Temperature Storage Conditions Research Articles

Report on the establishment of the safe shelf life of certain ready‐to‐eat foods, sliced and prepacked in retail, in relation to the risk of Listeria monocytogenes

Abstract The Barcelona Public Health Agency (ASPB) asked the Scientific Advisory Committee on Food Safety for an opinion on the safe shelf life of Listeria monocytogenes in certain products (cheeses, cooked meats, including pâtés, and cured meats) sliced and prepackaged prior to retail sale. In order to assess in which cases or under which conditions ready‐to‐eat foods under study may promote the growth of pathogenic microorganisms during their shelf life, the methodology proposed by EFSA (2020) was used. In addition, the predictive model of growth / non‐growth boundaries, based on the gamma concept approach, was applied. To carry out this assessment, the ASPB provided a total of 90 samples (32 in 2020 and 58 in 2021) divided into 4 categories of ready‐to‐eat foods: cheese, cooked ham, pâté / foie and cured ham. In all cases, the food was sliced or cut into portions in retail establishments of the city of Barcelona, and packaged in different formats: vacuum‐packed, in a heat‐sealed or shrink‐wrapped tray, or wrapped in film. The results of the evaluation indicated that the ready‐to‐eat pre‐packaged foods evaluated for the group of cheeses, cooked ham, pâtés and foie required the indication of a “use by” date, as the handling conditions expose the product to a potential L. monocytogenes contamination and the pH and aw (water activity) characteristics associated with these products support its growth. Considering a reasonably foreseeable scenario in relation to storage temperature conditions in retail (2 days at 5°C) and in a domestic refrigerator (5 days at 9.5°C), the safe shelf life of the products that would more favour the growth of L. monocytogenes would be between 4.5 and 4.9 days (corresponding to the 5th and 10th percentile, respectively). This estimate is the result of a conservative approach that provides a margin of safety to the outcome of the evaluation.

Is blood blood? Comparing quantitation of endogenous steroids and luteinizing hormone in concurrently collected venous serum and Tasso+ SST capillary serum samples.

The monitoring of endogenous steroids in urine has been an important component of the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) for the last decade. Recently, the quantitation of endogenous steroids in blood has been incorporated into the ABP to increase sensitivity in circumstances where the excretion of urinary ABP biomarkers is low. Current ABP guidelines mandate the use of venous blood draws for blood steroid sample collections, however, recent efforts have focused on investigating the use of less invasive sample collection methods, such as capillary blood collected from the upper arm. The focus of this study was to compare the analytical results of venous and capillary blood collected weekly from 20 individuals, 10 males and 10 females, over six weeks. The two primary biomarkers of the blood steroid ABP module, testosterone (T) and the testosterone/androstenedione (T/A4) ratio, were compared, as well as luteinizing hormone (LH) and the T/LH ratio in male participants, two biomarkers known to be responsive to T use. All biomarkers showed excellent agreement between venous and capillary blood. Longitudinal stability between sample types within individuals was also comparable for all biomarkers. Finally, storage of simultaneously collected capillary samples at room temperature and frozen conditions was compared with evaluate the potential impact of non-cold chain shipping conditions. Most biomarkers showed excellent agreement between frozen and room temperature storage conditions. These results indicate capillary blood collections represent a promising alternative to venous blood collections for the blood steroid module of the ABP.

PSI-5 Evaluation of EhV (surrogate for African swine fever virus) inactivation in corn- and soybean-based feed ingredients and diets at various times and temperatures during storage

