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Abstract Background Food borne diseases is a challenging problem nowadays. Salmonella and Shigella species are great concern of food-born outbreaks. Thus, this study was aimed to assess the prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility test and associated factors of Salmonella and Shigella species in fruit juices and salads. Methods A community based cross sectional study design was carried out on 50 juice houses from December to March 2020 in Mekelle. One hundred fifty samples were collected aseptically from the juice houses for laboratory analysis. Information related to risk factors was obtained using a structured questionnaire. In the laboratory, samples were homogenized using peptone water and incubated overnight for enrichment. Then, Salmonella and Shigella species were isolated on Salmonella-Shigella agar and Xylose Lysine Deoxycholate agar. Disc diffusion method was used to perform antimicrobial susceptibility test. Using SPSS (version 22) package, descriptive statistics and Chi square test (χ2) were used to analyze the data, and p

Background: Food borne diseases is a challenging problem nowadays. Salmonella and Shigella species are great concern of food-born outbreaks. Thus, this study was aimed to assess the prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility test and associated factors of Salmonella and Shigella species in fruit juices and salads. Methods: A community based cross sectional study design was carried out on 50 juice houses from December to March 2020 in Mekelle. One hundred fifty samples were collected aseptically from the juice houses for laboratory analysis. Information related to risk factors was obtained using a structured questionnaire. In the laboratory, samples were homogenized using peptone water and incubated overnight for enrichment. Then, Salmonella and Shigella species were isolated on Salmonella-Shigella agar and Xylose Lysine Deoxycholate agar. Disc diffusion method was used to perform antimicrobial susceptibility test. Using SPSS (version 22) package, descriptive statistics and Chi square test (χ2) were used to analyze the data, and p < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Result: The overall prevalence of Salmonella and Shigella species was 41/150 (27.33%; 95% CI: 20.20 – 34.46) with 33 (22%) Salmonella spp. and 8(5.33%) Shigella spp. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests of both Salmonella and Shigella spp.showed high resistance against ampicillin (100%), tetracycline (63.6 and 62.5%, respectively) and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (100%). Accessibility of fruits to flies and dust had statistical association (p = 0.021) with occurrence of Salmonell a and/or Shigella spp. Conclusion: The overall prevalence of Salmonella and Shigella spp. was found to be significant. The resistant rate of isolates against ampicillin, tetracycline and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid was high. Storage sites for fruits should be inaccessible to flies and dust. Therefore, routine monitoring of juice houses should be promoted and regular evaluation of bacterial resistance pattern should be done for selective antimicrobial therapy. Furthermore, consistent training of juice makers on food safety and hygiene should be implemented by the concerned body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundWater supply limits agricultural productivity of many crops including lettuce. Identifying cultivars within crop species that can maintain productivity with reduced water supply is a significant challenge, but central to developing resilient crops for future water-limited climates. We investigated traits known to be related to water-use efficiency (WUE) and yield in lettuce, a globally important leafy salad crop, in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) lettuce mapping population, produced from a cross between the cultivated Lactuca sativa L. cv. Salinas and its wild progenitor L. serriola L.ResultsWild and cultivated lettuce differed in their WUE and we observed transgressive segregation in yield and water-use traits in the RILs. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis identified genomic regions controlling these traits under well-watered and droughted conditions. QTL were detected for carbon isotope discrimination, transpiration, stomatal conductance, leaf temperature and yield, controlling 4-23 % of the phenotypic variation. A QTL hotspot was identified on chromosome 8 that controlled carbon isotope discrimination, stomatal conductance and yield under drought. Several promising candidate genes in this region were associated with WUE, including aquaporins, late embryogenesis abundant proteins, an abscisic acid-responsive element binding protein and glutathione S-transferases involved in redox homeostasis following drought stress were also identified.ConclusionsFor the first time, we have characterised the genetic basis of WUE of lettuce, a commercially important and water demanding crop. We have identified promising candidate genomic regions determining WUE and yield under well-watered and water-limiting conditions, providing important pre-breeding data for future lettuce selection and breeding where water productivity will be a key target.

