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Tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) Components as a Sustainable Replacement for Pork Meat in Frankfurter Sausages
No full textThis article belongs to the Section Meat.Five types of frankfurters were formulated: a control without tamarind (T0) and four samples using 5% tamarind pulp paste (PT5), seeds (ST5), peel (CT5), and a blend of all of them (PSCT5), replacing the same portion of meat. The inclusion of tamarind components led to a reduction in the moisture and protein content of the reformulated frankfurters. In terms of mineral composition, CT5 showed the highest (p p L*) of the frankfurters, resulting in darker sausages. However, ST5 exhibited greater redness (a*), while higher yellowness (b*) values were observed in PT5 and CT5 treatments (p p > 0.05) in hardness and chewiness between T0 and PT5; however, ST5 exhibited the highest values for these parameters (p < 0.05). No variation in the conformational order of the lipid acyl chains due to the incorporation of tamarind compounds was observed related to physical entrapment of these compounds in the frankfurter matrix. Both T0 and PT5 were well accepted by consumers, and scores higher than 7 were observed for overall acceptability and purchase intention. The study demonstrated that incorporating tamarind components, especially pulp paste (PT), is a viable alternative for replacing lean pork meat in frankfurters, improving the sustainable aspects of frankfurter production.This research was funded in part by Brazilian agencies Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior–Brasil (CAPES)–Finance Code 001; CAPES-PrInt Program; Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado da Bahia (FAPESB); MCTIC/CNPq (grant number 406734/2022-4; INCT Meat Production Chain–Cadeia Produtiva da Carne). This research was supported by Grant PID2019-107542RB-C21 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and 202370E138 and 202370E140 CSIC Intramural Projects.Peer reviewe
Influence of Synthesis Conditions on the Capacitance Performance of Hydrothermally Prepared MnO2 for Carbon Xerogel-Based Solid-State Supercapacitors
No full textIn this study, the potential to modify the phase structure and morphology of manganese dioxide synthesized via the hydrothermal route was explored. A series of samples were prepared at different synthesis temperatures (100, 120, 140, and 160 °C) using KMnO4 and MnSO4·H2O as precursors. The phase composition and morphology of the materials were analyzed using various physicochemical methods. The results showed that, at the lowest synthesis temperature (100 °C), an intercalation compound with composition K1.39Mn3O6 and a very small amount of α-MnO2 was formed. At higher temperatures (120–160 °C), the amount of α-MnO2 increased, indicating the formation of two clearly distinguished crystal structures. The sample obtained at 160 °C exhibited the highest specific surface area (approximately 157 m2/g). These two-phase (α-MnO2/K1.39Mn3O6) materials, synthesized at the lowest and highest temperatures, respectively, and containing an appropriate amount of carbon xerogel, were tested as active mass for positive electrodes in a solid-state supercapacitor, using a Na+-form Aquivion® membrane as the polymer electrolyte. The electrochemical evaluation showed that the composite with the higher specific surface area, containing 75% manganese dioxide, demonstrated improved characteristics, including 96% capacitance retention after 5000 charge/discharge cycles and high energy efficiency (approximately 99%). These properties highlight its potential for application in solid-state supercapacitors.This research was funded by the Ministry of Education and Science of Bulgaria under contract No. DO1-286/07.10.2020. The study was carried out using facilities of ESHER funded by the Ministry of Education and Science, contract No. ДO1-349/13.12.2023. The research equipment of Distributed Research Infrastructure INFRAMAT, part of Bulgarian National Roadmap for Research Infrastructures, contract No Д01-322/2023, supported by the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science, was also used.Peer reviewe
The Role of the Norway Rat, Rattus norvegicus, as a Reservoir of Zoonotic Helminth Species in the City of Barcelona (Spain)