Abstract African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a member of the nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses (NCLDVs) and remains stable in a variety of environments, including animal feed ingredients as shown in previous laboratory experiments and simulations. Emiliania huxleyi virus (EhV) is another member of NCLDV, which has a restricted host range limited to a species of marine algae called Emiliania huxleyi. This algal NCLDV has many similar morphological and physical characteristics to ASFV which makes it a safe and reliable surrogate for studying ASFV survival and inactivation in feed ingredient matrices in-situ under various time and temperature storage conditions. The objective of the present study was to investigate the inactivation of ASFV in various feedstuffs under a wide range of time and temperature conditions during storage using EhV as a surrogate. Corn- and soybean-based feed ingredients including corn, corn fermented protein, distiller dried grains with solubles, extruded soybean meal, high protein distiller’s grains, solvent-extracted soybean meal, soybean hulls, complete feed, and a positive control (no matrix) were inoculated with EhV (1 × 108 viruses/mL). Negative controls were inoculated with medium containing no EhV for each matrix. To assess the effects of different times and temperatures of storage, all samples were stored at temperatures of 4, 24, and 34 °C for 1, 5, 60, and 120 d. For each timepoint and temperature combination, samples were evaluated for virus presence (qPCR) and viability using a previously validated viability qPCR (v-qPCR) method. On average, we observed a 0.2 log reduction in viable viral DNA content over the 120-d period, with a 0.1 log reduction across varying temperatures. No reductions in EhV viability exceeding 1 log were detected for any matrix and the positive control at any time and temperature combination evaluated. No EhV was recovered from the negative control samples. Given that the experimental error was calculated to be within the range of 1 log, we concluded that storing EhV at 4, 24, or 34 °C for up to 120 d did not result in the inactivation of EhV in any of the ingredients, complete feed, or the control with no matrix. These results demonstrate that ASFV-like NCLDVs is extremely resilient and can maintain viability in various feed matrices during long-term storage and suggest that extending storage time alone may not be an effective mitigation practice against African swine fever virus.

OSL signal of electronic components from portable radios for radiation accident dosimetry

The portable radio (hand-held device) is the preferred means of communication for the first responders from the homeland security forces and is systematically carried during intervention. This electronic device could therefore be a good candidate as a possible fortuitous dosimeter to estimate the dose received by the members of these security forces in the event of a radiological accident. For this purpose, the dosimetric properties of electronic components extracted from the circuit board of portable radios used by a French specialised intervention unit were investigated using the OSL technique. The dosimetric properties of such electronic components were compared to those of resistors extracted from mobile phones to determine whether an OSL protocol developed for mobile phone resistors could be applied also to these electronic components. The OSL dosimetric properties were generally similar and the results of a dose recovery test using these components removed from a portable radio were in good agreement with the nominal dose. Further experiments showed the importance of knowing the storage temperature conditions of these devices to accurately estimate the dose in case of a radiological accident.

Photocurable extracellular matrix sealant for cessation of venous hemorrhage.

Hemorrhage is the second leading cause of death in patients under 46 years of age in the United States. Cessation of hemorrhage prevents hemorrhagic shock and tissue hypoxia. Controlling the bleed via direct pressure or tourniquet is often the first line of defense, but long-term care requires staples, hemostatic agents, or sealants that seal the vessel and restore blood flow. Here, we compare a new photocurable extracellular matrix sealant (pcECM) with low, medium, and high crosslink density formulations to a commercially available fibrin-based sealant, TISSEEL®. pcECM has potential uses in surgical and remote settings due to room temperature storage conditions and fast preparation time. Here, we determine if pcECM sealant can stop venous hemorrhage in a murine model, adhere to the wound site in vivo throughout the wound-healing process, and has the mechanical properties necessary for stopping hemorrhage. Adjusting pcECM crosslinking density significantly affected viscosity, swelling, burst strength, tensile strength, and elasticity of the sealant. 3-Dimensional ultrasound volume segmentations showed pcECM degrades to 17 ± 8% of its initial implant volume by day 28. Initially, local hemodynamic changes were observed, but returned close to baseline levels by day 28. Acute inflammation was observed near the puncture site in pcECM implanted mice, and we observed inflammatory markers at the 14-day explant for both sealants. pcECM and fibrin sealant successfully sealed the vessel in all cases, and consistently degraded over 14-28 days. pcECM is a durable sealant with tunable mechanical properties and possible uses in hemorrhage control and other surgical procedures.

Impact of Environmental Conditions on the Concentrations of Trichothecenes, Their Glucosides, and Emerging Fusarium Toxins in Naturally Contaminated, Irradiated, and Fusarium langsethiae Inoculated Oats.

