Binomial effects of high isostatic pressure and time on the microbiological, sensory characteristics and lipid composition stability of vacuum packed dry fermented sausages “chouriço”

The effect of high pressure processing (HPP), at different combinations of pressure and time, on dry fermented sausages (DFS)was evaluated by chemical, microbiological and sensory analyses. Lipid composition and stability were also assessed. HPP (N400MPa and longer than 154 s) produced a reduction in spoilage microbiota,without negative effect on fermentative microbiota, that will be able to continue their role. Total fatty acids and lipid stability were not affected. Only a small effect on fatty acid (FA) composition was observed. Nutritional value of the lipid fraction was only affected by the ratio n−6/n−3 FA. Treatments at 400MPa for 154 s or 960 s resulted in DFS being detected as different from control by sensory analysis. Those differences did not depreciate the product; on the contrary it seems to improve the bright aspect of the whole sausage, the cohesion and firmness and the correctly dried aspect of slices. Industrial relevance: Dry fermented meat sausages are very popular ready-to-eat meat based products. This study assesses the effects of HPP on this much appreciated traditional products. The results showed that HPP can be successfully applied to theseMediterranean fermented products without losses of sensory and nutritional characteristics. The modelling and optimization of the HPP process applied on dry fermented sausages demonstrated in this study are an advantage to industry efficiency. The utilisation of HPP by the industry can significantly increase dry fermented meat sausage shelf life and safety, providing it an opportunity to reach the global market

Landslides risk evaluation: proposal of a methodology

Este trabalho apresenta uma abordagem metodológica simples para a avaliação e cartografia de zonas susceptíveis à ocorrência de movimentos de massa. Assume-se assim como um contributo para o ordenamento do território, nomeadamente, ao nível do planeamento urbanístico e rodoviário, na medida em que gera instrumentos que podem evitar, ou pelo menos minorar, a ocorrência de acidentes com danos materiais e humanos.This work aims to present a simple methodological approach for the assessment and mapping of areas susceptible to the occurrence of landslides. Thus, it represents a contribution to land management, in particular regarding urban and road planning, in that it generates management tools appropriate to avoid or mitigate the occurrence of accidents with material and human damage.(undefined

Characterization and Technological Features of Autochthonous Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci as Potential Starters for Portuguese Dry Fermented Sausages

The manufacture of dry fermented sausages is an important part of the meat industry in Southern Europeancountries. These products are usually produced in small shops from a mixture of pork, fat, salt, and condiments andare stuffed into natural casings. Meat sausages are slowly cured through spontaneous fermentation by autochthonousmicrobiota present in the raw materials or introduced during manufacturing. The aim of this work was to evaluate thetechnological and safety features of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) isolated from Portuguese dry fermented meatsausages in order to select autochthonous starters. Isolates (n = 104) obtained from 2 small manufacturers were identifiedas Staphylococcus xylosus, Staphylococcus equorum, Staphylococcus saprophyticus,andStaphylococcus carnosus. Genomically diverseisolates (n = 82) were selected for further analysis to determine the ability to produce enzymes (for example, nitrate-reductases, proteases, lipases) and antibiotic susceptibility. Autochthonous CNS producing a wide range of enzymes andshowing low antibioresistance were selected as potential starters for future use in the production of dry fermented meatsausages

Natural remediation of mine waste-dumps: mapping the evolution of vegetation cover in distinctive geochemical environments

Abandoned mine waste-dumps are focus of environmental impact, especially when there are reactive minerals, such as sulfides. From their oxidation results long lasting typical impacts, especially acid mine drainage (AMD)and contamination of soil. Natural attenuation is often relevant and sometimes is enough to promote remediation. However, in the presence of abundant sulfide-rich wastes, technical intervention is generally necessary. In this context, phytoremediation has been considered appropriate, since it is a cost-effective strategy, which is a crucial expectation for abandoned mines. The present work is focused on remediation promoted by natural vegetation of distinctive mine waste-dumps. They were analyzed with the following objectives: i) mapping cover vegetation and monitoring the success of environmental rehabilitation; ii) study the influence of geochemical and mineralogical parameters in natural colonization; iii) estimate the value of local flora for phytoremediation.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Water supply and access to safe water in developing arid countries

