Editorial: Sustainable food systems in Ibero-America

Sustainability and the search for products with improved functionalities that address the demands of the consumer for a healthier diet are the main challenges facing the development of a new trustworthy and healthy food production system. These topics, also addressed by the participants in the 3rd BioIberoAmerica 2022 conference (Braga, Portugal), have allowed for the publication of four original articles in this SI.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

CrimeBB: Enabling cybercrime research on underground forums at scale

Underground forums allow criminals to interact, exchange knowledge, and trade in products and services. They also provide a pathway into cybercrime, tempting the curious to join those already motivated to obtain easy money. Analysing these forums enables us to better understand the behaviours of offenders and pathways into crime. Prior research has been valuable, but limited by a reliance on datasets that are incomplete or outdated. More complete data, going back many years, allows for comprehensive research into the evolution of forums and their users. We describe CrimeBot, a crawler designed around the particular challenges of capturing data from underground forums. CrimeBot is used to update and maintain CrimeBB, a dataset of more than 48m posts made from 1m accounts in 4 different operational forums over a decade. This dataset presents a new opportunity for large-scale and longitudinal analysis using up-to-date information. We illustrate the potential by presenting a case study using CrimeBB, which analyses which activities lead new actors into engagement with cybercrime. CrimeBB is available to other academic researchers under a legal agreement, designed to prevent misuse and provide safeguards for ethical research

Cheese whey: a cost-effective alternative for hyaluronic acid production by Streptococcus zooepidemicus

This study focuses on the optimization of cheese whey formulated media for the production of hyaluronic acid HA by Streptococcus zooepidemicus. Culture media containing whey (W; 2.1 g/L) or whey hydrolysate (WH; 2.4 g/L) gave the highest HA productions. Both W and WH produced high yields on protein consumed, suggesting cheese whey is a good nitrogen source for S. zooepidemicus production of HA. Polysaccharide concentrations of 4.0 g/L and 3.2 g/L were produced in W and WH in a further scale-up to 5 L bioreactors, confirming the suitability of the low-cost nitrogen source. Cheese whey culture media provided high molecular weight (> 3000 kDa) HA products. This study revealed replacing the commercial peptone by the low-cost alternative could reduce HA production costs by up to a 70%compared to synthetic media.Isabel Rodriguez was funded by a postdoctoral contract from the Xunta de Galicia, Spain (Plan I2C, 2012). This research was financially supported by projects: MAT 2010-21509-C03-01 (Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad, Spain) and FP7 Project BiValBi. Biotechnologies to Valorise the regional food Biodiversity in Latin America (PIRSES-GA-2013-611493). The authors want to thank Benigno Pereira, the manager of Queizuar S.L. (A Coruna, Spain) for providing the cheese whey utilised to conduct this research. We also wish to thank Ana Duran and Margarita Nogueira (IIM-CSIC) for their excellent technical assistance

Production of natural nano-gel from pineapple polysaccharides complexes for controlled release of bioactive compounds

São Paulo School of Advanced Sciences on Reverse Engineering of Processed Foods[Excerpt] Pineapple (Ananas cosmosus) is the third most important tropical fruit in world production, seventy percent of the pineapple produced in the world is consumed as fresh fruit. In the agro-food sector, several materials are eliminated as waste throughout production and processing chain. These residues (skins, seed and pulp remnants) contain high content of bioactive compounds, but in generally not directly available, and for that reason is necessary to extract and characterize the feasible bioactive compounds (do Espírito Santo et al., 2012). Therefore, the study of the wastes and by-products generated during pineapple production and post-harvest processing is relevant and interesting to valorise them and reduce their environmental impact. The development of vehicles using these residues that deliveries the compounds as well promotes the maintenance of bioactivity, has been widely study, but lacks the search of new structures that could be easily used in food industry. Therefore, the focus of this research work was to developed nanocarriers using pineapple residues to extract pineapple polysaccharides for delivery of bioactive compounds. Frozen pineapple wastes were submitted to a milling and pressing processes, creating a pineapple juice and a solid semi-dried extract. Characterization was made for both parts comprised proteins, sugars, fibers, lipids and polyphenol contents. The soluble fraction was fractionated by centrifuge filter tubes with cut-off of 50 kDa and after by cut-off of 3 kDa, and three fractions were obtained: above 50 kDa, between 50 and 3 kDa and below 3 kDa. The insoluble part was submitted to hot aqueous extraction. The supernatant and the pellet of this extraction were separated and studied separately. Pineapple polysaccharides were identified and quantified by HPLC method and phenol-sulphuric method, respectively. [...]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Estrategias de conservaci?n comunitaria como contribuci?n al desarrollo ambiental sostenible del bosque de Galilea, en el oriente del departamento del Tolima

