scholarly journals The role of EML Consulting Services (QLD): a consulting food microbiology laboratory

2004 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 41
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Turnaround Time ◽  
Food Microbiology ◽  
Microbiology Laboratory ◽  
Safety Testing ◽  
Consulting Services ◽  
Food Quality And Safety ◽  
Group A ◽  
The Relationship

The relationship between the consulting microbiology laboratory and the food industry remains one of the most critical linkages within the framework of food quality and safety in the commercial setting. EML Consulting Services has cultivated such linkages for over 30 years. EML Consulting Services QLD is the Brisbane Laboratory of the Australian owned EML Group, a network of consulting microbiologists, chemists and allergenists incorporating five laboratories in three States. EML offers high quality food safety testing with minimal turnaround time, and expert consultancy which can evaluate facility and production processes for areas contributing to food safety and quality issues.

scholarly journals Study on microbial detection technology in food safety

2021 ◽  
Vol 233 ◽  
pp. 02029
Author(s):  
Xindi Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Safety Testing ◽  
Microbial Detection ◽  
Detection Technology ◽  
Atp Bioluminescence ◽  
Quality Of Food

Economic development has not only led to the steady development of the gross national economy, but also provided a fundamental guarantee for the life of the residents at this stage. However, with the rapid development of economy, people’s attention to hidden safety problems has gradually shifted from big problems to “small details” of food safety. At the same time, in order to reduce the health problems of consumers in the process of eating products, we should start from the source of food, and use microbial technology in the current food safety testing, so as to fundamentally improve the quality of food safety. At present, PCR, impedance, ATP bioluminescence, lamp and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay are widely used. In this paper, the role of microbial detection technology was described, and the application of microbial detection technology in food safety detection was analyzed in depth, hoping to provide a reference for ensuring food safety through the promotion of microbial detection technology.

scholarly journals Optimization of Turnaround Time for Group A Streptococcus PCR

2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J. S. Durant ◽  
Jacob Merwede ◽  
Jesse Reynolds ◽  
David R. Peaper
Keyword(s):  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Night Shift ◽  
Diagnostic Testing ◽  
Final Analysis ◽  
Turnaround Time ◽  
Nucleic Acid Amplification ◽  
Microbiology Laboratory ◽  
Workflow Optimization ◽  
Group A

ABSTRACT The use of some nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) for the diagnosis of group A Streptococcus (GAS) pharyngitis allows laboratories to adopt single-tiered testing without reflex culture. However, centralization may delay the delivery of actionable information to the bedside, particularly in the outpatient setting. We describe two novel workflows at our institution and their effect on in-lab turnaround time (TAT) at a tertiary care microbiology lab. Laboratory records were extracted, and relevant data were analyzed after the implementation of qualitative in vitro diagnostic testing for GAS with the Xpert Xpress Strep A assay, performed using the GeneXpert Infinity-48s. Workflow optimization steps studied included: (i) direct specimen submission to the microbiology laboratory via the pneumatic tube system and (ii) autoverification of GAS NAAT results in the laboratory information system. Between April 2018 and October 2018, 2,595 unique specimens were tested for GAS by PCR. Of these, 2,523 were included in the final analysis. Linear regression established that the total in-lab TAT was significantly reduced by direct specimen submission to the microbiology laboratory, autoverification, and processing during the night shift. We describe two workflow optimization methods that reduced the in-lab TAT for GAS NAAT. Although microbiology labs historically use manual processes, the advent of total laboratory automation and the adoption of on-demand NAATs will allow for more streamlined processing of microbiology specimens. It may be beneficial to consider instrument interfacing and specimen processing optimization during the early phases of implementation planning for NAATs in the microbiology laboratory.

