Toward in-process technology-aided automation for enhanced microbial food safety and quality assurance in milk and beverages processing.

Ensuring the safety of food products is critical to food production and processing. In food processing and production, several standard guidelines are implemented to achieve acceptable food quality and safety. This notwithstanding, due to human limitations, processed foods are often contaminated either with microorganisms, microbial byproducts, or chemical agents, resulting in the compromise of product quality with far-reaching consequences including foodborne diseases, food intoxication, and food recall. Transitioning from manual food processing to automation-aided food processing (smart food processing) which is guided by artificial intelligence will guarantee the safety and quality of food. However, this will require huge investments in terms of resources, technologies, and expertise. This study reviews the potential of artificial intelligence in food processing. In addition, it presents the technologies and methods with potential applications in implementing automated technology-aided processing. A conceptual design for an automated food processing line comprised of various operational layers and processes targeted at enhancing the microbial safety and quality assurance of liquid foods such as milk and beverages is elaborated.

Factors that affect protein abundance of a positive regulator of abscisic acid signalling, the basic leucine zipper transcription factor ABRE-binding factor 2 (ABF2).

Most members of basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor (TF) subgroup A play important roles as positive effectors in abscisic acid (ABA) signaling during germination and/or in vegetative stress responses. In multiple plant species, one member, ABA insensitive 5 (ABI5), is a major TF that promotes seed maturation and blocks early seeding growth in response to ABA. Other members, referred to as either ABRE-binding factors (ABFs), ABRE-binding proteins (AREBs), or D3 protein-binding factors (DPBFs), are implicated as major players in stress responses during vegetative growth. Studies on the proteolytic regulation of ABI5, ABF1, and ABF3 in Arabidopsis thaliana have shown that the proteins have moderate degradation rates and accumulate in the presence of the proteasome inhibitor MG132. Exogenous ABA slows their degradation and the ubiquitin E3 ligase called KEEP ON GOING (KEG) is important for their degradation. However, there are some reported differences in degradation among subgroup A members. The conserved C-terminal sequences (referred to as the C4 region) enhance degradation of ABI5 but stabilize ABF1 and ABF3. To better understand the proteolytic regulation of the ABI5/ABFs and determine whether there are differences between vegetative ABFs and ABI5, we studied the degradation of an additional family member, ABF2, and compared its in vitro degradation to that of ABI5. As previously seen for ABI5, ABF1, and ABF3, epitope-tagged constitutively expressed ABF2 degrades in seedlings treated with cycloheximide and is stabilized following treatment with the proteasome inhibitor MG132. Tagged ABF2 protein accumulates when seedlings are treated with ABA, but its mRNA levels do not increase, suggesting that the protein is stabilized in the presence of ABA. ABF2 is also an in vitro ubiquitination substrate of the E3 ligase KEG and recombinant ABF2 is stable in keg lysates. ABF2 with a C4 deletion degrades more quickly in vitro than full-length ABF2, as previously observed for ABF1 and ABF3, suggesting that the conserved C4 region contributes to its stability. In contrast to ABF2 and consistent with previously published work, ABI5 with C terminal deletions including an analogous C4 deletion is stabilized in vitro compared to full length ABI5. In vivo expression of an ABF1 C4 deletion protein appears to have reduced activity compared to equivalent levels of full length ABF1. Additional group A family members show similar proteolytic regulation by MG132 and ABA. Altogether, these results together with other work on ABI5 regulation suggest that the vegetative ABFs share proteolytic regulatory mechanisms that are not completely shared with ABI5.

Filariasis presenting as a breast lump.

Lymphatic filariasis is common in Myanmar. Filariasis of breast is rare. This is a case report of filariasis presenting as breast lump.

