Correction: Bartkiene et al. Challenges Associated with Byproducts Valorization-Comparison Study of Safety Parameters of Ultrasonicated and Fermented Plant-Based Byproducts. 2020, , 614.

In the original publication [...

Simultaneous extraction of tocochromanols and flavan-3-ols from the grape seeds: Analytical and industrial aspects.

Grape processing generates large amounts of by-products, including seeds rich in hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidants. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that subjecting grape seeds to a single ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) with aqueous ethanolic solutions yields both flavan-3-ols and tocochromanols in the final extract. Notably, the water content in ethanol significantly influences the extractability of tocochromanols more than flavan-3-ols.

Pharmaceutical and Recreational Drug Usage Patterns during and Post COVID-19 Determined by Wastewater-Based Epidemiology.

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) was applied to evaluate the consumption trends of pharmaceuticals (i.e., antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antiepileptics, antihypertensives, and others), as well as recreational drugs (caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine), in Latvia from December 2020 to July 2023.

A diabetes-like biochemical and behavioural phenotype of induced by predator stress.

Predation can have both lethal and non-lethal effects on prey. The non-lethal effects of predation can instil changes in prey life history, behaviour, morphology and physiology, causing adaptive evolution. The chronic stress caused by sustained predation on prey is comparable to chronic stress conditions in humans.

Influence of Biotreatment on L. Cereal Wholemeal Contamination and Enzymatic Activities.

Crop contamination with mycotoxins is a global problem with a negative impact on human and animal health as well as causing economical losses in food and feed chains. This study was focused on the evaluation of the effect of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strain (-LUHS173, -LUHS245, -LUHS135, -LUHS244 and -LUHS210) fermentation on the changes in the level of deoxynivalenol (DON) and its conjugates in spp.-contaminated barley wholemeal (BWP).

Application of Baltic Pine () Needle Extract as a Gut Microbiota-Modulating Feed Supplement for Domestic Chickens ().

The valorization of wood industry residues is very desirable from a circular economy perspective. Pine needle extracts are known for their health-promoting properties and therefore can be used as herbal remedies and nutritional supplements. Since the withdrawal of antibiotics as growth promoters in the European Union, natural feed additives that improve poultry health and production are needed.

Qualitative fingerprinting of psychoactive pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs, and related human metabolites in wastewater: A year-long study from Riga, Latvia.

The COVID-19 pandemic has become an unprecedented public health emergency causing immense societal and socio-economic consequences. Multiple studies have outlined that interventions to curb the spread of the virus are likely to have an effect on substance use patterns. In this study, we explored the presence of psychoactive pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs and related human metabolites in 24-h composite wastewater samples that were collected weekly in 2021 from the central WWTP of Riga, Latvia.

Consumption trends of pharmaceuticals and psychoactive drugs in Latvia determined by the analysis of wastewater.

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) was applied to evaluate seasonal variations of the consumption of pharmaceuticals (i.e. antibiotics, NSAIDs, antiepileptics, antihypertensives and others), caffeine, alcohol and nicotine in Latvia throughout 2021.

Application of Wastewater-Based Epidemiology for Tracking Human Exposure to Deoxynivalenol and Enniatins.

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is a promising biomonitoring approach with the potential to provide direct information on human intake and exposure to food contaminants and environmental chemicals. The aim of this study was to apply WBE while employing the normalization method for exploring human exposure to selected mycotoxins according to population biomarker 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA). This type of normalization technique has been previously used to detect various other compounds.

Two-dimensional liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry as an effective tool for assessing a wide range of pharmaceuticals and biomarkers in wastewater-based epidemiology studies.

The biomarkers used in wastewater-based epidemiology studies have a wide range of physicochemical properties, making simultaneous analysis extremely challenging or even impossible. So far, the majority of analytical procedures employed in this field have focused on specific classes or a limited number of analytes. The heart-cutting two-dimensional liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry technique (2D-LC-MS/MS) has enabled the incorporation of compounds with significantly different polarities in a single analytical method.

LC-MS/MS characterisation and determination of dansyl chloride derivatised glyphosate, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), and glufosinate in foods of plant and animal origin.

Glyphosate and other polar and acidic pesticides have been particularly studied due to the concerns over widespread and intensive use. The chemical properties of these compounds necessitate use of customised methods, such as derivatisation or ion exchange chromatography. These approaches present a compatibility problem with ESI-MS due to presence of salts and non-volatile compounds.

The Quality of Wheat Bread With Ultrasonicated and Fermented By-Products From Plant Drinks Production.

During plant-based drinks production a significant amount of valuable by-products (BPs) is obtained. The valorization of BPs is beneficial for both the environment and the food industry. The direct incorporation of the fermented and/or ultrasonicated almond, coconut, and oat drinks production BPs in other food products, such as wheat bread (WB) could lead to the better nutritional value as well as quality of WB.

Combination of Extrusion and Fermentation with and Strains for Improving the Safety Characteristics of Wheat Bran.

Processed wheat bran (W) is of great importance for food and feed. Consequently, the biosafety of W should be evaluated and improved with valorisation strategies. This study tested a design combining extrusion (at temperature of 115 and 130 °C; screw speeds of 16, 20, and 25 rpm) and fermentation with and strains for the valorisation of W to provide safer food and feed stock.

