Effect of moisture on salmonella spp. heat resistance in cocoa and hazelnut shells

The heat resistance of food-poisoning outbreak and non-outbreak associated strains of Salmonella (S. Enteritidis, S. Montevideo, S. Napoli, S. Oranienburg, S. Poona, S. Senftenberg and S. Typhimurium) was established in confectionery-related materials such as crushed cocoa bean and hazelnut shells at low moisture contents (≤ 4% w/w). The two most heat resistant strains in cocoa and hazelnut shells at ca. 4% w/w moisture were S. Oranienburg and S. Enteritidis PT30. Both strains were associated with outbreaks from dried materials. Their D_100°C values were ca. 2.5 min in crushed cocoa bean shells and 7–11 min in crushed hazelnut shells. Addition of moisture to ca. 7% w/w markedly reduced D-values (D_80°C of 2–4.5 min) for both strains in the two matrices.     

Analysis of triclosan and 4n‐nonylphenol in Colombian reservoir water by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry

In this work were determined triclosan and 4n‐nonylphenol in water from a reservoir that is used to provide water to a purification plant in an important city in Colombia. The analytical methodology was validated using solid‐phase extraction and analysis by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). The analysis by GC‐MS showed good linearity in the range of 0.05–5 μg/L for both compounds. Recoveries from 79 to 109% and standard deviations of 2.5–7.7 for low concentrations and from 3.8 to 9.6 (n = 5) for high concentrations were obtained for both compounds. In Colombia, this is the first time that these compounds have been analysed in water supplying of a drinking water treatment plant. The validated method was applied to the analysis of 27 samples collected in August 2010 in 11 locations from the reservoir and in the influent and effluent of the drinking water treatment plant. In total, seven samples were found to contain triclosan.     

Spread or backwash: The impact on population dynamics and business performance of a new road in a rural county of Galicia (Spain)

The natural experiment provided by the opening of a section that completed the A8 motorway in Mariña de Lugo, a rural area in Galicia (Spain), offers an opportunity to identify whether spread or backwash effects in economic activity are observed. The new section directly affects only a small strip of the territory—where the transition from the inland rural areas to the more dynamic coastal area takes place. This allows us to test a separate dual inner-coastal socio-economic performance after the opening of the new road—an analysis that has rarely been performed for rural areas in developed countries. We study the impact over population growth, employment and business financial results, using the differences-in-differences approach. The results we obtain are consistent with the spread hypothesis for the nearest municipality to the new road section, while the spread effects did not disseminate to the neighbouring municipalities. These global results hide a different performance at the sector level, positive for transport and manufacturing companies, and negative for retail firms and hospitality.     

Role of Methyl Salicylate on Oviposition Deterrence in Arabidopsis thaliana

Plants attacked by herbivores have evolved different strategies that fend off their enemies. Insect eggs deposited on leaves have been shown to inhibit further oviposition through visual or chemical cues. In some plant species, the volatile methyl salicylate (MeSA) repels gravid insects but whether it plays the same role in the model species Arabidopsis thaliana is currently unknown. Here we showed that Pieris brassicae butterflies laid fewer eggs on Arabidopsis plants that were next to a MeSA dispenser or on plants with constitutively high MeSA emission than on control plants. Surprisingly, the MeSA biosynthesis mutant bsmt1-1 treated with egg extract was still repellent to butterflies when compared to untreated bsmt1-1. Moreover, the expression of BSMT1 was not enhanced by egg extract treatment but was induced by herbivory. Altogether, these results provide evidence that the deterring activity of eggs on gravid butterflies is independent of MeSA emission in Arabidopsis, and that MeSA might rather serve as a deterrent in plants challenged by feeding larvae.     

Melt processing of ethylene–vinyl acetate/banana starch/Cloisite 20A organoclay nanocomposite films: structural,thermal and composting behavior

This work shows the preparation of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer/banana starch/Cloisite 20A organoclay (EVA/starch/C20A) nanocomposites by melt processing. Wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis were used to characterize the obtained nanocomposites. Mechanical properties were also determined. In addition, the performance of the nanocomposite films under composting was preliminarily studied; it was conducted using the soil burial test method. Despite knowing that the starch is difficult to process by extrusion, nanocomposite films with high homogeneity were obtained. In this case, C20A organoclay acts as an effective surfactant to make the starch natural polymer compatible with the EVA synthetic polymer. The good compatibility between EVA, starch and C20A clay was also deduced by the formation of intercalated and intercalated-exfoliated structures determined by WAXD and FE-SEM. Physical evidence of the damage in EVA/starch/C20A nanocomposite films after the composting test was observed. It is worth noting that despite the absence of starch, the EVA/C20A nanocomposite film, used as a control, also showed surface damage. This behavior is related to the organic modifier linked to clay C20A, which contains molecules derived from fatty acids that can be used as a food source for microorganisms.

     

Carcass characteristics, fatty acid composition, and meat quality of Criollo Argentino and Braford steers raised on forage in a semi-tropical region of Argentina

The purpose of this study was to characterize and compare the carcass characteristics, cholesterol concentration, fatty acid composition of intramuscular fat and subcutaneous fat, and meat quality of Criollo Argentino and Braford steers reared in an extensive system, without supplementation, and slaughtered at approximately 400 kg live weight. The Braford steers had greater (P < 0.05) carcass weight, yield, conformation score, marbling degree, fat thickness and fatness score than Criollo Argentino steers. The tissue composition of the 10th rib was: 68.1% vs. 63.6% muscle, 23.9% vs. 20.4% bone and 8.2% vs. 16.3% fat for the Criollo Argentino and Braford breeds, respectively. The meat of Longissimus muscle from Braford steers was lighter, redder, yellower and more tender than that from Criollo Argentino steers. The meat of Longissimus muscle from Braford steers had a higher fat content, similar protein and ash contents and a lower (P ? 0.001) cholesterol concentration than that from Criollo Argentino steers.     

Mesophase features in isotactic poly(propylene‐co‐1‐heptene) copolymers

The influence of crystallization rate on the interesting polymorphism of random isotactic poly(propylene‐co‐1‐heptene) copolymers was studied, with particular attention to the conditions for obtaining the mesomorphic phase. Owing to the important decrease of cooling rate involved as the 1‐heptene content increases, the mesophase can be clearly observed by DSC for co‐unit contents above about 5 mol%. Furthermore, only the mesophase (or the amorphous phase) was found for the copolymer with 13.9 mol% 1‐heptene at common cooling rates of the calorimeter. Additionally, the copolymer with 21.4 mol% co‐units was found to be completely amorphous under any thermal treatment analyzed. Variable‐temperature diffraction experiments were carried out to ascertain unambiguously the nature of the phases involved. Finally, a remarkable transparency was attained (above 80% transmittance in the visible light region) at intermediate and high 1‐heptene contents, using easily accessible cooling rates. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry