scholarly journals Do vegetables/fruits act as a vehicle in the spread of COVID-19?

Author(s):  
Kapil Telang ◽  
Rahul Jain ◽  
Ajoy Sodani ◽  
Prachi Shaw ◽  
Susmit Kosta

The current study was aimed to find out whether the COVID-19 virus is detectable upon the fruits and vegetables after coming in close contact with a patient suffering from nSARS-CoV-2. We included ten subjects, who tested positive for nSARS-CoV-2 RNA within seven days of the experiment. After explaining the experiment, a tray filled with seasonal vegetables and fruits were placed in front of them. The tray remained within their reach, for next thirty minutes. The subjects were requested to remove their face masks and remain so throughout the task. They were requested to manipulate the food articles the way they liked. Subjects were instructed to cough into their hands and then to manipulate each item at least 5 times, during the experiment. Thereafter, the trays were moved into an open and shaded area with free flow of natural air but no direct sunlight. After 1-hour, swabs were taken from surfaces of items by thoroughly rubbing over each of them. Samples were sent immediately to our RT-PCR lab. The nSARS-CoV-2 RNA was not detected, from the samples collected from the fruit/vegetable, at the end of one hour of the direct exposure to the COVID-19 patients. Our results suggest, even after direct exposure to and significant handling by the COVID-19 patients the nSARS-CoV-2 RNA remains undetected after one hour of storage in open. The fruits and vegetables, in real-life situations, are unlikely to act as a fomite and play any significant role in the spread of this disease.

2009 ◽  
Vol 38 (Supplement-1) ◽  
pp. 99-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Beczner ◽  
I. Bata-Vidács

Vegetables and fruits are staple food for the human mankind, and they are also considered as the symbol of healthy nutrition. They are consumed fresh and cooked, in salad mixes, freshly pressed, fermented, minimally processed form, stored under different conditions, etc. Since they are in close contact with the environment, natural or artificial, and have a natural microbiota on their surface highly variable as a function of the surrounding, they are prone to get contaminated with human pathogens, too. More attention is paid to the food-borne outbreaks in the last 10 years related to the consumption of contaminated plant foods, and it is also in the focus of our interest. The main activities of the Unit cover the following areas: microbial contamination of fruits and vegetables, also in relation to the soil, the methods of cell count reduction using also non-thermal methods, the biofilm formation and the response ofBacillus cereusto the technological stresses.


2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 64-68
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Michalska

Abstract Nowadays, thanks to greater awareness of society and development of restorative medicine, more and more attention is paid to preventive care. That is caused by the fact that there is little progress for both sexes in the frequency of healthy behavior: girls fall much worse than boys in terms of frequency of physical activity, they do not eat breakfast either; boys do not maintain a healthy diet and are reluctant to eat vegetables and fruits, they often drink high-calorie sodas and less frequently brush teeth. Though with age some improvements in oral hygiene and certain eating behaviors can be noticed. It has been determined that overweight and obesity is a serious problem, as they can contribute to developmental disorders. In this respect it should be the responsibility of teachers to provide individual physical education (according to medical qualifications), prevent various forms of discrimination and bullying among peers, provide individual counseling and health education, weight control of students. It has been defined that for modern teachers it is a difficult task as students rarely eat fruits and vegetables, do not care about hygiene and frequency of meals, have passive mode of leisure. The acquisition of health during puberty allows functioning smoothly in society. However, despite the continuous work on improving and introduction of new programs of health education classes into schools of Poland, children still suffer from health-related problems. According to epidemiological research most of children in Poland fall on obesity, overweight and accompanying disorders and allergies. Youth is also exposed to accidents and related injuries. The problem is that students do not receive assistance and necessary information.


