Sources and variations of mercury in tuna

While the bulk of human exposure to mercury is through the consumption of marine fish, most of what we know about mercury methylation and bioaccumulation is from studies of freshwaters. We know little of where and how mercury is methylated in the open oceans, and there is currently a debate whether methylmercury concentrations in marine fish have increased along with global anthropogenic mercury emissions. Measurements of mercury concentrations in Yellowfin tuna caught off Hawaii in 1998 show no increase compared to measurements of the same species caught in the same area in 1971. On the basis of the known increase in the global emissions of mercury over the past century and of a simple model of mercury biogeochemistry in the Equatorial and Subtropical Pacific ocean, we calculate that the methylmercury concentration in these surface waters should have increased between 9 and 26% over this 27 years span if methylation occurred in the mixed layer or in the thermocline. Such an increase is statistically inconsistent with the constant mercury concentrations measured in tuna. We conclude tentatively that mercury methylation in the oceans occurs in deep waters or in sediments.     

Neutralization of acid in the rumen by magnesium oxide and magnesium carbonate

Two reagent and two feed grade magnesium oxides and reagent grade magnesium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, and calcium carbonate were evaluated to ascertain their ability to neutralize acid in the rumen. Rumen fluid pH was increased in vitro, compared to the control, by antacid compounds, and their increased ranked: calcium carbonate less than feed grade magnesium oxide A less than light magnesium oxide and feed grade magnesium oxide B less than heavy magnesium oxide less than magnesium carbonate less than sodium bicarbonate. Titrations at constant pH's ranging from 3.0 to 7.5 indicated that these magnesium compounds were reactive at pH's normally in the rumen although reactivity decreased with increasing pH. Intraruminal doses of feed grade magnesium oxide A and calcium carbonate did not change rumen fluid pH for other compounds ranked: feed grade magnesium oxide B less than magnesium carbonate less than heavy magnesium oxide. Feeding of heavy magnesium oxide or magnesium carbonate increased rumen fluid pH as compared to the control diet. Feeding feed grade magnesium oxide B in three quantities to cattle resulted in proportional increased in fecal pH and fluidity of feces. Two feed grade magnesium oxides differed in their ability to neutralize acid in the rumen.     

Characteristics of formed Atlantic salmon jerky

Abstract: Smoked salmon (Salmo salar L.) processing may generate large amounts of small pieces of trimmed flesh that has little economic value. Opportunities exist to develop new added‐value foods from this by‐product. Brining was compared with dry salting for the production of formed salmon jerky‐style strips that were then smoked. The formulations also contained brown sugar and potato starch. Salted samples had higher salt concentrations and required less force to break using a TA‐XT2 Texture Analyzer. Brined samples contained more fat and were darker, redder and more yellow than the salted samples. Processing concentrated omega‐3 fatty acids compared with raw salmon, and the brined jerky had the highest omega‐3 fatty acid content. A panel of 57 consumers liked the appearance and aroma of both samples equally (approximately 6.7 for appearance and 6.3 for aroma on the 9‐point hedonic scale. Higher acceptability scores for taste, texture, and overall quality were given to the brined product (6.7 to 6.9 against 6.2 to 6.3). Practical Application: Salmon trim from smoking facilities can be utilized to produce a jerky that is a good source of omega‐3 fatty acids, simultaneously adding value and reducing the waste stream.     

In situ assessment of biodegradation potential using biotraps amended with 13C-labeled benzene or toluene

Stable isotope fractionation analysis of an aquifer heavily contaminated with benzene (up to 850 mg L(-1)) and toluene (up to 50 mg L(-1)) at a former hydrogenation plant in Zeitz (Saxonia, Germany) has suggested that significant biodegradation of toluene was occurring. However, clear evidence of benzene biodegradation has been lacking at this site. Determining the fate of benzene is often a determining factor in regulatory approval of a risk-based management strategy. The objective of the work described here was the demonstration of a new tool that can be used to provide proof of biodegradation of benzene or other organics by indigenous microorganisms under actual aquifer conditions. Unique in situ biotraps containing Bio-Sep beads, amended with 13C-labeled or 12C nonlabeled benzene and toluene, were deployed at the Zeitz site for 32 days in an existing groundwater monitoring well and used to collect and enrich microbial biofilms. Lipid biomarkers or remaining substrate was extracted from the beads and analyzed by mass spectrometry and molecular methods. Isotopic analysis of the remaining amounts of 13C-labeled contaminants (about 15-18% of the initial loading) showed no alteration of the 12C/13C ratio during incubation. Therefore, no measurable exchange of labeled compounds in the beads by the nonlabeled compounds in the aquifer materials occurred. Isotopic ratio analysis of microbial lipid fatty acids (as methyl ester derivatives) from labeled benzene- and toluene-amended biotraps showed 13C enrichment in several fatty acids of up to delta (13C) 13400%o, clearly verifying benzene and toluene biodegradation and the transformation of the labeled carbon into biomass by indigenous organisms under aquifer conditions. Fatty acid profiles of total lipid fatty acids and the phospholipid fatty acid fraction and their isotopic composition showed significant differences between benzene- and toluene-amended biotraps, suggesting that different microbial communities were involved in the biodegradation of the two compounds.     

