Vegetable Samples Research Articles

Microbiological quality of edible vegetable oils produced and marketed in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia.

Edible oils are imported and produced in Ethiopia, notably in Gondar, and their production has expanded considerably in recent years. The expansion of locally produced edible vegetable oils with severe quality control, substandard edible oil production, and quality deterioration may contribute to the contamination of microbes, which may cause public health problems. This study determines the microbiological quality of edible vegetable oils being produced and marketed in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia, in 2021. A laboratory-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from May to July 2021 in Gondar City. A simple random sampling technique was used to collect 17 edible vegetable oil samples. Aseptically collected samples were analyzed in the microbiology lab room. The microbiological quality of vegetable oil was assessed using standard microbiological procedures and techniques. The collected data were entered into a Microsoft Excel 2016 spreadsheet and Stata Version 14. A non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test was used to assess significant variation. Seventeen edible vegetable oil samples were examined and found to contain a varying number of bacteria, yeast, and molds. Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella Pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the identified bacteria, whereas Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus fumigatus were the identified fungi. Total coliform and fecal coliform isolates were also identified in the oil samples. A level of microbial contamination that has public health importance was observed in some of the oil samples analyzed, and the isolated microorganisms indicate unhygienic handling, processing, and storage practices in the oil production and market sites. The introduction of strict rules, regulations, and updated manufacturing technologies and processes to ensure food safety and quality is needed.

The impact of desertification on soil health stability in Semi-Arid alpine Regions: A case study of the Qilian Mountains in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, China

Desertification poses a serious threat to ecosystem health, and with global changes, the variability and uncertainty of ecological functions in semi-arid alpine regions are increasing. A pressing issue is quantifying how desertification affects the soil system functions in these areas. However, empirical evidence is still lacking in exploring the interaction between desertification degradation gradients and soil functions under natural conditions by coupling soil physicochemical properties, soil microbiota, and vegetation. For this purpose, we conducted a survey sampling of soil and vegetation at five sites with no, light, moderate, severe and extremely severe desertification in Qinghai Area of Qilian Mountains National Park, China. We introduced a new concept soil health stability (SHS) to represent the actual health status of soil systems in semi-arid alpine regions and assessed the impact of desertification on this stability. We observed that the intensification of desertification has led to a significant decrease in soil organic matter, relative abundance of soil microorganisms, and plant factors. The contributions of plant factors and soil microbiota to SHS showed a negative correlation with the degradation gradient. SHS varied across different degradation gradients, rather than following a single linear relationship, with a relatively rapid decline in the transition from non-desertification to moderate desertification. Our work emphasizes that the coupled contributions of soil physicochemical properties, soil microbiota, and vegetation to SHS. It calls for intensified prevention and treatment of mild and moderate desertification, while providing new methods and deeper scientific understanding for accurately evaluating soil system functions in semi-arid alpine regions.

Optimization of QuEChERS method for determination of pesticide residues in vegetables and health risk assessment.

The present study focused on the optimization of the QuEChERS extraction method for the determination of 61 pesticide residues and associated health risk assessment in 144 samples of commonly consumed vegetables, viz., eggplant, cabbage, green chilli, okra, and tomato. The samples were collected between January and April 2022 from three different districts within Gujarat, India. The QuEChERS method was optimized and utilized for the extraction of samples. The samples were analyzed by UHPLC-q-TOF/MS and GC-MS/MS. The modified QuEChERS method was successfully validated, and the obtained results were satisfactory as per the 2021 SANTE guidelines. The residue analysis of the vegetable samples showed that about 4% of total samples contained single pesticide residues. Pesticide residues below the quantitation limit (BQL) were observed in eggplant, cabbage, and okra samples. In total, 15.62% (n = 5) samples of green chilli showed the presence of pesticides such as azoxystrobin, bifenthrin, cypermethrin, fenpropathrin, and propargite whereas 3% (n = 1) tomato samples contained cyfluthrin. In total, 97.22% of the samples had residues that were below the European Union Maximum Residue Limit (EU MRL). Two samples of green chilli had pesticide residues above EU MRL. The Hazard Index (HI) and Hazard Quotient (HQ) were used to assess the health risks associated with green chilli and tomato consumption. The HI and HQ values for adolescents and adults were found to be less than 1. The modified QuEChERS method was found to be easy and effective and can be implemented for routine sample analysis. The study revealed the presence of pesticide residues in tomato and green chilli samples. Further, the outcome provided information pertaining to current pesticide status, concluding that consumption of these commodities is unlikely to pose any health risk, though long-term monitoring studies focusing on dietary health risk assessment must be initiated.