Understanding the Relation between Establishment Food Safety Management and Risk Factor Violations Cited during Routine Inspections

2018 ◽  
Vol 81 (12) ◽  
pp. 1936-1940 ◽  
Author(s):  
XARVIERA S. APPLING ◽  
PETRONA LEE ◽  
CRAIG W. HEDBERG
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factor ◽  
Food Safety ◽  
Safety Management ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Effect Of Food ◽  
Study Support ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Policies And Practices

ABSTRACT Certified Food Manager (CFM) training can help ensure proper food safety practices for decreasing risk factor violations associated with foodborne illness. However, the effectiveness of food safety management also depends on the authority of the person in charge (PIC) and the added value of third-party inspectors auditing food safety policies and practices. To examine the effect of food safety management characteristics on risk factor violations cited on routine inspections, we evaluated results of 546 routine inspections in the cities of Bloomington and Richfield, MN, between 2016 and 2017. Food establishment management was characterized by the presence of a CFM of record for the establishment, whether the PIC was certified, and whether the establishment used a third-party inspector to audit food safety policies and practices. For each of these food safety management characteristics, the establishment had fewer risk factor observations that were out of compliance during routine inspections. The relationship between the establishment's food safety management characteristics and either the percentage of observations out of compliance or the inspections with observations out of compliance differed by risk factor category. For preventing contamination by hands, the lowest rates were found for inspections in which the CFM of record was the PIC. However, for potentially hazardous food time and temperature violations, establishments that used third-party inspectors had lower percentages of both observations and inspections out of compliance across all categories of management characteristics. The results of our study support the recommendations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regarding CFMs. However, our findings also suggest greater complexity in the characteristics of food safety management, which include the role of third-party inspectors and whether a CFM is acting in the role of the CFM of record.

scholarly journals PCSK9 concentrations in different stages of subclinical atherosclerosis and their relationship with inflammation

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 1011-1019
Author(s):  
Štefan Tóth ◽  
Peter Olexa ◽  
Zdenka Hertelyová ◽  
Peter Štefanič ◽  
Ivan Kopolovets ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Linear Correlation ◽  
Subclinical Atherosclerosis ◽  
Vascular Changes ◽  
Significant Linear Correlation ◽  
Positive Linear Correlation ◽  
Group A ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Atherosclerotic Changes ◽  
Lipid Parameters

AbstractThe aim of this study was to detect the concentrations of PCSK9 in various subclinical stages of atherosclerosis and to highlight its relationship with inflammation. One hundred and fifty-nine healthy patients were divided into three groups, based on the extent of atherosclerotic changes in the carotid artery: a group without identifiable atherosclerosis, cIMT>75‰ and an asymptomatic plaque group. The PCSK9 was measured by ELISA and hsCRP by the immunoturbidimetric method. Vascular changes were identified by a carotid ultrasound. PCSK9 was elevated, when comparing the healthy group with the cIMT>75‰ group; however, no significant increase was detected between cIMT>75‰ and the asymptomatic plaque group. A positive linear correlation of the PCSK9 concentration and atherosclerotic changes was found; however, after the re-analysis in each group, this correlation persisted only in the group with still normal values. Additionally, a significant linear correlation was found between the PCSK9 concentrations and lipid parameters. However, no significant association was found with hsCRP. PCSK9 was found to be elevated only in cIMT>75‰, but not in the later plaque stage. A linear correlation of PCSK9 values was detected only in the group with still reference values. Based on this fact, we assumed the direct linear role of PCSK9 in initiating atherosclerosis; however, in the later phases, the relationship, which highlights other risk factors such as inflammation, is not linear.

scholarly journals Quorum Sensing in the Context of Food Microbiology

2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (16) ◽  
pp. 5473-5482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Panagiotis N. Skandamis ◽  
George-John E. Nychas
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Communication Systems ◽  
Cell Communication ◽  
Food Preservation ◽  
Food Microbiology ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Food Spoilage ◽  
The Many

ABSTRACTFood spoilage may be defined as a process that renders a product undesirable or unacceptable for consumption and is the outcome of the biochemical activity of a microbial community that eventually dominates according to the prevailing ecological determinants. Although limited information are reported, this activity has been attributed to quorum sensing (QS). Consequently, the potential role of cell-to-cell communication in food spoilage and food safety should be more extensively elucidated. Such information would be helpful in designing approaches for manipulating these communication systems, thereby reducing or preventing, for instance, spoilage reactions or even controlling the expression of virulence factors. Due to the many reports in the literature on the fundamental features of QS, e.g., chemistry and definitions of QS compounds, in this minireview, we only allude to the types and chemistry of QS signaling moleculesper seand to the (bioassay-based) methods of their detection and quantification, avoiding extensive documentation. Conversely, we attempt to provide insights into (i) the role of QS in food spoilage, (ii) the factors that may quench the activity of QS in foods and review the potential QS inhibitors that might “mislead” the bacterial coordination of spoilage activities and thus may be used as biopreservatives, and (iii) the future experimental approaches that need to be undertaken in order to explore the “gray” or “black” areas of QS, increase our understanding of how QS affects microbial behavior in foods, and assist in finding answers as to how we can exploit QS for the benefit of food preservation and food safety.

