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•Common Agricultural Policy has promoted the intensification of European viticulture.•Endangered species of W Iberia vineyards are sensitive to intensification scenarios.•Eco-schemes ...are expected to mitigate impacts of intensification on the environment.•Cover crops’ eco-scheme is applied for erosion control and biodiversity enhancement.•Paradoxically, cover crops worsen intensification effects on endangered species.
In Europe, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) encouraged the specialisation of agriculture and forestry systems by supporting schemes that promoted productivity, despite the socio-ecological changes’ detrimental effects on ecosystem services and biodiversity. In the case of mountain viticulture of southern Europe, the adoption of intensive management techniques triggered noticeable changes in farming systems, namely the removal of traditional stonewalls and semi-natural vegetation, partially compensated by eco schemes and agri-environment-climate measures. By combining fieldwork information with spatio-temporal modelling techniques, a novel hybrid framework is explained and implemented to predict the population trends of a critically endangered bird species in Portugal, the Black Wheatear (Oenanthe leucura), to the individual and/or combined effects of the removal of traditional stonewall terraced vineyards and the implementation of cover crops. The results obtained demonstrate the relevance of stonewall terraced vineyards (and the negative effects of their removal) for the conservation of Black Wheatear, namely during the breeding season when holes and crevices are used for nesting. Conversely, and in accordance with our simulations, the increase in the area occupied by vineyards with cover crops seems particularly detrimental for the species, by decreasing the quality of the feeding grounds. As cover crops, and possibly other eco schemes and agri-environment-climate measures, might not be the panacea for halting biodiversity loss in mountain viticulture, adaptation of measures to species’ ecological requirements is urgent for a successful EU biodiversity strategy for 2030.
Apple pomace is a by-product of apple processing industries with low value and thus frequent disposal, although with valuable compounds. Acidified hot water extraction has been suggested as a clean, ...feasible, and easy approach for the recovery of polyphenols. This type of extraction allowed us to obtain 296 g of extract per kg of dry apple pomace, including 3.3 g of polyphenols and 281 g of carbohydrates. Ultrafiltration and solid-phase extraction using C18 cartridges of the hot water extract suggested that, in addition to the apple native polyphenols detected by ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled to a diode-array detector and mass spectrometry UHPLC-DAD-ESI-MS
, polyphenols could also be present as complexes with carbohydrates. For the water-soluble polyphenols, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects were observed by inhibiting chemically generated hydroxyl radicals (OH•) and nitrogen monoxide radicals (NO•) produced in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages. The water-soluble polyphenols, when incorporated into yogurt formulations, were not affected by fermentation and improved the antioxidant properties of the final product. This in vitro research paves the way for agro-food industries to achieve more diversified and sustainable solutions towards their main by-products.
Considering the present ecological crisis, land use-biodiversity relationships have become a major topic in landscape planning, ecosystem management and ecological restoration. In this scope, ...consistent patterns of outstanding biodiversity have been identified in agroforestry systems within diverse biogeographic regions and types of management. Empirical work has revealed that agroforestry higher structural complexity, when compared with current simplified agricultural systems, might be partially responsible for the observed patterns. The recently developed Habitat Amount Hypothesis predicts diversity for a local habitat patch, from the amount of the same habitat within the local landscape. We have expanded the previous hypothesis to the landscape level, computing the influence of the dominant land uses on the diversity of coexisting guilds. As a case study, we have considered archetypal landscapes dominated (or co-dominated) by crops or trees, which were compared using normalized diversities. The results obtained show that agroforestry systems substantially increase functional diversity and overall biodiversity within landscapes. We highlight that the normalized values should be parametrized to real conditions where the type of crop, tree and agroecological management will make a difference. Most importantly, our findings provide additional evidence that agroforestry has a critical role in enhancing biodiversity in agricultural landscapes and, in this way, should be regarded as a priority measure in European Agri-environmental funding schemes.
