Evaluation of water-assisted UV-C light and its additive effect with peracetic acid for the inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica and murine norovirus on whole and fresh-cut strawberries during shelf-life

The purpose of the present study was to examine the inactivation of Salmonella enterica (50 μL; 109 CFU g−1), Listeria monocytogenes (50 μL; 109 CFU g−1), and murine norovirus (MNV-1; 50 μL; 107 50% tissue culture infectious dose (TCID50) mL−1) on whole and fresh-cut strawberries after 2 min disinfection treatments (water (H2O), chlorine 200 mg L−1 (NaClO), water-assisted ultraviolet-C (UV-C) (WUV), and the combination WUV and 40 mg L−1 of PA (WUV + PA)) in a water tank (15 L) equipped with 4 UV-C lamps (17.2 W each), and after 7 days of cold storage (4 and 10 °C). For MNV-1, dry UV-C treatment (DUV) was also tested. For all UV-C treatments, an irradiation dose of 1.3 kJ m−2 was used. RESULTS: When strawberries were washed with WUV, L. monocytogenes and S. enterica were reduced by 2.8 and 2.2 log CFU g−1, respectively. The addition of 40 mg L−1 of PA to WUV (WUV + PA) increased the reduction range of L. monocytogenes and S. enterica by 1.9 and 0.8 log, respectively. Regarding the wash water, no pathogens were recovered after the WUV + PA treatment (detection limit 50 CFU mL−1). Depending on storage conditions (7 days at 4 or 10 °C), reductions observed were 0.5 to 2.0 log for S. enterica and 0.5 to 3.0 log for L. monocytogenes. The reductions in MNV-1 titer after disinfection treatments ranged from 1.3 to 1.7 log. No significant differences between storage conditions were observed for MNV-1: titers did not decline or were reduced up to 0.3 log after 7 days of cold storage. CONCLUSION: The three-way action for disinfecting strawberries by UV-C irradiation and PA, plus the physical removal of the microorganisms by agitated water, are effective against foodborne pathogens on strawberries and water wash. During storage, WUV had a larger impact on the inactivation kinetics of S. enterica. Storage had little impact on MNV-1 inactivation.The authors are grateful to the Spanish government (Ministerio deEconomía y Competitividad, research project AGL2016-78086-R)and the Centres de Recerca de Catalunya (CERCA) Programmeof‘Generalitat de Catalunya’for itsfinancial support. J. Ortiz-Solàthanks the University of Lleida for its PhD grant (BOU186-243/2017 UdL) and M. Anguera thanks them for their techni-cal support. I. Nicolau-Lapeña is in receipt of a predoctoral grantawarded by the‘Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitivi-dad’(grant number BES-2017-079779). The authors gratefullyacknowledged the assistance of Gloria Sánchez and Susana Guixfor teaching them the methodologies related to MNV-1 andRAW 264.7 assays

Evaluation of water-assisted UV-C light and its additive effect with peracetic acid for the inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica and murine norovirus on whole and fresh-cut strawberries during shelf-life

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to examine the inactivation of Salmonella enterica (50 ∼L; 109 CFU g−1), Listeria monocytogenes (50 ∼L; 109 CFU g−1), and murine norovirus (MNV-1; 50 ∼L; 107 50% tissue culture infectious dose (TCID50) mL−1) on whole and fresh-cut strawberries after 2 min disinfection treatments (water (H2O), chlorine 200 mg L−1 (NaClO), water-assisted ultraviolet-C (UV-C) (WUV), and the combination WUV and 40 mg L−1 of PA (WUV + PA)) in a water tank (15 L) equipped with 4 UV-C lamps (17.2 W each), and after 7 days of cold storage (4 and 10 °C). For MNV-1, dry UV-C treatment (DUV) was also tested. For all UV-C treatments, an irradiation dose of 1.3 kJ m−2 was used. RESULTS: When strawberries were washed with WUV, L. monocytogenes and S. enterica were reduced by 2.8 and 2.2 log CFU g−1, respectively. The addition of 40 mg L−1 of PA to WUV (WUV + PA) increased the reduction range of L. monocytogenes and S. enterica by 1.9 and 0.8 log, respectively. Regarding the wash water, no pathogens were recovered after the WUV + PA treatment (detection limit 50 CFU mL−1). Depending on storage conditions (7 days at 4 or 10 °C), reductions observed were 0.5 to 2.0 log for S. enterica and 0.5 to 3.0 log for L. monocytogenes. The reductions in MNV-1 titer after disinfection treatments ranged from 1.3 to 1.7 log. No significant differences between storage conditions were observed for MNV-1: titers did not decline or were reduced up to 0.3 log after 7 days of cold storage. CONCLUSION: The three-way action for disinfecting strawberries by UV-C irradiation and PA, plus the physical removal of the microorganisms by agitated water, are effective against foodborne pathogens on strawberries and water wash. During storage, WUV had a larger impact on the inactivation kinetics of S. enterica. Storage had little impact on MNV-1 inactivation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Dermanyssus gallinae EM FILHOTES DE ARARA VERMELHA (Ara macao), AINDA NO NINHO, NA RESERVA NACIONAL TAMBOPATA, PERU: UM RISCO À SAÚDE