2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-117
Author(s):  
Nurul Istiqomah ◽  
Nunung Sri Mulyani ◽  
Izza Mafruhah ◽  
Dewi Ismoyowati

Indonesia as an agricultural country has the potential to compete in the agricultural market in the international market, in line with the existence of the ASEAN / ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) Free Market. Ngawi Regency is a fertile area and is one of the buffer zones of the agricultural sector in East Java. Horticulture commodities are one of the main sources in the agricultural sector, because they have high potential and can contribute to the economy of a region. Horticultural commodities in the form of fruits and vegetables are an important food source to meet the nutritional needs of the community. Agriculture with a focus on horticultural crops in Ngawi Regency was developed with a cluster system based on the level of progress, harvest area and by considering agro-climate to map the superior horticultural commodities. The purpose of this study was to map the conditions of horticultural agriculture and analyze problems in the cluster of horticulture plants in Ngawi Regency. The research method is a mixed method using descriptive analysis, Geographic Information System (GIS), and using the Analysis Hierarchy Process (AHP). The conclusion of this study is that the potential development of horticultural clusters in Ngawi Regency requires structuring and developing the location of base commodities in accordance with the conditions of the agro-ecosystem. The development of existing commodities at these base points will make the commodity superior and support the creation of horticultural cluster centers and the development of existing agribusiness in an area. Development of horticulture base commodities for seasonal vegetables and fruits can be adjusted to the LQ results for each sub-district in Ngawi Regency. The results of the Indepth interview processed using AHP obtained results that in fact there were three main factors in the development of clusters, namely production consisting of four derivative factors namely research and development, superior seeds, fertilizers and anti-pest drugs and then marketing with derivative factors namely product standardization, packaging , traditional markets and modern markets. Then the third factor of the institution consists of training, networking, government support and assistance. 


Author(s):  
Garrett Cullity

In Paradise Lost, Satan’s first sight of Eve in Eden renders him “Stupidly good”: his state is one of admirable yet inarticulate responsiveness to reasons. Turning from fiction to real life, this chapter argues that stupid goodness is an important moral phenomenon, but one that has limits. The chapter examines three questions about the relation between having a reason and saying what it is—between normativity and articulacy. Is it possible to have and respond to morally relevant reasons without being able to articulate them? Can moral inarticulacy be good, and if so, what is the value of moral articulacy? And, thirdly, can moral philosophy help us to be good? The chapter argues that morality has an inarticulacy-accepting part, an articulacy-encouraging part, an articulacy-surpassing part, and an articulacy-discouraging part. Along the way, an account is proposed of what it is to respond to the reasons that make up the substance of morality.


Fermentation ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 60
Author(s):  
Vincenzo Michele Sellitto ◽  
Severino Zara ◽  
Fabio Fracchetti ◽  
Vittorio Capozzi ◽  
Tiziana Nardi

From a ‘farm to fork’ perspective, there are several phases in the production chain of fruits and vegetables in which undesired microbial contaminations can attack foodstuff. In managing these diseases, harvest is a crucial point for shifting the intervention criteria. While in preharvest, pest management consists of tailored agricultural practices, in postharvest, the contaminations are treated using specific (bio)technological approaches (physical, chemical, biological). Some issues connect the ‘pre’ and ‘post’, aligning some problems and possible solution. The colonisation of undesired microorganisms in preharvest can affect the postharvest quality, influencing crop production, yield and storage. Postharvest practices can ‘amplify’ the contamination, favouring microbial spread and provoking injures of the product, which can sustain microbial growth. In this context, microbial biocontrol is a biological strategy receiving increasing interest as sustainable innovation. Microbial-based biotools can find application both to control plant diseases and to reduce contaminations on the product, and therefore, can be considered biocontrol solutions in preharvest or in postharvest. Numerous microbial antagonists (fungi, yeasts and bacteria) can be used in the field and during storage, as reported by laboratory and industrial-scale studies. This review aims to examine the main microbial-based tools potentially representing sustainable bioprotective biotechnologies, focusing on the biotools that overtake the boundaries between pre- and postharvest applications protecting quality against microbial decay.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Rusin ◽  
Joanna Domagalska ◽  
Danuta Rogala ◽  
Mehdi Razzaghi ◽  
Iwona Szymala

AbstractChemical contamination of foods pose a significant risk to consumers. A source of this risk is due to the consumption of products contaminated with heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb). The aim of the study was to research the levels of Cd and Pb contamination of selected species of vegetables and fruits in the form of fresh, frozen, dried and processed products. The goal was to verify which of these food groups was more contaminated with heavy metals. The study covered 370 samples of fruits and vegetables including apples, pears, grapes, raspberries, strawberries, cranberries, as well as beetroots, celeries, carrots and tomatoes. The content of Cd and Pb was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Quantitative results were analyzed using statistical models: analysis of variance, outlier analysis, post-hoc multiple comparison Tukey test. The tests showed that the levels of Cd and Pb concentration in samples of fresh, processed, frozen and dried fruits and vegetables varied substantially. The highest concentrations were recorded in dried products. Several fruit and vegetable samples exceeded the maximum permissible concentrations of Cd and Pb. The contamination of these products could be a significant source of consumer exposure to heavy metals when these products are a part of the diet.


