Speciation of inorganic arsenic species and total inorganic arsenic in rice using microwave-assisted dispersive liquid–liquid micro-extraction and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Human exposure to inorganic arsenic (iAs) via rice consumption is of increasing concern. In the present study, microwave-assisted dispersive liquid–liquid micro-extraction (MADLLME) and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) were developed for the speciation of iAs in rice samples. After microwave-assisted digestion, the As(III) ion reacted with diethyldithiophosphoric acid (DDTP) to form an As–DDTP complex and was extracted at the same time. Some parameters affecting digestion, complex formation, and extraction were studied and optimised. Under the optimised conditions, a detection limit of 0.2 µg kg^?1 with a correlation coefficient of 0.9901 were obtained with a calibration curve in the range of 0.5–200 µg kg^?1. Total iAs was determined after reduction of As(V) to As(III) with sodium thiosulfate and potassium iodide, and As(V) was calculated by difference. The proposed extraction procedure was successfully applied for the determination of iAs ions in certified reference materials (NIST CRM 1568a and NMIJ CRM 7503a) and 10 rice samples produced in Iran and other Asian countries.     

Localization and speciation of arsenic in soil and desert plant Parkinsonia florida using μXRF and μXANES

Parkinsonia florida is a plant species native to the semidesert regions of North America. The cultivation characteristics of this shrub/tree suggest that it could be used for phytoremediation purposes in semiarid regions. This work describes, through the use of synchrotron μXRF and μXANES techniques and ICP-OES, the arsenic (As) accumulation and distribution in P. florida plants grown in two soils spiked with As at 20 mg kg(-1). Plants grown in a sandy soil accumulated at least twice more As in the roots compared to plants grown in a loamy soil. The lower As accumulation in plants grown in the loamy soil corresponded to a lower concentration of As in the water-soluble fraction (WSF) of this soil. LC-ICP-MS speciation analysis showed only As(V) in the WSF from all treatments. In contrast, linear combination XANES speciation analysis from the root tissues showed As mainly present in the reduced As(III) form. Moreover, a fraction of the reduced As was found coordinating to S in a form consistent with As-Cys(3). The percentage of As coordinated to sulfur was smaller for plants grown in the loamy soil when compared to the sandy soil.     

Accumulation of arsenic in different fresh water fish species – potential contribution to high arsenic intakes

The aim of the study was to evaluate total arsenic (As) in five tissues (gills, mouthpiece, intestine, liver and muscles) of 10 fish species caught from As contaminated Manchar Lake (26°3′N: 67°6′E) Sindh Pakistan during 2006–2007. The total As concentration was determined by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (HG-AAS), prior to microwave assisted acid digestion. The certified reference material DORM-2 (dogfish muscle) was used to check the quality control of the technique. The good agreement with the certified value at 95% confidence limit confirmed the validity of As determination method. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) of As were 0.034 and 0.11 μg/g, respectively.     

Effectiveness and reliability of arsenic field testing kits: are the million dollar screening projects effective or not?

The exposure of millions to arsenic contaminated water from hand tube wells is a major concern in many Asiatic countries. Field kits are currently used to classify tube wells as delivering arsenic below 50 microg/L (the recommended limit in developing countries) as safe, painted green or above 50 microg/L, unsafe and painted red. More than 1.3 million tube wells in Bangladesh alone have been tested by field kits. A few million U.S. dollars have already been spent and millions are waiting for the ongoing projects. However, the reliability of the data generated through field kits is now being questioned. Samples from 290 wells were tested by field kits and by a reliable laboratory technique to ascertain the reliability of field kits. False negatives were as high as 68% and false positives up to 35%. A statistical analysis of data from 240 and 394 other wells yielded similar rates. We then analyzed 2866 samples from previously labeled wells and found 44.9% mislabeling in the lower range (<50 microg/L) although mislabeling was considerably reduced in the higher range. Variation of analytical results due to analysts and replicates were pointed out adopting analysis of variance (ANOVA) technique. Millions of dollars are being spent without scientific validation of the field kit method. Facts and figures demand improved, environmentally friendly laboratory techniques to produce reliable data.     

