Chemical and microbiological changes in the soil mediated by different vegetative coverings in a Natal orange orchard

Proper soil cover management for citrus cultivation can contribute to increased productivity and improved soil quality. This study examined five different vegetative coverings [Urochloa brizantha; U. decumbens, U. ruziziensis, spontaneous vegetation, and herbicide application (glyphosate) in the total area] in the inter rows of a Natal orange orchard [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] grafted on the Swingle citrumelo (C. paradisi × Poncirus trifoliata). Their effects on the microbiological and chemical attributes of the soil and the vegetative development in the orchard were examined. Chemical (Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, P, pH, H+Al, CECpH7, base saturation, and OM) and microbiological (carbon and nitrogen of microbial biomass, basal respiration, and metabolic quotient) soil attributes in the rows and inter-rows were evaluated for the orchard in 2018 and 2019. There was a significant difference for most variables in the 2 years studied, emphasizing 2019 for microbiological parameters and OM, with the latter being 14.8% lower in the treatment with glyphosate in the total area compared to the treatment with spontaneous vegetation. The results showed the benefits of vegetation cover with brachiaria in inter-rows of the Natal sweet orange orchard in the chemical and microbiological attributes of the soil, especially in carbon and nitrogen of the microbial biomass.

Detection of fecal coliforms and SARS-CoV-2 RNA in sewage and recreational waters in the Ecuadorian Coast: a call for improving water quality regulation

Wastewater surveillance represents an alternative approach for the diagnosis and early detection of infectious agents of public health importance. This study aimed to evaluate SARS-CoV-2 and other quality markers in oxidation lagoons, estuarine areas and seawater at Guayas and Santa Elena in Ecuador. Sample collections were conducted twice at 42 coastal sites and 2 oxidation lagoons during dry and rainy seasons (2020-2021). Physico-chemical and microbiological parameters were evaluated to determine organic pollution. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR was conducted to detect SARS-CoV-2. Results showed high levels of Escherichia coli and low dissolved oxygen concentrations. SARS-CoV-2 was detected in sea-waters and estuaries with salinity levels between 34.2-36.4 PSU and 28.8 degrees celsius -31.3 degrees celsius. High amounts of fecal coliforms were detected and correlated with the SARS-CoV-2 shedding. We recommend to decentralized autonomous governments in developing countries such as Ecuador to implement corrective actions and establish medium-term mechanisms to minimize a potential contamination route.

Microbiological and physicochemical quality of honey in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The aim of the study was to investigate the microbiological and physico-chemical quality of honey samples, sampled for the event “Honey Days in FB&H 2020”, which tested a total of 33 samples of different honey types from different geographical areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between physico-chemical properties and microbiological properties of the tested honey to assess quality. The submitted samples originated from both administrative units of B&H, namely from the continental, sub-Mediterranean and Mediterranean part, covering more than 60% of the country’s territory. Of the total number of analysed samples (n=33), nine samples (29.7%) did not meet the requirements of physico-chemical and microbiological parameters of the test. The requirements of one or more quality parameters according to the national Ordinance on methods for the control of honey and other bee products in B&H (Anonymous, 2009) were not met by five samples (16.5%). Four samples (13.2%) did not meet the microbiological quality, as they exceeded the permitted number of yeasts and moulds. In five samples (16.5%), the presence of microorganisms was recorded within the tolerance limits, while Enterobacteriaceae and sulphite-reducing clostridia were not isolated and were below the detection limit in all samples. Honey samples in which the results were found to be unsatisfactory for physico-chemical parameters and microbiological parameters cannot be correlated.

Water quality assessment of the Demetrio stream: an affluent of the Gravataí River in the South of Brazil

The Gravataí River basin, one of the main water sources of the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre, is among the ten most polluted rivers in Brazil. Water quality is monitored only through physico-chemical and microbiological parameters in Brazil, and in this context, considering the importance of the use of biomarkers in complementing the analysis of water, the present study aimed to evaluate the environmental quality of the main affluent of the Gravataí River, Demetrio stream, through physico-chemical, microbiological, and cytogenotoxic criteria, at the stream source (P1), whereas samples P2 and P3 were obtained from the upstream near the area with the highest urban density and the downstream near the meeting point with the Gravataí River, respectively. The results for copper concentration and color classified the Demetrio stream as Class 4 in general, that is, the water is suitable only for navigation and to landscape harmony. The main genotoxic alterations (micronuclei and nuclear buds) were observed in P2, in which were obtained the highest levels of copper, in addition to iron and manganese. Anthropic interventions were observed in P1 and P2; however, due to its low metal concentration, P3, near the Gravataí River, manifested an improvement in environmental quality.

