ABSTRACT
Cyprus traditional sausages from the Troodos mountainous region of Pitsilia gained the protected geographical indication (PGI) designation from the European Committee (EU 2020/C 203/06). Still, we lack authentication protocols for the distinction of "Pitsilia" from industrially produced Cyprus sausages. Microbial activity is an essential contributor to traditional sausages' sensorial characteristics, but whether the microbial patterns might be associated with the area of production is unclear. In the present research, we applied high-throughput sequencing (HTS) to provide a linkage between the area of production and Cyprus sausages' bacterial diversity. To strengthen our findings, we used three different DNA extraction commercial kits: (i) the DNeasy PowerFood Microbial Kit (QIAGEN); (ii) the NucleoSpin Food Kit (MACHEREY-NAGEL); and (iii) the blackPREP Food DNA I Kit (Analytik Jena), in which we applied three different microbial cell wall lysis modifications. The modifications included heat treatment, bead beating, and enzymatic treatment. Results regarding metagenomic sequencing were evaluated in terms of number of reads, alpha diversity indexes, and taxonomic composition. The efficacy of each method of DNA isolation was assessed quantitatively based on the extracted DNA yield and the obtained copy number of (a) the 16S rRNA gene, (b) the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, and (c) three Gram-positive bacteria that belong to the genera Latilactobacillus (formerly Lactobacillus), Bacillus, and Enterococcus via absolute quantification using qPCR. Compared with some examined industrial sausages, Pitsilia sausages had significantly higher bacterial alpha diversity (Shannon and Simpson indexes). Principal coordinates analysis separated the total bacterial community composition (beta diversity) of the three Pitsilia sausages from the industrial sausages, with the exception of one industrial sausage produced in Pitsilia, according to the manufacturer. Although the eight sausages shared the abundant bacterial taxa based on 16S rDNA HTS, we observed differences associated with bacterial diversity representation and specific genera. The findings indicate that the microbial communities may be used as an additional tool for identifying of the authenticity of Cypriot sausages.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) account for a considerable amount of fatalities when compared to other accident categories. Human factors are deemed significant contributory causes in these accidents. This paper aims to identify the human factors involved with aviation accidents that resulted in CFIT. METHOD: The study used the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) framework to determine the factors involved in 50 CFIT accidents from 24 counties over a 10â¯year period, i.e. 2007-2017. Interviews with five senior aviation safety experts were used to provide a better comprehension of the human factors affecting the flight safety. RESULTS: The study identified 1289 individual causal and contributory human factors with unsafe actions and preconditions for unsafe actions being the main subcategories of the accidents. The study found that CFIT occur across a range of pilot experience and 44% of accidents occurred in cruise flight. Distraction, complacency and fatigue are all elements that flight crews may experience as contributors to CFIT during cruising. CONCLUSIONS: Human factors represent a major component of CFIT accidents. The analysis revealed a similar pattern of contributory and causal human factors across the various flight categories, with some noteworthy isolated variations. The prevalent factors were decision and skill-based errors along with communication, coordination and planning issues. Practical applications: Provision of specific CFIT awareness, pilot training focusing on improved decision-making and revision of basic flight skills, development of specific Global Positioning System routes for transiting high terrain areas are necessary to prevent CFIT accidents. Installation of Terrain Avoidance and Warning System and Ground Proximity Warning System and appropriate equipment training, specific CFIT Crew Resource Management training and improvement of organizational knowledge on the elements involved in CFIT are also recommended.
