Ochratoxin a in Grapes and Wine

The mycotoxin ochratoxin A is a potent nephrotoxin and a possible human carcinogen. It occurs in a variety of plant products, including wine, grape juice and dried vine fruits. Several surveys have shown that the range of ochratoxin A contents detected in wine produced in Europe varied between 0.01 and 3.4gl^–1. Both incidence and concentration of the toxin were higher in wines from southern regions and increased in the order white < rosè < red. In Italy, field trials were conducted in 1999 and 2000 to study fungi associated with grapes and their ability to produce ochratoxin. Aspergillus and/or Penicillium strains were present on grapes, starting from setting in a few vineyards. The highest level of grape colonisation was found at early veraison in 1999 and at ripening in 2000. In both years, 95% of strains belonged to the genus Aspergillus. Aspergillus niger aggregate was dominant, with about 50% of the ochratoxin-positive strains identified as A carbonarius. Other authors have confirmed the relevance of these fungi and underlined the contribution of A. carbonarius to the ochratoxin contamination of wine. This species is very invasive and colonises and penetrates berries, even without skin damage. It emerges that temperature, rain and relative humidity are the main factors that influence ochratoxin production in grapes.     

Thermal decomposition and isomerization of cis-permethrin and beta-cypermethrin in the solid phase

The stability to heart of cis-permethrin and beta-cypermethrin in the solid phase was studied and the decomposition products identified. Samples heated at 210 degrees C in an oven in the dark showed that, in the absence of potassium chlorate (the salt present in smoke-generating formulations of these pyrethroids), cis-permethrin was not isomerized, although in the presence of that salt, decomposition was greater and thermal isomerization occurred. Other salts of the type KXO3 or NaXO3, with X being halogen or nitrogen, also led to a considerable thermal isomerization. Heating the insecticides in solution in the presence of potassium chlorate did not produce isomerization in any of the solvents assayed. Salt-catalysed thermal cis-trans isomerization was also found for other pyrethroids derived from permethrinic or deltamethrinic acid but not for those derived from chrysanthemic acid. The main thermal degradation processes of cis-permethrin and beta-cypermethrin decomposition when potassium chlorate was present were cyclopropane isomerization, ester cleavage and subsequent oxidation of the resulting products. Permethrinic acid, 3-phenoxybenzyle chloride, alcohol, aldehyde and acid were identified in both cases, as well as 3-phenoxybenzyl cyanide from beta-cypermethrin. A similar decomposition pattern occurred after combustion of pyrethroid fumigant formulations.     

Thermal behaviour and biological activity of pyrethroids in smoke-generating formulations

Smoke-generating insecticide formulations are nowadays very important for the control of Chagas' disease vectors. In this work, the thermal decomposition of different pyrethroid insecticides in smoke-generating formulations has been studied. Their recovery from the smoke has been determined, and the effect on this of the addition of foaming agents such as cyanoguanidine (CNG) or azodicarbonamide (ADC), or antioxidant agents such as butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) or butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) has been assessed. In each case the best smoke-generating formulation was established. Calorimetric studies were done to justify the behaviour of the smoke-generating mixtures. The isomerization process for different pyrethroids was also studied, to establish the influence of the foaming agents in inhibiting isomerization to less active pyrethroids. Smoke-generating mixtures containing β-cypermethrin and cis-permethrin as insecticides and CNG or ADC as foaming agents were evaluated for their insecticidal activity against nymphs I of Triatoma infestans, vector of Chagas' disease. The best effect was found with β-cypermethrin formulated with ADC, with LT₅₀ values lower than 5 min. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Suppression of Food Intake in Triatoma infestans by N-Substituted Methyl Maleamates

A series of methyl esters of N-substituted (Z)- and (E)-maleamic acids were synthesized and their effect on food intake measured on fifth-instar nymphs of Triatoma infestans. Suppression of food intake was found only for the (Z)-isomers. The initial reaction rate of the synthesized compounds with glutathione (GSH) was calculated from the reaction in vitro of the (Z)-isomers. No reaction was observed with the (E)-isomers. Good correlation between the suppression of food intake, measured by its ED₅₀ (effective dose that inhibited feeding of 50% of the population) and the initial reaction rate with GSH and the hydrophobic parameter π, was found. © of SCI.     

