Antimicrobial Blue Light (aBL) as a potential tool to reduce bacterial spoilage in the fishery chain

Along the fishery chain, a high amount of fish is lost for the activity of spoilage microorganisms originating from the environment, human handling and fish themselves. Different techniques are conventionally used to reduce the growth of bacteria: from cold temperature and icing to high concentration of salts, from drying to natural antimicrobial compounds. In this study, the antimicrobial Blue Light (aBL) was considered as an innovative tool. In particular, the irradiation with light at 410 nm inhibited the growth of most bacteria isolated from skin samples of anchovies and sardines chosen for their worldwide commercial importance. Bacterial strains showed a different sensitivity to light treatment: the ones isolated from anchovy were more sensitive than those from sardine. Investigations were performed on Aeromonas bestiarum, an emerging foodborne pathogen. Upon irradiation with light at 410 nm (200 J/cm2), a statistically significant decrease of 3 log units was observed. The same fluence rate successfully inhibited the biofilm formation of A. bestiarum, and disrupted 50 % of the adherent biomass of a 24-h old biofilm. The irradiation of Staphyococcus vitulinus compromised its viability and the associated proteolytic activity known to contribute to meat spoilage. In vivo experiments showed that aBL caused a remarkable decrease (at least 50 %) of viable counts of bacteria from anchovy and sardine skin samples conserved at 4 °C for one day. In conclusion, these results support the potential use of blue light in reducing the growth of skin microorganisms potentially responsible for loss of food safety, quality and decrease of storage life

“Tan oscuro como muy oscuro”: ¿dónde se ubica Ena Lucía Portela?

Nos proponemos estudiar “Tan oscuro como muy oscuro”, un texto breve, menos conocido, de la escritora cubana Ena Lucía Portela (1972). Tras ubicar el texto en el volumen editado por Iván de la Nuez, Cuba y el día después: doce ensayistas nacidos con la revolución imaginan el futuro (2002), argüimos que la pregunta sobre el futuro de Cuba le sirve a Portela como pretexto para intentar defi nir su lugar como intelectual y escritora cubana. No sólo se distancia de las corrientes que han imperado en el campo literario cubano, sino que desestabiliza su propia ubicación. La caracterización de la protagonista como nowhere girl, la intertextualidad y la insistencia en el escepticismo ilustran su posición siempre escurridiza que no cabe en ninguna categoría.The aim of the article is to study “As dark as very dark”, a short, less known text by Cuban author Ena Lucía Portela (1972). After commenting on its place in the context of the volume edited by Iván de la Nuez: Cuba y el día después: doce ensayistas nacidos con la revolución imaginan el futuro (2002), we argue that the question concerning Cuba’s future serves as a pretext for Portela to try to defi ne her place as a Cuban writer and as intellectual. She distances from the literary currents that determined the Cuban literary fi eld, and destabilizes her own position. The protagonist’s characterization as a nowhere girl, the intertextuality and the emphasis on scepticism illustrate her elusive position that doesn’t fi t in any category

The role of nutrition in the development of esophageal cancer: What do we know?

Cancer of the esophagus is the eighth most common cancer by incidence worldwide and ranks sixth as the most common cause of cancer death. It is unique among the gastrointestinal tract malignancies because it embodies two distinct histopatologic types, squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Which type of cancer occurs in a given patient or predominates in a given geographic area depends on many variables, including individual lifestyle, socioeconomic pressures, environmental factors and diet and nutrition. Generally for both squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the esophagus case-control studies provide evidence of a protective effect of fruits and vegetables. Here we review the role of nutrition in the etiology of esophageal cancer

Direction distributions of neutrons and reference values of the personal dose equivalent in workplace fields

Within the EC project EVIDOS, double-differential (energy and direction) fluence spectra were determined by means of novel direction spectrometers. By folding the spectra with fluence-to-dose equivalent conversion coefficients, contributions to H*(10) for 14 directions, and values of the personal dose equivalent Hp(10) and the effective dose E for 6 directions of a person's orientation in the field were determined. The results of the measurements and calculations obtained within the EVIDOS project in workplace fields in nuclear installations in Europe, i.e., at Krümmel (boiling water reactor and transport cask), at Mol (Venus research reactor and fuel facility Belgonucléaire) and at Ringhals (pressurised reactor and transport cask) are presente

Characterisation of mixed neutron-photon workplace fields at nuclear facilities by spectrometry (energy and direction) within the EVIDOS project

