Impact of intervention strategies on Listeria contamination patterns in crawfish processing plants: a longitudinal study

Two ready-to-eat crawfish processing plants were monitored for 2 years to study the impact of Listeria control strategies, including employee training and targeted sanitation procedures, on Listeria contamination. Environmental, raw material, and finished product samples were collected weekly during the main processing months (April to June) and tested for Listeria spp. and Listeria monocytogenes. Before implementation of control strategies (year 1), the two processing plants showed Listeria spp. prevalences of 29.5% (n = 78) in raw, whole crawfish, 5.2% (n = 155) in the processing plant environment, and 0% (n = 78) in finished products. In year 2, after plant-specific Listeria control strategies were implemented, Listeria spp. prevalence increased in raw crawfish (57.5%, n = 101), in the processing plant environment (10.8%, n = 204), and in the finished product (1.0%, n = 102). Statistical analysis showed a significant increase in Listeria spp. prevalence (P < 0.0001) and a borderline nonsignificant increase in L. monocytogenes prevalence (P = 0.097) on raw material in year 2. Borderline nonsignificant increases were also observed for Listeria spp. prevalence in environmental samples (P = 0.082). Our data showed that Listeria spp. prevalence in raw crawfish can vary significantly among seasons. However, the increased contamination prevalence for raw materials only resulted in a limited Listeria prevalence increase for the processing plant environment with extremely low levels of finished product contamination. Heat treatment of raw materials combined with Listeria control strategies to prevent cross-contamination thus appears to be effective in achieving low levels of finished product contamination, even with Listeria spp. prevalences for raw crawfish of more than 50%.     

Survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Galotyri cheese stored at 4 and 12 degrees C

Post-process contamination of fresh acid-curd cheeses with Escherichia coli O157:H7 may pose a risk considering the low infectious dose and the ability of the pathogen to survive in acidic foods. To evaluate its survival in Galotyri, a traditional Greek acid-curd cheese, portions (0.5 kg) of two commercial fresh products, one artisan (pH 3.9+/-0.1) and the other industrial (pH 3.7+/-0.1), were inoculated with approximately 3.0 or 6.5 log cfu g(-1) of a five-strain cocktail of E. coli O157:H7, including rifampicin-resistant derivatives of the strains ATCC 43895 and ATCC 51657, and stored aerobically at 4 and 12 degrees C. Survival was monitored for 28 days by plating cheese samples on tryptic soy agar with 100 mg l(-1) rifampicin (TSA+Rif), SMAC and Fluorocult E. coli O157:H7 agar media. The pathogen declined much faster (P<0.05) in the industrial as compared to the artisan cheeses at both temperatures. Thus, while E. coli O157:H7 became undetectable by culture enrichment after 14 days at 4 degrees C in industrial samples, irrespective of the inoculation level, populations of 1.4-1.9 and 4.2-5.1 log cfu g(-1) survived after 28 days in the corresponding artisan cheeses with the low and high inocula, respectively. Survival was longer and greater (P<0.05) on TSA+Rif than on SMAC and Fluorocult, indicating the presence of acid-injured cells. Interestingly, survival of E. coli O157:H7 after 14-28 days in cheeses was better at 12 degrees C than at 4 degrees C, probably due to yeasts which grew on the surface of temperature-abused cheeses. The large difference in the pathogen's inactivation between the industrial and artisan cheeses at 4 degrees C could not be associated with major differences in pH or type/concentration of organic acids, suggesting another anti-E. coli O157:H7 activity by the industrial starter. The high survival of the pathogen in artisan Galotyri under conditions simulating commercial storage should be of concern.     

Drugs,Guts, Brains,but Not Rock and Roll: The Need to Consider the Role of Gut Microbiota in Contemporary Mental Health and Wellness of Emerging Adults

Emerging adulthood (ages 18–25) is a critical period for neurobiological development and the maturation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. Recent findings also suggest that a natural perturbation of the gut microbiota (GM), combined with other factors, may create a unique vulnerability during this period of life. The GM of emerging adults is thought to be simpler, less diverse, and more unstable than either younger or older people. We postulate that this plasticity in the GM suggests a role in the rising mental health issues seen in westernized societies today via the gut–brain–microbiota axis. Studies have paid particular attention to the diversity of the microbiota, the specific function and abundance of bacteria, and the production of metabolites. In this narrative review, we focus specifically on diet, physical activity/exercise, substance use, and sleep in the context of the emerging adult. We propose that this is a crucial period for establishing a stable and more resilient microbiome for optimal health into adulthood. Recommendations will be made about future research into possible behavioral adjustments that may be beneficial to endorse during this critical period to reduce the probability of a “dysbiotic” GM and the emergence and severity of mental health concerns.     

用概率统计方法增强结构木质复合材料的竞争力

Hunt在1976年曾撰文呼吁,重视结构用刨花板(主要为大片刨花板)的广泛应用及结构可靠性设计方法的引入,为木质复合材料工业发展带来了大好局面。他认为具有更高稳定性的建筑材料,特别是如工程复合材料之类,可以通过改善设计、工艺过程和质量控制等方式来提高其质量稳定性;通过以可靠性为基础的设计方式     

Non-energy benefits: Workhorse or unicorn of energy efficiency programs?

Non-energy benefits of energy efficiency programs have been studied as early as 1993, and there have been hundreds of papers and reports published since then, many of them finding that NEB are significant. Yet many U.S. states do not include NEB in their cost-benefit analyses. This article tries to provide some insight into this mismatch between the findings of NEB research and policy by analyzing the empirical basis of such research.     

模块化风机机械动力传动装置的先进解决方案

时下模块化风机齿轮箱的可靠性是一个普遍存在的问题。为此,Maag开发和试制了一种新型Maag DPPV-7-79齿轮箱,在平衡刚度和柔性的基础上能更好地实现载荷的分配均匀,具有较小的应力和最佳齿轮接触模式。     

Membrane processes for water recovery and wastewater treatment in the food industry

Despite the efforts to reduce its water consumption,the food industry still requires large amounts of water.Membrane processes have established themselves in the food industry at the beginning of the w...     

Modelling and management of smart microgrid for rural electrification in sub-saharan Africa: The case of Nigeria

Access to electricity is still a challenge in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa. In Nigeria, over 70% of the rural dwellers do not have access to electricity. The purpose of this paper is to examine the potential of a smart microgrid for off-grid rural electrification in Nigeria. A combination of design thinking and model-based design methodology is employed to select a suitable microgrid configuration and to develop a smart microgrid model. A system consisting of a solar photovoltaic array, battery energy storage and a diesel generator is selected, and the model is developed in Simulink. Demand data from 10 rural communities in Nigeria are used to validate the performance of the model and the potential for demand management is considered. The use of energy efficient light bulbs is found to reduce the peak electricity demand of the case study communities by 42 to 76%. Combining the proposed system with the use of LED bulbs makes the system to have 56 to 81% less net present cost than a system with a diesel generator alone and incandescent light bulbs. The proposed smart microgrid is found to be more suitable for off-grid rural electrification in Nigeria than diesel generators which are currently used for off-grid electrification in Nigeria.