Química supramolecular del estado líquido: disolventes nanoestructurados para la extracción de micotoxinas en productos agroalimentarios

El autoensamblaje de compuestos anfifílicos constituye una estrategia simple y eficaz para la síntesis de disolventes con características programadas para que cumplan funciones específicas. Las fases líquidas nanoestructuradas producidas, denominadas disolventes supramoleculares (SUPRASs), presentan propiedades extractivas excepcionales comparadas con las que presentan los disolventes moleculares e iónicos. El objeto de las investigaciones llevadas a cabo durante la realización de esta Tesis Doctoral ha sido la síntesis y/o aplicación de SUPRASs cuyas nanoestructuras y propiedades se han diseñado para que cumplan funciones específicas en dos áreas de interés; tratamiento de muestras para el análisis químico de micotoxinas en matrices agroalimentarias y purificación de aguas residuales industriales. Las micotoxinas son metabolitos tóxicos presentes en productos agrícolas utilizados como materias primas en la alimentación humana y animal o como residuos tóxicos en los productos de las explotaciones zootécnicas [1]. Estos metabolitos provocan importantes pérdidas económicas derivadas de sus efectos sobre la salud de las personas, la productividad de los animales y el comercio nacional e internacional. Diferentes instituciones y organismos nacionales e internacionales han fijado límites máximos permitidos y han desarrollado regulaciones al respecto [2,3]. El cumplimiento de la legislación vigente requiere disponer de métodos analíticos simples, rápidos y fiables para la detección y cuantificación de micotoxinas. En los métodos disponibles, la etapa de extracción y purificación de las muestras es la más lenta y compleja, y su eficacia depende tanto de la estructura de la micotoxina como de la matriz de la muestra. Se requiere por tanto el desarrollo de estrategias innovadoras que permitan eliminar las columnas de inmunoafinidad para la purificación de las muestras, tanto en métodos instrumentales como inmunoquímicos, reducir el consumo de disolvente orgánico, y extraer micotoxinas en un amplio intervalo de polaridad en una única etapa Por otro lado, la actividad industrial en los países desarrollados consume alrededor del 60% del gasto total del agua [4]. El tratamiento de aguas residuales industriales es esencial no sólo para evitar la contaminación de los recursos hídricos sino también para la reutilización de las mismas, aspecto fundamental para los países con déficit hídrico. Las estrategias más utilizadas en la actualidad, adsorbentes y membranas, no son viables en algunas aplicaciones debido al coste de adquisición u operación de las instalaciones y materiales requeridos, y/o eficacia o aplicación limitada. Se requiere por tanto el desarrollo de tecnologías limpias, económicamente viables, que tengan carácter multifuncional y por lo tanto permitan la extracción simultánea y eficaz de contaminantes químicos de diferente naturaleza

Microextraction of ochratoxin A in raw wheat with supramolecular solvents

II Encuentro sobre nanociencia y nanotecnología de investigadores y tecnólogos de la Universidad de Córdoba. NANOUC

MIcroextracción supramolecular de ocratoxina A (OTA) en pasas previa a su determinación por cromatografía/fluorescencia

III Encuentro sobre Nanociencia y Nanotecnología de Investigadores y Tecnólogos Andaluce

Nanostructured-solvent for the extraction of ochratoxin A in Andalusian wines

II Encuentro sobre nanociencia y nanotecnología de investigadores y tecnólogos de la Universidad de Córdoba. NANOUC

Health risk assessment from exposure to particles during packing in working environments

Packing of raw materials in work environments is a known source of potential health impacts (respiratory, cardiovascular) due to exposure to airborne particles. This activity was selected to test different exposure and risk assessment tools, aiming to understand the effectiveness of source enclosure as a strategy to mitigate particle release. Worker exposure to particle mass and number concentrations was monitored during packing of 7 ceramic materials in 3 packing lines in different settings, with low (L), medium (M) and high (H) degrees of source enclosure. Results showed that packing lines L and M significantly increased exposure concentrations (119-609 μg m-3 respirable, 1150-4705 μg m-3 inhalable, 24755-51645 cm-3 particle number), while nonsignificant increases were detected in line H. These results evidence the effectiveness of source enclosure as a mitigation strategy, in the case of packing of ceramic materials. Total deposited particle surface area during packing ranged between 5.4-11.8x105 μm2 min-1, with particles depositing mainly in the alveoli (51-64%) followed by head airways (27-41%) and trachea bronchi (7-10%). The comparison between the results from different risk assessment tools (Stoffenmanager, ART, NanoSafer) and the actual measured exposure concentrations evidenced that all of the tools overestimated exposure concentrations, by factors of 1.5-8. Further research is necessary to bridge the current gap between measured and modelled health risk assessments

Compilation of parameterized seismogenic sources in Iberia for the SHARE European-scale seismic source model.

