Cargill (United States)

Rapid and accurate detection of foodborne pathogens is essential for ensuring food safety and preventing disease outbreaks. This work presents the design, integration, and validation of a compact fiber-optic Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) sensing system for rapid detection of Salmonella in raw poultry products. The system integrates a SERS sensor, laser excitation source, Raman spectrometer, GPS module, and BME280 environmental sensors within a single aluminum enclosure. A Django-based web interface provides secure system control, data visualization, and automated report generation, incorporating HTTPS encryption, CSRF protection, and session management. Raman spectra are acquired and processed to determine positive or negative detection outcomes, supported by environmental and geolocation metadata. Automated preprocessing including noise reduction, baseline correction, and spectral averaging—ensures consistent and high-quality Raman signatures, and extended stability testing confirms robust, long-term system performance. Experimental validation using turkey rinsate spiked with Salmonella enterica demonstrated successful detection down to 10 CFU/mL. The results underscore the system’s capability for rapid, portable, and operator-independent microbial analysis directly in field environments, addressing key limitations of conventional laboratory-dependent detection methods.

The study was conducted to assess the effects of a postbiotic, Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product (SCFP) and a commercial phytogenic feed additive (PFA) as alternative to antibiotic growth promoter(AGP) on growth performance, gut microbiota, intestinal morphology, and immune response of commercial broiler chickens at a Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) classified sector 3 commercial poultry farm. One-day-old mixed sex Vencobb 430 Y chicks (n=4800) were randomly divided into four dietary treatment groups for 35 days experimentation encompassingT1 (positive control, PC) basal diet supplemented with bacitracin methylene disalicylate as an AGP at 500 g/MT; T2 (negative control, NC) basal diet without a growth promoter; T3 basal diet supplemented with commercial PFA at 500 g/MT; T4 basal diet supplemented with SCFP at 1.25 kg/MT.At day 35, ADG and FCR were significantly improved in PFA and SCFP groups compared to the NC group. The levels of blood glucose, total protein, albumin, triglyceride, cholesterol, and uric acid in serum showed no significant variation across different dietary treatments. From day 21 of the study, log cfu count and DNA concentration of pathogens (Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli, Salmonella) decreased significantly in the AGP, PFA, and SCFP groups compared to the NC group. Whereas the log cfu count and average DNA concentration of Lactobacillus was significantly increased in PFA and SCFP groups, but not in AGP group. Increased Lactobacillus concentration in PFA and SCFP groups downregulated the virulence gene expression of pathogens (Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli and Salmonella). The duodenal and jejunal villi height was significantly higher in PFA and SCFP groups, although ratio of villi height to crypt depth in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum did not show significant differences among the groups. On day 28, antibody titers against the IBDV and NDV were significantly higher in SCFP groups than other groups. The present study did not identify any modulation of the cell mediated immune response in the chickens. In conclusion, addition of SCFP at 1.25 kg/MT or PFA at 500 g/MT in diet could produce better nutrient utilization ability, reduction of pathogens and their virulence gene expression, increased Lactobacillus count, but incorporation of SCFP increased antibody titre against two fatal viral infections such as NDV and IBDV which was not detected with PFA.

Animal welfare is an important consideration in livestock production, including the critical preslaughter period at processing facilities. While fed cattle spend a relatively short time in lairage, this phase presents a significant opportunity to mitigate stress and enhance well-being. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of providing rubber mats in holding pens on the mobility and behavior of fed cattle prior to slaughter. This study compared cattle held in pens with rubber mats (n = 92 pen groups) to those in control pens with stamped concrete flooring (n = 112 pen groups). Mobility was scored upon unloading and prior to stunning using a 4-point system (1 = normal to 4 = extremely reluctant to move). Pen-level behaviors (standing, lying, drinking, and motion) were quantified using instantaneous sampling at 5-min intervals for the duration of lairage. All instances of mounting were recorded. An employee survey was also administered to plant employees to gather their perspectives on the use of rubber mats in lairage (n = 13). Results indicated a tendency (P = 0.056) for cattle housed on rubber mats to have an increased odds of exhibiting normal mobility at the end of lairage compared to those on concrete. Cattle in matted pens exhibited greater odds of standing (OR: 1.5739, CI: 1.2807, 1.9351, P < 0.01) and mounting (OR: 1.9779, CI: 1.2194, 3.2072, P < 0.01), while showing lower odds of lying (OR: 0.5970, CI: 0.4727, 0.7531, P < 0.01) and drinking water (OR: 0.7500, CI: 0.6304, 0.8920, P < 0.01). Lairage duration and space allowance also influenced several behaviors. Notably, a large majority (92%) of plant employees preferred working in pens with rubber mats and believed they should be used in the holding pens to improve cattle movement during handling. These findings suggest that the incorporation of rubber mats in slaughter plant holding pens can potentially positively influence cattle mobility during lairage, potentially mitigating the decline in mobility often observed during the marketing process. The observed behavioral changes, including increased standing and mounting, may be indicative of improved comfort and stability on the softer, less slippery surface or increased stress; future work is needed to determine the motivation behind these behavioral changes. The strong positive feedback from plant employees further supports the potential benefits of this intervention for both animal welfare and worker well-being.

