Switching in microseconds: design of a 5 × 5 non-blocking free space optical switch at 1550nm with a piezo-actuator and beam-steering lens system.

Modern data center networks (DCNs) require optical switches with ultra-low loss, ultra-fast reconfiguration speed, high throughput, and high extinction ratio performances. In this work, we propose the design of a 5 × 5 optical switch at 1550 nm based on a piezo-actuator serving as a translating input optical source, and a beam-steering system built of spherical lenses to complete the switching behaviour. An ultra-fast actuator switching speed is estimated as 1.

Incremental value of blood-based markers of liver fibrosis in cardiovascular risk stratification.

Aims: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with advanced liver fibrosis is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). To examine if markers of vascular injury mediate the link between liver fibrosis non-invasive tests (LFNITs) and CVD events, and to compare the incremental predictive value of LFNITs over established CVD risk scores.

Methods: Consecutively recruited individuals (n=1,692) with or without clinically overt coronary artery disease (CAD) from the Athens Cardiometabolic Cohort, were analysed.

The Effect of Dietary Supplementation with Probiotic and Postbiotic Yeast Products on Ewes Milk Performance and Immune Oxidative Status.

The administration of yeast products as feed additives has been proven to beneficially affect animal productivity through energy, oxidative, and immune status improvement. This study evaluated a combination of live yeast (LY) with yeast postbiotics (rich in mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) and beta-glucans) and selenium (Se)-enriched yeast on ewes' milk performance and milk quality, energy and oxidative status, and gene expression related to their immune system during the peripartum period. Ewes were fed a basal diet (BD; F:C = 58:42 prepartum and 41:59 postpartum) including inorganic Se (CON; = 27), the BD supplemented with a LY product, and inorganic Se (AC; = 29), as well as the combination of the LY, a product of yeast fraction rich in MOS and beta-glucans, and organic-Se-enriched yeast (ACMAN; = 26) from 6 weeks prepartum to 6 weeks postpartum.

Design and transmission analysis of trench-assisted multi-core fibre in standard cladding diameter.

6-core and 8-core trench-assisted heterogeneous fibres in standard cladding diameter are designed using artificial intelligence-based techniques including a cut-off wavelength regressor. The designs proposed here, for the first time, suppress crosstalk at 1550 nm of 8-core fibre to as low as -55 dB/km covering the whole S+C+L band while keeping coating loss below 0.001 dB/km.

Allele and genotype frequencies of the gene polymorphism associated with canine degenerative myelopathy in Belgian Malinois dogs in Greece.

Background And Aim: Canine degenerative myelopathy (CDM) is an adult-onset fatal disorder associated with a point mutation of the superoxide dismutase 1 () gene (). This study aimed to determine the allele and genotype frequencies of this mutation in a group of Belgian Malinois dogs in Greece.

Materials And Methods: Samples (n=72) of whole blood were collected from 72 purebred dogs of the Hellenic Armed Forces; these samples were processed for DNA isolation, polymerase chain reaction, and digestion with the restriction endonuclease .

AI-optimised tuneable sources for bandwidth-scalable, sub-nanosecond wavelength switching.

Wavelength routed optical switching promises low power and latency networking for data centres, but requires a wideband wavelength tuneable source (WTS) capable of sub-nanosecond switching at every node. We propose a hybrid WTS that uses time-interleaved tuneable lasers, each gated by a semiconductor optical amplifier, where the performance of each device is optimised using artificial intelligence. Through simulation and experiment we demonstrate record wavelength switch times below 900 ps across 6.

The food for feed concept. Performance of broilers fed hotel food residues.

1. In recent times the use of food waste in animal diets has gained considerable attention because of the increasing demand to cover the needs of human population and the high prices of conventional, arable based, animal feeds.2.

Dietary Supplementation of a Live Yeast Product on Dairy Sheep Milk Performance, Oxidative and Immune Status in Peripartum Period.

This study evaluated the dietary administration of live yeast on milk performance and composition, oxidative status of both blood plasma and milk, and gene expression related to the immune system of lactating ewes during the peripartum period. Chios ewes were fed either a basal diet (BD) (Control, = 51) or the BD supplemented with 2 g of a live yeast product/animal (ActiSaf, = 53) from 6 weeks prepartum to 6 weeks postpartum. Fatty acid profile, oxidative, and immune status were assessed in eight ewes per treatment at 3 and 6 weeks postpartum.

A Partially Hydrolyzed Whey Infant Formula Supports Appropriate Growth: A Randomized Controlled Non-Inferiority Trial.

The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of a partially hydrolyzed whey infant formula (PHF) on growth in healthy term infants as compared to a standard infant formula with intact protein (IPF). In a double-blind, non-inferiority, randomized controlled trial, a total of 163 healthy formula-fed infants, 55-80 days old, were recruited and randomly allocated to either the PHF (test) or the IPF (control) group. They were followed up for three months during which they were evaluated monthly on growth and development.

Bioactive Compounds in Food Waste: A Review on the Transformation of Food Waste to Animal Feed.