Trichothecenes produced by Fusarium species are commonly detected in oats. However, the ratios of the concentrations of free trichothecenes and their conjugates and how they are impacted by different interacting environmental conditions are not well documented. This study aims to examine the effect of water activity (0.95 and 0.98 aw) and temperature (20 and 25 °C) stress on the production of T-2 and HT-2 toxins, deoxynivalenol and their conjugates, as well as diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS). Multiple mycotoxins were detected using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry from 64 contaminated oat samples. The highest concentrations of HT-2-glucoside (HT-2-Glc) were observed at 0.98 aw and 20 °C, and were higher than other type A trichothecenes in the natural oats' treatments. However, no statistical differences were found between the mean concentrations of HT-2-Glc and HT-2 toxins in all storage conditions analysed. DAS concentrations were generally low and highest at 0.95 aw and 20 °C, while deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside levels were highest at 0.98 aw and 20 °C in the naturally contaminated oats. Emerging mycotoxins such as beauvericin, moniliformin, and enniatins mostly increased with a rise in water activity and temperature in the naturally contaminated oats treatment. This study reinforces the importance of storage aw and temperature conditions in the high risk of free and modified toxin contamination of small cereal grains.

Effect of different storage conditions on dimensional accuracy of 3D-printed dental models.

The objective was to determine the accuracy of 3D-printed dental models subjected to different storage conditions using six different material and printer combinations. Three completely dentate models were designed using dental CAD software (3Shape Dental System). A horseshoe-shaped solid base with a posterior horizontal bar was used. The models were printed in a horizontal direction against the building platform without support. The models were printed using six printers with the corresponding recommended resin material: Carbon M2 (DPR10), HeyGears A2D4K (Model HP UV2.0), Stratasys J5 (MED610), Stratasys Origin One (DM200), Envision One (E-Model LightDLP), and Asiga Pro4K (VeriModel) with a standard layer thickness of 50 μm. All printed models underwent scanning using a laboratory scanner (Sirona inEOS X5) after printing. Subsequently, the models were randomly assigned into three groups of storage conditions, LT: cold environment (4±1°C), HT: hot and dry environment (50±2°C), and RT: room temperature (25±2°C) serving as the control. Each group was kept under the designated condition and was scanned at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8 weeks. The total number of models (N) was 72, with 6 printers producing 12 models per printer for 3 storage conditions, resulting in 4 models for each storage condition and each printer. The generated STL files were imported into a 3D inspection software for comparison with the original STL files. In-tolerance percentage, the deviation RMS, trueness, and precision were obtained and analyzed with least square mean linear regression using JMP Pro 15 to identify the significant effects (α = 0.05). The in-tolerance percentage as-printed was significantly different among different printers. Significant dimension deviations were observed after the first week of storage at HT and with subsequent weeks of storage. RT and LT did not show significant dimensional changes. Models printed with Carbon M2 showed the highest in-tolerance percentages compared to the other printers. The model deviations were affected by storage conditions and the printer used, with high-temperature storage showed least stability compared to low and room temperatures. No significant difference was observed between low and room temperature storage conditions. The Carbon M2 printer showed the highest accuracy among all printers tested. The region had a significant effect on the deviation measured, with the abutment body showing the least deviation. Among the 3D printers evaluated, A2D4K by HeyGears and Carbon M2 printers demonstrated the highest accuracy in terms of both precision and trueness.

Influence of Packaging Materials and Size on Shelf Life and Quality of White Button Mushroom during Storage

Background: Because of porous fruit body, high moisture content and extremely high respiration rate, the postharvest shelf life of button mushroom is a bottleneck in the mushroom industry as very high losses are recorded during transportation and marketing if the produce is not handled properly. Methods: NBS-5 strain of white button mushroom was treated with 0.05% potassium meta-bisulphite (KMS) followed by packing in 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000 g capacity polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) bags of 150 gauge along with 0.01% vents. Dipping in water and packing in 200 g capacity bags was used as control. The packed mushrooms were stored at ambient (24-25°C and 58-62% RH) and low (4-6°C and 80-82% RH) temperature. Result: A significant increase in PLW (%) was recorded in all the treatments both at ambient and low temperature during storage but the increase was faster at room than refrigerated conditions. The white button mushroom in PE had a shelf-life of 7 and 16 days whereas it was 3 and 7 days, respectively, at ambient and low temperature storage conditions in control. A significant reduction in protein, sugars and phenols was recorded whereas polyphenol oxidase (PPO) increased notably during storage. Pack sizes of 200 and 400 g had an edge over 600, 800 and 1000 g with higher shelf-life at both storage conditions. PE packing was found comparatively better for extension of shelf-life compared to PP. The overall acceptability of button mushroom was also found better in 200 g and 400 g packing. The study revealed that the postharvest shelf-life of white button mushroom var. NBS-5 can be extended up to 16 days by packing in 200 and 400 g packs of PE stored at low temperature after pre-treatment of KMS.

