Ochratoxin A on green coffee: influence of harvest and drying processing procedures

Ochratoxin A is a metabolite produced by Aspergillus and Penicillium species that is nephrotoxic and possibly carcinogenic to humans. The aim of this study was to evaluate ochratoxin A contamination in green coffee obtained by different harvesting and drying operations and from fruits of different ripening stages in order to identify hazards. The research was directed to coffees from the highland area of Rio de Janeiro state (Brazil), which is traded in the domestic market. Twenty-two out of 54 samples contained ochratoxin A at levels ranging from 0.3 to 160 microg/kg. Ochatoxin A contamination levels between different ripe stage fruits were not significant (P > 0.05). "Varri??o" coffee, consisting of fruits that fell from the tree spontaneously and stayed longer on the ground before being harvested, was the most contaminated. Eleven out of 14 samples of varri??o coffee were contaminated. Three out of 10 samples from the northwestern region of the state were positive for ochratoxin at levels ranging from 10.1 to 592 microg/kg. The contaminated samples had in common the fact that they were harvested directly from the soil.     

Human activities modify soil properties in urban parks: a case study of Tel Aviv-Jaffa

Purpose

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of visitors’ activities on soil properties in parks of Tel Aviv-Jaffa city, Israel.

Materials and methods

The city was divided into three geographical regions: south, central, and north. This division reflects the course of development of the city from south to north and encompasses various socioeconomic levels of residents. In each region, 9–15 parks were randomly chosen and classified into three groups according to their size (in m²): 2?×?10³ to 10?×?10³, 11?×?10³ to 20?×?10³, and 21?×?10³ to 50?×?10³. In each park soil, 0–2 cm of depth layer was sampled in areas under various levels of visitor pressure from July to August 2011, and organic matter, electrical conductivity, and sodium and chlorine contents were determined. Lawns and path and picnic areas represented low and high visitor pressure, respectively. Observations were conducted to characterize the various land uses of the parks and to estimate the numbers of visitors. Also, questionnaires were used at selected parks to assess visitors’ motivations or reasons for visiting the parks.

Results and discussion

Socioeconomic indicators, such as the number of residents, the apartment areas, and the percentages of family households, differed among the regions. Soil properties differed between the areas of high and low visitor pressure: they were influenced by type of human activity, size of the park, and number of visitors.

Conclusions

Soil properties are affected by variations in the intensity of park use by visitors and by the type of activities enjoyed by these visitors, both of which depend on the socioeconomic status of the park area.

     

Transgenic fertile soybean plants derived from somatic embryos transformed via the combined DNA-free particle bombardment and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium</Emphasis> system

An Agrobacterium-mediated transformation procedure for soybean [Glycine max L. Merrill] proliferating somatic embryos is here described. The Agrobacterium tumefaciens LBA4404 strain harboring pTOK233, pCAMBIA1390-olp or pH7WG2Dwrky plasmids was used to mediate gene transfer into the plant genome. Prior to Agrobacterium inoculation, proliferative soybean embryogenic clusters were microwounded by DNA-free tungsten particle bombardment. Three independent transformation experiments were performed. In Experiment I, 26 transgenic plants were obtained from a unique clone of cv Bragg, while 580 plants were recovered from 105 clones of cv IAS5. In Experiment II, a single hygromycin-resistant clone of cv BRSMG68 Vencedora was recovered and gave rise to five plants. In Experiment III, 19 plants of cv Bragg and 48 plants of IAS5 were recovered, representing five and 14 independent transformation events, respectively. PCR and Southern analyses confirmed the transgenes’ integration into plant genomes. Transgenic plants were fertile. They flowered, set pods and seeds. Transgene segregation in two T₁ progenies fits the Mendelian pattern (3:1 transgenic:non-transgenic plants). This is the first report of transgenic fertile soybean plants obtained from somatic embryogenic tissues transformed by the system that combines DNA-free particle bombardment and Agrobacterium.     

