Sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of cashew nut in foods

The presence of undeclared cashew can pose a health risk to cashew-allergic consumers. The food industry has the responsibility to declare the presence of cashews on packaged foods even when trace residues are or might be present. The objective of this study was to develop a rapid, sensitive, and specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of cashew residues. Raw and roasted cashews were defatted and used separately to immunize sheep, goats, and rabbits. The cashew ELISA was developed using sheep and rabbit polyclonal anti-roasted cashew sera as capture and detector reagents, respectively, with visualization through an alkaline phosphatase-mediated substrate reaction. The cashew ELISA was shown to have a limit of quantification of 1 ppm (1 μg cashew/g). The ELISA was highly specific except that substantial cross-reactivity was noted with pistachio and a lesser degree of cross-reactivity was noted with hazelnut. The performance of the ELISA was assessed by manufacturing cookies, ice cream, and milk chocolate with added known amounts (0 to 1000 ppm) of cashew. The mean percent recoveries for ice cream, cookies, and milk chocolate were 118%± 2.9%, 84.3%± 4.0%, and 104%± 3.0%, respectively. In a limited retail survey, 4/5 retail samples with cashew declared on ingredient labels tested positive for cashew compared to 5/36 samples of foods with precautionary labels indicating the possible presence of one or more tree nuts and 0/18 samples without cashew declared on the label in any manner. The cashew ELISA can be used to detect undeclared cashew residue in foods and as a potential tool for the food industry to assess the effectiveness of allergen control strategies and to guarantee compliance with food labeling regulatory requirements.     

Effect of government actions on technological innovation for SO2 control

The relationship between government actions and innovation in environmental control technology is important for the design of cost-effective policies to achieve environmental goals. This paper examines such relationships for the case of sulfur dioxide control technology for U.S. coal-fired power plants. The study employs several complementary research methods, including analyses of key government actions, technology patenting activity, technology performance and cost trends, knowledge transfer activities, and expert elicitations. Our results indicate that government regulation appears to be a greater stimulus to inventive activity than government-sponsored research support alone, and that the anticipation of regulation also spurs inventive activity. Regulatory stringency focuses this activity along particular technical pathways and is a key factor in creating markets for environmental technologies. We also find that with greater technology adoption, both new and existing systems experience notable efficiency improvements and capital cost reductions. The important role of government in fostering knowledge transfer via technical conferences and other measures is also seen as an important factor in promoting environmental technology innovation.     

A sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of almonds in foods

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed to detect almonds as potential allergenic contaminants in food. Polyclonal antibodies directed against roasted almonds were partially purified from immunized sheep and rabbits and used as capture and secondary antibodies, respectively, in a sandwich-type, 96-well plate format. Food samples and almond-spiked samples were extracted 1:10 in phosphate-buffered saline at 60 degrees C for 2 h, centrifuged, and applied to wells coated with sheep anti-almond antibody. After incubation, washing, and the addition of rabbit anti-almond antibody, the amount of almond present was detected with the subsequent addition of goat anti-rabbit immunoglobulin G-alkaline phosphatase conjugate and p-nitrophenyl phosphate substrate. Plate absorbances were read at 410 nm, and standard curves were developed in all matrices to quantify unknowns. Antibodies developed were specific for almond; however, some cross-reactivity was observed with extracts of some tree nuts and sesame seeds. Sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western immunoblotting indicated that sheep anti-almond antibody recognized proteins extracted from black walnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pistachios, and sesame seeds in addition to those from almond. The assay was optimized to detect less than 1 ppm of almond and was used successfully to determine almond residues in cereal and chocolate without cross-reacting interferences. A retail survey of 20 brands of cereal demonstrated that the assay produced statistically consistent results. This assay provides a useful quality control tool for the food industry for the protection of consumers allergic to almonds.     

Production of cis-1,2-dihydroxy-3-methylcyclohexa-3,5-diene (toluene cis glycol) by Rhodococcus sp. MA 7249

An attractive method for producing cis-1,2-dihydroxy-3-methylcyclohexa-3,5-diene (toluene cis glycol) was developed employing a cis dihydrodiol dehydrogenase "deficient" strain of Rhodococcus (MA 7249). The toluene cis glycol produced was found to have optical rotations of [alpha]D25 = +25.8 (c 0.45, CH3OH) and +72.8 (c 0.42, CHCl3) which indicated an absolute configuration of (1S,2R) when compared with previously published values. When cultivated in laboratory fermentor in the presence of toluene vapors, MA 7249 reached a toluene cis glycol concentration up to 18 g/l in 110 h. Culture MA 7249 also accumulated cis (1S,2R) dihydrodiols from dihydronaphthalene, biphenyl, chlorobenzene, and styrene.     

Effect of food matrix and cell growth on PCR-based detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in ground beef

The purpose of this work was (i) to investigate the feasibility of a previously reported upstream processing method for PCR template preparation to facilitate the detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from ground beef and (ii) to assess the impact of cell growth (no growth in the matrix versus growth in the matrix) on molecular detection limits. Two food matrices (autoclaved and raw ground beef) were evaluated in all studies. For no-growth experiments, 10-g meat samples were inoculated with 10(2) to 10(7) CFU/g E. coli O157:H7 and then homogenized. The homogenates were processed to remove large particulates and inhibitors using a two-phase upstream processing method consisting of two sequential centrifugation steps, the second of which used titanous hydroxide to facilitate bacterial immobilization. After upstream processing, sample concentrates were extracted for DNA isolation and amplified by PCR. For growth experiments, 10-g meat samples were inoculated at 1 CFU of E. coli O157:H7 per gram, allowed to grow to 10(2) to 10(7) CFU/g, and then processed for PCR assay. Cell recoveries after upstream processing ranged from 15.9 to 77.6% and were not facilitated by the use of titanous hydroxide, as compared with a saline control (P > 0.05). Bacterial cell recovery and PCR detection limits were similar when comparing autoclaved ground beef and raw ground beef, but cell recoveries were highly variable for raw ground beef samples in which E. coli O157:H7 cells were allowed to grow before processing for detection. Overall, PCR detection limits approximated 10(3) CFU/g of ground beef for all treatments. These results indicate that use of model food systems may not always provide an accurate replication of real-world conditions when evaluating PCR detection limits.     

Dissemination of an effective inpatient tobacco use cessation program.

The present study aimed to determine whether tobacco use cessation rates observed in controlled trials of a hospital-based tobacco use cessation program could be replicated when the program was disseminated to a wide range of hospitals in a two-stage process including implementation and institutionalization phases. Using a nonrandomized, observational design, we recruited six hospitals to participate in the study. The research team helped implement the program during the first year of participation (implementation) and then withdrew from active involvement during the second year (institutionalization). The mean 6-month self-reported cessation rates were 26.3% (range = 17.6%-52.8%) for the implementation phase and 22.7% (range = 12.9%-48.2%) for the institutionalization phase. Hospitals with paid professionals providing the program had the best outcomes. Inpatient tobacco use cessation programs are feasible to implement and should target a 6-month self-reported cessation rate of at least 25%.     

The potential for bicultural communication in a dyadic situation.

Studied cross-cultural communication with Canadian university students who identified themselves as French-speaking or English-speaking. Ss were divided into 36 French-English pairs (18 of which were tested in a French setting and 18 in an English setting) and 36 same-ethnic pairs. The pairs performed an experimental task under 1 of 3 instructional sets in which Ss were forced to communicate, communication was optional, or no communication set was provided. Each condition was followed by an unstructured period where Ss were free to communicate. Following the communication task, Ss completed a questionnaire which assessed their attitudes about communicating with their partner. Results were analyzed in terms of patterns of communication, content of communication, and languages used for communication. Findings suggest that effective cross-cultural communication is possible and that, at least in a dyadic situation, members of 2 ethnic groups are motivated to communicate. (French summary) (21 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Variations in the leaf standard,chemical composition and quality of black tea (Camellia sinensis) due to plucking intervals

Green leaf standard, chemical composition and quality of black tea (Camellia sinensis (L) O Kuntze) change with plucking intervals. Long plucking intervals lead to poor leaf standard with a lot of mature leaves and lower theaflavins, the sum of volatile flavour compounds imparting a sweet flowery aroma (group II volatile flavour compounds), caffeine contents and tasters' evaluations of black tea. The sum of volatile flavour compounds imparting inferior, grassy, green flavour (group I volatile flavour compounds) to tea, however, increases with long plucking intervals.