•Enzymes play a main role in biological remediation.•Enzyme activity in pollutant transformation can be improved by low-molecular weight additives.•Immobilized enzymes are suitable for continuous ...processes for long-term and operational stability.•Enzymes could act as biosensors in environmental pollution monitoring.•Enzymes could act as bioindicators of water or soil quality and health.
In the environment enzymes may play important and different roles at least in three cases: as main agents (as isolated, cell-bound or immobilized enzymes) in charge of either the transformation and/or degradation of compounds polluting the environment and the restoration of the polluted environment; as reliable and sensitive tools to detect and measure the amount and concentration of pollutants before, during and after the restoration process; as reliable, easy and sensitive indicators of quality and health status of the environment subjected to the restoration process.
To our knowledge papers or reviews integrating findings on these three functions of enzymes are missing in literature. Therefore the main scope of the present paper is to briefly encompass general and specific concepts about roles of enzymes as decontaminating agents, pollutant assaying agents and indicators of environment safety. Examples chosen among those published very recently, supporting and confirming peculiarities, features, and performance of enzymatic agents will be illustrated.
•Malaxation time decreased the concentration of all phenols except oleocanthal and oleacein.•Vacuum conditions increased phenolic concentration.•Olive oil oxidative stability depends on individual ...phenols.
Phenolic compounds largely contribute to the nutraceutical properties of virgin olive oil (VOO), the organoleptic attributes and the shelf life due to their antioxidant capabilities. Due to the relevance of malaxation in the oil extraction process, we tested the effects of malaxation time on the concentrations of relevant phenolic compounds in VOO, and we evaluated the influence of performing malaxation under vacuum. An increase in malaxation time significantly decreased the concentrations of aglycone isomers of oleuropein and ligstroside but, conversely, increased the oleocanthal and oleacein contents. Additionally, malaxation under vacuum led to an increase in phenolic contents compared to standard conditions carried out at atmospheric pressure. Finally, we explored the possibility of predicting the VOO oxidative stability on the basis of the phenolic profile, and a model (R2 = 0.923; p < 0.0001) was obtained by combining the concentration of the VOO phenolic compounds and the main fatty acids.
•Study of VOO phenolic variability in worldwide olive cultivars over three crop seasons.•Phenolic profiles of monovarietal VOO samples from 44 cultivars evaluated by LC–MS/MS.•Secoiridoids were the ...most concentrated phenols in olive oil.•Genotype was the main factor explaining VOO phenolic content but its influence was variable.•Three consistent clusters, related to phenolic profiles, were detected among the cultivars.
Phenolic compounds in virgin olive oil (VOO) contribute to its health properties, organoleptic features and oxidative stability. In this study, a total of 44 olive tree cultivars categorized by the International Olive Council to be among the most internationally widespread varieties were exhaustively and homogenously evaluated by analysis of the VOO phenolic profile during three consecutive crop seasons. Differences among cultivars resulted in up to 15-fold variations in the total phenol concentration. The ‘cultivar’ factor contributed the most to the variance (66.8% for total phenolic concentration) for almost all the phenols. However, the ‘interannual variability’ factor and the interaction ‘cultivar x interannual variability’ exhibited significant influences on specific phenols. According to the phenolic profile of the VOOs, we determined the presence of three groups of cultivars marked by the predominance of secoiridoid derivatives, which supports the phenolic profile as a criterion to be considered in olive breeding programs.
