Brominated flame retardants in US food

We and others recently began studying brominated flame retardant levels in various matrices in the US including human milk and other food. This paper reviews the food studies. In our studies, ten to thirteen polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners were measured, usually including BDE 209. All US women's milk samples were contaminated with PBDEs from 6 to 419 ng/g, lipid, orders of magnitude higher than levels reported in European studies, and are the highest reported worldwide. We compared our market basket studies of meat, fish and dairy products with other US food studies of meat and fish. US studies showed somewhat higher levels of PBDEs than reported elsewhere. Fish were most highly contaminated (median 616 pg/g), then meat (median190 pg/g) and dairy products (median 32.2 pg/g). However, unlike some European countries where fish predominates, dietary intake of PBDEs in the US is mostly from meat, then fish and then dairy products. Broiling can decrease the amount of PBDEs per serving. We also measured levels of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), another brominated flame retardant, in human milk. The levels are lower than PBDEs, 0.16-1.2 ng/g, similar to European levels, unlike PBDEs where US levels are much higher than European levels.     

Comparison of electrothermal and hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry for the determination of total arsenic in broiler chicken

The purpose of this study was to estimate total arsenic concentration in different tissues (leg, breast, liver and heart) of broiler chicken by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (HGAAS) and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS), prior to microwave assisted acid digestion. The accuracy of the techniques was evaluated by using certified reference material DORM-2. The percentage recoveries of total As were observed as 100.6% and 99.4% for HGAAS and GFAAS, respectively. The precision of the techniques, expressed as relative standard deviation, was observed as 1.71% and 4.18% for HGAAS and GFAAS measurements, respectively. The limits of detection for HGAAS and GFAAS were 0.025 μg/g and 0.052 μg/g, respectively. The concentrations of total arsenic in different tissues of broiler chicken were found in the range of 2.19–5.28, 2.15–5.22, 2.97–7.17 and 2.68–6.36 μg/g for leg, breast, liver and heart tissues, respectively. At a mean level of chicken consumption (60 g/person/day), people may ingest in the range of 72.0–85.1 μg arsenic/person/day from chicken alone.     

Varietal Differentiation of Grape Juice Based on the Analysis of Near- and Mid-infrared Spectral Data

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of visible (VIS), near-infrared reflectance (NIR) and mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy combined with pattern recognition methods as tools to differentiate grape juice samples from commercial Australian Chardonnay (n = 121) and Riesling (n = 91) varieties. Principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares discriminant analysis and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) were applied to classified grape juice samples according to variety based on both NIR and MIR spectra using full cross-validation (leave-one-out) as a validation method. Overall, LDA models correctly classify 86% and 80% of the grape juice samples according to variety using MIR and VIS-NIR, respectively. The results from this study demonstrated that spectral differences exist between the juice samples from different varietal origins and confirmed that the infrared (IR) spectrum contains information able to discriminate among samples. Furthermore, analysis and interpretation of the eigenvectors from the PCA models developed verified that the IR spectrum of the grape juice has enough information to allow the prediction of the variety. These results also suggested that IR spectroscopy coupled with pattern recognition methods holds the necessary information for a successful classification of juice samples of different varieties.     

Effect of liquid flavor supplementation of the diet on dairy cows in the transition period

A 9-wk trial was conducted to study the performance of 24 Holstein cows during the transition period (3 wk prepartum to 6 wk postpartum). Cows were assigned to either a control or liquid-flavored (0.52 mL/kg of feed) total mixed ration in a randomized complete block design. The diets contained corn silage, alfalfa haylage, cottonseed, and a grain mix based on ground corn and soybean meal. Cows were fed to ensure 10% orts, and the diet provided (on a dry matter basis) 13% crude protein, 32% acid detergent fiber, 44% neutral detergent fiber, and 1.54 Mcal/kg of NEL prepartum and 17.5% crude protein, 30% acid detergent fiber, 40% neutral detergent fiber, and 1.57 Mcal/kg of NEL postpartum. An additional 2.3 kg of alfalfa hay was fed during the first 5 d postpartum. Weekly means of dry matter intake (DMI), milk yield, milk protein, milk fat, SNF, somatic cell counts, and body weight (BW) were analyzed using a repeated measures procedure. There was no effect of treatment on these variables, and least squares means were 16.9 and 15.7 kg/d for DMI, 38 and 35.3 kg/d for milk yield, 3.10 and 3.11% for milk protein, 3.69 and 3.74% for milk fat, 8.37 and 8.16% for SNF, 1.99 x 10(5) and 4.33 x 10(5) for somatic cell count, and 631 and 651 kg for BW for cows fed control and flavored diets, respectively. Individual cow daily DMI data were fitted to an exponential model describing pre- and postpartum feed consumption [DMI = a - b x e(-c x t), where DMI was measured in kg, a = asymptotic DMI, b = potential fractional increase in DMI, c = fractional rate of increase in DMI, and t = days prior to calving or days in milk]. Fractional rates of increase in DMI were similar: 0.139 and 0.123/d for control and flavored diets, respectively. Data for both groups were separately analyzed using multiple regression with 3.5% fat-corrected milk as the dependent variable and BW and DMI as independent variables. More BW was mobilized per unit increase in 3.5% fat-corrected milk in cows fed the control than in cows fed the flavored diet. Cows fed the control diet tended to be in more negative energy balance during early lactation than cows fed the flavored diet. It was concluded that feeding flavor improved energy balance of cows in early lactation and may reduce the risk of health or reproductive problems.     

