Risk perception related to food

Antibacterial Activity and Multi-Targeted Mechanism of Action of Suberanilic Acid Isolated from Pestalotiopsis trachycarpicola DCL44: An Endophytic Fungi from Ageratina adenophora

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a highly threatening foodborne pathogen capable of causing severe organ and life-threatening diseases. Over the past years, various commercial antibiotics have been used to treat MRSA infections. However, these commercial antibiotics have not yielded efficient results and also cause other side effects; therefore, there is a need for the development of effective alternatives to replace these commercial antibiotics. Suberanilic acid, an amide alkaloid obtained from the endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis trachycarpicola DCL44, has been identified as a significant antimicrobial agent. However, its antibiotic properties on multi-drug-resistant bacteria such as MRSA have not been fully explored. Therefore, to investigate the potential antimicrobial mechanism of suberanilic acid against MRSA, a quantitative proteomics approach using tandem mass tagging (TMT) was used. The results obtained in the study revealed that suberanilic acid targets multiple pathways in MRSA, including disruption of ribosome synthesis, inhibition of membrane translocation for nutrient uptake (ABC transporter system), and causing dysregulation of carbohydrate and amino acid energy metabolism. These results provide new insights into the mechanism of action of suberanilic acid against MRSA and offer technical support and a theoretical basis for the development of novel food antimicrobial agents derived from endophytic fungal origin.

Factors that influence the intent to pursue a master's degree: evidence from Shandong Province, China

Introduction

In recent years, the pursuit of a master's degree has become a social phenomenon of wide concern. It is essential to understand why large number of students choose to pursue master's degree. This study aims to empirically analyze the factors that influence the intent to pursue a master's degree.

Method

Based on the extended theory of planned behavior, this study conducts a questionnaire survey of university students in Shandong Province, which has had the highest number of people taking the postgraduate entrance examination in China for several years. A total of 440 questionnaires were finally collected, including 417 valid questionnaires. And then ordinary least squares (OLS) regression was used to analyze the factors that influence the intent to pursue a master's degree.

Results

In general, the intent to pursue a master's degree is positively influenced by attitude (β = 0.161, p < 0.01) and subjective norms (β = 0.208, p < 0.01), and negatively influenced by risk perception (β = -0.084, p < 0.05). Compared with male students, female students' intent is more likely to be influenced by risk perception (β = -0.144, p < 0.05) and social factors (β = 0.140, p < 0.05). The intent of upperclass students tends to be positively influenced by perceived behavioral control (β = 0.125, p < 0.05), whereas the negative impact of risk perception (β = -0.219, p < 0.05) on the intent is significant for underclass students. The intent of students in rural areas are more sensitive to risk perception (β = -0.194, p < 0.01) than those of students in cities. In private universities, social factors (β = 0.445, p < 0.05) significantly affect the intent to pursue a master's degree. In ordinary public universities, the intent of students is more likely to be influenced by risk perception (β = -0.082, p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The study is helpful to strengthen the understanding of the influencing factors of the intent to pursue a master's degree. In general, the intent to pursue a master's degree is mainly influenced by attitude, subjective norms and risk perception. Moreover, the influencing factors vary among different groups (e.g., female vs. male, rural areas vs. cities). Furthermore, attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, risk perception, and social factors have greater impacts on the intent of students from low-income households than those from high-income households. This study can provide policy implications for universities to take targeted educational measures to encourage students to make a choice that suits their own development after graduation.

Pesticide residues in bee bread, propolis, beeswax and royal jelly - A review of the literature and dietary risk assessment

Due to pollinator decline observed worldwide, many studies have been conducted on the pesticide residue content of apicultural products including bee bread, propolis, beeswax and royal jelly. These products are consumed for their nutraceutical properties, although, little information is available on the human health risk posed by pesticides present in them. In our research, studies dealing with the pesticide contamination of the above-mentioned hive products are reviewed. Dietary exposures were calculated based on the recommended daily intake values and concentration data reported by scientific studies. Potential acute and chronic health risk of consumers were evaluated by comparing the exposure values with health-based guidance values. Available data indicate that a wide range of pesticide residues, especially acaricides may accumulate in bee bread, propolis and beeswax, up to concentration levels of more thousand μg/kg. Based on our observations, tau-fluvalinate, coumaphos, chlorfenvinphos, chlorpyrifos and amitraz are commonly detected pesticide active substances in beehive products. Our estimates suggest that coumaphos and chlorfenvinphos can accumulate in beeswax to an extent that pose a potential health risk to the consumers of comb honey. However, it appears that pesticide residues do not transfer to royal jelly, presumably due to the filtering activity of nurse bees during secretion.

Effect of household processing on pesticide residues in post-harvested tomatoes: determination of the risk exposure and modeling of experimental results via RSM

This study aimed to investigate the acute and chronic hazard quotients of chlorpyrifos and diazinon for tomatoes in preharvest and postharvest conditions, and to evaluate the relationship between the main variables, including temperature and contact time and pesticide dissipation at different conditions using response surface methodology for the first time. The qualification analyses were conducted by a gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The Monte Carlo simulation technique was utilized to evaluate the variability and uncertainty and achieve more accurate results in the health risk assessment process. A quadratic model and the second-order polynomial analysis were employed to investigate the mutual effect of time and temperature on removing diazinon and chlorpyrifos. Based on findings, the chronic hazard quotient values of chlorpyrifos and diazinon residues ranged from 0.43 - 1.33 to 0.13 - 2.27 for boiling, 0.65 - 1.49 to 3.05 - 7.15 for room condition, and 0.63 - 1.92 to 3.28 - 7.47 for refrigerator condition, respectively. According to the Monte Carlo simulation, the hazard quotient and estimated daily intake values were more affected by the consumption rate, pesticide concentration, and body weight. The results of response surface methodology showed that the effect of temperature variations on the dissipation of both pesticides was more than that of contact time variations.

Genetically modified food and consumer risk responsibility: The effect of regulatory design and risk type on cognitive information processing

The use of agro-biotechnology has raised consumer concerns about environmental, health, socio-economic and ethical risks. This study examines how regulatory policies regarding genetically modified (GM) food production affect consumers' cognitive information processing, in terms of perceived risk, self-control, and risk responsibility. There is further analysis of whether the effect of policy design is moderated by risk type. Data was generated in a field experiment (n = 547), including four different policy scenario treatments (banned, research and development, import, and full commercialization). The results reveal that policy scenarios where GM food is available on the market are associated with higher levels of perceived risk and lower levels of self-control compared with policies where GM food is banned. There was no evidence of policy scenarios affecting consumer willingness to assign personal risk responsibility. However, among participants who indicated health risks as their main concern, there was an effect from the policy scenario on self-risk responsibility as mediated through perceived risk and self-control. The results suggest that health-conscious consumers tend to attribute less responsibility to themselves in situations where a genetically modified product was commercialized. These findings indicate a need to clarify guideline recommendations for health-related risks associated with foods derived from biotechnology.