Optimized LC/MS/MS analysis of morphine and codeine in poppy seed and evaluation of their fate during food processing as a basis for risk analysis

The opiate alkaloids present in poppy seed intended for use in food recently have raised major concerns. An efficient method for routine analysis of morphine and codeine using liquid chromatography in combination with tandem mass spectrometry on a triple quadrupole instrument (LC/MS/MS) was therefore developed. The optimal sample preparation was found to be cold extraction of 10 g of unground poppy seed with 30 mL of methanol containing 0.1% acetic acid for 60 min shaken at 250 rpm. The fate of morphine during food processing was also studied. All experiments led to a significant reduction of morphine and codeine. For poppy cake only 16-50% of the morphine was recovered, and in poppy buns at the highest temperature (220 degrees C) only 3% of the original morphine content was found. Ground poppy seed showed significantly lower recoveries than untreated seed. Morphine elimination during food processing has to be taken into account in the current discussion about its maximum limits in poppy seed.     

Extent and Management of Low pH Soils in Ghana

A review of soil acidity problems with regards to causes, extent and management in Ghana shows that the extent of soil acidity has changed within a period of 2–3 decades. In the 1970s' soil acidity was a major problem in the Western region and the lowlands. Oxisols and Ultisols are common soils found in this area. However, anthropogenic causes have augmented natural causes resulting in more low pH soils. Soil acidity has therefore become a serious problem throughout the country. Anthropogenic causes identified include general agronomic practices such as tillage, use of mineral fertilizers and continuous cultivation. Rates of 1–2 t ha⁻¹ lime on ultisols and oxisols in Ghana are more than adequate to meet the calcium demands and sufficient to neutralize residual acidity of any nitrogen fertilizer. Addition of organic amendments on low pH soils was also found to be beneficial and resulted in increased yields. The adoption of the "sawah" technology for lowland rice production has also resulted in improved water management, increased nutrient availability and significant increases in rice yields.     

Chronic toxicity of fenoxycarb to the midge Chironomus riparius after exposure in sediments of different composition

Background, aim, and scope  

Fenoxycarb is an insect growth regulator widely used to control a variety of pests. As a juvenile hormone analogue, it interacts with the natural hormones involved in insect development, inhibiting metamorphosis to the adult stage. Adverse effects of fenoxycarb on non-target organisms have been repeatedly observed and its rapid dissipation from water to the organic fraction of the sediment is known. The aim of this work was to investigate the impact of fenoxycarb on the development of sediment-dwelling larvae of the midge Chironomus riparius after exposure to spiked sediment.     

Features and applications of a field imaging chlorophyll fluorometer to measure stress in agricultural plants

Most non-destructive methods for plant stress detection do not measure the primary stress response but reactions of processes downstream of primary events. For instance, the chlorophyll fluorescence ratio F_v/F_m, which indicates the maximum quantum yield of photosystem II, can be employed to monitor stress originating elsewhere in the plant cell. This article describes the properties of a sensor to quantify herbicide and pathogen stress in agricultural plants for field applications by the F_v/F_m parameter. This dedicated sensor is highly mobile and measures images of pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) chlorophyll fluorescence. Special physical properties of the sensor are reported, and the range of its field applications is defined. In addition, detection of herbicide resistant weeds by employing an F_v/F_m-based classifier is described. The PAM-imaging sensor introduced here can provide in-field estimation of herbicide sensitivity in crops and weeds after herbicide treatment before any damage becomes visible. Limitations of the system and the use of a classifier to differentiate between stressed and non-stressed plants based on sensor data are presented. It is concluded that stress detection by the F_v/F_m parameter is suitable as an expert tool for decision making in crop management.

     

Revealing magnetic interactions from single-atom magnetization curves

The miniaturization of magnetic devices toward the limit of single atoms calls for appropriate tools to study their magnetic properties. We demonstrate the ability to measure magnetization curves of individual magnetic atoms adsorbed on a nonmagnetic metallic substrate with use of a scanning tunneling microscope with a spin-polarized tip. We can map out low-energy magnetic interactions on the atomic scale as evidenced by the oscillating indirect exchange between a Co adatom and a nanowire on Pt(111). These results are important for the understanding of variations that are found in the magnetic properties of apparently identical adatoms because of different local environments.     

Larval rearing environment influences the physiological adaptation in juvenile Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua

Juvenile Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua, that had been fed rotifers as larvae (R group) had significantly lower growth rates (SGR) at high-ambient ammonia (UIA?=?115?C120???g?l^?1) than did juveniles that had been first fed with natural zooplankton (Z group). Overall specific growth rates (SGRs) were 5?C11% higher in the Z group at the control ammonia (UIA?=?1?C2???g?l^?1) treatments. An interaction between larval rearing history, oxygen and ammonia levels was found, as SGR decreased with decreasing oxygen levels at high ammonia in the R group, while the SGR in the Z group were less affected by hypoxia. At high-ambient ammonia, the SGRs were 5% (mild hyperoxia, 101?C104% O₂ in effluent water), 28% (normoxia, 83?C88% O₂ in effluent water) and 86% (hypoxia, 57?C69% O₂ in effluent water) higher in the Z group, compared to the R group. The present findings indicate that larval rearing environment could influence the adaptability to environmental changes and growth performance during later juvenile stage in cod. These findings have implications for the optimization of Atlantic cod culture.     

Trawl fishing impacts on the status of seabed fauna in diverse regions of the globe

Bottom trawl fishing is a controversial activity. It yields about a quarter of the world's wild seafood, but also has impacts on the marine environment. Recent advances have quantified and improved understanding of large‐scale impacts of trawling on the seabed. However, such information needs to be coupled with distributions of benthic invertebrates (benthos) to assess whether these populations are being sustained under current trawling regimes. This study collated data from 13 diverse regions of the globe spanning four continents. Within each region, we combined trawl intensity distributions and predicted abundance distributions of benthos groups with impact and recovery parameters for taxonomic classes in a risk assessment model to estimate benthos status. The exposure of 220 predicted benthos‐group distributions to trawling intensity (as swept area ratio) ranged between 0% and 210% (mean = 37%) of abundance. However, benthos status, an indicator of the depleted abundance under chronic trawling pressure as a proportion of untrawled state, ranged between 0.86 and 1 (mean = 0.99), with 78% of benthos groups > 0.95. Mean benthos status was lowest in regions of Europe and Africa, and for taxonomic classes Bivalvia and Gastropoda. Our results demonstrate that while spatial overlap studies can help infer general patterns of potential risk, actual risks cannot be evaluated without using an assessment model that incorporates trawl impact and recovery metrics. These quantitative outputs are essential for sustainability assessments, and together with reference points and thresholds, can help managers ensure use of the marine environment is sustainable under the ecosystem approach to management.     

Electroporation improves the immune response induced by a DNA vaccine against pseudorabies virus glycoprotein B in pigs

This study was performed to determine whether electroporation can be used to enhance the efficacy of a DNA vaccine against pseudorabies virus (PrV) in pigs. Immune responses to PrV were measured in pigs following a single intramuscular injection of plasmids encoding PrV glycoprotein B, with or without electroporation. Plasmid injection coupled with electroporation increased production of specific antibodies against PrV and peripheral blood mononuclear cells proliferated in response to stimulation with PrV glycoproteins. These results show that electroporation can improve the performance of a DNA vaccine against PrV in pigs. However, additional work is required to maximise the effectiveness of the vaccination protocol.