No Centro de Pesquisa Tambopata, Peru, foram recolhidos ácaros de ninhos, filhotes que abandonaram o ninho, e penas de Ara macao, preservados em etanol 70%, processados em laboratório com montagens de lâminas provisórias com meio de Hoyer, examinados por microscopia de luz, e identificados a Dermanyssus gallinae. É feita discussão sobre o risco de o parasitismo interferir no programa de preservação das araras na Reserva de Tambopata, e de atuarem como vetores de agentes patogênicos, estabelecendo relação trófica com outras espécies de animais, inclusive o homem

Progastrin Represses the Alternative Activation of Human Macrophages and Modulates Their Influence on Colon Cancer Epithelial Cells

Macrophage infiltration is a negative prognostic factor for most cancers but gastrointestinal tumors seem to be an exception. The effect of macrophages on cancer progression depends on their phenotype, which may vary between M1 (pro-inflammatory, defensive) to M2 (tolerogenic, pro-tumoral). Gastrointestinal cancers often become an ectopic source of gastrins and macrophages present receptors for these peptides. The aim of the present study is to analyze whether gastrins can affect the pattern of macrophage infiltration in colorectal tumors. We have evaluated the relationship between gastrin expression and the pattern of macrophage infiltration in samples from colorectal cancer and the influence of these peptides on the phenotype of macrophages differentiated from human peripheral monocytes in vitro. The total number of macrophages (CD68+ cells) was similar in tumoral and normal surrounding tissue, but the number of M2 macrophages (CD206+ cells) was significantly higher in the tumor. However, the number of these tumor-associated M2 macrophages correlated negatively with the immunoreactivity for gastrin peptides in tumor epithelial cells. Macrophages differentiated from human peripheral monocytes in the presence of progastrin showed lower levels of M2-markers (CD206, IL10) with normal amounts of M1-markers (CD86, IL12). Progastrin induced similar effects in mature macrophages treated with IL4 to obtain a M2-phenotype or with LPS plus IFNγ to generate M1-macrophages. Macrophages differentiated in the presence of progastrin presented a reduced expression of Wnt ligands and decreased the number and increased cell death of co-cultured colorectal cancer epithelial cells. Our results suggest that progastrin inhibits the acquisition of a M2-phenotype in human macrophages. This effect exerted on tumor associated macrophages may modulate cancer progression and should be taken into account when analyzing the therapeutic value of gastrin immunoneutralization

Adherence and Toxicity during the Treatment of Latent Tuberculous Infection in a Referral Center in Spain

Latent tuberculosis infection; Toxicity; Tuberculosis screeningInfecció tuberculosa latent; Toxicitat; Cribratge de tuberculosiInfección tuberculosa latente; Toxicidad; Cribado de tuberculosisThe screening and treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in countries with a low incidence of TB is a key strategy for the elimination of tuberculosis (TB). However, treatment can result in adverse events (AEs) and have poor adherence. This study aimed to describe treatment outcomes and AEs for LTBI patients at two departments in Vall d'Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona, Spain. A retrospective study was conducted on all persons treated for LTBI between January 2018 and December 2020. Variables collected included demographics, the reason for LTBI screening and treatment initiation, AEs related to treatment, and treatment outcome. Out of 261 persons who initiated LTBI treatment, 145 (55.6%) were men, with a median age of 42.1 years. The indications for LTBI screening were household contact of a TB case in 96 (36.8%) persons, immunosuppressive treatment in 84 (32.2%), and recently arrived migrants from a country with high TB incidence in 81 (31.0%). Sixty-three (24.1%) persons presented at least one AE during treatment, and seven (2.7%) required definitive discontinuation of treatment. In the multivariate analysis, AE development was more frequent in those who started LTBI treatment due to immunosuppression. Overall, 226 (86.6%) completed treatment successfully. We concluded that LTBI screening and treatment groups had different risks for adverse events and treatment outcomes. Persons receiving immunosuppressive treatment were at higher risk of developing AEs, and recently arrived immigrants from countries with a high incidence of TB had greater LTFU. A person-centered adherence and AE management plan is recommended.A.M.L. was supported by a postdoctoral grant “Juan Rodés” (JE21/00027) from the Instituto de Salud Carlos through the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Spain

