Transferable Antibiotic Resistances in Marketed Edible Grasshoppers (Locusta migratoria migratorioides)

Grasshoppers are the most commonly eaten insects by humans worldwide, as they are rich in proteins and micronutrients. This study aimed to assess the occurrence of transferable antibiotic resistance genes in commercialized edible grasshoppers. To this end, the prevalence of 12 selected genes [aac(6’)‐Ie aph(2″)‐Ia, blaZ, erm(A), erm(B), erm(C), mecA, tet(M), tet(O), tet(S), tet(K), vanA, vanB] coding for resistance to antibiotics conventionally used in clinical practice was determined. The majority of samples were positive for tet(M) (70.0%), tet(K) (83.3%) and blaZ (83.3%). A low percentage of samples were positive for erm(B) (16.7%), erm(C) (26.7%), and aac(6’)‐Ie aph(2″)‐Ia (13.3%), whereas no samples were positive for erm(A), vanA, vanB, tet(O), and mecA. Cluster analysis identified 4 main clusters, allowing a separation of samples on the basis of their country of origin.     

Prevalence,Distribution, and Diversity of Salmonella spp. in Meat Samples Collected from Italian Slaughterhouses

Recently worldwide food safety authorities indicated the rise of foodborne outbreaks linked to Salmonella: this highlighted the need to intensify monitoring and apply more targeted controls to help manage the spread of the disease. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and distribution of Salmonella serotypes in 7 slaughterhouses, located in different areas of Naples province (Regione Campania, Italy). Meat samples collected from the slaughterhouses were submitted for standardized microbiological analysis in 2015. Results of routine testing for Salmonella spp. were analyzed and then compared to biochemical and molecular evaluations. Salmonella spp. were detected in 12% of 320 samples examined (39/320) and the isolation rates ranged from 87% (32 samples) for raw poultry meat to 13% (7 samples) for pork meat. Biochemical serotyping showed that approximately 50% of the isolates belonged to Salmonella enterica serotype Choleraesuis. Rapid detection methods, such as molecular analysis (polymerase chain reaction and gel electrophoresis), able to confirm food matrices contamination, represent a valid support to the fast identification of Salmonella species. A further aspect of the study consisted, indeed, on analyzing isolated strains through molecular evaluations. By amplifying bacterial DNA—using invA primers, selective for Salmonella—it was possible, in less than 3 h, to classify the isolates as Salmonella spp., confirming the results of microbiological outcomes. Results of distribution analysis, supported by rapid molecular approaches, showed the difficulty of reducing Salmonella risk on food chain. This emphasized the importance of periodic surveillance to prevent outbreaks.     

Testing nano-silver food packaging to evaluate silver migration and food spoilage bacteria on chicken meat

Migration of nanomaterials from food containers into food is a matter of concern because of the potential risk for exposed consumers. The aims of this study were to evaluate silver migration from a commercially available food packaging containing silver nanoparticles into a real food matrix (chicken meat) under plausible domestic storage conditions and to test the contribution of such packaging to limit food spoilage bacteria proliferation. Chemical analysis revealed the absence of silver in chicken meatballs under the experimental conditions in compliance with current European Union legislation, which establishes a maximum level of 0.010 mg kg^–1 for the migration of non-authorised substances through a functional barrier (Commission Regulation (EU) No. 10/2011). On the other hand, microbiological tests (total microbial count, Pseudomonas spp. and Enterobacteriaceae) showed no relevant difference in the tested bacteria levels between meatballs stored in silver-nanoparticle plastic bags or control bags. This study shows the importance of testing food packaging not only to verify potential silver migration as an indicator of potential nanoparticle migration, but also to evaluate the benefits in terms of food preservation so as to avoid unjustified usage of silver nanoparticles and possible negative impacts on the environment.     

The defensive secretion of Carabus lefebvrei Dejean 1826 pupa (Coleoptera,Carabidae): Gland ultrastructure and chemical identification

This study documents the defensive function of flavored humor secreted by the abdominal glands of Carabus lefebvrei pupae. The morphology and the ultrastructure of these glands were described and the volatile compounds of glands secretion were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The ultrastructure analysis shows an acinose complex formed by about 50 clusters. Each cluster has 20 glandular units and the unit—composed of one secretory and one canal cell lying along a duct—belongs to the class 3 cell type of Quennedey (1998). In the cytoplasm, the secretory cell contains abundant rough endoplasmatic reticula, glycogen granules, numerous mitochondria, and many well-developed Golgi complexes producing electron-dense secretory granules. Mitochondria are large, elongated, and often adjoining electronlucent vesicles. The kind and the origin of secretory granules varying in size and density were discussed. The chemical analysis of the gland secretion revealed the presence of a mixture of low molecular weight terpenes, ketones, aldehydes, alcohols, esters, and carboxylic acids. Monoterpenes, especially linalool, were the major products. We supposed that ketones, aldehydes, alcohols, esters, and carboxylic acids have a deterrent function against the predators and monoterpenes provide a prophylaxis function against pathogens. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Experimental tests of a new hysteretic damper made of buckling inhibited shear panels

