Effect of ultrasonication on microbial quality, colour and ascorbic acid of passion-fruit juice during storage

Passion fruit juice (PFJ) has a delicate flavour very susceptible to thermal degradation. This study pursued to test the effect of sonication as non-thermal preservation method on some quality parameters of PFJ. The effect of ultrasound (20 kHz, 263 W, 89.25 µm) on the indigenous microflora, colour and ascorbic acid content of PFJ was studied. Firstly, the kinetic of microbial inactivation was determined for aerobic mesophilic counts and yeasts counts. Data was fitted to Weibull model, and a treatment time of 8 min was selected for stability studies. To this, untreated and sonicated juice was stored at 4 and 10 ºC up to 10 days and microbial quality, instrumental colour, pH and ascorbic acid content were evaluated. In general, ultrasound kept juice microbiologically stable for up to 10 days at 4 ºC without markedly affecting other parameters evaluated. Ultrasound seems suitable to stabilize microbiologically PFJ.Ciencias de la Alimentació

Modelling hydrological connectivity in burned areas. A case study from South of Spain

Overland flow connectivity depends on the spatio-temporal interactions of hydrological and geomorphic processes as well as on the human footprint on the landscape. This study deals with the modelling of hydrological connectivity in a burned area with different levels of fire severity. Namely, the objectives are to: i) characterize and ii) modelling the pre- (PreF) and post-fire (PostF) scenarios, as well as iii) evaluate the effect of the vegetation changes due to the fire and the initial post-fire management practices (construction of new skid trails and check-dams) on the magnitude and spatial pattern of connectivity. Four post-fire scenarios are simulated: immediately after the fire (PostF1), with new skids and without check-dams (PostF2), with new skids and check-dams and without vegetation recovery (PostF3), and with new skids and check-dams and incipient vegetation cover (PostF4). The study area corresponds to eleven headwater sub-catchments (total area of 329 ha) that cover the entire burned area of the mountain in the West and Southwest facing hillslopes (ca. 200 ha). This site is located in the province of Malaga, South of Spain, and all sub-catchments are disconnected between them. The fire started in 2014, 27 June and lasted two days. The landscape is mainly mountainous, with very steep slopes and marble rocks, Mediterranean climate, and a land use of shrubs and pine forests (pre-fire scenario). Settlements appear at the bottom of the slopes. After the wildfire, land management were carried out in order to remove completely the burned trees and thus new skid trails were built. Then, eleven concrete check-dams and twelve wooded check-dams were built in the main gullies. The different scenarios of linear landscape elements, vegetation cover and modifications on the topography related to the construction of new trails and check-dams were included in the simulations. The IC index of hydrological connectivity was chosen to perform this metric at a spatial resolution of 5 x 5 meters. The analysis of the different spatial patterns and temporal changes was done considering the different levels of fire severity and changes on hydrological connectivity were also analysed at the outlet of each sub-catchment.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Fruit characterization of high oil content avocado varieties

To expand the data bank on avocado (Persea americana Mill.) varieties all over the world, and to select good varieties for commercial or improving purposes, a partial fruit characterization of 13 high oil content (11.23-18.80%) was performed. The chosen varieties are growing in a Venezuelan germplasm bank: Fuerte, Peruano, Lula, Ortega, Red Collinson, Alcemio, Araira 1, Pope, Ettinger, Gripiña 5, Barker, Duke, and Ryan. They were characterized for pulp oil and moisture; weight (whole fruit, seed, pulp and peel); length, width and fruit shape; peel characteristics (roughness, color and hand peeling); and ripeness time. The variety Ryan showed the highest oil content (18.80%) and calorific value (191 Kcal/100 g wet flesh). Avocado varieties grown in Venezuela have generally less oil content and are generally lighter than those from other countries. Most of the varieties had low pulp proportion, and were pyriform, with rough green peel and difficult to hand peel. Red Collinson had an uncommon reddish peel. The ripening time was between 4 and 10 days after harvest.O teor de óleo de abacates (Persea americana Mill.)é uma característica importante para seu consumo in natura e para a indústria. Treze variedades de abacate de alto teor de óleo (11,23-18,80%) de um pomar venezuelano: Fuerte, Peruano, Lula Ortega, Red Collison, Alcemio, Araira 1, Pope, Ettinger, Gripiña 5, Barker, Duke e Ryan, foram caracterizados pelo teor de óleo da polpa e umidade; peso (fruto inteiro, semente, polpa e casca); comprimento, largura e forma; características da casca (rugosidade, cor e soltura); e tempo de maturação. A variedade Ryan mostrou os maiores teor de óleo (18,80%) e valor calórico (191 kcal/100 g de peso fresco). As variedades venezuelanas têm, em geral, teor mais baixo de gordura e proporção de polpa, e são em geral mais leves que aquelas de outros países. A maioria das variedades é periforme, com casca verde áspera e difíceis de serem descascadas manualmente. A variedade Red Collison tem uma cor avermelhada incomum. A maturação esteve entre 4 e 10 dias após a colheita

Pulsed light inactivation of mushroom polyphenol oxidase: a fluorometric and spectrophotometric study

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) is one of the most important food enzymes, it is responsible for the browning of many foods. Pulsed light (PL) is a non-thermal method of food preservation that is able to inactivate PPO. The aim of this work was to gain insight into the mechanism of PPO inactivation by PL. To this, the kinetics of PPO inactivation by PL was measured, together with associated changes in tryptophan fluorescence, KI fluorescence quenching and turbidity; and results were analysed by parameter A and phase diagram methods. Enzyme inactivation followed the Weibull model. Tryptophan fluorescence decreased during PL treatment, as well as the parameter A, while Stern-Volmer constants increased and turbidity was constant. The phase diagram showed only two populated states. There was a high correlation between the loss of activity and parameter A. Results indicate that under the experimental conditions, the inactivation of PPO by PL is an all-or-none process where the enzyme progressively unfolds with no evidence of aggregation.Fundación Universitaria San Antonio de CartagenaCiencias de la Alimentació

Effect of DEM resolution on simulated hydrological connectivity in a Mediterranean agro-ecosystem with different crops

1 .pdf file, copy of the original Poster.- 1 .pdf file, copy of the detailed abstract into the official Book Abstracts of the Meeting.We did not find any publication dealingwiththe effect of DEMresolution on the magnitude and spatial patterns of simulated HC inwoody crops (vineyard, olive, etc.). We seek to prove that connectivity thresholds and even the simulated functional HC, related to different hydrological processes, depends on the DEM resolution.This research was funded by the project “ Environmental and economic impact of soil loss (soil erosion footprint) in agro-ecosystems of the Ebro river basin: numerical modelling and scenario analysis (EuroCostModel) (CGL2014-54877- JOIN)” of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness.Peer reviewe

A new distributed rainfall-runoff (DR2) model based on soil saturation and runoff cumulative processes

One important issue in agricultural management and hydrological research is the assessment of water stored during a rainfall event. In this study, a new GIS-based rainfall-runoff model is presented to estimate soil moisture status (SMS) for each month of the year after an average rainfall event with maximum intensity. The new model computes the volume of actual available water (Waa) downwards from divides, taking into account the different configurations of the upslope contributing area, infiltration processes and climatic parameters. Results show that the spatial distribution of the different soil types is the main controlling factor in the initiation of runoff and, to a lesser extent, the antecedent topsoil moisture and the volumetric water content of the soil at saturation. Monthly Waa and SMS maps and Palmer Z-indexes present similar spatial patterns, although the values and the extension of the different dry and wet categories varied considerably. Predominant wet conditions occurred in May, September, October, November and December and dry conditions appeared in February, March and July. The wettest conditions took place in gently sloping areas, according to the topographic wetness index. Maps based on Palmer Z-indexes match very closely the SMS patterns predicted by the DR2 model from January to September, but the similarity was poor from October to December. Spatial predictions with the new model identify the different sub-categories of soil wetness for each soil type in greater detail. The DR2 model seems to be of interest to monitor humidity variations and trends in time and space and to provide valuable information for sustainable soil and water resource management.This research was financially supported by the projects MEDEROCAR (CGL2008-00831/BTE) and EROMED (CGL2011-25486/BTE) funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. Dr. Manuel López-Vicente would also like to acknowledge the financial support of the Spanish Alfonso Martín Escudero Foundation for his postdoctoral stay during 2010 at K.U. Leuven, Belgium.Peer reviewe

Effect of LIDAR- and photogrammetry-derived DEM resolution on simulated hydrological features in contrasted agricultural systems (NE Spain)

1 .pdf file with the detailed abstract from the JGU Book Abstracts.- 1 .pdf copy of the front page of the oral presentation of the authors.The raster digital elevation model (DEM) resolution has influence on simulating hydrological features (stream characterization and morphology, watershed delineation and size, flow accumulation threshold values). The extra detail (higher quality) inherent in very high terrestrial data has benefits to analyse hydrological simulations. The trunks of the woody crops (vineyard, almond, olive, orange, coffee, tea and other fruit groves) and the plantation disposition act as permanent features in the land controlling the overland flow patterns. The scale-dependent information is necessary to utilise many scientific theories and provides hypotheses to be tested using large scale experimentation. The current advancements in computing facilities allow handle large data sets and model hydrological processes at catchment scale and using small grid cell sizes. However, we did not find any study dealing with the effect of DEM resolution on the magnitude and patterns of simulated hydrological features in woody crops. In this study, we evaluate the effect of coarse (5x5 m), high (0.5 to 1 m) and very high (0.10 m and lower) spatial resolution DEMs on simulating hydrological features and connectivity (HC) in two contrasted agricultural systems.This research was funded by the Spanish project “EroCostModel” (Ref. CGL2014-54877-JIN).Peer reviewe

Catchment based hydrology under post farmland abandonment scenarios

[Abstract:] Vegetation expansion following farmland abandonment is a complex process that depends on multiple natural and human-induced factors, resulting in differences in the evolution of land cover on former cultivated fields, with various environmental implications. To assess the complexity of the hydrogeomorphological consequences of farmland abandonment, the Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología (CSIC) and the University of La Rioja monitored three small catchments, representative of different post land abandonment scenarios, in the Pyrenees and Iberian Range respectively. In the Pyrenees, a fourth small catchment, covered by natural forest, was monitored as a reference for an undisturbed environment. This study describes the evolution of land use in the abandoned catchments and examines its implications on catchment hydrological connectivity. It also analyses the hydrological responses of the three abandoned scenarios to similar rainfall events, and compares them to that of natural forested areas. .Vegetation tended to increase in the three catchments, but there were important differences in the characteristics of the current land cover. Arnás, the catchment left to a process of natural revegetation, contained a mosaic of shrubs (64%) and forest (27%) at different stages of succession, largely conditioned by the topography and soil properties. Araguás_afforestation was extensively afforested in the 1960s, with 75% of this catchment currently covered by forest, most of it planted artificially. In Munilla, occupied by terraced fields, vegetation recovery was partly restrained by the introduction of cattle, and 80% of the catchment was covered by sparse shrubs. Land abandonment resulted in a general reduction in computed hydrological connectivity in the three studied catchments, except in localized areas close to the main channel, new forest roads and trails, and upstream of terrace wall collapses, all areas of increased hydrological connectivity. The decrease in hydrological connectivity was much lower in Munilla, characterized by an absence of dense vegetation and still dominated by a terraced topography. The hydrological responses of the catchments to similar rainfall events differed significantly, showing the influence of not only vegetation cover but of the properties of soil remaining after previous agricultural activities. Significant storm-flow discharge was observed in Arnás, even under dry conditions, with high peakflows and fast responses. Lower streamflow response was observed in Araguás_Afforestation under dry conditions; however, once the soils were wet the hydrological response was notable and was characterized by high peakflow. The response under afforested trees differed greatly from that of a catchment covered by natural forest, with the latter characterized by gentler hydrographs. The hydrological response in Munilla was the lowest, with long response times and recessions, associated with the thick soils of the terraced fields. These results demonstrated the large variability of post land abandonment scenarios and associated hydrological implications, and highlighted the need to consider these differences to reduce future uncertainties in forecasting water resources and soil conservation.This study was performed under the framework of the European COST action ES1306 “Connecteur” (Connecting European Connectivity Research) and received financial support from Project ESPAS (CGL2015-65569-R), funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and FEDER. Manuel López-Vicente and Estela Nadal- Romero were beneficiaries of “Proyecto de I+D+i para Jóvenes Investigadores” and “Ramón y Cajal” postdoctoral contracts, respectively, both from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. The authors would like to thank the municipality of Munilla who permitted and helped with the installation of field equipment. The authors also thank J. Latron, F. Gallart, P. Llorens and J. Estrany for their help with field instrumentation in the Munilla catchment.Bélxica. COST Association; ES130

Eurocentric History in Spanish Textbooks

This paper examines the presence of Eurocentric bias in mainstream Spanish textbooks used to teach history in secondary education. The research objective is to analyse how the relationships between Europe and colonised populations are presented in history textbooks. The research hypothesis is that Spanish textbooks have a Eurocentric bias, involving not questioning colonialism. To this purpose, a representative sample of six textbooks was selected, and those chapters related to imperialism, colonialism and decolonisation processes were subjected to content analysis, in three dimensions: written information, pictures and maps. The methodology involved comparing the textbooks' narratives, conveyed both through text and images, with the consensual historiography about colonisation processes. The results show the persistence of a 'Rosy Tradition' sustaining certain continuity with the old colonial propaganda, for instance minimising or ignoring colonial violence; treating colonised territories and metropolis asymmetrically, disregarding non-European history; conveying a stereotypical image of colonised and colonisers through pictures, and resorting to maps with a colonial perspective. The conclusions bring forward some proposals that could improve the teaching and learning of the history of colonialisms, in order to avoid reinforcing the Eurocentric bias already existing among secondary studentsThis article is a part of the project: Estrategias de argumentación y desarrollo de competencias básicas en la enseñanza de las Ciencias Sociales de la ESO [Argumentation strategies and development of basic skills in the teaching of Social Sciences ESO], funded by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain, code EDU2012-37909-C03-01S