Enterococcus cecorum is the most frequently occurring enterococcal species in the intestine of chickens of over 12 weeks of age, and there are few reports on its isolation from the skeleton of broiler parent chicks. In the present study, observations on vertebral osteomyelitis and spondylolisthesis ('kinky back syndrome') showing high incidence in 8 broiler parent flocks in different parts of Hungary are summarised. Clinical signs were seen only in roosters between 5 and 13 weeks of age. Diseased birds were alert and remained sitting on their hocks with their feet slightly raised off the ground. Incidence of the disease among male birds ranged from 8% to 30% depending on flocks. Enlargement and distortion of the body of the 6th vertebra were seen as the main pathological lesions. The cavity of the spinal canal was constricted by the distorted vertebral bodies. Resorption of bone tissue and sequestrum formation, signs of increased osteoclast activity, proliferation of fibrotic tissues, infiltration with heterophils and formation of sclerotic layers were detected in the vertebral bodies. From all 24 samples collected from the vertebral lesions, Enterococcus cecorum was isolated and identified using metabolic fingerprinting as well as 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Demonstration of E. cecorum from the vertebral lesions in all examined broiler breeder roosters showing the same clinical and pathological findings in different flocks suggested the pathogenic role of this microorganism for the first time in Hungary.

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The most relevant properties of polysaccharide aerogels in practical applications are determined by their microstructures. Hydration has a dominant role in altering the microstructures of these hydrophilic porous materials. To understand the hydration induced structural changes of monolithic Caalginate aerogel, produced by drying fully cross-linked gels with supercritical CO 2 , the aerogel was gradually hydrated and characterized at different states of hydration by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), liquid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy. First, the incorporation of structural water and the formation of an extensive hydration sphere mobilize the Caalginate macromolecules and induce the rearrangement of the drystate tertiary and quaternary structures. The primary fibrils of the original aerogel backbone form hydrated fibers and fascicles, resulting in the significant increase of pore size, the smoothing of the nanostructured surface, and the increase of the fractal dimension of the matrix. Because of the formation of these new superstructures in the hydrated backbone, the stiffness and the compressive strength of the aerogel significantly increase compared to its dry-state properties. Further elevation of the water content of the aerogel results in a critical hydration state. The Ca-alginate fibers of the backbone disintegrate into well-hydrated chains, which eventually form a quasi-homogeneous hydrogel-like network. Consequently, the porous structure collapses and the welldefined solid backbone ceases to exist. Even in this hydrogel-like state, the macroscopic integrity of the Ca-alginate monolith is intact. The postulated mechanism accounts for the modification of the macroscopic properties of Ca-alginate aerogel in relation to both humid and aqueous environments.

Mesoporous silica particles of MCM-41 type were synthesized by sol-gel method from tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) in 2-methoxyethanol and deionized water mixture in base conditions at room temperature. Ammonia or sodium hydroxides were used as catalysts and cetyl-trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and n-dodecyl-trimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) as structure directing agents. The porosities and the ordered structure have been analyzed using transmission and scanning electron microscopy, small angle neutron and Xray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption, thermal analysis and FTIR spectroscopy. The samples consist of spherical particles of sub-micrometer size, with radially arranged pores. The comparison of the effect of the different surfactants and catalysts shows that by varying the surfactant type and their proportion, the pore sizes can be controlled. As compared to the commonly used ammonia catalyst, the use of NaOH as catalyst results in a much smaller porosity of the as-prepared materials. These materials are not resisting to the heat treatment at 700 ºC used for the template removal, and the ordered porous structure is completely lost.

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PurposeRed chili peppers have been highly valued in gastronomy and traditional medicine since ancient times; it seems that it is not just an ingredient for food but also a good remedy for various medical conditions such as increased blood pressure and high levels of serum triglycerides and cholesterol, myocardial infarction, arthritis, and migraines. The objective of this study is the characterization of a new carrier used for encapsulated extract.MethodsChili pepper extract was obtained and was physically entrapped inside polyurethane microparticles in order to diminish the irritative potential of this extract. The particles were evaluated by Zetasizer measurements, small-angle neutron scattering and thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; the encapsulation efficacy and the drug release profile were assessed by UV-Vis spectroscopy. Bioevaluations on mice skin were performed to predict the irritative potential of the samples.ResultsTwo different types of samples were compared: hollow polyurethane microparticles vs polyurethane particles containing the natural extract. The sizes of the particles were very similar, but the sample containing the extract presents three particle populations (the polydispersity index increases from 0.3 to 0.6 from one sample to another). The zeta-potential measurements and SEM images indicate a medium tendency to form clusters, while the UV-Vis study revealed an almost 70% encapsulation efficacy.ConclusionThe results suggest that encapsulation of a chili pepper extract inside polyurethane microparticles leads to a non-irritative product with a prolonged release: ~30% of encapsulated extract is released within the first 8 days and a maximum 45% is reached in 2 weeks.

Nanoporous polyurea-cross-linked Ca-alginate (X-Ca-alginate) aerogels were prepared by reacting an aliphatic or aromatic triisocyanate with the preformed biopolymer network post gelation and drying in supercritical CO 2 . The nanomorphology of native Caalginate aerogels together with those of the different X-Ca-alginate aerogels were investigated using low-voltage scanning electron microscopy, N 2 -sorption porosimetry, and contrast variation small-angle neutron scattering. Native Ca-alginate aerogels were built from primary nanoparticles (8.3 ± 0.1 nm in radius) that attach to one another forming secondary particles. In X-Ca-alginate aerogels, the aliphatic and aromatic polyureas attach to primary nanoparticles (which increase in size up to 10.0 ± 0.1 nm) via urethane linkages, and then they extend into the empty space within secondary particles in different ways. Cross-linking with an aliphatic triisocyanate leads to the formation of a dense polyurea layer over the primary nanoparticles, following the contours of the Ca-alginate skeletal framework. The rigid aromatic triisocyanate forms a more loose and randomly oriented polymer structure that more or less fills the empty space between the primary nanoparticles within the secondary particles. Both processes leave the primary Ca-alginate structure practically undisturbed, while it does affect the structure at the most fundamental level, increasing the primary particle size and reducing the porosity. The different fundamental skeletal nanostructures of X-Ca-alginate aerogels affect not only their material properties but also their potential for application in environmental remediation.

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