Within the EC project EVIDOS, 17 different mixed neutron-photon workplace fields at nuclear facilities (boiling water reactor, pressurised water reactor, research reactor, fuel processing, storage of spent fuel) were characterised using conventional Bonner sphere spectrometry and newly developed direction spectrometers. The results of the analysis, using Bayesian parameter estimation methods and different unfolding codes, some of them especially adapted to simultaneously unfold energy and direction distributions of the neutron fluence, showed that neutron spectra differed strongly at the different places, both in energy and direction distribution. The implication of the results for the determination of reference values for radiation protection quantities (ambient dose equivalent, personal dose equivalent and effective dose) and the related uncertainties are discusse

Evaluation of individual dosimetry in mixed neutron and photon radiation fields (EVIDOS). Part II: conclusions and recommendations

The paper presents the main conclusions and recommendations derived from the EVIDOS project, which is supported by the European Commission within the 5th Framework Programme. EVIDOS aims at evaluating state of the art neutron dosimetry techniques in representative workplaces of the nuclear industry with complex mixed neutron-photon radiation fields. This analysis complements a series of individual papers which present detailed results and it summarises the main findings from a practical point of view. Conclusions and recommendations are given concerning characterisation of radiation fields, methods to derive radiation protection quantities and dosemeter result

Achievements in workplace neutron dosimetry in the last decade: lessons learned from the EVIDOS project

The availability of active neutron personal dosemeters has made real time monitoring of neutron doses possible. This has obvious benefits, but is only of any real assistance if the dose assessments made are of sufficient accuracy and reliability. Preliminary assessments of the performance of active neutron dosemeters can be made in calibration facilities, but these can never replicate the conditions under which the dosemeter is used in the workplace. Consequently, it is necessary to assess their performance in the workplace, which requires the field in the workplace to be fully characterised in terms of the energy and direction dependence of the fluence. This paper presents an overview of developments in workplace neutron dosimetry but concentrates on the outcomes of the EVIDOS project, which has made significant advances in the characterisation of workplace fields and the analysis of dosemeter responses in those field

Evaluation of individual dosimetry in mixed neutron and photon radiation fields (EVIDOS). Part I: scope and methods of the project

Supported by the European Commission, the EVIDOS project started in November 2001 with the broad goal of evaluating state of the art dosimetry techniques in representative workplaces of the nuclear industry. Seven European institutes joined efforts with end users at nuclear power plants, at fuel processing and reprocessing plants, and at transport and storage facilities. A comprehensive programme was devised to evaluate capabilities and limitations of standard and innovative personal dosemeters in relation to the mixed neutron-photon fields of concern to the nuclear industry. This paper describes the criteria behind the selection of dosimetry techniques and workplaces that were analysed, as well as the organisation of the measurement campaigns. Particular emphasis was placed on the evaluation of a variety of electronic personal dosemeters, either commercially available or previously developed by the partners. The estimates provided by these personal dosemeters were compared to reference values of dose equivalent quantities derived from spectrometry and fluence-to-dose equivalent conversion coefficients. Spectrometry was performed both with conventional multisphere and with some original instrumentation providing energy and direction resolution, based on silicon detectors and superheated drop detectors mounted on or in spherical moderators. The results were collected in a large, searchable database and are intended to be used in the harmonisation of dosimetric procedures for mixed radiation fields and for the approval of dosimetry services in Europ

Evaluation of individual monitoring in mixed neutron/photon fields: mid-term results from the EVIDOS project

EVIDOS is an EC sponsored project that aims at an evaluation and improvement of radiation protection dosimetry in mixed neutron/photon fields. This is performed through spectrometric and dosimetric investigations during different measurement campaigns in representative workplaces of the nuclear industry. The performance of routine and, in particular, novel personal dosemeters and survey instruments is tested in selected workplace fields. Reference values for the dose equivalent quantities, H*(10) and Hp(10) and the effective dose E, are determined using different spectrometers that provide the energy distribution of the neutron fluence and using newly developed devices that determine the energy and directional distribution of the neutron fluence. The EVIDOS project has passed the mid-term, and three measurement campaigns have been performed. This paper will give an overview and some new results from the third campaign that was held in Mol (Belgium), around the research reactor VENUS and in the MOX producing plant of Belgonucléair

Summary of personal neutron dosemeter results obtained within the EVIDOS project

Within the EC project EVIDOS (‘Evaluation of Individual Dosimetry in Mixed Neutron and Photon Radiation Fields'), different types of active neutron personal dosemeters (and some passive ones) were tested in workplace fields at nuclear installations in Europe. The results of the measurements which have been performed up to now are summarised and compared to our currently best estimates of the personal dose equivalent Hp(10). Under- and over-readings by more than a factor of two for the same dosemeter in different workplace fields indicate that in most cases the use of field-specific correction factors is require