Storage duration and temperature affect pathogen load, heavy metals, and nutrient levels in faecal derived fertiliser

ABSTRACT There are debates regarding the safety of faecal derived fertiliser (FDF) due to notions that harmful substances may persist at undetectable levels. A major concern is the recolonisation of indigenous pathogens and nutrient changes while undergoing storage. Abiotic factors such as duration and temperature on indigenous pathogen re-growth and nutrient during FDF storage have received little research attention. In this study, we assess the effect of varying storage temperature conditions and duration on indigenous E. coli re-growth and NPK changes of different FDF (enriched co-compost, NECo and co-compost, Co) during storage. A 2 × 3 × 6 factorial design was used with factors: fertiliser, temperature, and duration. The factorial had 36 experimental conditions in a completely randomised design with three replications. FDF samples were collected monthly for 6 months and analysed for pH, EC, organic carbon, N, NH4-N, NO3-N, P, K, E. coli, and total coliform. Findings show storage temperature and duration did not affect indigenous E. coli re-growth and total N in stored NECo and Co. However, NH4-N concentrations of NECo decreased between 27% and 55% with increasing duration of storage at lower temperatures (5°C and 25°C). The significance of this study for the FDF industry is that it is safe after storage and longer storage do not necessarily influence nutrient losses in stored FDF. Future studies are recommended to investigate the effect of moisture on stored FDF.

Observational study of blood complement levels of components before infusion

To investigate the changes in complement content in component blood before clinical transfusion. According to different preparation processes, storage temperatures and time periods, 180 specimens of plasma from the same source of 20 people were left at different stages of the preparation process. Homologous specimens were concentrated in the same batch of experiments to observe the changes in complement C3 and C4 content under different storage temperature and process stage grouping conditions. Using the same specimen to detect C3 and C4 content, the detection results of homologous specimens were sorted into nine groups according to different storage temperatures and preparation process stages for comparison.and there is no significant difference between simple -40°C and -60°C storage at different temperatures. Storage at 4°C for 7 days can significantly reduce complement content. Virus inactivation preparation process can significantly reduce complement content. Repeated freezing and thawing during the processing of frozen plasma can change complement content. Correlation analysis of complement C3 and C4 content determination experiments showed that the changes of the two under different conditions such as temperature, preparation process and storage time were significantly positively correlated. The storage temperature and storage time of frozen plasma, repeated freezing and thawing, centrifugal concentration and light inactivation can affect the complement content.

Effect of Storage Conditions on Physical Properties, Lipid Oxidation, Isoflavones and Antioxidant Capacity of Flour Prepared from Soy Milk By-Product

During the production of soy milk, a by-product is produced, which is typically treated as a waste material. This by-product has significant levels of dietary fibre, proteins, isoflavones and antioxidant capacity. As such, it has been recommended as an effective functional ingredient when milled to a flour after drying at 100 °C. The shelf-life stability of this dried by-product is relatively unknown when stored under different storage conditions (2 °C, 20 °C and 40 °C) and initial moisture content (9%, 12% and 14%), both packaged and exposed to immediate environments. This study investigated the impact of storage over ten weeks on the physical properties, lipid oxidation, antioxidant capacity and stability of isoflavones of this functional ingredient. The results showed that exposure significantly affected the stability of flour, especially on moisture content, water activity, isoflavone concentration and lipid oxidation. Different initial moisture contents significantly affected the initial and final colour, alongside final moisture and water activity when stored covered at 2 °C and 20 °C. Different storage temperatures were found to affect the moisture content, water activity, lipid oxidation, conversion of isoflavones and antioxidant capacity, with all tested initial moisture contents. Of note, higher conversion rates of malonyl isoflavones to β-glucosides were observed at high temperatures and longer times, while a minimum change in aglycone content occurred. In conclusion, the stability of this flour is least influenced by the initial moisture content but is more affected by high storage temperature and unpackaged conditions.

Stabilising and functional effects of Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) protein isolate on encapsulated Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG during processing, storage and gastrointestinal digestion

The present study investigated Spirulina (Arthrospiraplatensis) protein isolate (SPI) for its ability to preserve the biological activity of L. rhamnosus GG (LGG) cells under diverse physicochemical stressors associated with the lyophilisation process, storage, and in vitro digestion. The lyoprotective and stabilising effects of SPI were compared to whey protein isolate (WPI) and pea protein isolate (PPI). The microstructural, physicochemical, and thermal properties of the probiotic lyophilisates were also assessed. Overall, SPI demonstrated superior lyoprotective and storage stabilising effects compared to WPI, although it was less efficient than PPI. Elevated storage temperature and relative humidity (RH) conditions accelerated LGG inactivation rates, especially in the case of WPI, which was primarily attributed to increased LGG's metabolic activity. The fermentation of the probiotic freeze-drying media impaired LGG’s ability to withstand the physicochemical stressors during lyophilization and storage. However, the pre-fermentation step improved LGG’s resistance to harsh acidic conditions in simulated gastric fluids. Bile salts and pancreases did not significantly affect LGG's survivability, with WPI and PPI showing the most effectiveness. Employing an in vitro co-culture model of the gut epithelium, WPI and PPI demonstrated satisfactory adhesion of LGG cells to the mucus layer, displaying the highest cell adhesion potential. In conclusion, SPI appears to be a promising wall material for probiotic cell encapsulation, serving as an alternative to WPI.

Quality management in the import and sale of tropical and subtropical fruits

An analysis of the dynamics of the market for fruits imported to Russia has been carried out. The market volume, exporters, and sales volume of tropical fruits in Russia have been studied. The factors shaping the quality of tropical fruits are considered. When ensuring logistics, customs clearance, and storage in distribution centers, it is necessary to take into account the actual degree of maturity of climacteric fruits and manage technological regimes at all stages of product distribution, with regard to the physiological state of the product. The work studies the influence of temperature conditions of storage and ripening of avocado fruits on the duration of storage of fruits and the intensity of the processes responsible for their ripening. The values of respiration intensity and ethylene concentration during storage of avocado fruits, which make it possible to determine the degree of ripeness of the fruit and control the duration of their storage, have been established.

Can Chitosan Applications in Pre- and Post-Harvest Affect the Quality and Antioxidant Contents of Red Raspberries?

Red raspberry fruit production is increasing worldwide due to the growing consumer interest in foods with high antioxidant properties. However, raspberries are very perishable fruit with a short shelf life. Chitosan applications have shown promising results in promoting the storage of different berry fruit. This work aimed at analysing the effects of chitosan applied in pre- and/or post-harvest on the quality and antioxidant properties of raspberry fruit during cold storage and room temperature conditions (i.e., 6 d at 4 °C and 3 d at 20 °C, respectively). Pre-harvest chitosan applications reduced fruit weight loss during cold storage and room temperature conditions but also reduced fruit decay at room temperature conditions. At the end of the whole storage conditions, chitosan-coated raspberries at pre-harvest were brighter than those of the uncoated control fruit. Furthermore, pre-harvest treatments with chitosan increased the total phenol and anthocyanin contents and promoted the highest total antioxidant activity compared with other treatments. After cold storage, post-harvest chitosan application drastically reduced the development of fungi that cause fruit decay, thus minimizing the potential risk of mycotoxin production. Overall, this study demonstrates that applications of chitosan in pre-harvest are sufficient to ensure the goal of maintaining and/or increasing fruit quality and antioxidant properties during cold storage and room temperature conditions.

First assessment of hydrogen/brine/Saudi basalt wettability: implications for hydrogen geological storage

Introduction: Underground hydrogen (H2) storage is a prominent technique to enable a large-scale H2-based economy as part of the global energy mix for net-zero carbon emission. Recently, basalts have gained interest as potential caprocks for subsurface H2 storage due to their low permeability, vast extension, and potential volumetric capacity induced by structural entrapment of the buoyant H2. Wettability represents a fundamental parameter which controls the capillary-entrapment of stored gases in porous media.Methods: The present study evaluates the wettability of basalt/H2/brine system of two basalt samples from Harrat Uwayrid, a Cenozoic volcanic field, in Saudi Arabia. The H2/basalt contact angle was measured using a relevant reservoir brine (10% NaCl) under storage conditions of 323K temperature and pressure ranges from 3 to 28 MPa using the modified sessile drop method. The surface roughness of the basaltic rocks was determined to ensure accurate results.Results: The investigated Saudi basalt samples are water-wet, thereby they did not achieve a 100% hydrogen wetting phase even at 28 MPa pressure. The measured contact angles slightly decrease as pressure increases, thereby pressure did not significantly influences the height of the H2 column.Discussion: We interpret this trend to the slight increase in H2 density with increasing pressure as well as to the olivine-rich mineralogical composition of the Saudi basalt. Thus, from the wettability aspects, Saudi basalt has the potential to store a large volume of H2 (>1,400 m height) and maintain its excellent storage capacity even in deep, high-pressure regimes. This study demonstrates that the basalt rock texture (pore throat radii) and mineralogy control their capacity for subsurface H2 storage.

Allergy patient-specific IgE antibody shows significantly stability during 3 months of storage at multiple temperatures from -80 to 25°C.

The detection of allergen-specific IgE antibodies is an important biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment monitoring of allergic diseases. And the pre-analytical phase is an important part of the overall quality of the laboratory. In this study, 44 patients with allergic diseases (including 23 patients with allergic rhinitis, 12 patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma, and 9 patients with allergic dermatitis) were included in the outpatient center of the Department of Allergy, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University. We mixed the serums of the above 44 patients (approximately 0.8 ml of serum volume per patient) into a large volume of serum pool (about 35 ml in total) and divided into 26 parts. And 26 serum samples were stored at 4 different temperatures for 90 days to observe the stability of sIgE antibodies to 16 allergens in serum. The results show that serum sIgE antibody titers in patients with allergic diseases show significant stability during 90 days of storage, even at room temperature. Good stability even after up to 10 freeze-thaw cycles under low temperature storage conditions.

Effects of Commercial Natural Compounds on Postharvest Decay of Strawberry Fruit

Gray mold and Rhizopus rot, which is caused by Botrytis cinerea and Rhizopus stolonifer, respectively, are the most destructive forms of postharvest decay of the strawberry fruit. In this work, we tested the effectiveness of the control on the postharvest decay of the strawberry fruit (Fragaria × ananassa Duch cv. ‘Monterey’) following postharvest applications of six commercial natural compounds: chitosan-based coating compound (1% of ‘ChitP’, ‘ChitS’, ‘ChitK’, ‘ChitO’), commercial essential oil (EOs) products based on grapefruit seed extract (0.5% of ‘GraFr’), sweet orange (0.5% of ‘SwOr’), a product that included eugenol, geraniol, and thymol EO, (0.4% of ‘EuGeTh’), an organic compound as humic acid (0.5% w/v of ‘HuAc’), and, lastly, methyl jasmonate plant growth regulator (1% v/v ‘MeJA’). Strawberries were dipped in solution for 30 s and incubated at room temperature (20 ± 0.5 °C) or at cold storage conditions (4 ± 0.5 °C) following 4 days of shelf life at 20 °C. The treatments with ‘ChitP’, ‘ChitS’, and ‘ChitO’ provided ~30%–40% reduction of gray mold in cold storage conditions, while the ‘MeJA’, ‘SwOr’, and ‘GraFr’ with high activities of volatile substances were more effective at controlling gray mold at room temperature. ‘HuAc’, ‘ChitK’, and ‘ChitO’ were more effective at controlling Rhizopus rot in both cold storage (~50%) and room temperature conditions.

Taste-Masked Flucloxacillin Powder Part 2: Formulation Optimisation Using the Mixture Design Approach and Storage Stability.

