The food industry is becoming more customer-oriented and needs faster response times to deal with food scandals and incidents. Good traceability systems help to minimize the production and ...distribution of unsafe or poor quality products, thereby minimizing the potential for bad publicity, liability, and recalls. The current food labelling system cannot guarantee that the food is authentic, good quality and safe. Therefore, traceability is applied as a tool to assist in the assurance of food safety and quality as well as to achieve consumer confidence. This paper presents comprehensive information about traceability with regards to safety and quality in the food supply chain.
Increasing contamination of groundwater by heavy metals could potentially hamper the basic sanitation based on septic system in developing countries. Therefore, this paper evaluated wastewater ...treatment by electrochemical activation of hydrogen peroxide (EAHP), persulfate (EAP), and free chlorine (EAFC) to simultaneously eliminate aqueous organic matter and heavy metals. Sacrificial iron anodes under galvanostatic regime activated the batch-injected oxidants under uncontrolled pH, to avoid extra cost of control in decentralized processes (e.g., household use) to treat domestic wastewater. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to determine the optimized conditions for EAP (persulfate0 = 25 mM, 24.4 mA/cm2), EAFC (free chlorine0 = 35.5 mM, 44.4 mA/cm2), and EAHP (H2O20 = 91.1 mM, 45 mA/cm2) towards total organic carbon (TOC) removal. Treatment of real wastewater under optimum conditions significantly reduced chemical oxygen demand (COD) and TOC in all treatments, complying with lenient effluent standards as well as the added benefit of complete As(V) and Cr(VI) removal. Although EAP and EAFC provided superior removal of TOC (70−75%) and COD (73–100%) within 3 h, respectively, effluent toxicity and operation cost (76–85 USD/m3) were relatively high. EAHP was the best available option to secure non-toxic effluent with the least cost (63 USD/m3).
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•Galvanostatic iron anodes activated persulfate, free chlorine, and H2O2.•Current density and added oxidants were optimized for decentralized water treatment.•Primary oxidants (HO•, SO4•- and Fe(IV) species) were identified.•Treatment of real domestic wastewater complied with effluent standards.•H2O2 activation provided the lowest operational cost and effluent toxicity.
Summary
Laccases are oxidases that contain several copper atoms, and catalyse single‐electron oxidations of phenolic compounds with concomitant reduction of oxygen to water. The enzymes are ...particularly widespread in ligninolytic basidiomycetes, but also occur in certain prokaryotes, insects and plants. Depending on the species, laccases are involved in various biosynthetic processes contributing to carbon recycling in land ecosystems and the morphogenesis of biomatrices, wherein low‐molecular‐weight naturally occurring phenols serve as key enzyme substrates. Studies of these in vivo synthetic pathways have afforded new insights into fungal laccase applicability in green synthetic chemistry. Thus, we here review fungal laccase‐catalysed oxidations of naturally occurring phenols that are particularly relevant to the synthesis of fine organic chemicals, and we discuss how the discovered synthetic strategies mimic laccase‐involved in vivo pathways, thus enhancing the green nature of such reactions. Laccase‐catalysed in vivo processes yield several types of biopolymers, including those of cuticles, lignin, polyflavonoids, humus and the melanin pigments, using natural mono‐ or poly‐phenols as building blocks. The in vivo synthetic pathways involve either phenoxyl radical‐mediated coupling or cross‐linking reactions, and can be adapted to the design of in vitro oxidative processes involving fungal laccases in organic synthesis; the laccase substrates and the synthetic mechanisms reflect in vivo processes. Notably, such in vitro synthetic pathways can also reproduce physicochemical properties (e.g. those of chromophores, and radical‐scavenging, hydration and antimicrobial activities) found in natural biomaterials. Careful study of laccase‐associated in vivo metabolic pathways has been rewarded by the discovery of novel green applications for fungal laccases. This review comprehensively summarizes the available data on laccase‐catalysed biosynthetic pathways and associated applications in fine chemical syntheses.
