Effects of parabens on apoptosis induced by serum-free medium

Alkyl esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acids (parabens), an endocrine disrupter, are used as preservatives in cosmetics and foods. In this study, to understand the relationship between parabens and differentiation in infants, the effects of parabens on apoptosis induced by serum deprivation in PC12 cells were investigated. In addition, apoptosis-related factors were assayed. As results, a tendency toward enhancement of apoptosis was observed in the cells cultured in the serum-free medium with methylparaben, and this tendency was suggested to be related to the contents of BAD, a pro-apoptotic protein. Butylparaben did not show any tendency to enhance apoptosis.     

Detection of Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat food by Step One real-time polymerase chain reaction

The aim of this study was to follow contamination of ready-to-eat food with Listeria monocytogenes by using the Step One real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We used the PrepSEQ Rapid Spin Sample Preparation Kit for isolation of DNA and MicroSEQ® Listeria monocytogenes Detection Kit for the real-time PCR performance. In 30 samples of ready-to-eat milk and meat products without incubation we detected strains of Listeria monocytogenes in five samples (swabs). Internal positive control (IPC) was positive in all samples. Our results indicated that the real-time PCR assay developed in this study could sensitively detect Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat food without incubation.     

Quantitative modelling to estimate the transfer of pharmaceuticals through the food production system

Use of pharmaceuticals in animal production may cause an indirect route of contamination of food products of animal origin. This study aimed to assess, through mathematical modelling, the transfer of pharmaceuticals from contaminated soil, through plant uptake, into the dairy food production chain. The scenarios, model parameters, and values refer to contaminants in emission slurry production, storage time, immission into soil, plant uptake, bioaccumulation in the animal's body, and transfer to meat and milk. Modelling results confirm the possibility of contamination of dairy cow's meat and milk due the ingestion of contaminated feed by the cattle. The estimated concentration of pharmaceutical residues obtained for meat ranged from 0 to 6 ng kg^?1 for oxytetracycline, from 0.011 to 0.181 μg kg^?1 for sulfamethoxazole, and from 4.70 to 11.86 μg kg^?1 for ketoconazole. The estimated concentrations for milk were: zero for oxytetracycline, lower than 40 ng L^?1 for sulfamethoxazole, and from 0.98 to 2.48 μg L^?1 for ketoconazole. Results obtained for the three selected pharmaceuticals indicate a minor risk for human health. This study showed that supply chain modelling could be an effective tool in assessing the indirect contamination of feedstuff and animal products by residues of pharmaceuticals. The model can easily be adjusted to other contaminants and supply chain and, in this way, present a valuable tool to underpin decision making.     

Fate of PBDEs during food processing: Assessment of formation of mixed chlorinated/brominated diphenyl ethers and brominated dioxins/furans

The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of food processing on PBDE levels, in particular influence of heat treatment on degradation of PBDEs, including possible formation of chlorinated diphenyl ethers or brominated dioxins/furans as degradation products. It was shown that PBDEs heated in the presence of chlorine (from either organic or inorganic sources) formed mixed chlorinated/brominated diphenyl ethers. However, no PCDEs were formed in the presence of lipids. Lipid medium increased stability of PBDEs exposed to UV irradiation. Profile of congeners formed in result of the debromination reaction was significantly different than profiles observed by some other authors in aliphatic organic solvents. Grilling processes increased concentrations (calculated on the fresh product basis) of the studied compounds by 4–8/22–34% for electric/coal grill, respectively. Depending on the congener and on the applied heat treatment, PBDE mass in pork meat after grilling dropped by 26–53%. No detectable quantities of either brominated dioxins or furans were formed during thermal processing of food containing typical levels of PBDEs.     

餐厨垃圾高温厌氧消化

在中试规模下,研究餐厨垃圾高温厌氧消化试验,通过监测餐厨垃圾厌氧消化过程中产气量、气体组成等产气情况和消化液中pH值、SCOD、NH4+-N、VFAs等化学指标含量变化,确定餐厨垃圾厌氧消化的最大有机负荷,并分析餐厨垃圾高温厌氧消化技术的可行性,结果表明,在工程上餐厨垃圾单独进行高温厌氧消化产甲烷具有技术可行性,但难以保证系统长时间安全稳定运行;餐厨垃圾厌氧消化正常运行时最大有机负荷可达2.551 kg VS/(m3.d);当系统有机负荷为2.551 kg VS/(m3.d)时,每天每千克VS最高可产生甲烷量0.622 m3;氨氮对餐厨垃圾厌氧消化产甲烷影响明显;餐厨垃圾中固有Na+含量对厌氧消化产甲烷影响不明显。     

餐厨垃圾连续堆肥处理系统中试研究

餐厨垃圾是影响城市环境重要的污染源,其处理尤其是就地堆肥处理近年来受到重视.为了利用园林绿化基质作为餐厨垃圾堆肥的水分调节材料,按照1:1体积比进行连续堆肥,研究添加园林绿化基质对餐厨垃圾堆肥过程中理化指标的影响,为餐厨垃圾无害化处理提供科学依据和技术指导.结果表明,物料堆肥升温启动迅速,第3天就达到50℃,高温持续10 d以上,达到无害化要求;堆肥最终减容率达到53％以上,减量化效果明显;物料总氮和总磷含量呈升高趋势,总有机质含量降低,肥料营养元素含量在6％以上,符合有机肥国家标准(NY525-2002).总的来说,园林绿化基质作为调理剂与餐厨垃圾联合堆肥方法可行,减量化效果好,品质符合标准.     

