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About 150 million families around the world are engaged in milk production. However, inflammation of the mammary gland (mastitis) remains a major problem in dairy ruminants that affects the quality of milk worldwide. The aim of this study was the examination of udder health with detection of contagious and environmental pathogens causing mastitis in 960 and 940 dairy cows and ewes, respectively. The presence of selected virulence factors such as: the formation of haemolysis, gelatinase, biofilm, hydrolyse DNA, and resistance to antibiotics with detection of methicillin resistance gene (mecA), were determined in selected virulence factors associated with isolated staphylococci. These isolated staphylococci with selected virulence factors can have untoward effects on the severity of mastitis. The results of our study indicated that, in addition to the major udder pathogens (S. aureus, S. uberis, and S. agalactiae) causing mastitis, non-aureus staphylococci (NAS), is a major risk to dairy cows and ewes. NAS, such as S. chromogenes, S. warneri, and S. xylosus isolated from infected animals with clinical and chronic mastitis, had the highest representation of virulence factors in comparison to less virulent strains. In addition, the isolates of S. aureus and NAS demonstrated 77.0 % and 44.2 % resistance to one or more antimicrobial classes from mastitic milk samples obtained from dairy cows and ewes, respectively. Due to the high resistance to β-lactamantibiotics in two isolates of S. aureus and two species of NAS isolated from cows’ mastitic milk samples, the presence of a methicillin-resistant gene mecA poses serious complications for the treatment and a serious health risk to milk consumers.

This study is focused mainly on impact of irrigation water quality in cultivated soil on distribution of essentials nutrients (Al, Mg, Ca, Fe, S, Si, Na, P, and K) and relatively toxic metals (As, Ba, Cr, Cu, Ti, Sn, Mn, Ni, and Zn) using an elegant Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique. A pulsed Nd:YAG laser operating at 1064 nm in conjunction with suitable detector was applied to record soil emission spectra. The abundance of these elements were evaluated via standard calibration curve Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (CC-LIBS) and calibration free Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (CF-LIBS) approaches. Quantitative analyses were accomplished under conjecture of local thermodynamic equilibrium (L.T.E) and optically thin plasma. The average electron temperatures were estimated by Boltzmann plot method for cultivated soil samples in 7800 to 9300 K range. The electron number density was ~ 1.11 × 1017 cm − 3 to 1.60 × 1017 cm − 3. Prior to application on soil samples, the experimental setup was optimized at the following parameters: pulsed energy = 60 mJpulse-1, sample to lens distance of 9.0 cm, and the gate delay of 3.5 μs. It is noteworthy that nutritional elements content of cultivated soils were found strongly dependent upon the irrigation water quality. The cultivated soil from industrial area was found rich of toxins while the cultivated land using tube well water contains toxins in least amount. Our LIBS findings were also validated by comparing its results with contents measured using a standard inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) method and both were found in excellent agreement. The present study could be highly beneficial for agricultural applications and for farmers to produce safe food products and higher crops yield.

Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was applied for analyzing the impact of earthquake on the elemental distribution of the soil, collected from the earthquake-stricken locations near Eurasian and Indian Tectonic Plates in the Kashmir Valley. The quantitative elemental analysis was carried out using an advanced calibration-free LIBS technique, assuming the establishment of optically thin plasma under the local thermodynamic equilibrium conditions. The results exhibited that the soil has nearly random concentration distribution of metallic elements such as Al, Na, and K, nonmetallic element P, micronutrients such as Fe and Si and secondary macronutrients such as Ca, S, and Mg, in and around the radius of 9 km from the epicenter of the earthquake. It is exhibited that the concentration of carbon in particular is the highest near the epicenter and declines systematically with the outward radial distance. The quantitative analysis by LIBS was confirmed and counter verified through the inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP–OES), and results achieved by both the techniques (LIBS and ICP–OES) are in good agreement.

Quantitative investigation of essential and trace heavy elements present in health-beneficial dry fruits (Pistachio, Almonds, Black walnut, White walnut, and Cashew) was investigated using Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy. For an accurate elemental exposure using LIBS technique, the local thermo-dynamical equilibrium of the laser induced plasma was established and verified using McWhirter criterion based on the electron number density in the plasma. Earlier to engage, our LIBS detector was optimized. For quantification of elements, standard calibration curves (CC)-LIBS method was applied. Using our LIBS system, the nutritional elements such as Al, Mg, Ca, Fe, K, Zn, and Na and toxins like Pb, Cr, and Cu were detected in dry fruits. The elemental quantification of dry fruit contents were validated using standard (ICP-AES) method and the relative accuracy of our experimental setup in comparison to ICP approach was in the ranging from 0.1 to 0.3 at 2.5-% error confidence.