Bioactive compounds are substances which are present in foods in small amounts and have the ability to provide health benefits. Bioactive compounds include but are not limited to long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, carotenoids, peptides, and polyphenols. The aim of the present study is to review literature for potential bioactive compounds present in food waste material and discuss the transformation of food waste to animal feed under the perspective that usage of food waste, rather than disposal, may tackle food insecurity and provide health benefits.

The effects of dietary supplementation with rumen-protected amino acids on the expression of several genes involved in the immune system of dairy sheep.

Amino acids might be a tool to transform animals from a pro- to an anti-inflammatory phenotype through the downregulation of several genes (TLR-4, NF-κB, TNFa, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, CCL-5 and CXCL-16) whose expression increases during inflammation. To examine this possibility, each of sixty Chios dairy sheep was assigned to one of the following five dietary treatments: A: basal diet (control group); B: basal diet +6.0 g/head rumen-protected methionine (MetaSmart ); C: basal diet +5.

Effect of under- and overfeeding on sheep and goat milk and plasma enzymes activities related to oxidation.

Twenty-four dairy sheep and goats, respectively, were assigned each to three homogenous subgroups per animal species and fed the same diet in quantities which met 70% (underfeeding), 100% (control) and 130% (overfeeding) of their energy and crude protein requirements. The results showed that the underfed sheep in comparison with the control had significantly lower glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities and total antioxidant capacity (measured with Ferric Reducing Ability of Plasma [FRAP] assay) in their blood plasma. A significant increase in the glutathione transferase (GST) and GPX activities, malondialdehyde content and total antioxidant capacity (measured with 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) [ABTS] assay) in the blood plasma of underfed goats compared with controls was observed, while the opposite happened for the GR and SOD activities.

The effect of dietary Chlorella vulgaris inclusion on goat's milk chemical composition, fatty acids profile and enzymes activities related to oxidation.

The impact of dietary supplementation with microalgae on goat's milk chemical composition, fatty acids (FA) profile and enzymes activities related to antioxidant mechanism has not been well documented. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary inclusion of Chlorella vulgaris on the following: (i) milk yield, chemical composition and FA profile, (ii) the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in blood plasma and (iii) the activities of SOD, GR and lactoperoxidase (LPO) in milk of goats. Furthermore, the oxidative stress indicators for measuring total antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity [ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) and 2, 2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) assays] and oxidative stress biomarkers [malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyls (PC)] were also determined in blood plasma and milk of the animals.

The effect of dietary supplementation with rumen-protected methionine alone or in combination with rumen-protected choline and betaine on sheep milk and antioxidant capacity.

This study investigated the effects of dietary inclusion of rumen-protected methionine alone or in combination with rumen-protected choline and betaine on: (i) milk yield, chemical composition and fatty acids (FA) profile and (ii) blood plasma glutathione transferase (GST) activity of periparturient ewes. Furthermore, the oxidative stress indicators for measuring total antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity [ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) assays] were also determined in plasma and milk of ewes. Thus, 45 ewes were divided into three equal groups.

The effect of dietary Chlorella vulgaris supplementation on micro-organism community, enzyme activities and fatty acid profile in the rumen liquid of goats.

Microalgae might be considered as an alternative source of fat and/or protein for ruminant's diets. However, changes in populations of ruminal micro-organisms associated with biohydrogenation process, methane and ammonia production in response to microalgae dietary supplementation have not been well characterized. Thus, 16 cross-bred goats were divided into two groups.

The role of bentonite binders in single or concomitant mycotoxin contamination of chicken diets.

Concomitant presence of mycotoxins is more likely to appear than a single mycotoxicosis since many mycotoxigenic fungi grow and produce their toxic metabolites under similar conditions. The present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of 4 mycotoxin binders to protect meat-type chickens against single and concomitant administration in the feed of two mycotoxins, namely aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) both at concentration of 0.1 mg/kg.

Effect of soya bean and fish oil inclusion in diets on milk and plasma enzymes from sheep and goat related to oxidation.

This study investigated the effects of dietary inclusion of soya bean oil combined with fish oil (SFO) on the activities of a) superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR), catalase (CAT) and glutathione transferase (GST) in blood plasma and b) SOD, GR, CAT and lactoperoxidase (LPO) in the milk of sheep and goats. Furthermore, the oxidative stress indicators for measuring total antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging activity [ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) assays] and oxidative stress biomarkers [malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PC)] were also determined in the blood plasma and milk of the animals. For this purpose, twelve dairy sheep and twelve dairy goats were assigned each to two homogenous subgroups.

Full-mesh T- and O-band wavelength router based on arrayed waveguide gratings.

We propose an ultra-broadband full-mesh wavelength router supporting the T- and O-bands using 3 stages of cascaded arrayed waveguide gratings (AWGs). The router architecture is based on a combination of waveband and channel routing by coarse and fine AWGs, respectively. We fabricated several T-band-specific silica-based AWGs and quantum dot semiconductor optical ampliers as part of the router, and demonstrated 10 Gbps data transmission for several wavelengths throughout a range of 7.