The current study was designed to introduce the new onion cultivar WHITE PEARL (VRIO-1) it was derived through recurrent selection from a source population. The source population was made and selection was done in the succeeding years based on bulb shape, bulb color, bulb diameter and bulb weight. Same procedure was followed until desired purity is reached. The preliminary evaluation of the variety was conducted during the years 2015-16 at Vegetable Research Institute, Faisalabad. Due to its encouraging yield performance, it was tested in station yield and multilocational/zonal trials during the years 2017-19 at four different locations (Vegetable Research Institute, Faisalabad; Vegetable Research Sub-Station, Raiwind, Vegetable Research Sub-Station, Multan & Regional Agricultural Research Institute, Bahawalpur). The variety WHITE PEARL is distinguishing in terms of bulb shape, bulb diameter and pungency than check variety Phulkara. Bulb colour is white at mature stage, which is quite attractive to the consumers. In case of disease studies no serious pathological disease has been recorded. White Pearl is moderately resistant to diseases like stemphylium leaf blight, downy mildew and purple blotch. Similarly, the check variety Phulkara is also moderately resistant to these diseases. Its shelf life is comparable to check variety Phulkara. This variety is recommended to be used for autumn cultivation as well as cultivation through nursery sets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Fatal landslides occur every year during the rainy season (June–November) in the Lower Mekong Region (LMR). There is an urgent need to develop a landslide early warning system in the LMR. In collaboration with the Asian Disasters Preparedness Center and NASA’s SERVIR Programme, we are regionalizing the global Landslide Hazard Assessment System for Situational Awareness model for the LMR (LHASA‐Mekong). A robust set of landslide inventories are needed to effectively train the machine learning‐based LHASA‐Mekong model. In this study, the Semi‐Automatic Landslide Detection (SALaD) system was modified by incorporating a change detection module (SALaD‐CD) to produce rainfall event‐based landslide inventories using pre‐ and post‐imagery from RapidEye and PlanetScope for various locations in the LMR that were identified based on media and government reports. These rainfall‐induced landslides are published as initiation points for ease of use. In total, we created 22 inventories: 2 in Laos, 4 in Myanmar, 1 in Thailand and 15 in Vietnam. These inventories are being used to train the LHASA‐Mekong model and quantify the effects of Land use/Land cover change on landslide susceptibility. These open data will be a valuable resource for advancing landslide studies in this region.

This paper examines the manifestations of narrative hegemony in two novels by the Iraqi writer Falah Rahim, namely: (Hedgehogs on a Hot Day) and (The Sound of Drums from afar), through the implicit author and his relationship to ideology, the fictional character and its relationship to identity . The term hegemony is one of the central terms in studies of critical discourse analysis, especially in the theoretical approach enacted by the English academic Norman Faircliffe, which is the adopted approach in this research. Therefore, it was worth starting with a brief definition of this theoretical trend, followed by the discussion of the implicit author, and then discussing his relationship with hegemony and ideology in the novel (The Hedgehogs on a Hot Day), and then moving on to discuss the relationship of personality with dominance and identity in the novel (The Sound of the Drums from Far). The analysis in this research is based on interpretation and interpretation, and linking the text with the social context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salad and other fresh produce were collected in England from retail and catering businesses during 2020 to 2021 and were tested for Salmonella, Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC), Listeria, Bacillus cereus, and E. coli. Of the 604 samples collected, 57% were from retail settings and 43% were from catering settings; 61% were either salad leaves or salad leaves mixed with other products. Equal numbers of samples were prepacked or loose, and 50% were refrigerated at the time of sampling. Combining results for all microbiological parameters, 84% were interpreted as satisfactory, 12% were interpreted as borderline, and 4% were interpreted as unsatisfactory. One sample (prepacked leaves, cucumber, and tomato from a caterer) was categorized as unacceptable and potentially injurious because of detection of STEC O76; no STEC from human infections in the United Kingdom matched this isolate. No Salmonella enterica was detected, but Listeria monocytogenes was recovered from 11 samples: 1 at 20 CFU/g and the remainder at < 20 CFU/g. B. cereus was detected at borderline levels (103 to ≤105 CFU/g) in 9% of samples and at an unsatisfactory level (>105 CFU/g) in one sample. E. coli was detected in 3% of samples at borderline levels (20 to ≤102 CFU/g) and in 4% at unsatisfactory levels (>102 CFU/g). There was a significant association between detection of L. monocytogenes and borderline or unsatisfactory levels of E. coli. There were no specific risk profiles associated with products with the higher levels of B. cereus, STEC, or Listeria, but elevated levels of E. coli were predominantly confined to loose products from the United Kingdom collected from caterers in summer or autumn 2021 and may have resulted from relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions. Among the L. monocytogenes isolates, only one matched those from human cases and was recovered from a prepacked mixed salad from a catering business in 2021. This isolate was the same strain as that responsible for a multicountry outbreak (2015 to 2018) associated with Hungarian-produced frozen sweet corn; no link to the outbreak food chain was established. The microbiological quality of 604 samples of salad produce was assessed. Of all samples, 84% were satisfactory, 12% were borderline, and 4% were unsatisfactory. No Salmonella was detected, one sample had STEC, and one had an elevated level of B. cereus. High levels of E. coli were associated with 11 L. monocytogenes–contaminated samples. One isolate clustered with a previous multicountry outbreak of listeriosis linked to sweet corn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aimed