Over the past century, agriculture practices have transitioned from manual cultivation to the use of an array of chemical herbicides for weed control including phosphinothricin, or glufosinate ...(GLUF). Consequently, the potential for long-term residual GLUF exposure in the food chain has increased, highlighting the need for improved analytical strategies for its detection, as well as the detection of its main breakdown product 3-(methylphosphinico)propionic acid (MPPA). Chemical derivatization strategies have been developed to improve the detection of GLUF and MPPA via liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analyses. Herein, we employ trimethylation enhancement using diazomethane (TrEnDi) for the first time as a means to confer analytical advantages via quantitatively derivatizing these analytes into permethylated GLUF (GLUFTr+) and MPPA (MPPATr+H+). Comparing GLUFTr+ and MPPATr+H+ to underivatized counterparts, TrEnDi yields 2.8-fold and 1.7-fold improvements in reversed-phase chromatographic retention, respectively, while MS-based sensitivity is enhanced 4.1-fold and 11.0-fold, respectively. Successful analyte derivatization (with >99% yields) was further demonstrated on a commercial herbicide solution imparting consistent analytical enhancements. To investigate the benefits of TrEnDi in a bona fide agricultural scenario, simple aqueous extractions from distinct parts of field-grown canola plants were performed to quantify GLUF and MPPA before and after TrEnDi derivatization. In their underivatized forms, GLUF and MPPA were undetectable in all field samples, whereas GLUFTr+ and MPPATr+H+ were readily quantifiable using the same analysis conditions. Our results demonstrate that TrEnDi continues to be a useful tool to enhance the analytical characteristics of organic molecules that are traditionally difficult to detect.
Shotgun lipidomics provides sensitive and fast lipid identification without the need for chromatographic separation. Challenges faced by shotgun analysis of glycerophospholipids (GPs) include the ...lack of signal uniformity across GP classes and the inability to determine the carbon–carbon double bond (CC) location within the fatty acyl chains of an unsaturated species. Two distinct derivatization strategies were employed to both enhance the ionization of GPs, via trimethylation enhancement using 13C-diazomethane (13C-TrEnDi), as well as determine location of double bonds within fatty acyl chains, employing an in-solution photochemical reaction with acetone (via the Paternò–Büchi reaction). The modified GPs were then subjected to positive ion mode ionization via electrospray ionization, producing uniform ionization efficiencies for different classes of GP species. The GPs were charge inverted via gas-phase ion/ion reactions and sequentially fragmented using ion trap collision-induced dissociation (CID). The CID of the species led to fragmentation producing diagnostic ions indicative of CC bond location. The approach enabled enhanced ionization and the identification of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine species at the CC level in a bovine lipid extract.
The 14th thematic volume of International Development Policy provides perspectives through case studies from the global Souths focusing on the challenges and opportunities of governing migration on ...the subnational, national, regional and international levels. Bringing together some thirty authors from Africa, Latin America and Asia, the book explores existing and new policies and frameworks in terms of their successes and best practices, and looks at them through the lens of additional challenges, such as those brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the rise of nationalisms and an increase in xenophobia. The chapters also take the ‘5 Ps’ approach to sustainable development (people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnerships) and assess how migration policies serve sustainable development in a rapidly evolving context. Contributors are Yousra Abourabi, Gabriela Agosto, Belkis Aracena, Andrea Fernández Benítez, Macarena Chepo, Amanda Coffie, Jonathan Crush, María del Consuelo Dávila Pérez, Dêlidji Eric Degila, Jenny Lind Elmaco, René Leyva Flores, Luisa Feline Freier, Silvia Núñez García, Marcela Pezoa González, Binod Khadria, Ariel González Levaggi, Wei Li, Meixin Liu, Ling Ma, Ratnam Mishra, Daniel Naujoks, Claudia Padilla, Karol Rojas, Fabiana Rubinstein, Yining Tan, Narender Thakur, Gerasimos Tsourapas, Valeria Marina Valle and Jossette Iribarne Wiff.
Changes in human growth and development depend on genetic and environmental factors. In the case of Slovenia, the environmental factors changed as a result of the period of socio-economic transition ...that the country underwent between 1991 and 2013. The authors used anthropometric techniques to evaluate differences in body height, proportions and sexual maturity in 1,221 adolescents aged 14 in 1993, 2003 and 2013.
Data was collected as a part of the ACDSi study, which has monitored children's somatic growth and motor development every decade over the last 40 years.
Between 1993 and 2013, a trend (p=0.08) towards increased body height was observed in males. The comparison of age at peak height velocity (PHV) between generations demonstrated a trend (p=0.07) of earlier entry into puberty in adolescents in 2013 compared to those in 1993. The leg-to-body height ratio increased (p<0.05) with every decade in males, while in females it decreased (p<0.05) in 2013. Similar trends were observed in the leg-to-trunk ratio. Contemporary generations experienced PHV at a younger age (p<0.05), which is true for both genders even in adolescents born no more than two decades (1993 (2013) apart. In both generations, females experienced PHV sooner than their male peers.
The authors assume that females of the 2013 generation reached puberty earlier than females of older generations. It is most likely that, unlike females from older generations and unlike males, they were already at the stage of trunk growth at the time of the measurements, which explains the observed changes in their trunk length, leg-to-body height and leg-to-trunk ratios in comparison to earlier generations.