Risk assessment of trace elements in vegetables grown in river Yamuna floodplain in Delhi.

Urban agriculture is common in fertile river floodplains of many developing countries. However, there is a risk of contamination in highly polluted regions. This study quantifies health risks associated with the consumption of vegetables grown in the floodplain of the urban river 'Yamuna' in the highly polluted yet data-scarce megacity Delhi, India. Six trace elements are analyzed in five kinds of vegetable samples. Soil samples from the cultivation area are also analyzed for elemental contamination. Ni, Mn, and Co are observed to be higher in leafy vegetables than others. Fruit and inflorescence vegetables are found to have higher concentrations of Cr, Pb, and Zn as compared to root vegetables. Transfer Factor indicates that Cr and Co have the highest and least mobility, respectively. Vegetable Pollution Index indicates that contamination levels follow as Cr > Ni > Pb > Zn. Higher Metal Pollution Index of leafy and inflorescence vegetables than root and fruit vegetables indicate that atmospheric deposition is the predominant source. Principal Component Analysis indicates that Pb and Cr have similar sources and patterns in accumulation. Among the analyzed vegetables, radish may pose a non-carcinogenic risk to the age group of 1-5year. Carcinogenic risk is found to be potentially high due to Ni and Cr accumulation. Consumption of leafy vegetables was found to have relatively less risk than other vegetables due to lower Cr accumulation. Remediation of Cr and Ni in floodplain soil and regular monitoring of elemental contamination is a priority.

Investigation of use of hydrophilic/hydrophobic NADESs for selective extraction of As(III) and Sb(III) ions in vegetable samples: Air assisted liquid phase microextraction and chemometric optimization

In this paper, a green, cost-effective sample preparation method based on air assisted liquid phase microextraction (AA-LPME) was developed for the simultaneous extraction of As(III) and Sb(III) ions from vegetable samples using hydrophilic/hydrophobic natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs). Central composite design was used for the optimization of extraction factors including NADES volume, extraction cycle, pH, and curcumin concentration. Limits of detection for As(III) and Sb(III) were 1.5 ng L−1 and 0.06 ng L−1, respectively. Working ranges for As(III) and Sb(III) were 0.2–300 ng L−1 (coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.9978) and 5–400 ng L−1 (R2 = 0.9996), respectively. Relative standard deviations for As(III) and Sb(III) were 2.2–2.8% and 2.9–3.2%, respectively. Enrichment factor of the method was 184 for As(III) and 172 for Sb(III). The accuracy and precision of the AA-NADES-LPME method were investigated by intraday/interday studies and standard reference material analysis, respectively. Finally, the AA-NADES-LPME method was successfully applied to microwave digested vegetable samples using the standard addition approach and acceptable recoveries were achieved.

Supramolecular deep eutectic solvent: a powerful tool for pre-concentration of trace metals in edible oil.

The utilization of supramolecular deep eutectic solvent eddy-assisted liquid-liquid microextraction utilizing 2-hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin (SUPRADES) has been identified as a successful method for pre-enriching Cu, Zn, and Mn in vegetable oil samples. Determination of each element was conducted by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) after digestion of metal-enriched phases. Various parameters were examined, including the composition of SUPRADES species [2HP-β-CD: DL-lactic acid], a cyclodextrin mass ratio of 20wt%, a water bath temperature of 75 °C, an extractor volume of 800 μL, a dispersant volume of 50μL, and an eddy current time of 5min. Optimal conditions resulted in extraction rates of 99.6% for Cu, 105.2% for Zn, and 101.5% for Mn. The method exhibits a broad linear range spanning from 10 to 20,000μg L-1, with determination coefficients exceeding 0.99 for all analytes. Enrichment coefficients of 24, 21, and 35 were observed. Limits of detection ranged from 0.89 to 1.30μg L-1, while limits of quantification ranged from 3.23 to 4.29 μg L-1. The unique structural characteristics of the method enablethe successful determination of trace elements in a variety of edible vegetable oils.

The prevalence of helminth eggs in raw vegetables from street markets in Eskişehir, Türkiye

This research was performed on a total of 120 vegetables, with 12 samples taken from each available Eskişehir district markets. In this study, we aimed to determine the presence of contamination from helminth eggs in 10 types of vegetables: carrot, lettuce, parsley, arugula, cress, fresh onion, mint, cucumber, dill, and purslane. 200 g of material from each collected sample was prepared for the helminthological examination. The prepared samples were examined for helminth eggs with a light microscope that could be identified at 40x magnification. The data were analyzed using SPSS 16 software. Helminth eggs were detected in 20 (16.6%) vegetable samples. According to the research, the highest rate of helminth eggs was observed in spring onion (66.6%), while the lowest rate was found in mint (16.6%) and purslane (16.6%). Ascaris lumbricoides eggs were found in 11 (9.1%) of the samples, and strongyle type eggs in 9 (7.5%). In this study, we observed that infectious forms of parasites can contaminate many foods and potentially infect people after consumption if these foods are not washed well. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of helminth eggs in raw vegetables, which are commonly consumed produce sold in street markets in Eskişehir, Türkiye.

Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination and Health Risk Associated with Cultivated Vegetables along Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway, Bangladesh.

The purpose of this research work is to evaluate the degree of eight heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Cr, and Ni) contamination and health risks of three regularly consumed vegetables (papaya, bottle gourd, and esculent) near one of Bangladesh's busiest roadways, the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway. The heavy metal concentrations in 45 vegetable samples were analyzed using an atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS). These samples were collected from five different sampling sites based on various land use patterns adjacent to the highway. The average concentrations (mg/kg) of Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cr, and Ni were found to be 9.86, 246.8, 16.9, 28.0, 9.02, and 2.02, respectively, for papaya; 14.9, 281.2, 387.6, 49.0, 10.1, and 2.92, respectively, for bottle gourd; and 17.6, 183.4, 107.2, 80.7, 7.98, and 2.34, respectively, for esculent. The mean concentrations of Cr, Zn, and Mn in papaya, bottle gourd, and esculent were higher than the acceptable limit. Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between Fe-Cu, Zn-Fe, Cu-Fe, and Fe-Zn in papaya; Cu-Zn, Fe-Cr, Zn-Ni, and Cr-Fe in bottle gourd; and Mn-Cr, Mn-Ni, Mn-Fe, and Cr-Ni in esculent, thereby indicating their common anthropogenic sources like agricultural activities, waste from the commercial area, filling station, and vehicular emissions. Health risk assessment through target hazard quotient (THQ) revealed the highest THQ of 9.52 for Cr in bottle gourd, which poses a high non-carcinogenic health risk to the localities upon the intake of these contaminated vegetables. Target cancer risk (TCR) was found to be highest for Cr in papaya (0.013) and bottle gourd (0.014). TCR trends were found for Cr in the following order: bottle gourd > esculent > papaya. This study contributed the greatest concern for both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health impacts through ingesting contaminated vegetables.

Microbiological Quality of Irrigation Water and Leafy Vegetables in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

The quality of water used for the irrigation of leafy vegetables in urban settings is in doubt due to contamination associated with poor hygiene and water pollution. This study examined the microbiological quality of irrigation water and leafy vegetables at Chang’ombe in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania as well as the perceptions and level of awareness of nearby consumers. Water and leafy vegetable samples were analysed for faecal coliform (FC) using standard techniques. Perception and awareness of consumers were collected using a questionnaire survey. The results showed an average FC count of 406.1 ± 16.40 MPN/100 ml for the irrigation water. The sweet potato leaves and amaranth had FC counts of 11.40 ± 5.220 CFU/g and 17.60 ± 11.98 CFU/g respectively. The levels of FC in irrigation water and leafy vegetables were within the allowed limits by WHO and NAS-USA standards respectively but fall short of some stricter European standards for irrigation water. The household survey showed that consumers perceive irrigation water at Chang’ombe as polluted and may be one of the main sources of food contamination. They minimize associated health risks in various ways such as using clean storage, washing and cooking. It was concluded that the microbial quality of water used for irrigation of leafy vegetables at Chang’ombe poses no risk to public health, but based on tighter standards, improved public awareness of hygienic practices is crucial to address potential risks.

Cushions serve as conservation refuges for the Himalayan alpine plant diversity: Implications for nature-based environmental management

Globally, rapid climate and land-use changes in alpine environments are posing severe risks to their bountiful biodiversity and ecosystem services. Currently, nature-based solutions are fast-emerging as the preferred approach to address the challenges of environmental sustainability. In alpine environments, cushion plants owing to their unique architecture and adaptability offer a potential nature-based system to plan biodiversity conservation and habitat restoration strategies. Here, we employed an analytical framework to test whether and how the cushion plants facilitate the sustenance of alpine plant diversity in Kashmir Himalaya. We specifically aimed to answer: what are the effects of the cushion plants on the patterns of alpine species richness and phylogenetic diversity, and whether these effects vary across spatial scales (local versus landscape), cushion types, and changing elevation. We randomly selected pairs of cushion and neighbouring non-cushion plots (size 100 m2) across 34 different alpine sites in the study region. Within each plot, we randomly laid three 5 m2 quadrats for vegetation sampling, and sampled a total of 204 quadrats in 68 plots with seven cushion types along elevation ranging from 3100 to 3850 m. Our results revealed positive effects of the cushions by supporting a higher community species richness (SR) and phylogenetic diversity (PD). The effects were consistent both at the local (i.e., quadrat) and landscape (i.e., plot) scales, but varied significantly with the cushion type. Interestingly, SR and PD showed an increasing trend with increase in elevation in cushion communities, thereby supporting stress gradient hypothesis. Along the elevational gradient, the cushion communities showed phylogenetic overdispersion, but clustering by non-cushions. Overall, our study provides empirical evidence to reinforce the role of the cushions as conservation refugia for an imperilled alpine plant diversity in the Himalaya. Looking ahead, we highlight the far-reaching implications of our findings in guiding the nature-based environmental management of alpine ecosystems worldwide.

Patterns of forest community diversity, regeneration potential and carbon storages along an altitudinal gradient in Eastern Himalaya, India

This study showed changing patterns in the plant species composition, diversity, and carbon storage potential of different forests along altitudinal gradients (i.e. 100 – 1900 m) in Eastern Himalayan India. Different tree, shrub and herb species were sampled along the altitudinal gradients ranging from tropical to temperate forests through Nested Plot design. In each forest, vegetation sampling was made by establishing a permanent plot of 250 m × 250 m as per ISRO-GBP/NCP-VCP protocol. Individuals of trees ≥10 cm girth at breast height (GBH), shrubs and herbs were recorded in 4, 8 and 16 subplots of 31.62 m × 31.62 m, 5 m × 5 m and 1 m × 1 m, respectively. Community attributes such as species richness, density, basal area, diversity indices and biomass and carbon storages were computed for each study site. A total of 5 forest communities (2 each from tropical and subtropical and one from temperate forest) were identified. The woody species diversity was highest in the subtropical forest followed by tropical and temperate forest. Altitude played an important role in the Eastern Himalayan Mountains in the establishment and distribution of forest community. Forest community composition changes with elevation, for instance, the dominant communities like Dipterocarpus retusus–Phoebe goalparensis–Schima wallichii (D-P-S), Gmelina arborea–Schima wallichii-Duabanga grandiflora (G-S-D), Schima wallichii–Duabanga grandiflora–Alstonia scholaris (S-D-A), Alstonia scholaris–Terminalia myriocarpa–Bischofia javanica (A-T-B) and Acer thomsonii–Rhodendron arboreum–Quercus lamellose (A-R-Q) were present at elevational ranges of 100–300 m, 300–700 m, 700–1100 m, 1100–1500 m and 1500–1900 m, respectively. The study showed that about 41–57% of the tree species exhibited good regeneration followed by 23–30% as fair, 6–16% as poor, and 6–21% species did not show regeneration along the altitudinal gradient. The total biomass carbon (Mg C ha−1) varied from 84.74 to 163.56 in tropical, 103.12 – 156.41 in subtropical and 133.05 in temperate forest. In conclusion, community composition, regeneration pattern and biomass carbon storage changes along altitude because of altered biophysical characteristics. However, despite variations in elevation, factors for forest disturbance at different altitudes significantly contributed to the community attributes and overall accumulation of biomass carbon. Hence, the traditional management practices carried out by local communities also play a crucial role in shaping the structure, composition, and carbon dynamics of forest ecosystems. Understanding the impacts of these practices is essential for promoting sustainable forest management by conserving forests and preserving carbon stocks for mitigating climate change in future. This study emphasizes the importance of long-term forest monitoring to promote biodiversity conservation and formulate conservation strategies that support sustainable forest management policies to which ensure continuous provision of ecosystem services in the region.