Chronoamperometric Study of Ammonia Oxidation in a Direct Ammonia Alkaline Fuel Cell under the Influence of Microgravity

This is a study of the chronoamperometric performance of the electrochemical oxidation of ammonia in an alkaline fuel cell for space applications. Under microgravity the performance of a fuel cell is diminished by the absence of buoyancy since nitrogen gas is produced. The following catalysts were studied: platinum nanocubes of ca. 10nm, platinum nanocubes on carbon Vulcan ™ and platinum on carbon nanoonion support of ca. 10nm. These nanomaterials were studied in order to search for catalysts that may reduce or counter the loss of ammonia oxidation current densities performance under microgravity conditions. Chronoamperometries at potential values ranging from 0.2 V to 1.2V vs. cathode potential (breathing Air/300ml/min/82737 Pa) in 1.0 M NH4OH (30ml/min in anode) were done during over 30 parabolas in NASA’s C9 airplane The Weightless Wonder in January 2016 from Ellington Field Houston. The current densities at 15s in the chronoamperometry experiments showed diminishing values under microgravity and in some cases improvements of up to 92%, for Pt-carbon nanoonions, and over 70% for the three catalysts versus ground at potentials ranging from 0.2 to 0.4V after 5 minutes of chronoamperometric conditions. At higher potentials, 1.0V or higher, Pt nanocubes and Pt-carbon nanoonions showed enhancements of up to 32% and 24%, respectively. At these higher potentials we will have a contribution of oxygen evolution. The changes in current behavior are attributed to the sizes of the catalyst materials and the time needed for the N2 bubbles detachment from the Pt surface under microgravity conditions.This work was financially supported by the NASA-MIRO Center for Advanced Nanoscale Materials at the University of Puerto Rico-Río Piedras Campus Grant number NNX10AQ17A and NASA-EPSCoR grant number NNX14AN18A, Puerto Rico NASA Space Grant Consortium: NASA cooperative agreement NNX10AM80H, NASA Flight Opportunities Program Announcement of Flight Opportunities (AFO) NOCT110 call #5 and Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (projects CTQ2013-44083-P and CTQ2013-48280-C3-3-R)

Clinical and Laboratory Features in Anti-NF155 Autoimmune Nodopathy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To study the clinical and laboratory features of antineurofascin-155 (NF155)-positive autoimmune nodopathy (AN). METHODS: Patients with anti-NF155 antibodies detected on routine immunologic testing were included. Clinical characteristics, treatment response, and functional scales (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] and Inflammatory Rasch-built Overall Disability Scale [I-RODS]) were retrospectively collected at baseline and at the follow-up. Autoantibody and neurofilament light (NfL) chain levels were analyzed at baseline and at the follow-up. RESULTS: Forty NF155+ patients with AN were included. Mean age at onset was 42.4 years. Patients presented with a progressive (75%), sensory motor (87.5%), and symmetric distal-predominant weakness in upper (97.2%) and lower extremities (94.5%), with tremor and ataxia (75%). Patients received a median of 3 (2-4) different treatments in 46 months of median follow-up. Response to IV immunoglobulin (86.8%) or steroids (72.2%) was poor in most patients, whereas 77.3% responded to rituximab. HLA-DRB1*15 was detected in 91.3% of patients. IgG4 anti-NF155 antibodies were predominant in all patients; anti-NF155 titers correlated with mRS within the same patient (r = 0.41, p = 0.004). Serum NfL (sNfL) levels were higher in anti-NF155+ AN than in healthy controls (36.47 vs 7.56 pg/mL, p < 0.001) and correlated with anti-NF155 titers (r = 0.43, p = 0.001), with I-RODS at baseline (r = -0.88, p < 0.001) and with maximum I-RODS achieved (r = -0.58, p = 0.01). Anti-NF155 titers and sNfL levels decreased in all rituximab-treated patients. DISCUSSION: Anti-NF155 AN presents a distinct clinical profile and good response to rituximab. Autoantibody titers and sNfL are useful to monitor disease status in these patients. The use of untagged-NF155 plasmids minimizes the detection of false anti-NF155+ cases. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class IV evidence that anti-NF155 antibodies associate with a specific phenotype and response to rituximab