Nanoscale zerovalent iron (nZVI) is the most widely used nanomaterial for environmental remediation. The impacts of nZVI on terrestrial organisms have been recently reported, and in particular, plant ...growth was promoted by nZVI treatment in various concentrations. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the detailed physiological and biochemical responses of plants toward nZVI treatment for agricultural application. Here, the effects of nZVI on photosynthesis and related biochemical adaptation of soil-grown
were examined. After treatment with 500 mg nZVI/kg soil, the plant biomass increased by 38% through enhanced photosynthesis, which was confirmed by the gas-exchange system, carbon isotope ratio and chlorophyll content analysis. Besides, the iron uptake of the plant increased in roots and leaves. The magnetic property measurements and transmission electron microscopy showed that the transformed particles were accumulated in parts of the plant tissues. The accumulation of carbohydrates such as glucose, sucrose and starch increased by the enhanced photosynthesis, and photosynthetic-related inorganic nutrients such as phosphorus, manganese and zinc maintained homeostasis, according to the increased iron uptake. These findings suggest that nZVI has additional or alternative benefits as a nano-fertilizer and a promoter of CO
uptake in plants.
Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) enable the control and exploration of intermolecular interactions inside microscopic systems, but the potential environmental impacts of their inevitable release ...remain largely unknown. Plants exposed to ENMs display effects, such as increase in biomass and chlorophyll, distinct from those induced by exposure to their bulk counterparts, but few studies have addressed the mechanisms underlying such physiological results. The current investigation found that exposure of Arabidopsis thaliana to nano zerovalent iron (nZVI) triggered high plasma membrane H+-ATPase activity. The increase in activity caused a decrease in apoplastic pH, an increase in leaf area, and also wider stomatal aperture. Analysis of gene expression indicated that the levels of the H+-ATPase isoform responsible for stomatal opening, AHA2, were 5-fold higher in plants exposed to nZVI than in unexposed control plants. This is the first study to show that nZVI enhances stomatal opening by inducing the activation of plasma membrane H+-ATPase, leading to the possibility of increased CO2 uptake.
All‐solid‐state sodium‐ion batteries that operate at room temperature are attractive candidates for use in large‐scale energy storage systems. However, materials innovation in solid electrolytes is ...imperative to fulfill multiple requirements, including high conductivity, functional synthesis protocols for achieving intimate ionic contact with active materials, and air stability. A new, highly conductive (1.1 mS cm−1 at 25 °C, Ea=0.20 eV) and dry air stable sodium superionic conductor, tetragonal Na3SbS4, is described. Importantly, Na3SbS4 can be prepared by scalable solution processes using methanol or water, and it exhibits high conductivities of 0.1–0.3 mS cm−1. The solution‐processed, highly conductive solidified Na3SbS4 electrolyte coated on an active material (NaCrO2) demonstrates dramatically improved electrochemical performance in all‐solid‐state batteries.
Dissolve and solidify: A new and highly conductive (1.1 mS cm−1), dry air‐stable sodium superionic conductor, tetragonal Na3SbS4, was developed. Importantly, its solution processability using methanol or water allows direct coating onto active materials. The solution‐processed highly conductive (0.1–0.3 mS cm−1) solidified Na3SbS4 coating on NaCrO2 solves the poor ionic contact problem in all‐solid‐state sodium‐ion batteries.
Microbiome primes host innate immunity in utero and play fundamental roles in the development, training, and function of the immune system throughout the life. Interplay between the microbiome and ...immune system maintains mucosal homeostasis, while alterations of microbial community dysregulate immune responses, leading to distinct phenotypic features of immune-mediated diseases including asthma. Microbial imbalance within the mucosal environments, including upper and lower airways, skin, and gut, has consistently been observed in asthma patients and linked to increased asthma exacerbations and severity. Microbiome research has increased to uncover hidden microbial members, function, and immunoregulatory effects of bacterial metabolites within the mucosa. This review provides an overview of environmental and genetic factors that modulate the composition and function of the microbiome, and the impacts of microbiome metabolites and skin microbiota on immune regulation in asthma.