The Study of Quality and Safety Indicators of Mayonnaise on the Basis of Hemp Oil

Topicality. Sauces are an integral part of most dishes, which are prepared from a variety of products: meat, fish, seafood, vegetables. They give the dishes juiciness, add variety to the aesthetic appearance of the dish and complement their taste, increase calories, and nutritional value. The most common sauces are culinary sauces of the emulsion type, in particular, mayonnaise and its derivatives. Nowadays, the oil and fat industry produces a whole “line” of mayonnaise products with various additives that improve the taste, structure and increase the shelf life. The oil and fat industry is at a stage when its development can no longer be carried out by traditional methods, new approaches and solutions are needed. Trends in balanced and healthy diet are forcing producers to look for new approaches for the production of classic mayonnaise with high biological value and high quality characteristics. The problem of nutrition optimisation in terms of the content of essential nutrients, such as fatty acids, can be solved by introducing into the recipe some composition, such as an oil- fat base, vegetable oils are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids ω-3 and ω-6. One of the promising areas of production of emulsion products, such as mayonnaise sauce, is the introduction of standard recipes for full or partial replacement of sunflower oil with hemp oil, in order to improve biological value, while maintaining high organoleptic, structural and mechanical properties and safety. Among the essential nutrients needed to maintain homeostasis of the human body are polyunsaturated fatty acids, the source of which is hemp oil. Hemp oil contains natural antioxidants, which gives a raised resistance to oxidation, despite the natural high content of ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids. One of the ways to implement the innovative idea is the partial or complete replacement of the oil-fat fraction of the emulsion-type mayonnaise sauce with hemp oil in a mass fraction of introduction into the recipe (50%, 75%, and 100%). The aim of the study is to research the quality of mayonnaise sauce with partial or complete substitution of oil, and fat fraction for hemp oil, namely their organoleptic, physicochemical (effective viscosity, emulsion stability, acidity, acid and peroxide value) indicators, to investigate the fatty acid composition developed samples of mayonnaise sauce, based on hemp oil, and investigate the change in microbiological parameters during storage. This will expand the range of quality foods, enriched with essential nutrients. The following research methods are used in this article: standard methods of organoleptic profile analysis, structural-mechanical, standard methods of research of fatty acid composition, and methods of determining microbiological parameters. The results of this study are processed using modern computer programmes. Results. The expediency of using mayonnaise, based mayonnaise sauce technology, during the development of hemp oil sauce technology, has been theoretically and experimentally substantiated, and formulations of these mayonnaises have been elaborated. Based on the organoleptic analysis, it is determined that the use of hemp oil in the technology of mayonnaise sauce has a positive effect on its organoleptic characteristics. The study of the fatty acid composition shows that the optimal ratio of fatty acids of the groups ω-3: ω-6, as 1:4, has a sample of mayonnaise sauce (M2), containing 75% of hemp oil in its composition. The analysis of the fatty acid composition also confirms the functionality of all developed samples of mayonnaise. It is found that all elaborated samples of mayonnaise, based on hemp oil, fully comply with the normative indicators of structure (effective viscosity and stability of the emulsion), and quality indicators (pH, acid number, and peroxide value). It is investigated that the microbiological parameters of the control sample of mayonnaise and experimental samples with partial or complete replacement of the oil and fat fraction with hemp oil during storage (28 days) indicate that opportunistic and pathogenic microflora are within acceptable values. Conclusions and discussion. The studied quality indicators make it possible to substantiate the technology of mayonnaise sauce based on hemp oil with increased biological value.

Kualitas Air Bersih Di Desa Pondan Kecamatan Mantoh Kabupaten Banggai Provinsi Sulawesi Tengah Tahun 2021

Air adalah kebutuhan yang paling diperlukan oleh semua makhluk hidup. Kebutuhan akan air bersih saat ini semakin meningkat sebanding dengan tingginya tingkat pencemaran air. Tujuan dalam penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui kualitas air bersih berdasarkan parameter fisik, kimia, dan mikrobiologi dengan menggunakan metode penelitian deskriptif. Sampel yang diambil adalah sebagian dari sumber air bersih sumur gali yakni 4 sampel sumur gali dan 1 sampel air bersih perpipaan non PDAM dengan menggunakan teknik purposive sampling. Instrumen dalam penelitian ini berupa alat dan bahan yang digunakan untuk mendapatkan data. Sampel akan diperiksa di Laboratorium Dinas Kesehatan Kabupaten Banggai dan akan dibandingkan dengan Peraturan Menteri Kesehatan Republik Indonesia Nomor 32 Tahun 2017. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa kualitas air bersih Desa Pondan Kecamatan Mantoh Tahun 2021 tidak memenuhi sayarat. Sehingga diharapkan adanya kerjasama antara masyarakat dengan instansi terkait sistem pengolahan air, sosialisasi dari pemerintah terkait syarat-syarat sumur gali, serta perlu dilakukan penelitian selanjutnya. Water is the most necessary need for all living things. The need for clean water is currently increasing in proportion to the high level of water pollution. The goal in this study was to determine the quality of clean water based on physical, chemical, and microbiological parameters using descriptive research methods. The sample taken is part of a clean water source of dug wells, namely 4 samples of digging wells and 1 sample of non-PDAM piping clean water using purposive sampling techniques. The instruments in this study are tools and materials used to obtain data. The sample will be examined at the Banggai District Health Office Laboratory and will be compared to the Regulation of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia Number 32 of 2017. The results showed that the clean water quality of Pondan Village mantoh subdistrict in 2021 did not meet the arat So it is expected that there is cooperation between the community and agencies related to water treatment systems, socialization from the government related to the terms of digging wells, and further research is needed.

Changes in microbiological parameters, pH and titratable acidity during the refrigerated and room temperature storage of dahi prepared from the milk of Vechur cows: an indigenous cattle breed of Kerala

Vechur cow is an indigenous cattle breed of Kerala listed as a critical breed by FAO. This research communication is related to the hypothesis that the changes occurring in microbiological quality parameters of Vechur cow milk dahi (VCMD) during storage will be superior to other milk and reflective of the traditional concepts of therapeutic properties attributed to Vechur milk. Microbiological quality of the VCMD stored at room (30 ± 1°C) and refrigerated (4 ± 1°C) temperatures in terms of total viable, coliform, yeast and mold and lactococcal counts is reported in this study, together with titratable acidity and pH. Results are compared with cross-bred cow milk dahi (CCMD) as control. On refrigerated storage, despite the comparable initial microbiological quality, VCMD exhibited significantly lower total viable, lactic acid bacteria, yeast and mold counts than CCMD, from the fifth day onwards for the first two parameters and the tenth day onwards for the last parameter. VCMD exhibited significantly higher pH values than CCMD from the fifth day onwards whereas the titratable acidity was significantly lower from the tenth day onwards. Though this study does not delineate the factors contributing towards the lower microbial population observed in VCMD, it provides an impetus to further researches for scientifically validating its traditionally-reported medicinal properties.

Microbiological quality of well water from Koprivnica-Križevci County in 2018

In this study, microbiological quality of drinking water deriving from the private wells from Koprivnica-Križevci County was investigated. A total of 287 samples from different locations were collected during 2018 and analysed for the following microbiological parameters: total coliforms, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp., Clostridium perfringens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and the number of aerobic heterotrophic bacteria at 36 °C and 22 °C. The results showed that 24 % of the analysed water samples were of unsatisfactory microbiological quality, with high incidence of faecal contamination. Well water is still the main source of drinking water for many residents of this County, especially in its rural parts, so continuous monitoring and disinfection of drinking water deriving from private wells is of exceptional importance for the public health.

Pre-treatment Effect on Physical and Microbial Parameters of Smoked Baltic Sprats

Smoked sprats are delicious and nutritionally valuable product. Besides protein, it contains high amount of unsaturated fatty acids and fat soluble vitamins. Nowadays, human interest for fish product consumption is increasing. It leads to the demand for increased shelf life of the smoked sprats. One way to prolong the shelf life is to use some pre-treatment prior to smoking. The aim of study was to analyse the effect of pre-treatment on smoked Baltic sprat quality and microbiological parameters. Various compositions of brine using salts (NaCl, CaCl2) and acetic acid in different proportions were used for fresh sprat pre-treatment. Pre-treatment had the influence on physical parameters; pre-treated samples had higher salt and lower moisture content, and lower pH, which allowed prolonging the shelf life of smoked sprats. The highest pH was in the control sample 6.6, and it allowed growth of yeasts, moulds, Pseudomonas spp., and mesophilic and facultative anaerobic microorganisms. The results demonstrated that after two-week storage of the smoked sprats the growth of moulds (1×102 CFU g−1) was observed only for smoked sprats without pre-treatment (control sample), indicating the positive effect of pre-treatment. Salmonella spp., Clostridium perfingens, Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli were not detected in any of the analysed samples. After pre-treatment in brine, containing combination of NaCl and CaCl2, smoked fish had darker colour compared to control sample or sample with sodium chloride only. Any of applied pre-treatments, except brine containing NaCl, made firmer texture of the smoked fish.