Search Results (3)

Color is one of the first criteria to assess the quality of cheese. However, very limited data are available on the color heterogeneity of the rind and its relationship with microbial community structure. In this study, the color of a wide range of smear-ripened Munster cheeses from various origins was monitored during storage by photographic imaging and data analysis in the CIELAB color space using luminance, chroma, and hue angle as descriptors. Different levels of inter- and intra-cheese heterogeneity were observed. The most heterogeneous Munster cheeses were the darkest with orange-red colors. The most homogeneous were the brightest with yellow-orange. K-means clustering revealed three clusters distinguished by their color heterogeneity. Color analysis coupled with metabarcoding showed that rinds with heterogeneous color exhibited higher microbial diversity associated with important changes in their microbial community structure during storage. In addition, intra-cheese community structure fluctuations were associated with heterogeneity in rind color. The species Glutamicibacter arilaitensis and Psychrobacter nivimaris/piscatorii were found to be positively associated with the presence of undesirable brown patches. This study highlights the close relationship between the heterogeneity of the cheese rind and its microbiota. Full article

The temporal and spatial evolution of landscape pattern is the most intuitive form of land use transition. Analyzing the change of landscape pattern and its driving factors is of great significance to land use management and water quality protection in the basin. Based on the land use data obtained from the remote sensing image interpretation of the Yellow River Basin (Henan section) in 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020, the landscape pattern evolution characteristics of the Yellow River Basin (Henan section) were quantitatively studied using the methods of multi-angle land use transfer matrix, land use information atlas, and landscape pattern index, and the influencing factors of landscape pattern evolution of the Yellow River Basin (Henan section) were revealed using the geographic detectors (a new statistical method to measure the explanatory power of independent variables to dependent variables mainly by analyzing the overall differences among various types of geographical spaces). The results show that: (1) From 1990 to 2020, the mutual transformation of land use types in the Yellow River Basin (Henan section) was frequent, and the transformation tracks were diversified. Among them, the outflow behavior of land use types is mainly manifested in the transformation from cultivated land to construction land, and the inflow behavior of land use types is mainly manifested in the transformation from grassland and water to cultivated land. (2) In the information map of land use change in the Yellow River Basin (Henan section) from 1990 to 2020, the stable type had the widest distribution range, accounting for 94.60% of the total area of the study area, with two main change patterns: “cultivated land-cultivated land-cultivated land-cultivated land” and “woodland-woodland-woodland-woodland”, which indicates that the landscape pattern of the basin dominated by cultivated land and woodland has not changed fundamentally. The four land use change structure types, repeated change, early change, intermediate change and continuous change, account for a relatively small proportion and are concentrated in the vicinity of the Yellow River. (3) At the landscape level, the watershed generally shows the trend of decreasing landscape fragmentation, increasing landscape heterogeneity and constantly balancing landscape patch types. At the level of patch type, the landscape dominance of cultivated land decreases, while that of construction land increases. The occupation of construction land is the main reason for the fragmentation and homogenization of cultivated land. (4) From the perspective of landscape scale and patch type scale, through the geographical exploration of various natural factors and socio-economic factors that potentially affect the landscape pattern evolution, it is found that the spatial differences of natural factors such as slope, elevation, temperature, and precipitation can better reflect the spatial heterogeneity of the landscape pattern in the Yellow River Basin (Henan section) than those of socio-economic factors such as GDP and population density, and the interaction of any two driving factors has a greater influence on the spatial distribution characteristics of landscape pattern than any single factor, indicating that the formation of spatial heterogeneity in the Yellow River Basin (Henan section) is the result of the interaction of various influencing factors. The results of this study can provide ideas for exploring the trend and influencing mechanism of landscape pattern change in the basin, and have important reference significance for ecological environment management, ecosystem protection, and land use planning in the Yellow River Basin (Henan section). Full article

Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) is a complication of Schistosoma haematobium infection, and imposes a health burden whose magnitude is not fully explored. It is estimated that up to 56 million women in sub-Saharan Africa have FGS, and almost 20 million more cases will occur in the next decade unless infected girls are treated. Schistosomiasis is reported throughout the year in South Africa in areas known to be endemic, but there is no control programme. We analyze five actions for both a better understanding of the burden of FGS and reducing its prevalence in Africa, namely: (1) schistosomiasis prevention by establishing a formal control programme and increasing access to treatment, (2) introducing FGS screening, (3) providing knowledge to health care workers and communities, (4) vector control, and (5) water, sanitation, and hygiene. Schistosomiasis is focal in South Africa, with most localities moderately affected (prevalence between 10% and 50%), and some pockets that are high risk (more than 50% prevalence). However, in order to progress towards elimination, the five actions are yet to be implemented in addition to the current (and only) control strategy of case-by-case treatment. The main challenge that South Africa faces is a lack of access to WHO-accredited donated medication for mass drug administration. The establishment of a formal and funded programme would address these issues and begin the implementation of the recommended actions. Full article