The effect of long-term under- and overfeeding on the expression of six major milk proteins' genes in the mammary tissue of goats.

Milk protein synthesis in the mammary gland involves expression of six major milk proteins' genes whose nutritional regulation remains poorly defined. In this study, the effect of long-term under- and overfeeding on the expression of as1-casein: CSN1S1, as2-casein: CSN1S2, β-casein: CSN2, κ-casein: CSN3, α-lactalbumin: LALBA and β-lactoglobulin: BLG gene in goat mammary tissue (MT) was examined. Twenty-four lactating dairy goat, at 90-98 days in milk, were divided into three homogenous subgroups and fed the same ration, for 60 days, in quantities which met 70% (underfeeding), 100% (control) and 130% (overfeeding) of their energy and crude protein requirements.

The effect of long term under- and over-feeding on the expression of six major milk protein genes in the mammary tissue of sheep.

Milk protein synthesis in the mammary gland involves expression of six major milk protein genes whose nutritional regulation remains poorly defined. In this study, the effect of long term under- and over-feeding on the expression of αs1-casein: CSN1S1, αs2-casein: CSN1S2, β-casein: CSN2, κ-casein: CSN3, α-lactalbumin: LALBA and β-lactoglobulin: BLG gene in sheep mammary tissue (MT) was examined. Twenty-four lactating dairy sheep, at 90-98 d in milk, were divided into three groups and fed the same ration, for 60 d, in quantities which met 70% (underfeeding), 100% (control) and 130% (overfeeding) of their energy and crude protein requirements.

The effect of long term under- and over-feeding on the expression of genes related to glucose metabolism in mammary tissue of sheep.

Glucose utilisation for lactose synthesis in the mammary gland involves expression of a large number of genes whose nutritional regulation remains poorly defined. In this study, the effect of long term under- and over-feeding on the expression of genes [glucose transporter 1: GLUT1, glucose transporter 3: GLUT3, Sodium glucose contransporter 1: SGLT1, two isoforms of β- (1,4) galactosyltransferase: β- (1,4) GAT1, β- (1,4) GAT3 and α-lactalbumin: LALBA] related to glucose metabolism in sheep mammary tissue (MT) was examined. Twenty-four lactating dairy sheep were divided into three homogenous sub-groups and fed the same ration in quantities which met 70% (underfeeding), 100% (control) and 130% (overfeeding) of their energy and crude protein requirements.

Effects of high selenium and fat supplementation on growth performance and thyroid hormones concentration of broilers.

A total of 400, as hatched, broilers were used to investigate the effect of increase of selenium and energy intake on thyroid hormone metabolism, growth and liver fatty acid profile. There were 5 replicates of 4 dietary treatments namely, TA (0.289mg Se per kg diet and adequate energy content), TB (0.

The effect of long term under- and over-feeding on the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism in mammary tissue of sheep.

Milk fatty acid (FA) synthesis by the mammary gland involves expression of a large number of genes whose nutritional regulation remains poorly defined. In this study, we examined the effect of long-term under- and over-feeding on the expression of genes (acetyl Co A carboxylase, ACC; fatty acid synthetase, FAS; lipoprotein lipase, LPL; stearoyl Co A desaturase, SCD; peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ2, PPARγ2; sterol regulatory element binding protein-1, SREBP-1c; and hormone sensitive lipase, HSL) related to FA metabolism in sheep mammary tissue (MT). Twenty-four lactating sheep were divided into three homogenous sub-groups and fed the same ration in quantities covering 70% (underfeeding), 100% (control) and 130% (overfeeding) of their energy and crude protein requirements.

Determination of mycotoxins in feedstuffs and ruminant's milk using an easy and simple LC-MS/MS multiresidue method.

Mycotoxin contamination is a common problem on feedstuffs, that can be formed on crops in the field, during harvest, storage, processing or feeding. The scope of the current study was to investigate the levels of Aflatoxin B1, Aflatoxin B2, Aflatoxin G1, Aflatoxin G2, Diacetoxyscirpenol, Ochratoxin A, Toxin HT-2, Toxin T-2 and zearalenone in a variety of feedstuffs (maize silage, alfalfa hay, cottonseed cake, corn grain and concentrates) fed to ruminants and the possible contamination of milk though consumption. For this purpose an easy and simple multiresidue LC-MS/MS method without any clean-up step was developed and successfully validated in feed and milk matrices.

Effects of soyabean meal- or whey-based diets on lipid metabolism in weaned piglets.

The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that dietary protein source influences lipid metabolism-related parameters weaned piglets. The effects of soyabean meal (SB) and whey proteins (WP) on gene expression of several genes involved in the lipogenic process in liver, visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous (SAT) adipose tissues, plasma insulin concentration and fatty acid (FA) profile were investigated in 18 weaned piglets. Weaned piglets were fed one of two diets containing either SB or WP as the main protein source.