The link between metal exposure and toxicity is complicated by numerous factors such as exposure route. Here, we exposed a marine fish (juvenile blackhead seabream Acanthopagrus schlegelii schlegelii) to copper either in a commercial fish diet or in seawater. Copper concentrations in intestine/liver were correlated linearly with influx rate, but appeared to be less influenced by uptake pathway (waterborne or dietary exposure). Influx rate best predicted Cu accumulation in the intestine and liver. However, despite being a good predictor of mortality within each pathway, influx rate was not a good predictor of mortality across both exposure pathways, as waterborne Cu caused considerably higher mortality than dietary Cu at a given influx rate. We show that the use of gill Cu accumulation irrespective of the exposure route as a model for observed fish mortality provided a clear relationship between accumulation and toxicity. Investigation of gill Cu accumulation may shed light on the different accumulation strategies from the two exposure pathways. This correlation offers potential for the use of branchial Cu concentration as an indicator of long-term Cu toxicity, allowing for differences in the relative importance of the uptake pathways in different field situations.

Helicobacter pylori es una bacteria Gram negativa, microaerofílica, que coloniza eficientemente la mucosa gástrica humana. Fue aislada por primera vez en el año 1982 y actualmente se considera como un importante patógeno humano que causa diversas enfermedades gastrointestinales y además se reconoce como agente carcinógeno. Se habla de una alta prevalencia en el mundo, con un mayor porcentaje en los países en vías de desarrollo, esto probablemente relacionado con las condiciones de vida. De esta manera, el estatus socio-económico es el determinante más importante para el desarrollo de la infección por H. pylori, siendo las clases sociales más bajas las que exhiben mayor prevalencia. A la fecha, las rutas de transmisión de este microorganismo no se encuentran totalmente esclarecidas. Sobre la base de diversas evidencias epidemiológicas y microbiológicas se han propuesto varias vías. Dentro de estas se incluye al agua y a los alimentos como posibles vectores, a pesar de la compleja detección de esta bacteria en muestras distintas al tejido gástrico. H. pylori puede pasar a un estado viable no cultivable (VNC) bajo condiciones de estrés. No obstante, se han llevado a cabo diversos estudios para evaluar la prevalencia y supervivencia de esta bacteria en diversas fuentes de agua y muestras de alimentos, cuyos resultados indican la posibilidad de que los mismos actúen como un reservorio en su transmisión. Por esta razón, el presente artículo de revisión se enfoca en las evidencias que apoyan la transmisión de H. pylori a través del agua y los alimentos. | Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative, microaerophilic, which efficiently colonizes the human gastric mucosa. It was first isolated in 1982 and is now considered an important human pathogen that causes various gastrointestinal diseases and is also recognized as a carcinogen. There is a high prevalence worldwide, with a higher percentage in developing countries, probably related to living conditions. Thus, the socio-economic status is the most important determinant for the development of the infection by H. pylori, being lower social classes exhibiting the highest prevalence. To date, the routes of transmission of this organism are not fully elucidated. Based on numerous epidemiological and microbiological evidences, several transmission paths have been suggested. Among them water and food are included as potential vectors, although the detection of these bacteria is complex in distinct samples to gastric tissue. H. pylori can happen to a viable but non-culturable state (VBNC) under conditions of stress. However, there have been several studies to assess the prevalence and survival of the bacteria in various water sources and food samples. Results indicate the possibility that they act as a reservoir for transmission. For this reason, this review article focuses on the evidence supporting the transmission of H. pylori through water and food.

As emulsões a/o, neste caso margarinas, são sistemas multifásicos complexos, constituídos por uma fase líquida dispersa (aquosa), uma fase líquida contínua (lipídica) onde estão embebidos cristais de gordura cuja função é estabilizar a fase dispersa.O teor lipídico e emulsionante têm efeitos directos nas propriedades reológicas. O mimetismo lipídico destas emulsões envolve o controlo de mecanismos a nível microscópico no que diz respeito ao controlo da cristalização de gorduras, influenciando fortemente a microestrutura e as propriedades reológicas da emulsão. Sugere-se que a microscopia óptica e a reologia podem ser utilizadas no seguimento e controlo dos processos de formação e estabilização de emulsões. Objectivos:Observar, fotografar e filmar as emulsões. Comprovar, ou não, se as diferentes formulações das emulsões, apresentavam microestruturas diferentes. Determinar a composição das fases de cada emulsão utilizando um programa de tratamento de imagem. Determinar o tamanho médio de gota e a distribuição do tamanho de gota. Considerações finais: No caso dos resultados de tratamento de imagem verifica-se que há três emulsões com tamanho médio de gota semelhante (A, D e E) e as outras duas (B e C) são significativamente diferentes, tendo sido possível determinar as composições globais das fases aquosa e lipídica com valores muito próximos do esperado. Verifica-se que o escoamento altera a microestrutura da emulsão de água/óleo. Essas modificações são quantificadas em função das condições de escoamento consideradas e comparadas com as funções materiais reológicas medidas experimentalmente num espectrómetro mecânico Rheometrics RMS-800. Os resultados experimentais obtidos foram comparados com os modelos matemáticos preditivos, verificando-se uma boa aproximação com os resultados experimentais.

Temperature is considered as the major factor determining virus inactivation in the environment. Food industries, therefore, widely apply temperature as virus inactivating parameter. This review encompasses an overview of viral inactivation and virus genome degradation data from published literature as well as a statistical analysis and the development of empirical formulae to predict virus inactivation. A total of 658 data (time to obtain a first log10 reduction) were collected from 76 published studies with 563 data on virus infectivity and 95 data on genome degradation. Linear model fitting was applied to analyse the effects of temperature, virus species, detection method (cell culture or molecular methods), matrix (simple or complex) and temperature category (<50 and ≥50°C). As expected, virus inactivation was found to be faster at temperatures ≥50°C than at temperatures <50°C, but there was also a significant temperature–matrix effect. Virus inactivation appeared to occur faster in complex than in simple matrices. In general, bacteriophages PRD1 and PhiX174 appeared to be highly persistent whatever the matrix or the temperature, which makes them useful indicators for virus inactivation studies. The virus genome was shown to be more resistant than infectious virus. Simple empirical formulas were developed that can be used to predict virus inactivation and genome degradation for untested temperatures, time points or even virus strains.

In the face of climatic and other socioeconomic changes, most South Asian countries having large and growing population, limited land resources, and increasing water stress face a common challenge of how to grow more food with the same or less land, less water, and increased energy prices. This concept paper seeks deeper understanding of the interlinkages among water, energy, and food, which is crucial to formulate cross-sectoral policies for more resilient and adaptable societies. In South Asia, such a nexus approach inevitably needs to take Himalayan ecosystem services into account. Rice and wheat, the staple foods in South Asia, require huge amounts of both water and energy. The Indus-Ganges-Brahmaputra plain - the sub-region's grain basket and one of the world's largest areas of irrigated agriculture - depends in large part on the Himalayan mountain system as a source of both surface and groundwater for irrigation; as a source of hydropower; and as a regulator of climate and a repository of agro-biodiversity. To sustain these services and to ensure both upstream and downstream food, water, and energy security in South Asia, policies and strategies must therefore promote improved management of Himalayan watersheds, forests, wetlands, and rangelands. Recommended measures include support to restoration of natural water storage capacity; development of climate smart, environmentally and socially sound water infrastructure; adequate investment for natural resource management; and incentives to mountain communities for managing Himalayan ecosystems.

Thenkabail et al., 'Assessing future risks to agricultural productivity, water resources and food security: how can remote sensing help?', Photogr. Eng. Remote Sensing 78(8): 773-782, ill. Ref.

Copper pollutions are typical heavy metal contaminations, and their ability to move up food chains urges comprehensive studies on their effects through various pathways. Currently, four exposure pathways were prescribed as food-borne (FB), water-borne plus clean food (WCB), water–food-borne (WFB) and water-borne (WB). Caenorhabditiselegans was chosen as the model organism, and growth statuses, feeding abilities, the amounts of four antioxidant enzymes, and corresponding recovery effects under non-toxic conditions with food and without food were investigated. Based on analysis results, copper concentrations in exposure were significantly influenced by the presence of food and its uptake by C.elegans. Both exposure and recovery effects depended on exposure concentrations and food conditions. For exposure pathways with food, feeding abilities and growth statuses were generally WFB<WCB⩽FB (p<0.05). The antioxidant activities were up-regulated in the same order. Meanwhile, the exposure pathway without food (WB) caused non-up-regulated antioxidant activities, and had the best growth statuses. For recoveries with food, growth statuses, feeding abilities and the inductions of the antioxidant enzymes were all WB≈WFB<WCB<FB (p<0.05). For recoveries without food, the order of growth statuses remained WB>FB>WCB>WFB (p<0.05), while the antioxidant activities were all inhibited in a concentration–dependent fashion. In conclusion, contaminated food was the primary exposure pathway, and various pathways caused different responses of C.elegans.