Search

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L., family Solanaceae) represents one of the most cultivated horticultural crops worldwide. It contains various nutrients, providing health benefits. For better crop management strategies, especially with global warming, it is crucial to investigate how varieties or cultivars bred for different purposes respond to the changing macro or microenvironmental conditions. This research aimed to assess the growth, reproductive development and selected quality parameters of two tomato varieties, 'Sylviana' (a greenhouse hybrid) and 'Bolseno' (a dual-purpose variety), under a greenhouse environment. The study was conducted in the mid-country wet zone of Sri Lanka where the intensive-control greenhouse (T1) maintained a favourable air temperature (<33°C) for crop growth compared to high daytime temperatures of semi-intensive (T2) and less-intensive (T3) greenhouses (up to 36°C). In 'Bolseno', vegetative growth parameters were significantly affected (P<0.05) by different environments but not in 'Sylviana' (P>0.05). T1 resulted in the highest mean fruit weight and mean fruit diameter in both varieties. Since 'Sylviana' performed well in all three growing environments, the fruit quality was assessed by measuring the antioxidant activity (AOX) and total phenolic content (TPC) using 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay and Folin-Ciocalteu method, respectively. Significantly higher AOX (P<0.05) was reported in T1 while T2 had a higher TPC. The results revealed that different tomato genotypes respond differently to changes in micro environmental conditions in terms of growth and some reproductive traits, and the same variety grown in different conditions had different TPC and AOX. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has been conducted on the proteins involved in the methanol oxidation in the methylotrophic bacterium Methylobacterium extorquens. The modification of these proteins has been performed via the site-directed mutagenesis and the results indicate the production of mutations in cytochrome c (sub)L and methanol dehydrogenase.

Heat pump drying systems require a method to change the inflow air temperature of the drying chamber. Pulse-widthmodulation (PWM) technique with duty cycle provides a measure of controlling the voltage supplied to the electric motors. Therefore, we conducted this research to PWM control a heat pump dryer to change the air circuit parameters. In the Parallel-Flow condensers, inlet and outlet temperatures, and relative humidity, data were collected, and the average temperature values were recorded. The duty cycle was changed by developing a program using the Python programming language. An Excel-based psychrometric calculator was developed to analyze the collected data. The average condenser outlet temperatures were 56.6±0.1 °C, 54.9±0.1 °C, and 52.6±0.1°C, and the average condenser inlet temperatures were 43.2±0.0 °C, 42.8±0.1 °C, and 41.2±0.1 °C for 60%, 80%, and 100% duty cycles, respectively. The power consumption rate of the condenser reduced with an increasing duty cycle. The results concluded that the PWM control system is a viable method to control the inflow air temperature to the drying chamber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Two vaccines against Clostridioides difficile infections (CDI) are currently in phase III trials. To enable decision-making on their use in public health programs, national disease epidemiology is necessary.Objectives: To determine the epidemiology of hospital-acquired CDI (HA-CDI) and community-associated CDI (CA-CDI) in Canada using provincial surveillance data and document discrepancies in CDI-related definitions among provincial surveillance programs.Methods: Publicly-available CDI provincial surveillance data from 2011 to 2016 that distinguished between HA-CDI and CA-CDI were included and the most common surveillance definitions for each province were used. The HA-, CA-CDI incidence rates and CA-CDI proportions (%) were calculated for each province. Both HA- and CA-CDI incidence rates were examined for trends. Types of disparities were summarized and detailed discrepancies were documented.Results: Canadian data were analyzed from nine provinces. The HA-CDI rates ranged from 2.1/10,000 to 6.5/10,000 inpatient-days, with a decreasing trend over time. Available data on CA-CDI showed that both rates and proportions have been increasing over time. Discrepancies among provincial surveillance definitions were documented in CDI case classifications, surveillance populations and rate calculations.Conclusion: In Canada overall, the rate of HA-CDI has been decreasing and the rate of CA-CDI has been increasing, although this calculation was impeded by discrepancies in CDI-related definitions among provincial surveillance programs. Nationally-adopted common definitions for CDI would enable better comparisons of CDI rates between provinces and a calculation of the pan-Canadian burden of illness to support vaccine decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite recent success in reducing its incidence, tuberculosis remains a considerable challenge in Canada, particularly among foreign-born and Indigenous populations. A key component of the strategy for controlling the disease is the treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). The standard treatment consists of isoniazid (INH) daily for nine months. In recent years, shorter regimens have been developed in the hope of increasing rates of treatment acceptance and completion. Of these, the shortest and most recently developed is a combination of INH and rifapentine taken once weekly for 12 doses (3HP), typically using directly observed therapy. This regimen has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States but is not yet authorized for use in Canada. Based on a rapidly expanding number of observational studies and randomized controlled trials, 12 weeks of 3HP appears to have similar efficacy to nine months of INH, a favourable adverse event profile and potentially improved rates of treatment completion. Although rates of treatment acceptance, the role of self-administered therapy and the regimen's cost-effectiveness within the Canadian context remain uncertain, 3HP is a promising alternative to existing treatments for LTBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Antimicrobials are essential for the treatment and