Abstract: SHARE (Seismic Hazard Harmonization in Europe) is an EC-funded project (FP7) that aims to evaluate European seismic hazards using an integrated, standardized approach. In the context of SHARE, we are compiling a fully-parameterized active fault database for Iberia and the nearby offshore region. The principal goal of this initiative is for fault sources in the Iberian region to be represented in SHARE and incorporated into the source model that will be used to produce seismic hazard maps at the European scale. The SHARE project relies heavily on input from many regional experts throughout the Euro-Mediterranean region. At the SHARE regional meeting for Iberia, the 2010 Working Group on Iberian Seismogenic Sources (WGISS) was established; these researchers are contributing to this large effort by providing their data to the Iberian regional integrators in a standardized format. The development of the SHARE Iberian active fault database is occurring in parallel with IBERFAULT, another ongoing effort to compile a database of active faults in the Iberian region. The SHARE Iberian active fault database synthesizes a wide range of geological and geophysical observations on active seismogenic sources, and incorporates existing compilations (e.g., Cabral, 1995; Silva et al., 2008), original data contributed directly from researchers, data compiled from the literature, parameters estimated using empirical and analytical relationships, and, where necessary, parameters derived using expert judgment. The Iberian seismogenic source model derived for SHARE will be the first regional-scale source model for Iberia that includes fault data and follows an internationally standardized approach (Basili et al., 2008; 2009). This model can be used in both seismic hazard and risk analyses and will be appropriate for use in Iberian- and European-scale assessments

Probiotic yogurt with brazilian red propolis: physicochemical and bioactive properties, stability, and shelf life

This study aimed to evaluate the quality parameters in probiotic yogurt produced with Brazilian red propolis to replace potassium sorbate used in conventional yogurt (CY). Microbiological stability and shelf life, physicochemical properties (pH, acidity, chemical composition, and fatty acids), and bioactive properties (phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity) were evaluated. The addition of red propolis (0.05%) to replace the potassium sorbate did not change the pH, acidity, fatty acid profile, chemical composition, or shelf life. Microbiological stability of at least 28 days was achieved, while a drastic reduction in the lactic acid bacteria content was observed in the CY during refrigeration storage. Phenolic total contents were higher than those of the control, and consequently, yogurt with red propolis showed higher antioxidant activity.We thank the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Brazilian government, for scholarship support (Finance Code 001), the Dr Cátia Ionara Santos Lucas (INSECTA laboratory, UFRB, Cruz das Almas, Brazil), and the technical team of the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança laboratory (Bragança, Portugal) for their support during the research.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The limbic brain under stress: a role for the LPA1 receptor

Adverse events can impact brain structure and function and are considered primary sources of risk for depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric disorders. In this sense, the neurobiological circuitry in charge of dealing with stressors has been widely studied in animal models. Our group has demonstrated a role for lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) through the LPA1-receptor in controlling anxious and depressive states, owing to aggravation of the detrimental consequences of stress in the brain. Indeed, our group has recently proposed the variant maLPA1-null mice, i.e. mice lacking the LPA1 receptor, as an endophenotype for anxious depression. In addition, we have previously reported hyperactivation of key stress-related brain areas after stress, such as basolateral amygdala. Here, we seek to further examine the engagement of the LPA1 receptor in the regulation of the limbic circuit following an acute stressor, tail suspension test, in wildtype and knockout animals. To that end, c-Fos expression was evaluated as a measure of functional activity in both basal and stress conditions, followed by interregional correlation matrices to establish the brain map of functional activation. Additionally, we observed whether one single dose of the antidepressant treatment with desipramine is able to normalize the functional brain map. Results revealed that the absence of the LPA1 receptor induce an anomalous pattern of brain functional activity after TST, which was reverted by desipramine administration.These results provide further insight to the involvement of the LPA1 receptor in stress regulation and shed light on divergent brain pathways under normal and vulnerability conditions that can be implicated in depressive symptoms. Finally, how this pattern might be reverted by antidepressant treatment can be useful for developing new pharmaceutical targets regarding the LPA1 receptor.Funding: Andalusian Ministry of Economy, Innovation, Science and Employment (SEJ1863 to C.P) and of Health (Nicolas Monardes programme, to G.E-T); the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (PSI2013-44901-P to L.J.S. and C.P.). Author R.D. M-F holds a Grant of the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports (FPU14/01610). Author S.T. holds a Grant of the Andalusian Ministry of Economy, Innovation, Science and Employment (FPDI 2014). I Plan Propio de Investigación y Transferencia, Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia. Andalucía Tech