Fruit quality assessment based on mineral elements and juice properties in nine citrus cultivars.

Introduction: Citrus fruit is considered a superfood due to its multiple nutritional functions and health benefits. Quantitative analysis of the numerous quality characteristics of citrus fruit is required to promote its sustainable production and industrial utilization. However, little information is available on the comprehensive quality assessment of various fruit quality indicators in different citrus cultivars. Methods: A total of nine different fresh citrus fruits containing seeds were collected as the experimental materials. The objectives of this study were: (i) to determine the morphological and juice properties of citrus fruits, (ii) to measure the mineral elements in the peel, pulp, and seeds, and (iii) to evaluate the fruit quality index (FQI) using the integrated quality index (IQI) and the Nemoro quality index (NQI) methods. Results: There were significant differences in fruit quality characteristics, including morphological, mineral, and juice quality, among the investigated citrus cultivars. The proportion of pulp biomass was the highest, followed by that of peel and seeds. N and Cu had the highest and lowest concentrations, respectively, among the measured elements across all citrus fruits, and the amounts of N, P, Mg, Cu, and Zn in seeds, K and Al in pulp, and Ca, Fe, and Mn in peel were the highest, dramatically affecting the accumulation of minerals in the whole fruit and their distribution in various fruit parts. Additionally, Ningmeng fruits had the highest vitamin C and titratable acidity (TA) but the lowest total soluble solids (TSS) and total phenolic (TP) contents, resulting in the lowest TSS/TA and pH values. In contrast, Jinju fruits had the highest TSS and TP contents. Based on the mineral element and juice quality parameters, principal component analysis showed that the citrus fruits were well separated into four groups, and the dendrogram also showed four clusters with different distances. The FQI range based on the IQI method (FQIIQI) and NQI method (FQINQI) was 0.382-0.590 and 0.106-0.245, respectively, and a positive relationship between FQIIQI and FQINQI was observed. Conclusion: Our results highlight the great differences in mineral and juice characteristics among fruit parts, which mediated fruit quality. The strategy of fruit quality assessment using the FQI can be expanded for targeted utilization in the citrus industry.

Assessment of precision and reliability of a novel computerized heterophoria test.

Purpose: To assess the precision and reliability of a novel computerized heterophoria test (CHT). Methods: One hundred and three subjects aged 20 to 48 (27.37 ± 5.15) were recruited from Wenzhou Medical University. All subjects with corrected spectacles were examined with CHT and a prism-neutralized objective cover test (POCT) in a randomized order. They were then re-examined with CHT within 1 week. Their heterophoria was measured at three different distances (3 m, 0.77 m and 0.4 m); the average was recorded after three consecutive measurements. Inter-examiner repeatability, intra-examiner repeatability of CHT and agreement between CHT and POCT were evaluated. Results: There was no significant difference among repeated measurements using CHT (all p > 0.05). The difference between POCT and CHT was statistically significant at three distances (all p < 0.001). However, the mean absolute difference was 1.20△, 1.93△, and 2.41△, all of which were significantly smaller than the permissible range of error (4△) at three different distances (all p < 0.001). Conclusion: The CHT demonstrated excellent inter- and intra-examiner repeatability, as well as good correlation with POCT. The differences between CHT and POCT were within the permissible range of error, indicating that CHT could provide a precise and reliable measurement for clinical applications.

Evaluation of in vitro toxicity information for zebrafish as a promising alternative for chemical hazard and risk assessment.

In vitro assays are widely proposed as a test alternative to traditional in vivo standard acute and chronic toxicity tests. However, whether toxicity information derived from in vitro assays instead of in vivo tests could provide sufficient protection (e.g., 95 % of protection) for chemical risks remain evaluated. To investigate the feasibility of zebrafish (Danio rerio) cell-based in vitro test method as a test alternative, we comprehensively compared sensitivity differences among endpoints, among test methods (in vitro, FET and in vivo), and between zebrafish and rat (Rattus norvegicus), respectively using chemical toxicity distribution (CTD) approach. For each test method involved, sublethal endpoints were more sensitive than lethal endpoints for both zebrafish and rat, respectively. Biochemistry (zebrafish in vitro), development (zebrafish in vivo and FET), physiology (rat in vitro) and development (rat in vivo) were the most sensitive endpoints for each test method. Nonetheless, zebrafish FET test was the least sensitive one compared to its in vivo and in vitro tests for either lethal or sublethal responses. Comparatively, rat in vitro tests considering cell viability and physiology endpoints were more sensitive than rat in vivo test. Zebrafish was found to be more sensitive than rat regardless of in vivo or in vitro tests for each pairwise endpoint of concern. Those findings indicate that zebrafish in vitro test is a feasible test alternative to zebrafish in vivo and FET test and traditional mammalian test. It is suggesting that zebrafish in vitro test can be optimized by choosing more sensitive endpoints, such as biochemistry to provide sufficient protection for zebrafish in vivo test and to establish applications of zebrafish in vitro test in future risk assessment. Our findings are vital for evaluating and further application of in vitro toxicity toxicity information as an alternative for chemical hazard and risk assessment.

Rapid quantitative detection of chloramphenicol in milk by microfluidic immunoassay.

Chloramphenicol (CAP) is a toxic substance for human health, and detection of CAP residues in milk is necessary. However, most of the traditional CAP detection methods including high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) are time-consuming and complicated. Herein, an automated microfluidics system for CAP detection in milk was developed. The residual CAP of multiple milk samples was quantitatively detected via competitive immunoassay in a single microfluidic chip simultaneously and automatically, and the reliability of the method was confirmed by flow cytometry. Completion of the detection by the system required less than 20 min and the cost for the detection of ten samples was about US$2.5. The limit of detection was 0.05 µg L-1, and the recovery rate of CAP in milk ranged from 91.3% to 105.5%. The microfluidic system developed in this study exhibited considerable potential in the point-of-care testing (POCT) of CAP in milk.

Phthalates in preschool children's clothing manufactured in seven Asian countries: Occurrence, profiles and potential health risks.

Phthalates could be introduced into clothing as chemical additives or impurities, becoming a potential source of human exposure. We measured the concentrations of 15 phthalates in new preschool children's clothing manufactured in seven Asian countries. Phthalates were prevalent in all samples, and total concentrations were 2.92-223 µg/g, indicating a moderate contamination level. Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, di(isobutyl) phthalate and di-n-butyl phthalate were the most abundant phthalates measured, representing a median of 48.5 %, 13.6 % and 13.4 % of the total concentrations, respectively. Total concentrations did not differ significantly by country of manufacture, while the concentrations of individual phthalates and their composition profiles varied widely. We also found differing phthalate levels by item type, fabric composition, and color. Under the assumed two exposure scenarios, the median of summed dermal exposure doses of six phthalate were 539 and 950 ng/kg of body weight per day, respectively. When children wore trousers, long-sleeved shirts, briefs and socks at the same time, the reproductive risks exceeded acceptable level, although the carcinogenic risk of DEHP was low. Our results suggested that new clothing is an important route of phthalate exposure to preschool children. More research is required to investigate the contaminations and associated with risks in child clothing.