Get PDFSynanthropic rodents are involved in the transmission of several parasitic zoonoses to humans, such as helminth parasites. As part of a multidisciplinary study concerning the rodent population in Barcelona (Spain), 300 specimens of the Norway rat, Rattus norvegicus, were analyzed to elucidate their helminth community, mainly species with a zoonotic potential. The sample included 263 specimens from the sewage system and 37 from public gardens. A total of 253 (84.3%) rats were found to be parasitized, and 206 (68.7%) harbored zoonotic species. Adult rats were found to be more heavily parasitized with zoonotic helminths than juveniles, but the sex and site of capture had no influence. Six zoonotic helminths were identified: Hydatigera taeniaeformis larvae (1.7%), Rodentolepis nana (8.0%), Hymenolepis diminuta (21.3%), Calodium hepaticum (46.3%), Gongylonema neoplasticum (36.7%), and Moniliformis moniliformis (2.3%). Human zoonotic helminth infections often go unreported, so that the role of R. norvegicus in their transmission is unknown. According to our results, it is advisable to monitor and control rodent populations in deprived settlements close to cities and in cities themselves, and to promote good hygienic and sanitary practices, especially among vulnerable populations and workers with high exposure such as sewage workers.This study was partially supported by the University of Valencia, grant UV-INV-AE-19-1196278.Peer reviewe
Insight into Reduction Process of Diquat on Silver and Copper Electrodes Studied Using SERS
No full textA surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) study of diquat (DQ) on silver and copper electrodes is presented in this work in order to complete previous studies on the SERS of DQ on metal nanoparticles. We supported the experimental results with theoretical calculations of different species of DQ, analyzing the most important molecular differences and their corresponding Raman spectra. DQ SERS spectra on Ag and Cu electrodes were obtained at different excitation wavelengths. An analysis of the SERS spectra revealed that at more positive electrode potentials, the interaction of DQ with the metal formed a charge-transfer complex via the chloride anion previously adsorbed on the surface; additionally, at more negative potentials, other species of diquat, such as DQ2+, could be directly adsorbed on the metal’s surface. Finally, we detected new SERS bands corresponding to DQ at negative electrode potentials that were sensitive to the excitation wavelength, suggesting that lateral interactions between radical cation species on the electrode surface lead to intramolecular dimerization and a possible multilayer of the adsorbate.This work was conducted with funding from the PID2023-146214OB-I00 project funded by MCIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and FSE+. of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation.Peer reviewe
Boron Nitride-Supported Metal Catalysts for the Synthesis and Decomposition of Ammonia and Formic Acid
No full textPeer reviewe
Hints on the Gradual Resizing of the Torus in AGNs through Decomposition of Spitzer/IRS Spectra
Get PDFSeveral authors have claimed that less luminous active galactic nuclei (AGNs) are not capable of sustaining a dusty torus structure. Thus, a gradual resizing of the torus is expected when the AGN luminosity decreases. Our aim is to examine mid-infrared observations of local AGNs of different luminosities for the gradual resizing and disappearance of the torus. We applied the decomposition method described by Hernán-Caballero et al. to a sample of ∼100 Spitzer/IRS spectra of low-luminosity AGNs and powerful Seyferts in order to decontaminate the torus component from other contributors. We have also included Starburst objects to ensure secure decomposition of the Spitzer/IRS spectra. We have used the affinity propagation (AP) method to cluster the data into five groups within the sample according to torus contribution to the 5-15 μm range (C) and bolometric luminosity (L). The AP groups show a progressively higher torus contribution and an increase of the bolometric luminosity from Group 1 (C ∼ 0% and log(L) ∼ 41) up to Group 5 (C ∼ 80% and log(L) ∼ 44). We have fitted the average spectra of each of the AP groups to clumpy models. The torus is no longer present in Group 1, supporting its disappearance at low luminosities. We were able to fit the average spectra for the torus component in Groups 3 (C ∼ 40% and log(L) ∼ 42.6), 4 (C ∼ 60% and log(L) ∼ 43.7), and 5 to Clumpy torus models. We did not find a good fitting to Clumpy torus models for Group 2 (C ∼ 18% and log(L) ∼ 42). This might suggest a different configuration and/or composition of the clouds for Group 2, which is consistent with the different gas content seen in Groups 1, 2, and 3, according to detections of H molecular lines. Groups 3, 4, and 5 show a trend of decreasing torus width (which leads to a likely decrease of the geometrical covering factor), although we cannot confirm it with the present data. Finally, Groups 3, 4, and 5 show an increase of the outer radius of the torus for higher luminosities, consistent with a resizing of the torus according to AGN luminosity. © 2017. The American Astronomical SocietyO.G.M. thanks Daniel Asmus for his suggestions that have
improved this manuscript significantly. This scientific publication is based on observations made with the Gran Telescopio
CANARIAS (GTC), installed at the Spanish Observatorio del
Roque de los Muchachos of the Instituto de Astrofísica de
Canarias on the island of La Palma. This research has been
supported by the UNAM PAPIIT grant (IA100516 PAPIIT/
