A systematic review was conducted to evaluate the change in prevalence of Campylobacter on chicken carcasses during processing. A structured literature search of 8 electronic databases using the key ...words for "Campylobacter," "chicken," and "processing" identified 1,734 unique citations. Abstracts were screened for relevance by 2 independent reviewers. Thirty-two studies described prevalence at more than one stage during processing and were included in this review. Of the studies that described the prevalence of Campylobacter on carcasses before and after specific stages of processing, the chilling stage had the greatest number of studies (9), followed by washing (6), defeathering (4), scalding (2), and evisceration (1). Studies that sampled before and after scalding or chilling, or both, showed that the prevalence of Campylobacter generally decreased immediately after the stage (scalding: 20.0 to 40.0% decrease; chilling: 100.0% decrease to 26.6% increase). The prevalence of Campylobacter increased after defeathering (10.0 to 72.0%) and evisceration (15.0%). The prevalence after washing was inconsistent among studies (23.0% decrease to 13.3% increase). Eleven studies reported the concentration of Campylobacter, as well as, or instead of, the prevalence. Studies that sampled before and after specific stages of processing showed that the concentration of Campylobacter decreased after scalding (minimum decrease of 1.3 cfu/g, maximum decrease of 2.9 cfu/mL), evisceration (0.3 cfu/g), washing (minimum 0.3 cfu/mL, maximum 1.1 cfu/mL), and chilling (minimum 0.2 cfu/g, maximum 1.7 cfu/carcass) and increased after defeathering (minimum 0.4 cfu/g, maximum 2.9 cfu/mL). Available evidence is sparse and suggests more data are needed to understand the magnitude and mechanism by which the prevalence and concentration of Campylobacter changes during processing. This understanding should help researchers and program developers identify the most likely points in processing to implement effective control efforts. For example, if contamination will occur during defeathering and likely during evisceration, critical control points postevisceration are likely to have a greater effect on the end product going to the consumer.
Many individuals travel to high altitude each year. Acclimatization to altitude occurs over the course of several days as the body adequately adapts to function in an environment with reduced partial ...pressure of oxygen. However, with a faster accent to attitude, comes an increased potential for maladaptations to occur, leading to the development of acute mountain sickness (AMS). Each year scientists and support workers are transported by plane from McMurdo Station in Antarctica (sea level) to the Amundsen‐Scott South Pole Station (2835m). This uniform and rapid deployment to altitude provides a unique opportunity to study the effects of hypobaric hypoxia on gene expression, which may help to illustrate the body’s ability to acclimatize to these environmental conditions.
Purpose
To detect pathway specific gene expression changes associated with the development of AMS and help identify potential targets that may aid in the prediction of risk in the development of AMS symptoms due to rapid exposure to high altitude.
Methods
Venous blood samples were collected from 53 (height 176.65±8.91cm, weight: 80.49±14.36kg) healthy subjects (38 (27 males; 11 females) that did not develop AMS and 15 (10 males; 5 females) that did develop AMS, as defined by the Lake Louis symptom questionnaire, collected at 2 different time points, with the first being at sea level and the second being after 48hr of altitude exposure). Microarray analysis was performed on the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from the collected samples, and a logistic regression was performed to determine probe set association with AMS.
Results
There was a total of 178 significant (p<0.05) probe sets, with 156 of the probe sets being associated with AMS and 22 of the probe sets being associated with no AMS. The probe sets were entered into the Reactome Pathway Database (reactome.org). Pathways identified in association with AMS involved immune system pathways (interleukin signaling) and cellular responses to stimuli pathways (oxidative stress induced senescence signaling), and gene transcription pathways (mitochondrial biogenesis signaling, differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells). Interestingly, pathways identified in association with no development of AMS involved cell cycling pathways (mitotic signaling), chromatin organization pathways (chromatin modifying enzymes), metabolism pathways (utilization of ketone bodies) and the circadian clock pathway (circadian gene expression signaling).
Conclusion
These findings indicate potential maladaptive responses within the immune system and mitochondrial function, may play a key role in why some individuals develop AMS symptoms. An individual’s ability to sufficiently utilize different metabolic fuel sources and adapt their circadian rhythm may also prevent the development of AMS symptoms.