Location matters: A spatial econometric analysis of regional resilience in the European Union

The aim of this study is to empirically examine regional resilience by assessing economic growth patterns in two distinct groups of regions across the European Union in the aftermath of the 2008 economic and financial crisis. In an effort to consider the regions as interconnected economic areas and account for spillover effects, the model incorporates complex spatial effects that consider both spatial heterogeneity and spatial dependence. The analysis follows a step‐wise approach. First, spatial heterogeneity is assessed by employing Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis, which identifies two distinct spatial regimes, a core and a periphery, based on their initial level of economic development. A Spatial Durbin Model is then employed to estimate the determinants of regional resilience and growth in both regimes, including potential spillover effects. Results indicate that while both spatial regimes experience processes of economic convergence, recent determinants of growth, as well as spillover dynamics, differ across the two. In the core regime, better institutions, higher shares of investment, and an economy specialized in higher value‐added sectors significantly spur domestic growth, with investment also inducing positive spillover effects to neighbouring regions. In the peripheral regime, low shares of lower‐secondary educational attainment and high shares of tertiary educational attainment have a significant positive effect on domestic growth, with higher shares of tertiary educational attainment also inducing positive spillover effects. Moreover, technological readiness is also identified as an important factor in the peripheral regime with positive spillover effects. Upon the bedrock of these findings, initial policy proposals are offered.     

Hydroponic horticulture using residual waters from Oreochromis niloticus aquaculture with biofloc technology in photoautotrophic conditions with Chlorella microalgae

Protein‐dependent aquaculture generates large amounts of nutrient‐rich residuals; a feasible way to develop sustainable production systems is to integrate Decoupled Aquaponic Systems (DAPS) with residual water bioprocesses, to combine Photoautotrophic Biofloc Technology (P‐BFT) aquaculture and hydroponic horticulture. This study describes the characteristics of residual water from Oreochromis niloticus aquaculture performed with P‐BFT inoculated with Chlorella microalgae, reared during the nursery (180 fish m³) and grow‐out (55 fish m³) phases. The experiment included five treatments: photoautotrophic BFT inoculated with Chlorella sp. (M), C. sorokiniana 2714 (CV), and C. sorokiniana 2805 (CS), and chemoautotrophic (Q) and heterotrophic (H) as controls. Elemental characteristics in liquid and solid residual fractions (15 macro‐ and micronutrients) were compared among treatments and against Hoagland & Arnon solution with hydroponics and used in Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) hydroponic horticulture including five plant species: lettuce (Lactuca sativa), pak‐choi (Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis), rocket (Eruca sativa), spinach (Spinacia oleracea) and basil (Ocimum basilicum). The physicochemical parameters were ideal for O. niloticus and plants. The relationship between N:P was ideal until weeks 16–22 in the photoautotrophic treatments, compared with hydroponic solutions. Micronutrient content was greater in the solid than a liquid fraction. The best BFT effluent regarding fish and plant growth was photoautotrophic treatments. Oreochromis niloticus BFT aquaculture in photoautotrophic mode using microalgae Chlorella inoculations provided residual water beneficial to hydroponic horticulture in DAPS located in coastal arid zones where freshwater is scarce, improving aquaculture performance and reusing water and nutrients.     

Evaluation of biological quality of protein concentrates from different vegetable protein sources

The quality of protein concentrates coming from conventional and non-conventional vegetable sources was evaluated. The protein quality was assessed by the multi-point assay RPV. Whole body weight gain, weight gain corrected for the gastrointestinal content (G.I.), total body nitrogen and total liver nitrogen were used as response parameters. The various protein sources ranked differently depending upon the response parameters utilized, but a great majority of the sources had a good nutritional value (over 0.5). The gastrointestinal content is one of the principal factors responsible for the differences found. However, even after correcting for the G.I. content, some differences remained. For the various protein sources, the nitrogen deposition in the liver correlates satisfactorily with the whole body nitrogen deposition, if in the calculation of the regression line, the data for faba bean and tobacco were omitted (respectivelyr=0.610 andr=0.925). On the whole, these data indicate that most plant protein concentrates in suitable combinations and properly processed, may become a promising alternative to animal proteins.