A sustainable increase in livestock production would require selection for improved feed efficiency, but the mechanisms underlying this trait and explaining its large individual variation in dairy ...ruminants remain unclear. This study was conducted in lactating ewes to test the hypothesis that rumen biohydrogenation (BH) would differ between high- and low-efficiency animals, and these differences would be reflected in rumen fatty acid (FA) profile and affect milk FA composition. A second aim was to identify differences in FA that may serve as biomarkers of feed efficiency. Data of daily feed intake and milk yield and composition, as well as body weight, were collected individually over a 3-wk period in 40 ewes. The difference between the mean actual and predicted feed intake (estimated through metabolizable energy requirements for maintenance, production, and body weight change) over the period was used as the feed efficiency index (FEI) to select 8 of the highest feed efficiency (H-FE) and 8 of the lowest feed efficiency (L-FE) animals. In addition, residual feed intake (RFI) was estimated as the residual term from the regression of feed intake on various energy sinks. Rumen and milk FA composition were characterized by using gas chromatography, and results were analyzed using a statistical model that included the fixed effect of the group (H-FE vs. L-FE). The FEI averaged −0.29 ± 0.046 and 0.81 ± 0.084 in H-FE and L-FE, respectively, whereas RFI averaged −0.16 ± 0.084 and 0.18 ± 0.082, respectively. The correlation coefficient between both metrics was 0.69. Feed intake was similar in both groups, but H-FE showed greater milk yield, with increases in lactose content and yield, and in milk protein and fat production. Results from rumen FA profiles included a lower proportion of 18:2n-6, cis-9 18:1, and of several of their BH metabolites, and a greater concentration of 18:0, which may indicate that the apparent BH would be more complete in more efficient sheep. Milk FA analysis suggested that the greater fat yield in the H-FE group was mostly explained by increased de novo FA synthesis, whereas their milk would have lower proportions of cis-9 18:1 and C20 to 22n-6 polyunsaturated FA than L-FE. Stepwise multiple linear regression suggested that milk C20 to 22n-6 PUFA might be convenient biomarkers to discriminate more efficient dairy sheep. Further research is needed to validate these findings (e.g., under different dietary conditions).
•Few studies have explored the phenolic variability in a high number of monovarietal olive oils.•Phenolic compounds were analyzed in 80 monovarietal oil samples by LC–MS/MS.•Secoiridoids were the ...most concentrated phenols in olive oil.•A high influence of the cultivar on the phenolic levels was detected.•Four groups of cultivars were found through their phenolic profiles by multivariate analysis.
Despite the evident influence of the cultivar on olive oil composition, few studies have been devoted to exploring the variability of phenols in a representative number of monovarietal olive oils. In this study, oil samples from 80 cultivars selected for their impact on worldwide oil production were analyzed to compare their phenolic composition by using a method based on LC–MS/MS. Secoiridoid derivatives were the most concentrated phenols in virgin olive oil, showing high variability that was significantly due to the cultivar. Multivariate analysis allowed discrimination between four groups of cultivars through their phenolic profiles: (i) richer in aglycon isomers of oleuropein and ligstroside; (ii) richer in oleocanthal and oleacein; (iii) richer in flavonoids; and (iv) oils with balanced but reduced phenolic concentrations. Additionally, correlation analysis showed no linkage among aglycon isomers and oleocanthal/oleacein, which can be explained by the enzymatic pathways involved in the metabolism of both oleuropein and ligstroside.
Esculetin (6,7-dihydrocoumarin) and the flavonoid quercetin (3,5,7,3′,4′ pentahydroxyflavone) are compounds that could change the balance of redox homeostasis. NB4 leukemia cells were treated with ...25 μM quercetin for 24 h and with esculetin at either 100 or 500 μM for different times. Quercetin increased the levels of pro-inflammatory NFkB p65 in the nucleus correspondingly reducing them in the cytosol. The levels of NFkB p65 decreased in the nucleus at high esculetin concentration treatments for long times (19 h), concomitantly increasing the levels of anti-inflammatory NFkB p50 in the nucleus. This could suggest formation of inhibitory p50 homodimers possibly related with anti-inflammatory response. Lipoxygenase expression was reduced either by esculetin or quercetin. A significant increase of Nrf2 in the nucleus of NB4 cells treated with 100 μM esculetin for 19 h was observed. Quercetin increased the levels of Nrf2 in the cytosol reducing them in the nucleus. Superoxide dismutase expression increased in NB4 cells treated with esculetin in contrast with quercetin. All these data support a relevant differential role for NFkB and Nrf2 in anti-inflammatory and redox response when apoptosis was induced by esculetin or quercetin in human leukemia NB4 cells.
•Esculetin or quercetin differently affected NFkB levels in NB4 leukemia cells.•Nrf2 levels in nucleus and cytosol were also regulated by esculetin or quercetin.•Lipoxygenase expression was reduced either by esculetin or quercetin.•Superoxide dismutase was differently affected by esculetin or quercetin.•In NB4 cells, a distinct role for NFkB and Nrf2 in redox response can be stated.
