS group compared to S. Heat stress had a detrimental effect on PM weight (P &lt; 0.01) and increased meat pH (P &lt; 0.01). PM from HS chickens was darker with a higher b* index (P &lt; 0.05) and had a higher (P &lt; 0.01) lipid content and a lower (P &lt; 0.05) total collagen amount. Total saturated fatty acids (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), and PUFA were similar among groups. Significant interactions between factors were found for fatty acid composition: GOS decreased (P &lt; 0.01) SFA and increased (P &lt; 0.05) MUFA contents in HS birds. In conclusion, in ovo injection of GOS could mitigate the detrimental effect of heat stress on some meat quality traits

Evaluation of the imaging performance of the TECNOMUSE muon tomograph and its feasibility in a real scenario

Muon tomography is a very promising imaging technique for the control of cargo containers. It takes advantage of cosmic muons and their interaction mechanisms to reconstruct images of the volume traversed by these particles. In the present work, the imaging performance of a novelmuon tomography scanner based on resistive plate chambers detectors is investigated. By means of several Monte Carlo simulations, some imaging parameters are evaluated. The results in terms of spatial resolution, field-of-view and volume and material recognition make the presented scanner and its geometry suitable for muon tomograph

Chronic neural interfacing with cerebral cortex using single-walled carbon nanotube-polymer grids

Objective. The development of electrode arrays able to reliably record brain electrical activity is a critical issue in brain machine interface (BMI) technology. In the present study we undertook a comprehensive physico-chemical, physiological, histological and immunohistochemical characterization of new single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT)-based electrode arrays grafted onto medium-density polyethylene (MD-PE) films. Approach. The long-term electrical stability, flexibility, and biocompatibility of the SWCNT arrays were investigated in vivo in laboratory rats by two-months recording and analysis of subdural electrocorticogram (ECoG). Ex-vivo characterization of a thin flexible and single probe SWCNT/polymer electrode is also provided. Main results. The SWCNT arrays were able to capture high quality and very stable ECoG signals across 8 weeks. The histological and immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated that SWCNT arrays show promising biocompatibility properties and may be used in chronic conditions. The SWCNT-based arrays are flexible and stretchable, providing low electrode-tissue impedance, and, therefore, high compliance with the irregular topography of the cortical surface. Finally, reliable evoked synaptic local field potentials in rat brain slices were recorded using a special SWCNT-polymer-based flexible electrode. Significance. The results demonstrate that the SWCNT arrays grafted in MD-PE are suitable for manufacturing flexible devices for subdural ECoG recording and might represent promising candidates for long-term neural implants for epilepsy monitoring or neuroprosthetic BMI

Infected pancreatic necrosis: outcomes and clinical predictors of mortality. A post hoc analysis of the MANCTRA-1 international study

: The identification of high-risk patients in the early stages of infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) is critical, because it could help the clinicians to adopt more effective management strategies. We conducted a post hoc analysis of the MANCTRA-1 international study to assess the association between clinical risk factors and mortality among adult patients with IPN. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify prognostic factors of mortality. We identified 247 consecutive patients with IPN hospitalised between January 2019 and December 2020. History of uncontrolled arterial hypertension (p = 0.032; 95% CI 1.135-15.882; aOR 4.245), qSOFA (p = 0.005; 95% CI 1.359-5.879; aOR 2.828), renal failure (p = 0.022; 95% CI 1.138-5.442; aOR 2.489), and haemodynamic failure (p = 0.018; 95% CI 1.184-5.978; aOR 2.661), were identified as independent predictors of mortality in IPN patients. Cholangitis (p = 0.003; 95% CI 1.598-9.930; aOR 3.983), abdominal compartment syndrome (p = 0.032; 95% CI 1.090-6.967; aOR 2.735), and gastrointestinal/intra-abdominal bleeding (p = 0.009; 95% CI 1.286-5.712; aOR 2.710) were independently associated with the risk of mortality. Upfront open surgical necrosectomy was strongly associated with the risk of mortality (p &lt; 0.001; 95% CI 1.912-7.442; aOR 3.772), whereas endoscopic drainage of pancreatic necrosis (p = 0.018; 95% CI 0.138-0.834; aOR 0.339) and enteral nutrition (p = 0.003; 95% CI 0.143-0.716; aOR 0.320) were found as protective factors. Organ failure, acute cholangitis, and upfront open surgical necrosectomy were the most significant predictors of mortality. Our study confirmed that, even in a subgroup of particularly ill patients such as those with IPN, upfront open surgery should be avoided as much as possible. Study protocol registered in ClinicalTrials.Gov (I.D. Number NCT04747990)

Structured catalyst for indirect internal reforming (IIR) of biogas in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC)

The aim of this work is the development of a structured catalyst for the dry reforming of biogas to be used as a pre-reformer in the indirect internal reforming configuration (IIR) of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The structured catalyst is based on NiCrAl foams coated with ruthenium (nominal loading 3.0 wt%) supported on a CaZr0.85Sm0.15O3-&amp; delta; (CZS) perovskite oxide. The powder is produced by solution combustion synthesis and deposited on metallic foams by the wash-coating method. Catalytic tests for the dry reforming of methane (DRM) reaction are carried out at 850 &amp; DEG;C, 700 &amp; DEG;C and 550 &amp; DEG;C for an overall 50 h with CH4/CO2 = 1 and p = 1.3 bar at different gas hourly space velocities (GHSVs). The final goal is a proof-of-concept: a laboratory validation of an IIR-SOFC fed by biogas. The carbon amount on spent structured catalysts is evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis and microstructural/compositional investigation

Stretchable conductors made of single wall carbon nanotubes self-grafted on polymer films

Aiming at the accomplishment of stretchable and elastic conductive devices, we report in this work electrical, mechanical and thermal characterization of a composite conductive material obtained by self-grafting of single wall carbon nanotubes bundles on different polymeric films. The dependence of resistance of micrometric composite conductors on the applied strain was measured; the current breakdown threshold was also measured together with the corresponding temperature increase. Finally, the dependence of an AC signal attenuation for a bi-layer single wall carbon nanotubes conductor sandwiching a 25 mu m thick poly-ethylene film was obtained as a function of the signal frequency, and the experimental results were satisfactorily compared to a simple RLC model