The aim of this study was to determine quantities of antibiotics used mainly or exclusively for urinary tract infections in Croatia between 2005 and 2014, to describe utilisation trends, and general ...consequences of antibiotic consumption on antimicrobial resistance.
Antibiotic utilisation data were obtained from annual reports of both the Croatian Drug Agency and Croatian Academy of Medical Sciences. Antibiotic consumption was expressed in DDD/1000 inhabitants/day (DDD TID). Antimicrobial resistance was analysed for E. coli, E. faecalis, E. faecium, P. aeruginosa, Klebsiella spp., P. mirabilis. Descriptive statistics were used to process data and calculate trends.
Overall, utilisation of antibacterials decreased by 4.8% (from 3,35 to 3,19 DDD TID), while trends of individual agents varied substantially - from 87% decline for ceftibuten to 160% rise for levofloxacin. The consumption of quinolones increased by 32.3%. This was mostly due to increased ciprofloxacin consumption (144% raise). Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim declined by 57%, while nitrofurantoin increased by 86%. The use of fosfomycin was marginal. Antimicrobial resistance of E. coli increased against quinolones by 54.5%, and against nitrofurantoin by 2-3%. Quinolone resistance of other pathogens (Klebiella spp, Proteus mirabilis), increased variably - between 17.2% (Klebsiella) and 90% (Proteus), while for P. aeruginosa remained the same at 22%.
High rates of antimicrobial utilisation require prescribing restrictions and educational interventions. The increased use of fluoroquinolones is a potentially serious public health threat due to the rapid development of resistance among uropathogens. This threat can be avoided by greater use of nitrofurantoin and fosfomycin.
The food culture, which gains meaning according to the life perception of countries in the traditional and modern world, brings different perspectives to gastronomy. With the Slow Food movement, ...which is one of these perspectives, it is essential to bring an up-to-date approach to the dishes that have been forgotten in traditional food culture. While the slow food movement ensures the sustainability of the food culture, it also supports the preservation of the 'sense of taste'; It serves to raise awareness in setting tables together and determining the importance of common points, in food production with traditional methods and in using techniques. Quantitative data collection techniques are used to determine whether the services of the stream reach the target. The cycle of the slow mobility current is first production, then consumption. The aim of this study is to determine the extent of slow food perceptions and slow eating attitudes of the people living in Gökçeada district of Çanakkale province. For this purpose, a survey method consisting of a systematic question form was applied to the local people of Gökçeada, which constitutes the sample of the study, to determine the perception of slow food and the effect of this perception on slow eating attitudes. According to the results obtained from the survey data, it was determined that the participants were women with a participation rate of 68.5% and they constituted the majority of the study. 92.4% of the participants who stated that they knew about the Slow Food movement correctly defined Slow Food. It was determined that the participants had a positive participation of more than 50% in the questions asked to determine the local food consumption tendency. Therefore, it can be said that the participants have a high level of local food demand, interest and consumption tendency. Among the 6 hypotheses examining the relationship between Slow Food consumption and demographic characteristics, the marital status and age hypothesis were accepted and the others were rejected.
The book comprises 14 chapters covering all the issues related to water desalination. These chapters emphasize the relationship between problems encountered with the use of feed water, the processes ...developed to address them, the operation of the required plants and solutions actually implemented. This compendium will assist designers, engineers and investigators to select the process and plant configuration that are most appropriate for the particular feed water to be used, for the geographic region considered, as well as for the characteristics required of the treated water produced. This survey offers a comprehensive, hierarchical and logical assessment of the entire desalination industry. It starts with the worldwide scarcity of water and energy, continues with the thermal - and membrane-based processes and, finally, presents the design and operation of large and small desalination plants. As such, it covers all the scientific, technological and economical aspects of this critical industry, not disregarding its environmental and social points of view. One of InTech's books has received widespread praise across a number of key publications. Desalination, Trends and Technologies (Ed. Schorr, M. 2011) has been reviewed in Corrosion Engineering, Science & Technology – the official magazine for the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining, and Taylor & Francis's Desalination Publications. Praised for its “multi-faceted content which contributes to enrich it,” and described as “an essential companion...that enables the reader to gain a deeper understanding of the desalination industry,” this book is testament to the quality improvements we have been striving towards over the last twelve months.
The book "New Technologies - Trends, Innovations and Research" presents contributions made by researchers from the entire world and from some modern fields of technology, serving as a valuable tool ...for scientists, researchers, graduate students and professionals. Some practical applications in particular areas are presented, offering the capability to solve problems resulted from economic needs and to perform specific functions. The book will make possible for scientists and engineers to get familiar with the ideas from researchers from some modern fields of activity. It will provide interesting examples of practical applications of knowledge, assist in the designing process, as well as bring changes to their research areas. A collection of techniques, that combine scientific resources, is provided to make necessary products with the desired quality criteria. Strong mathematical and scientific concepts were used in the applications. They meet the requirements of utility, usability and safety. Technological applications presented in the book have appropriate functions and they may be exploited with competitive advantages. The book has 17 chapters, covering the following subjects: manufacturing technologies, nanotechnologies, robotics, telecommunications, physics, dental medical technologies, smart homes, speech technologies, agriculture technologies and management.