Role of Gut Microbiota,Probiotics and Prebiotics in the Cardiovascular Diseases

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in identifying and applying new, naturally occurring molecules that promote health. Probiotics are defined as “live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer health benefits on the host”. Quite a few fermented products serve as the source of probiotic strains, with many factors influencing the effectiveness of probiotics, including interactions of probiotic bacteria with the host’s microbiome. Prebiotics contain no microorganisms, only substances which stimulate their growth. Prebiotics can be obtained from various sources, including breast milk, soybeans, and raw oats, however, the most popular prebiotics are the oligosaccharides contained in plants. Recent research increasingly claims that probiotics and prebiotics alleviate many disorders related to the immune system, cancer metastasis, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. However, little is known about the role of these supplements as important dietary components in preventing or treating cardiovascular disease. Still, some reports and clinical studies were conducted, offering new ways of treatment. Therefore, the aim of this review is to discuss the roles of gut microbiota, probiotics, and prebiotics interventions in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.     

智能结构中光纤智能夹层力学特性的实验研究

根据光纤自诊断系统模块化、集成化要求,制作出光纤智能夹层,它可以铺设于复合材料结构表面或埋入复合材料结构内部。对智能夹层试件的轴向拉伸试验和层间拉伸试验表明,光纤智能夹层的埋入对复合材料结构的强度性能无显著影响,可以埋入复合材料结构内部并实施健康监测。试验还表明,在一定应变范围内,单膜交错光纤中光强—应变之间具有良好的线性关系,可以在埋入复合材料之前进行标定。     

Fatigue criteria for integrity assessment of long-span steel bridge with health monitoring

A structural health assessment (SHA) methodology is developed using data acquired from structural health monitoring (SHM) system installed on long-span bridges. A set of fatigue criteria has been proposed for pre-determining the global state of the bridge structure failure due to fatigue. This involves finding the threshold of fatigue initiation, below which the rate of fatigue damage may be undetectable under current technology or it is economically unfeasible. The state-of-art for large structures corresponds to the initiation of macro-cracks caused by the accumulation of damage generated by actual service loads for the case of bridges. In what follows, consideration is given to developing fatigue crack growth criterion based on the concept of the continuum damage mechanics (CDM). Fatigue accumulative is included in the model where a fatigue limit for multi-axial stress state is considered. The proposed criterion advocates the evolution of micro-crack growth up to the stage of macro-crack formulation. Considered are the loading histories that correspond to normal traffic loading for highways and railways, incidental or accident loadings such as those caused by typhoons and effective environmental loadings. The potential sites of damage are determined are discussed. The proposed criterion is applied to analyze the fatigue damage of the Tsing Ma Bridge with online strain history data acquired by the SHM system that is permanently installed in the bridge.     

论卤盐养生（8）

卤盐（包括食盐）是中国矿物药的重要组成部分。从文化价值、临床应用和情志调摄3个方面诠释了卤盐的养生学意义,并全面、详细地阐述了食盐对中国古代文化的四大贡献、6种盐类的现代临床应用价值以及盐湖旅游的6项要素;列举了160多个盐湖卤水的主要化学成分、矿化度或微量元素;摘录了论述卤盐主治功用的古今文献。本文分期刊出。     

Experimental Study of Effect of Temperature Variations on the Impedance Signature of PZT Sensors for Fatigue Crack Detection

Structural health monitoring (SHM) is recognized as an efficient tool to interpret the reliability of a wide variety of infrastructures. To identify the structural abnormality by utilizing the electromechanical coupling property of piezoelectric transducers, the electromechanical impedance (EMI) approach is preferred. However, in real-time SHM applications, the monitored structure is exposed to several varying environmental and operating conditions (EOCs). The previous study has recognized the temperature variations as one of the serious EOCs that affect the optimal performance of the damage inspection process. In this framework, an experimental setup is developed in current research to identify the presence of fatigue crack in stainless steel (304) beam using EMI approach and estimate the effect of temperature variations on the electrical impedance of the piezoelectric sensors. A regular series of experiments are executed in a controlled temperature environment (25°C–160°C) using 202 V1 Constant Temperature Drying Oven Chamber (Q/TBXR20-2005). It has been observed that the dielectric constant ε₃₃^T which is recognized as the temperature-dependent constant of PZT sensor has sufficiently influenced the electrical impedance signature. Moreover, the effective frequency shift (EFS) approach is optimized in term of significant temperature compensation for the current impedance signature of PZT sensor relative to the reference signature at the extended frequency bandwidth of the developed measurement system with better outcomes as compared to the previous literature work. Hence, the current study also deals efficiently with the critical issue of the width of the frequency band for temperature compensation based on the frequency shift in SHM. The results of the experimental study demonstrate that the proposed methodology is qualified for the damage inspection in real-time monitoring applications under the temperature variations. It is capable to exclude one of the major reasons of false fault diagnosis by compensating the consequence of elevated temperature at extended frequency bandwidth in SHM.     

