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Background: Frailty is a geriatric syndrome characterized by chronic inflammation and metabolic insufficiency that creates vulnerability to poor outcomes with aging. We hypothesize that interventions which target common underlying mechanism of aging could ameliorate frailty. Ketone bodies are metabolites produced during fasting or on a ketogenic diet that have pleiotropic effects on inflammatory and metabolic aging pathways in laboratory animal models. Ketone esters (KEs) are compounds that induce ketosis without dietary changes, but KEs have not been studied in an older adult population. Our long-term goal is to examine if KEs modulate aging biology mechanisms and clinical outcomes relevant to frailty in older adults., Objectives: The primary objective of this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, parallel-group, pilot trial is to determine tolerability of 12-weeks of KE ingestion in a broad population of older adults (≥ 65 years). Secondary outcomes include safety and acute blood ketone kinetics. Exploratory outcomes include physical function, cognitive function, quality of life, aging biomarkers and inflammatory measures., Methods: Community-dwelling adults who are independent in activities of daily living, with no unstable acute medical conditions (n = 30) will be recruited. The study intervention is a KE or a taste, appearance, and calorie matched placebo beverage. Initially, acute 4-hour ketone kinetics after 12.5g or 25g of KE consumption will be assessed. After collection of baseline safety, functional, and biological measurements, subjects will randomly be allocated to consume KE 25g or placebo once daily for 12-weeks. Questionnaires will assess tolerability daily for 2-weeks, and then via phone interview at bi-monthly intervals. Safety assessments will be repeated at week 4. All measures will be repeated at week 12., Conclusion: This study will evaluate feasibility, tolerability, and safety of KE consumption in older adults and provide exploratory data across a range of aging-related endpoints. This data will inform design of larger trials to rigorously test KE effects on aging mechanisms and clinical outcomes relevant to frailty., Competing Interests: The principal investigator (Dr. Newman), Dr. Brianna Stubbs, and the Buck Institute hold shares in BHB Therapeutics. Drs. Newman and Stubbs are inventors on patents relating to the use of ketone bodies that are assigned to The Buck Institute. All other authors have no conflicts to declare. Individual and institutional extensive conflict management plans were developed and approved by the Buck Institute and the IRB. Actions and decisions important to subject safety and study integrity are carried out by parties with no potential financial conflict. Participant consent is obtained by licensed registered nurses who have no financial conflict. Decisions on subject enrollment, continuation, and discontinuation are made by independent medical officers unaffiliated with Buck Institute and with no financial conflict. Data analysis for the primary outcome is carried out by an independent statistician with no financial conflict. Study staff, including the principal investigator, will maintain blinding through study completion unless unblinding is required for safety concerns. The principal investigator (Dr. Newman), Dr. Brianna Stubbs, and the Buck Institute hold shares in BHB Therapeutics. Drs. Newman (US 11,773,051 B2, US 11,608,306 B2) and Stubbs (US 11,645,228 B2) are inventors on patents relating to the use of ketone bodies that are assigned to The Buck Institute. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials. All other authors have no conflicts to declare., (Copyright: © 2024 Stubbs et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Objectives: Ketone bodies are endogenous metabolites produced during fasting or a ketogenic diet that have pleiotropic effects on aging pathways. Ketone esters (KEs) are compounds that induce ketosis without dietary changes, but KEs have not been studied in an older adult population. The primary objective of this trial was to assess the tolerability and safety of KE ingestion in a cohort of older adults., Design: Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, parallel-arm trial (NCT05585762)., Setting: General community, Northern California, USA., Participants: Community-dwelling older adults, independent in activities of daily living, with no unstable acute medical conditions (n = 30; M = 15, F = 15; age = 76 y, range 65-90 y) were randomized and n = 