Reusable plastic crates (RPCs) for fresh produce (case study on cauliflowers): Sustainable packaging but potential salmonella survival and risk of cross-contamination

The handling of fresh fruits and vegetables in reusable plastic crates (RPCs) has the potential to increase the sustainability of packaging in the fresh produce supply chain. However, the utilization of multiple-use containers can have consequences related to the microbial safety of this type of food. The present study assessed the potential cross-contamination of fresh cauliflowers with Salmonella enterica via different contact materials (polypropylene from RPCs, corrugated cardboard, and medium-density fiberboard (MDF) from wooden boxes). Additionally, the survival of the pathogenic microorganism was studied in cauliflowers and the contact materials during storage. The life cycle assessment (LCA) approach was used to evaluate the environmental impact of produce handling containers made from the different food-contact materials tested. The results show a higher risk of cross-contamination via polypropylene compared with cardboard and MDF. Another outcome of the study is the potential of Salmonella for surviving both in cross-contaminated produce and in contact materials under supply chain conditions. Regarding environmental sustainability, RPCs have a lower environmental impact than single-use containers (cardboard and wooden boxes). To exploit the potential environmental benefits of RPCs while ensuring food safety, it is necessary to guarantee the hygiene of this type of container.his research was funded by the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional/Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación-Agencia Estatal de Investigación (FEDER/MICINN-AEI), project RTI2018- 099139-B-C21. Laura Rasines is grateful for the financial support from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación through the “Ayudas para contratos predoctorales para la formación de doctors 2019” Program [PRE2019-090573]

Optimizing the environmental sustainability of alternative post-harvest scenarios for fresh vegetables: A case study in Spain

The aim of this research is to define different scenarios that optimize the environmental sustainability of the postharvest stage of vegetable products (cauliflower and brassicas mix). These scenarios considered different packaging materials; energy generation technologies for the processing plant (standard electricity mix vs. renewable options); organic waste management (composting, anaerobic digestion, and animal feeding); and refrigerated transportation (local, national, and international, using diesel, natural gas, and hybrid trucks and railway). The analysis has been carried out based on a foreground inventory provided by a company that operating internationally, in accordance with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14,040 methodological framework and following the latest Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) protocols. The analysis describes four midpoint categories, single score (SS) using EF3.0 life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) methodology and the Cumulative Energy Demand. The carbon footprint (CF) of the post-harvest stage for a base case scenario ranged between 0.24 and 0.29 kg CO2 eq/kg of vegetable, with a strong contribution associated to the production of packaging materials (57.8–65.2 %) and the transport stage (national range in conventional diesel vehicles) (31.5–38.0 %). Comparatively, lower emissions were associated with the energy consumed at the processing factory (up to 4.1%) while the composting of organic waste management produced some impact savings (up to−3.5 %). Although certain differences were observed, the dominance of the transport stage and the packaging materials is sustained in all the other environmental impact and energy categories evaluated. The most effective measures to reduce the environmental footprint of the post-harvest stage involve: i) using reusable packaging materials; ii) reducing the transport range and using vehicles running on natural gas or hybrid technologies; iii) the incorporation of renewable energy to supply the factory; and iv) the utilization of the organic residues in higher value applications such as animal feeding. Implementing the measures proposed in this study would reduce the post-harvest CF of fresh vegetables by 90 %.This research was funded by RTI2018-099139-B-C21 from Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation - National Research Agency (MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033) and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”, of the “European Union”. Laura Rasines acknowledges financial support for PRE 2019-090573 grant by MCIN/AEI and by “ESF Investing in your future”

Environmental LCA and carbon footprint of cauliflower as produced in Southeast Spain

Southern Spain has an optimal climate for growing fruits and vegetables. Over 39,534 ha are currently dedicated to the production of cauliflower and broccoli in Spain, 33% of which correspond to the Region of Murcia. This type of intensive agriculture causes environmental impacts which must be quantified and minimized as much as possible. This study details the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of cauliflower production with a cradle-to-farm-gate approach using precise and updated primary data from local producers. Foreground inventory data was collected for the nursery and on-field stages, including energy use, consumption, application and diffusion of fertilizers and pesticides, machinery and transport to the packaging center. Ecoinvent v3.6 datasets were adapted to the characteristics of the system for background inventory and the EF 3.0 method was used for evaluation. The carbon footprint of 1 kg of cauliflower was estimated at 91.2 g CO2eq. Impact values for the same functional unit in other categories were as follows: Photochemical ozone formation 3.33E-04 kg NMVOC eq., Acidification 3.41E-04 mol H+ eq., Freshwater eutrophication 2.27E-05 kg P eq. The mitigation practices in cauliflower production should focus on energy use during irrigation and reduced use of pesticides.This research was funded by the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional/Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación-Agencia Estatal de Investigación (FEDER/MICINN-AEI), project RTI2018-099139-B-C21 (Karp0-LIFE). Laura Rasines acknowledges financial support from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación through the “Ayudas para contratos predoctorales para la formación de doctores 2019” Program [PRE2019-090573]

Sustainability and energy analysis of the lettuce post-harvest stage by Integration of PV

Nowadays, the food sector is improving its energy consumption to achieve a more sustainable industry, and also in economic and environmental terms. Aiming to mitigate global warming and fossil fuel dependence, it is necessary to determine the carbon footprint to assess the main impacts of a typical food production system. Among the different solutions, Life Cycle Assessment is a suitable method to evaluate the environmental impact throughout the entire supply chain. Under that framework, this paper aims to compare the environmental impact of energy consumption in lettuce post-harvest activities using two energy scenarios: current Spanish mix power generation, and sustainable Spanish mix generation by optimizing self-consumption PV power plants and using gate-togate LCA. The global warming potential for years and Cumulative Energy Demand are also determined. As a result, we obtained 25.8 gCO2eq and 479.3 kJ/kg; and 17.8 gCO2eq and 398.5 kJ/kg, respectively, for both Spanish generation mix scenarios. Refrigeration energy consumption is the most demanding stage, entailing major emission contributions. PV installations can minimize said impact by 32 % in both impact categories. Further investigation should address the analysis of implementing renewable energy sources in other fresh vegetable supply chain stages, creating a more sustainable food industry.This research was funded by Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional/Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación-Agencia Estatal de Investigación (FEDER/MICINN-AEI), project RTI2018-099139-B-C21 (Karp0-LIFE). Laura Rasines acknowledges financial support from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación through “Ayudas para contratos predoctorales para la formación de doctores 2019” Program [PRE2019-090573]

Huella de carbono del transporte refrigerado

El 27 % de la Huella de Carbono (HC) europea es ocasionada por el transporte, principalmente por el transporte por carretera. A nivel mundial existen unos 4 millones de vehículos refrigerados, necesarios para el transporte hortofrutícola. El objetivo de este trabajo fue calcular la HC del transporte refrigerado mediante la metodología de Análisis de Ciclo de Vida. La HC obtenida para un camión (16-32 ton), refrigerado con 134a, propulsado con diésel para una distribución internacional (2122 km) fue de 388,5 kg CO2eq/tonelada de lechuga envasada, siendo la etapa de funcionamiento del vehículo durante el transporte la que más contribuyó, seguido de la producción y distribución del combustible. La refrigeración sólo representó el 3,7 % de la HC total del vehículo diésel, las emisiones de CO 2eq en esta etapa residieron principalmente en el consumo de diésel necesario para la producción de frío del sistema de refrigeración. Al reemplazar este vehículo por un híbrido (diésel-eléctrico), la HC fue de 196,62 kg CO2eq/FU, reduciéndose en un 49,4 %. El transporte multimodal, tren combinado con vehículo diésel, obtuvo una HC de 208,34 kg CO2eq/FU, obteniendo una reducción del 46,4 % en comparación con el vehículo diésel. En ambos casos se redujeron de forma significativa las emisiones exhaustivas debidas a la combustión del combustible.Esta investigación ha sido financiada por el Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional/Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación-Agencia Estatal de Investigación (FEDER/MICINN-AEI), proyecto RTI2018-099139-B-C21 (Karp0-LIFE). Laura Rasines agradece el apoyo financiero del Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación a través del Programa “Ayudas para contratos predoctorales para la formación de doctores 2019” [PRE2019-090573]

Changes in Circulating Lysyl Oxidase-Like-2 (LOXL2) Levels, HOMA, and Fibrosis after Sustained Virological Response by Direct Antiviral Therapy

Background: we aimed to assess the influence of metabolic syndrome on fibrosis regression (using liver-stiffness measurement (LSM) and serological scores) and the relationship with the expression of lysyl oxidase-like-2 as a potential goal of antifibrotic therapy. Methods: We included 271 patients treated with Direct Antiviral Therapy (DAAs) in our hospital who achieved a sustained virological response (SVR); physical examination, blood tests, and LSM were made at baseline (B) and 24 months (24 M) after SVR. Hemodynamic studies and transjugular liver biopsies were performed on 13 patients. Results: At B, 68 patients were F1 (25.1%); F2 n = 59 (21.7%); F3 n = 44 (16.05%); and 100 were F4 (36.9%). Although the LSM (absolute value) improved in 82% of patients (n = 222), it progressed in 17.5% of patients (n = 48). At 24 M, 48 patients met the metabolic syndrome (MetS) criteria and there was an increase in patients with a BMI of >25 kg/m2 (p 25 kg/m2 is a risk factor for significant fibrosis or steatosis at 24 M (p 9 kPa vs. <9 kPa (p = 0.046). Conclusion: Regression of LSM was reached in 82% of patients. Downregulated LOXL2 was demonstrated post-SVR, with overexpression in cirrhotic patients being a potential therapy goal in selected patients.Funding: This study was supported by the Health Research Institute Marqués de Valdecilla. IDIVAL. Santander. NEXT VAL15/12 grant to Dra Angela Puente Sanchez: Regresión de la fibrosis hepática tras erradicación del virus de la hepatitis C. Papel de la LOXL2. Acknowledgments: This study has been supported by competitive grants from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Spanish Ministries of Health and of Economy; PIE15/00079 and PI15/02138)

Increased risk of MAFLD and liver fibrosis in inflammatory bowel disease independent of classic metabolic risk factors

ackground & Aims There is conflicting evidence regarding the prevalence of and risk factors for metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed to determine MAFLD prevalence and risk factors in IBD patients. Methods Cross-sectional, case-control study included all consecutive IBD patients treated at 2 different university hospitals. Controls were subjects randomly selected from the general population and matched by age, sex, type 2 diabetes status, and body mass index in a 1:2 ratio. MAFLD was confirmed by controlled attenuation parameter. Liver biopsies were collected when MAFLD with significant liver fibrosis was suspected. In addition, age- and fibrosis stage-paired non-IBD patients with biopsy-proven MAFLD served as a secondary control group. Results Eight hundred thirty-one IBD patients and 1718 controls were included. The prevalence of MAFLD and advanced liver fibrosis (transient elastography ≥9.7 kPa) was 42.00% and 9.50%, respectively, in IBD patients and 32.77% and 2.31%, respectively, in the general population (P < .001). A diagnosis of IBD was an independent predictor of MAFLD (adjusted odds ratio, 1.99; P < .001) and an independent risk factor for advanced liver fibrosis (adjusted odds ratio, 5.55; P < .001). Liver biopsies were obtained from 40 IBD patients; MAFLD was confirmed in all cases, and fibrosis of any degree was confirmed in 25 of 40 cases (62.5%). Body mass index and type 2 diabetes prevalence were significantly lower in IBD-MAFLD patients than in severity-paired patients with biopsy-proven MAFLD. Conclusions MAFLD and liver fibrosis are particularly prevalent in IBD patients, regardless of the influence of classic metabolic risk factors.Acknowledgements: The authors report funding support from the Spanish Instituto de Salud Carlos III-FEDER Grant (FIS - PI18/01304) related to this manuscript

Study of roughness surface with speckle technique

Ingeniería técnica de Telecomunicació

Painting as a learning-service instrument of arboreal ecosystems in Avd. Complutense

Catálogo de la exposición del proyecto: https://eprints.ucm.es/63497/1/AEDES%20ARBORIBUS%20ECOSYSTEN%20UCM.pdf Vídeo de difusión del la exposición: https://youtu.be/AZ-kXaU9WgQEl proyecto de innovación se ha basado en el uso del lenguaje de la pintura como herramienta fundamental en el conocimiento del ecosistema arbóreo de la Avd. Complutense a través de la metodología servicio-aprendizaje. El grupo de trabajo de 7 asignaturas del Grado de Bellas Artes UCM, se ha centrado en la difusión del patrimonio natural y medioambiental a través de la pintura de paisaje, así como en la edición de un catálogo virtual de representaciones pintadas de los árboles más singulares de dicho territorio.The innovation project has been based on the use of the language of painting as a fundamental tool in the knowledge of the arboreal ecosystem of Avd. Complutense through the service-learning methodology. The working group from 7 subjects of the Bachelor of Fine Arts UCM, has focused on disseminating the natural and environmental heritage through landscape painting, as well as the edition of a virtual catalog of painted representations of the most unique trees of said territory.Depto. de Pintura y Conservación-RestauraciónFac. de Bellas ArtesFALSEUniversidad Complutensesubmitte