Semi-empirical parameterization of HI/p L-shell X-ray production cross section ratios in Bi for Heavy Ion PIXE.

Quantitative analysis of materials from Heavy Ion PIXE spectra remains impeded by the lack of reliable X-ray production cross section (XPCS) data. Although efforts at experimental Heavy Ion induced XPCS measurements still continue, Multiple Ionisation (MI) effects, which are not fully described by theory, render simulations of heavy ion PIXE data unreliable for large Z1/Z2 collisions, especially at low energies. This is also exacerbated by the random selection of projectile-target combinations for measured and reported experimental data available to validate theory. This study explored heavy ion induced X-ray production cross section deviations from those induced by protons at the same ion velocity. This enabled evaluations of the degree to which cross sections are enhanced through MI effects, with the aim of predicting XPCS due to heavy ion impact. The evaluation was carried out through the scaling of experimental heavy ion to theoretical proton cross section ratios (R), which were then used for the interpolation of XPCS in the same target element for 'missing' projectiles within the range of evaluation. Here we present measurements of heavy ion induced total L-shell XPCS in Bi, carried out to determine HI/p MI induced deviations due to C, F, Cl and Ti projectiles at an ion velocity range of (0.2-1.0) MeV/nucleon.

The influence of hypothermia prevention by application of skin moisture absorbent on the value of body temperature, body weight and blood parameters in piglets / A influência da prevenção da hipotermia pela aplicação de absorvente de umidade da pele no valor da temperatura corporal, peso corporal e parâmetros sanguíneos em leitões

Reducing the mortality rate is of a great economic importance for pig farming. Therefore, it is necessary to define the conditions in the farrowing unit based on the performance of the piglets, and specific hematological and biochemical parameters. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to examine the importance of using skin moisture absorbent and its influence in preventing hypothermia, which causes great economic losses in pig production. The experiment was set up on a commercial farm in Serbia and included 92 pigs divided into the experimental and control group. Body temperature values, body weight and blood parameters were monitored. The obtained values indicate that there is a significantly positive correlation of body temperature change and body weight values, and body temperature showed a significantly higher increase in the experimental group compared to the control group. The results obtained from hematological and biochemical parameters provide a clearer picture of the metabolic processes in piglets in the farrowing unit and can be used to further improve pig production and as a complement to genetic enhancement.(AU)

A redução da taxa de mortalidade é de grande importância econômica para a suinocultura. Portanto, é necessário definir as condições na unidade de parto com base no desempenho dos leitões, para serem parâmetros hematológicos e bioquímicos específicos. Portanto, o objetivo deste trabalho é examinar a importância do uso de absorvente de umidade na pele e sua influência na prevenção da hipotermia, que causa grandes perdas econômicas na produção de suínos. A experiência foi montada em uma fazenda comercial na Sérvia, e incluiu 92 porcos divididos no grupo experimental e de controle. Os valores de temperatura corporal, pesos corporais e parâmetros sanguíneos foram monitorados. Os valores obtidos indicam que existe uma correlação significativamente positiva entre os valores da temperatura corporal e dos pesos corporais, e a temperatura corporal mostrou um aumento significativamente maior no grupo experimental em comparação com o grupo de controle. Os resultados obtidos a partir de parâmetros hematológicos e bioquímicos fornecem uma imagem mais clara dos processos metabólicos em leitões na unidade de parto e podem ser usados para melhorar ainda mais a produção de suínos e como um complemento ao melhoramento genético.(AU)

Influence of transcervical infusion of seminal plasma on the farrowing rate and litter size in artificially inseminated sows / [Influência da infusão transcervical de plasma seminal na taxa de partos e tamanho da ninhada em porcos inseminados artificialmente]