The IPIN 2019 Indoor Localisation Competition—Description and Results

IPIN 2019 Competition, sixth in a series of IPIN competitions, was held at the CNR Research Area of Pisa (IT), integrated into the program of the IPIN 2019 Conference. It included two on-site real-time Tracks and three off-site Tracks. The four Tracks presented in this paper were set in the same environment, made of two buildings close together for a total usable area of 1000 m 2 outdoors and and 6000 m 2 indoors over three floors, with a total path length exceeding 500 m. IPIN competitions, based on the EvAAL framework, have aimed at comparing the accuracy performance of personal positioning systems in fair and realistic conditions: past editions of the competition were carried in big conference settings, university campuses and a shopping mall. Positioning accuracy is computed while the person carrying the system under test walks at normal walking speed, uses lifts and goes up and down stairs or briefly stops at given points. Results presented here are a showcase of state-of-the-art systems tested side by side in real-world settings as part of the on-site real-time competition Tracks. Results for off-site Tracks allow a detailed and reproducible comparison of the most recent positioning and tracking algorithms in the same environment as the on-site Tracks

Off-line evaluation of indoor positioning systems in different scenarios: the experiences from IPIN 2020 competition

Every year, for ten years now, the IPIN competition has aimed at evaluating real-world indoor localisation systems by testing them in a realistic environment, with realistic movement, using the EvAAL framework. The competition provided a unique overview of the state-of-the-art of systems, technologies, and methods for indoor positioning and navigation purposes. Through fair comparison of the performance achieved by each system, the competition was able to identify the most promising approaches and to pinpoint the most critical working conditions. In 2020, the competition included 5 diverse off-site off-site Tracks, each resembling real use cases and challenges for indoor positioning. The results in terms of participation and accuracy of the proposed systems have been encouraging. The best performing competitors obtained a third quartile of error of 1 m for the Smartphone Track and 0.5 m for the Foot-mounted IMU Track. While not running on physical systems, but only as algorithms, these results represent impressive achievements.Track 3 organizers were supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska Curie Grant 813278 (A-WEAR: A network for dynamic WEarable Applications with pRivacy constraints), MICROCEBUS (MICINN, ref. RTI2018-095168-B-C55, MCIU/AEI/FEDER UE), INSIGNIA (MICINN ref. PTQ2018-009981), and REPNIN+ (MICINN, ref. TEC2017-90808-REDT). We would like to thanks the UJI’s Library managers and employees for their support while collecting the required datasets for Track 3. Track 5 organizers were supported by JST-OPERA Program, Japan, under Grant JPMJOP1612. Track 7 organizers were supported by the Bavarian Ministry for Economic Affairs, Infrastructure, Transport and Technology through the Center for Analytics-Data-Applications (ADA-Center) within the framework of “BAYERN DIGITAL II. ” Team UMinho (Track 3) was supported by FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the R&D Units Project Scope under Grant UIDB/00319/2020, and the Ph.D. Fellowship under Grant PD/BD/137401/2018. Team YAI (Track 3) was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of Taiwan under Grant MOST 109-2221-E-197-026. Team Indora (Track 3) was supported in part by the Slovak Grant Agency, Ministry of Education and Academy of Science, Slovakia, under Grant 1/0177/21, and in part by the Slovak Research and Development Agency under Contract APVV-15-0091. Team TJU (Track 3) was supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant 61771338 and in part by the Tianjin Research Funding under Grant 18ZXRHSY00190. Team Next-Newbie Reckoners (Track 3) were supported by the Singapore Government through the Industry Alignment Fund—Industry Collaboration Projects Grant. This research was conducted at Singtel Cognitive and Artificial Intelligence Lab for Enterprises (SCALE@NTU), which is a collaboration between Singapore Telecommunications Limited (Singtel) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Team KawaguchiLab (Track 5) was supported by JSPS KAKENHI under Grant JP17H01762. Team WHU&AutoNavi (Track 6) was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China under Grant 2016YFB0502202. Team YAI (Tracks 6 and 7) was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of Taiwan under Grant MOST 110-2634-F-155-001