Frequent Contamination Research Articles

Deoxynivalenol induces ovarian damage and uterine changes in prepubertal and adult mice

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is associated with reproductive toxicity in animals. The frequent contamination of cereal-based foods with DON and the high intake of these by children raises particular concern about the susceptibility of this subpopulation to adverse effects from this mycotoxin. However, age-related differences in the in vivo reproductive toxicity of DON have not been evaluated. Therefore, the effects of DON on serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, histology, and inflammatory and oxidative stress responses in the ovaries and uteruses of prepubertal and adult mice were investigated. Twenty female prepubertal Swiss mice (21 days old) and 20 young adult mice (65 days old) were fed a control diet or a diet containing 10 mg of DON/kg of feed for 15 days (prepubertal mice) and 28 days (adult mice). In the ovaries, DON induced an increase in the lesional score in both age groups. Ingestion of DON decreased FSH levels in prepubertal females, whereas an increase was observed in adult mice. In prepubertal mice, a reduction in the number of macrophages and increased levels of TNF-α were observed in the ovaries of the DON group, while in adult animals, an increase in the number of macrophages and higher levels of TNF-α were noted. The prepubertal animals showed edema in the uterine tissue and increased thickness of the uterine wall and endometrium. Exposure to DON led to an increase in type I collagen in the uteruses of adult mice, while in prepubertal mice, a decrease in type III collagen was observed. DON exposure also resulted in a decrease in FRAP levels and an increase in ABTS and lipid peroxidation in the uteruses of prepubertal mice. Taken together, the results indicate that the effects of DON on reproductive organs are age-specific, with toxicity established as early as the prepubertal period.

Reducing E. coli and Coliform in clean water using chlorine diffuser combined with white sand

Background: Water intended for hygiene, sanitation, and drinking must be free of physical, chemical, and microbiological pollutants. The most frequent microbiological contaminants in water are E. coli and Coliform bacteria. Chlorination, which uses chlorine compounds, is a widely used technique to eliminate germs from water. This process is regarded as effective and safe for sanitation, disinfection, and consumption. Purpose: To analyze differences in the reduction of E. coli and Coliform bacteria in water using the chlorine diffuser method combined with white sand. Method: A quasi-experimental method and a pretest posttest design, carried out at a boarding house x in Gonilan Kartasura village. The research sample was taken by purposive sampling. The sample criteria are water at the research location, namely Gonilan village which classified as densely populated. Research data was collected using observation techniques using observation sheets with three folds and three divisions of time span, namely 30 minutes, 45 minutes and 60 minutes. The data collected was then analyzed using the anova method to determine the average differences in group samples. Results: The application of a chlorine diffuser combined with white sand can reduce levels of E. coli bacteria. In the Anova test, the p-value scores were obtained at 0.045 and 0.031, thus the alternative hypothesis was accepted, namely that there was a decrease in E. coli and Coliform bacteria using the chlorine diffuser method combined with white sand. The research results in the 60th minute of the experiment went from 1 to 0. Meanwhile, there was no significant decrease in Coliform bacteria. Initially the Coliform level was 68.3, then after 60 minutes of experimentation it only decreased to 63.6. Conclusion: Based on the research carried out, it was concluded that there was a significant reduction in the levels of E. coli and Coliform bacteria using the chlorine diffuser combined with white sand with a higher dose of chlorine used.

Microbial burden on environmental surfaces in long-term care facilities: a quantitative analysis.

We conducted a quantitative analysis of the microbial burden and prevalence of epidemiologically important pathogens (EIP) found on long-term care facilities (LTCF) environmental surfaces. Microbiological samples were collected using Rodac plates (25cm2/plate) from resident rooms and common areas in five LTCFs. EIP were defined as MRSA, VRE, C. difficile and multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative rods (GNRs). Rooms of residents with reported colonization had much greater EIP counts per Rodac (8.32 CFU, 95% CI 8.05, 8.60) than rooms of non-colonized residents (0.78 CFU, 95% CI 0.70, 0.86). Sixty-five percent of the resident rooms and 50% of the common areas were positive for at least one EIP. If a resident was labeled by the facility as colonized with an EIP, we only found that EIP in 30% of the rooms. MRSA was the most common EIP recovered, followed by C. difficile and MDR-GNR. We found frequent environmental contamination with EIP in LTCFs. Colonization status of a resident was a strong predictor of higher levels of EIP being recovered from his/her room.

SnS2/Mo4/3B2 MBene microcomposites for highly sensitive NO2 sensor at room temperature

Being one of the most frequent atmospheric contaminants, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) was accused to be the culprit for a serious of public environmental hazards and respiratory diseases. In the present study, SnS2/Mo4/3B2 MBene microcomposites with different component ratios were successfully developed for ambient temperature sensing of NO2. The optimized microcomposite showed outstanding detection properties, such as a response as high as 4.82–1 ppm NO2 and a detection limit as low as 0.1 ppb, which was demonstrably improved compared with those of SnS2/Ti3C2 MXene sharing a similar microstructure and component ratio. Besides, the SnS2/MBene microcomposites also revealed excellent selectivity and repeatability for NO2 sensing. The outstanding sensing properties of SnS2/MBene microcomposites were examined via density functional theory computation on adsorption performance, Bader transferred charges and charge density difference compared with SnS2/MXene theoretically. Hopefully, the present research may open up an innovative sensing design strategy for constructing NO2 sensors at room temperature, as well as upgrade the sensing properties of MXene-based sensor.

Climatic effects on aflatoxin contamination of maize

Aflatoxins are frequent contaminants of maize especially in the face of climate change with deleterious health and socio-economic impacts. South Africa is ranked 9th maize exporter globally; hence, insights need to be gained in terms of the maize value chain in South Africa with respect to aflatoxin contamination to evaluate consumers’ exposure. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique was used in this study to quantify aflatoxins in South African commercial maize. One thousand and twenty-eight (1028) maize samples were collected across six distinct agro-climatic regions over five harvest seasons (2017 – 2021). A total of 205 samples (19.94 %) were found to be contaminated with aflatoxins, with mean total aflatoxin concentration of 64.17 ppb amongst the contaminated samples, which is above the SA regulatory limit of 20 ppb for animal consumption. The year 2018 recorded the highest mean total aflatoxin value while North-West agro-climatic region had the highest mean total aflatoxin value. Drastic reduction in average rainfall significantly influence aflatoxin contamination of South African maize.

Systematic study of microzooplankton in mass culture of the green microalga Scenedesmus acuminatus and quantitative assessment of its impact on biomass productivity throughout a year

The green microalgae Scenedesmus spp. can grow rapidly and produce significant amounts of protein or lipid. However, frequent microzooplankton contamination leading to reduced biomass productivity has hindered the microalgae commercialization. Here, a comprehensive investigation into harmful microzooplankton species in mass cultures of a commercially promising species Scenedesmus acuminatus were conducted throughout the year. Twenty-five microzooplankton species were identified, with the amoeba Vannella sp. and the ciliate Vorticella convallaria being the most harmful to algal cells. The results indicated that it was the harmful grazers, rather than the overall microzooplankton diversity, led to culture deterioration and reduced biomass yield. Increasing the concentration of algal inoculants or reducing culture temperature during hot summer days were found to be effective in mitigating the impact of these harmful grazers. The findings will contribute to the best management protocol for monitoring and controlling the harmful microzooplankton in mass cultures of S. acuminatus.

Pediatric urinary tract infections caused by poultry-associated Escherichia coli.

Escherichia coli is the leading cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children and adults. The gastrointestinal tract is the primary reservoir of uropathogenic E. coli, which can be acquired from a variety of environmental exposures, including retail meat. In the current study, we used a novel statistical-genomic approach to estimate the proportion of pediatric UTIs caused by foodborne zoonotic E. coli strains. E. coli urine isolates were collected from DC residents aged 2 months to 17 years from the Children's National Medical Center Laboratory, 2013-2014. During the same period, E. coli isolates were collected from retail poultry products purchased from 15 sites throughout DC. A total of 52 urine and 56 poultry isolates underwent whole-genome sequencing, core genome phylogenetic analysis, and host-origin prediction by a Bayesian latent class model that incorporated data on the presence of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) among E. coli isolates from multiple vertebrate hosts. A total of 56 multilocus sequence types were identified among the isolates. Five sequence types-ST10, ST38, ST69, ST117, and ST131-were observed among both urine and poultry isolates. Using the Bayesian latent class model, we estimated that 19% (10/52) of the clinical E. coli isolates in our population were foodborne zoonotic strains. These data suggest that a substantial portion of pediatric UTIs in the Washington DC region may be caused by E. coli strains originating in food animals and likely transmitted via contaminated poultry meat.IMPORTANCEEscherichia coli UTIs are a heavy public health burden and can have long-term negative health consequences for pediatric patients. E. coli has an extremely broad host range, including humans, chickens, turkeys, pigs, and cattle. E. coli derived from food animals is a frequent contaminant of retail meat products, but little is known about the risk these strains pose to pediatric populations. Quantifying the proportion of pediatric UTIs caused by food-animal-derived E. coli, characterizing the highest-risk strains, and identifying their primary reservoir species could inform novel intervention strategies to reduce UTI burden in this vulnerable population. Our results suggest that retail poultry meat may be an important vehicle for pediatric exposure to zoonotic E. coli strains capable of causing UTIs. Vaccinating poultry against the highest-risk strains could potentially reduce poultry colonization, poultry meat contamination, and downstream pediatric infections.

Mitigating aflatoxin B1 in high-moisture sorghum silage: Aspergillus flavus growth and aflatoxin B1 prediction

Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus), a frequent contaminant in silage, is a significant producer of aflatoxins, notably the potent carcinogen aflatoxin B1. This contaminant poses a potential risk during the initial aerobic phase of ensiling. The present work studied the impact of temperature on A. flavus growth and aflatoxin B1 production in laboratory-scale sorghum silos during the initial aerobic phase. Growth curves of A. flavus were generated at various temperatures and modeled with the Gompertz model. Results indicated that the optimal temperature range for the maximum growth rate in sorghum mini-silos is between 25 and 30°C. Mold biomass and aflatoxin B1 levels were quantified using qPCR and HPLC, respectively. A predictive model for aflatoxin B1 synthesis in the initial ensiling phase was established, in function of grain moisture, external temperature, and time. Within the studied range, A. flavus’s initial concentration did not significantly influence aflatoxin B1 production. According to the model maximum aflatoxin production is expected at 30% moisture and 25°C temperature, after 6 days in the aerobic phase. Aflatoxin B1 production in such conditions was corroborated experimentally. Growth curves and aflatoxin B1 production highlighted that at 48 h of incubation under optimal conditions, aflatoxin B1 concentrations in mini-silos exceeded national legislation limits, reaching values close to 100 ppb. These results underscore the risk associated with A. flavus presence in ensiling material, emphasizing the importance of controlling its development in sorghum silos.

Variation in Pesticide Toxicity in the Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Associated with Consuming Phytochemically Different Monofloral Honeys

Insecticide toxicity to insect herbivores has long been known to vary across different host plants; this phenomenon has been widely documented in both foliage-feeders and sap-feeders. Species-specific phytochemical content of hostplant tissues is assumed to determine the pattern of induction of insect enzymes that detoxify insecticides, but specific phytochemicals have rarely been linked to host plant-associated variation in pesticide toxicity. Moreover, no studies to date have examined the effects of nectar source identity and phytochemical composition on the toxicity of insecticides to pollinators. In this study, we compared LD50 values for the insecticide bifenthrin, a frequent contaminant of nectar and pollen in agroecosystems, in the western honey bee, Apis mellifera, consuming three phytochemically different monofloral honeys: Nyssa ogeche (tupelo), Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust), and Fagopyrum esculentum (buckwheat). We found that bifenthrin toxicity (LD50) values for honey bees across different honey diets is linked to their species-specific phytochemical content. The profiles of phenolic acids and flavonoids of buckwheat and locust honeys are richer than is the profile of tupelo honey, with buckwheat honey containing the highest total content of phytochemicals and associated with the highest bifenthrin LD50 in honey bees. The vector fitting in the ordination analysis revealed positive correlations between LD50 values and two honey phytochemical richness estimates, Chao1 and Abundance-based Coverage Estimator (ACE). These findings suggest unequal effects among different phytochemicals, consistent with the interpretation that certain compounds, including ones that are rare, may have a more pronounced effect in mitigating pesticide toxicity.