Bacterial formation of tooeleite and mixed arsenic(III) or arsenic(V)-iron(III) gels in the Carnoulès acid mine drainage,France. A XANES,XRD, and SEM study

The oxidation of Fe(II) in acid mine drainage (AMD) leads to the precipitation of Fe(III) compounds which may incorporate toxic elements, such as arsenic (As), within their structure or adsorb them at their surface, thus limiting their mobility. The present work provides evidence for spatial and seasonal variations of microbial activity that influence arsenite oxidation and As immobilization in the heavily contaminated AMD from the Carnoulès mine, Gard, France ([As III] = 80 to 280 mg x L(-1) in the acidic spring draining the waste-pile). In the first tens of meters of the AMD, the rapid oxidation of Fe(II) leads to the coprecipitation of large amounts of As with Fe(III) in bacterial mats. XRD, XANES, and SEM analyses of sediments and stromatolite samples revealed the unusual formation of As(III)-rich compounds, especially nanocrystalline tooeleite, Fe6(AsO3)4(SO4)(OH)4 x 4H2O, a rare ferric arsenite sulfate oxy-hydroxide mineral, together with XRD-amorphous mixed As(III)/As(V)-Fe(III) oxy-hydroxide compounds. In the wet season, the suspended sediments of the upstream zone essentially consist of tooeleite associated with am-As(III)-Fe(III) oxy-hydroxides, while am-As(V)-Fe(III) oxy-hydroxides, having As:Fe molar ratios as high as 0.6-0.8, dominate in the dry season. Comparing natural and bioassay samples revealed that the formation of As(III)-rich compounds in the wet season may be related to the metabolic activity of bacterial strains able to oxidize Fe(II) but not As(III). One of these strains, having an Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans genotype, has been isolated from the Carnoulès AMD. In contrast, the formation of As(V)-rich compounds in the dry season can be related to both biotic and abiotic oxidation of As(III) to As(V). Some Thiomonas strains isolated from the Carnoulès AMD were shown to be able to catalyze the oxidation of As(III) to As(V) in solution. Therefore, they can promote the formation of mixed As(V)-Fe(III) oxy-hydroxides, provided enough Fe(II) oxidizes. These results yield a better understanding of natural processes at this site and may help in designing efficient As-removal processes.     

Lead,cadmium, arsenic,mercury and copper levels in Chinese Yunnan Pu’er tea

The Yunnan region of China produces a distinctive variety of Pu’er tea, which is consequently labeled as a Chinese geographic indication product. In this study, the safety of Chinese Yunnan Pu’er tea with regard to heavy metal content was evaluated in 30 different brands of Pu’er tea, including 150 commercial samples. Metal levels in the Pu'er tea samples followed the order: copper (12–22?µg/g)?>?lead (0.26–3.2?µg/g)?>?arsenic (0.035–0.24?µg/g)?>?cadmium (0.0059–0.085?µg/g)?>?mercury (<0.010?µg/g). Mercury was not detected in 17 of the brands of Pu’er tea. Metal-to-metal correlation studies showed that there were no significant correlation between metal pairs. Based on current safety standards, the low levels of metals detected in these Pu’er tea samples mean they are safe for human consumption.     

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nnel system, labor system and the system of distribution, the state - owned enterprises begin to attach importance to the manpower management. The manpower resources have become the key competitive resources of enterprise. The thesis sets forth how to establish the concept of manpower foun     

Synthesis and structure–activity relationships and effects of phenylpropanoid amides of octopamine and dopamine on tyrosinase inhibition and antioxidation

Phenylpropanoid amides of octopamine (OA) 1a–1e and dopamine (DA) 2a–2e were synthesised and the structure–activity relationships (SARs) for antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibition activities were analysed. Among synthesised compounds, 2c, which contains two catechol moieties, exhibited the most DPPH radical-scavenging activity (EC₅₀ = 16.2 ± 2.4 μM), and 1d exhibited significant tyrosinase inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ = 5.3 ± 1.8 μM). Interestingly, with the same acid moiety, OA derivatives showed more inhibitory effect on tyrosinase than did compounds derived from DA, whereas DA derivatives were found to have higher antioxidant activity than compounds derived from OA. The relationship between their structures and their potencies, demonstrated in the current study, will be useful for the design of optimal agents.     