Effects of Home Language Environment and Household Crowding on Early Expressive Language Development.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined prospective associations of the home language environment (HLE) and household crowding with expressive language development in 2-year-old children using the data from the Growing Up in New Zealand study, a population-based prospective cohort study. METHODS: A total of 5960 children were included. The HLE (playing games, talking in everyday activities, playing with toys, singing songs, and reading books) and household crowding were measured when the children were 9 months old. Language development was assessed using the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories (CDIs)-II short form (A) at age 2 years. Maternal and child characteristics were measured antenatally and when the children were 9 months old. RESULTS: Each HLE activity was associated with higher language scores. A high HLE score, defined as doing at least 3 of the 5 HLE activities at least once daily, was associated with an increase in the language score of 6.31 units (95% confidence interval [CI] 5.00 to 7.62, p < 0.0001). The effect of the HLE was less pronounced in more crowded homes (coefficient = -2.24, 95% CI -0.47 to 4.97, p = 0.106) compared with less crowded homes with at least one other child (coefficient = 6.19, 95% CI 4.28 to 8.10, p < 0.0001) or with no other children (coefficient = 8.19, 95% CI 5.69 to 10.70, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: These findings underscore the need to consider various aspects of the home environment in future interventions aiming to facilitate language development in young children.

Effect of application of desensitizers before bleaching on change of tooth shade.

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effects of desensitizer pre-treatment on in-office bleaching using an artificial discoloration tooth model. The stained specimens were divided into four groups (n=10); without application (Control group), Shield Force plus (SF group), UltraEz (UE group) and Teeth Mate AP paste (TM group) applied before bleaching. Each group was bleached by an in-office bleaching agent. The CIE L*a*b* values were measured by a colorimeter before and after ten consecutive bleaching treatments and the color difference (∆E) was calculated. There was no statistical difference among ∆E values of Control, UE, and TM groups (p>0.05). There was a significant difference between SF and Control groups (p<0.001). It was concluded that application of TM and UE did not affect the change of tooth shade while SF application impeded the bleaching effect.

A comprehensive approach to managing a neglected, neglected tropical disease; The Myanmar Snakebite Project (MSP).

Snakebite is predominantly an occupational disease affecting poor rural farmers in tropical regions and was recently added to the World Health Organisation list of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD). We document an overview of methodologies developed and deployed in the Myanmar Snakebite Project, a foreign aid project largely funded by the Australian Government, with the core aim to "improve outcomes for snakebite patients". A multidisciplinary team of experts was assembled that worked in a collaborative manner with colleagues in Myanmar, first to identify problems related to managing snakebite and then develop interventions aimed to improve selected problem areas. A broad approach was adopted, covering antivenom production, antivenom distribution and health system management of snakebite. Problems identified in antivenom production included poor snake husbandry resulting in poor survival of captive specimens, lack of geographical diversity; poor horse husbandry, resulting in high mortality, inadequate stock acquisition protocols and data collection, and inappropriate immunisation and bleeding techniques; and inadequate production capacity for freeze dried antivenoms and quality control systems. These problems were addressed in various ways, resulting in some substantial improvements. Antivenom distribution is being reorganised to achieve better availability and utilisation of stock. Health system management of snakebite was assessed across all levels within the area selected for the study, in Mandalay region. A comprehensive community survey indicated that hospital statistics substantially underestimated the snakebite burden, and that access to care by local villagers was delayed by transport and cost issues compounded by lack of antivenom at the most peripheral level of the health service. A health system survey confirmed under-resourcing at the local village level. Prospective case data collection initiated at tertiary hospitals indicated the extent of the snakebite burden on health resources. Interventions initiated or planned include training of health staff, development of a core of senior trainers who can "train the trainers" nationwide in a sustainable way, development and deployment of management guidelines and algorithms for snakebite and a distribution of solar powered fridges to remote health facilities to allow storage of antivenom and prompt treatment of snakebite cases before transfer to major hospitals, thereby reducing the "bite to needle" time.

Effect of sodium fluoride pretreatment on the efficacy of an in-office bleaching agent: An in vitro study.

This in vitro study evaluated the effect of sodium fluoride (NaF) on the bleaching efficacy using an artificial discolored bovine tooth model. Twenty specimens were prepared from bovine teeth by staining with black tea extract and were divided into two groups (n = 10). In control group, specimens were immersed in distilled water for 30 min. In NaF group, specimens were applied with 0.2% NaF for 30 min. Then, the specimens in each group were bleached by an in-office bleaching material (Shofu Hi-Lite, Shofu, Kyoto, Japan). The CIE L*a*b* values were measured by a dental colorimeter before and after 10 consecutive bleaching treatments, and the color difference (ΔE) was calculated. Brightness and color difference (ΔE) increased in both groups per bleaching cycle. There were no statistical differences in ΔE values between both groups (p > 0.05). It was concluded that the application of NaF before bleaching did not interfere with the bleaching effect.