Identification and characterization of Achromobacter spanius P-9 and elucidation of its deoxynivalenol-degrading potential.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) poses significant challenges due to its frequent contamination of grains and associated products. Microbial strategies for mitigating DON toxicity showed application potential. Eight bacterial isolates with DON degradation activity over 5% were obtained from various samples of organic fertilizer in this study. One of the isolates emerged as a standout, demonstrating a substantial degradation capability, achieving a 99.21% reduction in DON levels. This isolate, underwent thorough morphological, biochemical, and molecular characterization to confirm its identity, and was identified as a new strain of Achromobacter spanius P-9. Subsequent evaluations revealed that the strain P-9 retains its degradation activity after a 24-h incubation, reaching optimal performance at 35°C with a pH of 8.0. Further studies indicated that Ca2+ ions enhance the degradation process, whereas Zn2+ ions exert an inhibitory effect. This is the pioneering report of DON degradation by Achromobacter spanius, illuminating its prospective utility in addressing DON contamination challenges.

Chemometric and ICP-OES analyses of Forsythia europaea Degen & Bald. and its extracts

Forsythia represents a group of plants originating mainly from China and Japan, but one species is endemic and grows in the Balkans (Balkan forsythia, Forsythia europaea Degen & Bald.). Our previous studies on polyphenols in investigated extracts of Balkan forsythia showed that this plant is a good source of polyphenols. Analysis of the various extracts of Balkan forsythia (Forsythia europaea Degen & Bald.) by the application of ICP-OES method showed that they are rich in different macro and microelements. The abundance order of macroelements is K>Ca>P>Mg>Na in all extracts. Among the transition metals iron, manganese, zinc and copper are particularly important, and the order of abundance is Zn>Fe>Cu>Mn. Heavy metals which are the most frequent contaminants of food are lead, cadmium and arsenic, and the determination of their contents is of special importance on the safe use of plant species. The determination shows that aqueous extracts contain the highest quantity of elements, which is especially important. The contents of toxic elements are significantly lower than the permitted values. Statistical methods (Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering (AHC)) are useful tools for the grouping of samples and determining relations between investigated elements. This analysis shows that when higher quantities of Cr and Ba are present, the lower quantities of V are present, and vice versa. Based on our studies on polyphenols and minerals, we can expect the anti-inflammatory effects of extracts of Balkan forsythia.

Elimination of Curtobacterium sp. strain A7_M15, a contaminant in Prunus rootstock tissue culture production, using reduced graphene oxide–silver–copper and silver–selenium nanocomposites

BackgroundBacterial contamination poses a high risk to the successful establishment and maintenance of plant tissue cultures. The aim of this study was to identify the isolates representing the frequent bacterial contaminants of Prunus rootstock tissue cultures and to determine the most effective concentration of nanomaterials for Curtobacterium sp. strain A7_M15 elimination without a negative impact on explants.ResultsSix Curtobacterium sp. strains were isolated and identified, and the whole-genome sequence was obtained for strain A7_M15. Two nanocomposites, reduced graphene oxide–copper–silver and silver–selenium, with the highest bactericidal activity were selected for elimination of Curtobacterium sp. contamination in Gisela 5 rootstock tissue cultures. Both nanocomposites showed 100% inhibition of bacterial plaque formation on culture medium at concentrations of 100, 200 and 400 mg L-1 Ag (2 ×–8 × MBC). The quantity of Curtobacterium sp. on culture medium assessed using cfu enumeration was reduced by 92% and 74% in comparison to the positive control after treatment with reduced graphene oxide–silver–copper and silver–selenium at a concentration of 200 mg L-1 Ag, respectively. None of the tested concentrations resulted in a decrease in Curtobacterium sp. quantity in explants. Curtobacterium sp. was detected in donor Gisela 5 plants, indicating an endophytic character of this bacterium. The dry weight of explants was not negatively affected by the application of nanocomposites regardless of concentration, and no detrimental effect of either nanocomposite at 100 or 200 mg L-1 Ag on the surface covered by plants was observed.ConclusionsReduced graphene oxide–silver–copper and silver–selenium nanocomposites at 200 mg L-1 Ag effectively limited the Curtobacterium sp. presence in micropropagated Prunus rootstock without causing phytotoxicity; therefore, those treatments could be offered as prevention with a high activity against bacterial contamination in plant tissue cultures.Graphical