Trichothecenes in Food and Feed,Relevance to Human and Animal Health and Methods of Detection: A Systematic Review

Trichothecene mycotoxins are sesquiterpenoid compounds primarily produced by fungi in taxonomical genera such as Fusarium, Myrothecium, Stachybotrys, Trichothecium, and others, under specific climatic conditions on a worldwide basis. Fusarium mold is a major plant pathogen and produces a number of trichothecene mycotoxins including deoxynivalenol (or vomitoxin), nivalenol, diacetoxyscirpenol, and T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin. Monogastrics are sensitive to vomitoxin, while poultry and ruminants appear to be less sensitive to some trichothecenes through microbial metabolism of trichothecenes in the gastrointestinal tract. Trichothecene mycotoxins occur worldwide however both total concentrations and the particular mix of toxins present vary with environmental conditions. Proper agricultural practices such as avoiding late harvests, removing overwintered stubble from fields, and avoiding a corn/wheat rotation that favors Fusarium growth in residue can reduce trichothecene contamination of grains. Due to the vague nature of toxic effects attributed to low concentrations of trichothecenes, a solid link between low level exposure and a specific trichothecene is difficult to establish. Multiple factors, such as nutrition, management, and environmental conditions impact animal health and need to be evaluated with the knowledge of the mycotoxin and concentrations known to cause adverse health effects. Future research evaluating the impact of low-level exposure on livestock may clarify the potential impact on immunity. Trichothecenes are rapidly excreted from animals, and residues in edible tissues, milk, or eggs are likely negligible. In chronic exposures to trichothecenes, once the contaminated feed is removed and exposure stopped, animals generally have an excellent prognosis for recovery. This review shows the occurrence of trichothecenes in food and feed in 2011–2020 and their toxic effects and provides a summary of the discussions on the potential public health concerns specifically related to trichothecenes residues in foods associated with the exposure of farm animals to mycotoxin-contaminated feeds and impact to human health. Moreover, the article discusses the methods of their detection.     

Comparison of scale factor estimators for ultrasonic temperature monitoring: Application to structural health monitoring

In Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of materials, estimating the effects of environmental and operational conditions such as temperature is important. Indeed, temperature changes induce modifications of the mechanical properties of the material and therefore cause a dilation of the acoustic signals characterized by a scale factor. This paper described four scale factor estimators able to monitor changes in temperature: The short-time cross-correlation (STXC) method, the stretching method (STRE), the Minimum Variance Based Estimator method (MVBE) and the Scale Transform Based Estimator method (STBE). The first two methods have already been assessed in the literature while the latter two have been specifically developed for this study. First, closed-form for the Cramer-Rao bound on the estimates of the scale factor, from a simplified deterministic signal, are derived and simplified expressions are given. Then, a statistical evaluation of the quality of estimates is conducted through Monte-Carlo simulations using synthetic signals, based on a model taking into account the influence of temperature. A raw estimate of the computational complexity of signal processing methods also completes this evaluation phase. Finally, the experimental validation of estimation methods is conducted on an aluminum plate subjected to temperatures variations in a controlled thermal environment. The temperature estimates are then faced with an analytical model describing the material behavior.     

Residues,dissipation and risk evaluation of spiroxamine in open-field-grown strawberries using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

The dissipation dynamic and residues of spiroxamine in open-field-grown strawberries were determined using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Spiroxamine application was performed according to Egyptian good agricultural practices recommendation. A QuEChERS-based extraction method along with direct analysis with an LC–MS/MS analytical method were optimized and validated, and the specificity of the techniques used was considered satisfactory. Good linearity (R² > 0.999) was obtained for spiroxamine within the range of 0.001–0.1 μg/ml. The mean recoveries varied between 97.1 and 108.2%, with inter- and intra-day precision (RSD) <4.9%. The limit of quantitation for spiroxamine was 0.001 mg/kg. The results indicated that spiroxamine degradation in strawberry followed first–order kinetics (R² > 0.9929) with an estimated half-life value of 4.71 days. Considering the Australian maximum residue limit (0.05 mg/kg) in strawberry and based on the results from residue trials with a preharvest interval of 14 days for strawberry, compliance can be expected. The present results could provide guidance to fully evaluate the risks of spiroxamine residues, preventing any potential health risk to consumers.     

Allostatic load as a complex clinical construct: A case‐based computational modeling approach

Allostatic load (AL) is a complex clinical construct, providing a unique window into the cumulative impact of stress. However, due to its inherent complexity, AL presents two major measurement challenges to conventional statistical modeling (the field's dominant methodology): it is comprised of a complex causal network of bioallostatic systems, represented by an even larger set of dynamic biomarkers; and, it is situated within a web of antecedent socioecological systems, linking AL to differences in health outcomes and disparities. To address these challenges, we employed case‐based computational modeling (CBM), which allowed us to make four advances: (1) we developed a multisystem, 7‐factor (20 biomarker) model of AL's network of allostatic systems; (2) used it to create a catalog of nine different clinical AL profiles (causal pathways); (3) linked each clinical profile to a typology of 23 health outcomes; and (4) explored our results (post hoc) as a function of gender, a key socioecological factor. In terms of highlights, (a) the Healthy clinical profile had few health risks; (b) the pro‐inflammatory profile linked to high blood pressure and diabetes; (c) Low Stress Hormones linked to heart disease, TIA/Stroke, diabetes, and circulation problems; and (d) high stress hormones linked to heart disease and high blood pressure. Post hoc analyses also found that males were overrepresented on the High Blood Pressure (61.2%), Metabolic Syndrome (63.2%), High Stress Hormones (66.4%), and High Blood Sugar (57.1%); while females were overrepresented on the Healthy (81.9%), Low Stress Hormones (66.3%), and Low Stress Antagonists (stress buffers) (95.4%) profiles. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 21: 291–306, 2016     

Efficiency assessment of primary care providers: A conditional nonparametric approach

This paper uses a fully nonparametric approach to estimate efficiency measures for primary care units incorporating the effect of (exogenous) environmental factors. This methodology allows us to account for different types of variables (continuous and discrete) describing the main characteristics of patients served by those providers. In addition, we use an extension of this nonparametric approach to deal with the presence of undesirable outputs in data, represented by the rates of hospitalization for ambulatory care sensitive condition (ACSC). The empirical results show that all the exogenous variables considered have a significant and negative effect on efficiency estimates.