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Various Salmonella serotypes have caused numerous foodborne outbreaks associated with food vehicles in different categories. This study provides evidence on the occurrence and inter-relations between Salmonella serotypes and the number of deaths mediated by the number of illnesses and hospitalizations. Confirmed foodborne outbreaks of Salmonella serotypes (n = 2868) that occurred between 1998 and 2021 were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Outbreak Reporting System. Causal mediation analysis was performed based on 500 bootstrap samples. The serotypes and the Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration (IFSAC) food categories as confounding effects were considered as categorical variables. A total of 106 single Salmonella serotypes were associated with foodborne outbreaks. Foodborne outbreaks caused by Salmonella serotypes resulted in 81,996 illnesses, 11,018 hospitalizations, and 115 deaths between 1998 and 2021 in the United States. The serotypes Enteritidis (815 outbreaks, 28.42%), Typhimurium (359 outbreaks, 12.52%), and Newport (220 outbreaks, 7.67%) accounted for almost half of Salmonella-linked outbreaks. Poultry products, “chickens”, “eggs”, and “turkey”, were the leading IFSAC food categories, accounting for 14.02% of total outbreaks and 10.44% of total deaths. Certain serotypes had a significant effect on illness, hospitalization, and death counts. Two serotypes, Heidelberg and Saintpaul, and “fruits” as the food vehicle in IFSAC categories had a significant direct effect on the number of illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths as outcomes of Salmonella outbreaks (p ≤ 0.05). There was strong evidence that illness and hospitalization counts played a key role in the pathway from serotype to death counts on foodborne outbreaks caused by Salmonella based on causal mediation analysis. The findings of this study can help outbreak investigations and lead to prevention and control measures by providing insightful information about the frequencies of Salmonella serotypes and the associated food vehicles causing foodborne diseases.

Tea, one of the world’s most consumed beverages, has a rich variety of sensory qualities such as appearance, aroma, mouthfeel and flavor. This review paper summarizes the chemical and volatile compositions and sensory qualities of different tea infusions including black, green, oolong, dark, yellow, and white teas based on published data over the past 4 years (between 2021 and 2024), largely focusing on the methodologies. This review highlights the relationships among the different processing methods of tea and their resulting chemical and sensory profiles. Environmental and handling factors during processing, such as fermentation, roasting, and drying are known to play pivotal roles in shaping the unique flavors and aromas of different types of tea, each containing a wide variety of compounds enhancing specific sensory characteristics like umami, astringency, sweetness, and fruity or floral notes, which may correlate with certain groups of chemical compositions. The integration of advanced analytical methods, such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), with traditional sensory analysis techniques was found to be essential in the evaluation of the chemical composition and sensory attributes of teas. Additionally, emerging approaches like near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and electronic sensory methods show potential in modern tea evaluation. The complexity of tea sensory characteristics necessitates the development of combined approaches using both analytical methods and human sensory analysis for a comprehensive and better understanding of tea quality.

Idunella spinifera (Dauvin and Gentil, 1983) (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Liljeborgiidae) is reported for the first time after the original description that was based on one immature female. Specimens were collected in the Ría de Muros (NW Iberian Peninsula) during the course of a study on macrofauna diversity in shallow sublittoral biogenic sands along a one-year period. The male and the ovigerous female are fully described, and the data on ecology and temporal variation of abundance is provided as well.

The attachment strength of bacteria to surfaces can affect the efficacy of sanitizers during washing. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of chlorination and aeration in the removal of pathogens from the surface of produce. Cucumbers and bell peppers were inoculated with Listeria innocua, Escherichia coli O157:H7, or Salmonella enterica; afterwards, the produce was washed with or without chlorinated water (100 ppm) for 3 min in combination with or without aeration. Cucumbers washed with chlorinated water, with or without aeration, presented significant reductions of L. innocua (3.65 log CFU/cm2 and 1.13 log CFU/cm2, respectively) (p < 0.05). Similarly, bell peppers washed in chlorinated water with aeration (1.91 log CFU/g) and without aeration (2.49 log CFU/g) presented significant reductions of L. innocua. A significant reduction of L. innocua was observed on bell peppers washed with non-chlorinated water with aeration (2.49 log CFU/g) (p < 0.05). Non-chlorinated water was also effective in significantly reducing the level of Salmonella enterica (p < 0.05) on cucumbers and bell peppers. Washing with chlorinated water with aeration reduced Salmonella enterica levels from 4.45 log CFU/cm2 on cucumbers to below the detectable limit (0.16 log CFU/cm2). The highest reduction of Salmonella enterica from bell peppers occurred after washing with chlorinated water with aeration (2.48 log CFU/g). E. coli O157:H7, L. innocua, and Salmonella enterica levels present in non-chlorinated water after washing contaminated produce with or without aeration were significantly greater than those in chlorinated water (p < 0.05). After treatment, the population levels of all pathogens in chlorinated water with or without aeration were below the detectable limit for bell peppers (

Mussel beds are an important habitat in many coastal systems, harboring a high diversity of biota. They are threatened by anthropogenic impacts that affect mussels and their associated assemblages. Pollution, harvesting, trampling, dredging and trawling are major threats faced by these communities. Most of the studies on the effects of such impacts on the mussel beds overlook the associated fauna. Since mussels are very resilient, especially to pollution, the associated fauna can provide a better footprint of the impacts’ effects. In this review, we looked into the main remarks regarding the effects of anthropogenic impacts in mussel bed communities. Organic pollution was the best studied impact and the Atlantic region was the best studied zone. Low values of abundance, biomass, diversity, evenness and species richness were reported for all categories of impacts, with some studies describing declines in at least three of these descriptors. Among the associated fauna, some tolerant species benefited from the impacts, particularly organic enrichment, and became more abundant, but sensitive species suffered considerable declines in density, mainly in dredging and trawling impacts. Therefore, fauna associated with mussel beds is a suitable indicator of anthropogenic disturbances.

Pecan shells are a rich source of various bioactive compounds with potential antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. This study investigated the effect of pecan variety and method extraction on the antioxidant property of shell extracts. Twenty different varieties of pecan shells were subjected to either aqueous or ethanolic extraction and were examined for total phenolics and antiradical activity. The phenolic content and antiradical activity of shell extracts were significantly (p < 0.05) varied with different pecan cultivars. The total phenolic content of ethanol extracts ranged from 304.2 (Caddo) to 153.54 (Cherokee) mg GAE g−1 of dry extract and was significantly greater (p < 0.05) than those obtained by aqueous extraction. The antiradical activity of ethanol extracts ranged from 840.6 (Maramec) to 526.74 (Caper Fear) mg TE g−1, while aqueous extracts ranged from 934.9 (Curtis) to 468.3 (Elliot) mg TE g−1. Chemical profiling of the crude and acid hydrolyzed extracts was performed by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography and flow injection electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Lignin degradation products such as lignols, dilignols, trilignols, and oligolignols were found to be the major components of tested extracts. Phenolic content and antiradical activity of pecan shell extracts are significantly varied with cultivars and methods of extraction.

In this paper we review the systematics, diversity, and ecology of two related annelid families: Opheliidae Malmgren, 1867 and Scalibregmatidae Malmgren, 1867. Opheliids are deposit-feeders and that are mainly found as burrowers in sandy sediments. Morphologically, opheliids are characterized by the smooth cuticle, as well as the presence of a conspicuous ventral groove, reduced parapodia, and a tubular-shaped structure often projecting from the posterior end. Scalibregmatids are also deposit-feeders, but compared to opheliids, they have a characteristic arenicoliform body, a T-shaped anterior end and a glandular, reticulated epidermis. For each family, we summarize the available information about the evolutionary relationships, taxonomic history, geographical distribution, ecological preferences and diversity of life strategies along with the techniques most commonly used for their study. By highlighting the main gaps in knowledge on each of these topics, this review ultimately aims at stimulating further research into members of these two families in the future.

Palaeoannelida Weigert and Bleidorn, 2016 is an old clade branching off at the base of the Annelida radiation. It includes two morphologically and ecological divergent groups of sedentary burrowers and tube-dwellers: Magelonidae Cunningham and Ramage, 1888, and Oweniidae Rioja, 1917. Magelonids are characterised by a flattened, shovel-shaped prostomium and a pair of ventral papillated palps. Oweniids have simplified bodies lacking parapodia or appendages and are easily distinguished by the presence of oval patches of packed uncini, each with two distal curved teeth. The present review aims to summarise available information about the diversity of forms and life strategies displayed in the group, providing some guidelines for species identification and the techniques commonly used for their study. In addition, the assumed geographic distributions of some taxa are critically discussed. A brief introduction about the evolutionary relationships, systematics, and taxonomic history is given for both Magelonidae and Oweniidae. The motivation of this review is to highlight the main knowledge gaps from a taxonomic, methodological, and geographic perspective, aiming at stimulating further research into members of this clade.