Estrogenic activity and steroid hormones in swine wastewater through a lagoon constructed-wetland system

Anaerobic lagoons and treatment wetlands are used worldwide to treat wastewater from dense livestock production facilities; however, there is very limited data on the hormonal activity of the wastewater effluent produced by these treatment systems. The objectives of this experiment were to measure (1) the hormonal activity of the initial effluent and (2) the effectiveness of a lagoon-constructed wetland treatment system for producing an effluent with a low hormonal activity. Wastewater samples were taken in April, July, and November 2004 and July 2005 from a lagoon-constructed wetland system at a swine farrowing facility. Estrogenic activity (in vitro E-screen assay), 17 beta-estradiol (E2), and testosterone concentrations (LC/MS-MS) were measured. A high correlation was found between estradiol equivalents determined by E-screen and LC/MS-MS (R2 = 0.82). Nutrient removal was measured to ensure that the wetlands were functioning in a manner similar to literature reports. Nutrient removals were typical for treatment wetlands: TKN 59-75% and orthophosphate 0-18%. Wetlands decreased estrogenic activity by 83-93%. Estrone was the most persistent estrogenic compound. Constructed wetlands produced effluents with estrogenic activity below the lowest equivalent E2 concentration known to have an effect on fish (10 ng/L or approximately 37 x 10(-12) M).     

A novel method to study fluorescein staining of the ocular surface using the fluorescein angiogram setting of the fundus camera.

We present a case of a failed penetrating keratoplasty (PKP), comparing the fluorescein staining of the cornea with the conventional technique, and the new technique using the fluorescein filters of a standard fundus camera.     

Real-time PCR detection of the thermostable direct hemolysin and thermolabile hemolysin genes in a Vibrio parahaemolyticus cultured from mussels and mussel homogenate associated with a foodborne outbreak

Molecular methods have become vital epidemiological tools in the detection and characterization of bacteria associated with a foodborne outbreak. We used both culture and real-time PCR to detect a Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolate associated with a foodborne outbreak. The outbreak occurred in July 2002 in Polk County, Florida, and originated at a Chinese buffet, with one person being hospitalized. The hospital isolated V. parahaemolyticus from the patient but destroyed the sample after diagnosis. From an onsite visit of the restaurant, food samples that possibly contributed to the outbreak were collected and sent to the Florida Department of Health, Tampa Branch Laboratory. Crab legs, crabsticks, and mussel samples were homogenized and incubated according to the Food and Drug Administration Bacteriological Analytical Manual culture protocol. Three sets of primers and a TaqMan probe were designed to target the tdh, trh, and tlh genes and used for real-time PCR. This study was successful in isolating V. parahaemolyticus from a mussel sample and detecting two of its genes (tdh and tlh) in food and pure culture by real-time PCR.     

Roast effects on the hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidant capacities of peanut flours,blanched peanut seed and peanut skins

Hydrophilic and lipophilic oxygen radical antioxidant capacity (H&L-ORAC) of peanut flours, blanched peanut seed, and peanut skins were characterised across a range of roast intensities. H-ORAC ranged from 5910 to 7990, 3040 to 3700 and 152,290 to 209,710 μmoles Trolox/100 g for the flours, seed, and skins, respectively. H-ORAC increased linearly with darker seed colour after roasting at 166 °C from 0 to 77 min, whereas skin H-ORAC peaked after roasting for 7 min. Linear correlations with H-ORAC and total phenolic content were observed. Additionally, completely defatted peanut seed were solubilised (5% w/w) in water and H-ORAC measured. For these samples, H-ORAC decreased with roast intensity which correlated with soluble protein. L-ORAC ranged from 620 to 1120, 150 to 730 and 2150 to 6320 μmoles Trolox/100 g for peanut flours, seed, and skins, respectively. L-ORAC increased linearly with both darker seed colour and skin colour across the 77 min range. L-ORACs of roasted peanuts and ingredients are discussed in terms of tocopherol contents and Maillard reaction products.     

酶解麦麸制备阿魏酸低聚糖的研究

采用木聚糖酶水解麦麸制备阿魏酸低聚糖,以阿魏酸低聚糖的量为指标,研究了酶解温度、pH值、酶浓度、底物浓度、作用时间五个因素对酶解效果的影响.并在此基础上,通过中心组合试验确定最佳酶解条件.最终的优化条件是木聚糖酶浓度3%,底物浓度80 g/L,作用时间12 h,此条件下阿魏酸低聚糖提取量为0.831×10-5 moL/g麦麸.     

Effect of sodium citrate plus sodium diacetate or buffered vinegar on quality attributes of enhanced beef top sirloins

As new pathogen intervention products come to market, it is important to ensure that they maintain or improve meat quality. Shelf-life and palatability traits were measured for top sirloins enhanced to 110% with solutions containing 0.5% sodium chloride and 0.4% sodium tripolyphosphate (CNT); CNT with a 1% solution of 80% sodium citrate plus 20% sodium diacetate (SC+D); or CNT with 2% buffered vinegar (VIN) in the final product. Enhancement solution did not influence color over 7days of retail display, except VIN was subjectively more red than CNT and SC+D on d 7 and SC+D had less discoloration than CNT on d 7 (P<0.05). VIN was rated lower (P<0.05) than CNT for trained sensory tenderness and there was no difference in shear force between treatments. SC+D and VIN show promise for use in beef enhancement solutions, however, further sensory studies are warranted.     

Characterization and properties of metallic iron nanoparticles: spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and kinetics

There are reports that nano-sized zero-valent iron (Fe0) exhibits greater reactivity than micro-sized particles of Fe0, and it has been suggested that the higher reactivity of nano-Fe0 may impart advantages for groundwater remediation or other environmental applications. However, most of these reports are preliminary in that they leave a hostof potentiallysignificant(and often challenging) material or process variables either uncontrolled or unresolved. In an effort to better understand the reactivity of nano-Fe0, we have used a variety of complementary techniques to characterize two widely studied nano-Fe0 preparations: one synthesized by reduction of goethite with heat and H2 (Fe(H2)) and the other by reductive precipitation with borohydride (Fe(BH)). Fe(H2) is a two-phase material consisting of 40 nm alpha-Fe0 (made up of crystals approximately the size of the particles) and Fe3O4 particles of similar size or larger containing reduced sulfur; whereas Fe(BH) is mostly 20-80 nm metallic Fe particles (aggregates of <1.5 nm grains) with an oxide shell/coating that is high in oxidized boron. The FeBH particles further aggregate into chains. Both materials exhibit corrosion potentials that are more negative than nano-sized Fe2O3, Fe3O4, micro-sized Fe0, or a solid Fe0 disk, which is consistent with their rapid reduction of oxygen, benzoquinone, and carbon tetrachloride. Benzoquinone-which presumably probes inner-sphere surface reactions-reacts more rapidly with FeBH than Fe(H2), whereas carbon tetrachloride reacts at similar rates with FeBH and Fe(H2), presumably by outer-sphere electron transfer. Both types of nano-Fe0 react more rapidlythan micro-sized Fe0 based on mass-normalized rate constants, but surface area-normalized rate constants do not show a significant nano-size effect. The distribution of products from reduction of carbon tetrachloride is more favorable with Fe(H2), which produces less chloroform than reaction with Fe(BH).