茅草添加与温度变化对餐厨垃圾厌氧水解产酸的影响简

比较了茅草添加在温度变化条件下对餐厨垃圾厌氧水解过程小分子有机酸产量的影响,提出一种新型餐厨垃圾的资源化方式。研究结果显示,餐厨垃圾在55℃条件下厌氧水解主要产物为乳酸,达到25.7 g/L,其干物质转化率可以达到32.1% （g TS）,而餐厨+茅草处理在同样条件下的乳酸产量为20.1 g/L,干物质转化率为25.1%。温度下降为37℃后继续进行的的厌氧水解,得到的主要产物是乙酸、丙酸和丁酸,餐厨处理和餐厨+茅草处理这两者的峰值分别为6.5、2.8、8.0和6.1 g/L、2.7 g/L和5.9 g/L。结果显示茅草添加可以在一定程度上调节水解产物的比例,而温度变化可以调控小分子有机酸的产量。本研究结果表明,厌氧水解是一种有潜力的小分子有机酸生产与餐厨垃圾资源化处理途径。     

国内成功运营的餐厨垃圾处理厂臭气排放特征研究简

选择目前国内成功运营的餐厨垃圾资源化处理厂为采样点,采用气相色谱-质谱联用（GC/MS）技术对该厂的主要工段,如卸料室、破碎室、湿热反应器出气口、好氧发酵仓、厌氧发酵区以及厂界的臭气进行了定性和定量的分析。结果表明,6个采样点共检测出包括芳香烃、硫化物、卤代物、烯烃、烷烃、醇、醛、酮和酯在内的9类66种物质,各采样点臭气总浓度分别为：11.738、18.390、30.917、25.097、4.737和2.635 mg/m³。其中湿热反应器出气口处恶臭气体浓度最高,其芳香烃、硫化物、卤代物、烯烃、烷烃、酮及酯类物质均高于其他检测点,需对该工段进行重点监测和控制。恶臭排放特征分析表明,各点的H₂S浓度均超过嗅觉阈值,除厂界外甲硫醇和二甲二硫检测值均超过嗅觉阈值。     

餐厨垃圾与剩余污泥混合消化产沼气协同效应

在(35±0.2)℃温度下,以餐厨垃圾和剩余污泥为原料,设置餐厨垃圾和剩余污泥混合比例(VS)分别为1∶0、2∶1、1∶1、1∶2和0∶1,研究其单独消化与混合消化的系统性能、产甲烷潜力及脱氢酶活性和F420浓度变化。结果表明,混合消化提高了系统稳定性,与餐厨垃圾单独消化相比,添加剩余污泥能调节pH、氨氮浓度和VFA浓度,缩短产气周期;与剩余污泥单独消化相比,添加餐厨垃圾能显著提高沼气产量。混合比例为1∶1组混合消化产甲烷潜力最佳,消化作用的协同效应最为明显,沼气和甲烷产量分别达358.2 mL/g VS和224.1 mL/g VS,较餐厨垃圾和污泥单独消化估计值分别提高了23.09%和36.80%。1∶1混合消化组脱氢酶活性最高达437.33 TFμg/(mL·h),比餐厨垃圾和剩余污泥单独消化分别提高93.60%和40.69%,辅酶F420浓度最高为1.718μmol/L,分别提高17.3%和100.7%。     

Overview of deaths associated with natural events, United States, 1979–2004

Analysis of the National Center for Health Statistics' Compressed Mortality File showed that between 1979 and 2004, natural events caused 21,491 deaths in the United States. During this 26-year period, there were 10,827 cold-related deaths and 5,279 heat-related deaths. Extreme cold or heat accounted for 75 per cent of the total number of deaths attributed to natural events— more than all of deaths resulting from lightning, storms and foods, and earth movements, such as earthquakes and landslides. Cold-related death rates were highest in the states of Alaska, Montana, New Mexico, and South Dakota, while heat-related deaths were highest in the states of Arizona, Missouri, and Arkansas. These deaths occurred more often among the elderly and black men. Other deaths were attributed to lightning (1,906), storms and foods (2,741), and earth movements (738). Most deaths associated with natural events are preventable and society can take action to decrease the morbidity and mortality connected with them.