Diamond V Original XPC® is a Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation-derived postbiotic technology (SCFP) designed to interact synergistically with the animal to provide health benefits by enhancing immune function, supporting digestive integrity and absorption, and maintaining gastrointestinal (GIT) microbial balance in the host. The current study investigated the effects of 1.25% SCFP on multidrug-resistant (MDR) Salmonella serovars: S. Typhimurium (ATCC 14028), S. Enteritidis, S. Infantis, S. Heidelberg, S. Typhimurium DT104, and S. Reading, and shifts in cecal microbiota populations. Using an anaerobic in vitro poultry cecal model, cecal contents were inoculated with ~ 108 colony forming units (CFU) of MDR Salmonella serovars and incubated for 24 h at 37°C anaerobically. The treatments included: control group consisting of 0.2 g of crushed poultry feed, and a treatment group 0.25 g of feed + 1.25% inclusion of Original XPC® (SCFP). The SCFP significantly reduced five of the six serovars: S. Typhimurium ATCC, S. Enteritidis, S. Infantis, S. Heidelberg, and S. Reading (P < 0.05). Time significantly impacted S. Typhimurium DT104 reduction (P < 0.001). The most significant decrease was observed for S. Enteritidis (3.9 log10 CFU/mL), followed by S. Heidelberg (3.8 log10 CFU/mL), S. Infantis (3.4 log10 CFU/mL), S. Typhimurium ATCC (3 log10 CFU/mL), and S. Reading (1.8 log10 CFU/mL) compared to controls that averaged approximately 1 log10 CFU/mL reduction. Microbiota analysis at 24 h involved genomic DNA extraction, amplification using custom dual-indexed primers, and sequencing on the Illumina MiSeq platform. Sequencing data were analyzed using QIIME2-2021.11. S. Infantis and S. Heidelberg inoculated samples were the only groups that significantly enhanced microbial richness and evenness with SCFP addition at 24 h (P < 0.05). Pairwise comparisons revealed that samples inoculated with S. Reading and S. Typhimurium DT104 exhibited a minor change in microbial composition with SCFP, compared to other serovars that demonstrated increased microbial diversity with SCFP. Additionally, S. Infantis and S. Heidelberg inoculated samples exhibited phylogenetic diversity and microbial abundance with SCFP compared to controls at 24 h (P < 0.05). Lachnospiraceae CHKCI001 was significantly more abundant in SCFP-treated samples compared to controls (ANCOM, P < 0.05), suggesting SCFP impact on cecal fermenters and production of fermentation end products that may impact the ecosystem and inhibit pathogen growth. Although various serovars may exhibit somewhat different responses, SCFP effectively mitigated multiple MDR serovars of Salmonella under in vitro incubation conditions.

Corn wet milling (CWM) and corn starch flash drying processing conditions reduce undesirable microorganisms, such as Salmonella. Finished products are historically safe, with intrinsic properties such as low water activity inhibiting microbial growth. Corn processors could use quantified levels of reduction in this study of Salmonella surrogate Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium) to update their food safety plans. Industry-relevant conditions for CWM processes were recreated at pilot or lab scale for 3 unit operations: (1) steeping treatment in sulfur dioxide (SO2) with low (750ppm SO2, 20h, 43.3°C), medium (1,500ppm SO2, 30h, 48.9°C), and high (2,200ppm SO2, 40h, 53.3°C) treatment conditions; (2) hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) treatment tested on bench scale with a factorial design (pH 3.5, 4.0, and 4.5), H2O2 concentrations (0.05%, 0.10%, 0.15% (w/w)), and temperatures (32, 38, and 46°C) for 3 and 6h; (3) flash drying treatment at 4 different temperatures (149, 177, 204, and 232°C) with 2 different inoculation methods. E. faecium was reduced during each of these unit operations. By the end of each steeping treatment, E. faecium was consistently below the limit of quantitation (LOQ), meaning >6.5 log CFU/mL reduction in steep water, and >3.7 log CFU/g reduction in ground corn. The peroxide step had a reduction range from 0.03 log CFU/mL in the control group (0% H2O2 added) to >6 log CFU/mL observed in the high-intensity treatment of corn starch slurry. Flash drying had a reduction range from 1.7 to 2.7 log CFU/g. There was also no biologically meaningful change (<1 log CFU/g reduction) of E. faecium counts during an 8-week survival study of the dried final product. This hurdle approach study shows that existing CWM conditions are effective for Salmonella surrogate reduction through processing into finished starch and provides quantified E. faecium reductions for use in food safety plans.