UNAM, 108716 PAPIIT/UNAM), CONACyT grant (CB2011-01-167291), the Spanish Ministry of Economy and
Competitiveness (MINECO, project refs. AYA 2010-15169,
AYA2012-31277, AYA 2012-39168-C03-01, AYA2013-
42227-P, AYA2015-70815-ERC, AYA2015-64346-C2-1-P,
and AYA2016-76682-C3-1-P AEI/FEDER) and by La Junta
de Andalucía (TIC 114). M.M.-P. acknowledges support by the
UNAM Postdoctoral fellowship programme and C.R.A
acknowledges the Ramón y Cajal Program of the Spanish
Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through project
RyC-2014-15779. L.H.G. acknowledges ASI/INAF agreement
number 2013-023-R1
Biochemical and histological characterization of fruits from Spanish authochtonous pepper varieties
Get PDFPepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is an annual herbaceous species which belongs to the Solanaceae family. Peppers fruits are not only interesting for gastronomic purposes, but also for human health. Although there is a great bulk of information regarding biochemical properties of pepper fruits and, specifically, about the ripening process, very little knowledge on the structure of pepper fruit is available. The main goals of this research carried out with High School students were to investigate biochemical changes in three Spanish autochthonous pepper varieties in relation to ripening and aging at storing conditions and to uncover how the histological structure of the different tissues present in pepper fruits is built at different ripening stages.
Melchor of the California type, Alegria riojana and Piquillo pepper fruits at different ripening stages were analyzed for soluble sugar content, acidity, ascorbate and protein levels and pigment concentrations. Red peppers ripened on plants showed higher soluble sugar content, lower pH values, higher ascorbate and lower proteins concentration than the inmmature green ones. Changes on these biochemical parameters due to storage showed different patterns according to the varieties.
Although the purpose of this research has been mainly descriptive, some differences have been observed between varieties and their ripening stages. Cuticle were thicker in AlegrÌa riojana than in Melchor California peppers, and so were the cell walls of epidermis and collenchyma cells. Regarding ripening, cell walls appeared to be thicker in red AlegrÌa riojana fresh peppers than in the green ones. Confocal microscopy gave high resolution images very useful to know the changes pepper fruit cells underwent through ripening.This research was supported by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)-cofinanced grants from the Ministry of Science and Innovation (PID2019-103924GB-I00, PID2020-113324GB-I00 and TED2021-130015B-C22) and by the Junta de AndalucÌa (P18-FR-1359)
On the role of silica in the formation of insoluble organic matter in Miller-Urey-type experiments
No full textComunicación oral presentada en XLI Reunión Científica de la Sociedad Española de Mineralogía y XXVII Reunión Científica de la Sociedad Española de Arcillas, en Sevilla del 15 al 18 de enero de 2025We acknowledge the ERC “PROTOS” Project and the National Plan Project (PID2020-112986GB-I00) for the financial and technical support for this study
Viroporins: discovery, methods of study, and mechanisms of host-membrane permeabilization
No full textThe ‘Viroporin’ family comprises a number of mostly small-sized, integral membrane proteins encoded by animal and plant viruses. Despite their sequence and structural diversity, viroporins share a common functional trend: their capacity to assemble transmembrane channels during the replication cycle of the virus. Their selectivity spectrum ranges from low-pH-activated, unidirectional proton transporters, to size-limited permeating pores allowing passive diffusion of metabolites. Through mechanisms not fully understood, expression of viroporins facilitates virion assembly/release from infected cells, and subverts the cell physiology, contributing to cytopathogenicity. Compounds that interact with viroporins and interfere with their membrane-permeabilizing activity in vitro, are known to inhibit virus production. Moreover, viroporin-defective viruses comprise a source of live attenuated vaccines that prevent infection by notorious human and livestock pathogens. This review dives into the origin and evolution of the viroporin concept, summarizes some of the methodologies used to characterize the structure–function relationships of these important virulence factors, and attempts to classify them on biophysical grounds attending to their mechanisms of ion/solute transport across membranes.This work was supported by the Basque Government (J.L.N.; Grant No. IT1449-22), the Agricultural Research Service of the United States (ARS-USDA) (J.L.N.; Grant Nos. 58-8064-0-007-F and 58-3022-4-017-F), the Spanish Government (A.A.; Grant Nos. MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/FEDER and UE Project PID2022-142795 NB-I00), and Universitat Jaume I (A.A.; Grant No. UJI-B2022-42).Peer reviewe