Almeida, P.M.M.; Cruz, C.B.M.; Amaral, F.G.; Furtado, L.F.A.; Duarte, G.S.; Silva, G.F.; Barros, R.S.; Marques, J.V.F.P.A.; Rosário, E.S.; Santos, V.F.; Alves, A.; Chaves, F.O., and Soares, M.L.G., ...2020. Mangrove typology: A proposal for mapping based on high spatial resolution orbital remote sensing. In: Malvárez, G. and Navas, F. (eds.), Global Coastal Issues of 2020. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 95, pp. 1-5. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Solutions to improve environmental management strategies increasingly require the adoption of new techniques, such as Geotechnologies. All this effort must be carried out in a multidisciplinary way, using different concepts, techniques and scientific visions about the same phenomenon. In response to the cartographic demands, one of the primordial steps for a good mapping starts before the processing of the images to be used. This step is based on the definition of a legend related to the scale and purpose of the mapping. This work aims to contribute in the definition of a typology adapted to the use of high spatial resolution remote sensing data for the mapping of mangrove phytophysiognomies in the Brazilian Equatorial Coast. The final mapping covered more than 27,000 ha of forests divided into the following classes: (i) Forest dominated by Avicennia schaueriana; (ii) Forest dominated by Rhizophora spp.; (iii) Mixed Forests; all indicating differences in structural development (high, medium or low). Through this reflexive process, this work contributes to the mapping with effectively transdisciplinary strategies.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
BFBNIB, DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NMLJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Brewer's spent yeast (BSY) microcapsules have a complex network of cell-wall polysaccharides that are induced by brewing when compared to the baker's yeast (
) microcapsules. These are rich in ...(β1→3)-glucans and covalently linked to (α1→4)- and (β1→4)-glucans in addition to residual mannoproteins.
is often used as a drug delivery system due to its immunostimulatory potential conferred by the presence of (β1→3)-glucans. Similarly, BSY microcapsules could also be used in the encapsulation of compounds or drug delivery systems with the advantage of resisting digestion conferred by (β1→4)-glucans and promoting a broader immunomodulatory response. This work aims to study the feasibility of BSY microcapsules that are the result of alkali and subcritical water extraction processes, as oral carriers for food and biomedical applications by (1) evaluating the resistance of BSY microcapsules to in vitro digestion (IVD), (2) their recognition by the human Dectin-1 immune receptor after IVD, and (3) the recognition of IVD-solubilized material by different mammalian immune receptors. IVD digested 44-63% of the material, depending on the extraction process. The non-digested material, despite some visible agglutination and deformation of the microcapsules, preserved their spherical shape and was enriched in (β1→3)-glucans. These microcapsules were all recognized by the human Dectin-1 immune receptor. The digested material was differentially recognized by a variety of lectins of the immune system related to (β1→3)-glucans, glycogen, and mannans. These results show the potential of BSY microcapsules to be used as oral carriers for food and biomedical applications.
The most prominent factors inducing landscape change in the rural regions of south west Europe are depopulation and the associated socio-ecological modifications. The aim of this work was to assess ...the future implications of these processes on land use/land cover and biodiversity in northwest Iberia. To achieve our goal, we developed a virtual spatially explicit dynamic model to simulate regional socio-ecological dynamics. For the period between 1960 and 2040, we tested four different environmental scenarios ranging from small decreases in conifer forest and a stabilization of agricultural areas and shrublands to more radical shifts, substantial decreases in agricultural areas and massive expansion of eucalyptus stands. The model considers also fire, whose role increased significantly in the scenarios of expanded forests. Bird assemblages, which we used as a surrogate for biodiversity, showed complex patterns although with overall decreases in richness and abundance. Species with narrow niche and from Mediterranean open habitats were particularly sensitive to the ongoing changes simulated. Our results suggest that landscape management actions and planning assessments designed for conserving biodiversity should focus on the maintenance of the traditional agricultural mosaic combined with a regulatory legislation limiting the expansion of fast growing tree forests (e.g Eucalyptus stands). This strategy can contribute to maintaining a diversity of land use/land cover in a heterogeneous landscape and the prevention of the occurrence of large wildfires, fundamental for the implementation of national biodiversity strategies and action plans.
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•Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) purpose is the sustainable use of diversity.•National biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs) implement CBD.•A model was parameterized to predict future landscapes and biodiversity for Nw Iberia.•The outputs estimate biodiversity trends facing future regional developments.•The model could be used as an auxiliary tool for implementing NBSAPs.
•A branched arabinogalactan (AG) was isolated from Pistachio hull.•The purified fractions contained a type II arabinogalactan carbohydrate moiety.•AG structural elucidation was attained by ...methylation analysis, 1D/2D NMR, and SEC.•Arabinogalactans displayedimmuno-enhancing effects.•Pistachio AG could be explored as a potent food additive or nutritional supplement.