Flow and heat transfer of two immiscible fluids in double-layer optical fiber coating

The coatings of optical fibers are generally characterized by a multi-layer coating structure. In this work, the mathematical modeling of two immiscible non-Newtonian fluids for optical fiber coating inside a straight annular die is developed in the form of a nonlinear differential equation with nonhomogeneous boundary conditions. Two non-Newtonian fluids, namely power law and Phan-Thien–Tanner fluids, are used in the primary and secondary coating dies, respectively. An exact solution is obtained for velocity fields and temperature distributions for the primary and secondary coating resins. The thickness of coated fiber optics is also calculated for both layers. The effect of different emerging parameters on the solution is discussed and sketched.     

Effect of lactulose on biotransformation of isoflavone glycosides to aglycones in soymilk by lactobacilli

ABSTRACT:  Lactobacillus acidophilus 4461, L. acidophilus 4962, L. casei 290, and L. casei 2607 were used to hydrolyze isoflavone glycosides (IG) to biologically active forms—isoflavone aglycones (IA)—in soymilk (SM) prepared from soy protein isolate (SPI) and soymilk supplemented with 0.5% (w/v) of lactulose (SML). L. acidophilus 4461 utilized the highest level of lactulose (3.01 mg/mL) and L. acidophilus 4962 utilized the least (0.86 mg/mL) at 24 h of incubation. The pH values decreased to 4.00 to 5.00 in SML, while they remained relatively high (6.15 to 6.36) in SM. Supplementation with lactulose significantly ( P < 0.05) enhanced the viable counts of all the 4 Lactobacillus strains. At the end of incubation, the viable counts of Lactobacillus ranged from 8.08 to 8.25 log CFU/mL in SML compared to 6.99 to 7.11 log CFU/mL in SM. Supplementation with lactulose increased the biotransformation of IG to IA after 6 h of incubation. The presence of lactulose in the medium enhanced the biotransformation level of IG to IA by Lactobacillus up to 21.9%. The hydrolysis level of malonyl genistin and acetyl genistin in SML was much higher than in SM by all the 4 probiotic organisms. The biotransformation of IG to IA occurred rapidly during the 1st 12 h of incubation in both SML and SM. Among the 4 Lactobacillus strains, L. acidophilus 4461 biotransformed the highest level (88.8%) of IG to IA in SML compared to 68.2% in SM after 24 h of incubation.     

Changes in lipids and their contribution to the taste of migaki-nishin (dried herring fillet) during drying

This study was conducted to investigate the changes in lipids and their effect on the taste of migaki-nishin during drying. Lipid was extracted from herring fillets following different drying stages to measure the degree of lipid oxidation and changes in lipid composition, and fatty acid profile. Peroxide value, carbonyl value and acid value of the lipids were significantly increased (P < 0.05) during the drying period. Marked increase in free fatty acids, with decreases in triglyceride and phospholipid content were observed in proportion to drying time and this result suggested that hydrolysis was induced by lipases and phospholipases. The decreases in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), were observed in the total lipids and phospholipid fraction. In addition, significant increase in PUFAs especially DHA was found in the free fatty acid fraction. Sensory evaluation showed that an addition of DHA to mentsuyu significantly (P < 0.05) enhances the intensities of thickness, mouthfulness and continuity. These results suggest that during drying period lipid oxidation was not only occurred but also lipolysis predominantly released DHA, which might have a contribution to kokumi enhancement of migaki-nishin.     

Synthesis of Sulfur‐Based Biocompatible Nonionic Surfactants and Their Nano‐Vesicle Drug Delivery

Nonionic surfactants are capable of forming nano‐range vesicles upon self‐assembling in an aqueous medium. These vesicles are highly stable, low in toxicity, and cost‐effective. Owing to their ability to solubilize both hydrophilic and hydrophobic substances, they are of great interest for drug solubilization and delivery. This study describes the synthesis and characterization of two new nonionic surfactants and their screening for biocompatibility and drug loading potentials in nano‐scale niosomal vesicles. They were characterized through mass spectroscopy, ¹HNMR, and FT‐IR. Their critical micelle concentration (CMC) was investigated using UV–vis spectrophotometry. The biocompatibility study was carried out through blood hemolysis and in vitro cytotoxicity assays. The surfactants have very low CMC values, are highly hemo‐compatible, and were nontoxic when tested against a cell culture. They were able to form nano‐range niosomal vesicles with large variation in their size. Both new surfactants were able to encapsulate increased amounts of the drug, in this case clarithromycin. The chemical nature of the drug remained intact in the niosomal vesicles. The results suggest that these nonionic surfactants could be promising drug delivery vehicles.     

Estimation of the Kubelka—Munk scattering coefficient from single particle scattering parameters

Computer colour matching of paints is based on the determination of the Kubelka—Munk absorption (K) and scattering coefficients (S) of pigments. K and S are sensitive to particle size in the range of sizes employed in paint technology. The K—M theory does not provide any guidelines for the correction of the values of K and S with a change in particle size. On the other hand the Mie theory linear scattering coefficient can be calculated from a knowledge of size and refractive index of the pigment. A number of relations correlating the K—M scattering coefficient and the linear scattering coefficient have been proposed in the literature. Attempts are made to estimate the K—M scattering coefficient using a relation suggested by Mudgett and Richards and to make a comparison with experimental values. The Mie theory equations being complex, simplified equations applicable to pigment sizes for the calculation of Mie theory parameters are proposed. The viability of the simplified equations has been established by comparing the results with those obtained using the full Mie equations.The K—M scattering coefficient for titanium dioxide pigments has been determined from reflectance measurements. The particle size of titanium dioxide has been determined by a light scattering method. The K—M scattering coefficient calculated from the linear scattering coefficient obtained using the simplified expressions agrees with experimental results. This suggests a method for the correction of the values of K and S with changes in pigment particle size.