An alternative process for cleaning knives used on meat slaughter floors

Traditionally on slaughter floors operator knives are cleaned by rinsing in hand wash water at 20-40 degrees C followed by brief immersion in baths termed "sterilisers" which contain water no cooler than 82 degrees C. Under Australian legislation, both domestic and export, it is possible for a meat processing establishment to apply to the Controlling Authority for permission to implement an alternative procedure providing that it is at least the equivalent of that legislated. No firm evidence appears to exist for the 82 degrees C requirement and the possibility of replacing this element of the knife cleaning procedure with an alternative procedure using 60 degrees C water and a longer immersion time was investigated at an abattoir slaughtering cattle and sheep. Knives were tested at a range of work stations located along beef and mutton slaughter floors for Aerobic Plate Counts (APCs) and E. coli. For knives used on the beef chain the mean log APC/cm(2) was 2.18 by the current knife cleaning process and 1.78 by the alternate procedure (P<0.001). Using the current system E. coli was isolated from cleaned knives on 20/230 (8.7%) occasions compared with 21/230 (9.1%) occasions using the alternative system. The mean log E. coli of positive knives was 0.43/cm(2) and 0.61/cm(2) from the current and alternative systems, respectively. On the mutton chain the mean log APC/cm(2) was 1.95 using the current knife cleaning process and 1.69 by the alternative procedure (P=0.014). Using the current system E. coli was isolated from cleaned knives on 24/130 (18.5%) occasions compared with 29/130 (22.3%) occasions using the alternative system. The mean log E. coli of positive knives was 0.90/cm(2) and 0.76/cm(2) from the current and alternative systems, respectively. It is concluded that using two knives alternatively, rinsing them in hand wash water, then immersing them between uses in 60 degrees C water provides a microbiological outcome equivalent to rinsing them and momentary dipping in 82 degrees C water.     

Antimicrobial potential of immobilized Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis ATCC 11454 against selected bacteria

Immobilization of living cells of lactic acid bacteria could be an alternative or complementary method of immobilizing organic acids and bacteriocins and inhibit undesirable bacteria in foods. This study evaluated the inhibition potential of immobilized Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis ATCC 11454 on selected bacteria by a modified method of the agar spot test. L. lactis was immobilized in calcium alginate (1 to 2%)-whey protein concentrate (0 and 1%) beads. The antimicrobial potential of immobilized L. lactis was evaluated in microbiological media against pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus aureus) or Pseudomonas putida, a natural meat contaminant, and against seven gram-positive bacteria used as indicator strains. Results obtained in this study indicated that immobilized L. lactis inhibited the growth of S. aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus curvatus, Lactobacillus sakei, Kocuria varians, and Pediococcus acidilactici. Only 4 h of incubation at 35 degrees C resulted in a clear inhibition zone around the beads that increased with time. With the addition of 10 mM of a chelating agent (EDTA) to the media, results showed growth inhibition of E. coli; however, P. putida and Salmonella Typhi were unaffected by this treatment. These results indicate that immobilized lactic acid bacteria strains can be successfully used to produce nisin and inhibit bacterial growth in semisolid synthetic media.     

Common Pathogenic Mechanisms in Centronuclear and Myotubular Myopathies and Latest Treatment Advances

Centronuclear myopathies (CNM) are rare congenital disorders characterized by muscle weakness and structural defects including fiber hypotrophy and organelle mispositioning. The main CNM forms are caused by mutations in: the MTM1 gene encoding the phosphoinositide phosphatase myotubularin (myotubular myopathy), the DNM2 gene encoding the mechanoenzyme dynamin 2, the BIN1 gene encoding the membrane curvature sensing amphiphysin 2, and the RYR1 gene encoding the skeletal muscle calcium release channel/ryanodine receptor. MTM1, BIN1, and DNM2 proteins are involved in membrane remodeling and trafficking, while RyR1 directly regulates excitation-contraction coupling (ECC). Several CNM animal models have been generated or identified, which confirm shared pathological anomalies in T-tubule remodeling, ECC, organelle mispositioning, protein homeostasis, neuromuscular junction, and muscle regeneration. Dynamin 2 plays a crucial role in CNM physiopathology and has been validated as a common therapeutic target for three CNM forms. Indeed, the promising results in preclinical models set up the basis for ongoing clinical trials. Another two clinical trials to treat myotubular myopathy by MTM1 gene therapy or tamoxifen repurposing are also ongoing. Here, we review the contribution of the different CNM models to understanding physiopathology and therapy development with a focus on the commonly dysregulated pathways and current therapeutic targets.     

(E4,Z9)-TETRADECADIENAL, A SEX PHEROMONE FOR THREE NORTH AMERICAN MOTH SPECIES IN THE GENUS Saturnia

The lepidopteran genus Saturnia has three representatives in North America, S. walterorum, S. mendocino, and S. albofasciata. (E4,Z9)-Tetradecadienal (E4,Z9–14 : Ald) was identified as a sex pheromone component for all three species by combinations of coupled gas chromatography–electroantennogram detection (GC-EAD), GC–mass spectrometry (MS), and field trials. In field trials, all three species were strongly attracted to (E4,Z9–14 : Ald) as a single component. Small amounts of (Z)-9-tetradecenal (Z9–14 : Ald) also were found in extracts of all three species, but blends of this compound with E4,Z9–14 : Ald were no more attractive to male moths than E4,Z9–14 : Ald alone. Extracts of pheromone glands of female S. walterorum occasionally contained a third, trace compound eliciting responses from male antennae in GC-EAD experiments, but this compound was not identified. It is suggested that the three species can use the same, single component as a sex attractant because the flight period of S. albofasciata (fall) is different than that of the other two species (spring), whereas the geographic distributions of S. mendocino and S. walterorum overlap over only small portions of their ranges. Furthermore, the latter two species readily hybridize, so there may be minimal fitness cost to cross-attraction.     

Identification and Synthesis of Male-Produced Sex Pheromone Components of the Stink Bugs Chlorochroa ligata and Chlorochroa uhleri

The reproductive behaviors of the stink bugs Chlorochroa ligata and C. uhleri were studied in the laboratory. Adults of both species became sexually mature about 12–14 days after the final molt, and both sexes mated multiple times during their lifetimes. The mean duration of copulation was 54 ± 24 min for virgin bugs and 46 ± 33 min for experienced bugs for C. ligata and 78 ± 55 min for field-collected C. uhleri of unknown mating status. Male C. ligata were found to transfer a significant fraction of their body mass (19%) to females during mating. Sexually mature C. uhleri males produced three sex-specific compounds, methyl (R)-3-(E)-6-2,3-dihydrofarnesoate, methyl (2E,6E)-farnesoate, and methyl (E)-5-2,6,10-trimethyl-5,9-undecadienoate, in a ratio of 100:0.9:0.6. These three compounds were also produced by sexually mature male C. ligata in a ratio of 100:0.5:0.4. Identifications of the compounds were confirmed by synthesis. Production of the male-specific compounds peaked in late afternoon to early evening, coincident with the peak period of reproductive activity. Laboratory and field bioassays demonstrated that female bugs were attracted to odors from live males and to reconstructed blends of the male-specific compounds.     

(2,3,4,4-Tetramethylcyclopentyl)Methyl Acetate,a Sex Pheromone from the Obscure Mealybug: First Example of a New Structural Class of Monoterpenes

The sex pheromone of the obscure mealybug, Pseudococcus viburni, consists of (1R*,2R*,3S*)-(2,3,4,4-tetramethylcyclopentyl)methyl acetate, the first example of a new monoterpenoid structural motif in which the two isoprene units forming the carbon skeleton are joined by 2'-2 and 3'-4 connections rather than the usual 1'-4, head-to-tail connections. This highly irregular terpenoid structure, and the irregular terpenoid structures of related mealybug species, suggest that these insects may have unique terpenoid biosynthetic pathways.     

Sex Attractant Pheromone from the Neotropical Red-Shouldered Stink Bug, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thyanta perditor</Emphasis> (F.)

Olfactometer bioassays showed that odors from mature Thyanta perditor males attracted females but not males. Furthermore, odors from females did not attract either sex, indicating that like other phytophagous pentatomid bugs, the males produce a sex pheromone. Attraction appeared to peak in late afternoon to evening. The headspace volatiles collected from male and female T. perditor were analyzed by GC-MS and HPLC. A male-specific compound, methyl (2E,4Z,6Z)-decatrienoate (2E,4Z,6Z-10:COOMe), was identified along with a number of other compounds found in extracts from both sexes. Bioassays carried out with 2E,4Z,6Z-10:COOMe showed it was as attractive to females as the crude extract of male volatiles, suggesting that the male-produced sex pheromone consists of 2E,4Z,6Z-10:COOMe as a single component. Consecutive volatiles collections from males showed that 2E,4Z,6Z-10:COOMe began appearing in extracts from males about 9 d after the final molt, as the males became sexually mature.     

Ideal observer analysis for task normalization of pattern classifier performance applied to EEG and fMRI data

The application of multivariate techniques to neuroimaging and electrophysiological data has greatly enhanced the ability to detect where, when, and how functional neural information is processed during a variety of behavioral tasks. With the extension to single-trial analysis, neuroscientists are able to relate brain states to perceptual, cognitive, and motor processes. Using pattern classification methods, the neuroscientist can extract neural performance measures in a manner analogous to human behavioral performance, allowing for a consistent information content metric across measurement modalities. However, as with behavioral psychophysical performance, pattern classifier performances are a product of both the task-relevant information inherent in the brain and in the task/stimuli. Here, we argue for the use of an ideal observer framework with which the researcher can effectively normalize the observed neural performance given the task's inherent objective difficulty. We use data from a face versus car discrimination task and compare classifier performance applied to electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data with corresponding human behavior through the absolute and relative efficiency metrics. We show that confounding variables that can lead to erroneous interpretations of information content can be accounted for through comparisons to an ideal observer, allowing for more confident interpretation of the neural mechanisms involved in the task of interest. Finally, we discuss limitations of interpretation due to the transduction of indirect measures of neural activity, underlying assumptions in the optimality of the pattern classifiers, and dependence of efficiency results on signal contrast.     

Evaluation of Microwave-Assisted Process technology for HAPSITE's headspace analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

The use of microwave energy as a heating source for the field-based headspace sampling and the subsequent determination of various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using a field-portable HAPSITE gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer has been evaluated. A significant advantage in time reduction has been observed when using microwave energy when compared to conventional resistive-based heating. Such time savings are critical in field operations involving equipment such as the HAPSITE where non-routine sampling is commonly performed and very quick turnaround time is usually needed. Further, the technology also showed significant improvements in terms of sensitivity, thus suggesting its applicability to a broader range of compounds and detection levels than current technologies.