Clinical and molecular surveillance of artemisinin resistant falciparum malaria in Myanmar (2009-2013).

BACKGROUND: Emergence of artemisinin-resistant malaria in Southeast Asian countries threatens the global control of malaria. Although K13 kelch propeller has been assessed for artemisinin resistance molecular marker, most of the mutations need to be validated. In this study, artemisinin resistance was assessed by clinical and molecular analysis, including k13 and recently reported markers, pfarps10, pffd and pfmdr2. METHODS: A prospective cohort study in 1160 uncomplicated falciparum patients was conducted after treatment with artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT), in 6 sentinel sites in Myanmar from 2009 to 2013. Therapeutic efficacy of ACT was assessed by longitudinal follow ups. Molecular markers analysis was done on all available day 0 samples. RESULTS: True recrudescence treatment failures cases and day 3 parasite positivity were detected at only the southern Myanmar sites. Day 3 positive and k13 mutants with higher prevalence of underlying genetic foci predisposing to become k13 mutant were detected only in southern Myanmar since 2009 and comparatively fewer mutations of pfarps10, pffd, and pfmdr2 were observed in western Myanmar. K13 mutations, V127M of pfarps10, D193Y of pffd, and T448I of pfmdr2 were significantly associated with day 3 positivity (OR: 6.48, 3.88, 2.88, and 2.52, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Apart from k13, pfarps10, pffd and pfmdr2 are also useful for molecular surveillance of artemisinin resistance especially where k13 mutation has not been reported. Appropriate action to eliminate the resistant parasites and surveillance on artemisinin resistance should be strengthened in Myanmar. Trial registration This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT02792816.

Challenges encountered by local health volunteers in early diagnosis and prompt treatment of malaria in Myanmar artemisinin resistance containment zones.

BACKGROUND: After artemisinin resistance was reported, the Myanmar artemisinin resistance containment (MARC) project was initiated in 2011. One of the activities of MARC is to train volunteers for early diagnosis and prompt treatment by providing rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) and artemisinin combination therapy. This study aimed to fulfil the gap of information on the challenges faced by malaria volunteers in artemisinin-containment areas. METHODS: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted in 11 townships in MARC areas to assess the challenges in early diagnosis of malaria and treatment by malaria volunteers using qualitative and quantitative approaches. RESULTS: Altogether 405 volunteers participated in the study. Although 97.5 % of volunteers can interpret a positive result for malaria, only 41.2 % correctly stated the persistence of a positive result in recently infected cases. Over 80 % knew the effects of temperature and humidity on performance of the malaria RDT. Unexpectedly, 15.1 % perceived that expired RDTs can still be useful for diagnosis although 98.3 % of respondents cited that the overall results of RDTs were reliable. Although most of them knew the treatment for malaria based on RDT results, some could not give the correct answer, while a few (2 %) mentioned artesunate monotherapy for RDT-negative cases. Training received by volunteers was also varied in study sites and 92.1 % believed that it was not sufficient. A certain portion of them faced the problem of regular supply of RDTs (9.9 %) and drugs (47.5 %), interpretation of result of RDTs (30 %), and performing blood test (20 %). The median RDT tested per month (25th, 75th percentile) was 6.0 (2.0, 15.0) indicating the need for prioritization based on endemicity. Regular reporting, supervision, monitoring system, and proper refresher training using uniform content of guideline to correct misconception of the volunteers, were needed to be strengthened. Moreover, the reliable and regular supply of materials and exchange system for expired RDTs and anti-malarials was important in the effectiveness of volunteers in MARC zones. CONCLUSIONS: Adequate refresher training, monitoring, supervision, and regular reliable supply of RDTs and anti-malarials were needed for capacity strengthening of volunteers in MARC zones.