Extracts of edible and medicinal plants in inhibition of growth, adherence, and cytotoxin production of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli

Abstract: Campylobacter spp. is recognized as one of the most common cause of food‐borne bacterial gastroenteritis in humans. Campylobacter infection causes campylobacteriosis, which can range from asymptomatic to dysentery‐type illnesses with severe complications, such as Guillian‐Barre syndrome. Epidemiological studies have revealed that consumption of poultry products is an important risk factor of this disease. Adherence and cytotoxic activity of the bacteria to host mucosal surfaces have been proposed to be critical steps in pathogenesis. Innovative tools for controlling Campylobacter, such as natural products from plants, represent good alternatives for use in foods or as therapeutic agents. In this study, 28 edible or medicinal plants species were analyzed for their bactericidal effects on the growth of Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli. The extracts of Acacia farnesiana, Artemisia ludoviciana, Opuntia ficus‐indica, and Cynara scolymus were the most effective against these microorganisms at minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of 0.3, 0.5, 0.4, and 2.0 mg/mL, respectively. No effect on growth was detected with lower concentrations of extract (25%, 50%, or 75% of the MBC) added to the media. The effect of each extract (75% of the MBC) on adherence and cytotoxicity of C. jejuni and C. coli was evaluated in Vero cells. Adherence of Campylobacter to Vero cells was significantly affected by all the extracts. Cytotoxic activity of bacterial cultures was inhibited by A. farnesiana and A. ludoviciana. These plant extracts are potential candidates to be studied for controlling Campylobacter contamination in foods and the diseases associated with this microorganism. Practical Application: Innovative tools for controlling Campylobacter, such as natural products from plants, represent good alternatives for use in foods or as therapeutic agents. The extracts of Acacia farnesiana, Artemisia ludoviciana, Opuntia ficus‐indica, and Cynara scolymus were the most effective against these microorganisms. Adherence and cytotoxic activity of the bacteria to host mucosal surfaces which are critical steps in pathogenesis were decreased by these extracts. Our results point to these plants as potential candidates for the control of Campylobacter contamination in foods, the treatment of the diseases associated with this microorganism, and as feed supplements to reduce on‐farm prevalence of Campylobacter.     

Kinetics and equilibria of tea infusion—Part 6: The effects of salts and of pH on the concentrations and partition constants of theaflavins and caffeine in Kapchorua Pekoe fannings

The concentrations of theaflavins and of caffeine in sieved Kapchorua Pekoe Fannings (600–710 μm) have been determined at 80°C with a range of aqueous salt and buffer solutions of ionic strength 0·11 mol dm⁻³ and of pH 1·9 to 8·3. The caffeine concentration in the infusions and in the leaf, and its partition constant between swollen leaf and solution, was little affected by the presence of electrolytes or pH changes. The concentration of theaflavins in the infusions was not changed by the addition of salts but was considerably greater in acid media and also, temporarily, in borate buffers. The acid effect was corroborated by experiments with a Ceylon Broken Orange Pekoe blend. The most significant finding was that the concentration of theaflavins in the Kapchorua leaf rose markedly with falling pH while its partition constant decreased. These results show that hydrogen ions liberate extra theaflavin by breaking down the leaf structure and/or the bonding of some theaflavin within the leaf. The effect has significant commercial implications since the market price of tea leaf correlates with its theaflavin content.     

Can arsenic occurrence rates in bedrock aquifers be predicted?

A high percentage (31%) of groundwater samples from bedrock aquifers in the greater Augusta area, Maine was found to contain greater than 10 μg L(-1) of arsenic. Elevated arsenic concentrations are associated with bedrock geology, and more frequently observed in samples with high pH, low dissolved oxygen, and low nitrate. These associations were quantitatively compared by statistical analysis. Stepwise logistic regression models using bedrock geology and/or water chemistry parameters are developed and tested with external data sets to explore the feasibility of predicting groundwater arsenic occurrence rates (the percentages of arsenic concentrations higher than 10 μg L(-1)) in bedrock aquifers. Despite the under-prediction of high arsenic occurrence rates, models including groundwater geochemistry parameters predict arsenic occurrence rates better than those with bedrock geology only. Such simple models with very few parameters can be applied to obtain a preliminary arsenic risk assessment in bedrock aquifers at local to intermediate scales at other localities with similar geology.     

Extraction and chemical characterization of rye arabinoxylan and the effect of β-glucan on the mechanical and barrier properties of cast arabinoxylan films

Water-extractable hemicellulose (WEH) fractions, containing approximately 65% arabinoxylans (WE-AX) and 20% mixed-linkage β-glucans were isolated from rye bran. In addition, water-extractable mixed-linkage β-glucans (BG) were isolated from oat bran as a reference material. The β-glucan content of the rye hemicellulose isolate was reduced to less than 5% by a selective lichenase treatment. Rye hemicelluloses, WEH and WE-AX had arabinose-to-xylose ratios of 0.54 and 0.57 and weight-average molecular weights (M_w) of 270 000 and 232 000 g/mol respectively. The M_w of BG was higher at 386 000 g/mol. The material properties of films prepared from the rye hemicellulose isolate and WE-AX as such, or with varying amounts of added BG (20:80; 50:50; 80:20 ratios) were studied. Prior removal of β-glucan from the isolate decreased the tensile strength of the films significantly as well as the elongation at break. Addition of BG to the purified WE-AX resulted in an increase in the tensile strength and elongation at break of the films. In contrast, the presence of BG had no clear effect on the oxygen permeability of the films. Both pure rye WE-AX and pure BG films showed excellent oxygen barrier properties (between 0.9 and 1.0 cm³ μm/m² d kPa). However, the water vapor permeability increased with addition of increasing amounts of BG to WE-AX. To our knowledge, this is the first study on the effect of β-glucans on the material and permeability properties of arabinoxylan-based films.     

Antigenic response of whey proteins and genetic variants of β-lactoglobulin — the effect of proteolysis and processing

Limited enzymatic hydrolysis trials of WPC-80 and β-lactoglobulin AA, AB and BB were performed using specific enzymes (trypsin, Neutrase, Corolase PP, Corolase PS) in a pH-stat under controlled conditions. The hydrolysates of WPC-80 and β-lactoglobulin were fractionated into high and low molecular fractions. Residual antibody binding activity of the peptides was dependent on the degree of hydrolysis (DH 2-20), but also on the enzyme used. Heat treatment affected the solubility and thereby the antigenic response. Dialysis influenced the antibody binding activity of the peptides. Tryptic hydrolysis of β-lactoglobulin AA was slower than for β-lactoglobulin BB and AB. Antigenic responses of the hydrolysates and fractions were measured by SLOT-BLOT and ELISA. SLOT-BLOT, a rapid screening method, was not able to differentiate the hydrolysates. The ELISA, being a more sensitive method, differentiated between the genetic variants, but was more time consuming. The lowest antigenicity was observed in the 1000–5000 Da fraction and β-lactoglobulin AA showed the lowest response.     

A Review on the Fermentation of Foods and the Residues of Pesticides—Biotransformation of Pesticides and Effects on Fermentation and Food Quality

Residues of pesticides in food are influenced by processing such as fermentation. Reviewing the extensive literature showed that in most cases, this step leads to large reductions in original residue levels in the fermented food, with the formation of new pesticide by-products. The behavior of residues in fermentation can be rationalized in terms of the physical-chemical properties of the pesticide and the nature of the process. In addition, the presence of pesticides decrease the growth rate of fermentative microbiota (yeasts and bacterias), which provokes stuck and sluggish fermentations. These changes have in consequence repercussions on several aspects of food sensory quality (physical-chemical properties, polyphenolic content, and aromatic profile) of fermented food. The main aim of this review is to deal with all these topics to propose challenging needs in science-based quality management of pesticides residues in food.     

Effects of hyper-oxygenation and storage of Macabeo and Airén white wines on their phenolic and volatile composition

The effects of hyper-oxygenation and storage period of Macabeo and Airén white wines on color characteristics, phenolic, and volatile composition have been evaluated. Hyper-oxygenation treatment provoked a significant decrease in virtually all individual phenolic compounds in must, young wine, and one-year-aged wines, above all hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, flavonols, and the new GRP derivatives compounds (derived from 2-S-glutathionyl-caftaric acid or grape reaction product). Despite this fact, the contribution of the yellow color component (b*) of white wines derived from hyper-oxygenated musts was significantly higher in comparison with untreated ones, even after 1 year of bottle storage. On the other hand, the concentration of major volatile compounds and some alcohols (namely, C₆ alcohols, terpenes, and lactones) was higher in wines derived from hyper-oxygenated musts, but the hyper-oxygenation effect on volatile profile deeply depended on the grape variety. After 1 year of bottle storage, the significant differences were maintained and the content of some long-chain esters increased as a consequence of oxygen addition.     