The supply of drinking water is one of the major concerns in semi-arid and arid climates, mainly in developing countries. The present study reviews the situation of the water supply in a West African coast country, the archipelago of Cape Verde, with focus on the most populous island (Santiago), regarding the rate of public coverage and the water quality. As main insights, the research indicates that at Santiago Island only 54% of the population has con- nection to the public network, while 24% uses wells, springs and other potentially non-potable sources. The region of São Domingos is one of the most critical, with only 6.5% of public supply, justifying the assessment of the water quality used by this population. With regard to water quality, the results of this study indicate that natural and anthropic factors are contributing to degradation of the water resources, with salinity, chloride, nitrates, and nitrites as major concerning pollutants. The insufficiency of the public supply in this island could be a reflection of the situation in other arid re- gions of Africa. Though the recent advances it is vital to continue or even increase with the interna- tional cooperation to provide for adequate water supply infrastructures.Nemias Moniz Goncalves avails to acknowledge Gulbenkian Scholarship Service from FCG (CALOUSTE GULBENKIAN FOUNDATION), for the granted individual scholarship, under the program of Postgraduate Scholarships for students of PALOP and East Timor - Stimulating research and professional appreciation, process Nº. 139758. The FCG has been an indispensable support in carrying out all academic activities. This work was also supported by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund, based on COMPETE 2020 (Programa Operacional da Competitividade e Internacionalização) - project ICT (UID/GEO/04683/2013) with reference POCI-01-0145-FEDER-00769

Water quality in the Municipality of São Domingos (Santiago island, Cape Verde)

O presente estudo tem como objetivo avaliar a qualidade da água e potencialidades de uso no concelho de São Domingos, na ilha de Santiago (Cabo Verde). Os resultados obtidos mostram, o carácter mineralizado destas águas, com valor médio de condutividade elétrica de 1361 µS/cm. A classificação hidroquímica, de acordo com o diagrama de Piper, conduziu à discriminação dos seguintes tipos: águas mistas (bicarbonatadas, cloretadas) e mistas sódicas (cloretadas e bicarbonatadas). Considerando o que está estabelecido na legislação Cabo-verdiana e Portuguesa relativamente à qualidade da água, verificouse que apenas 36 % das amostras têm qualidade suficiente para consumo humano. No que respeita à utilização da água para rega, cerca de 68 % das amostras apresentam evidências de risco de salinização alto a muito alto.This research aims the evaluation of water quality and potential uses at São Domingos municipality, at Santiago Island (Cape Verde). The results show the mineralized nature of these waters, with an average electrical conductivity of 1361 μS/cm. The hydrochemical classification, according to the Piper diagram, led to the following types: mixed (bicarbonate and chloride) and mixed with sodium (chloride and bicarbonate). Considering what is established for water quality in the Cape Verde and Portuguese legislation, only 36 % of the water samples are able for human consumption. Regarding irrigation use, approximately 68 % of the samples present high-to-very-high salinization risk.(undefined)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Effect of high hydrostatic pressure challenge on biogenic amines, microbiota, and sensory profile in traditional poultry- and pork-based semidried fermented sausage

Research Areas: Food Science & TechnologyThe processing of traditional poultry- and pork-based semidried fermented smoked sausages needs to bemodernized to improve product quality and further extend its shelf life. The aim of the present study was to applydifferent combinations of high pressure (300 to 600 MPa) and time (154 to 1,800 s) on the sausages using an experimentaldesign based on response surface methodology. The chemical, microbial, and sensory characteristics of sausages treatedwith high-pressure processing (HPP) were investigated. HPP application to semidried fermented sausages resulted incolor changes, which could be dependent on the ingredients, formulation, and smoking conditions used. Nevertheless,none of the HPP treatments applied resulted in detectable changes in sensory properties, as tested in a triangle test andconfirmed by the analysis of focus groups assessment. Significant differences were detected for lactic acid bacteria (LAB)counts from 344 MPa and 1,530 s onward, with a marked decrease for the combination of 600 MPa and 960 s (P<0.05).Coagulase-negativestaphylococcishowed higher tolerance to the increase in pressure than LAB. HPP induced a microbialreduction onEnterobacteriaceae, molds, and yeasts, minimizing the production of the main biogenic amines. However,the polyamines (spermine and spermidine) increased since their metabolic use by microorganisms did not occur. Giventhe reduction of the main spoilage microbial indicators with no detectable sensory changes observed with the binomialcondition of 600 MPa and 960 s, this was chosen as the optimal combination to be further applied.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Rare earth elements - Source and evolution in an aquatic system dominated by mine-Influenced waters

