Epidemiological And Microbiological Aspects Of Residential Outbreaks Of Foodborne Illness In The Parana State, Brazil

Foodborne illness results in high costs to public health and the food chain production worldwide. The majority of the population is unaware of food safety requirements and consequently, domestic kitchens are sources of contamination and spread of disease. Eating habits and the profile of food handlers in these sites guide the planning of surveillance and public education. This study describes the epidemiological and microbiological aspects of household outbreaks of foodborne illness in the State of Parana, using the Notifiable Diseases Information System database. There were 357 outbreaks between 2008 and 2012 in the State of Parana, and households were the main place of occurrence (43.70%), followed by restaurants and bakeries (21.00%), and kindergartens and schools (11.20 %). Household outbreak records derived from the municipalities for regional health coverage, based in Curitiba, Cascavel, Pato Branco, Foz do Iguaçu and Londrina. These indicated an increased number of reported cases between 2011 and 2012. The increase in reporting reflects a greater awareness among professionals because of training. The results highlight the consumption of contaminated food (36.15%), by strains of coagulase positive Staphylococcus (36.23%). They also reflect an intensification and wholeness of public policies on the education of the population regarding hygiene principles in the acquisition, handling, preparation, storage, and consumption of food in the household.3764051406

P09-15. Selection of higher avidity HLA-restricted T cell responses as a viral adaptation strategy

Loss of immune reactivity due to HIV mutational escape is well described. Data generated from a large population-based study (n>800) suggested that certain CD8 T cell epitopes are created as a result of HIV adaptation and are associated with enhanced viral replication. Here we sought to investigate the HLA-restricted T-cell responses associated with seven such adaptations

Antioxidant potential of individual or combined dietary supplements

An antioxidant may be defined as a substance that when present at low concentrations, compared with those of the oxidizable substrate, significantly delays or inhibits its oxidation [1]. Nowadays there are several commercial dietary supplements which claim for antioxidant activity. In this work, the antioxidant activity (AA) of 17 dietary supplements (Table 1) available in different formulations (pills, capsules or bags), was evaluated by in vitro assays: scavenging activity of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals, reducing power (RP) and inhibition of lipid peroxidation by preventing the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Furthermore, different combinations (8+10+17, 8+10, 8+17 and 10+17) of some samples were also tested in order to obtain potential synergistic effects. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was used to categorize the condensed formulations (pills and capsules), the infusion bags and the combined samples, according with their antioxidant activity. The Advanced Antioxidant Formula (AAF; sample 8) proved to have the highest antioxidant activity in all the assayed methods, either singly taken or included in mixtures. Furthermore, the mixtures containing this supplement revealed synergistic effects in 92% of the cases. The intake of antioxidant mixtures might provide some additional benefits

Dietary antioxidant supplements: benefits of their combined use

Several dietary supplements claim medicinal benefits due to their composition in hydrophilic and lipophilic molecules, natural extracts or synthetic compounds with antioxidant properties. In the present work, the antioxidant activity of selected supplements taken in pills, capsules or infusions were studied either individually or combined. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was used to categorize the condensed formulations (pills and capsules), infusion bags and combined samples according with their antioxidant activity measured by radical scavenging activity, reducing power and lipid peroxidation inhibition using brain homogenates as models. AAF proved to have the highest antioxidant activity in all the assayed methods, either singly taken or included in mixtures. Furthermore, the mixtures containing this supplement revealed synergistic effects in 92% of the cases. The intake of antioxidant mixtures might provide some additional benefits

Balanced scorecard performance assessment in a medical imaging department

The authors present and discuss the development of a strategic management model based on the Balanced Scorecard by Kaplan and Norton to implement in an imaging ward and the relations with Performance Measurement System that allows for the monitoring of the service's evolution, the alignment of objectives, and the evaluation of individual employees within the strategy of the ward and the hospital

Cognitive approaches and optical multispectral data for semi-automated classification of landforms in a rugged mountainous area

This paper introduces a new open source, knowledge-based framework for automatic interpretation of remote sensing images, called InterIMAGE. This framework owns a flexible modular architecture, in which image processing operators can be associated to both root and leaf nodes of the semantic network, which constitutes a differential strategy in comparison to other object-based image analysis platforms currently available. The architecture, main features as well as an overview on the interpretation strategy implemented in InterIMAGE is presented. The paper also reports an experiment on the classification of landforms. Different geomorphometric and textural attributes obtained from ASTER/Terra images were combined with fuzzy logic and drove the interpretation semantic network. Object-based statistical agreement indices, estimated from a comparison between the classified scene and a reference map, were used to assess the classification accuracy. The InterIMAGE interpretation strategy yielded a classification result with strong agreement and proved to be effective for the extraction of landforms

Managing native and non-native sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) through anthropogenic change: A prospective assessment of key threats and uncertainties.

Sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) is a species of conservation concern in their native range of the Atlantic coasts of Europe (Near Threatened to Critically Endangered) and North America (Secure to Critically Imperiled), and an invasive species of great economic and ecological concern in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Despite differences in life history strategy (anadromous natives vs adfluvial non-natives), the biology of sea lamprey is sufficiently similar to expect comparable responses to large-scale environmental change. We take a prospective look at the future (50 to 100 years) of sea lamprey management in an era of considerable environmental disturbance, and consider biological responses, management actions, and the future status of populations across the native and non-native ranges. Based on facilitated discussion by a diverse group of international experts, two major but poorly characterized classes of threats to sea lamprey were identified: climate change and socio-political issues. We discuss how climate induced changes affect growth, bioenergetics, and phenology of sea lamprey, and associated effects on control tactics (pesticides and barriers) and conservation. We consider tensions surrounding improving connectivity in the Great Lakes while controlling invasive sea lamprey, and discuss supplements and alternatives to pesticides and their wider effect, as well as the effects of new invasive species. To prevent the extirpation of native sea lamprey populations, or the re-expansion of non-native populations, we conclude with a call for new and ongoing dialogue and collaboration among all sea lamprey biologists and managers across the native and non-native range

Tejo Internacional. Guia de Visita.

Em sintonia com os objetivos fixados aquando da criação do Parque Natural do Tejo Inernacional, em agosto de 2000, assume-se como propósito deste guia a apresentação de um instrumento de informação e orientação que potencie o respeito pelos valores intrínsecos do PNTI, bem como o usufruto e fruição equilibrada dos mesmos. Neste contexto procede-se a uma breve descrição caracterizadora do Território do Parque, informação relativa ao apoio à visitação, é ainda apresentado um elenco de espécies de fauna e flora.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Livro Oficial do Parque Natural do Tejo Internacional

O Parque Natural do Tejo Internacional (PNTI) existe há 19 anos, sobrepondo-se parcialmente à Zona de Proteção Especial do Tejo Internacional, Erges e Ponsul, classificada ao abrigo da Diretiva Aves, integra o Parque Internacional Tejo-Tajo, desde 2013, e foi classificado como Reserva da Biosfera da UNESCO, em 2016. Entre outras iniciativas, que, no seu conjunto, dão corpo a uma gestão ativa e de proximidade, em abril de 2017, foi lançado o Projeto Piloto para a Gestão Colaborativa do PNTI, envolvendo sete entidades: os três Municípios (Castelo Branco, Idanha-a-Nova e Vila Velha de Ródão), o Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas, a Quercus, o Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco e a Associação Empresarial da Beira Baixa. Pretendeu-se constituir uma dinâmica de colaboração e partilha, em que as diferentes entidades colocaram ao serviço do PNTI os seus saberes e competências. Este Projeto Piloto permitiu evoluir para a conceção de um novo modelo de cogestão para as áreas protegidas. Trata-se de um instrumento que marcará o futuro da valorização do nosso capital natural, baseado na proximidade aos territórios e às pessoas que nele habitam, exercem as suas atividades económicas e os visitam, mas também baseado em mais conhecimento, comunicação e reforço identitário. E este livro, que ilustra os atributos desta parcela do território, como é valiosa, singular e pode catalisar o seu desenvolvimento, é já uma evidência dos bons resultados que é possível alcançar quanto se trabalha em rede. É compilada informação disponível sobre o PNTI que se disponibiliza, de modo muito acessível a quem a lê. Informação que contribuirá para a promoção dos valores presentes nesta área protegida, dos seus habitats, espécies e paisagens que lhe conferem uma identidade tão própria. Reforçará ainda os comportamentos que reconhecem o valor dos serviços que os ecossistemas prestam que, não valorizados pelo mercado, são indispensáveis para o bem-estar da sociedade, tais como o controlo da erosão, o sequestro de carbono, a regulação do ciclo hidrológico, a conservação da biodiversidade, a redução da suscetibilidade ao fogo, os espaços de lazer e fruição, entre outros.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio