scholarly journals Ultra-Processed Food Impairs Bone Quality, Increases Marrow Adiposity and Alters Gut Microbiome in Mice

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 3107
Author(s):  
Tamara Travinsky-Shmul ◽  
Olga Beresh ◽  
Janna Zaretsky ◽  
Shelley Griess-Fishheimer ◽  
Reut Rozner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Food System ◽  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
Skeletal Development ◽  
Young Female ◽  
Chow Diet ◽  
Three Point Bending ◽  
Marrow Adiposity ◽  
Gut Microbial Community

Ultra processed foods (UPF) consumption is becoming dominant in the global food system, to the point of being the most recent cause of malnutrition. Health outcomes of this diet include obesity and metabolic syndrome; however, its effect on skeletal development has yet to be examined. This project studied the influence of UPF diet on the development and quality of the post-natal skeleton. Young female mice were fed with regular chow diet, UPF diet, UPF diet supplemented with calcium or with multivitamin and mineral complex. Mice fed UPF diet presented unfavorable morphological parameters, evaluated by micro-CT, alongside inferior mechanical performance of the femora, evaluated by three-point bending tests. Growth-plate histology evaluation suggested a modification of the growth pattern. Accumulation of adipose tissue within the bone marrow was significantly higher in the group fed UPF diet. Finally, microbiome 16SrRNA sequencing was used to explore the connection between diets, gut microbial community and skeletal development. Together, we show that consumption of UPF diet during the postnatal developmental period alters the microbiome and has negative outcomes on bone parameters and bone marrow adiposity. Micronutrients improved these phenotypes only partially. Thus, consuming a wholesome diet that contributes to a healthy microbiota is of a great significance in order to achieve healthy skeletal development.

scholarly journals Food Bank Donations in the United States: A Landscape Review of Federal Policies

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 3764
Author(s):  
Katelin M. Hudak ◽  
Emily Friedman ◽  
Joelle Johnson ◽  
Sara E. Benjamin-Neelon
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Nutritional Quality ◽  
Food System ◽  
The United States ◽  
Healthy Food ◽  
Food Banks ◽  
Food Bank ◽  
Federal Policies ◽  
Food And Beverage

Rates of food insecurity have increased substantially in the United States (US), and more families are turning to the charitable food system to help meet their needs. Prior studies have examined the nutritional quality of foods offered through food banks, but little is known about what government policies may shape the healthy food donation landscape. The purpose of this study was to review US federal policies that impact food and beverage donations to food banks and assess whether policies encourage healthy food donations. In spring 2020, two researchers independently reviewed federal food and beverage donation policies using predefined search terms in two legal databases. We identified six categories of policies based on the existing food donation literature and themes that emerged in the policy review. We identified 42 federal policies spanning six categories that addressed food and beverage donations to food banks. The largest category was “government programs,” with 19 (45%) policies. The next largest category was “donation via schools,” with 12 (29%) policies. However, no policies specifically addressed the nutritional quality of food donations. There is an opportunity for the federal government to strengthen food bank donation policies and improve the nutritional quality of donated foods and beverages.

scholarly journals Association between Visceral and Bone Marrow Adipose Tissue and Bone Quality in Sedentary and Physically Active Ovariectomized Wistar Rats

Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 478
Author(s):  
Hélder Fonseca ◽  
Andrea Bezerra ◽  
Ana Coelho ◽  
José Alberto Duarte
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Bone Mass ◽  
Bone Quality ◽  
Wistar Rats ◽  
Biomechanical Properties ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Bone Formation Rate ◽  
Marrow Adiposity

Background: Obesity is considered protective for bone mass, but this view has been progressively challenged. Menopause is characterized by low bone mass and increased adiposity. Our aim was to determine how visceral and bone marrow adiposity change following ovariectomy (OVX), how they correlate with bone quality and if they are influenced by physical activity. Methods: Five-month-old Wistar rats were OVX or sham-operated and maintained in sedentary or physically active conditions for 9 months. Visceral and bone marrow adiposity as well as bone turnover, femur bone quality and biomechanical properties were assessed. Results: OVX resulted in higher weight, visceral and bone marrow adiposity. Visceral adiposity correlated inversely with femur Ct.Th (r = −0.63, p < 0.001), BV/TV (r = −0.67, p < 0.001), Tb.N (r = −0.69, p < 0.001) and positively with Tb.Sp (r = 0.58, p < 0.001). Bone marrow adiposity also correlated with bone resorption (r = 0.47, p < 0.01), bone formation rate (r = −0.63, p < 0.01), BV/TV (r = −0.85, p < 0.001), Ct.Th (r = −0.51, p < 0.0.01), and with higher empty osteocyte lacunae (r = 0.39, p < 0.05), higher percentage of osteocytes with oxidative stress (r = 0.64, p < 0.0.01) and lower femur maximal stress (r = −0.58, p < 0.001). Physical activity correlated inversely with both visceral (r = −0.74, p < 0.01) and bone marrow adiposity (r = −0.92, p < 0.001). Conclusions: OVX increases visceral and bone marrow adiposity which are associated with inferior bone quality and biomechanical properties. Physical activity could contribute to reduce adipose tissue and thereby improve bone quality.

Static and dynamic response of sandwich beams with lattice and pantographic cores

2021 ◽  
pp. 109963622110338
Author(s):  
Yury Solyaev ◽  
Arseniy Babaytsev ◽  
Anastasia Ustenko ◽  
Andrey Ripetskiy ◽  
Alexander Volkov
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
Lattice Structure ◽  
Unit Length ◽  
Experimental Tests ◽  
Plane Geometry ◽  
Sandwich Beams ◽  
Static Tests ◽  
Three Point Bending ◽  
The Core ◽  
The Impact

Mechanical performance of 3d-printed polyamide sandwich beams with different type of the lattice cores is investigated. Four variants of the beams are considered, which differ in the type of connections between the elements in the lattice structure of the core. We consider the pantographic-type lattices formed by the two families of inclined beams placed with small offset and connected by stiff joints (variant 1), by hinges (variant 2) and made without joints (variant 3). The fourth type of the core has the standard plane geometry formed by the intersected beams lying in the same plane (variant 4). Experimental tests were performed for the localized indentation loading according to the three-point bending scheme with small span-to-thickness ratio. From the experiments we found that the plane geometry of variant 4 has the highest rigidity and the highest load bearing capacity in the static tests. However, other three variants of the pantographic-type cores (1–3) demonstrate the better performance under the impact loading. The impact strength of such structures are in 3.5–5 times higher than those one of variant 4 with almost the same mass per unit length. This result is validated by using numerical simulations and explained by the decrease of the stress concentration and the stress state triaxiality and also by the delocalization effects that arise in the pantographic-type cores.

scholarly journals Smoothing additive manufactured parts using ns-pulsed laser radiation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Kuisat ◽  
Fernando Lasagni ◽  
Andrés Fabián Lasagni
Keyword(s):  
Surface Roughness ◽  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Pulsed Laser ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Laser Source ◽  
Pulsed Laser Radiation ◽  
Current State ◽  
The Impact

AbstractIt is well known that the surface topography of a part can affect its mechanical performance, which is typical in additive manufacturing. In this context, we report about the surface modification of additive manufactured components made of Titanium 64 (Ti64) and Scalmalloy®, using a pulsed laser, with the aim of reducing their surface roughness. In our experiments, a nanosecond-pulsed infrared laser source with variable pulse durations between 8 and 200 ns was applied. The impact of varying a large number of parameters on the surface quality of the smoothed areas was investigated. The results demonstrated a reduction of surface roughness Sa by more than 80% for Titanium 64 and by 65% for Scalmalloy® samples. This allows to extend the applicability of additive manufactured components beyond the current state of the art and break new ground for the application in various industrial applications such as in aerospace.

scholarly journals Building Bio-Districts or Eco-Regions: Participative Processes Supported by Focal Groups

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 511
Author(s):  
Raquel S. Dias ◽  
Daniela V.T.A. Costa ◽  
Helena E. Correia ◽  
Cristina A. Costa
Keyword(s):  
Focus Groups ◽  
Organic Farming ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Food System ◽  
Social Economic ◽  
Agricultural Activities ◽  
Family Farmers ◽  
Governance Model ◽  
Environmental Component

Over the years, rural areas have faced a number of problems and difficulties, such as an increase in the average age of the population, desertification, loss of employment and the abandonment of rural and agricultural activities, which have led to the emergence of new initiatives aimed at revitalizing these territories from a social, economic and environmental perspective, such as the successful Bio-districts or Eco-regions (e.g., Bio-district of Cilento). Understanding and establishing a proper framework for each territory based on agroecology and participatory methodologies is still a challenge. In this sense, based on the analysis of two European examples—Cilento, Italy and São Pedro do Sul, Portugal—we described each of the building processes and defined a set of drivers that might constitute guiding principles to serve as a basis for the creation of Bio-districts or Eco-regions. The drivers’ matrix identified was discussed in three focus groups carried out in Portugal in 2020. Such drivers included a technical and environmental component (the quality of the environment and landscape, the food system and the implementation of organic farming and agroecological practices), a social and economic component (valorization of the farmers, products and territories and a set of different stakeholders—farmers, consumers, schools, tourism entities and restaurants, local authorities) and a political component (the governance model). Most participants agreed that the recognition of a Bio-district or Eco-region should be informal, bottom-up, with farmers as the main pillar, with a fair and representative participation, namely family farmers.