Acid mine drainage (AMD), formed by the instability of sulfides, typically generates acidity and releases potentially toxic elements and sulfate to the environment, among other pollutants. An example is the group of rare earth elements (REE) that may have high toxic behavior. This toxicity leads to degradation of soils, water reservoirs and rivers, promoting serious risks for the ecosystems. So, the main goal of the present work is to study the hydrochemical properties of a system with mine-influenced waters during the rainy season, focusing on the origin, evolution/behavior, and concentration of REE. The study area is the São Domingos mining complex, located in one of the largest metallogenetic provinces in the world (Iberian Pyrite Belt), known by the evidences of AMD contamination. The obtained results reveal extraordinarily low pH (0.4), high electrical conductivity, reaching 26,200 μS/cm, and high values of sulfate and acidity. Regarding the REE, the determined concentration exceeded that observed in normal pH of neutral freshwaters by 2-3 times the order of magnitude. The results revealed that Y and Ce are distinguished in practically all sampled sites, due to its higher concentrations, with maximum values of 221.8 and 166.9 μg/L. In general, the concentrations increase as the water pH decreases. The statistical analysis indicates that REE elements may have a common origin, mutual dependence, and similar behavior during transport with typical AMD elements and composition of host rocks. Most samples show enrichment in middle REE (MREE) (Gdn/Lun), like the classic signature of AMD. In turn, colloids and AMD-precipitates may be participating in the incorporation of these elements. Therefore, due to potential risk of impacts on ecosystems, REE are a topic of relevant interest for future studies in order to assist monitoring processes and help government decisions related to water quality management.Patricia Gomes acknowledges FCT (Science and Technology Foundation, Portugal) by the research fellowship under the POCH (Programa Operacional Capital Humano) supported by the European Social Fund and National Funds of MCTES (Ministerio da Ciencia, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior) with reference SFRH/BD/108887/2015. This work was co-funded by FCT through projects UIDB/04683/2020, UIDP/04683/2020 and Nano-MINENV 029259 (PTDC/CTAAMB/29259/2017) . The authors are grateful to the anonymous reviewers for their valuable contributions to improving the manuscript

Thorium and Uranium distribution in a passive system for mine water treatment

The abandoned Jales mining area is a sulphide-rich deposit (Northeast of Portugal). Acid mine drainage resulted from oxidation of sulphides is treated in a passive system with wetlands. The present work studies the thorium and uranium behaviour in the water and in the fine fractions of wetland soils throughout the passive treatment system. The evaluation of the efficiency of the all system was done determining metals concentration variation in the creek water upstream and downstream of the treated effluent discharge. The results point to higher efficiency to retain Th after summer than after winter. The opposite was found for uranium, which increases significantly in the creek water after summer and, in a lower extent, after winter. Also, Th and U have a tendency to increase in the fine fractions of the wetlands soils after summer, which can be explained by the longer water-soil contact/lower water dynamics. Nevertheless uranium has a much higher tendency to be in solution as revealed by a high concentration in the porewater of wetland soils. A relation of these actinides behaviour with the Fe and Mn distribution is not clear.- Thanks are given to EDM, S.A. for providing access to the water treatment plant, FCT (Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation, UID/Multi/04349/2013, and COMPETE 2020 (Programa Operacional da Competitividade e Internacionalizacao), project ICT (UID/GEO/04683/2013) with reference POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007690 and project Nano-MINENV number 029259