to review the farming activity and the administrative measure to successfully increase the distribution of heirloom vegetable “mizuna” nationwide by examining the paradigm shift in the use of its young less-branched form for salad. We also discussed that breeding programs of the young form ironically resulted in reduction the flavor and the antimutagenicity of this vegetable. Methods: Through hearing survey, we explored reasons for the successful nationwide distribution of heirloom vegetable, mizuna. Through chemical analysis, the fragrant ingredients in mizuna, their antimutagenicity and the changes in their amount for one year were determined. Results and discussion: The primary factor for commencing the distribution of mizuna includes the new idea of using young less-branched form of mizuna as salad ingredient, which has been recognized by most who were involved in promoting the distribution of mizuna among farmers, distributors, and employees of agricultural extension section at Kyoto Prefecture office. The secondary factor is the fact that the primary factor coincides on a time axis with other two factors: the occurrence of the boom of Kyoto's heirloom vegetables and the Vegetable Management Stabilization Project found as a measure of Kyoto Prefecture. We determined three fragrant compounds in mizuna, 3-butenyl isothiocyanate, 3-phenylpropionitrile, and phenylethyl isothiocyanate, of which their antimutagenic effects were also identified. Those amounts were highest at the best harvest season called ‘Syun’ in the past because of the cold temperature of Japanese winter in traditional open-field cultivation. Conclusion: It implied that the successful nationwide distribution of mizuna resulted from the administrative measures based on the paradigm shift in the new use of mizuna for salad due to increase in demand of the vegetable in contemporary dishes. The traditional cultivation of mizuna might be suitable if wishing the flavor and antimutagenicity at the best harvest season ‘Syun’. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the impact of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) on fresh-cut iceberg lettuce (FIL) quality and stability. CAP treatments were performed using a Surface Dielectric Barrier Discharge, applying 6 kV at 23 kHz and exposition times varying from 15 to 60 min. FIL was analysed before and after treatments for polyphenoloxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) activity, microbial contamination, colour, surface microstructure properties, chlorophylls content, polyphenols (TPC), ascorbic acid (AA), and antioxidant activity (AoA). TPC, AA and AoA were evaluated also after storage (4 °C for 5 days). CAP treatments provoked a reduction of PPO and POD activity with a processing time- and ozone-concentration-dependent effect. After treatments, a slight inactivation of mesophilic and psychrotrophic bacteria was observed, while yeast counts remained unaffected. With increasing treatment times, increasing cell damages and colour variations were detected, and a decrease of chlorophylls, TPC, AA, and AoA. After storage, an overall AoA increase was observed due to increased extractability or production by living cells of antioxidant compounds. These findings provide insights into the efficacy of CAP treatment in preserving fresh-cut iceberg lettuce quality. Further investigations are needed to optimize the process conditions and increase microbial inactivation while limiting qualitative damage to the product. • Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) reduced the PPO and POD activity of Iceberg lettuce. • CAP slightly inactivated mesophilic and psychrotrophic bacteria. • CAP determined damages to plant cells and colour variations. • CAP reduced chlorophylls, phenols, ascorbic acid, and antioxidant properties. • CAP induced an increase in polyphenols and antioxidant properties after storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatal landslides occur every year during the rainy season (June–November) in the Lower Mekong Region (LMR). There is an urgent need to develop a landslide early warning system in the LMR. In collaboration with the Asian Disasters Preparedness Center and NASA's SERVIR Programme, we are regionalizing the global Landslide Hazard Assessment System for Situational Awareness model for the LMR (LHASA‐Mekong). A robust set of landslide inventories are needed to effectively train the machine learning‐based LHASA‐Mekong model. In this study, the Semi‐Automatic Landslide Detection (SALaD) system was modified by incorporating a change detection module (SALaD‐CD) to produce rainfall event‐based landslide inventories using pre‐ and post‐imagery from RapidEye and PlanetScope for various locations in the LMR that were identified based on media and government reports. These rainfall‐induced landslides are published as initiation points for ease of use. In total, we created 22 inventories: 2 in Laos, 4 in Myanmar, 1 in Thailand and 15 in Vietnam. These inventories are being used to train the LHASA‐Mekong model and quantify the effects of Land use/Land cover change on landslide susceptibility. These open data will be a valuable resource for advancing landslide studies in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is important to secure food safety. If a packaged food can be sterilized, food poisoning can be reduced considerably because the packaged food in a plastic container is useful to prevent attaching microorganisms. However, a fresh food, e.g., a salad or sashimi, cannot be sterilized by thermal sterilization. Therefore, we are studying sterilization methods for packaged fresh foods, such as packed salads. In this study, we have investigated the applicable probability of the sterilization method using cold plasma applied to the packaged fresh food. Especially, we have investigated the probability of the sterilization of microorganisms living in a small hollow between the overlapped fresh foods. A plastic petri dish with a lid was used for simulating the plastic container. The cold plasma was applied into the petri dish by a barrier discharge generated by a pulsed voltage. E. coli was used for a target of sterilization. The E. coli was set on a culture agar medium instead of the salad. The experimental results showed that the sterilization method combining the plastic film and cold plasma of the barrier discharge generated by the pulsed voltage is applicable to sterilize microorganisms living in the hollow between the overlapped fresh foods for the packaged fresh food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The study was aimed to analyze the microbiological quality of mixed vegetable salads and to understand the risk related with its consumption from different restaurants around Bangladesh Agricultural University campus in Mymensingh. Materials and Methods: Sixty (60) samples of mixed vegetable salads were taken from twelve (12) different restaurants in five different time points from each restaurant. In parallel, restaurant workers were asked for handling practices while the consumers were interviewed about their salad consumption pattern and whether they had experienced any health-related problems. Microbial risk assessment of Staphylococcus spp., Salmonella spp., and Escherichia coli was esti¬mated by Monte Carlo simulation (10,000 iterations), an exponential model. Results: Aerobic plate count was ranged from 7.73 ± 0.61 to 9.04 ± 0.26 log cfu/gm, Staphylococcus spp. from 4.64 ± 0.61 to 6.42 ± 0.53 log cfu/gm, Salmonella spp. from 4.75 ± 0.08 to 5.27 ± 0.53 log cfu/gm, and E. coli from 4.98 ± 0.20 to 6.66 ± 0.80 log cfu/gm. From the survey, it was found that total consumers had 18% chances where the male had 13% and the female had 30% chances of being infected with salads. Again frequent, average, and occasional consumers had 31%, 13%, and 0% chances, respectively, of being infected with those salads. From the Monte Carlo simulation, the calculated mean annual risks of Staphylococcus spp., Salmonella spp., and E. coli infection for the three exposure scenarios were found to be about 100%. Conclusion: The study actually revealed the potential microbial contamination in mixed vegetable salads which may impact on food safety and human health. So, the findings suggest that following hygienic measures during processing and handling the microbiological quality of mixed vegetables salads can be improved. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2020; 7(1.000): 34-41]

This publication provides an overview of salad dressings as well as tasty homemade salad dressing recipes. Written by L. Johnson, J. Breslawski, M. Arick, K. Zamojski, and A. Simonne, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, December 2021.

Salmonella spp. and Citrobacter spp. are among the microorganisms causing important foodborne outbreaks. In this study, it was tried to determine the presence and rate of Salmonella spp. and Citrobacter spp. in salad samples collected from certain regions of province of Isparta in Türkiye. A total of 50 salad samples were analyzed. Classical culture technique was used for microbiological analysis of salad samples. Suspected isolates obtained were identified using the VITEK-2 system. Although no negative visual changes were observed in the salad samples used in the study, it was determined that the number of Gram-negative microorganisms was very high and six salad samples were not suitable for public health. In 50 salad samples, 2% Salmonella and 4% Citrobacter freundii were detected. In addition, it was determined that the Salmonella strain isolated from the salad sample was resistant to three different antibiotics and Citrobacter was resistant to two different antibiotics. Salmonella spp. and Citrobacter spp. are considered very dangerous to public health because they are associated with foodborne outbreaks and can develop antibiotic resistance very quickly. Salad producers should try to reduce the possibility of microbial contamination by using different technologies.

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Bioregenerative life-support systems for space have been investigated for 60 years, and plants and other photosynthetic organisms are central to this concept for their ability to produce food and O2, remove CO2, and help recycle wastewater. Many of the studies targeted larger scale systems that might be used for planetary surface missions, with estimates ranging from about 40 to 50 m2 (or more) of crop growing area needed per person. But early space missions will not have these volumes available for crop growth. How can plants be used in the interim, where perhaps

Ready-to-eat foods are not usually treated sufficiently to eliminate the existing pathogenic bacteria in them before consumption; therefore, bacterial contamination in these foods requires due consideration. This study aims to detect Salmonella and Escherichia coli contamination and total microbial count in ready-to-eat salad samples containing meat products in Tehran in 2018. The microbial analysis of 136 samples including Olivier salad, Macaroni salad, and Sausage salad, collected by simple randomized sampling method from chainstores, grocery and cooperative stores, was done according to the ISO international standards. Salmonella was not detected in any of the samples, and only 0.7% of the samples were contaminated with E. coli. The total number of microorganisms in 89.6% of the Olivier salad samples, 61.4% of the Macaroni salad samples and 97.7% of the Sausage salad samples was within the permitted limits of the Iranian National Standard. The average total number of microbes in the Olivier salad, Macaroni salad, and Sausage salad samples was obtained as 4.84, 4.23, and 5.34 log CFU/g, respectively. This study confirms the relatively satisfactory microbiological quality of ready-to-eat salads containing meat products in Tehran, Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate incidence of Toxoplasma gondii, Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus in 100 samples of salad and appetizers (50 salad and 50 appetizer samples) collected from retailers located various districts of Istanbul. Conventional microbiological methods and PCR procedures were used for Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus while only PCR procedures were used for the analysis of Toxoplasma gondii. Also PCR specifity and sensitivity for all the positive samples were calculated. According to the results, Listeria monocytogenes was detected in 9 samples (9%) and Staphylococcus aureus was detected in 36 (36%) samples while all the samples were negative for Toxoplasma gondii. PCR sensitivity results were quite specific and accurate for both Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus. It was concluded that salad and appetizers may be seriously threat consumers’ health microbiologically if they are processed under poor hygienic conditions.

The research of the effect of the biostimulant on the growth and development of plants of the 'Robin' lettuce variety was carried out in 2019-2020 in the department of closed artificial agroecosystems for crop production on the basis of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution «Federal Scientific Agroengineering Center VIM», Moscow (VIM, Russia). Succinic acid was used at the stage of inoculation of seed and with constant drip irrigation of plants throughout the growing period. Lettuce plants were grown using a low-volume technology in a climatic chamber produced by VIM (Russia). According to the studies carried out, inoculation of seeds stimulates the development of plants at the initial stages, reducing the period from sowing to germination and increasing the rate of plant growth. As the lettuce plants grew, the leaf surface area increased from 221.0 to 1511.9 cm² with the addition of succinic acid to the hydroponic nutrient solution. The use of succinic acid under controlled growing conditions of 'Robin' lettuce plants allowed to increase the performance of the leaf apparatus in relation to the control. It was experimentally established that productivity directly depended on the value of photosynthetic potential and net productivity of photosynthesis, which is confirmed by a strong degree of dependence with a correlation coefficient of 0.98 and 0.77, respectively. Seed treatment and adding succinic acid to the hydroponic solution increases the accumulation of dry matter in lettuce plants. With this method of using succinic acid, significant differences in the accumulation of dry mass of plants were established. The share of the effect of the factor of inoculation of seeds with succinic acid was 17.5%, the addition of hydroponics to the nutrient solution was 50.1%. The use of succinic acid increases the accumulation of plant biomass, increases the total leaf surface area, and also contributes to an increase in the parameters of photosynthetic activity of the leaf apparatus of the 'Robin' lettuce plants under controlled conditions of the climatic chamber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is important to secure food safety. If a packaged food can be sterilized, food poisoning can be reduced considerably because the packaged food in a plastic container is useful to prevent attaching microorganisms. However, a fresh food, e.g., a salad or sashimi, cannot be sterilized by thermal sterilization. Therefore, we are studying sterilization methods for packaged fresh foods, such as packed salads. In this study, we have investigated the applicable probability of the sterilization method using cold plasma applied to the packaged fresh food. Especially, we have investigated the probability of the sterilization of microorganisms living in a small hollow between the overlapped fresh foods. A plastic petri dish with a lid was used for simulating the plastic container. The cold plasma was applied into the petri dish by a barrier discharge generated by a pulsed voltage. E. coli was used for a target of sterilization. The E. coli was set on a culture agar medium instead of the salad. The experimental results showed that the sterilization method combining the plastic film and cold plasma of the barrier discharge generated by the pulsed voltage is applicable to sterilize microorganisms living in the hollow between the overlapped fresh foods for the packaged fresh food.

Ready-to-eat salad harbors microorganisms that may carry various antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). However, few studies have focused on the prevalence of ARGs on salad, thus underestimating the risk of ARGs transferring from salad to consumers. In this small-scale study, high-throughput quantitative PCR was used to explore the presence, prevalence and abundance of ARGs associated with serving salad sourced from two restaurant types, fast-food chain and independent casual dining. A total of 156 unique ARGs and nine mobile genetic elements (MGEs) were detected on the salad items assessed. The abundance of ARGs and MGEs were significantly higher in independent casual dining than fast-food chain restaurants. Absolute copies of ARGs in salad were 1.34 × 107 to 2.71 × 108 and 1.90 × 108 to 4.87 × 108 copies per g salad in fast-food and casual dining restaurants, respectively. Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes were the dominant bacterial phyla detected from salad samples. Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Exiguobacterium, Weissella, Enterobacter, Leuconostoc, Pantoea, Serratia, Erwinia, and Ewingella were the 10 most dominant bacterial genera found in salad samples. A significant positive correlation between ARGs and MGEs was detected. These results integrate knowledge about the ARGs in ready-to-eat salad and highlight the potential impact of ARGs transfer to consumers.

Objective: The study was aimed to analyze the microbiological quality of mixed vegetable salads and to understand the risk related with its consumption from different restaurants around Bangladesh Agricultural University campus in Mymensingh. Materials and Methods: Sixty (60) samples of mixed vegetable salads were taken from twelve (12) different restaurants in five different time points from each restaurant. In parallel, restaurant workers were asked for handling practices while the consumers were interviewed about their salad consumption pattern and whether they had experienced any health-related problems. Microbial risk assessment of Staphylococcus spp., Salmonella spp., and Escherichia coli was estimated by Monte Carlo simulation (10,000 iterations), an exponential model. Results: Aerobic plate count was ranged from 7.73 ± 0.61 to 9.04 ± 0.26 log cfu/gm, Staphylococcus spp. from 4.64 ± 0.61 to 6.42 ± 0.53 log cfu/gm, Salmonella spp. from 4.75 ± 0.08 to 5.27 ± 0.53 log cfu/gm, and E. coli from 4.98 ± 0.20 to 6.66 ± 0.80 log cfu/gm. From the survey, it was found that total consumers had 18% chances where the male had 13% and the female had 30% chances of being infected with salads. Again frequent, average, and occasional consumers had 31%, 13%, and 0% chances, respectively, of being infected with those salads. From the Monte Carlo simulation, the calculated mean annual risks of Staphylococcus spp., Salmonella spp., and E. coli infection for the three exposure scenarios were found to be about 100%. Conclusion: The study actually revealed the potential microbial contamination in mixed vegetable salads which may impact on food safety and human health. So, the findings suggest that following hygienic measures during processing and handling the microbiological quality of mixed vegetables salads can be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consuming salad is one strategy with the potential to harmonize diets more closely with national dietary guidance. However, it is not known whether nutrient intake and diet quality differ between people who consume vegetable-based salad and those who do not. The objective of this study was to compare nutrient intake and diet quality between salad reporters and nonreporters. This study is a cross-sectional analysis of 1 day of dietary intake data collected via 24-hour recall. Adults 20 years and older (n=9,678) in What We Eat in America, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2014 were included. Respondents who ate salad on the intake day were considered salad reporters. This study estimated nutrient intake from all foods and beverages (excluding supplements) and evaluated diet quality using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) 2015. Nutrient intake and HEI scores were compared between salad reporters and nonreporters using paired t tests with regression adjustment for confounding variables. Results were considered significant at P <0.001. On the intake day, 23% of adults consumed salad. Energy, protein, and carbohydrate intakes did not differ between salad reporters and nonreporters. Salad reporters had higher intakes than nonreporters of dietary fiber, total fat, unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins A, B-6, C, E, K, folate, choline, magnesium, potassium, and sodium (P <0.001). Total HEI 2015 scores were significantly higher for reporters (56 of a possible 100 points) than nonreporters (50 points) P <0.001. Reporters also had significantly higher scores for eight of 13 HEI components: total vegetables, greens and beans, whole fruits, total protein foods, seafood and plant proteins, fatty acids, refined grains, and added sugars (P <0.001). Incorporating vegetable-based salad into one's diet may be one effective way to increase nutrient intake and improve overall diet quality. Regardless of salad reporting status, HEI scores show that diets of US adults need improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The remarkable diversity of leaf forms allows plants to adapt to their living environment. In general, leaf diversity is shaped by leaf complexity (compound or simple) and leaf margin pattern (entire, serrated, or lobed). Prior studies in multiple species have uncovered a conserved module of CUC2 -auxin that regulates both leaf complexity and margin serration. How this module is regulated in different species to contribute to the species-specific leaf form is unclear. Furthermore, the mechanistic connection between leaf complexity and leaf serration regulation is not well studied. Strawberry has trifoliate compound leaves with serrations at the margin. In the wild strawberry Fragaria vesca , a mutant named salad was isolated that showed deeper leaf serrations but normal leaf complexity. SALAD encodes a single-Myb domain protein and is expressed at the leaf margin. Genetic analysis showed that cuc2a is epistatic to salad , indicating that SALAD normally limits leaf serration depth by repressing CUC2a expression. When both Arabidopsis homologs of SALAD were knocked out, deeper serrations were observed in Arabidopsis rosette leaves, supporting a conserved function of SALAD in leaf serration regulation. We incorporated the analysis of a third strawberry mutant simple leaf 1 (sl1) with reduced leaf complexity but normal leaf serration. We showed that SL1 and SALAD independently regulate CUC2a at different stages of leaf development to, respectively, regulate leaf complexity and leaf serration. Our results provide a clear and simple mechanism of how leaf complexity and leaf serration are coordinately as well as independently regulated to achieve diverse leaf forms. [Display omitted] • Leaf serration is regulated by SALAD , a single-Myb domain protein in strawberry • CUC2a regulates leaf complexity and serration at different stages of leaf primordia • SIMPLE LEAF1 (SL1) and SALAD regulate CUC2a independently at leaf primordia • Knockouts of both SALAD homologs in Arabidopsis also lead to deeper leaf serration Using the wild strawberry as a model, Luo et al. illustrate how two transcription factors, SIMPLE LEAF1 and SALAD , regulate leaf complexity and leaf margin serration, respectively, through modulating CUC2a expression in distinct temporal and spatial domains of leaf primordia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives The exact etiology of migraine is unknown; however, it is likely a mixture of genetic and non-genetic factors including lifestyle variables like smoking and diet. This study aims to assess the causal effect of modifiable risk factors on the risk of migraine using two-sample Mendelian randomization. Materials and methods The study used publicly available genome-wide significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The study evaluated a diverse smoking exposure, encompassing age at smoking initiation, smoking intensity, and maternal smoking, alongside other pertinent risk factors, namely key dietary aspects, coffee consumption, BMI, and physical activity. Self-reported migraine was the outcome of the study. The genetic data for migraine were obtained from the FinnGen (Finland) and the UK Biobank (United Kingdom) cohorts. Results With sample sizes ranging from 64,949 to 632,802 for each risk factor collected from several consorts, the study included a total of 282 SNPs for all risk factors. The findings demonstrated that in the FinnGen consortium, genetically estimated dietary factors as well as BMI, were significantly associated with the risk of migraine (OR 0.765 per single unit of BMI, p = 0.011; OR 0.468 per one SD higher cheese intake, p = 0.012; OR 0.286 per one SD higher salad intake, p = 0.004, and 0.625 per one SD higher coffee consumption, p = 0.003, respectively). The results also showed that in the UK Biobank specifically, a genetically estimated history of maternal smoking was significantly associated with an elevated risk of migraine (OR=1.02, p=0.004). Conclusions The latest study implies a connection between maternal smoking and a heightened risk of migraines, whereas cheese intake, salad intake, coffee consumption, BMI, and physical activity are associated with a lower risk of migraine development., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Jareebi et al.)

Consumption of fresh‐cut vegetables has rapidly increased over the past decades. Among salads, escarole is one of the most popular varieties. Specific packaging limits gas exchange and consequently water loss and bacterial respiration, increasing the shelf life of salads. Although the major cause of quality loss for minimally processed salads is the leaf textural changes, this aspect has rarely been investigated. Therefore, investigating structural changes of leaves during storage is important in order to understand and minimize quality loss of salads. In this study, we focused on the impact of storage duration and temperature on the escarole leaf structure. The complex leaf structure was investigated by relaxation NMR, via transverse relaxation times, which allows the specific description of vacuolar water compartment of the cell. The storage duration (maximum 12 days) and temperatures (4°C, 7°C, 10°C, and 12°C) have been chosen in order to represent the conditions registered in factory. The results showed that the temperature did not have significant impact on the salad structure during the first week. During the second week, changes in the water distribution and changes in the relaxation time T2 have been observed. The changes in transverse relaxation times associated with vacuolar water are related to lost of cell membrane and wall integrity. The NMR results confirmed the effect of storage temperature on the degradation process of the cell before visual detection of the salad leaf degradation. The present study confirmed the sensibility of NMR relaxometry for monitoring water changes in the leaf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular disease risk is elevated in postmenopausal women relative to men of the same age or to younger, premenopausal women. This elevated risk is closely linked to the loss of estrogen, which is a potent stimulator of the vasodilator nitric oxide. While studies have largely supported dietary nitrate supplementation (typically concentrated beetroot juice) to augment plasma nitric oxide, these studies focused mainly on improving vascular fitness of athletes or patient populations. The purpose of this controlled crossover trial was to assess the feasibility of consuming a high-nitrate, leafy green salad twice daily for 10 consecutive days versus a low-nitrate, canned vegetable control (beans, corn, or peas) on plasma nitrate/nitrite concentration and measures of cardiovascular health in postmenopausal women. We hypothesized that plasma nitrate/nitrite concentration and flow-mediated dilation would improve following the leafy green salad treatment. Ten women (52.6 ± 4.9 y; 26.4 ± 6.4 kg/m2) completed the two 10-day treatment periods separated by 2–3 weeks washout. The mean fasting plasma nitrate/nitrite concentration was significantly increased following the high-nitrate salad treatment compared to the control (+156% and+ 16% respectively; P =.002, effect size = 0.661). Flow-mediated dilation responded favorably to the high nitrate salad in comparison to the canned vegetable condition (+17% versus −8% respectively; P =.047, effect size = 0.407); however, there were no treatment effects on peripheral or derived central-aortic blood pressure. These data suggest that daily ingestion of nitrate-rich, leafy green salads may prove a useful strategy for improving cardiovascular health in postmenopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To verify the previously untested assumption that eating more salad enhances vegetable intake and determine if salad consumption is in fact associated with higher vegetable intake and greater adherence to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recommendations.Design: Individuals were classified as salad reporters or non-reporters based upon whether they consumed a salad composed primarily of raw vegetables on the intake day. Regression analyses were applied to calculate adjusted estimates of food group intakes and assess the likelihood of meeting Healthy US-Style Food Pattern recommendations by salad reporting status.Setting: Cross-sectional analysis of data collected in 2011-2014 in What We Eat in America, the dietary intake component of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.ParticipantsUS adults (n 9678) aged ≥20 years (excluding pregnant and lactating women).Results: On the intake day, 23 % of adults ate salad. The proportion of individuals reporting salad varied by sex, age, race, income, education and smoking status (P<0·001). Compared with non-reporters, salad reporters consumed significantly larger quantities of vegetables (total, dark green, red/orange and other), which translated into a two- to threefold greater likelihood of meeting recommendations for these food groups. More modest associations were observed between salad consumption and differences in intake and likelihood of meeting recommendations for protein foods (total and seafood), oils and refined grains.Conclusions: Study results confirm the DGA message that incorporating more salads in the diet is one effective strategy (among others, such as eating more cooked vegetables) to augment vegetable consumption and adherence to dietary recommendations concerning vegetables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to compare the quality of selected fish product samples (cod in mayonnaise) of Slovak and Czech producers at the beginning and end of durability by sensory analysis. The products were approximately the same expiration date and were stored in a refrigerator. The samples were evaluated by a 5 point evaluation system with trained evaluators. The following descriptors have been assessed: general appearance, color, smell, harmonicity taste, palatability of the product, balance of fish-mayonnaise taste, salted, acidity, bitterness and possible foreign flavor. The results of evaluation were that product exhibits characteristic sensory properties during its use. The approaching ending of the durability date is the gradual overlapping of fish taste, such as an acetic taste, as reflected assessors' evaluation. Assessors put emphasis on balance of taste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A greenhouse study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different seedling mixture on growth and development of lettuce transplants cv. Melvine for winter greenhouse production. As a main substrate of mixture was used peat - Dorpet. Three types of medium was an analyzed: Peat Perlite and pine shavings in the following combination: 1.Peet- 100% (control); 2.Peet 88% + Perlite 12%; 3.Peet 80% + Perlite 10% + Pine shavings 10%; 4.Peet 70% + Perlite 10% + Pine shavings 20%. Three readings were made in 7 days. On the 30th day of germination, the plants of all varieties are at same phase - second true leaf. In all indicators of the plant's organs and at the mass of whole plant with the highest values is the control. On the 37th day the tendency of first reading is retained, as the plants of four variants are in phase 3th true leaf. At the 44th day, the main trends and characteristics of the previous two are preserved. In conclusion, it can be said that the addition of pine sawdust influences the development but keeps the growth. At 10% addition of pine sawdust nurseries have similar characteristics to those of variant 2 with Peat 88% + Perlite 12%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The Bromeliaceae Puya chilensis Mol. is a native monocotyledonous food plant that can be found in central Chile. It is traditionally known as chagual. The tender basal part of the leaves, just starting from the meristem, are consumed as a salad. The aim of this work was to describe the phenolic content and composition of the meristem and leaves of chagual, as well as their antioxidant capacity and inhibitory activity against metabolic syndrome-associated enzymes. Samples of chagual, including two cultivated and three wild growing plants, were analyzed and compared for composition and bioactivity. From the phenolic enriched extract of the plant (PEE), 26 compounds were tentatively identified by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn, including 12 hydroxycinnamic acids and 14 flavonoids. The main compounds were identified as diferuloyl hexaric acid isomers and 5- p -Coumaroylquinic acid. The compounds were quantified in both meristem and leaves. The PEE content was up to ten times higher in the meristem than in the leaves, ranging from 0.18 to 124.08 mg/g PEE. The samples inhibited α-glucosidase, but did not show effect on α-amylase and pancreatic lipase. This is the first report on the polyphenol composition and bioactivity of the edible components of the chagual food plant. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • The food plant Puya chilensis was analyzed for phenolic content and composition. • Bioactivity of phenolic-enriched extracts from meristem and leaves was determined. • 26 phenolic compounds were tentatively identified by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn. • The content of hydroxycinnamic acids was higher in the meristem than in the leaves. • Samples inhibited α-glucosidase with IC 50 values between 1.20 and 2.77 μg PEE/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article uses John Evelyn’s Acetaria: A Discourse of Sallets (1699), a short book on the garden’s edible products, to highlight the place of food in early modern science. Exemplifying the period’s epistemic dynamism, Evelyn blended facts and interpretations gleaned from the garden, the library, the body, and the table. Food was a kind of quotidian trading zone, a potential meeting place for publics and ideas, and Evelyn was able to find points of contact and exchange between these diverse sources. Acetaria distilled the many flavors of early modern knowledge making and illustrated food’s capacity to hold them in tasteful harmony. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aims: Α systematic review to investigate fresh produce‐borne viral outbreaks, to record the outbreak distribution worldwide and to analyse the implication of different types of fresh produce and viral types as well. Methods and Results: Four databases (PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Eurosurveillance Journal and Spingerlink electronic journal) and a global electronic reporting system (ProMED‐mail) were searched up to 2016. One hundred and fifty‐two viral outbreaks linked to fresh produce consumption were identified. The majority of the reported outbreaks was reported in Europe, followed by North America, Asia, Australia, Africa and South America. A great number of the outbreaks was recorded in Denmark and Finland. The most common viral pathogens were norovirus (48·7%) and hepatitis A virus (46·1%). The most frequent type of fresh produce involved was frozen raspberries (23·7%). Differences in the reporting of outbreaks were recorded between the scientific literature and ProMED. Conclusions: The number of reported illnesses linked to fresh produce has increased in several countries. Consumption of contaminated fresh produce represents a risk to public health in both developed and developing countries, but the impact will be disproportionate and likely to compound existing health disparities. For this reason, all countries should systematically collate and report such data through a disease surveillance system, in order to adopt risk management practices for reducing the likelihood of contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]