Metal shear panels represent a highly performing anti seismic system for medium–high rise buildings located in strong earthquake prone zones. A new configuration of dissipative shear panel is presented in the current paper. The base shear plate is made of a low-strength material, namely the heath treated EN-AW-1050A aluminium alloy, which has been already used by the authors for other types of dissipative shear panels. In this proposed new system, the main buckling modes are inhibited by the application of external devices placed in parallel to the base plate and not directly loaded by the external forces. Two shear panel samples are tested as prototypes, which are based on two different plate buckling inhibition strategies. In the former the out-of-plane displacements of only some parts of the base plate are restrained, whereas in the latter the restraining action of the external device is extended to the whole base plate. Experimental tests are presented in order to prove the performance of the proposed devices in terms of dissipative capacity and stiffness. In addition, the obtained results are compared with the ones related to other more conventional shear panel typologies, characterized by the same geometry and material, but in which buckling phenomena were mitigated by means of welded stiffeners, according to a more traditional practice.     

A new and rapid method for the evaluation of the liquid-solid contact resulting from liquid injection into a fluidized bed

Liquid feeds are injected into fluidized bed reactors such as fluid cokers, fluid catalytic crackers and gas-phase polymerization reactors. In these industrial processes, it is of crucial importance to optimize the contact between the injected liquid and the bed solids to minimize agglomeration, to ensure good reactor operability, and to allow reactions to proceed under minimum heat and mass transfer limitations in order to maximize the yields of valuable products. It has been shown [P. House, M. Saberian, C. Briens, F. Berruti, E. Chan, Injection of a liquid spray into a fluidized bed: particle-liquid mixing and impact on fluid coker yields. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 43 (2004) 5663-5669., S. Bruhns, J. Werther, An investigation of the mechanism of liquid injection into fluidized beds. AIChE Journal 51 (2005) 766-775] that the nozzle technology and the operating conditions have a significant effect on the quality of the liquid-solid interaction resulting from the injection of gas-atomized liquid feed. The goal of this study was to develop a rapid and reliable experimental technique to assess the liquid-solid contact efficiency resulting from the injection of a liquid feed into a fluidized bed. Air-fluidized silica sand particles were first charged by triboelectrification as a result of their random collisions with the inner walls of the fluidized bed. Immediately after the injection of water through an aerated nozzle, the fluidization air was stopped and the wetted bed solids were allowed to settle. While the bed was defluidized, the triboelectric charges accumulated on the particles migrated to a grounded electrode through the low-resistance paths offered by the conductive liquid. A stronger electric current flowing through the electrode indicated that the liquid was more evenly distributed on the solid particles. The intensity of the current flowing through the electrode was, therefore, used to define a spray nozzle performance index. This technique was used to examine the effect of increasing the nozzle aeration, and, specifically, the gas-to-liquid mass ratio (G/L) through the nozzle on the liquid-solid contact efficiency. The results showed that changing the nozzle geometry can change how the contact efficiency between atomized liquid and fluidized solids varies with (G/L), especially at relatively high G/L ratios. A model of the time-evolution of the electric current generated during defluidization of the bed solids is also presented.     

High‐density polyethylene reinforced with submicron titania particles

Submicron titania particles were prepared by means of two different synthetic procedures in order to obtain different particle size (diameter ranging from 20 to 350 nm), shapes, and morphologies (amorphous or crystalline). Titania particles were surface modified with octadecylsilane in order to improve their compatibility with respect to polymeric matrices. High‐density polyethylene (HDPE)–titania composites were prepared by melt blending by using an internal mixer. The obtained composites were mechanically characterized in quasi static and creep tensile conditions. The presence of submicron titania particles (1 %vol) led to a significant increase of elastic modulus (20–25%) with respect to the unreinforced HDPE together with a slight increase of yield stress and a decrease of ultimate elongation. An interesting reduction for both elastic and viscoelastic creep compliance components was also evidenced. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

A Bifunctional Copper Catalyst for the One Pot-One Step Esterification?+?Hydrogenation of Tall Oil Fatty Acids

An efficient copper catalyst for the one-pot one-step hydrogenation?+?esterification of unsaturated free fatty acids is described. The high selectivity in hydrogenation promoted by copper, combined with the high activity in esterification observed with solid mixed oxides allows one to directly obtain stabilized methyl esters.