Mycotoxins metabolites produced by specific fungi are introduced into the food chain by pre-harvest and post-harvest contamination of foods and livestock feed. Infestation of crops and food by mycotoxin producing fungi causes serious immunosuppressive carcinogenic cytotoxic and teratogenic effects in humans and animals. The Aspergillus mycotoxin aflatoxin is the most potent naturally occurring carcinogen and one of the most economically important mycotoxins worldwide.
Human Health
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Technology
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ObjectiveTechnology
Background: This light-weight hand-held mechanical microfluidic device is designed to perform complex protocols in low resource settings without a power source or external control element. Developed by researchers in Prof. Manu Prakash’s laboratory the system uses an interchangeable punch card tape to both pump the fluid and direct its flow. This general purpose technology can be used in single phase and multi-phase microfluidics for diagnostic medical device or environmental monitoring applications.
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NPP is a natural product with high antimicrobial and anti-insect properties. NPP replaces chemical pesticides preserves the environment and poses no risk to human health. NPP costs less than pesticides and is recommended for organic farming.
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Objective
Nitrous oxide is used during 80 per cent of childbirths. This gas is a green-house gas 310 times stronger than carbon-dioxide and one kilogram that is emitted into the atmosphere is equivalent to 1500 kilometres of driving a car. Region Skåne, the regional health care management organization of southern Sweden has installed equipment from the company Nordic Gas Cleaning for separating the nitrous oxide into oxygen and nitrogen at all of its five hospitals with birth clinics. This has not only reduced emissions by 99 per cent.