Molecular epidemiology of an outbreak of febrile gastroenteritis caused by Listeria mococytogenes in cold-smoked rainbow trout

Febrile gastroenteritis in five healthy persons was associated with the consumption of vacuum-packed cold-smoked rainbow trout containing Listeria monocytogenes. L. monocytogenes isolates from the incriminated fish product lot and the stool samples were all of serotype 1/2a and were indistinguishable by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis employing AscI and SmaI

Quantification of lignans in food using isotope dilution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

The optimization and validation of a protocol for the quantification of six dietary lignans, i.e., secoisolariciresinol, matairesinol, lariciresinol, pinoresinol, medioresinol, and syringaresinol, in food are presented. The method incorporates isotope dilution to ensure correct accuracy and precision, introducing the utilization of individual stable C-13(3)-labeled lignans. To demonstrate the potential of this new method, preliminary results of the levels of dietary lignans in selected foods are presented. It is concluded that the method fulfils the reliability criteria and can be applied to the analysis of the most common lignans in human food, being an essential asset to establish the intake of lignans in a determined population and their relation with disease prevention.</p

Determination of lignans in human plasma by liquid chromatography with coulometric electrode array detection

The presence of mammalian lignans, mainly enterolactone, in human plasma has been related to lower incidence of certain cancers and cardiovascular disease. The plant lignans secoisolariciresinol and matairesinol have been reported to be precursors of mammalian lignans, but recently other plant lignans relatively abundant in the diet have also been identified as precursors. To evaluate the importance and contribution of these new dietary precursors to the mammalian lignan formation in vivo, metabolic studies in human subjects must be carried out. For this purpose a method based on high-performance liquid chromatography using coulometric electrode array detection for the simultaneous determination of nine plant lignans and two mammalian lignans in human plasma was developed, validated, and shown to fulfill the reliability criteria. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</p

Exploring the role of visualization and engagement in computer science education

Visualization technology can be used to graphically illustrate various concepts in computer science. We argue that such technology, no matter how well it is designed, is of little educational value unless it engages learners in an active learning activity. Drawing on a review of experimental studies of visualization effectiveness, we motivate this position against the backdrop of current attitudes and best practices with respect to visualization use. We suggest a new taxonomy of learner engagement with visualization technology. Grounded in Bloom’s wellrecognized taxonomy of understanding, we suggest metrics for assessing the learning outcomes to which such engagement may lead. Based on these taxonomies of engagement and effectiveness metrics, we present a framework for experimental studies of visualization effectiveness. Interested computer science educators are invited to collaborate with us by carrying out studies within this framework