Modulation of the antioxidant/pro-oxidant balance,cytotoxicity and antiviral actions of grape seed extracts

Grape seed extracts (GSEs) were investigated in yeast cells harbouring defects in their antioxidant system (regarding the cellular growth and growth recovery from H₂O₂ insult). GSEs antioxidant activity was detected in wild-type and mutant strains Δcta1, Δgsh1 and Δoye2glr1, while pro-oxidant activity in Δsod1 cells was seen. Assessment of proliferation of prostate cancer PC3 and HBV-replicating HepG2 2.2.15 cells treated with GSEs has shown higher cytotoxicity of red grape seed extract (RW) than white grape seed extract (WW) subjective to dose and period of administration. No antiviral effect was detected by measuring the secreted virion particles in HepG2 2.2.15 cells treated with GSEs. The GSEs play a dual antioxidant/pro-oxidant role in vivo according with the cellular antioxidant system deficiencies and exhibit cytotoxic properties in PC3 and HepG2 2.2.15 cell lines, but no antiviral action against HBV.     

A study of the drafting force in roller drafting and its influence on sliver irregularity

Drafting force is the direct and intuitive factor resulting in fiber motion in a drafting zone. Utilizing data collected from an ITT Draftometer, this paper discusses the effect of draft ratio and ratch in both the break and the main draft zones on drafting force and the coefficient of variation (CV) of drafting force, and how these in turn affect sliver and yarn irregularity. It is shown that: the draft settings in the break draft zone have a significant effect on the drafting force; the break draft ratio shows distinct relationship with sliver irregularity; the ratch in the main drafting zone has considerable influence on drafting force; and in the experiments reported the drafting force does not directly relate to final yarn irregularity.     

Partial biochemical characterization of tetrazolium red‐reactive Lactobacillus plantarum mutants

One thousand colonies derived from Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 8014 cells that survived 34–43 × 10³ ergs cm^‐2 ultraviolet irradiation were screened on media containing tetrazolium red to detect fermentative mutants. Fermentation end‐products formed from pyruvate, glucose, or lactose catabolism were determined. All 37 stable tetrazolium red‐reactive mutants had increased pyruvate utilization compared to the wild‐type strain. Only two did not produce lactate from exogenous pyruvate. When glucose or lactose were substrates, these two mutants and six other representative mutants produced lactate at levels similar to the parent strain. Although the average lactate and acetoin production from pyruvate by the mutants and wild‐type strains were similar, 25% of the mutants had increased acetoin production.     

European Food Poisoning Outbreaks Involving Meat and Meat-based Products

Foodborne illnesses are syndromes including nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and diarrhea caused by the ingestion of food contaminated by chemical substances or microorganisms and/or their toxins. Reporting of food poisoning has been mandatory for European Union member states since 2003. Data collected by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) include number of outbreaks per causative agent, number of human cases as well as hospitalization and death rates. This paper will focus on meat products as food vehicles for FBOs. Following the legal definition of meat and meat products and the European reporting scheme, the main pathogenic bacteria will be presented.     

Contamination by moulds of grape berries in Slovakia

This paper describes the first map, albeit partial, of toxigenic fungi re-isolated from grape berries collected in three out of the six most important Slovakia winemaking areas in two different periods of the harvest year 2008. Low temperatures and high relative humidity during July 2008 favoured the development of grape fungal diseases that cause rots such as Plasmopara, Uncinula, Botrytis, Metasphaeria, Elsinoë, and Saccharomycetes. In the analysed samples, the following genera of toxigenic fungi were identified in the range of 1–4%: Aspergillus, Alternaria, Cladosporium, Epicoccum, Fusarium, Penicillium, Rhizopus, Ulocladium, and Trichoderma Trichothecium, while the genera Aspergillus, Alternaria, Fusarium, and Penicillium were in the range 11–29%. A. niger, A. carbonarius, some strains of A. carbonarius–with ‘crystals’ and strains of A. uvarum–uniseriate were identified; these species are considered ochratoxigenic (able to produce variable amounts of toxins). In addition, a non-ochratoxigenic strain of A. ibericus and a Fusarium strain able to biosynthesize small amount of fumonisins, beauvericin, and enniatins were identified. P. expansum, able to produce citrinin, represents 29.7%, of the Penicillium genus together with P. verrucosum, P. glabrum, P. citrinum, and P. crustosum. An analysis for the identification and quantification of the main toxins: ochratoxin A, fumonisins, beauvericin, enniatins, and fusaproliferin was performed on grape samples; it was consistent with the results of the mycological analysis. Toxigenic fungi should be checked throughout the years and their occurrence compared with all environmental factors to avoid health risks.     

Co-contamination of aflatoxin B1 and fumonisin B1 in food and human dietary exposure in three areas of China

Aflatoxins and fumonisins are ubiquitous foodborne toxicants and the co-occurrence of these mycotoxins in human foods represents a significant public health concern, which has been strongly associated with human aflatoxicosis, neural tube defects, as well as many types of primary cancers. In this study the co-contamination of aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) and fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) in food and human dietary exposure was investigated in residents of three different areas of China. A total of 209 food samples were measured for AFB₁ and FB₁. The median AFB₁ levels were 13.5, 2.3 and 1.3?µg?kg^?1 and the median FB₁ levels were 2.6, 0.4 and 0.3?mg?kg^?1 in corn samples collected from Huaian (a high-risk area for oesophageal cancer), Fusui (a high-risk area for liver cancer) and Huantai (a low-risk area for both oesophageal and liver cancers), respectively. The median level of AFB₁ in plant oil of Fusui was the highest (52.3?µg?kg^?1) among all food samples analysed. Co-contamination of these two mycotoxins was found in corn, rice and wheat flour. Based on measured food consumption data, the averaged daily dietary intake of AFB₁ was 0.397?µg (range?=?0.269–1.218?µg) in residents of Huantai, 1.723?µg (0.224–49.772?µg) in Huaian, and 2.685?µg (1.006–14.534?µg) in Fusui. The averaged FB₁ daily dietary intake was 92.4?µg (range?=?55.0–362.1?µg) for residents of Huantai, 460.0?µg (83.2–2894.5?µg) in Huaian, and 138.6?µg (30.0–10,541.6?µg) in Fusui. These data suggest that the co-exposure to AFB₁ and FB₁ in residents of rural China may contribute to the aetiology of human chronic diseases in high-risk areas.     

刍议《排放源统计调查产排污核算方法和系数手册》在实际应用中的几点问题及建议

以橡胶制品行业和塑料制造行业为例,分析了《排放源统计调查产排污核算方法和系数手册》在污染物产排量核算过程中存在的一些问题,并提出了几点建议.     

生活垃圾分类直运模式探究

随着社会的不断发展,人们的生活水平也在不断提升,而生活中产生的垃圾也越来越多,对垃圾的运输成为当前社会考虑的重要内容.在提倡垃圾分类过程中,生活垃圾的直运模式成为当前的一种新型垃圾收运模式,该模式具有成本低、环保等特点,能够更好地满足城市垃圾分类的需求.本文了解了转运模式的现状和问题,说明垃圾直运模式的意义,提出生活垃圾直运模式策略,为生活垃圾分类直运模式的发展提供参考.     

基于DSP2812的光伏MPPT控制系统

光伏电池的输出特性存在一个随外界环境变化而变化的最大功率点。为了能够最大限度地利用光伏转化出来的电能,必须进行最大功率点跟踪。采用DSP2812芯片用于最大功率点跟踪的主控制器并选择Boost拓扑作为主电路结构,介绍了采样电路和驱动电路等硬件电路的设计、软件与控制策略的设计。最终用实验验证了该控制系统能够快速稳定地跟踪光伏电池的最大功率点。     

茉莉酸甲酯对鲜切苹果生理生化变化的影响

为研究茉莉酸甲酯(MeJA)对鲜切苹果生理生化变化的影响,将1cm3的鲜切富士苹果分别放入100、400、1600μmol/L的茉莉酸甲酯溶液中浸泡30min,包装后放入5℃冷库中贮藏。每2d测定各类酶活性以及与成熟衰老相关的指标等的变化。结果表明,经茉莉酸甲酯处理后,鲜切苹果的APX活性降低,但LOX、PAL、CAT、PPO、POD活性增加,相对电导率和丙二醛含量降低,说明茉莉酸甲酯处理启动了鲜切富士苹果的防御反应,导致相关防御反应的关键酶活性升高,从而降低机械伤害引发的自由基对细胞膜产生的伤害。研究认为,鲜切苹果贮前经适当浓度的茉莉酸甲酯溶液浸泡,可显著延长贮藏期和保持新鲜品质。