2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 186-192
Author(s):  
Wendy Silver

Purpose Organizations will need HR departments that take bold new approaches if they are to weather the uncertainty and changes on the horizon. This paper aims to discuss what makes an organization or a leader BRAVE, and examples of HR professionals and organizations leading the way are provided to help readers bravely shape their own organizations. Design/methodology/approach This paper draws upon various real-life examples of organizations whose HR departments are leading the way. Findings Organizations need BRAVE HR professionals and leaders to create, implement and communicate key initiatives to ensure companies make decisions that support workplace cultures that people choose to join and remain a part of. Originality/value No amount of technology can replace the forward-thinking thought, communication and action that being BRAVE requires. This paper will help HR professionals gain a braver perspective.


2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mari Feli Gonzalez ◽  
David Facal ◽  
Ana Belen Navarro ◽  
Arjan Geven ◽  
Manfred Tscheligi ◽  
...  

The HERMES Cognitive Care and Guidance for Active Aging project proposes an integrated approach to cognitive assistance, promoting the autonomy of elderly users through pervasive technology. This work aims to describe elderly people’s opinions when they are presented scenarios developed in this project. Two focus groups were organized in Austria and Spain with a view to collecting their impressions about the way in which the technological device can cover their needs; complementarily, a second session was conducted including a quantitative questionnaire. Although some participants were reluctant to use the technology, they welcomed some functionalities of the HERMES system and they considered that using them can help them to become familiar with them. Usefulness, usability, and use of real-life information for functionalities such as cognitive games are considered to be key areas of the project. This evaluation has provided the developers of the system with meaningful information to improve it and it guarantees that the system addresses elderly people’s needs.


2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 134-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Bush

Purpose The No Harm Done films provide hope and give support to those affected by self-harm. The accompanying digital packs dispel myths, answer frequently asked questions, provide practical advice and signpost to further help and support. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach YoungMinds employed its sector-leading expertise in youth and parent engagement. Both the films and digital packs were co-created with young people, parents and professionals, reflecting their real-life experiences of self-harm. Findings The project responded to young people who self-harm telling us they feel isolated, alone, in need of hope and help to counteract the negative and frightening messages widely available online. Parents confided they also feel isolated and that it is their fault their child is harming themselves. Teachers told us they see the signs but cannot bring themselves to say anything, and even if they want to, they cannot find the words to reach out to young people. Originality/value Quote from a professional “I personally found the No Harm Done short films to be incredibly valuable resources for my practice with young people. The way the films have been produced will make it a lot harder for young people that I work with to judge the action of self-harm given that there are no graphic harming words/stories and the films themselves do not come across as triggering. I feel enthusiastic that these films will encourage understanding and empathy from peers and spark conversation enabling those who have no knowledge around self-harm to be more accepting, open and supportive of those who have issues with self-harm.”


2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 314-324
Author(s):  
Ali Maksum ◽  
Aris Fauzan ◽  
Sidiq Ahmadi

This article departs from the reality that identity played a significant role in Indonesia-Malaysia brotherhood relations. In addition, Malaysia is home to many Indonesian diasporas, either to work or study. In fact, the Indonesian diaspora still maintains a connection with the motherland through communities amid of identity issues with the Malaysian local. For instance, the emergence of anti-Malaysian versus anti-migrant sentiments, the use of a controversial term called ‘Indon’ and ‘Malingsia’ in the middle of Muslim brotherhood identity. Therefore, using a qualitative approach supplemented with unstructured interviews, this study found that Islamic identity obviously contributed to the harmony of people to people relations between the two nations. Indeed, Islamic identity became a catalyst especially for many Indonesian workers to build close contact with the Muslim local community. These findings are important for sociology and international relations students and researchers.


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