New potato fibre for improvement of texture and colour of wheat bread

The aim of this project was to compare the functional properties of five fibre fractions by baking of wheat bread by substitution 0, 4, 8 and 12 w/w% of wheat flour using dry potato pulp (Fibre 1), a commercial potato fibre (Fibre 2), two fibre prepared from potato pulp by enzymatic hydrolysis (Fibre 3 and 4), and one solubilised fibre (Fibre 5). The effect of chemical composition of fibre on texture, colour, specific weight and volume of wheat bread was studied using objective methods for measurement of texture characteristics, colour (L, a, b) and sensory analysis. Dry potato pulp, Potex (Fibre 2) and two enzymatically prepared fibre powders (Fibre 3 and 4) with a high concentration of lignin and insoluble non-starch polysaccharides (INCP) had a detrimental effect on bread quality by substitution of more than 8% of the wheat flour by fibre. The detrimental effect was mainly due to increased hardness, deformation energy, modulus and gumminess. Multiple linear regression analysis with forward selection was used for determination of the relationship between quality characteristics and of soluble non-starch polysaccharides (SNSP), insoluble non-starch polysaccharides (INCP), cellulose and lignin. The enzymatic solubilised fibre (Fibre 5) with a high concentration of soluble fibre and a low concentration of cellulose and lignin could be used for substitution of at least 12% wheat flour for baking of bread with an attractive colour, delicious texture and flavour.     

The metabolism and analysis of isoflavones and other dietary polyphenols in foods and biological systems

Polyphenols in dietary and botanical matrices are usually present as simple and complex O-glycosides. In fermented dietary materials, the glycosidic moiety is removed and accompanied in some cases by more complex changes to the polyphenol. As for most xenobiotics, polyphenols undergo phase II conjugation in the intestinal wall during their absorption from the gut. In contrast, a few polyphenols, such as puerarin in the kudzu vine, are C-glycosides and are stable in the gut and during absorption, distribution and excretion. Large bowel bacteria reduce polyphenol aglycones, causing opening of the heterocyclic B-ring and ring cleavage. The products are mostly absorbed and enter the bloodstream. Phase I and II metabolism events occur in the intestine and the liver - most polyphenols predominantly circulate as β-glucuronides and sulfate esters with very little as the aglycones, the presumed active forms. In addition, metabolism can occur in non-hepatic tissues and cells including breast tumor cells that have variable amounts of cytochrome P450s, sulfatase and sulfotransferase activities. Inflammatory cells produce chemical oxidants (HOCl, HOBr, ONO(2)(-)) that will react with polyphenols. The isoflavones daidzein and genistein and the flavonol quercetin form mono- and dichlorinated products in reaction with HOCl. Genistein is converted to 3'-nitrogenistein in the lung tissue of lipopolysaccharide-treated rats. Whereas polyphenols that can be converted to quinones or epoxides react with glutathione (GSH) to form adducts, chlorinated isoflavones do not react with GSH; instead, they are converted to β-glucuronides and are excreted in bile. Analysis of polyphenols and their metabolites is routinely carried out with great sensitivity, specificity and quantification by LC-tandem mass spectrometry. Critical questions about the absorption and tissue uptake of complex polyphenols such as the proanthocyanins can be answered by labeling these polyphenols with (14)C-sucrose in plant cell culture and then purifying them for use in animal experiments. The (14)C signature is quantified using accelerator mass spectrometry, a technique capable of detecting one (14)C atom in 10(15) carbon atoms. This permits the study of the penetration of the polyphenols into the interstitial fluid, the fluid that is actually in contact with non-vascular cells.     