Self-assembly of large and small molecules into hierarchically ordered sacs and membranes

We report here the self-assembly of macroscopic sacs and membranes at the interface between two aqueous solutions, one containing a megadalton polymer and the other, small self-assembling molecules bearing opposite charge. The resulting structures have a highly ordered architecture in which nanofiber bundles align and reorient by nearly 90 degrees as the membrane grows. The formation of a diffusion barrier upon contact between the two liquids prevents their chaotic mixing. We hypothesize that growth of the membrane is then driven by a dynamic synergy between osmotic pressure of ions and static self-assembly. These robust, self-sealing macroscopic structures offer opportunities in many areas, including the formation of privileged environments for cells, immune barriers, new biological assays, and self-assembly of ordered thick membranes for diverse applications.     

Stem modeling and simulation of conversion of cork oak stems for quality wood products

Recent research is underway to study cork oak (Quercus suber L.) wood potential for production of wood components. A total of 35 stems of young and mature cork oaks were sampled, live sawn into flitches, scanned using VTT’s WoodCIM^®, and the measured data computed by VTT’s PuuPilot software, allowing stem 3D reconstruction. Sawing simulations were run for 0.5 m and 1 m logs and the whole stem. Sawn products were (1) planks, (2) parquet, (3) lamparquet, and (4) external component of multilayer planks. Cork oak stems showed a moderate to small taper (mean 24 mm/m). Curviness varied between straight to significantly crooked stems (mean value 40 mm) Batch yields for the tested products ranged 25–43% and 37–50% for 0.5 m logs of young and mature trees, respectively; for 1 m logs, batch yields ranged 19–41% and 25–54%. When using the whole stem, batch yields were lower, ranging 11–38% and 15–50%. Higher yields were obtained for all log lengths and samples for production of lamparquet, parquet, and multilayer component.     

Effect of heat treatment of camelina (Camelina sativa) seeds on the antioxidant potential of their extracts

The effect of different heat treatments of camelina (Camelina sativa) seeds on the phenolic profile and antioxidant activity of their hydrolyzed extracts was investigated. The results showed that total phenol contents increased in thermally treated seeds. Heat treatment affected also the quantities of individual phenolic compounds in extracts. Phenolics in unheated camelina seeds existed in bound rather than in free form. A temperature of 160 °C was required for release of insoluble bound phenolics, whereas lower temperatures were found to be optimal to liberate those present as soluble conjugates. The best reducing power and alkyl peroxyl radical scavenging activity in the emulsion was expressed by phenolics which were bound to the cell wall, whereas the best iron chelators and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH?) radical scavengers were found to be those present in free form. The heat treatment of seeds up to 120 °C increased the reducing power and DPPH? radical scavenging ability of extracts, but negatively affected iron chelating ability and their activity in an emulsion against alkyl peroxyl radicals.     

A simplified spectrophotometric method for routine analysis of saccharin in commercial noncaloric sweeteners

A simple, rapid, and sensitive spectrophotometric method for routine analysis of saccharin in commercial noncaloric sweeteners is proposed. This method is based on the reaction of saccharin with tetrachloro-p-benzoquinone (p-chloranil) accelerated by hydrogen peroxide and conducted in an ethanol:acetone (4:1) medium, producing a violet-red compound (lambda(max) = 550 nm). Beer's law is obeyed in a concentration range of 2.05 x 10(-4) to 3.00 x 10(-3) M with an excellent correlation coefficient (r = 0.9998). The detection limit was 1.55 x 10(-5) M, and the effect of interferences on the spectrophotometric measurements was evaluated. The proposed procedure was applied successfully to the determination of saccharin in noncaloric sweeteners. Recoveries were within 99.2-104.3% with standard deviations ranging from to 0.5-1.6%. Results of the proposed method compare very favorably with those given by the high-performance liquid chromatography method recommended by the Food and Drug Administration.     

Multiple plantlets in lateral bud and leaf explant in vitro cultures of pineapple

Plantlets were obtained from usually dormant axillary buds, excised from the crown of pineapple (Ananas comosus L. Merr.) and grown in culture. Multiple shoots arose from single buds grown on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with auxins and kinetin. Shaking culture-flasks during growth increased the number of multiple shoots formed, when compared with stationary liquid cultures. Leaf explants excised from in vitro plantlets developed into a callus capable of plantlet regeneration. Subjecting developing buds to surgical segmentation also resulted in multiple shoot formation. Such shoots, when excised and grown on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with auxins, developed roots and grew into complete plantlets capable of being grown in soil.