Ochratoxin A (OTA) is among the most important mycotoxins, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies it as possibly carcinogenic to humans (group 2B). A total of 121 samples of dried fruits...Ochratoxin A (OTA) is among the most important mycotoxins, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies it as possibly carcinogenic to humans (group 2B). A total of 121 samples of dried fruits from the central zone of Iran were analyzed for OTA by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. The recovery percentages of OTA in spiked dried fruit samples at concentrations of 5, 10 and 20 ng/g were found to be 84.9%, 89.3% and 90.4% as mean, respectively. OTA was found in 20.7% of the analyzed samples by average concentration of 6.7 ± 3.9 ng/g. The incidence rates of OTA contamination in dried fig, raising, apricots, and date samples were 10.4%, 44.7%, 6.7% and 10.0%, respectively. The concentrations of OTA in 7.9% of contaminated dried raising samples and 2.1% of dried fig samples were higher than maximum tolerance limit accepted by European Union (10 ng/g). This value reflects that the analyzed samples have a minimal contribution to toxicological risk. To our best knowledge, the present study is the first report of the presence of OTA by ELISA in dried fruit samples in Iran.展开更多
Objective:To determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Clostridium difficile(C.difficile) isolated from ready-to-eat foods of Iran.Methods:From January to August 2013,a total of 368 unpacked ieady-to-ea...Objective:To determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Clostridium difficile(C.difficile) isolated from ready-to-eat foods of Iran.Methods:From January to August 2013,a total of 368 unpacked ieady-to-eat food samples were purchased from randomly selected supermarkets,retail stores and restaurants located in Isfahan and Shahrekord,Iran and were evaluated for the presence of C.difficile.Results:C.difficile spores were detected in 5(1.36%) of the 368 samples.The highest prevalence of C.difficile was found in fasl salad(4.29%).followed by yogurt stew(2%),and olovyeh salad(0.93%).All 140 maccaroni salad and I'alafel sandwich samples were negative for C.difficile.One of the five C.difficile isolates(20%) contained tcdA,tcdB and cdtB toxin genes and four strains(80%) contained tcdA.and tcdB toxin genes.Also,among the five C.difficile isolates,only three strains were found to be toxigenic for toxin A and/or B by ELISA.Isolates were susceptible to vancomycin and metronidazole,but variably resistant to other antimicrobial drugs.Conclusions:This study,combined with studies on other food sources,suggests that widespread contamination of food is common.展开更多
The present paper reports on a small-scale project that investigates two main questions： （1） whether EFL （English as a Foreign Language） learners prefer working in pairs or small groups; and （2） what factors th...The present paper reports on a small-scale project that investigates two main questions： （1） whether EFL （English as a Foreign Language） learners prefer working in pairs or small groups; and （2） what factors they take into consideration when they are free to choose their partners in pair work activities. To investigate the research questions, a questionnaire was developed and distributed among 96 Iranian intermediate EFL students who participated in the study on a voluntary basis. The findings showed that 45% of the participants preferred pair work, 26% preferred group work, and 29% reported it made no difference to them. The results also indicated that learners select their partners based on four factors： age, proficiency, familiarity and language learning motivation. Gender and popularity with the whole class were among the factors that the participants did not pay attention to when opting for a partner.展开更多
文摘Ochratoxin A (OTA) is among the most important mycotoxins, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies it as possibly carcinogenic to humans (group 2B). A total of 121 samples of dried fruits from the central zone of Iran were analyzed for OTA by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. The recovery percentages of OTA in spiked dried fruit samples at concentrations of 5, 10 and 20 ng/g were found to be 84.9%, 89.3% and 90.4% as mean, respectively. OTA was found in 20.7% of the analyzed samples by average concentration of 6.7 ± 3.9 ng/g. The incidence rates of OTA contamination in dried fig, raising, apricots, and date samples were 10.4%, 44.7%, 6.7% and 10.0%, respectively. The concentrations of OTA in 7.9% of contaminated dried raising samples and 2.1% of dried fig samples were higher than maximum tolerance limit accepted by European Union (10 ng/g). This value reflects that the analyzed samples have a minimal contribution to toxicological risk. To our best knowledge, the present study is the first report of the presence of OTA by ELISA in dried fruit samples in Iran.
基金Supported by Islamic Arad University,Shahrekord Branch,Iran(Grant No.3524)
文摘Objective:To determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Clostridium difficile(C.difficile) isolated from ready-to-eat foods of Iran.Methods:From January to August 2013,a total of 368 unpacked ieady-to-eat food samples were purchased from randomly selected supermarkets,retail stores and restaurants located in Isfahan and Shahrekord,Iran and were evaluated for the presence of C.difficile.Results:C.difficile spores were detected in 5(1.36%) of the 368 samples.The highest prevalence of C.difficile was found in fasl salad(4.29%).followed by yogurt stew(2%),and olovyeh salad(0.93%).All 140 maccaroni salad and I'alafel sandwich samples were negative for C.difficile.One of the five C.difficile isolates(20%) contained tcdA,tcdB and cdtB toxin genes and four strains(80%) contained tcdA.and tcdB toxin genes.Also,among the five C.difficile isolates,only three strains were found to be toxigenic for toxin A and/or B by ELISA.Isolates were susceptible to vancomycin and metronidazole,but variably resistant to other antimicrobial drugs.Conclusions:This study,combined with studies on other food sources,suggests that widespread contamination of food is common.
文摘The present paper reports on a small-scale project that investigates two main questions： （1） whether EFL （English as a Foreign Language） learners prefer working in pairs or small groups; and （2） what factors they take into consideration when they are free to choose their partners in pair work activities. To investigate the research questions, a questionnaire was developed and distributed among 96 Iranian intermediate EFL students who participated in the study on a voluntary basis. The findings showed that 45% of the participants preferred pair work, 26% preferred group work, and 29% reported it made no difference to them. The results also indicated that learners select their partners based on four factors： age, proficiency, familiarity and language learning motivation. Gender and popularity with the whole class were among the factors that the participants did not pay attention to when opting for a partner.