An integrated geochemical and ichnological approach to reconstructing the formation of organic-carbon-rich sediments and sedimentary rocks: the role of anoxia versus productivity during black shale deposition
No full text[EN The multiproxy approach used in this research, based on an integrative geochemical and ichnological analysis, aims to advancing the understanding of processes which led to the deposition and preservation of organic matter and the formation of organic-rich sediments and sedimentary rocks, with especial focus on black shales. This type of deposits, although profusely studied, still remain poorly understood, and several questions arise when examining black shales. The main controversy refers to the role played by anoxic conditions, and their relationship with organic carbon burial. Other palaeoenvironmental features such as planktonic productivity, hydrographic circulation, and the influence of local versus global triggers, are also subject of debate. Within this context, two case studies of black shales sequences have been selected, representing different ages and depositional settings, thus, allowing for a general approach to investigate black shale deposition. First case study are Toarcian black shales (c. 184 Ma, Lower Jurassic), which are recorded worldwide, and linked to a period of widespread marine anoxia known as the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event (T-OAE). Second case study corresponds to black shale beds from the Upper Pennsylvanian (c. 307 Ma, Upper Carboniferous), deposited in an epeiric sea known as the Late Pennsylvanian Midcontinent Sea during marine transgressions, thus related with large sea-level changes and glacio-eustatic dynamics. The conducted research was aimed at covering the most debated aspects of black shale deposition. The obtained results have provided further evidence on the main open questions on black shale deposition[ES] La presente tesis doctoral se basa en un enfoque multidisciplinar, basado en la integración de análisis icnológicos y geoquímicos, con el objetivo de avanzar en la comprensión de los procesos que condujeron al depósito y preservación de la materia orgánica y formación de sedimentos y rocas sedimentarias ricas en materia orgánica, en particular, las black shales. A pesar de haber sido ampliamente estudiadas, aún existen numerosas incógnitas sobre el origen de este tipo de rocas sedimentarias, especialmente en lo referido a sus modelos de formación. La principal controversia está relacionada con el papel que juegan las condiciones anóxicas en el fondo oceánico y su relación con la acumulación de carbono orgánico. Asimismo, otras características paleoambientales como la productividad planctónica, la circulación oceánica y la influencia de condiciones locales y globales, son objeto de debate. En este contexto, se han seleccionado dos casos de estudio de secuencias de black shales que representan diferentes edades y ambientes de depósito, permitiendo así una aproximación general a la interpretación de este tipo de depósitos. El primer caso de estudio es el de las black shales del Toarciense (c. 184 Ma, Jurásico Inferior), ampliamente reconocidas a nivel mundial y asociadas a un período de anoxia marina generalizada conocido como el Evento Anóxico Oceánico del Toarciense (T-OAE, por sus siglas en inglés). El segundo caso de estudio corresponde a las capas de black shales del Pensilvaniense Superior (c. 307 Ma, Carbonífero superior) depositadas en un mar epicontinental conocido como el Mar del Epicontinental del Pensilvaniense Tardío durante transgresiones marinas, relacionadas con grandes cambios en el nivel del mar debido a dinámicas glacioeustáticas. La investigación se llevó a cabo con el objetivo de abordar algunos de los aspectos más controvertidos en el debate sobre el depósito de black shales. En general, los resultados obtenidos han permitido avanzar en aquellos aspectos más debatidos sobre la formación de black shalesProyectos I+D+i PID2019-104625RB-100 y PID2019-104624RB-I00, financiados por MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033; Proyecto TED2021-131697B-C22, financiado por MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 y por la Unión Europea NextGenerationEU/PRTR; Proyectos de Excelencia de la Junta de Andalucía P18-RT-4074 y P18-RT-3804, cofinanciados por Fondos Europeos de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) y financiación de la Consejería competente en materia de I+D+i de la Junta de Andalucía; Grupos de Investigación RNM-178 y RNM-179 de la Junta de Andalucía; Contrato predoctoral FPI (EEBB- PRE2020-091844) asociado al proyecto PID2019-104625RB-100 (Secretaría de Estado de I+D+I) y cofinanciado por Fondos Europeos de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) y financiación de la Consejería competente en materia de I+D+i de la Junta de Andalucía; Beca de la Fundación Cei·Mar y el contrato FPI EEBB- PRE2020-091844Peer reviewe