23 (M = 14, F = 9) completed the protocol., Intervention: Participants were randomly allocated to consume either KE (25 g bis-octanoyl (R)-1,3-butanediol) or a taste, appearance, and calorie-matched placebo (PLA) containing canola oil daily for 12 weeks., Measurements: Tolerability was assessed using a composite score from a daily log for 2-weeks, and then via a bi-weekly phone interview. Safety was assessed by vital signs and lab tests at screening and weeks 0, 4 and 12, along with tabulation of adverse events., Results: There was no difference in the prespecified primary outcome of proportion of participants reporting moderate or severe nausea, headache, or dizziness on more than one day in a two-week reporting period (KE n = 2 (14.3% [90% CI = 2.6-38.5]); PLA n = 1 (7.1% [90% CI = 0.4-29.7]). Dropouts numbered four in the PLA group and two in the KE group. A greater number of symptoms were reported in both groups during the first two weeks; symptoms were reported less frequently between 2 and 12 weeks. There were no clinically relevant changes in safety labs or vital signs in either group., Conclusions: This KE was safe and well-tolerated in this study of healthy older adults. These results provide an initial foundation for use of KEs in clinical research with older adults., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

Since 2010, the genus Listeria has had the addition of 22 new species that more than tripled the number of species identified until 2010. Sixteen of these 22 new species are distantly related to the type species, Listeria monocytogenes , and several of these present phenotypes that distinguish them from classical Listeria species ( L. monocytogenes , Listeria innocua , Listeria ivanovii, Listeria seeligeri , Listeria welshimeri , and Listeria grayi ). These 22 newly described species also show that Listeria is more genetically diverse than previously estimated. While future studies and surveys are needed to clarify the distribution of these species, at least some of these species may not be widely spread, while other species may be frequently found spread to human-related settings (e.g., farms and processing facilities), and others may be adapted to specific environmental habitats. Here, we review the taxonomic, phylogenetic, and ecological characteristics of these new Listeria species identified since 2010 and re-iterate the suggestion of re-classification of some species into three new genera: Murraya , Mesolisteria , and Paenilisteria . We also provide a review of current detection issues and the relevance to food safety related to the identification of these new species. For example, several new non-pathogenic species could be misidentified as the pathogen L. monocytogenes , based on methods that do not target L. monocytogenes -specific virulence genes/factors, leading to unnecessary product recalls. Moreover, eight species in the proposed new genus Mesolisteria are not good indicators of environmental conditions that could allow L. monocytogenes to grow since Mesolisteria species are unable to grow at low temperatures., Competing Interests: Catharine Carlin works at Mérieux NutriSciences, an Institut Mérieux company. Biomérieux, another company of the Institut Mérieux, commercializes detection and identification methods for Listeria and Listeria monocytogenes.

Cultural confirmation following detection of a Listeria monocytogenespresumptive positive can take 3-7 days to finalize; this uncertainty is a point of frustration for food producers needing to make time-sensitive disposition decisions. To address the demand for shortened time-to-results, an alternative L. monocytogenes confirmation method consisting of two components, (i) a secondary screen using a different rapid method, and (ii) concurrent cultural isolation followed by next-day colony identification was evaluated. For the study, four food matrices (hot dogs, peanut butter, frozen vegetables, and multicomponent frozen meals) were inoculated with low levels (0.36-1.39 MPN/125 g) of L. monocytogenes per the AOAC guidelines for a matrix study. Analyses were performed on 125 g test portions and started with a PCR primary screen (Bio-Rad iQ-Check Listeria monocytogenes II). Next, all enriched food samples underwent a secondary screen by bioMérieux's GENE-UP LMO2 Real-Time PCR and VIDAS LMX ELFA along with streaking onto RAPID'L.mono Agar. Presumptive positive L. monocytogenes colonies were identified utilizing a high throughput rapid identification method (Hygiena's BAX System L. monocytogenes Real-Time PCR assay, Neogen's ANSR isothermal