Assessment of risk of introduction of Echinococcus multilocularis to mainland Norway

Source at https://vkm.no/In the light of the recent findings of the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis (EM) in four red foxes from three different locations in Sweden, the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (Vitenskapskomiteen; VKM), Panel of Biological Hazards (Faggruppe hygiene og smittestoffer) took the initiative to undertake a risk assessment regarding the probability of this parasite being introduced to mainland Norway and thus becoming a threat to public health in the country.Med bakgrunn i funnet av bendelorm Echinococcus multilocularis (EM) i fire rødrev fra tre forskjellige steder i Sverige, har VKM ved Faggruppe hygiene og smittestoffer tatt initiativ til å foreta en vurdering av sannsynligheten for at EM kan bli introdusert til fastlands Norge og sannsynligheten for at mennesker i så fall også kan bli smittet

CWD in Norway. Opinion of the Panel on Biological Hazards of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety

The Norwegian Food Safety Authority (NFSA) and Norwegian Environmental Authority (NEA) asked the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (Vitenskapskomiteen for mattrygghet, VKM) for an opinion on factors associated with the introduction of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) to Norway. VKM appointed a working group consisting of two members of the Panel on Biological Hazards, one member of Panel on Animal Health and Welfare, and two external experts to prepare the answer to the questions. The Panel on Biological Hazards has reviewed and revised the draft prepared by the working group and approved the opinion. CWD was diagnosed in March 2016 in a wild reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) from the Nordfjella mountain area in Norway and in May and June in two mooses (Alces alces) in Selbu in South Trøndelag County, approximately 300 km north from the first case. There is currently no information to determine the origin(s) of CWD agents in Norway. However, the sporadic or genetic (somatic mutation) occurrence of prion disease in cervids cannot be excluded, nor can introduction from North America or other countries. Furthermore, there is no evidence that it has not been circulating at low levels in the Norwegian cervid populations for years, but has not previously been identified. In this scientific opinion, information on prion diseases in general, and CWD in particular, is presented in the light of experiences with this disease in North America. Prions are among the most resilient pathogens known and dissemination of prions into ecosystems is likely to result in long-term problems. Prions bind strongly to soil and remain infectious. In CWD, prions are present in most peripheral organs and also shed into the environment via saliva, faeces, and urine, as well as with the placenta. CWD transmits easily among cervids, either through direct contact, or indirectly via the environment. Migration of animals is relevant for the spread between areas. Strain diversification might occur in CWD and may influence transmission properties of the agents. Clinical signs of CWD are non-specific and do not alone enable confirmation of the diagnosis. Analysis of tissue from the brainstem at the level of the obex by approved methods is necessary for diagnosis of CWD. Prion infectivity is assessed by bioassays, often involving transgenic mice. In vitro conversion assays, like protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA), provide sensitive quantification of converting activity, which is a good approximation of infectivity. Genetic variation (polymorphisms) in the gene that encodes PrP (PRNP) can modulate sensitivity towards CWD. The level of such genetic variation in Norwegian wild and semi- domesticated cervids is currently unknown. Cattle and sheep are at very low risk of developing CWD and it is highly unlikely that prion diseases in sheep or cattle are the origin of CWD. VKM Report 2016: 26 6 Although transmission of CWD to humans has never been known to occur, and animals other than cervids have not been found to be infected, indicating a species barrier, this possibility cannot be excluded. Thus, measures for reduction of human exposure are recommended. Taking into account uncertainties regarding the plasticity of the CWD agents and the lack of transmission data from the Norwegian isolates, this scientific opinion considers the zoonotic risk of CWD to be very low.publishedVersio

CWD in Norway

Source at https://vkm.no/The Norwegian Food Safety Authority (NFSA) and Norwegian Environmental Authority (NEA) asked the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (Vitenskapskomiteen for mattrygghet, VKM) for an opinion on factors associated with the introduction of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) to Norway. VKM appointed a working group consisting of two members of the Panel on Biological Hazards, one member of Panel on Animal Health and Welfare, and two external experts to prepare the answer to the questions. The Panel on Biological Hazards has reviewed and revised the draft prepared by the working group and approved the opinion.Mattilsynet og Miljødirektoratet har bedt Vitenskapskomitéen for mattrygghet (VKM) om å besvare spørsmål knyttet til mattrygghet og dyrehelse etter at den uhelbredelige sykdommen Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) nylig ble påvist hos en villrein og senere hos to elger i Norge. VKM nedsatte en arbeidsgruppe bestående av to medlemmer fra Faggruppen for hygiene og smittestoffer, ett medlem fra Faggruppen for dyrehelse- og velferd samt to eksterne eksperter, for å utarbeide en vurdering knyttet til de stilte spørsmålene. Faggruppen for hygiene og smittestoffer har lest utkast til rapporten og godkjent vurderingen

Assessment of benefits and risks of probiotics in processed cereal-based baby foods Lactobacillus paracasei ssp. paracasei F19

Source at https://vkm.no/The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM) has appointed an ad hoc-group of experts to answer a request from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority regarding benefit and risk assessment of Lactobacillus paracasei ssp. paracasei F19 (F19) in processed cereal-based baby foods intended for small children 1-3 years. This assessment is based on the literature provided by the notifier as well as that found by a MEDLINE search.Vitenskapskomiteen for mattrygghet (VKM) har på oppdrag fra Mattilsynet utarbeidet en nytte- og risikovurdering av Lactobacillus paracasei ssp. paracasei F19 (F19) tilsatt i barnegrøt til barn i alderen 1-3 år. For å besvare oppdraget nedsatte VKM en ad hoc-gruppe. Vurderingen er basert på gjennomgang av litteratur tilsendt fra virksomheten og MEDLINE litteratursøk

