Modification of Enrichment Protocols for TECRA Listeria Visual Immunoassay Method 995.22: Collaborative Study

A collaborative study was conducted to validate new enrichment methods for the TECRA Listeria Visual Immunoassay (TLVIA). These new methods incorporate a newly formulated medium, TECRA Listeria Enrichment Broth, which does not contain the highly toxic antifungal agent, cycloheximide. The new procedures will provide an alternative to the enrichment procedures described in AOAC Method 995.22. Three food types (raw ground beef, lettuce, and ice cream) were analyzed in the United States, and 2 food types (cooked turkey and cooked fish fillets) were analyzed in Australasia. Thirty collaborators participated in the study, 16 in Australasia and 14 in the United States. With the exception of one batch of ground beef, comparison of the proportion of positive test portions (p ≥ 0.05) showed no significant difference between the TLVIA and the reference method for the 5 foods at 3 inoculation levels. For the one batch of naturally contaminated raw ground beef, the TLVIA gave significantly more confirmed positive results than the reference method.

Identification of a new high oxygen affinity hemoglobin variant: Hb Aurora [beta 139(H17) Asn-->Tyr]

A 73-year-old female of Dutch descent was referred for investigation of a high oxygen affinity hemoglobin variant. The beta-globin gene was amplified using the polymerase chain reaction. Direct nucleotide sequencing of the polymerase chain reaction amplified DNA revealed that she is heterozygous for a novel beta-globin gene mutation at codon 139, AAT-->TAT. The resulting hemoglobin variant has been designated Hb Aurora [beta 139 (H17) Asn-->Tyr].

Technical information for architects

The Building Research Station (BRS) financed a research contract at the York Institute of Advanced Architectural Studies to try and improve their means of communication with architects, as it was felt that the results of much building research were not being used. Alternative methods of presenting information in research papers were sent to selected architects' offices. Two interview surveys were conducted, to establish architects' attitudes to and requirements from research information, and to took at the context into which that information fitted: the architect's office. Two postal surveys were also carried out. Broadly, architects want their technical literature to be tailored to their situation. They want the use of architectural convection and language whenever possible. Visually trained themselves, they show a heavy preference for papers with a high content of visual material, particularly in the form of architectural and scaled drawings. Papers should be brief and to the point, and should leave out the experimental orientation which is sometimes the concomitant of conventional research papers. The findings and the design recommendations may be relevant for others needing similar design reference material, such as industrial designers and engineers.