EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF); ScientificOpinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 205, (FGE.205): Consideration of genotoxicity data on representatives for 13 α,β-unsaturated aliphatic ketones with terminal double bonds and precursors from chemical subgroup 1.2.2 of FGE.19 by EFSA

<p>The Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids of the European Food Safety Authority was requested to consider in the Flavouring Group Evaluation 205, the additional data on genotoxicity submitted by the Industry on two representative substances, oct-1-en-3-one [FL-no: 07.081] and pent-1-en-3-one [FL-no: 07.102], from subgroup 1.2.2 of FGE.19. The Panel concluded that both substances were weakly genotoxic in bacteria with pent-1-en-3-one being the most potent (previously available data). In these assays the representative substances were highly cytotoxic with a steep toxicity curve, and with a very narrow concentration range resulting in mutagenicity. Both substances were also tested in mammalian cells for gene mutations at the hprt locus and for structural and numerical chromosomal aberrations in the micronucleus assay. Also in mammalian cells the test substances were highly cytotoxic. The Panel considered that the positive effects in the bacterial mutagenicity assays of the two representative substances cannot be overruled by the one negative and one equivocal gene mutation test in mammalian cells and the Panel recommend that an in vivo Comet assay on the first site of contact (e.g. the stomach) and on the liver is requested on the most potent of the representative substances, pent-1-en-3-one.</p&gt

EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF); Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 204 (FGE.204): Consideration of genotoxicity data on representatives for 18 mono-unsaturated, aliphatic, α,β-unsaturated ketones and precursors from chemical subgroup 1.2.1 of FGE.19 by EFSA

The Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids of the European Food Safety Authority was requested to evaluate the genotoxic potential of 18 flavouring substances from subgroup 1.2.1 of FGE.19 in the Flavouring Group Evaluation 204. The Flavour Industry provided additional genotoxicity studies for two representative substances, 4-methylpent-3-en-2-one [FL-no: 07.101] and 7-methyl-3-octenone-2 [FL-no: 07.177], which were evaluated in this FGE.204. Based on these new data, the Panel concluded that the flavouring substance [FL-no: 07.101] does not present a safety concern with respect to genotoxicity and accordingly it can be evaluated using the Procedure. On the contrary, the Panel could not conclude on the in vivo genotoxicity of [FL-no: 07.177] and more appropriate in vivo genotoxicity tests, considering also first site of contact, should be performed. In addition, the substance 4-methyl-3-hepten-5-one [FL-no: 07.261] was now identified as a substance for which no representative substances could be identified in the present FGE, resulting in a need for additional data on the genotoxic potential of this flavouring substance. However, the Panel noted that the 2-methyl substituted α,β-unsaturated aldehydes in FGE.201Rev1 can be considered as structurally related to [FL-no: 07.261]. Thus, the final conclusion on [FL-no: 07.261] will be drawn based on the outcome of the evaluation of FGE.201Rev1

EFSA CEF Panel (EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids), 2013. Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 220, Revision 2 (FGE.220Rev1): α,β-Unsaturated ketones and precursors from chemical subgroup 4.4 of FGE.19: 3(2H)-Furanones

International audienc

Confident head circumference measurement from ultrasound with real-time feedback for sonographers

Manual estimation of fetal Head Circumference (HC) from Ultrasound (US) is a key biometric for monitoring the healthy development of fetuses. Unfortunately, such measurements are subject to large inter-observer variability, resulting in low early-detection rates of fetal abnormalities. To address this issue, we propose a novel probabilistic Deep Learning approach for real-time automated estimation of fetal HC. This system feeds back statistics on measurement robustness to inform users how confident a deep neural network is in evaluating suitable views acquired during free-hand ultrasound examination. In real-time scenarios, this approach may be exploited to guide operators to scan planes that are as close as possible to the underlying distribution of training images, for the purpose of improving inter-operator consistency. We train on freehand ultrasound data from over 2000 subjects (2848 training/540 test) and show that our method is able to predict HC measurements within 1.81±1.65 mm deviation from the ground truth, with 50% of the test images fully contained within the predicted confidence margins, and an average of 1.82±1.78 mm deviation from the margin for the remaining cases that are not fully contained

A scalable analytical framework for spatio-temporal analysis of neighborhood change: A sequence analysis approach

© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020. Spatio-temporal changes reflect the complexity and evolution of demographic and socio-economic processes. Changes in the spatial distribution of population and consumer demand at urban and rural areas are expected to trigger changes in future housing and infrastructure needs. This paper presents a scalable analytical framework for understanding spatio-temporal population change, using a sequence analysis approach. This paper uses gridded cell Census data for Great Britain from 1971 to 2011 with 10-year intervals, creating neighborhood typologies for each Census year. These typologies are then used to analyze transitions of grid cells between different types of neighborhoods and define representative trajectories of neighborhood change. The results reveal seven prevalent trajectories of neighborhood change across Great Britain, identifying neighborhoods which have experienced stable, upward and downward pathways through the national socioeconomic hierarchy over the last four decades

Understandings of reproductive tract infections in a peri-urban pueblo joven in Lima, Peru

BACKGROUND: Control programs for Reproductive Tract Infections (RTIs) typically focus on increasing awareness of risks associated with different forms of sexual contact, and pay little attention to how or why people may link RTIs to other features of their physical or social environments. This paper describes how women in a peri-urban pueblo joven located in the coastal desert surrounding Lima, Peru conceptualize the links between RTIs, sexual behaviour, personal hygiene, and the adverse environment in which they live. METHODS: We combined qualitative interviews and a participatory voting exercise to examine social and physical environmental influences on RTIs and gynaecologic symptom interpretation. RESULTS: Knowledge of RTIs in general was limited, although knowledge of AIDS was higher. Perceived causes of RTIs fell into three categories: sexual contact with infected persons, personal hygiene and exposure to the contaminated physical environment, with AIDS clearly related to sexual contact. The adverse environment is thought to be a major contributor to vaginal discharge, "inflamed ovaries" and urinary tract infection. The more remote parts of this periurban squatter settlement, characterized by blowing sand and dust and limited access to clean water, are thought to exhibit higher rates of RTIs as a direct result of the adverse environment found there. Stigma associated with RTIs often keeps women from seeking care or obtaining information about gynaecologic symptoms, and favours explanations that avoid mention of sexual practices. CONCLUSION: The discrepancy between demonstrated disease risk factors and personal explanations influenced by local environmental conditions and RTI-related stigma poses a challenge for prevention programs. Effective interventions need to take local understandings of RTIs into account as they engage in dialogue with communities about prevention and treatment of RTIs

Computer simulation of syringomyelia in dogs

Syringomyelia is a pathological condition in which fluid-filled cavities (syringes) form and expand in the spinal cord. Syringomyelia is often linked with obstruction of the craniocervical junction and a Chiari malformation, which is similar in both humans and animals. Some brachycephalic toy breed dogs such as Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS) are particularly predisposed. The exact mechanism of the formation of syringomyelia is undetermined and consequently with the lack of clinical explanation, engineers and mathematicians have resorted to computer models to identify possible physical mechanisms that can lead to syringes. We developed a computer model of the spinal cavity of a CKCS suffering from a large syrinx. The model was excited at the cranial end to simulate the movement of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the spinal cord due to the shift of blood volume in the cranium related to the cardiac cycle. To simulate the normal condition, the movement was prescribed to the CSF. To simulate the pathological condition, the movement of CSF was blocked