Recent studies have focused on the use of seminal plasma to increase sow fertility after classical intracervical artificial insemination (AI). The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of seminal plasma infusion, prior to the application of conventional AI dose, on the fertility rate in sows. A total of 114 sows were treated with intrauterine infusion of 30ml seminal plasma (SP), while 114 control sows were infused by physiological solution (PS), immediately before the application of conventional AI dose. The experiment was conducted at one commercial pig farm in Serbia, which is comprised of 1,500 sows in the breeding herd. Intrauterine infusion of seminal plasma produced significantly (P<0.05) higher farrowing rate (93.8%) and significantly (P<0.01) more live-born piglets per litter (12.27), compared with the control sows (83.33% farrowing rate and 10.48 piglets). The present results show that intrauterine infusion of seminal plasma can be a useful tool for increasing the fertility rate in artificially inseminated sows, under the conditions of practical intensive pig production.(AU)

Estudos recentes concentraram no uso de plasma seminal para aumentar a fertilidade de porcos após inseminação artificial intracervical clássica (AI). O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar a influência da infusão de plasma seminal, antes da aplicação da dose de AI convencional, na taxa de fertilidade de porcas. 114 porcas foram tratadas com infusão intrauterina de 30ml plasma seminal, e 114 porcas de controle receberam infusão de solução fisiológica (PS) imediatamente antes da aplicação da dose convencional de AI. O experimento foi realizado em uma fazenda de porcos comercial na Serbia, que é composta de 1.500 porcas no rebanho de reprodução. A infusão intrauterina de plasma seminal produziu uma taxa de fertilidade (93,8%) significativamente maior (P<0.05), e significativamente mais (P<0.01) leitões nascidos vivos por ninhada (12,27) comparado com as porcas de controle (83,33% taxa de fertilidade e 10,48 leitões). Os resultados mostram que infusão intrauterina com plasma seminal pode ser uma ferramenta útil para aumentar a taxa de fertilidade em porcas inseminadas artificialmente, sob as condições de prática de produção intensiva de porcos.(AU)

Hybrid denture acrylic composites with nanozirconia and electrospun polystyrene fibers.

The processing and characterization of hybrid PMMA resin composites with nano-zirconia (ZrO2) and electrospun polystyrene (PS) polymer fibers were presented in this study. Reinforcement was selected with the intention to tune the physical and mechanical properties of the hybrid composite. Surface modification of inorganic particles was performed in order to improve the adhesion of reinforcement to the matrix. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) provided successful modification of zirconia nanoparticles with 3-Methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MEMO) and bonding improvement between incompatible inorganic nanoparticles and PMMA matrix. Considerable deagglomeration of nanoparticles in the matrix occurred after the modification has been revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Microhardness increased with the concentration of modified nanoparticles, while the fibers were the modifier that lowers hardness and promotes toughness of hybrid composites. Impact test displayed increased absorbed energy after the PS electrospun fibers had been embedded. The optimized composition of the hybrid was determined and a good balance of thermal and mechanical properties was achieved.

Phenotypic correlation of characteristics in the gilt performance test with an average number of live-born piglets through all achieved births, during the reproductive exploitation / Ligação fenotípica de características no teste de desempenho de leitões com um número médio de leitões nascidos vivos durante todos os nascimentos realizados, durante a exploração reprodutiva

Reproductive efficacy of sows dictates the level of profitability of the production itself, and the moment of testing and selection of gilts for breeding (as the parents of a future generation), represents a very important moment. Given the fact that the selection of gilts for breeding is partly based on the weight-gain in the test, in this study we examined the influence of a daily weight-gain of gilts in the test of the manifestation of important reproductive characteristics - the size of the litter of the first and the other parities, as well as the percentage of sows that gave birth in relation to previous breeding process. Data of the 11637 tested gilts that completed the performance test have been used for the test. The studied characteristics were: the weight-gain at the end of the test, the number of live-born piglets, the number of stillborn piglets and the number of grown-weaned piglets in the first litter and the total number of live-born piglets, the total number of stillborn piglets and the total number of grown-weaned piglets. The results obtained in this study showed the effect of weight-gain in the reproductive efficacy test in the number of the live-born piglets in the first and from the 2nd to the 9th parity, as well as the percentage of the sows included in the next breeding process. By including all selected independent variables that showed the adequate statistical significance in correlation with the dependent variable, the determination coefficient rises to a value of 0.098 which represents 9.80% of the influence on the dependent variable, that can be explained by the independent variable, which leads to the conclusion that the binding strength between the variable "average live" and all the independent variables: "the number of litters", the MLD depth" and "the back-fat thickness", is very weak, which is not a rare case in multiple regression.(AU)