Characterization of dual-species biofilms formed by bacteria isolated from milk

This study evaluated biofilm formation of bacteria isolated from raw milk and investigated the composition of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) using Raman spectroscopy. Biofilms were formed from six isolates on a 96-well microplate at 7 and 25 °C in 1 and 10% reconstituted whole milk. Biofilms were then formed on stainless steel coupons at 7 °C from two isolates identified as strong biofilm producers. Pseudomonas fluorescens, a frequent contaminant of raw milk, forms single or dual-species biofilms with Staphylococcus aureus; however, the sessile cell number of S. aureus remained constant over ten days. Raman spectroscopy identified that EPS composition varied with carbohydrate and protein substrates, the predominant components in P. fluorescens single or dual-species biofilms. Understanding the formation and composition of biofilms at different temperatures and in milk concentrations that simulate the equipment used in the dairy industry is a significant subsidy for establishing adequate sanitary protocols for their mitigation.

Sites of blood collection and topical disinfectants associated with contaminated cultures: An ambidirectional cohort study.

We aimed to determine whether puncture sites for blood sampling and topical disinfectants are associated with rates of contaminated blood cultures in the emergency department (ED) of a single institution. This single-center, ambidirectional cohort study of 548 consecutive patients ≥20 years of age was performed in the ED of a university hospital in Japan over a 13-month period. Pairs of blood samples were collected for aerobic and anaerobic cultures from patients in the ED. Physicians selected puncture sites and topical disinfectants according to their personal preference. Potential contamination was identified in 110 of the 548 patients (20.1%). One hundred fourteen (20.8%) patients showed true-positive results for bacteremia, and 324 (59.1%) patients showed true-negative results. Multivariate analysis revealed more frequent contamination when puncture sites were disinfected with povidone-iodine (PVI) than with alcohol/chlorhexidine (ACHX) (adjusted risk difference, 19.1%; 95% confidence interval [CI]), 15.7-22.6; p < 0.001). In terms of blood collection sites, femoral and central venous (CV) catheter with PVI disinfection showed more frequent contamination than venous sites with ACHX (adjusted risk differences: 26.6%, 95% CI 21.3-31.9, p < 0.001 and 41.1%, 95% CI 22.2-59.9, p < 0.001, respectively). Rates of contaminated blood cultures were significantly higher when blood was collected from the CV catheter or femoral sites with PVI as the topical disinfectant.

Assessment of crAssphage as a human fecal source tracking marker in the lower Great Lakes

CrAssphage or crAss-like phage ranks as the most abundant phage in the human gut and is present in human feces-contaminated environments. Due to its high human specificity and sensitivity, crAssphage is a potentially robust source tracking indicator that can distinguish human fecal contamination from agricultural or wildlife sources. Its suitability in the Great Lakes area, one of the world's most important water systems, has not been well tested. In this study, we tested a qPCR-based quantification method using two crAssphage marker genes (ORF18-mod and CPQ_064) at Toronto recreational beaches along with their adjacent river mouths. Our results showed a 71.4 % (CPQ_064) and 100 % (ORF18-mod) human sensitivity for CPQ_064 and ORF18-mod, and a 100 % human specificity for both marker genes. CrAssphage was present in 57.7 % or 71.2 % of environmental water samples, with concentrations ranging from 1.45 to 5.14 log10 gene copies per 100 mL water. Though concentrations of the two marker genes were strongly correlated, ORF18-mod features a higher human sensitivity and higher positive detection rates in environmental samples. Quantifiable crAssphage was mostly present in samples collected in June and July 2021 associated with higher rainfall. In addition, rivers had more frequent crAssphage presence and higher concentrations than their associated beaches, indicating more frequent and greater human fecal contamination in the rivers. However, crAssphage was more correlated with E. coli and Enterococcus at the beaches than in the rivers, suggesting human fecal sources may be more predominant in driving the increases in E. coli and Enterococcus at the beaches when impacted by river plumes.