Development of leno and lace and comparative analysis of their aesthetic characteristics北大核心CSCD

Leno and lace are two kinds of special fabrics respectively born in the East and the West. Although the origin and weaving method of the fabrics are different, they have many similarities and occupy an important position in the history of textile. Based on the historical documents analysis, one can find that the origin of both fabrics is related to mesh-shaped capture tools and their appearance is featured by perforated appearance. With the aesthetic style of elegance, elaboration and grace, both fabrics symbolize noble identity in the upper class. The aesthetic orientation of leno and lace are usually related to the female, and they are the media for the female to hide or express their right and desire. So, the paper expatiates on cultural connotation of leno and lace from their origin, aesthetic tendency and the female spirit they represent. © 2017 China Silk Association. All rights reserved.     

Bioscouring and bleaching process of cotton fabrics – an opportunity of saving water and energy

Bio-processing was accompanied by a significant lower demand of energy, water, chemicals, time and costs. This study attempted to introduce the bio-processes in the conventional scouring and bleaching with peracetic acid (PAA) of the cotton fabrics. The scouring with two types of pectinases, acting under acidic and alkaline conditions, respectively, was as efficient as the chemical process in terms of obtained adequate water absorbency of the fabrics. Bleaching with PAA can substitute bleaching with hydrogen peroxide when medium degree of whiteness is demanded. The bioscouring and bleaching with PAA processes cause no damage to fibres and this is one of the benefits of such processes. Wastewaters are not charged with harmful chemicals. The consumption of water and energy is the lowest at combined scouring/bleaching treatments. Consequently, at these processes arises the lowest amount of effluents and the produced wastewater is biodegradable.     

Identification and characterization of yak α-lactalbumin and β-lactoglobulin

α-Lactalbumin (α-LA) and β-lactoglobulin (β-LG) were isolated from yak milk and identified by mass spectrometry. The variant of α-LA (L8IIC8) in yak milk had 123 amino acids, and the sequence differed from α-LA from bovine milk. The amino acid at site 71 was Asn (N) in domestic yak milk, but Asp (D) in bovine and wild yak milk sequences. Yak β-LG had 2 variants, β-LG A (P02754) and β-LG E (L8J1Z0). Both domestic yak and wild yak milk contained β-LG E, but it was absent in bovine milk. The amino acid at site 158 of β-Lg E was Gly (G) in yak but Glu (E) in bovine. The yak α-LA and β-LG secondary structures were slightly different from those in bovine milk. The denaturation temperatures of yak α-LA and β-LG were 52.1°C and 80.9°C, respectively. This study provides insights relevant to food functionality, food safety control, and the biological properties of yak milk products.     

Comparative assessment of the global fate of α- and β-hexachlorocyclohexane before and after phase-out

Technical hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) was one of the most widely used pesticides during the 20th century. Although production and use were phased-out during the 1990s, two of its major components, α- and β-HCH, are still ubiquitous in the environment. Here, we have collected and analyzed data on concentrations of α- and β-HCH in the atmosphere and oceans, including spatial and temporal trends and seasonalities. We apply a global fate and transport model to both isomers over the period 1950 to 2050 to rationalize current levels and trends at remote locations with estimated emissions and to forecast into the near future. Our model results indicate that secondary emissions from soils and oceans are currently controlling the observed rates of decline in the atmosphere. β-HCH is declining more slowly than α-HCH due to its higher persistence, and we hypothesize that it will eventually become the predominant isomer of HCH in the environment. The model reproduces over 70% of measured concentrations of α-HCH in air and ocean water within factors of 3 and 5, respectively, and over 70% of measured concentrations of β-HCH within factors of 8 and 20, respectively. The model results are only weakly sensitive to climate change-induced trends in Arctic sea-ice cover and temperature.