This study focuses on the application of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) to determine lead and chromium in pristine aloe vera and aloe vera based beauty soaps using the second harmonic ...

Research Areas: Agriculture ABSTRACT - The use of agro-industrial by-products in animal feed is an opportunity to reduce imports, food waste and promote a clean and circular economy, turning worthless raw materials into high -quality and low-cost animal feeds, which does not compete with human food. This study aims to produce silages with by-products of carrot, sweet potato, potato, and tomato pomace and integrate them in lamb diets, replacing 50% of dry matter (DM) of a concentrate-based diet. Effects on growth performance, meat quality and methane production were evaluated. Three silages were produced using 350 g/kg tomato pomace, 200 g/kg wheat bran, 150 g/kg alfalfa hay and 300 g/kg potato (Psil) or 300 g/kg sweet potato (SPsil) or 300 g/kg carrot (Csil). Thirty-two lambs were housed individually and divided into four groups (8 animals/group) on the following diets: Control -850 g/kg concentrate and 150 g/kg hay; P -500 g/kg concentrate and 500 g/kg Psil in DM; SP - 500 g/kg concentrate and 500 g/kg SPsil in DM; C - 500 g/kg concentrate and 500 g/kg Csil in DM. The trial lasted 6 weeks after 1 week of adaptation. Methane production was assessed in vitro by the Ankom system, using as inoculum rumen content samples collected individually from 6 lambs on each diet at slaughter. Diet had no effect on DM intake, average daily gain and DM conversion ratio, averaging 1055 +/- 248 g, 320 +/- 61.1 g and 3.35 +/- 0.600, respectively. Also, carcass characteristics were not affected by the diet except for the lightness of subcutaneous fat which was increased by the silage diets (L* value, P = 0.016). The meat pa-rameters, pH, intramuscular fat, shear force, cooking losses and sensory attributes, were not affected by the diet. In meat color, the parameters a* and Chroma were highest in animals fed diet C, have an intermediate value with Control diet and are lowest with diets P and SP (P = 0.027 and P = 0.012, respectively). Diets had no impact on total methane emissions. The costs of the silage diets per kg live weight gain were lower than those of Control diet (P = 0.018). In summary, by-product silage can be a good option to replace concentrated feed in lamb diets without altering the growth performance and meat quality or methane production and thus contributing to the sustainability of livestock farms and the environment. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

In the current study, we applied laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) to determine the elemental distribution of nutritional and trace heavy metals in pepper powders available in Pakistan using the standard calibration curve of laser induced breakdown spectroscopic (CC-LIBS) technique. The samples were found to contain elements such as K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Zn, Al, Pb, Cu, and Cr. In addition, we also identified the atmospheric H-alpha line of hydrogen in the spectra, which was used to estimate the electron number density. To achieve a highly sensitive LIBS system to determine the trace amounts of nutritional and toxic metals in the pepper powders and to achieve the best limit of detection, the LIBS system was optimized by studying the dependency of the LIBS signal intensity on laser irradiance, variation in spacing between the focusing lens and target, as well as on the gate width. To justify the results of the LIBS study, we also determined the concentration of similar (duplicate) peppers by digesting the samples in appropriate solvents using a standard method such as inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The minimum detection limit was obtained for trace heavy metals from the calibration curves. The results of LIBS displayed noteworthy conformity with those acquired from the ICP-OES analysis. The results of both the techniques clearly revealed that K was the most abundant element in all the peppers, followed by Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Al, Pb, Zn, Cu, and Cr. The relative accuracy of our LIBS system for different species as compared with the ICP technique was in the range of 0.08-0.3 at 2.5% error confidence. Conclusively, the present work demonstrated the suitability of the LIBS technique due to its rapid, non-destructive, and eco-friendly approach for food security.

In this work, qualitative as well as the quantitative study of nutritional and trace toxic metals in various dry milk powders (local and branded) available in Pakistan was accomplished by calibration free-laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (CF-LIBS). To analyze the optical emission spectra, a pulsed Nd-YAG laser was utilized to produce micro-plasma on the surface of samples. The emitted light was acquired with a dedicated spectrometer for subsequent analysis and quantification of the species in the target. Ca, K, Mg, Na, P, Zn, Al, and S were identified as nutritional elements, while Cd, Cr, Cu Mn, and Ni as heavy metals. Our LIBS system was optimized by parametric dependence study. The average plasma temperatures were estimated using Boltzmann plot method for all types of milk powder between 8000 and 95,000 K. The electron number density was determined from the Stark broadened line profile of balmer hydrogen line (H-alpha) between 1.12 × 1017 cm−3 and 1.61 × 1017 cm−3. The emission lines used in CF-LIBS were characterized for the effect due to phenomenon of self-absorption but were found insignificant. Furthermore, the concentrations determined using CF-LIBS were compared to the abundance of identical (duplicate) dry milk powder samples obtained using a standard analytical tool like inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy. Both the results were in outstanding harmony. Our study showed that LIBS is a powerful and rapid approach to quantify the chemical concentrations of food products.

A robust approach of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) in ambient air has been employed to investigate concentration of the trace elements in fennel seeds (saunf) via generation of plasma through the second harmonic of solid state Nd: YAG pulsed laser 532 nm. Spectral emissions of saunf plasma were acquired with resolution of 0.06 nm in spectral range of 200–720 nm. The experimental determination showed the existence of elements namely, Ca, Al, K, Fe, S, P, Mg, Mn, Sr, Na, and Zn in the sample. However, no toxic elements such as Pb, Cr etc. were perceived. The relative concentrations of detected elements were measured through the intensity of the strongest peak, intensities of every emission from every specie, and calibration free (CF)-LIBS. To indorse the experimental determinations of LIBS, a comparative study was carried out with the outcomes of atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The results of LIBS and AAS were compared by the statistical treatment.

A detection system based on Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) was designed, optimized, and successfully employed for the estimation of lead (Pb) content in drilling fueled soil (DFS) collected from oil field drilling areas in Pakistan. The concentration of Pb was evaluated by the standard calibration curve method as well as by using an approach based on the integrated intensity of strongest emission of an element of interest. Remarkably, our investigation clearly demonstrated that the concentration of Pb in drilling fueled soil collected at the exact drilling site was greater than the safe permissible limits. Furthermore, the Pb concentration was observed to decline with increasing distance away from the specific drilling point. Analytical determinations were carried out under the assumptions that laser generated plasma was optically thin and in local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE). In order to improve the sensitivity of our LIBS detection system, various parametric dependence studies were performed. To further validate the precision of our LIBS results, the concentration of Pb present in the acquired samples were also quantified via a standard analytical tool like inductively coupled plasma/optical emission spectroscopy (ICP/OES). Both results were in excellent agreement, implying remarkable reliability for the LIBS data. Furthermore, the Limit of detection (LOD) of our LIBS system for Pb was estimated to be 125.14 mg L-1.

Estuaries are profoundly rich, diverse, and complex ecosystems, and crucial to the overall health of Earth's oceans. Estuarine ecological complexity is matched by tremendous human cultural diversity. In the United States, millions of people live in estuarine environments from the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic—many of whom directly depend on the productivity of marine resources in both commercial and subsistence fishing activities. Yet, estuaries are also among Earth's most threatened landscapes against the backdrop of global warming, sea-level rise, agricultural and industrial pollution, habitat loss, overfishing, and so on. This represents a looming disaster for our oceans at a global scale. The Estuarine Ecological Knowledge Network (EEKN) is based on the idea that fishing communities living within major estuaries are the key to ensuring the health of global oceans. Coastal fishing communities have vast accumulations of ecological knowledge about the functioning of estuarine ecosystems and interact with those ecosystems in intimate ways on a daily basis. This network is designed to connect coastal communities in monitoring the health of estuarine ecosystems and in using traditional ecological knowledge to develop strategies for enhancing ecosystem health and resilience.

Commercially available ready to use henna paste, procured from the local market in Pakistan were tested to find the level of hazardous element, lead present in the samples, using Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS). The source of lead in the ready to use henna is from the artificial chemical additives in henna paste, added to enhance the color and also to speed up the dying of the henna tattoo in hand, feet, and body. Henna tattooing is an inevitable practice in the social events in the cultures of the Indian subcontinent and the Arabian Peninsula. The frequent reckless use of henna, particularly lavishly administering it to the children is quite dangerous, although the level of lead found in the commercially available ready to use henna samples are within the permissible safe level. For the sensitive detection and quantification of lead, various experimental and plasma parameters in the LIBS detection system were optimized and the system was calibrated. The quantitative analysis of lead, carried out in five different samples of ready to use henna, using LIBS revealed that the concentration of lead in these samples is between 5.5 ± 0.2 mg Kg−1 and 16.0 ± 0.2 mg Kg−1. Moreover, LIBS elemental analysis of natural henna leaves, cultivated in Sindh and Punjab regions of Pakistan, and also the soils taken from the locations of cultivation were carried out and a correlation in the elemental compositions between the henna leaves and the cultivated soil in the proximity were studied. The quantitative analysis of LIBS results were validated by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES).

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was applied as a potential tool for the determination of xenobiotic metal in monosodium glutamate (MSG). In order to achieve a high-sensitivity LIBS system required to determine trace amounts of metallic silver in MSG and to attain the best detection limit, the parameters used in our experiment (impact of focusing laser energy on the intensity of LIBS emission signals, the influence of focusing lens distance on the intensity of LIBS signals, and time responses of the plasma emissions) were optimized. The spectra of MSG were obtained in air using a suitable detector with an optical resolution of 0.06 nm, covering a spectral region from 220 to 720 nm. Along with the detection of xenobiotic silver, other elements such as Ca, Mg, S, and Na were also detected in MSG. To determine the concentration of xenobiotic silver in MSG, the calibration curve was plotted by preparing standard samples having different silver abundances in an MSG matrix. The LIBS results of each sample were cross-verified by analyzing with a standard analytical technique such as inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Both (LIBS and ICP-AES) results were in mutual agreement. The limit of detection of the LIBS setup was found to be 0.57 ppm for silver present in MSG samples.

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was used for the quantitative analysis of elements present in textile dyes at ambient pressure via the fundamental mode (1064 nm) of a Nd:YAG pulsed laser. Three samples were collected for this purpose. Spectra of textile dyes were acquired using an HR spectrometer (LIBS2000+, Ocean Optics, Inc.) having an optical resolution of 0.06 nm in the spectral range of 200 to 720 nm. Toxic metals like Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, and Zn along with other elements like Al, Mg, Ca, and Na were revealed to exist in the samples. The %-age concentrations of the detected elements were measured by means of standard calibration curve method, intensities of every emission from every species, and calibration-free (CF) LIBS approach. Only Sample 3 was found to contain heavy metals like Cr, Cu, and Ni above the prescribed limit. The results using LIBS were found to be in good agreement when compared to outcomes of inductively coupled plasma/atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP/AES).

An optimized laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) system was utilized as a robust tool for the detection of high toxic lead (Pb) in often used edible colors available in local markets. Edible colors are extensively used in different food stuffs and sweet dish items. To attain a highly sensitive LIBS system for the determination of trace amounts of toxic Pb in edible colors and to achieve the best detection limit, various parametric dependence studies were performed. The quantitative determinations were accomplished under the condition of local thermodynamic equilibrium in terms of optically thin plasma. Besides toxic Pb, other elements like Ca, Mg, Fe, and Na were also detected in edible colors. To estimate the concentration of toxic lead in edible colors, calibration curves were plotted by preparing standard samples of different lead concentrations in an edible colors matrix. Results of the LIBS technique were compared with the outcomes of the same samples studied using a standard analytical technique of inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy to confirm the contemporary LIBS setup. The color samples were found above the safe permissible level due to the mass of toxic lead. Limit of detection of the LIBS setup was found at 0.86+/-0.03 ppm for toxic lead present in edible color samples.

A spectrometer based on pulsed nanosecond laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was employed for the quantitative determination of heavy and essential metals in salts from various sources available in Pakistan. Six salt samples were collected from sea salt and rock salt. Toxic metals (Cu, Cd, and Ni) and other microessentials (Fe, Ca, Co, Mg, Mn, S, and Zn) were investigated from the recorded spectra. The detection system was calibrated using a parametric dependence study. The quantitative analyses were accomplished under the assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium and optically thin plasma. The results by the LIBS technique were in agreement with the outcomes of the same samples studied using a more standard approach like inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). When the concentrations of heavy and essential metals were calculated using a calibration-free LIBS method that does not need a standard salt specimen and dilution, both LIBS and ICP-AES were also in good agreement. The limit of detection of the experimental set up was determined for the observed heavy metals in the studied samples.