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The present work was conducted to determine the effects of organic acids (1 and 2% of sodium lactate, 0.5% potassium sorbate, 0.5% sodium citrate, and 1% sodium acetate) combined with ambient air and modified atmosphere packaging (HiOx: 80:20:0/O2:CO2:N2; CO: 0.4:30:69.60/CO:CO2:N2) on the quality parameters and shelflife of meatballs, and to evaluate the survival of Salmonella Typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes in inoculated meatballs stored at 4°C for 15 d. Results indicated that the organic acid combinations delayed the microbial growth, and improved the shelf-life of meatballs. Lipid oxidation was retarded with organic acid treatments, and the meatballs in CO-MAP did not exceed the spoilage level during the storage period. A difference of 1 - 2 log and 2 - 3 log units of S. Typhimurium and L. monocytogenes counts were recorded between the untreated and organic acids treated meatballs, respectively, with effectiveness in HiOx and CO-MAP. Enhancement in colour and textural properties was detected in the meatballs treated with combined organic acids and 2% sodium lactate. Moreover, the overall acceptability of 2% sodium lactate treated meatballs was rated more palatable by the panellists at the end of the storage. In conclusion, organic acid treatments combined with modified atmosphere packaging can maintain the storage properties of meatballs without influencing the sensory characteristics during refrigerated storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate microbiological, serological and parasitological quality in cig kofte (raw meatball) and their lettuce consumed in Istanbul. Consequently, a total of 102 cig kofte and 60 lettuce samples were analyzed for total mesophylic aerobic bacteria (TMAB), sulphite-reducing bacteria, coliforms, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus-Micrococcus, and Salmonella spp. levels. Sulphite-reducing bacteria were not isolated from any of the samples. Salmonella were found positive in 9 of cig kofte and in 5 of lettuce samples. None of the analyzed samples was found to contain pork. Ten of them contained equine, 5 contained beef+mutton, 12 contained beef+poultry and 7 contained equine+poultry, while 68 of the 102 samples were only beef meat. Parasites and their fragments were also observed in some of the cig kofte and lettuce samples (6 insect fragments in cig kofte samples and 2 insect fragments, 5 acarus and mites and 2 Entamoeba coli + acarus in lettuce samples). It was concluded that cig kofte and lettuce offered to consumers in Istanbul have low microbiological and parasitological quality. Due to imitation of the products, unfair competition and profit is provided and consequently the safety of the consumer is at risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Phoma stem canker is an economically important disease of oilseed rape, caused by two co-existing fungal pathogen species, Leptosphaeria maculans (Plenodomus lingam) and Leptosphaeria biglobosa (Plenodomus biglobosus). Leptosphaeria maculans produces a phytotoxin called sirodesmin PL. Our previous work showed that L. biglobosa has an antagonistic effect on the production of sirodesmin PL if it is simultaneously co-inoculated with L. maculans. However, the effects of sequential co-inoculation on interspecific interactions between the two pathogens are not understood., Results: The interactions between L. maculans and L. biglobosa were investigated in liquid culture by inoculation with L. maculans first, followed by L. biglobosa sequentially at 1, 3, 5 or 7 days later and vice versa; the controls were inoculated with L. maculans only, L. biglobosa only, or L. maculans and L. biglobosa simultaneously. The results showed that L. biglobosa inhibited the growth of L. maculans, the production of both sirodesmin PL and its precursors if L. biglobosa was inoculated before, or simultaneously with, L. maculans. However, the antagonistic effects of L. biglobosa were lost if it was co-inoculated 5 or 7 days after L. maculans., Conclusion: For the first time, the results of this study provided evidence that the timing when L. maculans and L. biglobosa meet significantly influences the outcome of the interspecific competition between them. Leptosphaeria biglobosa can inhibit the production of sirodesmin PL and the growth of L. maculans if it is inoculated before L. maculans or less than 3 days after L. maculans in liquid culture. There is a need to further investigate the timing of co-inoculation on interactions between L. maculans and L. biglobosa in their host plants for improving the control of phoma stem canker. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.)

Background: Phoma stem canker is caused by two coexisting pathogens, Leptosphaeria maculans and L. biglobosa. They coexist because of their temporal and spatial separations, which are associated with the differences in timing of their ascospore release. L. maculans produces sirodesmin PL, while L. biglobosa does not. However, their interaction/coexistence in terms of secondary metabolite production is not understood., Results: Secondary metabolites were extracted from liquid cultures, L. maculans only (Lm only), L. biglobosa only (Lb only), L. maculans and L. biglobosa simultaneously (Lm&Lb) or sequentially 7 days later (Lm+Lb). Sirodesmin PL or its precursors were identified in extracts from 'Lm only' and 'Lm+Lb', but not from 'Lm&Lb'. Metabolites from 'Lb only', 'Lm&Lb' or 'Lm+Lb' caused significant reductions in L. maculans colony area. However, only the metabolites containing sirodesmin PL caused a significant reduction to L. biglobosa colony area. When oilseed rape cotyledons were inoculated with conidia of 'Lm only', 'Lb only' or 'Lm&Lb', 'Lm only' produced large gray lesions, while 'Lm&Lb' produced small dark lesions similar to lesions caused by 'Lb only'. Sirodesmin PL was found only in the plant extracts from 'Lm only'. These results suggest that L. biglobosa prevents the production of sirodesmin PL and its precursors by L. maculans when they grow simultaneously in vitro or in planta., Conclusion: For the first time, L. biglobosa has been shown to inhibit the production of sirodesmin PL by L. maculans when interacting simultaneously with L. maculans either in vitro or in planta. This antagonistic effect of interspecific interaction may affect their coexistence and subsequent disease progression and management. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.)

