Effects of Spirulina platensis and Amphora coffeaeformis as dietary supplements on blood biochemical parameters,intestinal microbial population,and productive performance in broiler chickens

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Spirulina platensis (Sp) or Amphora coffeaeformis (Am) are good candidates as an in-feed antibiotic substitute for broilers. This work was performed...     

Biosensors for pathogen surveillance

Biologists, chemists, and physicists are collaborating to develop highly sensitive and specific biosensors for pathogen detection in the food, healthcare, and environmental sectors. Those novel biosensors allow quick detection and are thus expected to solve the issues of the emergence of highly virulent or antibiotic-resistant pathogens. This article reviews different types of biosensors used for pathogen detection, classified based on the type of transducer used. Optical biosensors integrate labeled means, e.g., fluorophores, quantum dots, and carbon dots to overcome photobleaching. Surface plasmon resonance is also used for enhanced sensitivity. Mechanical biosensors with piezoelectric crystals and cantilevers are adapted for the detection of food pathogens without sample preparation or labels. Conventional methods using electrodes for the measurement of electrochemical changes with differential pulse voltammetry or impedance spectroscopy are fast and highly sensitive. Immunosensors are developed for pathogen detection at trace levels using sample enrichment, signal amplification, and new visual detection techniques.     

我国环境监测体制改革探讨

本文分析了目前我国环境监测工作中普遍存在的体制不顺、职责不明、行政干预、重复监测、资源浪费、信息混乱等问题,提出监测机构垂直管理,调整监测职能,打破条块分割,整合社会监测资源,引入第三方检测的具体构想。     

A new trend in the medication of hepatocyte cytoxicity in mice: protective role of probiotic bacteria

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Liver toxicity is affected by several factors, including certain medications, fumes emission from factories, materials used in industries, and...     

Occurrence of pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in water of the Nile river at the estuaries of Rosetta and Damiatta branches,north of delta,Egypt

Abstract

A study was conducted from summer 1995 to summer 1997 to assess the seasonal occurrence of pesticide residues and other organic contaminants, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), in water at the estuaries of Rosetta and Damiatta branches of the Nile river. The results indicated that organochlorine compounds (OCs) including HCB, lindane, p,p‘‐DDE, p,p‘DDD, p,p‘‐DDT, aroclor 1254 and aroclor 1260 were present in all the water samples at concentration levels ranging between 0.195–0.240, 0.286–0.352, 0.035–0.067, 0.019–0.033, 0.024–0.031, 0.390–0.70 and 0.166–0.330 μg/l, respectively. The levels of these compounds were higher in water of Damiatta branch than those found in water of Rosetta branch. Aldrin, dieldrin and endrin were not detected in all water samples. Only 4 compounds from 36 organophosphorus insecticides, fungicides and s‐triazine herbicides tested were detected in water samples collected during summer and autumn seasons from Rosetta branch. The concentration levels of these detected compounds, dimethoate, malathion, captan, and ametryne, ranged from 0.011 to 0.340 μg/l, respectively. Similar compounds during the same seasons as found in water of Rosetta branch were also detected in water of Damiatta branch except ametryne. The levels of the detected compounds (dimethoate, malathion and captan) ranged between 0.030 and 0.330 μg/l. The levels of detected organophosphorus insecticides, fungicides and s‐triazine herbicides were in the order: dimethoate > malathion > captan > ametryne.     

Abolishing cadmium toxicity in Chlorella vulgaris by ascorbic acid, calcium, glucose and reduced glutathione

Addition of ascorbic acid, calcium (Ca2+), glucose and reduced glutathione (GSH) to the cadmium (Cd2+)-amended Kuhl medium significantly accelerated the growth and chlorophyll content of Chlorella vulgaris. This enhancement was found to be dose dependent. Their relative effectiveness against Cd2+ on growth and chlorophyll content has been arranged as GSH > Ca2+ > glucose > ascorbic acid. However, Ca2+ offered more protection against Cd2+ toxicity on protein contents, followed by ascorbic acid, GSH and glucose. The different concentrations of all amelioratives completely alleviated the toxicity of Cd2+ on total carbohydrates to exceed the control level. Photosynthetic oxygen evolution showed more response to Ca2+ and glucose in alleviating Cd2+ toxicity. On the other hand, at certain concentrations, GSH, Ca2+, ascorbic acid and glucose stimulated respiratory oxygen uptake over the control level. The uptake of Cd2+ dropped significantly in cultures supplemented with 20 microM ascorbic acid, glucose and GSH, while Ca2+ (30 microM) significantly lowered the Cd2+ uptake by 58% indicating that Ca2+ had a more antagonistic effect against Cd2+.