Flucloxacillin is prescribed to treat skin infections but its highly bitter taste is poorly tolerated in children. This work describes the application of the D-optimal mixture experimental design to identify the optimal component ratio of flucloxacillin, Eudragit EPO and palmitic acid to prepare flucloxacillin taste-masked microparticles that would be stable to storage and would inhibit flucloxacillin release in the oral cavity while facilitating the total release of the flucloxacillin load in the lower gastrointestinal tract (GIT). The model predicted ratio was found to be very close to the stoichiometric equimolar component ratio, which supported our hypothesis that the ionic interactions among flucloxacillin, Eudragit EPO and palmitic acid underscore the polyelectrolyte complex formation in the flucloxacillin taste-masked microparticles. The excipient-drug interactions showed protective effects on the microparticle storage stability and minimised flucloxacillin release at 2 min in dissolution medium. These interactions had less influence on flucloxacillin release in the dissolution medium at 60 min. Storage temperature and relative humidity significantly affected the chemical stability of the microparticles. At the preferred storage conditions of ambient temperature under reduced RH of 23%, over 90% of the baseline drug load was retained in the microparticles at 12 months of storage.

Antilisterial activity of cinnamon essential oil, pomegranate extract, or strawberry tree extract against Listeria monocytogenes in slices of dry-cured ham and pork loin.

Owing to concerns about the antimicrobial resistance of agents that can prevent the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in meat, researchers have investigated natural preservatives with antilisterial effects. However, in vivo application of essential oils and plant extracts usually results in reduced antimicrobial activity in meat products when compared to in vitro studies. This study aimed to evaluate the in vivo antimicrobial activity of cinnamon essential oil, pomegranate, and strawberry tree extracts in slices of dry-cured ham and pork loin against L. monocytogenes. Fragments of sterile dry-cured ham were inoculated with 100 μL cinnamon oil 0.5%, pomegranate, or strawberry crude extract. After 10 min, 100 μL of L. monocytogenes serotype 4b (104 colony-forming unit [CFU]/mL) was inoculated, and samples were incubated at 7 °C for 7 d to simulate the processing and storage temperature conditions of dry-cured meat products. L. monocytogenes was detected and quantified. Only strawberry extract presented significant differences (P < 0.05) from the control; thus, it was selected for the assay with 2% and 4% salt-treated pork loin. The strawberry tree extract significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the growth of L. monocytogenes in dry-cured ham. However, it could not reduce L. monocytogenes growth in pork loin, regardless of the salt concentration. This is the first report on the antimicrobial effect of strawberry tree leaf extract against L. monocytogenes in dry-cured ham.

Concentration of Phthalate Esters in Bottled Water: A Case Study in Effurun, Delta State, Nigeria

Phthalate esters (PAEs), a group of chemical compounds, are extensively used as additives in plastics. The objective of this study was to determine how much of a few target PAEs have leached into various samples of drinking water packaged in PET bottles in Effurun, Delta State, Nigeria as well as how ambient temperature, sunshine exposure, and cold storage conditions have affected the concentration of PAE. The concentrations of Di-ethyl-phthalate (DEP), di-butyl-phthalates (DBP), benzyl-butyl-phthalate (BBP), di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP), and Bis-(2-ethyl-hexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were determined in bottled water samples. The concentrations of PAEs were determined using a gas chromatography coupled with a mass sepctroscopy analyzer (GC-MS). Phthalate compound was observed to be in all bottled water placed under different storage conditions; cold storage (CW), ambient storage (AW), and sunlight storage (SLW) for a period of 2, 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks. However, the greatest leaching effect was observed in PET bottled water placed sunlight conditions for sixteen weeks with concentrations of; DEHP (2.1-11.2) µg/L, DEP (0.98-3.87) µg/L, DBP (2.98-13.8) µg/L. The results from this study indicated that, under various storage conditions, DEP, DBP and DEHP from PET bottles may leach more into the drinking water over a period of time under different storage conditions. The result additionally gave indication that DEHP; a known endocrine disruptor, with anti-androgenic and possible human carcinogen effects, exceeded the 6 µg/L USEPA Maximum Contamination Level (MCL) in drinking water, and also greater than 8 µg/L which is the indicated MCL by the World Health Organization (WHO).