Background: In a randomized controlled trial, the efficacy of a digital diabetes diary regarding a reduction of diabetes distress was evaluated., Methods: A randomized controlled trial with a 12-week follow-up was conducted in 41 study sites across Germany. Key eligibility criteria were a diagnosis of type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes and regular self-monitoring of blood glucose. Participants were randomly assigned (2:1 ratio) to either use the digital diabetes logbook (mySugr PRO), or to the control group without app use. The primary outcome was the reduction in diabetes distress at the 12-week follow-up. All analyses were based on the intention-to-treat population with all randomized participants. The trial was registered at the German Register for Clinical Studies (DRKS00022923)., Results: Between February 11, 2021, and June 24, 2022, 424 participants (50% female, 50% male) were included, with 282 being randomized to the intervention group (66.5%) and 142 to the control group (33.5%). A total of 397 participants completed the trial (drop-out rate: 6.4%). The median reduction in diabetes distress was 2.41 (interquartile range [IQR]: -2.50 to 8.11) in the intervention group and 1.25 (IQR: -5.00 to 7.50) in the control group. The model-based adjusted between-group difference was significant (-2.20, IQR: -4.02 to -0.38, P = .0182) favoring the intervention group. There were 27 adverse events, 17 (6.0%) in the intervention group, and 10 (7.0%) in the control group., Conclusions: The efficacy of the digital diabetes logbook was demonstrated regarding improvements in mental health in people with type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: DE reports Advisory Board member fees from mySugr, Dexcom Germany, and Roche Diabetes Care as well as honoraria for lectures from Berlin-Chemie AG, Sanofi-Aventis, Dexcom Germany, and Roche Diabetes Care. NH reports Advisory Board member fees from Abbott Diabetes Care and Insulet as well as honoraria for lectures from Berlin-Chemie AG, Becton Dickenson, Sanofi Germany, Roche Diabetes Care, and Dexcom Germany. TR reports honoraria for lectures from Berlin-Chemie AG. JK is an employee of mySugr. VS is an employee of Roche Diabetes Care Deutschland. TH reports consulting fees from Eli Lilly, NovoNordisk, Sanofi, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Abbott Diabetes Care as well as honoraria for lectures from Abbott Diabetes Care, Sanofi, and Eli Lilly. RZ reports consulting fees from Roche Diabetes Care and mySugr as well as honoraria for lectures from Roche Diabetes Care, Dexcom, VitalAire, NovoNordisk, and Abbott Diabetes Care. He participated in data safety monitoring boards or advisory boards of Roche Diabetes Care, mySugr, Dexcom, NovoNordisk, and Eli Lilly. LH reports consulting fees from Roche Diabetes Care, Lifecare, Medtronic, Spiden, Embecta, Dexcom, Onetwenty, Perfood, Boydsense, Pharmasense, Unomedical and Sinocare. CR is an employee of Roche Diabetes Care. EB is an employee of mySugr. BK reports Advisory Board member fees from Abbott Diabetes Care, Embecta, Roche Diabetes Care, Novo Nordisk, Berlin-Chemie AG and Dexcom Germany as well as honoraria for lectures from Sanofi Germany, Novo Nordisk, Abbott Diabetes Care, Roche Diabetes Care, Berlin-Chemie AG, Embecta, Dexcom, and Feen. In addition, he reports support for travel and fees for scientific meetings from Sanofi, Roche Diabetes Care and Berlin-Chemie AG as well as unpaid obligations as workshop leader and member of working groups of the German Diabetes Association. SS is an employee of Roche Diabetes Care. The remaining authors have nothing to disclose.

Background: Diffusion tensor imaging provides information about the location of white matter tracts within the human brain. For neurosurgery, this imaging technique is of major interest in order to minimize the risk of postoperative neurological deficits. In preoperative planning, fiber tracking algorithms based on streamline propagation are used in order to reconstruct major fiber tracts. The resulting streamline bundles approximate the course of the underlying white matter structures and indicate their shape and location in 3 dimensions as well as the spatial relation with respect to surrounding anatomy. However, for intraoperative application in combination with the neuronavigation system, these streamline representations are not adequate. Hulls encompassing the streamline bundles are necessary, since the boundary curves of hulls can be superimposed on the operating room (OR) microscope view for guidance in neurosurgery., Methods: In this work, we present a novel hull approach which is based on rasterization and isosurface extraction, combined with surface filtering techniques. The advantages of this approach are its robustness and the possibility to control the tightness of wrapping., Results: The approach makes it possible to generate precise hulls for different tract systems, which can be used as a basis for intraoperative visualization in the OR microscope. Distance measurements further confirm the accuracy of the hulls.