nucleic acid amplification assay, and Bruker's MALDI Biotyper). Importantly, this study evaluated multiple commercially available options for the secondary screen (n = 2) and rapid identification (n = 3) to allow for easy adoption by testing laboratories. Overall, there was no statistically significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) between the number of L. monocytogenes-positive 125 g samples obtained by the cultural reference method and the alternative confirmation methods (regardless of which method combinations were evaluated). Additionally, this study supports that, when both the primary and secondary screen methods yield a positive result, the sample could be considered a confirmed positive for L. monocytogenes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: This article measures and discusses the effects of different shower gels on the consumption of water used during a shower., Methods: A sensory panel was created for quantifying water consumption associated with the use of shower gels. Fifteen French panellists were recruited (age: 59 ± 7, height: 163 cm ± 9 and weight: 68 kg ± 20) and trained to assess rinsed skin in a standardized way. Effective panellists were then asked to assess 25 shower gels covering the variety of existing products on the market., Results: Results showed that the average volume was 4.77 L for heating the water and wetting the body and 4.15 L for rinsing the shower gel off the full body. We observed a significant shower gel effect (p < 0.0001) with the water volume needed to rinse the 25 shower gels ranging 3.21 L to 5.65 L., Conclusion: This paper demonstrates the impact of shower gel formulation on water consumption during a shower. It thus demonstrates the importance of formulating shower gels to reduce the total amount of water needed to shower. It also introduces the distinction between 'useful water' which refers strictly to the volume of water objectively needed to rinse off a product and the 'used water' which refers to the total shower volume of water. This distinction helps to better strategize actions in order to reduce water consumption from rinse-off cosmetic products used during showers., (© 2023 L'Oreal Laurence Lebarbanchon. International Journal of Cosmetic published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Cosmetic Scientists and Societe Francaise de Cosmetologie.)

Consumption of low levels of egg already can evoke harmful physiological responses in humans in those allergic to eggs. By detection of egg in food products, using Egg ELISA kits to determine its unintended presence, food producers can respond to avoid potential safety or quality risks of their products. Selection of an ELISA kit fit for the issue at hand is challenging due to, amongst others, lack of information on assay performances with specified matrices. In this study, performances of seven commercial egg ELISA kits are compared for nine different relevant matrices: cookie, chocolate, pasta, dressing, stock cube, wine, vegetable drink and milk, ice cream and meat/meat replacers. The presence of egg was unified for all ELISA kits to mg total egg protein kg -1 food product. In every matrix, kit performances for recovery, intra- and interassay were compared, and also processing is accounted for by determination of egg in incurred samples. All seven kits were able to detect egg qualitatively at the VITAL3 ED01 level of 0.2 mg total egg protein and the corresponding relevant portion size for each matrix. For quantitative results, each ELISA kit showed an increase in detected egg concentration with increased egg levels and performed within the set criteria for recovery for the cookie, chocolate, stock cube and wine. For pasta, vegetable drink and milk, ice cream, and salad dressing, recovery of egg was within the set criteria for at least 4 ELISA kits. Most challenging matrices were meat/meat replacers, showing high matrix effects which could not be explained by the possible egg presence in the cognate blank. Only one ELISA kit was able to recover egg within the set criteria for the meat/meat replacer matrix. Results enable food industry to choose for ELISA kits suitable for egg detection in the matrix of interest., Competing Interests: The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Nathalie G.E. Smits reports financial support and equipment, drugs, or supplies were provided by 3 M, Biofront technologies, Danone, Generon, Merieux NutriSciences, Morinaga, Neogen, Nutrilab, Progenus, Romer, Unilever. Andries J. Koops reports financial support and equipment, drugs, or supplies were provided by 3 M, Biofront technologies, Danone, Generon, Merieux NutriSciences, Morinaga, Neogen, Nutrilab, Progenus, Romer, Unilever. Rian Kraan reports financial support and equipment, drugs, or supplies were provided by 3 M, Biofront technologies, Danone, Generon, Merieux NutriSciences, Morinaga, Neogen, Nutrilab, Progenus, Romer, Unilever. Elise Hoek-van den Hil reports financial support and equipment, drugs, or supplies were provided by 3 M, Biofront technologies, Danone, Generon, Merieux NutriSciences, Morinaga, Neogen, Nutrilab, Progenus, Romer, Unilever., (© 2023 Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: The Thermo Scientific™ SureTect™ Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Vibrio vulnificus PCR Assay method is a real-time PCR method for the multiplex detection of Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Vibrio vulnificus in seafood., Objective: The Thermo Scientific SureTect Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Vibrio vulnificus Assay was evaluated for AOAC Performance Tested MethodsSM certification., Method: Inclusivity/exclusivity, matrix, product consistency/stability, and robustness studies were conducted to assess the method's performance. For the matrix study, the method was validated using the Applied Biosystems™ QuantStudio™ 5 Real-Time PCR Food Safety Instrument and the Applied Biosystems™ 7500 Fast Real-Time PCR Food Safety Instrument against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Bacteriological Analytical Manual, Chapter 9 (2004), Vibrio and ISO 21872-1:2017 Microbiology of the food chain-Horizontal method for the determination of Vibrio spp.-Part 1: Detection of potentially enteropathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio cholerae, and Vibrio vulnificus reference methods., Results: Matrix studies showed equivalent or superior performance of the candidate method compared to the reference method and, overall, no difference between presumptive and confirmed results, except for one matrix due to high background flora. The inclusivity/exclusivity study correctly identified/excluded all strains analyzed. Robustness testing showed no statistically significant differences in assay performance under varied test conditions. Product consistency and stability studies demonstrated no statistically significant differences between assay lots with different expiration dates., Conclusions: The data presented show that the assay constitutes a rapid and reliable workflow for the detection of V. cholerae, V. parahaemolyticus, and V. vulnificus in seafood matrixes., Highlights: The SureTect PCR Assay method allows for fast, reliable detection of stipulated strains in seafood matrixes with results obtained in as little as 80 min post-enrichment., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of AOAC INTERNATIONAL.)

Dietary fibre modulates gastrointestinal (GI) health and function, providing laxation, shifting microbiota, and altering bile acid (BA) metabolism. Fruit juice production removes the polyphenol- and fibre-rich pomace fraction. The effects of orange and apple pomaces on GI outcomes were investigated in healthy, free-living adults. Healthy adults were enrolled in two double-blinded, crossover trials, being randomised by baseline bowel movement (BM) frequency. In the first trial, subjects ( n 91) received orange juice (OJ, 0 g fibre/d) or OJ + orange pomace (OJ + P, 10 g fibre/d) for 4 weeks, separated by a 3-week washout. Similarly, in the second trial, subjects ( n 90) received apple juice (AJ, 0 g fibre/d) or AJ + apple pomace (AJ + P, 10 g fibre/d). Bowel habit diaries, GI tolerance surveys and 3-d diet records were collected throughout. Fresh faecal samples were collected from a participant subset for microbiota and BA analyses in each study. Neither pomace interventions influenced BM frequency. At Week 4, OJ + P tended to increase ( P = 0·066) GI symptom occurrence compared with OJ, while AJ + P tended ( P = 0·089) to increase flatulence compared with AJ. Faecalibacterium ( P = 0·038) and Negativibacillus ( P = 0·043) were differentially abundant between pre- and post-interventions in the apple trial but were no longer significant after false discovery rate (FDR) correction. Baseline fibre intake was independently associated with several microbial genera in both trials. Orange or apple pomace supplementation was insufficient to elicit changes in bowel habits, microbiota diversity or BA of free-living adults with healthy baseline BM. Future studies should consider baseline BM frequency and habitual fibre intake.

Introduction: Bis-hexanoyl (R)-1,3-butanediol (BH-BD) is a novel ketone ester that, when consumed, is hydrolyzed into hexanoic acid (HEX) and (R)-1,3-butanediol (BDO) which are subsequently metabolized into beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB). Methods: We undertook a randomized, parallel, open-label study in healthy adults ( n = 33) to elucidate blood BHB, HEX and BDO concentrations for 8 h following consumption of three different serving sizes (SS) of BH-BD (12.5, 25 and 50 g/day) before (Day 0) and after 7 days of daily BH-BD consumption (Day 7). Results: Maximal concentration and area under the curve of all metabolites increased proportionally to SS and were greatest for BHB followed by BDO then HEX on both Day 0 and 7. Metabolite half-life tended to decrease with increasing SS for BHB and HEX. Time to peak concentration increased with increasing SS for BHB and BDO on both days. In vitro incubation of BH-BD in human plasma demonstrated BH-BD undergoes rapid spontaneous hydrolysis. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that orally ingested BH-BD is hydrolyzed into products that appear in the plasma and undergo conversion to BHB in a SS dependent manner, and that metabolism of BH-BD neither becomes saturated at serving sizes up to 50 g nor displays consistent adaptation after 7 days of daily consumption., Competing Interests: BS has stock options in BHB Therapeutics Ltd., and Juvenescence Ltd. BS is an inventor on patents related to the use of ketone bodies. JA is a consultant for Juvenescence US Corporation and holds stock options in Juvenescence Ltd. and Juvenescence Life Sciences Ltd. AB is an employee of Juvenescence US Corporation and holds stock options in Juvenescence Ltd. AB was employed by company BHB Therapeutics Ltd. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Mah, Blonquist, Kaden, Beckman, Boileau, Anthony and Stubbs.)

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, are emerging contaminants detected in surface water, groundwater, drinking water, air, and food. Due to its chemical stability and high hydrophobicity, these compounds are used as surfactants, surface protectors, flame retardants, textile impregnation, fire-fighting foam, and pesticides and may be a risk for human health in the long-term exposure. Currently, a little research has been carried out for these compounds in Brazil. In this study, the concentration and distribution of 23 PFAS were analyzed in groundwater samples collected from water wells in urbanized areas and in surface water samples from Porto Alegre, one of the biggest cities in Brazil. The total concentrations of PFAS (ΣPFAS) in a groundwater sample varied between 22 and 718 ng L -1 . Eleven PFAS species were detected in groundwater, including PFOA, PFHxA, PFPeA, PFBA, PFDA, PFNA, and PFOS. Most of PFAS were quantified in samples located in the aquifer formed by medium to coarse sands intercalated with silty-sandy lenses and low organic matter content that could facilitate the percolation of these compounds. The total concentrations of PFAS (ΣPFAS) in a surface water sample varied between 11 and 17 ng L -1 . Ten species were founded in surface water being PFOA, PFOS, and PFHpA the most dominant. Considering all the samples, PFOA was the predominant species in the study. In addition, tributary water bodies had higher concentrations of PFAS than the main water body (Guaiba Lake) probably due dilution process., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Historically, food fraud was a major public health concern which helped drive the development of early food regulations in many markets including the US and EU market. In the past 10 years, the integrity of food chains with respect to food fraud has again been questioned due to high profile food fraud cases. We provide an overview of the resulting numerous authoritative activities underway within different regions to counter food fraud, and we describe the guidance available to the industry to understand how to assess the vulnerability of their businesses and implement appropriate mitigation. We describe how such controls should be an extension of those already in place to manage wider aspects of food authenticity, and we provide an overview of relevant analytical tools available to food operators and authorities to protect supply chains. Practical Application: Practical Application of the provided information by the food industry in selecting resources (guidance document, analytical methods etc.)., (© 2022 The Authors. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Institute of Food Technologists.)

Purpose: Loss of smell decreases the quality of life and contributes to the failure in recognizing hazardous substances. Given the relevance of olfaction in daily life, it is important to recognize an undiagnosed olfactory dysfunction to prevent these possible complications. Up to now, the prevalence of smell disorders in Italy is unknown due to a lack of epidemiological studies. Hence, the primary aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of olfactory dysfunction in a sample of Italian adults., Methods: Six hundred and thirty-three participants (347 woman and 286 men; mean age 44.9 years, SD 17.3, age range 18-86) were recruited from 10 distinct Italian regions. Participants were recruited using a convenience sapling and were divided into six different age groups: 18-29 years (N = 157), 30-39 years (N = 129), 40-49 years (N = 99), 50-59 years (N = 106), > 60 years (N = 142). Olfactory function, cognitive abilities, cognitive reserve, and depression were assessed, respectively, with: Sniffin' Sticks 16-item Odor Identification Test, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Cognitive Reserve Index, and the Beck Depression Inventory. Additionally, socio-demographic data, medical history, and health-related lifestyle information were collected., Results: About 27% of participants showed an odor identification score < 12 indicating hyposmia. Multiple regression analysis revealed that OI was significantly correlated with age, sex, and cognitive reserve index, and young women with high cognitive reserve index showing the highest olfactory scores., Conclusion: This study provides data on the prevalence of olfactory dysfunction in different Italian regions., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Magnetic polyimide nanosheet microspheres (PI-NMs) were used for magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) for the first time. The PI-NMs were modified with magnetic Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles by chemical coprecipitation to produce the PI-NM/Fe 3 O 4 composite. The prepared composite possessed a nanosheet structure, large specific surface area (71.5 m 2 /g), high saturation magnetization (19.1 emu/g), large adsorption capacity (≥ 676 ng/mg for selected estrogens), and good extraction stability (> 10 times). Trace estrogens in environmental water and urine samples were extracted by the PI-NM/Fe 3 O 4 composite, desorbed, derivatized, and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The derivatization, extraction, and desorption conditions were optimized. Extraction equilibrium was achieved within 1 min due to the good dispersibility and large specific surface area of the PI-NM/Fe 3 O 4 composite. Under the optimized conditions, the MSPE/GC-MS method validation results showed wide linearity (0.02-50 µg/L or 0.05-50 µg/L), high determination coefficients (R 2  ≥ 0.9983), good intraday and interday precisions (expressed as relative standard deviation, RSDs ≤ 8.2%), and low limits of detection (LODs, 0.001-0.015 µg/L). For the real environmental water and urine samples, the recoveries and RSDs were 77.0-112.5% and 0.1-10.7%, respectively. The performance of the MSPE/GC-MS method proved that the PI-NM/Fe 3 O 4 composite was a good alternative material for the extraction of organic pollutants in aqueous samples., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Restrictions adopted by many countries in 2020 due to Covid-19 pandemic had severe consequences on the management of sensory and consumer testing that strengthened the tendency to move data collection out of the laboratory. Remote sensory testing, organized at the assessor's home or workplace and carried out under the live online supervision of the panel leader, represents a trade-off between adequate control and the convenience of conducting testing out of the lab. The Italian Sensory Science Society developed the "Remote sensory testing" research project aimed at testing the effectiveness and validity of the sensory tests conducted remotely through a comparison with evaluations in a classical laboratory setting. Guidelines were developed to assist panel leaders in setting up and controlling the evaluation sessions in remote testing conditions. Different methods were considered: triangle and tetrad tests, Descriptive Analysis and Temporal Dominance of Sensations tests, all of which involved trained panels, and Check-All-That-Apply and hedonic tests with consumers. Remote sensory testing provided similar results to the lab testing in all the cases, with the exception of the tetrad test run at work. Findings suggest that remote sensory testing, if conducted in strict compliance with specifically developed sensory protocols, is a promising alternative to laboratory tests that can be applied with both trained assessors and consumers even beyond the global pandemic., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In this work, porous electrospun microfibers (PEMFs) were prepared using a polyimide/polyvinylpyrrolidone/polyethylene glycol (PI/PVP/PEG) solution mixture with coaxial ultrasonic water vapor spraying. After removing PVP and PEG by ultrasonic water washing, the PEMFs were successfully demonstrated as adsorbents for solid phase extraction (SPE). Most non-porous electrospun nanofibers are hundreds of nanometers in diameter, with a specific surface area of dozens of square meters per gram. In contrast, the diameter of the as-prepared PEMFs was tuned between 3 and 8 μm, the specific surface area was 76 m 2 g - 1 and the pore size was ca 25 nm. Therefore, the flow resistance of the PEMF-SPE cartridges was similar to those of conventional commercial SPE cartridges, and much lower than those of SPE cartridges packed with electrospun nanofibers. Using the PEMF-SPE cartridges with ultra-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detector (UPLC-FLD), five fluoroquinolones (FQs) in tap water, egg and milk samples were extracted and quantified successfully. After optimizing the extraction conditions, FQs in water samples were extracted and eluted with high recoveries of 84.8-114.8%. The inter-batch and intra-batch relative standard deviation (RSD) values for the FQs were in the range of 1.9-9.5% (n=3), and the limits of detection were between 0.0024-0.014 μg L - 1 . The method was linear in the concentration range of 0.005-10 μg L - 1 . The reliability of the developed method was validated by analyzing tap water, egg and milk samples, and the recovery values were found to be in the range of 74.8-116.6% under the optimized conditions., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Oral exposure to mineral oil may result in a narrow fraction of mineral oil saturated hydrocarbon (MOSH) being retained in tissues. Excess of MOSH hepatic retention may lead to the formation of lipogranuloma caused by predominantly multiring cycloalkanes (naphthenics) in a critical range of C 25 -C 35 . Although hepatic lipogranuloma is of low pathological concern, MOSH tissue deposition could be minimized by using an oil of similar quality but devoid of naphthenic structures to decrease hepatic retention. Synthetic Gas to liquid (GTL) oils offer an alternative to petroleum derived mineral oils, because they do not contain naphthenic structures. To demonstrate this point, SD rats were fed either GTL oil (99% iso-alkanes) or naphthenic mineral oil (84% cycloalkanes) at 200 mg/kg bw/day for 90 or 134 days with a recovery group. Liver, fat and mesenteric lymph nodes were analyzed for alkane sub-type levels using Online-HPLC-GC-FID and GCxGC-TOF-MS. Results indicate that at equal external dose, GTL hydrocarbons result in lower tissue levels and more rapid excretion than MOSH. GTL retained hepatic fractions were also qualitatively different than MOSH constituents. Because chemical composition differences, GTL oil show low absorption and tissue retention potential and thus an advantageous alternative to conventional mineral oil., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Volatile and non-volatile chemical profiles, free and total SO 2 and dissolved oxygen content were studied in three red (Merlot, Lagrein red, St. Magdalener) and one rosé (Lagrein rosé) wine after 30 months of storage in bottles. Each wine was sealed with closures made of a 'blend' (B) of natural cork microgranules and polymers without glue and was compared with wines closed with other types of corks (C; a technical cork 1 + 1, or an agglomerated natural cork or a natural one-piece cork). Glutathionyl caftaric acid (GRP) was inversely correlated with total SO 2 content and was higher in all three red wines closed with B compared to C, whereas epicatechin was higher in three wines closed with C compared to B. Three volatile compounds formed by fermentation (ethyl butanoate, isoamyl lactate, and octanol) were inversely correlated with both free and total SO 2 . In terms of their volatile profiles, ethyl octanoate and 2,3-butanediol were significantly higher in the Lagrein red wines closed with C closures, whereas no significant difference was observed in Merlot, Lagrein rosé and St. Magdalener wines. Small differences in some phenolic compounds due to the type of closure were found: GRP, syringic acid, (+)-catechin, and (-)-epicatechin differentiated the Merlot wines closed with B from the C closures. Protocatechuic acid and GRP levels differentiated the Lagrein red wines according to their closure type, whereas only (-)-epicatechin differentiated the Lagrein rosé wines. GRP, caffeic acid, (-)-epicatechin, and anthocyanin content differentiated the St. Magdalener wines according to their closure type. Even though St. Magdalener and Lagrein rosé closed with C could be distinguished from those closed with B by using the (sensory) triangle test (α = 0.05), these differences appeared to be relative as it did not include all the wines in a systematic manner.