Combining fracture mechanics and rheology to investigate the impact of micro-aeration on chocolate oral processing.

This study presents a rigorous mechanical characterisation investigation on milk chocolate with varying porosities, at different temperatures and strain rate levels. Uniaxial compression tests at temperatures varying from 20 °C to 30 °C were performed to measure the bulk properties of chocolate as a function of porosity and temperature. Fracture experiments were also conducted to compute the fracture energy at temperature levels between 20 °C and 30 °C for all tested samples.

High-resolution mass spectrometry identifies delayed biomarkers for improved precision in acetaminophen/paracetamol human biomonitoring.

Paracetamol/acetaminophen (N-acetyl-p-aminophenol, APAP) is a top selling analgesic used in more than 600 prescription and non-prescription pharmaceuticals. To study efficiently some of the potential undesirable effects associated with increasing APAP consumption (e.g.

Early exposure to farm dust in an allergic airway inflammation rabbit model: Does it affect bronchial and cough hyperresponsiveness?

Introduction: Over the past 50 years, the prevalence of allergic respiratory diseases has been increasing. The Hygiene hypothesis explains this progression by the decrease in the bio-diversity of early microbial exposure. This study aims to evaluate the effect of early-life farm exposure on airway hyperresponsiveness and cough hypersensitivity in an allergic airway inflammation rabbit model.

Variation of ewe olfactory secretome during a ram effect.

Introduction: Under temperate latitudes, reproduction in displays a marked seasonality, governed by the photoperiod. In natural conditions, the transition between sexual rest and sexual activity in both sexes is induced by the decrease of day light. Meanwhile, specific odors emitted by a sexually active male are able to reactivate the gonadotropic axis of anovulatory ewes.

Modernising Orodispersible Film Characterisation to Improve Palatability and Acceptability Using a Toolbox of Techniques.

Orodispersible films (ODFs) have been widely used in paediatric, geriatric and dysphagic patients due to ease of administration and precise and flexible dose adjustments. ODF fabrication has seen significant advancements with the move towards more technologically advanced production methods. The acceptability of ODFs is dependent upon film composition and process of formation, which affects disintegration, taste, texture and mouthfeel.

Experimental and numerical evaluation of the effect of micro-aeration on the thermal properties of chocolate.

Thermal properties, such as thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity and latent heat, influence the melting and solidification of chocolate. The accurate prediction of these properties for micro-aerated chocolate products with varying levels of porosity ranging from 0% to 15% is beneficial for understanding and control of heat transfer mechanisms during chocolate manufacturing and food oral processing. The former process is important for the final quality of chocolate and the latter is associated with sensorial attributes, such as grittiness, melting time and flavour.

Quantitative Health Risk Assessment of the Chronic Inhalation of Chemical Compounds in Healthcare and Elderly Care Facilities.

Previous studies have described the chemical pollution in indoor air of healthcare and care facilities. From these studies, the main objective of this work was to conduct a quantitative health risk assessment of the chronic inhalation of chemical compounds by workers in healthcare and elderly care facilities (hospitals, dental and general practitioner offices, pharmacies and nursing homes). The molecules of interest were 36 volatile and 13 semi-volatile organic compounds.

Indoor Carbon Dioxide, Fine Particulate Matter and Total Volatile Organic Compounds in Private Healthcare and Elderly Care Facilities.

Poor indoor air quality can have adverse effects on human health, especially in susceptible populations. The aim of this study was to measure the concentrations of dioxide carbon (CO), fine particulate matter (PM) and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) in situ in private healthcare and elderly care facilities. These pollutants were continuously measured in two rooms of six private healthcare facilities (general practitioner's offices, dental offices and pharmacies) and four elderly care facilities (nursing homes) in two French urban areas during two seasons: summer and winter.

Effect of micro-aeration on the mechanical behaviour of chocolates and implications for oral processing.

Aeration in foods has been widely utilised in the food industry to develop novel foods with enhanced sensorial characteristics. Specifically, aeration at the micron-sized scale has a significant impact on the microstructure where micro-bubbles interact with the other microstructural features in chocolates. This study aims to determine the effect of micro-aeration on the mechanical properties of chocolate products, which are directly correlated with textural attributes such as hardness and crumbliness.

Improving Primary Health Care for Residents Living in Assisted Living: Evidence for Practice and Policy.

The fact that there is a large and growing number of older Canadians has generated a sense of urgency in improving seniors' access to health and long-term care services. Many provincial health care systems have engaged in a range of reforms to help older adults remain healthy and independent. Although many transformational changes have taken place across Canada to improve primary care, variations exist across provinces and territories in terms of older adults' access to primary health care.

Measurement of molten chocolate friction under simulated tongue-palate kinematics: Effect of cocoa solids content and aeration.

The perception of some food attributes is related to mechanical stimulation and friction experienced in the tongue-palate contact during mastication. This paper reports a new bench test to measure friction in the simulated tongue-palate contact. The test consists of a flat PDMS disk, representing the tongue loaded and reciprocating against a stationary lower glass surface representing the palate.

Tribological evaluation of a novel hybrid for repair of articular cartilage defects.