Nonbronchoscopic Bronchoalveolar Lavage Improves Respiratory Culture Accuracy in Critically Ill Patients.

Diagnosis of pneumonia is challenging in critically ill, intubated patients due to limited diagnostic modalities. Endotracheal aspirate (EA) cultures are standard of care in many ICUs; however, frequent EA contamination leads to unnecessary antibiotic use. Nonbronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage (NBBL) obtains sterile, alveolar cultures, avoiding contamination. However, paired NBBL and EA sampling in the setting of a lack of gold standard for airway culture is a novel approach to improve culture accuracy and limit antibiotic use in the critically ill patients. We designed a pilot study to test respiratory culture accuracy between EA and NBBL. Adult, intubated patients with suspected pneumonia received concurrent EA and NBBL cultures by registered respiratory therapists. Respiratory culture microbiology, cell counts, and antibiotic prescribing practices were examined. We performed a prospective pilot study at the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus Medical ICU in Cleveland, Ohio for 22 months from May 2021 through March 2023. Three hundred forty mechanically ventilated patients with suspected pneumonia were screened. Two hundred fifty-seven patients were excluded for severe hypoxia (Fio2 ≥ 80% or positive end-expiratory pressure ≥ 12 cm H2O), coagulopathy, platelets less than 50,000, hemodynamic instability as determined by the treating team, and COVID-19 infection to prevent aerosolization of the virus. All 83 eligible patients were enrolled and underwent concurrent EA and NBBL. More EA cultures (42.17%) were positive than concurrent NBBL cultures (26.51%, p = 0.049), indicating EA contamination. The odds of EA contamination increased by eight-fold 24 hours after intubation. EA was also more likely to be contaminated with oral flora when compared with NBBL cultures. There was a trend toward decreased antibiotic use in patients with positive EA cultures if paired with a negative NBBL culture. Alveolar immune cell populations were recovered from NBBL samples, indicating successful alveolar sampling. There were no major complications from NBBL. NBBL is more accurate than EA for respiratory cultures in critically ill, intubated patients. NBBL provides a safe and effective technique to sample the alveolar space for both clinical and research purposes.

Intergenerational effects on fertility in male and female mice after chronic exposure to environmental doses of NSAIDs and 17α-ethinylestradiol mixtures

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) are extensively used in human and veterinary medicine. Due to their partial removal by wastewater treatment plants, they are frequent environmental contaminants, particularly in drinking water. Here, we investigated the adverse outcomes of chronic exposure to mixtures of NSAIDs (ibuprofen, 2hydroxy-ibuprofen, diclofenac) and EE2 at two environmentally relevant doses in drinking water, on the reproductive organ development and fertility in F1-exposed male and female mice and in their F2 offspring. In male and female F1 mice, which were exposed to these mixtures, reproductive organ maturation, estrous cyclicity, and spermiogenesis were altered. These defects were observed also in F2 animals, in addition to some specific sperm parameter alterations in F2 males. Transcriptomic analysis revealed significant changes in gene expression patterns and associated pathways implicated in testis and ovarian physiology. Chronic exposure of mice to NSAID and EE2 mixtures at environmental doses intergenerationally affected male and female fertility (i.e. total number of pups and time between litters). Our study provides new insights into the adverse effects of these pharmaceuticals on the reproductive health and will facilitate the implementation of a future regulatory environmental risk assessment of NSAIDs and EE2 for human health.

