Serial measurement of cardiac troponin I in hospitalised dogs with canine parvoviral enteritis: Association with outcome and canine pancreas-specific lipase concentration.

The aim of this study was to serially evaluate serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations in dogs with parvoviral enteritis (CPVE), and investigate the association with outcome and serum pancreas-specific lipase (Spec cPL) concentrations. Dogs with CPVE that were hospitalised for at least 5 days were included. cTnI and Spec cPL concentrations were measured on days 1, 3 and 5 of hospitalisation. Twenty-nine dogs (20 survivors, 9 non-survivors) were included. Spec cPL was indicative of pancreatitis (>400 µg/L) on at least one day in 10/29 (34.5%) dogs. Serum median (range) cTnI concentration was higher (P = 0.021) in non-survivors on day 5 [0.032 (0.001-0.395) ng/mL] compared to day 1 [0.012 (0.003-0.196) ng/mL]. Non-survivors had higher (P = 0.014) cTnI concentrations on day 5 [0.032 (0.001-0.395) ng/mL] compared to survivors [0.001 (0.001-0.042) ng/mL], but not at admission or on day 3 (P > 0.05). Serum cTnI concentrations were not significantly different (P = 0.465) between the three Spec cPL groups [group 1 (Spec cPL ≤ 200 µg/L): 0.007 (0.001-0.527) ng/mL; group 2 (Spec cPL: 201-399 µg/L): 0.0045 (0.001-0.196) ng/mL; group 3 (Spec cPL ≥ 400 µg/L): 0.011 (0.001-0.278) ng/mL]. cTnI and Spec cPL concentrations were not significantly correlated (rho = -0.043, P = 0.703). Serial measurement of cTnI had prognostic value in the examined cohort. However, cTnI was not correlated with spec cPL.

Serial measurement of thyroid hormones in hospitalised dogs with canine parvoviral enteritis: Incidence of non-thyroidal illness syndrome and its association with outcome and systemic inflammatory response syndrome.

The aim of this study was to serially evaluate the serum concentrations of total thyroxine (tT4), free thyroxine (fT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in dogs with canine parvoviral enteritis (CPVE) during a 5-day hospitalisation period and assess the association of these hormone concentrations with the outcome and the development of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Dogs with confirmed CPVE that were hospitalised for at least 5 days were included. The thyroid hormones concentrations were measured on days 1, 3 and 5 of hospitalisation. Twenty-eight dogs were included. All (28/28, 100%), 19/28 (69.7%) and 23/28 (82.1%) dogs had a low serum tT4, fT4 and TSH concentration, respectively, on at least 1 day during the hospitalisation period. Overall, 11/28 (39.3%) dogs were diagnosed with SIRS on at least 1 day. In survivors, serum tT4 concentration was significantly higher on day 5 (median, range: 11.8 nmol/L, <6.4-32.2 nmol/L) compared to those on days 1 (<6.4 nmol/L, <6.4-20.1 nmol/L; P = 0.010) or 3 (7.6 nmol/L, <6.4-25.2 nmol/L; P = 0.019). Survivors had a significantly higher tT4 concentration (median, range: 11.8 nmol/L, <6.4-32.2 nmol/L) on day 5 compared to non-survivors (<6.4 nmol/L, <6.4-7.2 nmol/L; P = 0.002). Regardless of the day of hospitalisation, dogs with SIRS had significantly lower tT4 (<6.4 nmol/L, <6.4-16.3 nmol/L) compared to dogs without SIRS (8.6 nmol/L, <6.4-32.2 nmol/L; P = 0.006). A significant difference was also found in fT4 between dogs with SIRS (<3.9 pmol/L, <3.9-16.2 pmol/L) and dogs without SIRS (15.1 pmol/L, <3.9-59.2; pmol/L; P < 0.001). Non-thyroidal illness syndrome was frequently observed in dogs with CPVE, and a negative association between tT4 and fT4 concentrations and SIRS was noted. Serial measurements of tT4 concentrations appeared to have prognostic value.

Characteristics of oleuropeinolytic strains of Lactobacillus plantarum group and influence on phenolic compounds in table olives elaborated under reduced salt conditions.

The technological characteristics of five oleuropeinolytic strains of the Lactobacillus plantarum group selected within 135 isolates from table olives were investigated. The metabolism of phenolic compounds during elaboration of green (cv. Chalkidikis) and black (cv. Kalamata) olives under reduced salt conditions was evaluated. Olives of both cultivars were fermented in two different kinds of brine (Brine A containing 2.3% NaCl, 32.3 mM Ca-acetate and 33.9 mM Ca-lactate and Brine B containing 4% NaCl, pH 5.0 in both brines) by five selected strains of L. plantarum group. After 60 days of fermentation, the analysis of phenolic compounds was performed by HPLC and nine compounds were identified and quantified: oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol and vanillin and the phenolic acids protocatechuic, caffeic, p-hydroxybenzoic, vanillic and p-coumaric acid. The study can lead to the development of starter culture potentially active in biological debittering of olives during fermentation in order to unify the debittering and fermentation process during elaboration of table olives.

Natural nanomorphous Ni/NiO magnetic multilayers: structure and magnetism of the high-Ar pressure series.

Natural nanomorphous Ni/NiO multilayers have exhibited interesting magnetic properties, such as an unusual positive surface anisotropy and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. Most attention has been paid to multilayers prepared by radio frequency magnetron sputtering under relatively low (3 x 10(-3) mbar) Ar pressure. Here we report on the correlation between structural and magnetic properties for a new series of multilayers, prepared under relatively high (3 x 10(-2) mbar) Ar pressure. The crystalline Ni individual layer thickness ranges between 5-8 nm. The amorphous NiO layer thickness is constant, about 1.1 nm thick. X-ray reflectivity showed that in some of the multilayers the high-order Bragg peaks become broader and diminish quickly. Cross-section transmission electron microscopy reveals that this occurs because the first bilayers are formed in accordance to the growth conditions, while the ones near the top are vanished. Despite the deterioration of the interface quality, all samples show tendency for perpendicular magnetic anisotropy even for large bilayer thickness of about 9 nm. Similar tendency is observed even by a 330 nm thick non-multilayered Ni film grown under the same conditions. This observation reveals the important role of strain and magnetoelastic anisotropy as a source of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in the Ni/NiO multilayers.

Tuning the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of co-based layers in multilayered systems.

The combination of Pt with Co either in alloy or in multilayer form is widely studied among the potential magnetic media for ultrahigh density magnetic recording. On the other hand the combination of Co with Cr in alloy form is currently providing commercial magnetic media. In an effort to further exploit and benefit from both systems, we fabricated Co(1-x)Cr(x)/Pt multilayers with two adjustable parameters. The first one is the Cr concentration on CoCr layer (x = 0, 5, 30), which modulates segregation effects on Co grains, thus tunes macroscopic magnetic features such as saturation magnetization and coercive field. The second one is the small layer thickness (< or = 0.6 nm) that affects interlayer coupling, perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and magnetization enhancement through spin polarization of Pt atoms in a ferromagnetic environment. The X-ray diffraction patterns verified the existence of multilayered structures following a preferable face-centered-cubic stacking. The Pt thickness and Cr concentration are found to significantly affect the macroscopic magnetic behavior. It is remarkable the fact that, samples present perpendicular anisotropy that scales with Pt thickness and temperature, even in the case of significant Cr concentration (30% in the alloy) when ferromagnetic behavior is expected to diminish according to relevant studies in alloys and in bulk films. Such an effect may be attributed to spin-polarization of Pt interlayers and was evidenced by X-ray magnetic circular dichroism. The spin-polarization of Pt is also the drive for the strong magneto-optic enhancement in the ultra-violet region between 4.5 and 5 eV shown by magnetooptic Kerr spectroscopy.

Optical and magnetic properties of hexagonal arrays of subwavelength holes in optically thin cobalt films.

In this study, we present our experimental results on the optical, magnetic, as well as magneto-optic properties of hexagonal arrays of subwavelength holes in optically thin cobalt films. Different meshes were used with hole diameters ranging between 220 and 330 nm while the interhole distance has been kept constant at 470 nm. The hole pattern modifies completely the magnetic behavior of the cobalt films; it gives rise to an increase of the coercive field of the in-plane magnetization with increasing hole diameter and to the appearance of out-of-plane magnetization components. Magneto-optic measurements show a spectacular magneto-optic response at wavelengths where surface plasmon-polaritons are supported by the structure as deduced in optical measurements. The experiments demonstrate the ability to artificially control the magnetic and thus the magneto-optic properties in hole array structures.