The friction and wear properties of silica/poly(tetrahydrofuran)/poly(ε-caprolactone) (SiO/PTHF/PCL-diCOOH) hybrid materials that are proposed as cartilage tissue engineering materials were investigated against living articular cartilage. A testing rig was designed to allow testing against fresh bovine cartilage. The friction force and wear were compared for five compositions of the hybrid biomaterial articulating against freshly harvested bovine cartilage in diluted bovine calf serum.

A lubrication replenishment theory for hydrogels.

Hydrogels are suggested as less invasive alternatives to total joint replacements, but their inferior tribological performance compared to articular cartilage remains a barrier to implementation. Existing lubrication theories do not fully characterise the friction response of all hydrogels, and a better insight into the lubrication mechanisms must be established to enable optimised hydrogel performance. We therefore studied the lubricating conditions in a hydrogel contact using fluorescent imaging under simulated physiological sliding conditions.

Metagenomic Characterization of Indoor Dust Bacterial and Fungal Microbiota in Homes of Asthma and Non-asthma Patients Using Next Generation Sequencing.

Background: The exposure of house occupants to indoor air pollutants has increased in recent decades. Among microbiological contaminants, bacterial and fungal aerosols remain poorly studied and the debate on the impact of these aerosols on respiratory health is still open. This study aimed to assess the diversity of indoor microbial communities in relationship with the health of occupants.

Emissions of VOCs, SVOCs, and mold during the construction process: Contribution to indoor air quality and future occupants' exposure.

Building materials and human activities are important sources of contamination indoors, but little information is available regarding contamination during construction process which could persist during the whole life of buildings. In this study, six construction stages on two construction sites were investigated regarding the emissions of 43 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), 46 semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), and the presence of 4 genera of mold. Results show that the future indoor air quality does not only depend on the emissions of each building product but that it is also closely related to the whole implementation process.

Asthma and Indoor Environment: Usefulness of a Global Allergen Avoidance Method on Asthma Control and Exposure to Molds.

The usefulness and feasibility of a global allergens avoidance method with counselors visiting patients' home for allergens measures and adapted advices were prospectively evaluated through asthma control and environment evaluation. Twenty seven patients were prospectively included and compared to a cohort of 30 control patients. The level of control of asthma at inclusion and after 1 year was evaluated by the clinical signs, the evolution of the FEV1, and the healthcare use.

Adenovirus behavior in air handling unit fiberglass filters.

Viral aerosols can lead to respiratory viral infections with high infectivity. About 90% of people's time is spent in closed environments. A few studies have pointed out that the ventilation systems in air handling units (AHUs) that treat and transmit a new synthetic clean and conditioned environment can also spread and transport viral particles in buildings.

Fluid load support does not explain tribological performance of PVA hydrogels.

The application of hydrogels as articular cartilage (AC) repair or replacement materials is limited by poor tribological behaviour, as it does not match that of native AC. In cartilage, the pressurisation of the interstitial fluid is thought to be crucial for the low friction as the load is shared between the solid and liquid phase of the material. This fluid load support theory is also often applied to hydrogels.

Indoor air quality in two French hospitals: Measurement of chemical and microbiological contaminants.

In addition to being influenced by the environment, the indoor air pollution in hospitals may be associated with specific compounds emitted from various products used, health care activities and building materials. This study has enabled assessment of the chemical and microbiological concentrations of indoor air in two French hospitals. Based on an integrated approach, the methodology defined aims to measure concentrations of a wide range of chemical compounds (>50 volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds), particle concentrations (PM and PM), microorganisms (fungi, bacteria and viruses) and ambient parameters (temperature, relative humidity, pressure and carbon dioxide).

Factors determining the exposure of dairy farmers to thoracic organic dust.

Bronchial respiratory diseases are more common in dairy farmers than in the general population, perhaps because the repeated inhalation of organic dust contributes to the development of these disorders. However, the factors determining the exposure of farmers to particles that can enter the lower bronchial tract and interact with it, i.e.

A low friction, biphasic and boundary lubricating hydrogel for cartilage replacement.

Unlabelled: Partial joint repair is a surgical procedure where an artificial material is used to replace localised chondral damage. These artificial bearing surfaces must articulate against cartilage, but current materials do not replicate both the biphasic and boundary lubrication mechanisms of cartilage. A research challenge therefore exists to provide a material that mimics both boundary and biphasic lubrication mechanisms of cartilage.

Granulometry, microbial composition and biological activity of dusts collected in French dairy farms.

Background: Dairy working increases the prevalence of lower airway respiratory diseases, especially COPD and asthma. Epidemiological studies have reported that chronic inhalation of organic dusts released during specific daily tasks could represent a major risk factor for development of these pathologies in dairy workers. Knowledge on size, nature and biological activity of such organic dusts remain however limited.

Real-time observation of fluid flows in tissue during stress relaxation using Raman spectroscopy.

This paper outlines a technique to measure fluid levels in articular cartilage tissue during an unconfined stress relaxation test. A time series of Raman spectrum were recorded during relaxation and the changes in the specific Raman spectral bands assigned to water and protein were monitored to determine the fluid content of the tissue. After 1000s unconfined compression the fluid content of the tissue is reduced by an average of 3.

The Fate of Mengovirus on Fiberglass Filter of Air Handling Units.

One of the most important topics that occupy public health problems is the air quality. That is the reason why mechanical ventilation and air handling units (AHU) were imposed by the different governments in the collective or individual buildings. Many buildings create an artificial climate using heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems.