Identification and characterization of potential autochthonous starter cultures from a Croatian "brand" product "Slavonski kulen"

The microbial population of a traditional Croatian fermented sausage "Slavonski kulen" was isolated, identified and subjected to technological and functional characterization in order to select potential autochthonous functional starter cultures. Dominant microflora were lactic acid bacteria (LAB), followed by staphylococci. Identification of isolated lactobacilli showed domination of Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Lactobacillus acidophilus while Staphylococcus xylosus and Staphylococcus warneri outnumbered the staphylococcal microbiota. Most of the isolated LAB and Staphylococcus species displayed good growth in the presence of 5% of NaCl and at 12, 18 and 22°C. All LAB and most of the staphylococci possess proteolytic activity and only Staphylococcus xylosus had lipolytic activity. All lactobacilli and staphylococci isolates produced significant concentrations of lactic acid (as determined by HPLC) and showed antimicrobial activity against pathogenic test microorganisms. Dominant LAB and Staphylococcus species displayed growth in the presence of 1% bile. Most of the staphylococci and all of lactobacilli showed sensitivity to all antibiotics tested.     

Predictive value of serum myeloperoxidase activity for thrombosis of arteriovenous fistulas

Myeloperoxidase is a proinflammatory protein that appears as a result of increased oxidative stress. It plays an important role in the promotion and progression of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to determine the importance of MPO as a predictive parameter for thrombosis of arteriovenous fistula (AVF). The study involved monitoring patients with AVFs for hemodialysis over a period of 2 years. There were 41 patients, 19 (46%) men and 22 (54%) women, with mean age of 65 ± 12.7 years. Routine laboratory analyses were carried out in all respondents, including determination of MPO concentration. Gender, demographic and anthropometrical characteristics, smoking, alcohol consumption, as well as the presence of diabetic nephropathy, as an etiological factor of kidney disease, were recorded. The group of patients who developed initial thrombosis of the AVFs had significantly different values for leukocytes (8.5 ± 3.8 vs. 7.3 ± 2.1, P = 0.024), erythrocytes (2.8 ± 0.27 vs. 3.2 ± 0.65; P = 0.019), hemoglobin (88.5 ± 81 vs. 99.1 ± 6.02; P = 0.041), and myeloperoxidase (19.3 ± 4.67 vs. 11.1 ± 4.43; P = 0.007) when compared with the group without fistula thrombosis. Diabetic nephropathy (P = 0.02) characterized the group of patients with thrombosis of the fistula. Diabetic nephropathy (B = 2.53, P = 0.049) and MPO (B = 0.03, P = 0.029) were statistically significant predictors of fistula thrombosis. In our study, MPO and diabetic nephropathy were predictors of thrombosis of the AVF.     

Satureja horvatii essential oil: In vitro antimicrobial and antiradical properties and in situ control of Listeria monocytogenes in pork meat

The dominant compounds in Satureja horvatii oil were p-cymene (33.14%), thymol (26.11%) and thymol methyl ether (15.08%). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) varied from 0.03 to 0.57 mg/mL for bacteria, and from 0.56 to 2.23 mg/mL for yeast strains, while minimum bactericidal/yeast-cidal concentration (MBC/MYC) varied from 0.07 to 1.15 mg/mL and 1.11 to 5.57 mg/mL for bacteria and yeasts, respectively. The antiradical potential of the essential oil was evaluated using hydroxyl radical (•OH) generated in Fenton reaction. The meat preserving potential of essential oil from Satureja horvatii was investigated against L. monocytogenes. Essential oil successfully inhibited development of L. monocytogenes in pork meat. Sensorial evaluation on flavor and color of meat was performed. The color and flavor of meat treated with essential oil improved after 4 days of storage. S. horvatii essential oil can act as a potent inhibitor of food spoiling microorganisms, in meat products and also can be a useful source of natural antioxidants.     

Extraordinary Adaptive Plasticity of Colorado Potato Beetle: “Ten-Striped Spearman” in the Era of Biotechnological Warfare

Expanding from remote areas of Mexico to a worldwide scale, the ten-striped insect, the Colorado potato beetle (CPB, Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say), has risen from being an innocuous beetle to a prominent global pest. A diverse life cycle, phenotypic plasticity, adaptation to adverse conditions, and capability to detoxify or tolerate toxins make this insect appear to be virtually “indestructible”. With increasing advances in molecular biology, tools of biotechnological warfare were deployed to combat CPB. In the last three decades, genetically modified potato has created a new challenge for the beetle. After reviewing hundreds of scientific papers dealing with CPB control, it became clear that even biotechnological means of control, if used alone, would not defeat the Colorado potato beetle. This control measure once again appears to be provoking the potato beetle to exhibit its remarkable adaptability. Nonetheless, the potential for adaptation to these techniques has increased our knowledge of this pest and thus opened possibilities for devising more sustainable CPB management programs.     

Fumonisin B1 and its co-occurrence with other fusariotoxins in naturally-contaminated wheat grain

The natural occurrence of fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) and its co-occurrence with zearalenone (ZEA), T-2 toxin and deoxynivalenol (DON) were surveyed in 103 winter wheat samples collected after four to six-month storage in family barns from different locations in Serbia. All 103 samples were mycotoxin positive. The mean concentrations of all mycotoxins except ZEA were greater in 2005 than in 2007. FB₁ was detected in 82.1% and 92.0% of all samples with ranges of 750-5400 μg kg⁻¹ (mean, 2079.45 μg kg⁻¹) and 750-4900 μg kg⁻¹ (mean 918.76 μg kg⁻¹) in 2005 and 2007, respectively. Moderate positive correlations were found between FB₁ and DON concentrations (r = 0.56 in 2005 and r = 0.54 in 2007) and between FB₁ and ZEA concentrations (r = 0.48 in 2005 and r = 0.60 in 2007), while a moderate negative correlation was detected between the production of FB₁ and T-2 toxin in 2007 (r = −0.33). This is the first report of FB₁ occurrence in naturally-contaminated wheat grain and its simultaneous occurrence with ZEA, DON and T-2 toxin in Serbia. Moreover, this is one of the rare reports presenting the occurrence of FB₁ on wheat in the world.     

Electrophysical properties of woven polymer mesh fabrics

The investigation was performed on three woven mesh fabrics made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide (PA) 6.6 monofilaments, and PA 6.6 with carbon filament (CF). The dielectric properties were examined as functions of frequency at room conditions and as functions of frequency and temperature under the vacuum. It was observed at lower frequency higher changes of dielectric permittivity for the sample with CFs at room conditions. For PET and PA 6.6, dielectric permittivity in the vacuum was steady and little lower; furthermore, dielectric spectra showed the existence of γ-, β-, and α-relaxations. The dc volume electrical resistivity was investigated in the function of relative humidity at room temperature for PA 6.6 and PA 6.6 with CF. For the sample with the CF, a decrease in the dc electrical resistivity of nine orders of magnitude in the direction with CF was registered as compared to the direction without a conductive filament. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48456.     

Extraction of Oil from Rosehip Seed: Kinetics,Thermodynamics, and Optimization

Rosehip (Rosa canina L.) oil (RSO) was recovered from waste rosehip seeds by cold pressing as well as maceration and Soxhlet extraction using n-hexane. The influence of the extraction temperature, the solvent-to-seed ratio (SSR), and the extraction time on RSO yield was examined for the maceration process. The extraction technique did not influence the fatty acid profile of the RSO. All process factors had a significant effect on the oil yield. The kinetics was described using the model involving instantaneous washing followed by diffusion. The RSO maceration was spontaneous, endothermic, and irreversible.