In this issue of
, Pullarkat and colleagues present the results from a phase I clinical trial that is the first to combine small-molecule inhibitors for multiple antiapoptotic proteins, BCL2 as well ...as BCL-X
, with a traditional chemotherapy backbone for patients with relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This trial has demonstrated impressive response rates with acceptable toxicity while providing proof of concept that dual targeting-hitting BCL2 hard and BCL-X
soft-is both effective and tolerable in a heterogeneous patient population with prior existing cytopenias.
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The initiation of reproduction in many seasonally breeding animals is controlled by photoperiod and tends to be clinal: populations at higher latitudes breed later than those at lower latitudes, ...often reflecting a higher photoperiodic threshold. Migratory animals presumably time reproduction to match conditions at their breeding grounds, at least in part, by cues perceived on their wintering grounds. We asked how closely related dark-eyed junco (
) populations that overwinter in sympatry but breed in allopatry respond to their shared winter environment by comparing early spring indices of readiness to migrate (fat and muscle condition) and breed (baseline and elevated testosterone). We measured stable hydrogen isotopes from feathers grown the preceding year and claws grown during winter to estimate breeding and wintering latitudes, respectively. We predicted that if reproductive initiation is adapted to the emergence of resources at their respective breeding destinations, then birds migrating to higher latitudes (slate-coloured junco;
) should delay breeding as compared with those migrating to lower latitudes (pink-sided junco;
) despite a common overwinter environment. We found higher testosterone in pink-sided juncos, consistent with earlier reproductive initiation, suggesting local adaptation in reproductive phenology is achieved through differential responses to predictive environmental cues.
This book summarizes some recent developments in the area of high-energy high-density (HEDM) materials. Rather than being comprehensive in scope, emphasis is given to structural and bonding features ...of highly energetic - terials with possible applications as high explosives (secondary explosives) or propellants. In this book we do not focus on primary explosives (e.g. lead azidereplacements)sincebyde?nitiontheexplosiveperformance(detonation velocity and detonation pressure) of such materials - although very sensitive -are much less energetic than secondary (high) explosives. Modern HEDMs derive most of their energy (i) from oxidation of the c- bon backbone, as in traditional energetic materials, (ii) from ring or cage strain, or (iii) from their very high positive heat of formation. Examples of the?rstclassare traditionalexplosives, suchasTNT,RDXand HMX.Modern nitro-compounds, such as CL-20 or the recently reported hepta- and octa- trocubanes, belong to the second group of explosives and possess very high densities and enhance the energies utilizing substantial cage strain. Members of the third class of compounds are high-nitrogen compounds (up to 85% - trogencontent), such as aminotetrazole and nitrotetrazolederivatives, which show the desired remarkable insensitivity to electrostatic discharge, friction and impact, while having very high positive heats of formation and therefore very high explosive powers. The synthesis of energetic, non-nuclear materials for military application has been a long-term goal in various academic and military research groups worldwide. Some of the current challenges that face HEDMscientists are: - Demandforenvironmentallycompatibleandtoxicologicallyacceptable- plosives and propellants. Examples are replacements for TNT, RDX and HMXsince nitro-explosivesper se,aswellastheir environmental transf- mation products, are toxic.
Summary Parafunctional masticatory activity, such as the tooth clenching and grinding that is associated with bruxism, is encountered by clinicians in many disciplines, including dentistry, ...neurology and psychiatry. Despite this, little is known about the neurological basis for these activities. To identify the brain network engaged in such complex oromotor activity, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to elucidate the brain activation patterns of 20 individuals (10 males and 10 females, mean ± s.d. age of 26·3 ± 4·1 years) with (parafunctional, PFx group, 5M/5F) and without (normal functional, NFx group, 5 M/5F) self‐reported parafunctional grinding and clenching habits during clenching and grinding tasks. Subject group classification was based on: (i) self‐reported history, (ii) clinical examination, (iii) evaluation of dental casts and (iv) positive responses to the temporomandibular disorder (TMD) History Questionnaire Dworkin and LeResche, Journal of Craniomandibular Disorders, (1992) 6:301. While subjects performed these oromotor tasks, each wore a custom‐designed oral appliance minimizing head motion during imaging. Mean per cent signal changes showed significant between group differences in motor cortical (supplementary motor area, sensorimotor cortex and rolandic operculum) and subcortical (caudate) regions. Supplementary motor area data suggest that motor planning and initiation, particularly during the act of clenching, are less prominent in individuals with oromotor parafunctional behaviours. The overall extent of activated areas was reduced in subjects with self‐reported parafunctional masticatory activity compared with the controls. This study’s methodology and findings provide an initial step in understanding the neurological basis of parafunctional masticatory activities that are relevant for therapeutic research applications of temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders and associated comorbidities.
Background
Although Black/African American older adults bear significant inequities in prevalence, incidence, and outcomes of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, they are profoundly ...under-included in Alzheimer’s Disease research. Community-Engaged Research (e.g., equitable community/ science partnerships) is an evidence-based approach for improving engagement of underrepresented populations into Alzheimer’s Disease research, but has lacked scalability to the national level. As internet use among older adults from underrepresented populations continues to grow, internet-based research shows promise as a feasible, valid approach to engagement and longitudinal assessment. The Community Engaged Digital Alzheimer’s Research (CEDAR) study utilizes a community-engaged research approach to increase the engagement and research participation of Black/African American adults in the Brain Health Registry (BHR) and Alzheimer Disease clinical research.
Objectives
To describe the methods and evaluate the feasibility of the CEDAR culturally-informed digital platform within BHR.
Design
All Black/African American participants in BHR were invited to enroll in CEDAR and to consider serving on a newly convened Community-Scientific Partnership Board to guide the study. The community board guided the development a culturally-informed cadre of engagement materials and strategies to increase research participation. Engagement strategies included incentives for study task completion, culturally-informed communications (e.g., landing page, emails and social media), resources about brain health, and video and written testimonials by CEDAR participants.
Setting
BHR, an Internet-based registry and cohort.
Participants
BHR participants self-identifying as Black/African American were invited to enroll. All participants who signed an online informed consent document were enrolled.
Measurements
We report the number of participants invited, enrolled, completed tasks, and volunteered to join the community board. We compared the demographics, cognitive profile, and baseline BHR task completion rates between CEDAR participants and all those invited to join the study. RESULTS: Of 3738 invited, 349 (9.34%) enrolled in CEDAR. 134 (37% of CEDAR participants) volunteered to join the community board, of which 19 were selected for the community board. Compared to those invited, the CEDAR cohort had a higher percentage of female participants (84.5%) and a lower percentage of participants who identify as belonging to more than one ethnocultural group (21.8%). Compared to those did not enroll in CEDAR, those enrolled in CEDAR had a higher percentage of participants completing all BHR tasks (22%) and a higher percentage of participants completing at least one cognitive test (76%). Those enrolled in CEDAR also had a higher percentage of participants having an enrolled study partner (18%).
Conclusions
A culturally-informed Community-Engaged Research approach, including a remotely-convened community board, to engagement of Black/African American participants in an online research registry is feasible. This approach can be adapted for use in various clinical studies and other settings. Future studies will evaluate the effectiveness of the engagement strategies.
Background
Failure of Alzheimer’s disease and related diseases (ADRD) research studies to include and engage Black participants is a major issue, which limits the impact and generalizability of ...research findings. Little is known about participation of Black adults in online ADRD-related research registries.
Objectives
As part of the Community Engaged Digital Alzheimer’s Research (CEDAR) Study, this study aims to increase our understanding of facilitators and barriers of Black adults to participating in ADRD-related online registries, as well as to understand their preferences for communication channels.
Design, Setting, Participants, Measurements
We invited all Black participants enrolled in the Brain Health Registry (BHR) to complete a cross-sectional online survey. The survey consisted of rating scales and open-text questions asking about their attitudes towards brain health research, reasons for joining and continuing to participate in BHR, difficulties with participating, and preferences for modes of contact and website usage.
Results
Of all invited Black BHR participants (N=3,636), 198 (5.5%) completed the survey. The mean age was 58.4 (SD=11.3), mean years of education were 16.3 (SD=2.4), and 85.5% identified as female. Reported facilitators for joining and continuing to participate in BHR were personal interest (e.g., learning more about own brain health) and altruism (e.g., helping research). Among additional registry features which could encourage return, receiving feedback or scores about BHR tasks was rated the highest. Of those who found BHR participation difficult (21%), the most frequent reason was time burden. The most preferred way of receiving study information was via email. Participants reported that the websites that they used the most were YouTube and Facebook.
Discussion
The results of our study can inform the development of culturally-responsive registry features and engagement efforts to improve inclusion and participation of Black adults in online ADRD research. Providing participants with feedback about their registry performance and reducing the number of registry tasks are among the recommended strategies.
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