Anthracnose, the most critical disease affecting olive fruits, is caused by Colletotrichum species. While developing olive fruits are immune to the pathogen regardless of the cultivar, the resistance ...level varies once the fruit ripens. The defense mechanisms responsible for this difference in resistance are not well understood. To explore this, we analyzed the phenolic metabolic pathways occurring in olive fruits and their susceptibility to the pathogen during ripening in two resistant cultivars (‘Empeltre’ and ‘Frantoio’) and two susceptible cultivars (‘Hojiblanca’ and ‘Picudo’). Overall, resistant cultivars induced the synthesis of aldehydic and demethylated forms of phenols, which highly inhibited fungal spore germination. In contrast, susceptible cultivars promoted the synthesis of hydroxytyrosol 4-O-glucoside during ripening, a compound with no antifungal effect. This study showed that the distinct phenolic profiles between resistant and susceptible cultivars play a key role in determining olive fruit resistance to Colletotrichum species.
•Fruits at turning stage show varied pathogen resistance due to phenolic profile changes.•Susceptible cultivars' drupes convert secoiridoids to hydroxytyrosol-4-O-glucoside, reducing anthracnose tolerance.•Oleuropein, ligstroside, and their derivatives are key in inhibiting spore germination.•Resistant cultivars maintain high fungicidal phenolic compounds (>90% of total phenols) during ripening.
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•The cultivar was the main factor explaining the variability in fatty acids.•Cultivar × crop season interaction demonstrated a great influence on variability.•The content of MUFAs ...reported a contrary pattern respect to SFA/PUFAs contents.•Climate conditions have influence in the VOO profile of fatty acids.•High MUFAs content was associated with a high accumulated precipitation.
Among olive oil nutritional benefits, it is worth mentioning its fatty acids composition with predominance of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs). We have evaluated the influence of the cultivar and interannual factors on the fatty acids profile of virgin olive oil samples obtained from 45 and 71 cultivars along three and two consecutive crop seasons, respectively. The cultivars were classified in two groups according to the fatty acids composition: (1) high content in MUFAs and moderate content in saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids (SFAs and PUFAs, respectively) and (2) moderate content in MUFAs and high content in SFAs/PUFAs. We also observed variations in the fatty acids content with the climate conditions, which can significantly alter the saturated and unsaturated profiles. Thus, a significant decrease in MUFAs and an increase in SFAs/PUFAs concentrations was found when the precipitation accumulated within the June-October period was reduced.
•M5P algorithm-based model determines influence of wind power on Spanish spot market.•Assessment of the wind power influence for different levels of wind resource.•Cost-benefit analysis is developed, ...accounting feed-in-tariffs and merit order effect.•The worst and best levels of wind power production for the system are determined.
The incipient large-scale energy-storage technologies are not sufficiently developed yet, which means that the wind power production depends on the wind speed at every moment. This, along with the fact that the wind resource is not constant over time, makes wind power production quite variable. Therefore, an artificial intelligence-based technique (M5P algorithm) is applied to empirical hourly data to determine the influence of wind power technology on the spot market for different levels of wind resource in 2012. It concludes that wind power depressed the spot prices between 7.42 and 10.94€/MWh for a wind power production of 90% and 110% of the real one, respectively. Furthermore, taking into account the important presence of wind power in the Spanish generation mix, the above range has been extended up to 0% in order to determine the worst and best level of wind power production for the Spanish electrical system (from an economical point of view). To do so, both feed-in-tariffs and wind power impact on spot market (merit order effect) have been accounted in accordance with the different levels of wind power production. Since empirical data from 2012 have been used to conduct the research, the results presented in this paper may provide policy makers with a worst and best-case scenario to discuss about the convenience of the last cutting expenses over wind power technology in Spain.
The sustainable development of mining processes requires a deep knowledge of the effectiveness of mining equipment and is quite complex to analyze due to the intrinsic characteristics of the mining ...industry. In this regard, its measurement and control can lead to appropriate management, improving the mining processes’ efficiency, increasing safety levels, and reducing environmental impacts. This paper developed a new methodology to study the effectiveness of equipment in mining processes, researching the impacts of process management, process control, operating conditions, operational mining schedule, and maintenance programs on the effectiveness of drilling rig fleets using two actual coal mines located in the northwest of Spain and data collected over 10 years. Thus, a new method, called Overall Mining Equipment Effectiveness (OMEE), was developed, verifying its appropriateness and flexibility to analyze the effectiveness of mining equipment by examining the availability rate, utilization rate, and productivity index.
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