Magnetic, magneto-optic and magnetotransport properties of nanocrystalline Co/Au multilayers with ultrathin Au interlayers.

A series of nanocrystalline Co/Au multilayers with ultrathin Au interlayers was grown at room temperature by electron beam evaporation on Si(111), glass and polyimide substrates. X-ray diffraction measurements reveal a face centered cubic multilayered structure with very small nanograins within 7-10 nm in diameter. Magneto-optic polar Kerr effect experiments show an enhancement of the Kerr rotation around 3 eV as the Au interlayer thickness increases. The experimental data are interpreted with the help of simulated Kerr spectra. The magnetization curves and magnetic force microscopy images indicate the existence of perpendicularly magnetized stripe-domain structures at remanence. The magnitude of the magnetoresistance ratio reaches values of 0.4%. The investigation of the interplay between magnetic and magnetotransport properties demonstrates the contribution of the domain-wall spin-dependent scattering to the magnetoresistance.

Effect of biomass pre-treatment and solvent extraction on beta-carotene and lycopene recovery from Blakeslea trispora cells.

The production of carotenoids from Blakeslea trispora cells in a synthetic medium has been reported, with the main products being beta-carotene, lycopene, and gamma-carotene. The effect of biomass pretreatment and solvent extraction on their selective recovery is reported here. Eight solvents of class II and III of the International Conference of Harmonization: ethanol, methanol, acetone, 2-propanol, pentane, hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethyl ether, and HPLC analysis were used for the evaluation of their selectivities towards the three main carotenoids with regard to different biomass pre-treatment. The average C(max) values (maximum concentration of caronoids in a specific solvent) were estimated to 16 mg/L with the five out of eight solvents investigated, whereas methanol, pentane, and hexane gave lower values of 10, 11, and 9 mg/L, respectively. The highest carotenoid yield was obtained in the case of wet biomass, where 44-56% is recovered with one solvent and three extractions and the rest is recovered only after subsequent treatment with acetone; thus, four extractions of 2.5 h are needed. Two extractions of 54 min are enough to recover carotenoids from dehydrated biomass, with the disadvantage of a high degree of degradation. Our results showed that, for maximum carotenoid recovery, ethyl ether, 2-propanol, and ethanol could be successfully used with biomass without prior treatment, whereas fractions enriched in beta-carotene or lycopene can be obtained by extraction with the proper solvent, thus avoiding degradation due to time-consuming processes.

Structural, magnetic, and magneto-optical properties of nanocrystalline face centered cubic Co70Cr30/Pt multilayers with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy.

Co70Cr30 alloyed layers are combined with extremely thin Pt layers in order to produce novel face-centered-cubic multilayered films to be considered as a potential perpendicular magnetic recording medium. The films were grown on Si, glass and polyimide substrates by e-beam evaporation at a temperature slightly higher than room temperature. The multilayered structure of the films was verified by X-ray diffraction experiments. Plane-view transmission electron microscopy images have revealed the formation of very small grains in the range of 7-9 nm. Hysteresis loops as a function of temperature were recorded via the magneto-optic Kerr effect in the polar geometry configuration. The system exhibits perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, which enhances with decreasing temperature. Hysteresis loops with a squareness of 1 and a coercivity of 1.45 kOe were obtained at 10 K. Furthermore, complete magneto-optic spectra of the films are recorded, showing a strong magneto-optic enhancement in the ultraviolet region at around 4.5 eV.

Comparison of pressurized fluid extraction, Soxhlet extraction and sonication for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urban air and diesel exhaust particulate matter.

In order to characterize and compare the chemical composition of diesel particulate matter and ambient air samples collected on filters, different extraction procedures were tested and their extraction efficiencies and recoveries determined. This study is an evaluation of extraction methods using the standard 16 EPA PAHs with HPLC fluorescence analysis. Including LC analysis also GC and MS methods for the determination of PAHs can be used. Soxhlet extraction was compared with ultrasonic agitation and pressurized fluid extraction (PFE) using three solvents to extract PAHs from diesel exhaust and urban air particulates. The selected PAH compounds of soluble organic fractions were analyzed by HPLC with a multiple wavelength shift fluorescence detector. The EPA standard mixture of 16 PAH compounds was used as a standard to identify and quantify diesel exhaust-derived PAHs. The most effective extraction method of those tested was pressurized fluid extraction using dichloromethane as a solvent.