Host and environmental factors that modulate the microbiome and asthma pathogenesis at different ages. Changes in microbiota and their corresponding immune responses in asthma are summarized. Gut bacterial-derived metabolites can either contribute or protect against airway inflammation. Gut-lung axis is a two-way process that influences the systemic immune status. Skin barrier integrity or immune maturation driven by skin microbiomes may play a role in asthma development. Display omitted
Controversies exist with regard to in vivo approaches to delayed immunologically mediated adverse drug reactions, such as exanthem (maculopapular eruption), drug reaction with eosinophilia and ...systemic symptoms, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis, and fixed drug eruptions. In particular, widespread differences exist between regions and practice on the availability and use of intradermal and patch testing, the standard drug concentrations used, the use of additional drugs in intradermal and patch testing to help determine cross-reactivity, the timing of testing in relation to the occurrence of the adverse drug reaction, the use of testing in specific phenotypes, and the use of oral challenge in conjunction with delayed intradermal and patch testing to ascertain drug tolerance. It was noted that there have been advances in the science of delayed T cell–mediated reactions that have shed light on immunopathogenesis and provided a mechanism of preprescription screening in the case of HLA-B*57:01 and abacavir hypersensitivity and HLA-B*15:02 and carbamazepine Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis in Southeast Asian subjects. Future directions should include the collaboration of large international networks to develop and standardize in vivo diagnostic approaches, such as skin testing and patch testing, combined with ex vivo and in vitro laboratory approaches.
Compared to most product supply chains, food supply chains are often more complex and more difficult to manage because the food product is perishable and has a short shelf life. A cold chain or ...temperature-controlled supply chain provides the essential facilities and methods required to maintain the quality and quantity of foods. Since foods can be time and temperature sensitive in nature, they need to be properly taken care of in terms of harvesting, preparation, packaging, transportation and handling – in other words, throughout the entire chain. Temperature is the most important factor in prolonging or maintaining the shelf life of perishables. Refrigeration is one of most widely used methods to date to slow the bacteria growth that leads to food deterioration. The proper control and management of temperature is crucial in delivering perishables to consumers and ensuring that those perishables are in good condition and safe to eat. This paper addresses the methods used to improve the ability to define an optimal target temperature for multi-commodity refrigerated storage. Simulation results support the fact that the presented methods provide more accurate results compared to the conventional method. In addition, an experiment with a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) was conducted. As a result, the sensor-based methods for real time quality monitoring and assessment that consider product metabolism and Euclidean distance cost depending on temperature changes are found to be superior to the traditional visual assessment method.
•Clustering temperature zones for multi-temperature cold storage is investigated.•The relationship among deterioration rate, shelf life and freshness is presented.•The methods to access perishable foods' quality in real time are formulated.
Background
The effect of novel tobacco products, such as electronic cigarettes (EC) and heated tobacco products (HTP), on allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma is not well known.
Objective
To evaluate ...the health effect of novel tobacco products on asthma and AR.
Methods
This study was conducted using large survey data on Korean middle and high school students. The relationship between current asthma/AR and novel tobacco products user status was evaluated. In order to compare the combined effects of conventional cigarette (CC), EC, and HTP use on current allergic diseases, the participants were classified into 18 groups based on CC (current, former, and never), EC (current, former, and never), and HTP (ever and never) status.
Results
A total of 60,040 participants representing 2,850,118 Korean adolescents were analyzed. Of all participants, 6.7%, 2.7%, and 2.9% were current CC, current EC, and ever HTP users, respectively. Current CC and ever HTP use was significantly associated with current asthma and AR in adjusted models. Current EC showed association with current AR but the association with asthma disappeared in the adjusted model. Among 18 groups, the groups including current CC use showed higher risk of current AR and asthma than never HTP‐never EC‐never CC group. The odds ratio of current asthma especially increased more in those who used EC and/or HTP with CC concurrently than those in the never HTP‐never EC‐current CC user group.
Conclusion
Using EC and/or HTP in adolescents might enhance the adverse effect of CC on AR and asthma.
Among Korean adolescents aged from 12 to 18 years old, 6.7% and 2.7% currently use conventional cigarettes and electronic cigarettes, respectively and 2.9% ever used heated tobacco products. The use of conventional cigarette, electronic cigarette, and heated tobacco product, respectively and in combination increases the risk of allergic rhinitis and asthma in Korean adolescents. The use of heated tobacco product especially enhances the impact of conventional cigarettes on allergic rhinitis and asthma.
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