A eficácia reprodutiva das porcas dita o nível de rentabilidade da própria produção, e o momento do teste e seleção de leitoas para reprodução (como os pais de uma geração futura) representa um momento muito importante. Dado o fato de que a seleção de leitoas para criação é parcialmente baseada no ganho de peso no teste, neste estudo examinamos a influência de um ganho de peso diário de leitoas no teste da manifestação de importantes características reprodutivas - o tamanho da ninhada da primeira e das outras paridades, assim como a porcentagem de porcas que deram à luz em relação ao processo de criação anterior. Os dados das 11637 leitoas testadas que completaram o teste de desempenho foram utilizados para o teste. As características estudadas foram: o ganho de peso ao final do teste, o número de leitões nascidos vivos, o número de leitões natimortos e o número de leitões desmamados na primeira ninhada e o número total de leitões nascidos vivos , o número total de leitões natimortos e o número total de leitões desmamados. Os resultados obtidos neste estudo mostraram o efeito do ganho de peso no teste de eficácia reprodutiva no número de leitões nascidos vivos na primeira e da segunda à nona paridade, bem como a porcentagem de porcas incluídas na próximo processo de criação. Ao incluir todas as variáveis independentes selecionadas que mostraram a significância estatística adequada em correlação com a variável dependente, o coeficiente de determinação sobe para um valor de 0.098 que representa 9.80% da influência sobre a variável dependente, que pode ser explicada pela variável independente, que leva à conclusão de que a força de ligação entre a variável "média viva" e todas as variáveis independentes: "o número de ninhadas", a profundidade MLD "e" a espessura de gordura "é muito fraca, o que não é raro caso em regressão múltipla.(AU)

Assessment of PM2.5 sources and their corresponding level of uncertainty in a coastal urban area using EPA PMF 5.0 enhanced diagnostics.

Datasets that include only the PM elemental composition and no other important constituents such as ions and OC, should be treated carefully when used for source apportionment. This work is demonstrating how a source apportionment study utilizing PMF 5.0 enhanced diagnostic tools can achieve an improved solution with documented levels of uncertainty for such a dataset. The uncertainty of the solution is rarely reported in source apportionment studies or it is reported partially. Reporting the uncertainty of the solution is very important especially in the case of small datasets. PM2.5 samples collected in Patras during the year 2011 were used. The concentrations of 22 elements (Z=11-33) were determined using PIXE. Source apportionment analysis revealed that PM2.5 emission sources were biomass burning (11%), sea salt (8%), shipping emissions (10%), vehicle emissions (33%), mineral dust (2%) and secondary sulfates (33%) while unaccounted mass was 3%. Although Patras city center is located in a very close proximity to the city's harbor, the contribution of shipping originating emissions was never before quantified. As rotational stability is hard to be achieved when a small dataset is used the rotational stability of the solution was thoroughly evaluated. A number of constraints were applied to the solution in order to reduce rotational ambiguity.

Polymorphisms in PLA2G6 and PLA2G4C genes for calcium-independent phospholipase A2 do not contribute to attenuated niacin skin flush response in schizophrenia patients.

