Research Publications (Food Safety)

In most laboratory studies with oral exposure of terrestrial invertebrates to metals an artificial food, which is easy to handle, is used. The bioavailability of metals from this artificial food may, however, be much higher than from more field relevant food sources. Such differences may affect toxicokinetic processes in different tissues.

Leaves of five selected plants Citrus limon (Rutaceae), Ceratonia siliqua L., Olea europaea (Oleaceae), Washingtonia filifera, and Myoporum (Myoporaceae) grown in Jordan were examined for removal of heavy metals (cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) ions) for aqueous solutions. Cd and Pb were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. A pH S-2 acidometer was used for determining the acidity of leaves–solution systems.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) mediates 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-induced toxicity that can lead to chloracne in humans. A characteristic of chloracne, in contrast to acne vulgaris, is shrinkage or loss of sebaceous glands. Acne vulgaris, on the other hand, is often accompanied by excessive sebum production. Here, we examined the role of AHR in lipid synthesis in human sebocytes using distinct classes of AHR ligands.

Author(s): Scheling Wibowo, Adebayo Lateef Afuape, Sofie De Man, Nathalie Bernaert, Bart Van Droogenbroeck, Tara Grauwet, Ann Van Loey, Marc Hendrickx

Author(s): Sandra Unsleber, Wolfgang Wohlleben, Evi Stegmann

Author(s): Soomee Hwang, Choil Kim, Jeeyeon Lee, Hyunmee Park, Gaeho Lee, Kwang-Geun Lee, Hanseung Shin, Hoonjeong Kwon

Author(s): Xiaoai Zhu, Zhirou Qiu, Wen Ouyang, Jianyin Miao, Ping Xiong, Duobin Mao, Konglong Feng, Minxiong Li, Minna Luo, Hang Xiao, Yong Cao

Author(s): Marília Crivelari da Cunha, Jessika Gonçalves dos Santos Aguilar, Ricardo Rodrigues de Melo, Sheila Tiemi Nagamatsu, Faraat Ali, Ruann Janser Soares de Castro, Hélia Harumi Sato

Author(s): Shenyuan He, Xueyi Li, Cuiqin Li, Hong Deng, Yuyu Shao, Li Yuan

Author(s): Gomaa R.M. Ramadan, Samir A.M. Abdelgaleil, Mohamed S. Shawir, Ahmed S. El-bakary, Peter A. Edde, Thomas W. Phillips

To be commercialized and grown in the US, genetically engineered (GE) crops typically go through an extensive food, feed, and environmental safety assessment process which, in certain instances, requires complex consultations with three different US regulatory agencies. Many small market, niche, and specialty crops have been genetically engineered using the modern tools of recombinant DNA but few have been commercialized due to real or perceived regulatory constraints.

A rapid, ultra-sensitive and simple fluorescence immunoassay (FLISA) on CdSe/ZnS Quantum dots (QDs) for recognition pesticide triazophos have been established. In this assay, the immunoassay uses (CdSe/ZnS) Quantum dots (QDs) as a probe that carries monoclonal antibody (mAb). The free triazophos and OVA-haptens were competed for binding the mAb on the surface of the QDs. Therefore, the concentration of TRIAZ can get by calculation of the detection of fluorescence value.

The hapten 1 which was formed by the reaction of 2-chloro-4,6-diamine-1,3,5-triazine (CAAT) with 6-aminocaproic acid, conjugated with keyhole limpet haemocyanin to prepare the immunogen. And coating antigen was prepared by the coupling of ovalbumin and hapten 2 which was synthesized by the reaction of CAAT and 3-mercapto propionic acid. Based on immunological and cell fusion technology, the anti-melamine monoclonal antibody was prepared and characterized.

In this study, we used 2-(diethexyphosphoryl)acetic acid as a common template molecule and Fe3O4@SiO2 as support material to prepare a superparamagnetic core/shell molecular imprinting polymer (MIP), Fe3O4@SiO2@MIP, which has multiple recognition sites and increased adsorption capacity.

In a recent article in this journal, Luby, Polasky, and Swackhamer come to the provocative conclusion that urban water prices in the United States are “cheaper when drier.” They also argue that utilities fail to provide affordable water and that they charge less for “additional” use compared to “essential” use. We challenge these claims.

We propose a time series modeling approach based on nonlinear dynamical systems to recover the underlying dynamics and predictability of streamflow and to produce projections with identifiable skill. First, a wavelet spectral analysis is performed on the time series to identify the dominant quasiperiodic bands. The time series is then reconstructed across these bands and summed to obtain a signal time series.

Phase five of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project enabled a range of decadal modeling experiments where climate models were initialized with observations and allowed to evolve freely for 10–30 years. However, climate models struggle to realistically simulate rainfall and the skill of rainfall prediction in decadal experiments is poor.

We describe a new effort to enhance climate forecast relevance and usability through the development of a system for evaluating and displaying real‐time subseasonal to seasonal (S2S) climate forecasts on a watershed scale. Water managers may not use climate forecasts to their full potential due to perceived low skill, mismatched spatial and temporal resolutions, or lack of knowledge or tools to ingest data.

An effective method for the determination of 49 pesticide residues and 17 mycotoxins in wine by a modified QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) method and ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry was developed. The target compounds were extracted with 1% (v/v) formic acid–acetonitrile, and no cleanup steps were required.

In the present study, we analyzed the tilmicosin residues in eggs as well as the dietary risks posed by the residual drug to Chinese consumers. Tilmicosin was administrated to laying hens via drinking water in doses of 100 mg/L and 300 mg/L (dose 1 and dose 2) for 5 days. Its residues distribution within egg matrices were detected using a QuEChERS method coupled with liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS).

Diuron is a urea herbicide that is frequently detected in surface water, groundwater, and marine waters. However, there are few methods or guidelines reported on ensuring the quality of sugarcane and soil. In this study, a method was developed for detecting diuron to ensure the quality and safety of food and sugar.

by Yasmin Chau, Fu-Shuang Li, Olesya Levsh, Jing-Ke Weng

Bacteria have acquired multiple mechanisms to evade the lethal effects of current therapeutics, hindering treatment of bacterial infections, such as those caused by the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is responsible for nosocomial and cystic fibrosis lung infections. One resistance mechanism involves membrane-embedded multidrug efflux pumps that can effectively extrude an array of substrates, including common antibiotics, dyes, and biocides.

Author(s): Xiangsong Meng, Sultan Ahmed Khoso, Jianhua Kang, Jiangqiu Wu, Jiande Gao, Shangyong Lin, Meirong Wu, Wei Sun, Yuehua Hu

Author(s): Xunzhang Pan, Hailin Wang, Ziwei Wang, Lu Lin, Qi Zhang, Xinzhu Zheng, Wenying Chen