Phosphate determination in environmental, biological and industrial samples using a smartphone as a capture device

In this article, an smartphone-based setup has been built from scratch using cheap and affordable materials. Due to the wide number of matrixes in which phosphate is present, a versitile...

Mycobiota and Mycotoxin Contamination of Traditional and Industrial Dry-Fermented Sausage Kulen

The aim of this study was to identify and compare surface mycobiota of traditional and industrial Croatian dry-fermented sausage Kulen, especially toxicogenic species, and to detect contamination with mycotoxins recognized as the most important for meat products. Identification of mould species was performed by sequence analysis of beta- tubulin and calmodulin gene, while the determination of mycotoxins aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), ochratoxin A (OTA), and cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) was carried out using the LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry) method. The results showed a significantly higher number of mould isolates and greater species (including of those mycotoxigenic) diversity in traditional Kulen samples in comparison with the industrial ones. P. commune, as a potential CPA-producer, was the most represented in traditional Kulen (19.0%), followed by P. solitum (16.6%), which was the most represented in industrial Kulen samples (23.8%). The results also showed that 69% of the traditional sausage samples were contaminated with either CPA or OTA in concentrations of up to 13.35 µg/kg and 6.95 µg/kg, respectively, while in the industrial samples only OTA was detected (in a single sample in the concentration of 0.42 µg/kg). Mycotoxin AFB1 and its producers were not detected in any of the analysed samples (<LOD).

Relationship between Sensory Attributes, (Dis) Liking and Volatile Organic Composition of Gorgonzola PDO Cheese

Blue-veined cheese tends to polarize the consumers’ affective responses due to its strong flavor. This study aims to: (i) explore the consumers’ sensory perceptions and liking of Gorgonzola PDO cheese; (ii) identify the sensory drivers of acceptance for Gorgonzola in the function of the cheese style; (iii) characterize them by the volatile organic compounds (VOCs); and (iv) explore the relationships of the VOCs with sensory perception and liking. Six samples of Gorgonzola cheese differing in style (sweet vs. piquant), aging time (70–95 days), and production process (artisanal vs. industrial) were evaluated by 358 subjects (46% males, 18–77 years) using liking and Rate-All-That-Apply (RATA) tests. The cheese VOCs were measured by SPME/GC-MS. Liking was significantly higher for the sweet cheese than for the piquant cheese and for the artisanal cheese than for the industrial samples. Penalty Analysis showed that ‘creamy’, ‘sweet’, ‘nutty’, and ‘salty’ were significant drivers of liking while the ‘soapy’ and ‘ammonia’ flavors turned out to be drivers of disliking. Fifty-three VOCs were identified. Regression models revealed the significant highest associations between the VOCs and ‘ammonia’, ‘pungent’, ‘soapy’, and ‘moldy’ flavors. A good association was also found with the consumers’ liking. The identification of the sensory drivers of (dis) liking and their relationship with the VOCs of Gorgonzola opens up a new understanding of the consumers’ blue-veined cheese preferences.

Technological aspects of manufacturing and preparation of mock-up samples of liquid metal fuses for thermal and switching tests

The advantages of current limiters based on liquid metal self-healing fuses (LMSHF) provoke interest and the need for the development and continuation of research in the direction of creating prototypes and industrial samples of LMSHF, determining the sphere of their application. One of the significant reasons for the lack of the necessary results of experimental research in the literature sources is the technological problems of manufacturing prototypes of LMSHF and preparing them for testing. This is especially noticeable when using fusible elements made of alkali metals that are aggressive to the environment. The proposed approach to solving the technological problems of manufacturing and preparing prototypes for testing is of interest and can be used by scientific groups engaged in research related to LMSHF. The development and discussion of such a technology can contribute to the activation of research towards of creating prototypes, their research aimed at obtaining new practical results.

A New Indirect Sensitive and Green CFIA Method for Assay of α-cypermethrin Insecticide in Pure Form, Biological and Industrial Samples Using N-Bromo Succinamide as Oxidizing Agent in Acidic Medium

A new simple, sensistive and green environmental method of Flow-injection/merging zones technique was developed for indirect determination of α-cypermethrin pesticide in pure form, industrial and biological samples. This method based on oxidation reaction of pesticide (α-cypermethrin) with a calculated increase of N-bromosuccinamide (NBS) in acidic medium then react with Tartrazine dye (TART) and estimation of the excess of the oxidizing agent by measuring the residual absorption of TART (yellow color) at λmax = 430nm, this method is a green chemistry, low cost and less consumption of poisonous chemical reagents. The limit of detection and limit of quantification for this method are 0.05 μg.ml-1 and 0.17 μg.ml-1 respectively, RSD% = 0.69% and the recovery is about = 102.15%. Chemical and physical parameters was optimized that effect on the pesticide reaction. The calibration curve was linear within concentration range (0.5 – 30) μg.mL-1 with sampling through put is about 65 sample.hour-1; the results of determination were compared with those given by trusted method (HPLC). No significant differences between both methods regarding in terms of accuracy and precision at 95% dependability level.

Bioremoval capacity of phenol by some selected endophytic fungi isolated from Hibiscus sabdariffa and batch biodegradation of phenol in paper and pulp effluents

Background and Objectives: The use of endophytic fungi for management of phenol residue in paper and pulp industries has been shown as cost-effective and eco-friendly approach. In this study, isolation of endophytic fungi from roots, stems, and leaves of Hibiscus sabdariffa was conducted. Additionally, the isolated fungi were examined for their ability to degrade phenol and its derivatives in paper and pulp industrial samples, using different growth conditions. Materials and Methods: Out of 35 isolated endophyitc fungi, 31 were examined for their phenol biodegradation capacity using Czapek Dox broth medium containing Catechol and Resorcinol as a sole carbon source at final concentrations of 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8%. Results: A total of 35 fungal species belonging to 18 fungal genera were isolated and identified from different parts of H. sabdariffa plants. All strains have the capability for degrading phenol and their derivatives with variable extents. The optimum condition of degrading phenol in paper and pulp effluent samples by Fusarium poae11r7 were at pH 3-5, temperature at 28-35°C, good agitation speed at no agitation and 100 rpm. Conclusion: All endophytic fungal species can utilize phenol and its derivatives as a carbon source and be the potential to degrade phenol in industrial contaminants.

Editorial for the Special Issue on Inertial Microfluidics

The growing demands for label-free, high throughput processing of biological, environmental, and industrial samples have instigated technical innovations for inflow particle manipulations with better resolution and purity [...]

METHOD OF COMPUTER CONTROL OF TWISTED THREAD PARAMETERS FROM ITS IMAGE

A non-hardware method for computer control of the geometric parameters of a twisted thread using a two-dimensional Fourier transform program of its computer image is proposed. First, the program calculates the diffraction pattern from the investigated image of the thread. Then, the same program builds a diffraction pattern from the image of the first pattern, which does not contain speckles in the proposed method. This makes it possible to carry out its automatic computer analysis with the output to the digital values ​​of the calculated parameters. The effectiveness of the method is illustrated on model and industrial samples of synthetic threads.