3D-Printed Fluorescent Hydrogel Consisting of Conjugated Polymer and Biomacromolecule for Fast and Sensitive Detection of Cr(VI) in Vegetables.

Portable fluorescent film sensors offer a solution to the contamination issue in homogeneous sensor detection systems. However, their special structure leads to low sensitivity and a long response time, resulting in a significant scientific challenge limiting their development and application. In this work, we propose a dual design strategy to prepare highly sensitive film sensors for rapidly detecting Cr2O72-. Specifically, P(Fmoc-Osu)-SA hydrogel films were developed by integrating the biological macromolecule sodium alginate (SA) with the conjugated polymer poly(N-(9-Fluorenylmethoxycarbonyloxy)succinimide) (P(Fmoc-Osu)), using both mold and inkjet 3D printing methods. The "molecular wire effect" of the sensing unit P(Fmoc-Osu) and the water channel within the film substrate are responsible for the improved sensitivity and the reduced response time of this thin film sensor. P(Fmoc-Osu)-SA hydrogel films prepared by these two methods can rapidly detect Cr2O72- with limits of detection of 1.18 and 0.078 nM, respectively. Considering that 3D-printed hydrogel films can be tailored to different shapes according to detection needs, the P(Fmoc-Osu)-SA hydrogel films produced from this method were effectively applied in vegetable samples. This study provides an innovative and effective strategy for the development of biocompatible hydrogel sensors that offer the potential for determining trace amounts of Cr2O72- in agriculture.

Universal organophosphate pesticides detection by peptide based fluorescent probes

In practical applications, the rapid and efficient detection of universal organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) can assist inspectors in quickly identifying the presence of OPs in samples. However, this presents a challenge for most well-established methods, typically designed to detect only a specific type of organophosphorus molecule at a time. In this proof-of-concept study, we draw inspiration from the structural similarities among OPs to develop innovative peptide-based fluorescence probes for the first time, which could efficiently detect a broad range of OPs within a mere 3 min. Analysis of fluorescence curve fitting reveals a clear linear correlation between the fluorescent intensity of the peptide probes and the concentration of OPs. Additionally, the selectivity analysis indicates that these peptide fluorescent probes exhibit an excellent response to various OPs while maintaining sufficient selectivity for detecting other pesticide types. Accurate sample analysis has also highlighted the potential of these peptide probes as practical tools for the rapid detection of OPs in actual vegetable samples. In summary, this proof-of-concept study presents an innovative approach to designing and developing ultrafast, universally peptide-based OP probes. These custom-designed peptide probes may facilitate rapid sample screening and offer initial quantification for OPs, potentially saving valuable time and effort in practical OP detection.

Hard template assisted synthesis of iron-cobalt phosphide core-shell for the enhanced electrochemical detection of fenitrothion

Pesticides have an unprecedented concern in food safety as bioaccumulation occurs in the human body and causes various side effects. The electrochemical sensor attracts researchers with quick response, higher accuracy, and ease of carry for on-site detection. Herein, we prepare the hard template-assisted synthesis of Iron-Cobalt Phosphide (FCP) Core-shell for the electrochemical detection of fenitrothion (FN). The core–shell morphology of FCP supports with the enhancement of intrinsic activity, such as excellent mass transfer toward the electrochemical detection of FN with the glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) analysis of FN using FCP/GCE tested with the range of 0.001 to 850 µM of FN, the superior catalytic activity of FCP/GCE achieves the limit of detection (LoD) and sensitivity of 38.1 nM and 1.122 µA µM−1 cm−2 respectively. Moreover, the FN analysis using FCP/GCE tested with the vegetable samples achieves excellent recovery results of FN with the grapes, tomato, corn, and cauliflower samples. The results of the repeatability, reproducibility, and storage stability test of FCP/GCE suggest the excellent practical feasibility of the FCP/GCE sensor.

A tailored dual core-shell magnetic SERS substrate with precise shell-thickness control for trace organophosphorus pesticides residues detection

For addressing the challenges of strong affinity SERS substrate to organophosphorus pesticides (OPs), herein, a rapid water-assisted layer-by-layer heteronuclear growth method was investigated to grow uniform UiO-66 shell with controllable thickness outside the magnetic core and provide abundant defect sites for OPs adsorption. By further assembling the tailored Au@Ag, a highly sensitive SERS substrate Fe3O4-COOH@UiO-66/Au@Ag (FCUAA) was synthesized with a SERS enhancement factor of 2.11 × 107. The substrate's suitability for the actual vegetable samples (cowpeas and peppers) was confirmed under both destructive and non-destructive detection conditions, showing a strong SERS response to fenthion and triazophos, with limits of detection of 1.21 × 10-5 and 2.96 × 10-3 mg/kg in the vegetables under destructive conditions, and 0.13 and 1.39 ng/cm2 for non-destructive detection, respectively. The FCUAA substrate had high SERS performance, effective adsorption capability for OPs, and demonstrated good applicability, thus exhibiting great potential for rapid detection of trace OPs residues in the food industry.

A sensitive paper-based vapor-test kit for instant formalin detection in food products

A colorimetric sensing method based on a paper-based vapor-test kit was successfully developed for the selective and sensitive real-time monitoring of formalin in food samples. The device was specifically designed to efficiently extract and detect formalin simultaneously. A microcentrifuge tube was used as the sample solution container, with the inner cap serving as the reaction and detection zone. Formalin was converted into gaseous formaldehyde through controlled heating, which was then extracted and collected on a filter paper coated with Nash's reagent. The color change on paper was used for formalin quantification using a smartphone for detection and image analysis. Under optimal conditions, our method provided a linear range of 0.5–75 mg L−1 with a detection limit of 0.11 mg L−1. This method effectively determined formalin in fresh food and vegetable samples, with recoveries ranging from 92 to 111%, demonstrating comparable accuracy to the standard method for practical food quality control and safety.

Development of fluorescent sensing platform with degradable hydrogel for rapid and ultratrace detection of Cr(VI) in vegetables

Degradable fluorescent film sensors are highly ideal for real-time outdoor detection of heavy metal ions and offer the advantage of preventing secondary contamination, aligning with the principle of sustainable development. In this work, we constructed a degradable fluorescent hydrogel for the specific detection of Cr(VI) ions, utilizing poly(1-pyrene butyric acid) (PPBA) as the sensing moiety and sodium alginate (SA) as the cross-linking substrate. The porous network structure of the PPBA-SA film provided enhanced ion transport channels and active sites, thereby reducing fluorescence response time and augmenting detection sensitivity. The PPBA-SA film exhibited rapid and selective recognition of Cr(VI) ions among a panel of 16 anions and 22 cations, achieving an impressive limit of detection of 1.99 nM. Moreover, we successfully applied this platform to detect Cr(VI) ions in four different vegetable samples. Notably, the PPBA bound with Cr(VI) ions could be effortlessly removed from the film, and the substrate underwent rapid degradation within 24 h, attaining a degradation rate of 72.4 %. This work provides an innovative and effective strategy for fabricating green and sustainable fluorescent sensors.

