Modelling the exposure to Cronobacter sakazakii by consumption of a cocoa-milk-based beverage processed by pulsed electric fields

peer-reviewedM.C. Pina-Pérez is grateful to CSIC for providing a DOCTOR contract linked to the INNPACTO project IPT-2011-1724-060000. This study was carried out with funds from BISOSTAD project PSE-060000-2009-003, Generalitat Valenciana I+D+I emergent research groups GV/2010/064 and CYCIT project AGL2010-22206-C02-01.Infants’ exposure (Nf ) to Cronobacter sakazakii via the consumption of infant-rich-inpolyphenols cocoa-milk-based beverages (CCX-M) treated with high-intensity pulsed electric fields (PEF) was evaluated. Monte Carlo simulation enabled the prediction of the variability in C. sakazakii load in beverages at the time of consumption to be estimated. Different scenarios (initial contamination levels; PEF treatment conditions; and time-temperature combinations of CCX-M beverages storage after treatment) were simulated. Cocoa addition and PEF treatment resulted in the most influential input factors to control bacterial final load. Cronobacter spp. exposure risk was reduced by a maximum of 100 times at 95% of iterations due to addition of cocoa at 5 g/100 mL, corresponding to scenario 3 (PEF: 15 kV/cm–3,000 μs; storage 120 h at 8 °C). Moreover, the probability of illness for a healthy population was reduced from 2.15 × 10-8, in the baseline scenario, to 4.78 × 10-10 due to cocoa addition and application of 15 kV/cm–3,000 μs PEF treatment.BISOSTAD projec

VLT and GTC observations of SDSS J0123+00: a type 2 quasar triggered in a galaxy encounter?

We present long-slit spectroscopy, continuum and [OIII]5007 imaging data obtained with the Very Large Telescope and the Gran Telescopio Canarias of the type 2 quasar SDSS J0123+00 at z=0.399. The quasar lies in a complex, gas-rich environment. It appears to be physically connected by a tidal bridge to another galaxy at a projected distance of ~100 kpc, which suggests this is an interacting system. Ionized gas is detected to a distance of at least ~133 kpc from the nucleus. The nebula has a total extension of ~180 kpc. This is one of the largest ionized nebulae ever detected associated with an active galaxy. Based on the environmental properties, we propose that the origin of the nebula is tidal debris from a galactic encounter, which could as well be the triggering mechanism of the nuclear activity. SDSS J0123+00 demonstrates that giant, luminous ionized nebulae can exist associated with type 2 quasars of low radio luminosities, contrary to expectations based on type 1 quasar studies.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRAS Letter

Kinematics of disk galaxies in (proto-)clusters at z=1.5

We observed star-forming galaxies at z~1.5 selected from the HyperSuprimeCam Subaru Strategic Program. The galaxies are part of two significant overdensities of [OII] emitters identified via narrow-band imaging and photometric redshifts from grizy photometry. We used VLT/KMOS to carry out Halpha integral field spectroscopy of 46 galaxies in total. Ionized gas maps, star formation rates and velocity fields were derived from the Halpha emission line. We quantified morphological and kinematical asymmetries to test for potential gravitational (e.g. galaxy-galaxy) or hydrodynamical (e.g. ram-pressure) interactions. Halpha emission was detected in 36 targets. 34 of the galaxies are members of two (proto-)clusters at z=1.47, confirming our selection strategy to be highly efficient. By fitting model velocity fields to the observed ones, we determined the intrinsic maximum rotation velocity Vmax of 14 galaxies. Utilizing the luminosity-velocity (Tully-Fisher) relation, we find that these galaxies are more luminous than their local counterparts of similar mass by up to ~4 mag in the rest-frame B-band. In contrast to field galaxies at z<1, the offsets of the z~1.5 (proto-)cluster galaxies from the local Tully-Fisher relation are not correlated with their star formation rates but with the ratio between Vmax and gas velocity dispersion sigma_g. This probably reflects that, as is observed in the field at similar redshifts, fewer disks have settled to purely rotational kinematics and high Vmax/sigma_g ratios. Due to relatively low galaxy velocity dispersions (sigma_v < 400 km/s) of the (proto-)clusters, gravitational interactions likely are more efficient, resulting in higher kinematical asymmetries, than in present-day clusters. (abbr.)Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A. 11 pages, 8 figures, 1 tabl

Temporal analysis of natural radionuclides deposition at Málaga(2005-2016)

Atmospheric deposition of radionuclides has been investigated in many studies from the aspects of both radiation protection and geochemistry. The present study, carried out in the city of Málaga, in the southeast of Spain, focuses on the assessment of the bulk depositional fluxes of three natural radionuclides: 7Be (cosmogenic origin), and 210Pb and 40K (crustal origin). These three radionuclides are useful markers of particles arising from their respective sources. To obtain fundamental information of atmospheric transportation, sedimentation and geological process of particulate matter, a long-term monitoring of atmospheric deposition has been carried out in Málaga from January 2005-December 2016. Samples of bulk deposition were collected on a monthly basis on a stainless steel tray from January 2005 to December 2016. Afterwards, a volume of 6 L of the bulk deposition was reduced via evaporation to 1 L approximately and transferred to a Marinelli geometry container for gamma counting. Additionally, aerosols samples were collected weekly in cellulose membrane filters of 0.8μm pore size and 47mm diameter with an air sampler lodged in an all-weather sampling station, situated on the roof near the bulk rain collector. Gamma counting of the aerosols and bulk deposition samples was performed using an intrinsic germanium coaxial detector, Re-Ge-type (CANBERRA). This study describes the results and then discusses characteristics of atmospheric deposition of mentioned radionuclides with respect to seasonal variations and dependency on controlling factors. The depositional fluxes of all radionuclides showed a clear seasonal trend with summer minimum and high values in wintertime

Lean Production Model Aligned with Organizational Culture to Reduce Order Fulfillment Issues in Micro- and Small-sized Textile Businesses in Peru

This paper proposes an optimization model aimed at increasing production capabilities at a small-sized textile business dedicated to manufacturing polo shirts, while reducing order fulfillment issues, including incomplete orders and late deliveries. Hence, an assessment identified downtimes from unnecessary transportation travel, time spent looking for materials, and excessive losses due to cutting fabric errors. In this light, the study focused on selecting adaptable tools, such as 5S, Plant Layout, and Method Study, which may help improve production capabilities and address these situations. However, to guarantee that the objectives set forth are being met, the organizational culture must also be identified and improved so that it may serve as the foundation for the optimization model. Then, the proposed model will be validated to determine whether the selected operating tools supported by the strengthening of organization culture contribute to increasing production

Working sick and out of sorts: a cross-cultural approach on presenteeism climate, organizational justice and work–family conflict

A climate of presenteeism has important effects on employee well-being and the organization itself. Our study, based on surveys of health sector employees in six different countries (Brazil, Ecuador, Lebanon, Portugal, Russia and Spain) examines whether organizational justice plays a mediating role in the relationship between a presenteeism climate in the organization and work–family conflict (WFC). Our results indicate that the perception of organizational justice and the presenteeism climate do influence WFC. Moreover, higher levels of WFC were found in non-Latin countries. This study contributes to the work attendance and life balance field by providing cross-cultural empirical evidence corroborating the effect of justice and presenteeism climate on the WFC.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio