Sample preparation and EFTEM of meat samples for nanoparticle analysis in food

Nanoparticles are used in industry for personal care products and the preparation of food. In the latter application, their functions include the prevention of microbes' growth, increase of the foods nutritional value and sensory quality. EU regulations require a risk assessment of the nanoparticles used in foods and food contact materials before the products can reach the market. However, availability of validated analytical methodologies for detection and characterisation of the nanoparticles in food hampers appropriate risk assessment. As part of a research on the evaluation of the methods for screening and quantification of Ag nanoparticles in meat we have tested a new TEM sample preparation alternative to resin embedding and cryo-sectioning. Energy filtered TEM analysis was applied to evaluate thickness and the uniformity of thin meat layers acquired at increasing input of the sample demonstrating that the protocols used ensured good stability under the electron beam, reliable sample concentration and reproducibility

An Intervention to Debunk Facts vs. Myths in Intermittent Fasting: A Quality Improvement Project

Intermittent fasting (IF) is gaining popularity as an eating regimen to promote health and optimize wellbeing. IF is the voluntary avoidance of food over a period and is not a diet, but an eating behavior (Teong et al., 2021). Despite the increased emphasis on obesity and diet-related diseases, IF education remains lacking in formal training programs and can influence HCC’s attitudes and behaviors when engaging in IF dialogue with patients in clinical settings. Evidence suggests that IF is beneficial for weight loss and has been shown to have positive effects on the brain, heart, liver, muscles, intestines, blood, and various other systems. IF has also been shown to reduce risk factors associated with the development and progression of type II diabetes, neurological disorders, and cancers. Additionally, IF may boost the effectiveness of certain medical and cancer treatments (Armutcu, 2019; Phillips, 2019). The main objective is to determine if an evidence-based education program on intermittent fasting will change healthcare clinicians’ knowledge, attitudes, confidence level, perception of knowledge, and behavior in communicating with adult patients about IF. The presentation aims to fill the knowledge gaps with pertinent evidence-based information, debunk common IF myths, and provide effective communication strategies to help improve HCCs knowledge, attitudes, confidence, and behavior of IF in clinical practice settings. The study is a quasi-experimental, pre-test post-test quality improvement (QI) project including 20 HCCs working at the practice site. Potential participants were identified by snow-ball samplings of various units/clinics at the site. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Results from the project indicate that mean knowledge scores compared from baseline to post-education increased, 6.8 (s.d. 3.77) and 12.65 (s.d. 4.83), respectively. Based on the current evidence and the results from this quality-improvement project, HCC education helps improve knowledge, confidence, perceptions, and behaviors of IF in clinical practice settings to promote safe and effective communication with patients

Measurement of engineered nanoparticles in foods - electron microscopy method development and validation

The increasing interest in use of nanotechnology by the food industry brought concerns over safety of engineered nanoparticle application in the foods and food contact materials. To aid the risk assessment in 2010 a project NanoLyse was funded by the European Union under Framework Programme 7. The project was focused on the development and validation of methods for analysing engineered nanoparticles in food matrices. The research presented in this thesis was a part of NanoLyse and was concerned with electron microscopy methods. The aim of this research was optimization of sample preparation procedures and validation of electron microscopy as an analytical technique for engineered nanoparticle measurement in foods. Thus the comparison of different sample preparation techniques was carried out for engineered nanoparticles in food matrices. Best procedures were chosen: blotting for liquid and sedimentation of the sample onto electron microscopy grid for solid food samples. These sample preparation techniques were then included in validation of electron microscopy. In view of unavailability of the reference materials electron microscopy results were compared against other analytical methods selected based on the literature review. These techniques were: nanoparticle tracking analysis, gas-phase electrophoretic mobility molecular analyser, centrifugal liquid sedimentation and asymmetric flow field flow fractionation. To render the comparison possible also for studied aggregated, non-spherical particles of synthetic amorphous silica, the concept of data transformation into mass equivalent diameter was developed. Thanks to this it was possible to note that electron microscopy tended to overestimate small particle number in size distribution due to the sample preparation. Subsequently sample preparation for electron microscopy was calibrated for the measurement of engineered nanoparticles of silica. Lastly remaining challenges and knowledge gaps in regards to the measurement of engineered nanoparticles in food were highlighted and discussed against NanoLyse project achievements

Schöne Erklärungen, gefährliche Praktiken: Die polnische Regierung und die NGOs

Die polnische Regierung deklariert, die Zivilgesellschaft zu unterstützen, und unternimmt zu diesem Ziel sehr konkrete Maßnahmen. Viele von ihnen wecken Befürchtungen und Vorbehalte der Aktivistinnen und Aktivisten der zivilgesellschaftlichen Organisationen. In den zwei Jahren Regierungstätigkeit von Recht und Gerechtigkeit (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość - PiS) in Polen hat sich in der Regierungspolitik gegenüber Nichtregierungsorganisationen (NGOs) und der Zivilgesellschaft vieles verändert. Entstanden sind Institutionen und Gremien, die die Aktivitäten der Regierung in diesem Bereich koordinieren: das Nationale Freiheitsinstitut (Narodowy Instytut Wolności) sowie das Komitee für Angelegenheiten der Gemeinnützigkeit (Komitet do spraw Pożytku Publicznego) unter dem Vorsitz des stellvertretenden Ministerpräsidenten und Kulturministers. Eingerichtet wurde auch ein neuer Fonds für die Entwicklung zivilgesellschaftlicher Organisationen. Weiter wurde ein ungeduldig erwarteter Kompromiss mit der norwegischen Regierung über den Einsatz der sogenannten norwegischen Fonds erzielt. Auf dem Papier sieht das recht gut aus. Etliche Details sind jedoch beunruhigend

Uncertainties of size measurements in electron microscopy characterization of nanomaterials in foods

Electron microscopy is a recognized standard tool for nanomaterial characterization, and recommended by the European Food Safety Authority for the size measurement of nanomaterials in food. Despite this, little data have been published assessing the reliability of the method, especially for size measurement of nanomaterials characterized by a broad size distribution and/or added to food matrices. This study is a thorough investigation of the measurement uncertainty when applying electron microscopy for size measurement of engineered nanomaterials in foods. Our results show that the number of measured particles was only a minor source of measurement uncertainty for nanomaterials in food, compared to the combined influence of sampling, sample preparation prior to imaging and the image analysis. The main conclusion is that to improve the measurement reliability, care should be taken to consider replications and matrix removal prior to sample preparation