Comparison of official food control results in Finland between food establishments with and without a certified food safety management system

Funding Information: The authors wish to acknowledge the Finnish Food Authority, which provided the inspection data for this research. This work was supported by the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (grant number 1821/03.01.01/2018 ). Funding Information: The authors wish to acknowledge the Finnish Food Authority, which provided the inspection data for this research. This work was supported by the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (grant number 1821/03.01.01/2018). Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Author(s)Certified food safety management systems (FSMSs), such as ISO 22000 and BRC, along with official food control, focus on food safety. European Union regulation 2017/625 requires to take FSMSs and their audits into account in official food control. To assess the possibility to decrease official food control frequency due to certified FSMSs the association of certified FSMSs on food business operators' (FBO) compliance was examined. The results of 1484 official inspections of 110 Finnish food establishments representing slaughterhouses, other meat establishments, fish and milk establishments, and bakeries with (n = 59) and without (n = 51) certified FSMS were studied over the period of 2016–2018. Altogether, 14 356 scores were given to 87 different items during the inspections. The comparison of scores between food establishments with and without certified FSMS discovered minor differences: 98.3% and 98.0% of inspected items in food establishments with and without a certified FSMS, respectively, did not impair food safety. The association between certified FSMSs and food establishments’ compliance was inconsistent in different establishment types and among inspected items. Therefore, the results do not support a decrease in the frequency of official food control inspections merely based on the existence of a certified FSMS. Instead, the results advocate for an individual assessment of the FBO's inspection frequency, based on the history of compliance.Peer reviewe

The importance of the hydrophilic region of PsbL for the plastoquinone electron acceptor complex of Photosystem II

AbstractThe PsbL protein is a 4.5kDa subunit at the monomer–monomer interface of Photosystem II (PS II) consisting of a single membrane-spanning domain and a hydrophilic stretch of ~15 residues facing the cytosolic (or stromal) side of the photosystem. Deletion of conserved residues in the N-terminal region has been used to investigate the importance of this hydrophilic extension. Using Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, three deletion strains: ∆(N6–N8), ∆(P11–V12) and ∆(E13–N15), have been created. The ∆(N6–N8) and ∆(P11–V12) strains remained photoautotrophic but were more susceptible to photodamage than the wild type; however, the ∆(E13–N15) cells had the most severe phenotype. The Δ(E13–N15) mutant showed decreased photoautotrophic growth, a reduced number of PS II centers, impaired oxygen evolution in the presence of PS II-specific electron acceptors, and was highly susceptible to photodamage. The decay kinetics of chlorophyll a variable fluorescence after a single turnover saturating flash and the sensitivity to low concentrations of PS II-directed herbicides in the Δ(E13–N15) strain indicate that the binding of plastoquinone to the QB-binding site had been altered such that the affinity of QB is reduced. In addition, the PS II-specific electron acceptor 2,5-dimethyl-p-benzoquinone was found to inhibit electron transfer through the quinone-acceptor complex of the ∆(E13–N15) strain. The PsbL Y20A mutant was also investigated and it exhibited increased susceptibility to photodamage and increased herbicide sensitivity. Our data suggest that the N-terminal hydrophilic region of PsbL influences forward electron transfer from QA through indirect interactions with the D–E loop of the D1 reaction center protein. Our results further indicate that disruption of interactions between the N-terminal region of PsbL and other PS II subunits or lipids destabilizes PS II dimer formation. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Photosynthesis Research for Sustainability: Keys to Produce Clean Energy

HASH(0x563d441f8288)

HASH(0x563d43dcbc40)HASH(0x563d441b07b0

Quantitative acoustic differentiation of cryptic species illustrated with King and Clapper rails

Reliable species identification is vital for survey and monitoring programs. Recently, the development of digital technology for recording and analyzing vocalizations has assisted in acoustic surveying for cryptic, rare, or elusive species. However, the quantitative tools that exist for species differentiation are still being refined. Using vocalizations recorded in the course of ecological studies of a King Rail (Rallus elegans) and a Clapper Rail (Rallus crepitans) population, we assessed the accuracy and effectiveness of three parametric (logistic regression, discriminant function analysis, quadratic discriminant function analysis) and six nonparametric (support vector machine, CART, Random Forest, k�nearest neighbor, weighted k�nearest neighbor, and neural networks) statistical classification methods for differentiating these species by their kek mating call. We identified 480 kek notes of each species and quantitatively characterized them with five standardized acoustic parameters. Overall, nonparametric classification methods outperformed parametric classification methods for species differentiation (nonparametric tools were between 57% and 81% accurate, parametric tools were between 57% and 60% accurate). Of the nine classification methods, Random Forest was the most accurate and precise, resulting in 81.1% correct classification of kek notes to species. This suggests that the mating calls of these sister species are likely difficult for human observers to tell apart. However, it also implies that appropriate statistical tools may allow reasonable species�level classification accuracy of recorded calls and provide an alternative to species classification where other capture� or genotype�based survey techniques are not possible

Non-Ideal Isentropic Gas Flow Through Converging-Diverging Nozzles

(14) were all set to zero. This reduced the gas to an ideal gas with constant specific heats. The program was then run at the same p u T x and P2/p\ values as those given in In conclusion, a program has been developed to determine the expansion factor of a nonideal gas through a venturi meter. The program accounts for nonideal gas behavior as described by the Redlich-Kwong equation of state. For gas flows that are nonideal, the use of the ideal expansion factor in determining m, underestimates the true value. For the example given in this paper, a relative error as much as 6.58 percent was obtained when p 2 /p\ = 0.6 and d 2 /di = 0.8. The program also provides the means for determining the critical pressure ratio as well as the maximum flow rate per unit throat area. For the example given in this paper the maximum percent difference in the critical pressure ratio between the nonideal and ideal gases was 5.81 percent while the maximum percent difference in the maximum flow rate per unit throat area was 7.62 percent. An important aspect of the venturi flow problem that has not been treated in this paper is the nonideal gas effects on the discharge coefficient, C D . If these effects are minimal, then the procedure outlined in this paper would provide an accurate method for determining the mass flow rate of a nonideal gas through a venturi meter

