Commercial Products Research Articles

A Comparative Analysis of Tannin and Commercial Fire Retardants in Wood Fire Protection

In civil construction, one of the primary challenges associated with wood application is its high flammability and low durability during fires. Although chemical treatment with fire-retardant properties exists, they are expensive and of non-renewable origin. Tannin, a wood extractive, being a phenolic compound, holds promise for enhancing the thermal properties of wood. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of tannin as a fire retardant and compare it with a commercial product, as well as comparing different application techniques for these products. Wood samples from the Simarouba amara Aubl. species were utilized. Tannin and a commercial flame retardant were applied via immersion, vacuum impregnation, brushing, and a treatment of tannin incorporated into water-based wood varnish. Alongside the burning test performance, assessments of the wood’s physical properties, such as colorimetry, thermal stability, and mass retention, were conducted. The application of tannin altered the wood’s color and reduced the spread of fire; its presence significantly reduced the flame duration and maintained the wood’s structural integrity. However, tannin retention was lower compared to commercial flame retardant, leading to reduced fire retardancy. Among the methods tested, immersion proved to be the most effective in enhancing the wood’s resistance to flame contact.

Entomophagy in Mexico: current trends and outlook

Abstract One-fifth of the edible insect species identified worldwide have been documented in Mexico. In states with an entomophagy tradition, insects have been incorporated into the local cuisine. Results show that the country has a wide diversity of climates and vegetation; thus, each state has its own set of edible insects. This narrative review aims to determine the current state of entomophagy in Mexico, divided into two segments: wild-collected insects, and farmed insect products, and to identify the current trends, both in research and in commercial products available. Wild-gathered insects are mostly purchased at local marketplaces, with prices varying widely, depending on the insect and the sales point. Increased demand for wild edible insects, and the loss of natural habitat, have put some insect species at risk of extinction. Since whole edible insects are wild-gathered and commercialised whole in traditional markets, there are currently no specific mandatory standards for food products containing insects as ingredients. Alongside traditional wild insect activities, there is a fledgling industry of farmed edible insect products which can be purchased online. In conclusion, while the wild-gathered edible insect market is well established, a farmed insect products market is developing, with manufacturers incorporating insect flour into food products where the insect element is inconspicuous, seeking to appeal to a wider range of consumers, yet most recent academic research focuses on wild edible insect species, with a near absence of research articles on the farmed insect species. The insect food product industry would benefit from a closer collaboration with the academic research sector. Furthermore, the lack of a specific regulation for manufacturing insect food products constitutes a disadvantage for firms seeking to export to countries with stricter regulations. Also, with the food safety concerns inherent in wild-gathered insect consumption, studies focusing on the sanitary aspects of entomophagy are insufficient.

Development and characterization of a novel variant of long-acting bovine follicle-stimulating hormone (brscFSH)

Assisted reproduction is a key aspect of modern animal breeding, providing valuable assistance in improving breeding programs. In this field, the administration of exogenous hormones, such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), plays a crucial role in the induction of multiple ovulations. However, commercial FSH used in veterinary practice has been derived primarily from pituitary glands, obtained mostly from pigs for nearly four decades. Although these hormones have contributed significantly to the advancement of assisted reproductive techniques, they have certain limitations that warrant further improvements. These limitations include contamination with luteinizing hormone (LH), the potential risk of pathogen contamination, the potential to trigger an immune response in non-pig species, and the short half-life in circulation, requiring the implementation of complex 8-dose superovulation schedules. Our research team has developed and characterized a new variant of bovine follicle-stimulating hormone (bscrFSH) to address these limitations. The new hormone is produced recombinantly in CHO cell cultures, with a specific productivity of about 30 pg/cell/day. The bscrFSH can be purified to a high purity of 97 % using a single step of immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC). N-glycan analysis of bscrFSH showed that approximately 74 % of the glycans corresponded to charged structures, including mono-, di-, tri-, and tetra-sialylated glycans. Superovulation trials conducted in cattle revealed that bscrFSH, administered at a total dose of about 0.5 μg per kg of body weight, using a decrescent schedule of 4 doses with 24-h intervals, resulted in an average yield of 8–12 transferable embryos per animal. Further research is required; however, the preliminary findings indicate that bscrFSH, currently packaged under the provisional brand name of Cebitropin B, holds potential as a commercial product for assisted reproduction in ruminants.

Length-weight relationship and condition factor of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fed diets supplemented with guava and star gooseberry leaf extract

Background Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is predominant cultured species in aquaculture. However, there is a scarcity of literature regarding relationship between guava and star gooseberry leaf extract and the condition factor. Thus, the present study aims to investigate the effect of guava and star gooseberry leaf extract-supplemented diets on the specific growth rate, length-weight relationship, and condition factor of Nile tilapia. Methods Six hundred and thirty Nile tilapia (8.7±0.4 g) were randomly distributed among twenty-one tanks (30 fish per tank) within a recirculation system. Over a 60-day period, the fish were fed diets supplemented with 5g/Kg and 10g/Kg of guava leaf extract (GLE-5, GLE-10), star gooseberry leaf extract (SGLE-5, SGLE-10), and a mixture of both (MxLE-5, MXLE-10). Subsequently, specific growth rate, length-weight relationship, and condition factor were determined. Results After 60 days, the specific growth rate was significantly higher in all the GLE, SGLE, and MxLE groups compared to the control group. The final lengths and weights differed significantly both in the control group and all the GLE, SGLE, and MxLE groups. The analysis of the regression equation indicated a positive correlation (r = 0.970, 0.977, 0.976, 0.974, 0.974, 0.974, and 0.969) between the length and weight of Nile tilapia in the control group and in all the GLE, SGLE, and MxLE groups. The regression exponent "b" values in all the GLE, SGLE, and MxLE groups were >3, indicating a positive allometric growth pattern in Nile tilapia compared to the control (b=2.866), which exhibited a negative allometry. The final condition factor values did not differ significantly in either the control group or any of the plant extract groups. Conclusions Nile tilapia exhibited positive allometric growth patterns and maintained good health when fed with GLE, SGLE, and MxLE groups. Therefore, these plant extracts demonstrate suitability for commercial Nile tilapia production.

Advancements in Solubility Enhancement of Omeprazole: A Comprehensive Review

Omeprazole, a widely prescribed proton pump inhibitor renowned for its effectiveness in treating gastrointestinal disorders, faces limitations in its therapeutic potential due to its poor aqueous solubility, resulting in suboptimal bioavailability. This article conducts a thorough review of recent advancements in strategies aimed at enhancing omeprazole's solubility. The evaluation encompasses various techniques, including solid dispersion technology, nanosizing, cyclodextrin complexation, salt formation, and micellar delivery systems, all aimed at improving the solubility and overall therapeutic performance of omeprazole. The review addresses existing challenges and outlines future prospects, with a specific focus on the translation of solubility enhancement strategies from laboratory settings to commercial production. The comprehensive insights presented contribute to a profound understanding of the recent advancements in solubility enhancement of omeprazole, fostering the development of more efficient and patient-friendly formulations for improved therapeutic outcomes.

Cellulase-assisted refining in a paperboard mill: Avoided emissions from energy savings. A case study of a Finnish paperboard mill

The 2023 being on its way to be the warmest year in the 174-year global surface temperature history it is becoming more and more evident how crucial it is to break the linkage between economic growth and greenhouse gas emissions.The pulp and paper industry is highly energy intensive industry sector. It is the fourth largest industrial energy user and currently produces approximately 1.3% of global greenhouse gas emissions. While the demand for paper and paperboard products keeps rising, it is essential for the industry to find energy efficient solutions for reducing the environmental impact of the pulp and paper products. 80% of the progress in energy efficiency in Finnish paper mills is due to improved technology and more optimal operational modes. Optimizing existing processes has bigger effect on energy efficiency than closing old and starting new paper mills.Pulp refining is one of the most energy intense steps in the paperboard production, representing 15%–18% of the total energy consumption of a paper mill. The effect of a commercial cellulase enzyme product was evaluated for energy savings and avoided emissions in the refining process of a paperboard mill. Data from a paperboard line using Bleached Softwood Kraft Pulp (BSKP) from a separate pulp mill was provided by a Finnish paperboard mill containing production runs both with and without commercial cellulase product ECOPULP® R. Data was collected from the mill automation system to evaluate and compare a refining capacity restricted run and a run that was not refining capacity restricted.Analysis of the data showed a reduction of refining energy by approximately 16%–17% when the cellulase enzyme was used. This corresponds to 2 kg of CO2 emissions avoided per tonne of pulp refined when calculated using the Finnish average electricity emissions intensity in 2022. Use of the cellulase enzyme enabled the refining results that could not have been reached with the bare mechanical refining capacity of the mill.Cellulases can be efficient processing aids in pulp refining. The reduction of required mechanical refining and electrical power to run the refiners to achieve the required freeness can significantly affect the carbon footprint of the paperboard products, whereas the negative impact of emissions from enzyme production is negligible. Reduction of CO2 emissions is especially significant in the areas where the electricity mix used for the production is based heavily on fossil fuels.

Grower assessment of profitability impact from Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), the value of management information sources, and use of potential management practices

AbstractAn online survey was conducted from June 2018 to March 2021 to elicit information from commercial farmers and growers on the economic impact of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) (Halyomorpha halys (Stål)) on agriculture and their attitudes towards adopting various alternative management practices, including use of Trissolcus japonicus as a biocontrol agent. Most respondents reported that BMSB reduced the profitability of their operation, with the largest impacts coming from reduced quality and increased spray cost. Improved monitoring techniques and natural enemies have the greatest probability to be used to manage BMSB, while tactics like attract and kill, border sprays, repellents, trap crops and netting were less likely to be adopted. Further analysis using ordered logistic and tobit regression models shows that the factors that influence potential adoption vary significantly for each management practice. This suggests that adoption efforts for alternate management practices should focus on the attributes of specific commodity groups and targeted educational programmes may be required to overcome the resistance of growers using conventional growing practices. Several variables have a consistent impact on the respondent's willingness to pay for a T. japonicus‐based biocontrol including being a commercial producer (positive impact), use of conventional growing practices (negative) and increased concern about the impact of BMSB (positive).

Occurrence, analysis and removal processes of emerging pharmaceuticals from waters for the protection and preservation of a sustainable environment: A review

Pharmaceuticals are a group of man-made commercial and synthetic products and an important mainstay of modern society. However, their presence in aquatic environments is identified as a potential risk, causing harm to living things even at low concentrations ranging from ng L−1 to μg L−1. Due to their pseudo-persistence, bio-accumulation, and low elimination rate by conventional treatments, the majority of these xenobiotic contaminants and their metabolites are routinely released into the environment by sewage treatment plants and last longer in an aquatic environment. This review aims to provide an extensive report and a current state of knowledge concerning various classes of pharmaceutical compounds (PCs). It also discusses the occurrence, the analytical methods for the determination of PC micro-pollutants, and the remediation methods noted in recent literature focusing on the most recent advances. In this context, this review highlights the statistical data regarding the status of PCs in detection, analysis, and removal methods in aqueous media. In addition, this review provides an overview of the conventional and advanced technologies for the removal of PCs from water sources, offering critical comments, and discussing the challenges related to improving existing technologies for sustainable and eco-friendly management of water resources. It likewise emphasizes the importance of the combination of different treatment methods to reach up to 100% PC removal.Finally, gaps in the literature were found, and recommendations for further research were also cited in accordance with this paper. To the best of our knowledge, this review paper is among the rare works that deal with both: i) the analysis of large varieties of PCs in different water matrices, ii) the removal and identification of target analytes and their by-products generated during the elimination processes, and iii) the possible degradation pathways proposed by different studies.

Prognostic impact of corticosteroid and tocilizumab use following chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma.

Despite being the mainstay of management for cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), there is limited data regarding the impact of tocilizumab (TCZ) and corticosteroids (CCS) on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell efficacy in multiple myeloma (MM). The present study aims to evaluate the prognostic impact of these immunosuppressants in recipients of BCMA- or GPRC5D-directed CAR T cells for relapsed/refractory MM. Our retrospective cohort involved patients treated with commercial or investigational autologous CAR T-cell products at a single institution from March 2017-March 2023. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints included overall response rate (ORR), complete response rate (CRR), and overall survival (OS). In total, 101 patients (91% treated with anti-BCMA CAR T cells and 9% treated with anti-GPRC5D CAR T cells) were analyzed. Within 30 days post-infusion, 34% received CCS and 49% received TCZ for CRS/ICANS management. At a median follow-up of 27.4 months, no significant difference in PFS was observed between CCS and non-CCS groups (log-rank p = 0.35) or between TCZ and non-TCZ groups (log-rank p = 0.69). ORR, CRR, and OS were also comparable between evaluated groups. In our multivariable model, administering CCS with/without TCZ for CRS/ICANS management did not independently influence PFS (HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.36-1.51). These findings suggest that, among patients with relapsed/refractory MM, the timely and appropriate use of CCS or TCZ for mitigating immune-mediated toxicities does not appear to impact the antitumor activity and long-term outcomes of CAR T-cell therapy.

The nutritional profile of the yellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor) reared on four different substrates

The utilisation of Tenebrio molitor L. (the yellow mealworm) as a cheaper, alternative and readily available ingredient for food and feed is gaining interest globally. However, there has been limited research on locally and readily available substrates for mealworm mass rearing in South Africa. This study evaluated the impact of four substrates; wheat bran (control diet), wheat flour, maize flour, and Lucerne (pellets) on the rearing of mealworm larvae under controlled conditions over two generations and analysed the nutrient composition using standard nutritional analysis techniques. The results revealed that the crude protein contents of T. molitor larvae ranged between 28 – 36 % when raised on different substrates and varied significantly in the order Lucerne > wheat bran > wheat flour > maize flour. The major minerals found in the larvae included sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper, and zinc. The larvae were also rich in saturated, mono and polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (FAs) with oleic, linoleic, and palmitic as the main FAs. The nutritional profiles of first- and second-generation larvae raised on the same substrates remained the same. Wheat flour was found to be the best alternative to wheat bran. The finding demonstrates the suitability of local, inexpensive substrates for commercial production of yellow mealworm without compromising their nutritional quality and utilisation for food and feed.

Successive selection responses of tetraploid Crassostrea angulata: Comparison of growth, survival, sex ratio and ploidy composition between selected and unselected groups

Triploid Crassostrea angulata has the advantages of fast growth, poor fertility and high quality. However, due to poor fertility, direct genetic improvement is difficult. Mating between tetraploid males and diploid females has been shown to be the best method for commercial triploid production, so genetic improvement of tetraploids will directly affect the phenotypic traits of triploid offspring. However, to date, few studies have investigated the genetic improvement of tetraploid oysters. Based on the induced tetraploid C. angulata population, this study carried out three successive generations of growth selective breeding research, and systematically compared the growth, survival, ploidy composition and sex ratio of the selected group and the control group. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the survival rate from planktonic larvae to adult between the two groups. However, the growth of the selected group was significantly higher than that of the control group, that was, the shell height and whole weight of S3 were significantly higher than that of C3, and the selection advantage of shell height increased from 7.80% of S1 to 34.68% of S3. The ploidy composition of the two tetraploid groups was relatively stable before the 90th days, but on the 270th day, some tetraploids underwent chromosome loss and transformed into diploids or triploids, which might be related to gametogenesis of tetraploids. Moreover, with the increase of generations, the number of individuals with chromosome loss in the selected group gradually decreased, and their ploidy became more stable than that in the control group. In addition, both groups were fertile, with a sex ratio of more males than females, and a proportion of hermaphrodite individuals. In conclusion, this study successfully selected a fast growth line of tetraploid C. angulata, which can be used for commercial production of fast-growing triploid C. angulata, and provides a basis and reference for the genetic improvement of tetraploid oysters.

Molecularly imprinted sensors for the determination of anthocyanins in food products

A novel molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensor was developed for the sensitive and selective determination of anthocyanins in athletic food products. The sensor was fabricated by incorporating a conductive composite of graphene oxide and gold nanoparticles as the transducer material, which was modified with a silylation agent to enhance compatibility with the molecularly imprinted polymer. The MIP was synthesized using functional monomers that can interact with anthocyanins through hydrogen bonding and π-π interactions. The MIP sensor exhibited a linear response range from 1 nM to 10 μM for cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, with a detection limit of 0.3 nM. The sensor demonstrated high selectivity towards the target anthocyanin, with selectivity coefficients ranging from 7.2 to 48.6 over various interfering compounds. The MIP sensor was successfully applied to the determination of anthocyanin content in commercial athletic food products, with relative errors ranging from -2.1 % to 1.3 % compared to the reference HPLC method. The recoveries of anthocyanins from spiked food samples ranged from 96.4 % to 102.8 %.

A benchmarking methodology for top-of-rail products: Carry distance and retentivity

Top-of-rail (TOR) products are used in railways to reduce wear and noise by providing an intermediate friction level and a positive creep curve. In addition to these general requirements, retentivity and carry distance are important for their effectiveness on the track. This study aims to determine these track performance parameters for three commercial TOR products. A contact simulator and portable tribometer were used to simulate track conditions. The results show that carry distance is the most limiting performance parameter of TOR products, especially for water-based products. TOR lubricants, on the other hand, caused a more significant drop in friction after application. A predictive model simulating product redistribution along the track was introduced for the best-performing product.

Assessing lameness prevalence and associated risk factors in crossbred dairy cows across diverse management environments

BackgroundA thorough understanding of lameness prevalence is essential for evaluating the impact of this condition on the dairy industry and assessing the effectiveness of preventive strategies designed to minimize its occurrence. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aimed to ascertain the prevalence of lameness and identify potential risk factors associated with lameness in Holstein Friesian crossbred cows across both commercial and smallholder dairy production systems in Bengaluru Rural District of Karnataka, India.MethodsThe research encompassed six commercial dairy farms and 139 smallholder dairy farms, involving a total of 617 Holstein Friesian crossbred cattle. On-site surveys were conducted at the farms, employing a meticulously designed questionnaire. Lameness in dairy cattle was assessed subjectively using a locomotion scoring system. Both bivariate and binary logistic regression models were employed for risk assessment, while principal components analysis (PCA) was conducted to address the high dimensionality of the data and capture the underlying structure of the explanatory variables.ResultsThe overall lameness prevalence of 21.9% in commercial dairy farms and 4.6% in smallholder dairy farms. Various factors such as age, body weight, parity, body condition score (BCS), floor type, hock and knee injuries, animal hygiene, provision of hoof trimming, and the presence of hoof lesions were found to be significantly associated with lameness. Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that the odds of lameness in crossbred cows increased with higher parity, decreased BCS, presence of hard flooring, poor animal hygiene, and the existence of hoof lesions. These factors were identified as potential risk factors for lameness in dairy cows. Principal component analysis unveiled five components explaining 71.32% of the total variance in commercial farms and 61.21% in smallholder dairy farms. The extracted components demonstrated higher loadings of housing and management factors (such as hoof trimming and provision of footbath) and animal-level factors (including parity, age, and BCS) in relation to lameness in dairy cows.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that principal component analysis effectively reduces the dimensionality of risk factors. Addressing these identified risk factors for lameness is crucial for the strategic management of lameness in dairy cows. Future research in India should investigate the effectiveness of management interventions targeted at the identified risk factors in preventing lameness in dairy cattle across diverse environments.

The GREENART Project: Environmentally Friendly and Low Impact Materials for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage

ABSTRACT While some green solutions and advanced materials have been proposed in recent decades to improve on traditional conservation processes, conservation practice still uses petroleum-based compounds and procedures that lack time- or energy-efficiency, and are not sustainable. Tackling these issues, the GREENART project (GREen ENdeavor in Art ResToration, Horizon Europe, 2022–2025) is developing green and sustainable systems for the remedial and preventive conservation of works of art, following a ‘safe and sustainable by design’ approach where green components are firstly screened and then used to formulate new materials. This contribution reviews traditional and state-of-the-art materials used in protective coatings, foams and packaging materials, consolidants, cleaning systems, and monitoring tools, and introduces the novel solutions the GREENART project is developing for each of these classes. Some of the new products are already being assessed, and the main processes in the formulation of the solutions are outlined. Life cycle assessment will be carried out before the commercial production of the new systems to demonstrate their full sustainability. Finally, perspectives are discussed, highlighting the role of GREENART in promoting a green transition for cultural heritage preservation.

Stimulation effect of network fracturing combined with sealing boundaries on the depressurization development of hydrate reservoir in China's offshore test site

This study investigated the stimulation of reservoir reconstruction by network fracturing combined with sealing boundaries (RC-HFBS) for hydrate development in China's offshore test site. We first studied the influence of different boundary-sealing characters on development performance. Then, the response of development performance to key production parameters including fracture conductivity (CF), fracture spacing (SF), and production pressure (Pp) under permeable and impermeable boundaries was studied. Lastly, the long-term commercial CH4 production potentials were evaluated. Results showed that compared to unreconstruction reservoirs, the CH4 production of RC-HFBS increased by 11.1 times, and the gas-to-water ratio increased by 13.3 times. The harm of permeable boundaries on reservoir depressurization leads to a short effective stimulation time of fractures (about 1000 out of 3650 days) and results in the insensitivity of exploitation performance to production parameters. However, the impermeable boundaries improve the fractures' stimulation, meanwhile, making exploitation performance extremely sensitive to production parameters. For RC-HFBS, commercial production can be realized by diverse production parameter combinations, including SF, CF, and Pp are 15 m, 10D•cm, 4 MPa; 15 m, 10D•cm, 2 MPa; 25 m, 10D•cm, 2 MPa; 5 m, 40D•cm, 4.5 MPa.

Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation and Vermicompost to Manage Bottom Rot in Organic Lettuce.

Rhizoctonia solani Kühn (teleomorph: Thanatephorus cucumeris [Frank] Donk) is an aggressive soilborne pathogen with a wide host range that survives saprophytically between crops, presenting a challenge for organic vegetable farmers who lack effective management tools. A 2-year field experiment was conducted at two organic farms to compare anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) and worm-cured compost (vermicompost) to manage bottom rot caused by R. solani subspecies AG1-IB in field-grown organic lettuce (Lactuca sativa). At each farm, four replicate plots of seven treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design. Randomization was restricted by grouping treatments to evaluate ASD, and treatments to evaluate vermicompost in starter plugs. ASD experiment treatments were three different ASD carbon sources that are commonly used and widely available to local farmers in Vermont: compost, cover crop residues, and poultry manure fertilizer, as well as a tarped control. Vermicompost experimental treatments were vermicompost compared with two types of controls: a commercial biocontrol product (RootShield PLUS + G), and unamended (untarped control). This study demonstrated that the ASD method is achievable in a field setting on Vermont farms. However, neither ASD nor vermicompost produced significant disease suppression or resulted in higher marketable yields than standard growing practices. Given the laborious nature of ASD, it is likely more appropriate in a greenhouse setting with high-value crops that could especially benefit from being grown in plastic tarped beds (e.g., tomatoes and strawberries). This study is the first known attempt of field-implemented ASD for soil pathogen control in the northeastern United States.

Problems of recycling polystyrene plastics from waste electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE)

The problem of restoring the life cycle of polymers using the example of waste electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE) consists in carefully separating polymers by type and increasing the mechanical characteristics of polymers after their aging. It is shown that when separating polystyrene plastics based on impact-resistant polystyrene, the material also includes polyolefins, in particular, filled polypropylene. On this basis, a model system containing high-impact polystyrene and chalk-filled polypropylene was chosen. The effect of modifying additives such as SEBS, maleinated polystyrene and polypropylene on the physical and mechanical characteristics of impact-resistant polystyrene, including in the presence of filled polypropylene, has been studied. The influence of the composition of the composition on its thermal stability, as well as the thermal stability of industrial batches of secondary impact-resistant polystyrene from the WEEE has also been determined. As a result, using the example of a model system, ways of possible modifycation of the high-impact polystyrene from WEEE are shown in order to obtain a commercial product with improved characteristics.

FruitPhenoBox – a device for rapid and automated fruit phenotyping of small sample sizes

BackgroundFruit appearance of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) is accession-specific and one of the main criteria for consumer choice. Consequently, fruit appearance is an important selection criterion in the breeding of new cultivars. It is also used for the description of older varieties or landraces. In commercial apple production, sorting devices are used to classify large numbers of fruit from a few cultivars. In contrast, the description of fruit from germplasm collections or breeding programs is based on only a few fruit from many accessions and is mostly performed visually by pomology experts. Such visual ratings are laborious, often difficult to compare and remain subjective.ResultsHere we report on a morphometric device, the FruitPhenoBox, for automated fruit weighing and appearance description using computer-based analysis of five images per fruit. Recording of approximately 100 fruit from each of 15 apple cultivars using the FruitPhenoBox was rapid, with an average handling and recording time of less than eleven seconds per fruit. Comparison of fruit images from the 15 apple cultivars identified significant differences in shape index, fruit width, height and weight. Fruit shape was characteristic for each cultivar, while fruit color showed larger variation within sample sets. Assessing a subset of 20 randomly selected fruit per cultivar, fruit height, width and weight were described with a relative margin of error of 2.6%, 2.2%, and 6.2%, respectively, calculated from the mean value of all available fruit.ConclusionsThe FruitPhenoBox allows for the rapid and consistent description of fruit appearance from individual apple accessions. By relating the relative margin of error for fruit width, height and weight description with different sample sizes, it was possible to determine an appropriate fruit sample size to efficiently and accurately describe the recorded traits. Therefore, the FruitPhenoBox is a useful tool for breeding and the description of apple germplasm collections.

DNA Barcoding Revealed a High Percentage of Mislabeling in Commercial Fish Products: The First Empirical Survey in South Texas

Seafood mislabeling is a widespread problem that have produced a growing distrust of seafood industry. In this study, we examined the prevalence of mislabeling in fish samples from regional markets in the greater Houston area and close-by coastal communities. A total of 63 fish fillet samples were purchased, labeled, and stored at -20˚C in individual packages until DNA extraction. DNA fragments of roughly 700 base pairs encoding cytochrome oxidase I (COI) were PCR-amplified from each DNA sample. With 99.6–100% nucleotide identity in the GenBank and BOLD databases, all samples were correctly identified at the species level. The scientific names identified by DNA barcoding were matched with legally acceptable market names using the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Seafood List. Out of the 63 samples examined, 13 samples (20.6%) were mislabeled. Moreover, 24 samples (38.1%) did not use the acceptable market names, indicating that the FDA policy is poorly implemented in seafood industry. The first DNA barcoding survey this area warranted the need of continuous monitoring and the dissemination of the regulation combined with taxonomic knowledge.