Pulsed light for the inactivation of fungal biofilms of clinically important pathogenic Candida species

Microorganisms are naturally found as biofilm communities more than planktonic free‐floating cells; however, planktonic culture remains the current model for microbiological studies, such as disinfection techniques. The presence of fungal biofilms in the clinical setting has a negative impact on patient mortality, as Candida biofilms have proved to be resistant to biocides in numerous in vitro studies; however, there is limited information on the effect of pulsed light on sessile communities. Here we report on the use of pulsed UV light for the effective inactivation of clinically relevant Candida species. Fungal biofilms were grown by use of a CDC reactor on clinically relevant surfaces. Following a maximal 72 h formation period, the densely populated biofilms were exposed to pulsed light at varying fluences to determine biofilm sensitivity to pulsed‐light inactivation. The results were then compared to planktonic cell inactivation. High levels of inactivation of C. albicans and C. parapsilosis biofilms were achieved with pulsed light for both 48 and 72 h biofilm structures. The findings suggest that pulsed light has the potential to provide a means of surface decontamination, subsequently reducing the risk of infection to patients. The research described herein deals with an important aspect of disease prevention and public health.     

Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella recovered from processed poultry

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella isolates recovered from processed poultry. Four hundred eighty pre- and postchill whole broiler chicken carcasses were collected from a poultry processing plant between July 2004 and June 2005. Water samples also were collected at the entrance and exit of the chiller. After preenrichment, carcass and water samples were analyzed for the presence of Salmonella using the automated BAX system followed by traditional culture methods. The proportions of pre- and postchill carcasses that were positive for Salmonella were 88.4 and 84.1%, respectively. Ninety-two percent of water samples collected at the entrance of the chiller were positive for Salmonella, but all exit samples were negative. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of Salmonella between pre- and postchill carcasses (P > 0.05). Salmonella isolates recovered were serotyped and tested for susceptibility to antimicrobials. Thirteen serotypes were identified; the most common were Salmonella Kentucky (59.5%) and Salmonella Typhimurium (17.8%). Three hundred thirty-nine (79.8%) of the isolates were resistant to at least one antimicrobial, and 53.4% were resistant to three or more antimicrobials. Resistance was most often observed to tetracycline (73.4% of isolates), ampicillin (52.9%), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (52%), ceftiofur (51.7%), streptomycin (35.2%), and sulfisoxazole (21.8%). These results indicate the high prevalence of Salmonella contamination in whole broiler carcasses, and a large number of these Salmonella isolates were resistant to commonly used antimicrobials.     

Effect of inoculation of Carnobacterium divergens V41, a bio-preservative strain against Listeria monocytogenes risk, on the microbiological, chemical and sensory quality of cold-smoked salmon

The aim of this study was to develop a bio-preservation strategy for cold-smoked salmon (CSS) by the use of lactic acid bacteria previously selected for their capability to inhibit the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in the product. The spoiling potential of three Carnobacterium strains (Carnobacterium divergens V41, Carnobacterium piscicola V1 and SF668) was tested in sterile CSS blocks inoculated by 10(4-5) CFU g(-)(1) and stored under vacuum for 9 days at 4 degrees C followed by 19 days at 8 degrees C. C. divergens V41 grew a little faster than the other strains and none of the three carnobacteria showed any adverse effect on quality of the product, i.e. no off-odour detected by a trained panel, no total volatile basic nitrogen (TVBN) production, no acidification and no biogenic amine except a slight production of tyramine. An application on commercial CSS was tested by spraying C. divergens V41 (10(4-5) CFU g(-1)) on slices of four batches freshly processed in different smoke-houses. Microbial, chemical and sensory characteristics were weekly compared to a control during 4 weeks of vacuum storage. When the natural microflora was initially weak (two batches<20 CFU g(-1)), C. divergens V41 quickly reached 10(7-8) CFU g(-1) and a slight inhibition of endogenous Enterobacteriaceae, lactobacilli and yeasts was observed. The presence of C. divergens V41 was slightly detected (odour and flavour) but none of the sample was considered as spoiled by the sensory panel. When the natural microflora was initially high (2 batches>10(4-5) CFU g(-1)), no effect on the microflora, TVBN and biogenic amine production, nor on the sensory characteristics was observed in presence of C. divergens V41. In conclusion, bio-preservation of CSS using lactic acid bacteria such as C. divergens V41 is a promising way to inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria such as L. monocytogenes with low effect on the quality of the product.