Multivariate Modelling Based on Isotopic, Elemental, and Fatty Acid Profiles to Distinguish the Backyard and Barn Eggs.

The ability to trace the origin of eggs from backyard-raised hens is important due to their higher market value compared to barn-raised eggs. This study aimed to differentiate eggs from these two rearing systems using isotopic, elemental, and fatty acid profiles of egg yolks. A total of 90 egg yolk samples were analyzed, analytical results being followed by statistical tests (Student's -test) showing significant differences in δO, several elements (Mg, K, Sc, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Ba, Pb), and fatty acids compositions (C23:0, C17:0, C18:0, C16:1n7, C18:1n9, C18:2n6, C20:1n7, C20:4n6, C20:5n3, C22:6n3), as well as in the ratios of SFA, PUFA, and UFA.

Lithium Content and Its Nutritional Beneficence, Dietary Intake, and Impact on Human Health in Edibles from the Romanian Market.

Lithium (Li) is present in human nutrition based on food intake, and several studies recommend it for treating mood disorders, even if the biological proprieties and biochemical mechanisms represent the basis for its use as an essential element. The Li content was evaluated using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry technique (ICP-MS) in 1071 food and beverage samples from the Romanian market. The results show that Li had a decreasing mean concentration in the food samples as follows: vegetables leafy > bulbous > fructose > leguminous > egg whites > root vegetables > milk products > egg yolks > meats.

Elemental Profile in Chicken Egg Components and Associated Human Health Risk Assessment.

Egg is a food product of high nutritional quality, extensively consumed worldwide. The objectives of this study were the determination of the elemental profile in eggs (egg white, yolk, and eggshell), the estimation of the non-carcinogenic health risk associated with the presence of heavy metals in investigated egg samples, and the development of statistical models to identify the best predictors for the differentiation of egg components. The assessments were carried out in a total set of 210 samples, comprising home-produced and commercial eggs, using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Comparative Amino Acid Profile and Antioxidant Activity in Sixteen Plant Extracts from Transylvania, Romania.

In addition to the naturopathic medicines based on the antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, or antioxidant properties of plant extracts that have been capitalized upon through the pharmaceutical industry, the increasing interest of the food industry in this area requires potent new materials capable of supporting this market. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro amino acid contents and antioxidant activities of ethanolic extracts from sixteen plants. Our results show high accumulated amino acid contents, mainly of proline, glutamic, and aspartic acid.

Evaluating the Chemical Hazards in Wine Production Associated with Climate Change.

The climate warming trend challenges the chemical risk associated with wine production worldwide. The present study investigated the possible difference between chemical wine profile during the drought year 2012 compared to the post-drought year 2013. Toxic metals (Cd and Pb), microelements (Mn, Ni, Zn, Al, Ba, and Cu), macroelements (Na, Mg, K, Ca, and P), isotopic ratios (Sr/Sr and Pb/Pb), stable isotopes (O, C, (D/H), and (D/H)), and climatic data were analyzed.

Assessing the Health Risk and the Metal Content of Thirty-Four Plant Essential Oils Using the ICP-MS Technique.

Natural ecosystems are polluted with various contaminants, and among these heavy metals raise concerns due to their side effects on both environment and human health. An investigation was conducted on essential oil samples, comparing similar products between seven producers, and the results indicated a wide variation of metal content. The recommended limits imposed by European Union regulations for medicinal plants are exceeded only in Mentha × pipperita (Adams, 0.

Isotopic and elemental characterization of Romanian pork meat in corroboration with advanced chemometric methods: A first exploratory study.

In this study 93 pork meat samples (tenderloin) were analyzed via isotope ratios mass spectrometry (δH, δO, δC) and inductively coupled plasma - Mass spectrometry (55 elements). The meat samples are coming from Romania and abroad. Those from Romania are originating from conventional farms and yard rearing system.

Accumulation and ecotoxicological risk assessment of heavy metals in surface sediments of the Olt River, Romania.

Heavy metal pollution of river freshwater environments currently raises significant concerns due to the toxic effects and the fact that heavy metal behavior is not fully understood. This study assessed the contamination level of eight heavy metals and trace elements (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Pb, Cd, and Hg) in the surface sediments of 19 sites in 2018 during four periods (March, May, June, and October) in Olt River sediments. Multivariate statistical techniques were used, namely, one-way ANOVA, person product-moment correlation analysis, principal component analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis, and sediment quality indicators such as the contamination factor and pollution load index.

ICP-MS Assessment of Essential and Toxic Trace Elements in Foodstuffs with Different Geographic Origins Available in Romanian Supermarkets.

The present study was conducted to quantify the daily intake and target hazard quotient of four essential elements, namely, chromium, cobalt, nickel, and copper, and four toxic trace elements, mercury, cadmium, lead, and arsenic. Thirty food items were assigned to five food categories (seeds, leaves, powders, beans, and fruits) and analyzed using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Factor analysis after principal component extraction revealed common metal patterns in all foodstuffs, and using hierarchical cluster analysis, an association map was created to illustrate their similarity.

Fuzzy Divisive Hierarchical Associative-Clustering Applied to Different Varieties of White Wines According to Their Multi-Elemental Profiles.

Wine data are usually characterized by high variability, in terms of compounds and concentration ranges. Chemometric methods can be efficiently used to extract and exploit the meaningful information contained in such data. Therefore, the fuzzy divisive hierarchical associative-clustering (FDHAC) method was efficiently applied in this study, for the classification of several varieties of Romanian white wines, using the elemental profile (concentrations of 30 elements analyzed by ICP-MS).

Differentiation of tomatoes based on isotopic, elemental and organic markers.

In this study, 41 tomato samples were investigated by means of stable isotope ratios (δC, δO and δH), elemental content, phenolic compounds and pesticides in order to classify them, according to growing conditions and geographical origin. Using investigated parameters, stepwise linear discriminant analysis was applied and the differences that occurred between tomato samples grown in greenhouses compared to those grown on field, and also between Romanian and abroad purchased samples were pointed out. It was shown that Ti, Ga, Te, δH and δC content were able to differentiate Romanian tomato samples from foreign samples, whereas Al, Sc, Se, Dy, Pb, δO, 4,4'-DDT could be used as markers for growing regime (open field vs.

Multielemental characterization of honey using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry fused with chemometrics.

Honey is considered a desirable ingredient in a range of different foodstuffs because of its nutrient and therapeutic effect. The honey characteristics mainly depend on the type of vegetation visited by the bees and the climatic conditions in which the plants are growing. Therefore, the purity, floral and geographical origin and authenticity are important factors influencing the overall perception of honey and honey-based products in terms of quality and price.

Isotopic and elemental profiling alongside with chemometric methods for vegetable differentiation.

In this study, three chemometric models for vegetables growing system (field versus greenhouse), geographical origin and species attribution using stable isotope (δC, δO, δH) and elemental fingerprints of 101 samples (54 squashes and 47 radishes) commercialized on Romanian market were developed. These models were constructed and validated through linear discriminant analysis. Initial validations of 94.

Posttraumatic hip bulging mimicking an abscess in a patient with hip prosthesis: the role of ultrasonography.

A 48-yr old female patient, with stage 4 rheumatoid arthritis, who had undergone multiple joint prostheses including four arthroplasties of the left hip, presented for a sudden-onset large bulge on the left thigh, after a minor local injury. Orthopedic examination and radiography excluded fractures. Ultrasonography revealed a large mixed hypo- and hyperechoic collection,with no Doppler signal, but with comet tail artifacts.

Geographical origin and species differentiation of Transylvanian cheese. Comparative study of isotopic and elemental profiling vs. DNA results.

The present study proposed the cheese differentiation, according to geographical production area and with respect to species (cow, sheep) of two traditional cheese specialties, (salty and ripened), produced in Transylvania, Romania. For this purpose, the elemental profile and carbon isotopic ratios (C/C) of cheese and extracted casein were corroborated through statistic supervised techniques to get the best discrimination markers. The manganese content, along with Rare Earth Elements (REE) concentrations, proved to be very powerful predictors, for the traditional salted cheese mainly, due to the direct influence of the local salted water.