Study of Arcobacter spp. contamination in fresh lettuces detected by different cultural and molecular methods

Arcobacters are considered potential emerging food and waterborne pathogens. However, there is no data on the presence of Arcobacter spp. in fresh vegetables. Therefore the objective of this research was to study the presence of Arcobacter spp. in fresh lettuces.Fifty fresh lettuces purchased from different local shops in Valencia (Spain) were analyzed. The assay was performed simultaneously by cultural and molecular methods. Isolates were identified by real-time, multiplex PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of PCR-amplified DNA fragment (PCR-RFLP). Finally, all the isolates were genotyped using the randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD-PCR) method.Arcobacter sp. was detected in 10 of the 50 samples (20%) by real-time PCR, being A. butzleri the unique detected species by mPCR. The detection levels obtained by conventional PCR (7 samples/50, 14%) were slightly lower. These seven samples were found to be positive also by culture isolation. All 19 obtained isolates were identified as A. butzleri by multiplex PCR and PCR-RFLP. Great genetic heterogeneity among the isolates was observed by RAPD-PCR profiling.To our knowledge, this is the first study in which Arcobacter spp. is detected in fresh vegetables such as lettuces. Although these foods are generally considered safe, given the large quantities consumed and the fact that further cooking is absent, lettuce could be a source of Arcobacters of public health concern.     

Determination of Total Sugar Content in Soy-Based Drinks Using Infrared Spectroscopy and Chemometrics

Partial least square (PLS) regression models were developed and compared in order to determine the total sugar content in soy-based drinks using an infrared spectroscopy technique known as attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR). On a spectrophotometer set for analyzing on the middle infrared region, spectral band of 1900 to 900 cm^?1, commercial samples of soy beverage were analyzed, as well as samples with crescent water additions of 5, 10, and 20% v/v. Reference data for total sugars were obtained using the Lane-Eynon method. To construct regression models, algorithms of interval partial least square (iPLS) and synergy of interval partial least square (siPLS) were applied using iToolbox package on Matlab 8.1 environment. Kennard-Stone algorithm was used to the selection of calibration and prediction sets. Two models have been the best obtained: the first was an iPLS with seven latent variables, which selected the spectral band of 1399–900 cm^?1 and presented root mean square error of cross-validation (RMSECV)?=?0.1678% (w/w). The second best model was siPLS with six latent variables, which selected spectral bands of 1025–1150 and 1151–1476 cm^?1 and presented RMSECV?=?0.1963% (w/w). The proposed method presents advantages such as a small-required amount of sample for spectrum achievement, no sample destruction, and a high analytical frequency.     

Structure of the heme d of Penicillium vitale and Escherichia coli catalases

A heme d prosthetic group with the configuration of a cis-hydroxychlorin gamma-spirolactone has been found in the crystal structures of Penicillium vitale catalase and Escherichia coli catalase hydroperoxidase II (HPII). The absolute stereochemistry of the two heme d chiral carbon atoms has been shown to be identical. For both catalases the heme d is rotated 180 degrees about the axis defined by the alpha-gamma-meso carbon atoms, with respect to the orientation found for heme b in beef liver catalase. Only six residues in the heme pocket, preserved in P. vitale and HPII, differ from those found in the bovine catalase. In the crystal structure of the inactive N201H variant of HPII catalase the prosthetic group remains as heme b, although its orientation is the same as in the wild type enzyme. These structural results confirm the observation that heme d is formed from protoheme in the interior of the catalase molecule through a self-catalyzed reaction.     

Usability issues in the design of an intuitive interface for planning and simulating maintenance interventions using a virtual environment

This paper presents some of the results obtained in the VRIMOR project (virtual reality for inspection, maintenance, operation and repair of nuclear power plants). The general aim was to integrate environmental scanning technologies with human modelling and radiological dose estimation tools, and to deliver an intuitive and cost-effective system for use by operators involved with interventions in radiologically controlled areas. The usability of the resulting products was one of the main success criteria. This paper describes the general approach and design mechanisms used in the HeSPI (HeSPI stands for the Spanish for Herramienta para la Simulación y Planificación de Intervenciones, or tool for the simulation and planning of interventions) tool that has been developed by one of the teams. The tool provides the designer of an intervention with a humanoid 3D model, or mannequin, that can be loaded into the desired environment and will be used by the designer as if he was manipulating a puppet, making it move around the environment and perform different kinds of actions, adopting varied postures, interacting with the objects in the environment and manipulating tools and equipment. A combination of a graphical user interface (GUI) and a voice recognition system, together with the selected design mechanisms, has proven to offer good enough interaction possibilities for this kind of desktop virtual environment.     

