Recent Experiences with Listeria monocytogenes in New Zealand and development of a food control risk-based strategy

A risk-based strategy for Listeria monocytogenes has been developed by New Zealand Food Safety Authority. Incidents of L. monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods reported to the regulatory authority were analysed to identify common factors that contributed to the contamination. In addition, the current regulatory framework and available food industry guidance were reviewed to prepare a strategy that will provide a consistent and informed approach to managing the risk of L. monocytogenes. Also recognised is the future impact of an aging population and an increase in the availability and range of chilled ready-to-eat foods that should be integrated into the strategy if an objective of ‘no increase in the reported incidence of foodborne listeriosis after five years’ is to be achieved.     

Association of gastrointestinal illness and recreational water exposure at an inland U.S. beach

Recent epidemiology studies examining U.S. recreational water exposure and illness relationships have focused primarily on coastal and Great Lakes beaches. Human-made lakes in the U.S. have received little attention in epidemiology studies despite contributing to more waterborne disease epidemics annually than coastal U.S. waters. In a comprehensive beach cohort study, we examined relationships between water quality indicators and reported adverse health outcomes among users of a beach at an inland U.S. lake. Human health data was collected over 26 swimming days during the 2009 swimming season in conjunction with water quality measurements. Adverse health outcomes were reported 8-9 days post-exposure via a phone survey. Wading, playing or swimming in the water was observed to be a significant risk factor for GI illness (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of 3.2; CI 1.1, 9.0). Among water users, Escherichia coli density was significantly associated with elevated GI illness risk where the highest E. coli quartile was associated with an AOR of 7.0 (CI 1.5, 32). GI illness associations are consistent with previous freshwater epidemiology studies. Our findings are unique in that our observations of positive associations with GI illness risk are based upon a single daily E. coli measurement. Lastly, this study focused on an understudied issue, illness risk at inland reservoirs. Our results support the usefulness of E. coli as a health-relevant indicator of water quality for this inland U.S. beach.     

Young adults and the decline of the urban English pub: issues for planning

The numbers of English public houses or “pubs” have reduced significantly in the last two decades. Politicians have called on the planning system to resist their closure but, at the same time, demand further controls over high-street bars. This paper explores the reasons for the decline and the rationale for supporting the continuation of the “traditional” English pub. Using evidence drawn from a wider study of the relationships between places and youth drinking cultures, the paper discusses young adults' use of pubs. While recognising the adverse effects of heavy drinking, arguments are put forward in support of the traditional pub as a site for restrained and responsible social interaction for young adults. The paper discusses the issues this raises for the UK planning system in the context of responsibilities for social sustainability and public health.     

Manufacturing of advanced smart tooling for metal forming

Forming is widely used due to its high efficiency in material utilization and its high production rate in general. Most forming processes control the geometry of final products through a set of tooling. The increasing demands on lightweight products have challenged the performances and functionalities of tooling. This paper provides a systematic review of recent advancements related to tooling performance and functionalities, including tool materials, tooling fabrication processes (e.g., machining, heat treatment, coating, surface texturing, and additive manufacturing), sensing, and data analytics. Finally, recommendations on future research directions for metal forming tooling are provided.     

Characterization of activated sludge flocs by confocal laser scanning microscopy and image analysis

In this study we present a new approach to determine volumes, heterogeneity factors, and compositions of the bacterial population of activated sludge flocs by 3D confocal imaging. After staining the fresh flocs with fluorescein-isothiocyanate, 75 stacks of images (containing approx. 3000 flocs) were acquired with a confocal laser scanning microscope. The self-developed macro 3D volume and surface determination for the KS 400 software package combined the images of one stack to a 3D image and calculated the real floc volume and surface. We determined heterogeneity factors like the ratio of real floc surface to the surface of a sphere with the respective volume and the fractal dimension (D(f)). According to their significant influence on floc integrity and quality, we also investigated the chemical composition of flocs and quantified their bacterial population structure by using group-specific rRNA-targeted probes for fluorescence in situ hybridization. By a settling experiment we enriched flocs with poor settling properties and determined the above-mentioned parameters. This approach revealed shifts in floc volume, heterogeneity, and bacterial and chemical composition according to the settling quality of the flocs.     

Creative clusters in the regeneration of Valletta and the cultural politics of Strait Street

The paper aims to unfold the narrative of development in a creative cluster project for the regeneration of Strait Street in Valletta, Malta. This is approached by first examining the distinctive, historically contentious background of the neighbourhood and, thereafter, unpacking the development narrative of policy documents and the discursive and material constructs about the creative city approach to regeneration strategies in the city. Using a ‘system-wide’ analytical framework, this material is then scrutinized to gain an understanding of the specificities involved and, finally, discuss the crucial features of the key dimensions elucidating the potential strengths and weaknesses of the case     

Optimal packing of material flow on conveyor belts

We are interested in an optimal packing density problem for material flows on conveyor belts in two spatial dimensions. The control problem is concerned with the initial configuration of parts on the belt to ensure a high overall flow rate and to further reduce congestion. An adjoint approach is used to compare the optimization results from the microscopic model based on a system of ordinary differential equations with the corresponding macroscopic model relying on a hyperbolic conservation law. Computational results highlight similarities and differences of both optimization models and emphasize the benefits of the macroscopic approach.