Pathogenic Bacillus anthracis in the progressive gene losses and gains in adaptive evolution

Background: Sequence mutations represent a driving force of adaptive evolution in bacterial pathogens. It is especially evident in reductive genome evolution where bacteria underwent lifestyles shifting from a free-living to a strictly intracellular or host-depending life. It resulted in loss of function mutations and/or the acquisition of virulence gene clusters. Bacillus anthracis shares a common soil bacterial ancestor with its closely related bacillus species but is the only obligate, causative agent of inhalation anthrax within the genus Bacillus. The anthrax-causing Bacillus anthracis experienced the similar lifestyle changes. We thus hypothesized that the bacterial pathogen would follow a compatible evolution path. Results: In this study, a cluster-based evolution scheme was devised to analyze genes that are gained by or lost from B. anthracis. The study detected gene losses/gains at two separate evolutionary stages. The stage I is when B. anthracis and its sister species within the Bacillus cereus group diverged from other species in genus Bacillus. The stage II is when B. anthracis differentiated from its two closest relatives: B. cereus and B. thuringiensis. Many genes gained at these stages are homologues of known pathogenic factors such those for internalin, B. anthracis-specific toxins and large groups of surface proteins and lipoproteins. Conclusion: The analysis presented here allowed us to portray a progressive evolutionary process during the lifestyle shift of B. anthracis, thus providing new insights into how B. anthracis had evolved and bore a promise of finding drug and vaccine targets for this strategically important pathogen

Phage anti-CRISPR control by an RNA- and DNA-binding helix–turn–helix protein

In all organisms, regulation of gene expression must be adjusted to meet cellular requirements and frequently involves helix–turn–helix (HTH) domain proteins1. For instance, in the arms race between bacteria and bacteriophages, rapid expression of phage anti-CRISPR (acr) genes upon infection enables evasion from CRISPR–Cas defence; transcription is then repressed by an HTH-domain-containing anti-CRISPR-associated (Aca) protein, probably to reduce fitness costs from excessive expression2,3,4,5. However, how a single HTH regulator adjusts anti-CRISPR production to cope with increasing phage genome copies and accumulating acr mRNA is unknown. Here we show that the HTH domain of the regulator Aca2, in addition to repressing Acr synthesis transcriptionally through DNA binding, inhibits translation of mRNAs by binding conserved RNA stem-loops and blocking ribosome access. The cryo-electron microscopy structure of the approximately 40 kDa Aca2–RNA complex demonstrates how the versatile HTH domain specifically discriminates RNA from DNA binding sites. These combined regulatory modes are widespread in the Aca2 family and facilitate CRISPR–Cas inhibition in the face of rapid phage DNA replication without toxic acr overexpression. Given the ubiquity of HTH-domain-containing proteins, it is anticipated that many more of them elicit regulatory control by dual DNA and RNA binding

The steel–concrete interface

Although the steel–concrete interface (SCI) is widely recognized to influence the durability of reinforced concrete, a systematic overview and detailed documentation of the various aspects of the SCI are lacking. In this paper, we compiled a comprehensive list of possible local characteristics at the SCI and reviewed available information regarding their properties as well as their occurrence in engineering structures and in the laboratory. Given the complexity of the SCI, we suggested a systematic approach to describe it in terms of local characteristics and their physical and chemical properties. It was found that the SCI exhibits significant spatial inhomogeneity along and around as well as perpendicular to the reinforcing steel. The SCI can differ strongly between different engineering structures and also between different members within a structure; particular differences are expected between structures built before and after the 1970/1980s. A single SCI representing all on-site conditions does not exist. Additionally, SCIs in common laboratory-made specimens exhibit significant differences compared to engineering structures. Thus, results from laboratory studies and from practical experience should be applied to engineering structures with caution. Finally, recommendations for further research are made

IlsA, A Unique Surface Protein of Bacillus cereus Required for Iron Acquisition from Heme, Hemoglobin and Ferritin

The human opportunistic pathogen Bacillus cereus belongs to the B. cereus group that includes bacteria with a broad host spectrum. The ability of these bacteria to colonize diverse hosts is reliant on the presence of adaptation factors. Previously, an IVET strategy led to the identification of a novel B. cereus protein (IlsA, Iron-regulated leucine rich surface protein), which is specifically expressed in the insect host or under iron restrictive conditions in vitro. Here, we show that IlsA is localized on the surface of B. cereus and hence has the potential to interact with host proteins. We report that B. cereus uses hemoglobin, heme and ferritin, but not transferrin and lactoferrin. In addition, affinity tests revealed that IlsA interacts with both hemoglobin and ferritin. Furthermore, IlsA directly binds heme probably through the NEAT domain. Inactivation of ilsA drastically decreases the ability of B. cereus to grow in the presence of hemoglobin, heme and ferritin, indicating that IlsA is essential for iron acquisition from these iron sources. In addition, the ilsA mutant displays a reduction in growth and virulence in an insect model. Hence, our results indicate that IlsA is a key factor within a new iron acquisition system, playing an important role in the general virulence strategy adapted by B. cereus to colonize susceptible hosts