We hypothesized that attenuated niacin skin flushing in schizophrenia patients might be associated with polymorphic variants in PLA2G6 and PLA2G4C genes (rs4375 and rs1549637 variations) which encode calcium-independent phospholipase A2 beta (iPLA2ß) and cytosolic phospholipase A2 gamma (cPLA2γ) enzymes. The iPLA2ß and cPLA2γ may play an important role in niacin-mediated signaling; in addition to their major role - mediating phospholipids remodeling, which alters membrane receptors and signal transduction, they regulate the reservoir of arachidonic acid for prostaglandins synthesis. Skin response to topical niacin of 0.1M, 0.01M, 0.001M and 0.0001M concentrations in 75 schizophrenia patients was rated using the method of volumetric niacin response (VNR). Neither PLA2G6 nor PLA2G4C gene polymorphisms were significantly associated with VNR values. Furthermore, polymorphisms׳ synergy on niacin skin flushing was also not detected.

Production of three-dimensional quantum dot lattice of Ge/Si core-shell quantum dots and Si/Ge layers in an alumina glass matrix.

We report on the formation of Ge/Si quantum dots with core/shell structure that are arranged in a three-dimensional body centered tetragonal quantum dot lattice in an amorphous alumina matrix. The material is prepared by magnetron sputtering deposition of Al2O3/Ge/Si multilayer. The inversion of Ge and Si in the deposition sequence results in the formation of thin Si/Ge layers instead of the dots. Both materials show an atomically sharp interface between the Ge and Si parts of the dots and layers. They have an amorphous internal structure that can be crystallized by an annealing treatment. The light absorption properties of these complex materials are significantly different compared to films that form quantum dot lattices of the pure Ge, Si or a solid solution of GeSi. They show a strong narrow absorption peak that characterizes a type II confinement in accordance with theoretical predictions. The prepared materials are promising for application in quantum dot solar cells.

Application of dendritic cells stimulated with Trichinella spiralis excretory-secretory antigens alleviates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

The parasitic nematode, Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis), exerts an immunomodulatory effect on the host immune response through excretory-secretory products (ES L1) released from encysted muscle larvae. Our model of combined T. spiralis infection and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in Dark Agouti (DA) rats demonstrated a significant reduction in EAE severity in infected animals. Recently, we have created an immune status characteristic for the live infection by in vivo application of dendritic cells (DCs) stimulated with ES L1 products of T. spiralis muscle larvae. Moreover, these cells were able to ameliorate EAE when applied 7 days before EAE induction. ES L1-stimulated DCs increased production of IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-ß, and decreased production of IFN-γ and IL-17, both at the systemic level and in target organs. A significant increase in the proportion of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells was found among spleen cells, and CNS infiltrates from DA rats treated with ES L1-stimulated DCs before EAE induction, compared to controls injected with unstimulated DCs. Regulatory T cells, together with elevated levels of IL-10 and TGF-ß, are most likely involved in restraining the production of Th1 and Th17 cytokines responsible for autoimmunity and thus are responsible for the beneficial effect of ES L1-educated DCs on the course of EAE. Our results show that ES L1 antigen-stimulated DCs are able not only to provoke, but also to sustain anti-inflammatory and regulatory responses regardless of EAE induction, with subsequent amelioration of EAE, or even protection from the disease.

The impact of Trichinella spiralis excretory-secretory products on dendritic cells.

Parasitic nematode Trichinella spiralis exert immunomodulatory effect on the host immune response through excretory-secretory products (ES L1) released from the encysted muscle larvae. Rat bone-marrow derived dendritic cells (DCs) stimulated with ES L1 antigens acquire semi-matured status and induce Th2 and regulatory responses in vitro and in vivo. Priming naïve T cells in vitro with ES L1 pulsed DCs caused strong Th2 polarization, accompanied by elevated production of regulatory cytokines IL-10 and TGF-ß and no increase in the proportion of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ among the effector T cell population. In vivo T cell priming resulted in mixed Th1/Th2 cytokine response, with the dominance of the Th2 type and elevated levels of regulatory cytokines. Significant increase in the proportion of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ cells was found among recipient's spleen cells. We have achieved to create immune status characteristic for the live infection by in vivo application of DCs educated with ES L1 antigens.