Natural ester's application in transformers grows rapidly with the global trend of using environmentally friendly and low carbon footprint materials and equipment. The inherent molecular structure and chemical properties of natural esters normally produce signature stray gases such as ethane (C2H6) and hydrogen (H2). In some cases, those gasses can reach significant levels and potentially cause concerns during the interpretation of dissolved gas analysis (DGA) in the field operation of transformers. This paper describes the mechanism of stray gassing of natural ester and introduces experience on the stray gassing performance of new transformers with voltage level ranges from 35 kV to 750 kV before and after the temperature rise tests during the factory acceptance tests. The paper also illustrates the impact of manufacturing processes on the performance of stray gassing, such as oil filled under vacuum or at ambient conditions and introduces the field experience of stray gassing phenomenon of 110 kV power transformers that were retrofilled by replacing the original mineral oil with natural ester liquid. Comparison of stray gassing between new and retrofilled transformers is made. This paper provides field data and may trigger the interest for future studies on the impacting factors, such as oxidation, temperature, and ageing byproducts on the stray gassing performance to further support the condition monitoring and diagnosis of natural ester immersed transformers.

In this article, we present AR3n (pronounced as Aaron), an assist-as-needed (AAN) controller that utilizes reinforcement learning (RL), to supply adaptive assistance during a robot-assisted handwriting rehabilitation task. Unlike previous AAN controllers, our method does not rely on patient-specific controller parameters or physical models. We propose the use of a virtual patient model to generalize AR3n across multiple subjects. The system modulates robotic assistance in real time based on a subject’s tracking errors while minimizing the amount of robotic assistance. The controller is experimentally validated through a set of simulations and human subject experiments. Finally, a comparative study with a traditional rule-based controller is conducted to analyze differences in the assistance mechanisms of the two controllers.

Infectious diseases have significantly impacted Atlantic salmon aquaculture worldwide. Modulating fish immunity with immunostimulant-containing functional feeds could be an effective strategy in mitigating disease problems. Previously, we characterized the impact of polyriboinosinic polyribocytidylic acid (pIC) and formalin-killed typical Aeromonas salmonicida bacterin on miRNA expression in Atlantic salmon fed a commercial diet with and without immunostimulant CpG. A set of miRNA biomarkers of Atlantic salmon head kidney responding to pIC and/or bacterin immune stimulations was identified (Xue et al., 2019) [1]. Herein, we report a complementary qPCR study that investigated the impact of the pIC, bacterin and dietary CpG on the expression of immune-relevant mRNAs (n = 31) using the same samples as in the previous study (Xue et al., 2019) [1]. Twenty-six of these genes were predicted target transcripts of the pIC- and/or bacterin-responsive miRNAs identified in the earlier study. The current data showed that pIC and/or bacterin stimulations significantly modulated the majority of the qPCR-analyzed genes involved in various immune pathways. Some genes responded to both stimulations (e.g. tnfa, il10rb, ifng, irf9, cxcr3, campb) while others appeared to be stimulation specific [e.g. irf3, irf7a, il1r1, mxa, mapk3 (pIC only); clra (bacterin only)]. A. salmonicida bacterin stimulation produced a strong inflammatory response (e.g. higher expression of il1b, il8a and tnfa), while salmon stimulated with pIC showed robust interferon responses (both type I and II). Furthermore, the current data indicated significant down-regulation of immune-relevant transcripts (e.g. tlr9, irf5, il1r1, hsp90ab1, itgb2) by dietary immunostimulant CpG, especially among pre-injection and PBS-injected fish. Together with our prior miRNA study, the present research provided complementary information on Atlantic salmon anti-viral and anti-bacterial immune responses and on how dietary CpG may modulate these responses.

Upon contact, the spike firing patterns of touch afferents encode object attributes such as force, vibration, and spatial geometry. Computational models in cutaneous skin have sought to emulate firing patterns of slowly and rapidly adapting afferents. Herein, for the tongue, we develop biophysical versions of such models, and which rely upon functions and parameters with physiological relevance, as opposed to stimulus features, and are extendable to a broad range of object interactions. The models are evaluated with mechanical inputs relevant to the oral processing of food, in particular, across stress ranges spanning material compliances and periodic vibrations emulating surface sliding. The results indicate the models recapitulate spike firing patterns of human afferents innervating the tongue. Moreover, predicted patterns of spike firing, e.g., the mean and peak firing frequency, first spike latency, and number of spikes, compare favorably with neural recordings across force magnitudes, as do the number of spikes per cycle across a range of periodic amplitudes and frequencies. For extension into a population of afferents in oral mucosa, these single-unit models are a starting point for the further efforts to capture the encoding of higher-level perceptible attributes, e.g., compliance, geometry, surface roughness, and movement velocity.