Mycotoxins in cereals and pulses harvested in Latvia by nanoLC-Orbitrap MS.

Twenty-seven mycotoxins in unprocessed cereals ( = 110) and pulses ( = 23) harvested in Latvia were analysed by nanoflow liquid chromatography combined with Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry. One or more mycotoxins were found in 99% of the cereals and 78% of the pulses. Deoxynivalenol, zearalenone and T-2 and HT-2 toxins were prevalent in 9 to 86% of the cereals, mostly below their maximum levels as set by the European regulations.

Determination of Fungi and Multi-Class Mycotoxins in and Herbal Teas and Dietary Exposure Assessment.

In this paper, a study of fungal and multi-mycotoxin contamination in 140 and 26 herbal teas marketed in Latvia is discussed. The analysis was performed using two-dimensional liquid chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (2D-LC-TOF-MS) and MALDI-TOF-MS. In total, 87% of the tea samples tested positive for 32 fungal species belonging to 17 genera, with the total enumeration of moulds ranging between 1.

Study of the antibiotic residues in poultry meat in some of the EU countries and selection of the best compositions of lactic acid bacteria and essential oils against Salmonella enterica.

In this study, the presence of antibiotics (ANB) residues was evaluated in poultry meat purchased from German and Lithuanian markets. In addition, the antimicrobial activity of 13 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains, 2 essential oils (EO) (Thymus vulgaris and Origanum vulgare L.), and their compositions were tested for the purpose of inhibiting antibiotic-resistant Salmonella spp.

Challenges Associated with Byproducts Valorization-Comparison Study of Safety Parameters of Ultrasonicated and Fermented Plant-Based Byproducts.

In order to promote the efficient use of byproducts from the production of plant-based beverages, which still contain a large amount of nutritional and functional compounds, microbiological and chemical safety characteristics should be evaluated and, if needed, improved. Many challenges are associated with byproducts valorization, and the most important ones, which should be taken into account at the further steps of valorization, are biological and chemical safety. For safety improving, several technological treatments (biological, physical etc.

The Occurrence and Dietary Exposure Assessment of Mycotoxins, Biogenic Amines, and Heavy Metals in Mould-Ripened Blue Cheeses.

The occurrence and dietary exposure assessment of 16 mycotoxins, 6 biogenic amines (BAs), and 13 metallic elements in blue-veined cheeses ( = 46) is reported. Co-occurrence of mycophenolic acid (≤599 µg·kg) with roquefortine C (≤5454 µg·kg) was observed in 63% of the tested cheeses, while BAs were frequently present at concentrations between 0.2 and 717 mg kg.

Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolation from Spontaneous Sourdough and Their Characterization Including Antimicrobial and Antifungal Properties Evaluation.

This research effort aimed at isolating and phenotypically characterizing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolates from a spontaneous rye sourdough manufactured following traditional protocols, as well as at evaluating their antimicrobial and antifungal properties as key features for future industrial applications. Thirteen LAB strains of potential industrial interest were isolated and identified to species-level via PCR. Most of the sourdough isolates showed versatile carbohydrate metabolisms.

Pesticide residues in beehive matrices are dependent on collection time and matrix type but independent of proportion of foraged oilseed rape and agricultural land in foraging territory.

Pesticide residues in bee products is still a major issue. However, the relations to botanical source and land use characteristics are not clear. The large variability of residues detected questions the suitability of bee-collected- and other hive materials as indicators for environmental contamination.

Evaluation of selected buffers for simultaneous determination of ionic and acidic pesticides including glyphosate using anion exchange chromatography with mass spectrometric detection.

Ion chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry is an established technique for determination of ionic analytes, however, sophisticated buffer removal equipment is required to eliminate inorganic compounds from the eluate before introduction into the ion source of mass spectrometer. A standard high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry setup using an ion exchange column (Metrosep® A Supp 5) is proposed as an alternative approach. For that reason, some buffers including non-volatile carboxylic acid based solutions have been evaluated for simultaneous trace determination of ionic and acidic pesticides including glyphosate in the same extract without a need for sophisticated buffer removal equipment.

Application of antifungal lactobacilli in combination with coatings based on apple processing by-products as a bio-preservative in wheat bread production.

In this study various coatings from apple press cake (AP) with immobilized antifungal bacterial cells were used for bread surface treatment to increase anti-moulding effect. The antifungal effect and technological properties of newly isolated LUHS71, LUHS51, LUHS206 and LUHS225 strains. Then, the  were tested for the incorporation of  on acrylamide formation in bread and antifungal effect against moulds commonly associated with bread spoilage.

Development of a Rapid Method for the Determination of Phenolic Antioxidants in Dark Chocolate Using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry.

Development of a new comprehensive method based on one-step liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) combined with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-Orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Orbitrap-HRMS) for the determination of eight phenolic compounds in dark chocolate is demonstrated. The study focuses on the optimization of sample preparation, chromatographic separation and Orbitrap-HRMS detection parameters to adjust selectivity and sensitivity of the method. The LLE mixture of formic acid-water-acetonitrile (2:58:40, v/v) and hexane at the component ratio of 1:1 (v/v) was applied for sample preparation.