Postharvest mycobial contaminants of white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) and their management using plant essential oils

Being highly perishable, mushrooms’ quality and shelf life is affected by various factors during postharvest conditions, among which fungal contamination is the main cause. The goal of this study is to identify and manage fungal contaminants present in mushrooms during postharvest conditions. A total of 23 fungi were isolated as contaminants from the samples of Agaricus bisporus collected from three major vegetable markets in Kathmandu city, Nepal. Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, and Rhizopus stolonifer were found to be the most frequent fungal contaminants. These were treated with various concentrations of essential oils (EOs) of Cinnamomum tamala, Mentha spicata, Zanthoxylum armatum, and Eucalyptus citriodora using poisoned food technique. Significant (p&amp;lt;0.05) inhibition of mycelial growth and spore germination was found in all testedfungi by all EOs. A strong inhibitory action of M. spicata oil was recorded against A. flavus and R. stolonifer while, A. niger was best controlled by C. tamala oil at the concentration of 20 µl/ml. These results suggest that EOs of three tested plants could be a good alternative to control fungal contaminants and extend the shelf life of Agaricus bisporus in postharvest conditions.

Experimental Study of The Potential for Energy Absorption and Drying Time of Coffee Beans Using a Dome Dryer Type Dryer in The Sukmailang Area of Pesawaran Regency

The traditional drying method has many weaknesses, namely it is very dependent on the weather, so that drying takes a long time. Traditional drying methods result in frequent contamination of dust, dirt, insects, and if wet they are prone to moss growth due to delays in drying during cloudy or rainy weather. This study designed a coffee bean dryer with electric power which is the result of converting solar energy with the help of photovoltaic which is first stored in the battery. The main components of this tool are: drying chamber, drying roof, tray, thermostat, heating element, this test is carried out to determine changes in seed moisture content, required power and efficiency. The temperature is set at 50°C with a fan speed of 3m/s. The fastest decrease in water content occurred in the mass of 1 kg coffee bean samples starting on June 22, 2022 from 28.5% water content to 12% moisture content. Meanwhile, the longest decrease in the water content of coffee beans was at a mass of 2 kg coffee beans on June 24, 2022, the initial water content of coffee beans was 29.3% to 13.2%. The greater the mass of the coffee beans to be dried, the greater the time required to dry the coffee beans using a dome dryer. The maximum power is in the Sukmailang area, Pesawaran district which has a plateau as high as 1200 meters above sea level (MDPL) with an average power of 11.38 Watt. The highest power is produced at 12:00 WIB with a value of 16.49 Watts. The use of solar panels in the Sukmailang area, Pesawaran Regency which has a plateau as high as 1200 (MDPL) is still not effectively utilized because the results obtained have an average efficiency value of 2.22%

Experimental Study of The Potential for Energy Absorption and Drying Time of Coffee Beans Using a Dome Dryer Type Dryer in The Sukmailang Area of Pesawaran Regency

The traditional drying method has many weaknesses, namely it is very dependent on the weather, so that drying takes a long time. Traditional drying methods result in frequent contamination of dust, dirt, insects, and if wet they are prone to moss growth due to delays in drying during cloudy or rainy weather. This study designed a coffee bean dryer with electric power which is the result of converting solar energy with the help of photovoltaic which is first stored in the battery. The main components of this tool are: drying chamber, drying roof, tray, thermostat, heating element, this test is carried out to determine changes in seed moisture content, required power and efficiency. The temperature is set at 50°C with a fan speed of 3m/s. The fastest decrease in water content occurred in the mass of 1 kg coffee bean samples starting on June 22, 2022 from 28.5% water content to 12% moisture content. Meanwhile, the longest decrease in the water content of coffee beans was at a mass of 2 kg coffee beans on June 24, 2022, the initial water content of coffee beans was 29.3% to 13.2%. The greater the mass of the coffee beans to be dried, the greater the time required to dry the coffee beans using a dome dryer. The maximum power is in the Sukmailang area, Pesawaran district which has a plateau as high as 1200 meters above sea level (MDPL) with an average power of 11.38 Watt. The highest power is produced at 12:00 WIB with a value of 16.49 Watts. The use of solar panels in the Sukmailang area, Pesawaran Regency which has a plateau as high as 1200 (MDPL) is still not effectively utilized because the results obtained have an average efficiency value of 2.22%