Sequential combined therapy with thalidomide and narrow-band (TL01) UVB in the treatment of prurigo nodularis

Karyotypic analysis by direct demonstration of DNA sequences in interphase nuclei has been termed interphase cytogenetics and can be applied to a wide variety of cellular material, including paraffin-embedded tissue, allowing detection of both numerical and structural chromosome aberrations. The principal established method in the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique, but more recently primed in situ labelling (PRINS) has been employed, as illustrated in an accompanying paper in this issue of the Journal. Where there are defining cytogenetic abnormalities, as is the case for the detection of fetal numerical chromosome abnormalities and in some paediatric and soft tissue tumours, this approach has clear diagnostic applicability. In other circumstances, such as the investigation of most solid tumours, this technique is largely of research interest but, particularly with application to paraffin sections, in providing valuable information on the morphological distribution of molecular changes in both invasive and 'pre-invasive' lesions. Continued technical refinement and research application of this methodology will lead not only to greater clinical applicability but also to improved understanding of the pathobiology of tumours.     

Artificial nutrition in the home. 1995 yearly report. NADYA-SENPE Group (Natiional Registry of Patient-Spanish Society for Parnteral and Enterlal Nutrition

This paper considers the experiences emerging from relatives whose loved ones die suddenly in a Cardiac Care Unit (CCU). It examines how best to address their needs and how to facilitate the normal grieving process during their brief yet traumatic hospital encounter. There appears to be no primary research relating specifically to sudden bereavement in a CCU. Several authors assume that findings can be applied between specialties but there is no empirical evidence to support this assumption. The research which does exist is predominantly in the areas of bereavement generally and in Accident and Emergency (A&E) in particular. This paper contains a critical examination of this literature and consideration of the extent to which findings from these fields can be relied upon to lead practice in the CCUs. It is concluded that recommendations for practice arising from such literature, e.g. those supporting the allocation of an advocate nurse to accompany relatives and allowing observation of resuscitation, may not be readily applicable to CCUs. The paper concludes with a consideration of future cardio-specific research needs.     

Sideburn reconstruction with an expanded supraauricular trapezoidal flap

Although loss of the sideburn and temporal scalp with subsequent alopecia is relatively frequent as a consequence of traumatic, surgical, and iatrogenic processes, not many techniques of sideburn reconstruction have been reported. We present a two-stage technique to correct the long-sideburns when there is an associated temporal alopecic defect due to trauma or surgery by means of an expanded supra-auricular trapezoidal flap. The method can achieve not only a satisfactory appearance of the sideburn but also a normal capillary line from the occipital to the frontal region.     

A general module for RNA crystallization

Crystallization of RNA molecules other than simple oligonucleotide duplexes remains a challenging step in structure determination by X-ray crystallography. Subjecting biochemically, covalently and conformationally homogeneous target molecules to an exhaustive array of crystallization conditions is often insufficient to yield crystals large enough for X-ray data collection. Even when large RNA crystals are obtained, they often do not diffract X-rays to resolutions that would lead to biochemically informative structures. We reasoned that a well-folded RNA molecule would typically present a largely undifferentiated molecular surface dominated by the phosphate backbone. During crystal nucleation and growth, this might result in neighboring molecules packing subtly out of register, leading to premature crystal growth cessation and disorder. To overcome this problem, we have developed a crystallization module consisting of a normally intramolecular RNA-RNA interaction that is recruited to make an intermolecular crystal contact. The target RNA molecule is engineered to contain this module at sites that do not affect biochemical activity. The presence of the crystallization module appears to drive crystal growth, in the course of which other, non-designed contacts are made. We have employed the GAAA tetraloop/tetraloop receptor interaction successfully to crystallize numerous group II intron domain 5-domain 6, and hepatitis delta virus (HDV) ribozyme RNA constructs. The use of the module allows facile growth of large crystals, making it practical to screen a large number of crystal forms for favorable diffraction properties. The method has led to group II intron domain crystals that diffract X-radiation to 3.5 A resolution.     

Evaluating Bluetooth Performance as the Support for Context-Aware Applications

We present an experiment relative to the use of the Bluetooth wireless technology to provide network support for context-aware applications. We describe an approach to provide network interconnection using a combination of wireless and wired network technologies. We also describe the steps taken to create a Bluetooth based context-aware application. We, finally, evaluate, using a small test-bed and simulation the overall performance of this technology when adopted in the area of context-aware and ubiquitous computing.