Pilot Study: Evaluating the Risk of Allergen Cross-Contact in Ice Cream Scoop Shop Dipper Wells

Food allergies are a serious and growing problem in developed countries. Allergen cross-contact at foodservice establishments is a common cause of food allergic reactions. Therefore, this study sought to determine if dipper wells used in ice cream scoop shops pose a relevant risk to food allergy sufferers. First, a matrix study was conducted to evaluate if peanut detection by real-time PCR was inhibited by the ice cream matrix, as fat and proteins are known PCR inhibitors. Frozen ice cream, liquid ice cream mix, and water matrices were tested. Second, a controlled time trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of allergen removal in ice cream dipper well water. Peanut butter ice cream was added to a dipper well and water samples were collected at various rinse times. A continuous use scenario and two dipper well basin cleaning techniques were also evaluated. Finally, a survey of ice cream scoop shop owners was conducted to collect relevant information regarding current dipper well practices and policies. Results of the matrix study showed low peanut recovery in all matrices, with recovery rates of 23.9%, 17.7%, and 6.2% in frozen ice cream, liquid ice cream mix, and water matrices, respectively. The recovery rate of plain peanut butter was 5.6%. PCR inhibitors, the physio-chemical properties of ice cream, and the PCR extraction and quantification kit were all believed to be factors in the recovery rate. Based on these results, we recommend using a DNA extraction technique designed specifically for fatty food matrices for future peanut butter sample analysis, and either a matrix-calibrated or a matrix-independent PCR system for future ice cream sample analysis. Results of the controlled time trial showed that peanut removal followed an exponential decay pattern. Quantitative results showed that while it is possible for peanut levels to be above the threshold dose, it is extremely unlikely. Dipper well basin cleaning techniques were not able to remove all traces of allergens, so more robust cleaning procedures are necessary to deal with high loads of allergens. Results of the survey showed that while most ice cream scoop shop owners had a good understanding of allergen cross-contact, advisory allergen signs were not prevalent in ice cream scoop shops. We conclude that ice cream dipper wells do not pose a significant risk to food-allergic consumers, but as a precaution for a worst case scenario, we recommend that ice cream scoop shops post allergen advisory signs and avoid using scoops from the dipper well to serve customers with a food allergy

Chavis Heights Public Housing Community, Southeast Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina : action-oriented community diagnosis : findings and next steps of action

During the 2002-2003 academic year, six students from the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education within the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health, under the guidance of a preceptor from Wake County Human Services and faculty of the program, conducted an Action Oriented Community Diagnosis (AOCD) of the Chavis Heights public housing community in Southeast Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina. The purpose of this document is to summarize the AOCD process, present findings, and suggest future action steps to improve life within the community. The paper begins with an introduction to the AOCD process, a basic history of the Chavis Heights public housing community, and some demographic information about Chavis Heights residents. This is followed by a description of the qualitative methodology used by the student team to conduct the community diagnosis. Findings from the data collection process are reported on six prominent domains identified during the AOCD process; those domains include crime, sense of community, services, youth, health, and schools/education. Under each domain, emergent themes are discussed, including a presentation of insiders’ and outsiders’ perspectives, secondary data analysis, and participant observations. Conclusions are then drawn about how well the four sources of information about the Chavis Heights community match up. A description of the community meeting, the culminating event of the diagnosis, and potential action steps discussed at this event are also discussed. This is followed by conclusions and recommendations made by the student team at the end of the diagnosis. While residents of Chavis Heights face many challenges, the AOCD shows that community members and service providers working in the area agree on which issues should receive priority attention. It is clear that the Chavis Heights residents have a number of strengths, including a strong devotion to the many children who live within the community. The coordination of outside resources and community input would certainly enhance the lives of many community members. It is the student team’s hope that with improved communication between service providers and community members, this document can serve as a useful resource for those working to make Chavis Heights a better place in the years to come.Master of Public Healt

Aag DNA Glycosylase Promotes Alkylation-Induced Tissue Damage Mediated by Parp1

Alkylating agents comprise a major class of front-line cancer chemotherapeutic compounds, and while these agents effectively kill tumor cells, they also damage healthy tissues. Although base excision repair (BER) is essential in repairing DNA alkylation damage, under certain conditions, initiation of BER can be detrimental. Here we illustrate that the alkyladenine DNA glycosylase (AAG) mediates alkylation-induced tissue damage and whole-animal lethality following exposure to alkylating agents. Aag-dependent tissue damage, as observed in cerebellar granule cells, splenocytes, thymocytes, bone marrow cells, pancreatic β-cells, and retinal photoreceptor cells, was detected in wild-type mice, exacerbated in Aag transgenic mice, and completely suppressed in Aag−/− mice. Additional genetic experiments dissected the effects of modulating both BER and Parp1 on alkylation sensitivity in mice and determined that Aag acts upstream of Parp1 in alkylation-induced tissue damage; in fact, cytotoxicity in WT and Aag transgenic mice was abrogated in the absence of Parp1. These results provide in vivo evidence that Aag-initiated BER may play a critical role in determining the side-effects of alkylating agent chemotherapies and that Parp1 plays a crucial role in Aag-mediated tissue damage.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (NIH grant R01-CA075576)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (NIH grant R01-CA055042)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (NIH grant R01-CA149261)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (NIH grant P30-ES00002)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (NIH grant P30-ES02109)National Center for Research Resources (U.S.) (grant number M01RR-01066)National Center for Research Resources (U.S.) (grant number UL1 RR025758, Harvard Clinical and Translational Science Center

The impact of viral mutations on recognition by SARS-CoV-2 specific T cells.

We identify amino acid variants within dominant SARS-CoV-2 T cell epitopes by interrogating global sequence data. Several variants within nucleocapsid and ORF3a epitopes have arisen independently in multiple lineages and result in loss of recognition by epitope-specific T cells assessed by IFN-γ and cytotoxic killing assays. Complete loss of T cell responsiveness was seen due to Q213K in the A∗01:01-restricted CD8+ ORF3a epitope FTSDYYQLY207-215; due to P13L, P13S, and P13T in the B∗27:05-restricted CD8+ nucleocapsid epitope QRNAPRITF9-17; and due to T362I and P365S in the A∗03:01/A∗11:01-restricted CD8+ nucleocapsid epitope KTFPPTEPK361-369. CD8+ T cell lines unable to recognize variant epitopes have diverse T cell receptor repertoires. These data demonstrate the potential for T cell evasion and highlight the need for ongoing surveillance for variants capable of escaping T cell as well as humoral immunity.This work is supported by the UK Medical Research Council (MRC); Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences(CAMS) Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences (CIFMS), China; National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, and UK Researchand Innovation (UKRI)/NIHR through the UK Coro-navirus Immunology Consortium (UK-CIC). Sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 samples and collation of data wasundertaken by the COG-UK CONSORTIUM. COG-UK is supported by funding from the Medical ResearchCouncil (MRC) part of UK Research & Innovation (UKRI),the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR),and Genome Research Limited, operating as the Wellcome Sanger Institute. T.I.d.S. is supported by a Well-come Trust Intermediate Clinical Fellowship (110058/Z/15/Z). L.T. is supported by the Wellcome Trust(grant number 205228/Z/16/Z) and by theUniversity of Liverpool Centre for Excellence in Infectious DiseaseResearch (CEIDR). S.D. is funded by an NIHR GlobalResearch Professorship (NIHR300791). L.T. and S.C.M.are also supported by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Medical Countermeasures Initiative contract75F40120C00085 and the National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) inEmerging and Zoonotic Infections (NIHR200907) at University of Liverpool inpartnership with Public HealthEngland (PHE), in collaboration with Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the University of Oxford.L.T. is based at the University of Liverpool. M.D.P. is funded by the NIHR Sheffield Biomedical ResearchCentre (BRC – IS-BRC-1215-20017). ISARIC4C is supported by the MRC (grant no MC_PC_19059). J.C.K.is a Wellcome Investigator (WT204969/Z/16/Z) and supported by NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centreand CIFMS. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR or MRC

Strategic Public Relations Plan: Willamalane Center for Sports and Recreation

44 pagesThis report concerning the Willamalane Center for Sports and Recreation is a compilation of student work and includes a public relations plan, research analysis, and implementation materials. Students assessed the key challenges and opportunities and performed a SWOT analysis of Willamalane Center’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. For the two target audiences (regular renters and potential renters), the public relations plan outlines the key messages, objectives, strategies, tactics, and evaluations. The research report analyses results from an online survey and individual in-depth interviews