Search results for " Contamination"
showing 10 items of 571 documents
Potential for microbial diuron mineralisation in a small wine-growing watershed: from treated plots to lotic receiver hydrosystem
2009
BACKGROUND: Since biological degradation processes are known to be a major driver of the natural attenuation of pesticide residues in the environment, microbial communities adapted to pesticide biodegradation are likely to play a key environmental role in reducing pesticide exposure in contaminated ecosystems. The aim of this study was to assess the diuron-mineralising potential of microbial communities at a small-scale watershed level, including a diuron-treated vineyard (pollution source), its associated grass buffer strip (as a river protection area against pesticide runoff) and the lotic receiver hydrosystem (sediments and epilithon), by using radiorespirometry. RESULTS: Comparison of r…
Mould germination: data treatment and modelling.
2006
Abstract The objectives of this study were i/ to examine germination data sets over a range of environmental conditions (water activity, temperature) for eight food spoilage moulds, ii/ to compare the ability of the Gompertz equation and logistic function to fit the experimental plots, iii/ to simulate germination by assessing various distributions of the latent period for germination amongst a population of spores. Data sets (percentage germination, P (%), versus time, t) of Aspergillus carbonarius, Aspergillus ochraceus, Fusarium verticillioides, Fusarium proliferatum, Gibberella zeae, Mucor racemosus, Penicillium chrysogenum and Penicillium verrucosum were analysed. No correlation, or re…
Evaluation of beauvericin and enniatins in Italian cereal products and multicereal food by liquid chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole mass sp…
2013
In this study, 48 multicereal baby foods samples including 25 of pasta and 23 of multicereal baby foods from supermarkets of Campania region (Italy) were analysed for evaluating the presence of beauvericin (BEA) and enniatins (ENs) A, A1, B, B1 and B4. Subsequently to evaluate the risk exposure of Italian population and infant population over the consumption of pasta or multicereal baby food, was, respectively, evaluated. For the above mentioned evaluation, a method developed in our laboratory by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry was used. A liquid phase dispersion procedure was optimised for the simultaneous extraction of BEA and the five ENs from multicereal baby food samples…
Posidonia oceanica as a Historical Monitor Device of Lead Concentration in Marine Environment
2005
We show that Posidonia oceanica is able to reliably monitor the variability of environmental lead (Pb). We analyze lead concentration measured in the scales and rhizomes of Posidonia oceanica collected in seven sites along the coasts of the Sicily island and subsequently fractioned them according to a lepidochronological analysis. We measure lead concentration in Posidonia oceanica tissues by using the flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry technique. We compare the measured lead concentration with the estimated lead emission in air due to the gasoline sold and used for combustion in car engines in Sicily. By computation of the Pearson cross-correlation coefficient, we show that lead con…
Soil Science Challenges in a New Era: A Transdisciplinary Overview of Relevant Topics
2020
Transdisciplinary approaches that provide holistic views are essential to properly understand soil processes and the importance of soil to society and will be crucial in the future to integrate distinct disciplines into soil studies. A myriad of challenges faces soil science at the beginning of the 2020s. The main aim of this overview is to assess past achievements and current challenges regarding soil threats such as ero-sion and soil contamination related to different United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs) including (1) sustainable food production, (2) ensure healthy lives and reduce environmental risks (SDG3), (3) ensure water availability (SDG6), and (4) enhanced soil carbo…
Insights in ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia
2021
Abstract SARS-CoV-2 vaccine ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AstraZeneca) causes a thromboembolic complication termed vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT). Using biophysical techniques, mouse models, and analysis of VITT patient samples, we identified determinants of this vaccine-induced adverse reaction. Super-resolution microscopy visualized vaccine components forming antigenic complexes with platelet factor 4 (PF4) on platelet surfaces to which anti-PF4 antibodies obtained from VITT patients bound. PF4/vaccine complex formation was charge-driven and increased by addition of DNA. Proteomics identified substantial amounts of virus production-derived T-REx HEK293 proteins in the ethyle…
Particulate Matter Contamination of Intravenous Antibiotics Aggravates Loss of Functional Capillary Density in Postischemic Striated Muscle
2002
Through the increased use of less expensive and counterfeit medicines, the contamination of parenteral fluids and drugs by particulate matter poses an increasing health hazard worldwide. However, the mechanism of action of such contamination has never been conclusively demonstrated. We have systemically injected the particles contained in three different 1-g preparations of the antibiotic cefotaxime into hamsters and visualized the functional capillary density in striated skin muscle, using intravital fluorescence microscopy. Injection of particles from either of the three preparations did not affect capillary perfusion in normal muscle (n = 3 hamsters, each). However, injection of particle…
Use of Helmet CPAP in COVID-19 – A practical review
2021
Helmet CPAP (H-CPAP) has been recommended in many guidelines as a noninvasive respiratory support during COVID-19 pandemic in many countries around the world. It has the least amount of particle dispersion and air contamination among all noninvasive devices and may mitigate the ICU bed shortage during a COVID surge as well as a decreased need for intubation/mechanical ventilation. It can be attached to many oxygen delivery sources. The MaxVenturi setup is preferred as it allows for natural humidification, low noise burden, and easy transition to HFNC during breaks and it is the recommended transport set-up. The patients can safely be proned with the helmet. It can also be used to wean the p…
Organic chlorine compounds in lake sediments. III. Chlorohydrocarbons, free and chemically bound chlorophenols
1990
Abstract Chlorohydrocarbons and free and chemically bound chlorophenols, catechols and guaiacols were measured from lake sediments in Central Finland. Chlorohydrocarbons occurred at low backround levels except chlorocymenes from pulp mills and PCBs near the city of Aanekoski, where a local leakage occurrs. Free chlorophenols (hexane extractables) were found in all 18 areas studied, but the bound ones (extracted with strong alkali) only in the pulp mill reciepient lakes where they dominated. Preliminary analyses of chemically bound chlorophenols in high molecular fractions of spent bleach liquors and pulp mill effluents indicated that majority of chlorocatechols and guaiacols are bound alrea…
Analysis of mycotoxins in barley using ultra high liquid chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry: comparison of efficiency and efficacy of d…
2012
The effectiveness of four extraction methods (modified QuEChERS, matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD), solid-liquid extraction (SLE) and solid-phase extraction (SPE) clean-up) were evaluated for simultaneous determination of 32 mycotoxins produced by the genus Fusarium, Claviceps, Aspergillus, Penicillium and Alternaria in barley by ultra high pressure liquid chromatography coupled to ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Orbitrap(®) MS). The efficiency and efficacy of extraction methods were evaluated and compared in number of extracted mycotoxins and obtained recoveries. From the one point of view, QuEChERS procedure was fast and easy, as well as it was able to successfully extra…