scholarly journals A Comprehensive Investigation on 3D Printing of Polyamide 11 and Thermoplastic Polyurethane via Multi Jet Fusion

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 2139
Author(s):  
Wei Shian Tey ◽  
Chao Cai ◽  
Kun Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Tensile Strength ◽  
Flexural Strength ◽  
Wear Rate ◽  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
Thermoplastic Polyurethane ◽  
Print Quality ◽  
Polyamide 11 ◽  
Powder Bed

Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) is a recently developed polymeric powder bed fusion (PBF) additive manufacturing technique that has received considerable attention in the industrial and scientific community due to its ability to fabricate functional and complex polymeric parts efficiently. In this work, a systematic characterization of the physicochemical properties of MJF-certified polyamide 11 (PA11) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) powder was conducted. The mechanical performance and print quality of the specimens printed using both powders were then evaluated. Both PA11 and TPU powders showed irregular morphology with sharp features and had broad particle size distribution, but such features did not impair their printability significantly. According to the DSC scans, the PA11 specimen exhibited two endothermic peaks, while the TPU specimen exhibited a broad endothermic peak (116–150 °C). The PA11 specimens possessed the highest tensile strength in the Z orientation, as opposed to the TPU specimens which possessed the lowest tensile strength along the same orientation. The flexural properties of the PA11 and TPU specimens displayed a similar anisotropy where the flexural strength was highest in the Z orientation and lowest in the X orientation. The porosity values of both the PA11 and the TPU specimens were observed to be the lowest in the Z orientation and highest in the X orientation, which was the opposite of the trend observed for the flexural strength of the specimens. The PA11 specimen possessed a low coefficient of friction (COF) of 0.13 and wear rate of 8.68 × 10−5 mm3/Nm as compared to the TPU specimen, which had a COF of 0.55 and wear rate of 0.012 mm3/Nm. The PA11 specimens generally had lower roughness values on their surfaces (Ra < 25 μm), while the TPU specimens had much rougher surfaces (Ra > 40 μm). This investigation aims to uncover and explain phenomena that are unique to the MJF process of PA11 and TPU while also serving as a benchmark against similar polymeric parts printed using other PBF processes.

scholarly journals “Is this the GVHD?” A qualitative exploration of quality of life issues in individuals with graft-versus-host disease following allogeneic stem cell transplant and their experiences of a specialist multidisciplinary bone marrow transplant service

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabella de Vere Hunt ◽  
James M. Kilgour ◽  
Robert Danby ◽  
Andy Peniket ◽  
Rubeta N. Matin
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Stem Cell ◽  
Stem Cell Transplantation ◽  
Graft Versus Host Disease ◽  
Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Information Provision ◽  
Graft Versus Host

Abstract Background Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality following allogeneic stem cell transplantation. These patients face unique challenges due to the complexity of GVHD which can affect multiple organ systems, and the toxicity of treatments. Despite the known impact on quality of life (QOL), qualitative data within the bone marrow transplantation (BMT) literature is rare, and there has been no qualitative work exploring patient experience of specialist healthcare provision for GVHD in the United Kingdom. Methods We conducted a primary explorative qualitative study of the experience of QOL issues and multidisciplinary care in patients with chronic GVHD following allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Eight patients were identified using convenience sampling from specialist BMT outpatient clinics. Following consent, patients were interviewed individually via telephone. Transcripts of interviews were analyzed using an inductive thematic approach. Results Mean participant age was 61-years-old (range 45–68), with a mean time post-transplant of 3 years at time of interview (range 3 months–15 years). Five key QOL themes were identified: (1) ‘Restricted as to what I can do’; (2) Troubling symptoms—‘you can sort of get GVHD anywhere’; (3) Confusion/uncertainty over GVHD symptoms—‘Is this the GVHD?’; (4) Unpredictable course and uncertainty about the future; and (5) Adapting to the sick role. In addition, four themes related to experience of service provision were identified: (1) personal care and close relationship with BMT nurses; (2) efficiency versus long waits—‘On the case straight away’; (3) information provision—‘went into it with a bit of a rosy view’; and (4) the role of support groups. Conclusions These qualitative data reflect the heterogeneity of experiences of the GVHD patient population, reflecting the need for a flexible and nuanced approach to patient care with emphasis on comprehensive information provision. We have identified the key role that BMT specialist nurses within the multidisciplinary team play in supporting patients. We advocate future research should focus on ways to meet the complex needs of this patient group and ensure that the personal care and close relationships are not lost in service redesigns embracing remote consultations.

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