Comparison of organic and conventional food and food Production. Part IV: Human health – hygiene and pathogens

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Dekontaminering av pattedyrslakt ved bruk av damp eller varmt vann. Uttalelse fra Faggruppe for hygiene og smittestoffer i Vitenskapskomiteen for mattrygghet

Mattilsynet har gitt VKM i oppgave å foreta en risikovurdering når det gjelder ”dekontaminering av pattedyrslakt ved bruk av varmt vann eller damp”. Da det er en bestemtdekontamineringsteknologi Mattilsynet ønsker utredet, velger faggruppen å bruke den mer presise betegnelsen ”overflatepasteurisering av slakt” som er i tråd med uttrykk og definisjoner som forskere innenfor dette området har benyttet om denne teknologien

Proceedings of the 29th EG-ICE International Workshop on Intelligent Computing in Engineering

This publication is the Proceedings of the 29th EG-ICE International Workshop on Intelligent Computing in Engineering from July 6-8, 2022. The EG-ICE International Workshop on Intelligent Computing in Engineering brings together international experts working on the interface between advanced computing and modern engineering challenges. Many engineering tasks require open-world resolution of challenges such as supporting multi-actor collaboration, coping with approximate models, providing effective engineer-computer interaction, search in multi-dimensional solution spaces, accommodating uncertainty, including specialist domain knowledge, performing sensor-data interpretation and dealing with incomplete knowledge. While results from computer science provide much initial support for resolution, adaptation is unavoidable and most importantly, feedback from addressing engineering challenges drives fundamental computer-science research. Competence and knowledge transfer goes both ways. &nbsp

Proceedings of the 29th EG-ICE International Workshop on Intelligent Computing in Engineering

This publication is the Proceedings of the 29th EG-ICE International Workshop on Intelligent Computing in Engineering from July 6-8, 2022. The EG-ICE International Workshop on Intelligent Computing in Engineering brings together international experts working on the interface between advanced computing and modern engineering challenges. Many engineering tasks require open-world resolution of challenges such as supporting multi-actor collaboration, coping with approximate models, providing effective engineer-computer interaction, search in multi-dimensional solution spaces, accommodating uncertainty, including specialist domain knowledge, performing sensor-data interpretation and dealing with incomplete knowledge. While results from computer science provide much initial support for resolution, adaptation is unavoidable and most importantly, feedback from addressing engineering challenges drives fundamental computer-science research. Competence and knowledge transfer goes both ways. &nbsp

A novel class of hydrophobic cellulose materials: lightweight xerocellulose

International audienceNowadays the urge to find and create new alternatives for sustainable utilisation and use of renewable materials is greater than ever. In view of these circumstances cellulose, as renewable resource, is considered a promising material which could help to provide a possible solution for this quest we are facing momentarily. The development of novel cellulosic materials with high added value is thus of great interest. Aerocellulose, an aerogel-like highly porous and ultra-light cellulose, is a new material recently developed in our laboratory1,2. Aerocellulose density is around 0.05-0.2 g/cm3, with pore sizes varying from a few nanometres to a few microns and rather high specific surface of 200-300 m2/g. It is prepared via cellulose dissolution followed by coagulation and drying with supercritical CO2. Drying under supercritical conditions is needed to minimize pore collapse and cellulose densification. Potential Aerocellulose applications can vary from biomedical, pharmaceutical and cosmetics to thermal insulation and electrochemical (when pyrolysed)3. However, for some applications cellulose hydrophilicity may cause serious problems. Additionally, the process of drying via supercritical CO2, even if very efficient, is rather time consuming, necessitates quite huge investment and could also present difficulties in terms of large scale utilisation if, for example, some continuous production of monolithic materials is required. Within this paper we are introducing a brand new form of highly porous cellulose, so-called Xerocellulose, made from hydrophobically modified cellulose. Associated functionnalization allows drying under ambient pressure at room temperature without sample high contraction and thus avoiding drying in supercritical conditions. Furthermore, due to hydrophobisation, we were also able to reduce water vapours adsorption capacity significantly. The route of cellulose ambient-dried preparation and the influence of cellulose concentration and of degree of substitution (DS) on Xerocellulose density, morphology and water adsorption capacity will be presented and discussed

Xerocellulose: lightweight, porous and hydrophobic cellulose prepared via ambient drying

International audienceLow density, highly porous and hydrophobic cellulose-based new material, Xerocellulose, was prepared and characterised. First, tritylcellulose with different degrees of substitution (DS) was synthesised in homogeneous conditions. Xerocellulose was then prepared from tritylcellulose via dissolution–coagulation–drying route, similar to other polysaccharide-based aerogels, but drying was performed in ambient room conditions. The new material has a density between 0.1 and 0.2 g/cm3 and is highly hydrophobic with contact angle 140° for DS = 0.72. Compared with cellulose aerogel and pristine microcrystalline cellulose, Xerocellulose obtained from tritylcellulose with DS = 0.72 showed a drastically decreased water vapour uptake. The evolution of Xerocellulose density and morphology as a function of the DS is presented and discussed