control of infectious diseases and therefore, the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health concern. It is recognized that robust AMR surveillance is necessary; however, current gaps in national surveillance programs need to be addressed to enable better evidence-informed program and policy decisions. Objective: To describe how an AMR Surveillance Task Group prioritized national AMR surveillance data requirements for high priority AMR organisms for human health in Canada and made recommendations on addressing the current data gaps. Methods: The 2015 AMR Surveillance Task Group examined the data requirements for previously identified first priority organisms and assessed whether the current system met, partially met or did not meet these requirements. Information was summarized into synopsis tables and a ranking process was used to prioritize the data requirements and develop specific recommendations to address the gaps. Results: First priority organisms identified for AMR surveillance are: Clostridium dificile, Extended-spectrum [beta]-lactamase-producing organisms, Carbapenem-resistant organisms (Acinetobacter + Enterobacteriaceae species), Enterococcus species, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Streptococcus pyogenes and S. pneumonaea, Salmonella species, Staphylococcus aureus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Campylobacter species. For these organisms, there were 19 high priority data requirements identified: 10 of these requirements were met by the current surveillance systems, seven were partially met and two were unmet. For the two high priority data metrics in the community setting, the Task Group recommended conducting a point-prevalence community-based study (i.e., every five years) to follow infection rates of C. dificile infection, and community level antibiogram data on an annual basis for susceptibility data for Enterobacteriaceae species (E. coli and Klebsiella) causing genito-urinary infections. There were eight medium priority data requirements identified: one requirement was met by the current surveillance system, five were partially met and two were unmet. The medium priority unmet data requirements included susceptibility of infection isolates for C. dificile (diarrheal disease) and infection rates for Enterobacteriaceae species causing genito-urinary tract infections in community settings. It was noted that the feasibility of obtaining this medium priority data in the community setting was low. The Task Group identified bloodstream infections as the top priority site of infection for AMR surveillance in the health care setting given the high morbidity and mortality associated with bloodstream infections. The importance of collecting susceptibility data on N. gonorrhoeae in the community was underscored given the rise in resistance and that the current surveillance system only partially collects this data. The Task Group recommended that a review of the national AMR surveillance data requirement priorities should occur on an ongoing basis and when new issues emerge. Conclusion: While current national surveillance programs either capture or partially capture many of the identified data requirements for first priority organisms, several gaps still remain, especially in community settings. A national review of the recommendations of the Task Group is underway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Canada has a low incidence of tuberculosis (TB), certain populations, including the foreign-born and Canadian-born Indigenous peoples, continue to be disproportionately represented among reported cases. The overall incidence rates of active TB in Canada have not significantly changed in the past decade and work still needs to be done to reach TB elimination goals set by the World Health Organization (WHO). In trying to achieve TB elimination in Canada, primary care clinicians, with the support of public health professionals and TB experts, can help by focusing on 1) targeted screening and treatment of latent TB infection (LTBI) and 2) timely diagnosis and referral of active TB disease. The following article focuses on some key primary care considerations to keep in mind in day-to-day patient care. To help conduct targeted screening and treatment for LTBI, several key populations, including immigrants from high TB burden countries, Indigenous peoples and several other at-risk groups, are outlined. Reactivation of LTBI plays a significant role in TB burden and is likely an area of major potential impact in achieving TB elimination. Advancement in LTBI treatment, including short course therapy, is also described. In addition, to help make a timely diagnosis of active TB, several key risk factors, including several co-morbidities which increase the risk of developing TB disease, can be considered. Being front-line in patient care, keeping in mind some of these key pearls may aid primary care providers to have potential impact on eliminating TB in Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of milling conditions on milling quality of medium grain rough rice M202. Using a McGill No. 3 mill, the conditions studied were milling weight and duration, and polishing weight and duration. This research examined the relationships among the milled rice quality parameters, namely total rice yield, head rice yield, whiteness index, and total lipid content. Head rice yield was more sensitive to changes in milling conditions than total rice yield. It decreased by 4.6 percentage points when milling weight was increased from 2. 72 to 6.36 kg. Milling weight and milling duration had more influence on head rice yield than polishing weight and duration. For both milling and polishing, using lower weights for a longer duration could increase head rice yield without changing the whiteness compared to the standard procedures of the USDA Federal Grain Inspection Service. The total lipid content of milled rice, measured using a near-infrared (NIR) method, correlated well with the whiteness index. This indicates that the NIR method could be used as an alternative to the whiteness index for measuring the degree of milling. Over-milling significantly decreased head rice yield with little improvement in whiteness. The milling quality of M202 can be predicted by using the developed non-linear regression models when the milling and polishing conditions are known. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]