Bereavement Outcomes for Atheist Individuals: The Role of Spirituality, Discrimination, and Meaning

2020 ◽  
pp. 003022282097453
Author(s):  
Jacob S. Sawyer
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
The United States ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Meaning Reconstruction ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Group A ◽  
The Relationship

The present study applied several concepts typically included in thanatology research to an atheist sample. Atheists are a growing segment of the population in the United States, though little is known about this group. A sample of 355 adults who self-identify as atheist completed an online survey assessing forms of spirituality, anti-atheist discrimination, and meaning reconstruction in order to examine associations between these variables and bereavement outcomes of complicated grief and psychological distress. Results of a multiple regression analysis suggested that spirituality was not related to bereavement outcomes, anti-atheist discrimination was related to poorer bereavement outcomes, while the relationship between meaning reconstruction and bereavement outcomes was mixed. These results provide a foundation for additional exploration of bereavement processes in atheist individuals, and implications for future research and practice are discussed.

scholarly journals Prediction of the relationship of cesarean section scar niche and postmenstrual spotting: is there any relation?

2022 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirollos Wagdy Bandry ◽  
Hisham Abou-Taleb ◽  
Gehan S. Seifeldein ◽  
Mohamad Gaber Taha ◽  
Omran Khodary Qenawy
Keyword(s):  
Cesarean Section ◽  
Gold Standard Method ◽  
Group A ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri ◽  
Group B ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
B 31 ◽  
Scar Width

Abstract Background Postmenstrual spotting has recently been related to a discontinuation of the myometrium at the site of a previous cesarean section called "CS scar niche". There was no consensus regarding the gold standard method for the assessment of the niche. Recently, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has shown promise in the evaluation of the niche. Our study aims to assess the role of MRI in the evaluation of the CS scar niche characters and its association with post-menstrual spotting. Results A total of 65 patients with CS niche were prospectively included in this study and subdivided into two groups, according to presence or absence of postmenstrual spotting (Group A; 34 patients with postmenstrual spotting and Group B; 31 patients without spotting). All patients were examined using a 1.5 T MRI unit. CS scar niche volume was significantly higher among women with post-menstrual spotting (0.57 ± 0.07 vs. 0.07 ± 0.05 (cm3); P < 0.001). Also, women with post-menstrual spotting have significantly higher scar length (9.38 ± 3.06 vs. 5.02 ± 2.10 (mm); P < 0.001), scar depth (6.95 ± 3.16 vs. 3.23 ± 0.99 (mm); P < 0.001), scar width (15.78 ± 3.94 vs. 9.87 ± 1.84 (mm); P < 0.001) in comparison to those without post-menstrual spotting. Scar depth (> 7.4 mm) had 81% sensitivity and 97% specificity for prediction of post-menstrual spotting with overall accuracy was 88.7%. While scar width (> 12.8 mm) had 71% sensitivity and 97% specificity for prediction of post-menstrual spotting with overall accuracy was 83.3%. Scar volume (> 0.15 cm3) had 97% sensitivity and 100% specificity for prediction of post-menstrual spotting with overall accuracy was 98.4%. Conclusion MRI measures (CS scar volume, depth, and width) are predictors for postmenstrual spotting in patients with CS scar niche, and scar volume is the most powerful predictor.

scholarly journals The Role of Self-Efficacy for Satisfaction with Career Counselling and Goal Attainment Among Career Counsellors Working at Schools

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. 141-155
Author(s):  
Jurgita Lazauskaitė-Zabielskė ◽  
Birutė Pociūtė ◽  
Laima Bulotaitė
Keyword(s):  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Goal Attainment ◽  
Job Resources ◽  
Career Counselling ◽  
Social Emotional ◽  
Consulting Services ◽  
School Counsellors ◽  
Negative Perceptions ◽  
The Relationship