98 p. Recurso Electr?nicoEl bosque de Galilea se encuentra ubicado en el oriente del departamento del Tolima, municipio de Villarrica, con una superficie aproximada de 22.000 hect?reas y altitudes que oscilan entre 1000 y 3000 msnm, correspondiente seg?n Holdridge a bosque h?medo montano bajo (bh-MB) y bosque muy h?medo montano (bmh-M), con temperaturas que var?an entre 6 y 18?C. Fueron seleccionadas las comunidades locales de cuatro veredas (Puerto Lleras, Alto Puerto Lleras, Cuatro Mil y Galilea) que viven en el ?rea de influencia debido al f?cil acceso y su relaci?n directa con la cobertura de bosque natural. Este proyecto se bas? principalmente en identificar actores sociales claves que con su capacidad de convocatoria logren reunir a las comunidades de las diferentes veredas para que en conjunto se logre un an?lisis de la relaci?n ambiental, social y econ?mica de la poblaci?n que habita alrededor del bosque de Galilea, apoyados en herramientas como la FODA, adem?s, se identificaron los principales usos del bosque, la productividad, las actividades que realizan en este mediante la configuraci?n de im?genes territoriales, se hizo un reconocimiento cultural del territorio y de su biodiversidad por medio de exposiciones, charlas y actividades l?dicas con el fin de resaltar y visualizar la diversidad y la flora silvestre de la localidad, su importancia maderera, artesanal, alimenticia, entre otros, con el fin de construir conjuntamente unas estrategias de conservaci?n. Palabras clave: Actores sociales, bosque muy h?medo montano y bosque h?medo montano bajo, diversidad, conservaci?n, comunidadThe project will take place in the forest of Galilea, located in the eastern department of Tolima in the town of Villarrica, It has an approximate area of 22,000 hectares between 1200 and 3100 meters and corresponds to a very humid montane forest (BMH-PM) according to the classification of Holdridge life zones. With temperatures ranging between 12 and 24 C ?. Local communities four-lane Puerto Lleras, Alto Puerto Lleras, Cuatro Mil y Galilea living in the catchment area due to easy access and its direct relationship with the natural forest cover was taken into account. This project is mainly based on identifying key social actors with its convening achieve bring together communities of different paths to jointly an analysis of environmental, social and economic relations of the people living around the forest is achieved Galilea, He supported tools such as FODA , also the main uses of the forest are identified, productivity, their activities in this by configuring territorial images, will be a cultural recognition of the territory and its biodiversity through exhibitions, lectures and games in order to highlight and display the diversity and wild flora of the town, its timber, craft, food importance, among others, in order to jointly build strategies of conservation activities. Keywords: social actors, montane wet forest, lower montane rain forest, diversity, conservation, community

Development of active and nanotechnology-based smart edible packaging systems: physical-chemical characterization

This work aims at characterising polysaccharide-based films without (GA) and with the incorporation of free natamycin (GA-NA) and natamycin-loaded in a smart delivery device consisting in poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) nanohydrogels (GA-PNIPA). Transport properties (water vapour, oxygen and carbon dioxide permeabilities), mechanical properties (tensile strength and elongation-at-break), opacity, water sensitivity (moisture content and contact angle) and thermal properties (differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analyses) were evaluated. Chemical interactions were studied by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy was used to verify the presence of natamycin and nanohydrogel particles in the film matrix. The results show that natamycin and natamycin-loaded poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) nanohydrogels can be successfully added to edible films without changing their main packaging properties. However, tensile strength decreased (p < 0.05) when both natamycin and natamycin-loaded PNIPA nanohydrogels were incorporated (from 24.44 to 17.02 and 16.63 MPa, for GA-NA and GA-PNIPA, respectively). GA-NA and GA-PNIPA films are more opaque and showed to be more sensitive to water (i.e. higher values of moisture content and decrease of contact angle) than GA films. Scanning electron microscopy images confirmed the presence of natamycin and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) nanohydrogels in the films’ matrix. Since natamycin could be successfully released from polysaccharide-based films, the system could be used as active packaging ingredient when used free in the matrix or as smart packing when loaded with PNIPA nanohydrogels.Miguel A. Cerqueira (SFRH/BPD/72753/2010) is a recipient of a fellowship from the Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT, POPH-QREN and FSE Portugal). The support of EU Cost Actions FA0904 and FA1001 is gratefully acknowledged

Percepciones y valoración del sistema sucesional multiestrato de los productores cacaoteros del Alto Beni, Bolivia.

Avaliou-se a concepção e gestão de 50 sites de multicamadas sucessionais (MSSF), foram coletadas as percepções de produtores sobre as vantagens e desvantagens deste sistema, indicadores financeiros calculados para cinco áreas selecionadas e identificar os fatores que limitaram a adoção de este sistema de produção no Alto Beni, na Bolívia. O MSSF diversificada produção agrícola, satisfeitas as necessidades agregado familiar e desde grandes benefícios para a preservação do ecossistema natural. No entanto, não conseguiram expectativas comerciais e geração de renda produtores. A gestão global do MSSF era pobre. A pressão comercial para os produtores, caro e de germoplasma baixo de frutas e madeira de alta qualidade ea falta de formação e assistência técnica sobre este sistema complexo tem causado produtores simplificar a composição botânica estrutura e cobertura do solo em parcelas de MSSF incentivar o desenvolvimento ea produção de algumas culturas com potencial comercial local. Precisamos abrir os mercados para um conjunto apresentar fruta exótica no MSSF, como o mercado só aceita local cacau, frutas cítricas e bananas

Natamycin-loaded poly(n-isopropylacrylamide) nanohydrogels for smart edible packaging : development and characterization

The development of new formulations for antimicrobial agents release has attracted great attention due to the possibility of using such formulations in several applications (e.g. food packaging and surface treatments in biomedical devices). Smart packaging appears in the last years as one of the most promissory application to food packaging in order to enhance the capacity to maintain food quality and safety. Moreover, edible packaging, using edible and biodegradable biopolymers, has been stated as one of the promises in packaging science (e.g. fresh-cut products, cheese, fruits, fish). Based on this and in the fact that no work has been reported with the incorporation of smart nanohydrogels in edible packaging, a smart delivery device consisting in poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) nanohydrogels and polysaccharide- based films was developed. Polysaccharide-based films with and without the incorporation of natamycin-loaded poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) nanohydrogels were charactherized in terms of: transport (water vapour, oxygen and carbon dioxide permeabilities) and mechanical properties (tensile strength and elongation-at-break), opacity, water sensitivity (moisture content and contact angle) and thermal properties (differential scanning calorimetry - DSC and thermogravimetric analyses - TGA). Chemical interactions were studied by means of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy was used to verify the presence of nanohydrogel in the film matrix. [...

Development of bio-based nanoemulsions to improve physical and chemical stability of omega-3 fatty acids

The 19th Gums & Stabilisers for the Food Industry Conference: Hydrocolloid MultifunctionalityNowadays there is a high interest of food industry to develop nutritional food products. This concept promoted the development of bio-based structures to encapsulate bioactive compounds and thus enhance their physical and chemical stability during storage until the consumption. In this field nanotechnology can offers several advantages, not only improving water solubility but also in the increase of bioavailability of lipophilic bioactive compounds. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 fatty acids) are known for their functional properties such as: improving cardiovascular health, decrease inflammation, increase cognitive function, and influence on neurological and visual development. However, ω-3 fatty acids are highly susceptible to oxidation, have an intense odour and present low water solubility, which makes its direct application in foods extremely difficult. In order to reduce these problems, the nanoencapsulation, through the use of nanoemulsions can be used. In this work, Lactoferrin (Lf), a protein derived from milk with a wide range of reported biological activities (e.g. antioxidant, antimicrobial and cancer prevention) was used as natural emulsifier for the development of oil-in-water nanoemulsions. Nanoemulsions were produced with a high-pressure homogenizer applied for 5 cycles at 20000 psi. Different Lf concentrations (0.2; 0.6; 1; 2; 3; 4 and 5% (w/w)) were tested. The nanoemulsions physical properties were evaluated in terms of size and ζ- potential measurements using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and by surface tension using the Ring method. The morphology of nanoemulsions were analysed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The physical and chemical stability of these nanoemulsions was assessed during 50 days, at storage temperatures of 4 ºC and 25 ºC, being the chemical stability of nanoemulsions was evaluated by antioxidant activity measurements using DPPH radical scavenging assay. Results showed that according to the Lf concentration used different properties were obtained. Nanoemulsions with Lf concentrations between 2 and 5% (w/w) presented sizes around 160 nm and a ζ-potential higher than +30 mV. For concentrations below 2 % (w/w), nanoemulsions presented sizes around 200 nm and a ζ- potential bellow +30 mV. It was noticed that higher Lf concentrations lead to smaller sizes and higher ζ-potential values. By increasing the Lf concentration was observed a decrease on superficial tension of nanoemulsions. TEM measurements showed that nanoemulsions particles have defined spherical shape. Results also showed that nanoemulsions with Lf concentration above 2 % (w/w) present better properties (smaller sizes and higher ζ-potential) so the storage stability of these nanoemulsions were assessed. Nanoemulsions stored at 4 ºC did not exhibit significant variations in size and ζ-potential values, while at 25 ºC the nanoemulsions suffered an size increase (around 35 nm compared to initial value) and a reduction in ζ-potential (around 20 mV compared to initial value) during storage. At these conditions, it was also observed that nanoemulaions with Lf concentrations of 2 and 3 % (w/w) present an instability (variations of size and ζ-potential) after 14 days of storage at 25 ºC, while for higher Lf concentrations (4 and 5 % (w/w)) the changes only start to be noticed latter (after 29 days of storage). Antioxidant activity did not demonstrate significant changes before and after storage at both temperatures (IC50 was around 14 mg/g of solution). This work provides important information that can be useful for the design of nanoemulsions aiming the encapsulation of lipophilic compounds for pharmaceutical and food applications.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Biological extraction of bromelain from pineapple byproducts

[Excerpt] Isolation and purification of valuable compounds are very important processes to valorize agro-food byproducts. Currently, protein extraction and development of environmentally friendly technologies are industrially relevant topics [1]. Among the extracted proteins from byproducts proteases are a relevant group for industrial applications. These enzymes are a class of hydrolytic enzymes capable of cleaving the peptide bonds of proteins chains and are essential in physiological processes [2]. (...