KPC-2-producing Enterobacterales from ready-to-eat food to hospitalized patients

Foodstuffs are a well-documented source of multidrug-resistant bacteria, and hospitalized patients are usually susceptible to hospital infections owing to their immune status. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the presence of beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales in ready-to-eat foods consumed by hospitalized patients. For this purpose, 51 vegetable and meat samples were collected over 2 months and analyzed. Enterobacterales isolates were identified and subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing, followed by beta-lactamase gene screening, pH tolerance assays, and whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Isolates harboring genes encoding extended-spectrum beta-lactamases, cephalosporinases, or carbapenemases were detected, and all isolates tolerated pH levels similar to those in the human gastrointestinal tract. The blaKPC-2 carriers were characterized by WGS and lineages closely related to those causing human infections were identified. These results showed that dietary intake is an alternative route for the transmission of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, which must be considered when designing effective strategies for infection control.

A molecule-imprinted electrochemiluminescence sensor based on CdS@MWCNTs for ultrasensitive detection of fenpropathrin.

A molecularly-imprinted electrochemiluminescence sensor was constructed for the determination of fenpropathrin (FPT) by molecular imprinting technology. In this sensing platform, the introduction of CdS@MWCNTs significantly enhanced the initial ECL signal of the luminol-O2 system. Specifically, MWCNTs was used as a carrier to adsorb more CdS, in which CdS acted as a co-reaction promoter for luminescence. Molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) containing specific recognition sites of FPT was used as the material for selective recognition. With increasing amount of FPT the ECL signal decreased. Under the optimum conditions, the ECL response was linearly related to the logarithm of FPT concentration. The developed ECL sensor allowed for sensitive determination of FPT and exhibited a wide linear range from 1.0 × 10- 10 mol L- 1 to 1.0 × 10- 6 mol L- 1. The limit of detection was 3.3 × 10- 11 mol L- 1 (S/N = 3). It can be used for the detection of FPT in vegetable samples.

Response of vulnerable karst forest ecosystems under different fire severities in the Northern Dinaric Karst mountains (Slovenia)

BackgroundThis study deals with wildfires in marginal areas of the Mediterranean climatic and biogeographical regions (Northern Mediterranean) where fires were not common. The aim of the research was to determine the differences in floristic composition and traits at different intensities of fire damage and to analyze the changes in forest ecosystems during the wildfires that took place in the summer of 2022. The study included both the zonal forests and non-native black pine (Pinus nigra) forests. Remote sensing techniques linked to the vegetation data sampled in the field during the 2023 vegetation season, the very first season after the fires, were also used in the fire assessment.ResultsThe study confirmed that satellite data analysis, orthophoto interpretation, and on-site vegetation sampling provide equivalent information on fire severity, opening up the possibility of transferring knowledge to similar post-fire sites without field sampling in the future. TWINSPAN classification analysis divided the sampled plots into clusters based on tree species prevalence and fire severity. The diagnostic species of the clusters were calculated using a fidelity measure. Ordination revealed that the first axis on the detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) correlated with wildfire severity. Ecological conditions and strategies, life forms, chorotypes, seed dispersal classes, and regeneration traits were analyzed along this gradient. We found that post-fire sites became warmer, drier, and lighter, which favored the growth of ruderal, theropytic, cosmopolitan, anemochorous and post-fire emergent species. After the fire, a “wave” of annual ruderal species was observed.ConclusionsThe results indicate that post-fire recovery can be left to natural processes without human intervention, except in the case of non-native pine stands where planting or seeding may be necessary. Otherwise, it is essential to control the possible occurrence of invasive species. Isolated adaptations of species to fire have also been observed, such as heat-stimulated germination. Such adaptations could develop in regions exposed to frequent fires and where fires act as an evolutionary factor.