Career counsellors working at schools are expected to promote students’ social, emotional, academic, and career development (Lindwall & Coleman, 2008). Despite the importance of career counselling at school (Anctil, Smith, Schenck, & Dahir, 2012; Osborn & Baggerly, 2004), school counsellors face barriers to implementing career counselling, including limited time because of competing demands, negative perceptions about career counselling from parents, teachers, and administration, and low school counsellor self-efficacy (Sanders, Welfare, & Culver, 2017). Considering the importance of career counselling and challenging working conditions, studies usually focus on individual antecedents of effective career counselling (Sawyer et al., 2013). Existing research reveals that self-efficacious consultants provide higher-quality career consulting services to various groups of employees (Bodenhorn & Skaggs, 2005; Larson & Daniels, 1998), are more satisfied with their job and experience less stress (Lent & Hackett, 1987). According to Larson and Daniels (1998), self-efficacy is the essential factor of successful career counselling. However, existing studies do not disclose the mechanism of why career consultants with higher self-efficacy perform consulting activities better. Therefore, this study is aimed to analyse the role of self-efficacy in the relationship between job resources (opportunity to develop and feedback), satisfaction with career counselling and goal attainment among career counsellors working at schools. The study was part of the project “Strategies to Utilise and Cultivate Positive Characteristics & Employability Skills in Schools” (SUCCESS, 2017-12-LT01-KA201-035247). In total, 246 school career counsellors from Lithuania, Italy, Ireland, and Greece were surveyed online. Most of the participants (88.6 percent) were female, and their age varied between 25 and 60 years. In all countries, the professional experience of career counselling varied between 1 and more than 10 years.The results of the study revealed the importance of self-efficacy for satisfaction with career counselling and goal attainment. Self-efficacy moderated the relationship between the opportunity for development and feedback and satisfaction with career counselling, i. e. the opportunity for development and feedback and satisfaction predicted satisfaction with career counselling only when self-efficacy was high. Furthermore, the opportunity for development and feedback were indirectly related to goal attainment through satisfaction with career counselling only when self-efficacy was high. In other words, job resources are more important and better used by those career counsellors who rely on their abilities, can remain calm when facing difficulties in their job and find solutions when confronted with a problem. The limitations of the study together with practical implications are discussed.

SKIN INFECTIONS AND ACUTE NEPHRITIS IN AMERICAN INDIAN CHILDREN

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1967 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 263-279
Author(s):  
Bascom F. Anthony ◽  
Lawrence V. Perlman ◽  
Lewis W. Wannamaker
Keyword(s):  
Normal Population ◽  
Skin Lesions ◽  
Skin Infections ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Indian Children ◽  
Superficial Skin ◽  
Group A ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

Serial observations were obtained over an 18-month period of 270 Indian children with pyoderma. Beta-hemolytic streptococci, predominantly group A, and coagulasepositive staphylococci were recovered from the majority of lesions (80% and 70%, respectively), both on the initial and on subsequent cultures. The predominant agglutination patterns of streptococcal strains were similar to those described in other studies of superficial skin infections. Another agglutination pattern, 17/23/47, not previously observed to be prevalent in streptococci from skin lesions, was identified in a significant number of skin cultures. In addition, the hitherto undescribed association of M-types, including type 41 and a new M-type, with strains of T-agglutination pattern 3/13/B3264 was found. In striking contrast to the streptococcal strains, established "impetigo" strains of Staph. aureus (type 71 or other group II strains) were in the minority. Throat cultures of children with pyoderma suggested a limited relationship between infection or colonization of the pharynx and infection of the skin, while nasal streptococci were more closely correlated with and possibly derived from the flora of the skin lesions. Titers of ASO were not often elevated over control values in children with pyoderma, while anti-DNAse B titers were more commonly increased. Group A streptococci isolated from skin lesions prior to or at the time acute nephritis was recognized included type 12 (M and T) and strains classified by T-agglutination as 5/27/44, 11 and 4. The role of infection or colonization of the upper respiratory tract in the relationship of pyoderma to nephritis was not clarified in these studies. Moreover, in view of the frequency of change of group A streptococcal strains in skin lesions, as shown in serial observations in this study, the nephritogenic significance of streptococci recovered from skin lesions at the time of recognition of nephritis must remain in some doubt. Questions concerning the pathogenesis of endemic nephritis associated with pyoderma can probably be most reliably answered by frequent, prospective observations of a normal population with significant occurrence of streptococcal skin infections.

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