This work studies the extraction and purification of a novel arabinogalactan from pistachio external hull. It was extracted with a simple method from pistachio hull which is considered as unexploited waste. Based on the results of sugar analysis by GC-FID, glycosidic linkage by GC–MS, NMR spectroscopy, and molecular weight by Size Exclusion Chromatography, pistachio hull water soluble polysaccharides (PHWSP) were identified as a type II arabinogalactan (AG), with characteristic terminally linked α-Araf, (α1 → 5)-Araf, (α1 → 3,5)-Araf, terminally linked β-Galp, (β1 → 6)-Galp, and (β1 → 3,6)-Galp. DEPT-135, HSQC, HMBC and COSY NMR data suggested the presence of (β1 → 3)-Galp mainly branched at O-6 with (β1 → 6)-Galp chains, α-Araf chains, and terminally linked α-Araf. These AG from pistachio external hulls showed in vitro stimulatory activity for B cells, suggesting their possible use as an immunological stimulant in nutraceutical and biomedical applications.
Yeast cell walls undergo modifications during the brewing process, leading to a remodelling of their architecture. One significant change is the increased insolubility of the cell wall glycogen pool, ...likely due to the formation of covalent bonds between glycogen and cell wall polysaccharides. To verify this hypothesis, we extracted the brewer's spent yeast with 4 M KOH, obtaining an insoluble glucan fraction (AE.4 M) primarily composed of (α1 → 4)- and (1 → 3)-linked Glc residues. Dynamic nuclear polarization solid-state NMR of AE.4 M revealed distinct glucan resonances that helped to differentiate between α- and β glucosyl (1 → 4)-linked residues, and confirm covalent linkages between (β1 → 3)-glucans and glycogen through a (β1 → 4)-linkage.
The hydrolysis with different endo-glucanases (zymolyase, cellulase, and lichenase) was used to obtain solubilized high molecular weight glycogen fractions. NMR analysis showed that covalent links between glycogen and (β1 → 6)-glucans through (α1 → 6) glycosidic linkage, with branching at the C6 position involving (β1 → 3), and (β1 → 6)-glucans. HPAEC-PAD analysis of the enzymatically released oligosaccharides confirmed covalent linkages of (β1 → 3), (β1 → 6)-, and (β1 → 4)-glucan motifs with (α1 → 4)-glucans. This combination of multiple enzymatic approaches and NMR methods shed light into the role of yeast cell wall glycogen as a structural core covalently linked to other cell wall components during the brewing process.
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Retentate is a by-product of the concentrate apple juice industry, resultant from clarification through an ultrafiltration process. It has a liquid to sludgy appearance, with 8% of total solids ...content, usually discarded as industrial waste, conveyed as wastewater directly to the sewage plant. However, its origin and expected composition may allow to define its use as a source of valuable compounds as well as its application in food and feed. The present work shows that retentate is very rich in carbohydrates, namely 40% fructose (dry weight), glucose (8%), oligosaccharides (5%), and polysaccharides (3%). It is also rich in protein (8%) and an available and inexpensive source of β-sitosterol (0.6%). This was the major sterol identified, accounting for 21% of total lipophilic compounds recovered by n-hexane. The retentate suspension was successfully used as nutritive medium for production of cider by a microbrewery and the protein-rich water insoluble material (28% of protein) was successfully used in feed formulations for racing pigeons.
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•Retentate is a source of free sugars, protein, polysaccharides, and sterols.•Very rich in carbohydrates (53%), where 40% is fructose and 8% glucose, DW.•An available and inexpensive source of β-sitosterol (6 g kg−1 of retentate, DW).•Retentate was used as a nutritive source for production of artisanal cider.•Water insoluble material (28% of protein) was used in feed formulations.
Cerebral autosomal recessive arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CARASIL) is a rare form of nonhypertensive cerebral small-vessel disease caused by mutations in the HTRA1 ...gene. CARASIL is characterized by early adulthood onset of subcortical infarcts, cognitive impairment, alopecia, and spondylosis. Until recently, this disorder was almost exclusively reported in the Asian population.
Description of the clinical, imaging, and genetic study of 2 siblings with CARASIL, with a brief comparative review of published non-Asian cases of the disease.
Both patients exhibited the typical phenotype: cerebral small-vessel disease, spondylosis, and abnormal hair lost. Mutation screening was performed for NOTCH3 and HTRA1 genes. No mutations were found in NOTCH3. The study revealed the presence of a homozygous c.496C>T substitution in HTRA1 in both siblings.
This report highlights the need of considering this entity in the differential diagnosis of cerebral small-vessel disease in young patients, even in the non-Asian populations.
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