A barragem subterrânea se destaca dentre as tecnologias de armazenamento de água de chuva na região Semiárida brasileira, sendo difundida nas comunidades rurais pelo Programa P1+2. Nessa Região, as irregularidades pluviométricas comprometem a sustentabilidade agrícola, sendo este cenário agravado com as mudanças climáticas. Pesquisas nessas condições podem resultar em recomendações de manejo sustentáveis para as diferentes disponibilidades hídricas. Além disso, o uso de práticas agroecológicas integradas à tecnologias de captação e armazenamento de água de chuva contribuem para aumentar a resiliência dos sistemas frente às mudanças climáticas (Figura 1). Este Projeto teve como objetivo reduzir os riscos de sistemas agrícolas familiares do Semiárido por meio do uso de tecnologia hídrica integrada em três condições de precipitações pluviométricas.

A barragem subterrânea se destaca dentre as tecnologias de armazenamento de água de chuva na região Semiárida brasileira, sendo difundida nas comunidades rurais pelo Programa P1+2. Nessa Região, as irregularidades pluviométricas comprometem a sustentabilidade agrícola, sendo este cenário agravado com as mudanças climáticas. Pesquisas nessas condições podem resultar em recomendações de manejo sustentáveis para as diferentes disponibilidades hídricas. Além disso, o uso de práticas agroecológicas integradas à tecnologias de captação e armazenamento de água de chuva contribuem para aumentar a resiliência dos sistemas frente às mudanças climáticas (Figura 1). Este Projeto teve como objetivo reduzir os riscos de sistemas agrícolas familiares do Semiárido por meio do uso de tecnologia hídrica integrada em três condições de precipitações pluviométricas.

This review summarises information from available literature to support the dietary guideline ‘Drink Clean, Safe Water and/or Other Fluids Through-Out the Day Even if You Do Not Feel Thirsty’ set for the elderly of South Africa (SA). Water is essential for life and is necessary for important functions of the body like maintenance of tissue structure, blood volume regulation, temperature regulation and excretion of metabolites through kidneys. Though water is necessary for all, the elderly are especially at risk of dehydration due to altered hormonal activity and body functions that reduce their sensitivity to thirst (water intake) and urination (water excretion). Total body water is also reduced in the elderly, so they are unable to buffer the effects of water loss in the body. Therefore, water intake should be monitored properly in the elderly so that they can lead a happy and healthy life and reduce the economic burden due to hospitalisation caused by water imbalance or dehydration, which is common in the elderly. Two litres of water per day is generally considered adequate, but there is no consensus regarding the exact requirement for water as need varies due to climate and physical activity levels. The importance of water to maintain bodily functions and the risk of dehydration substantiate the need for a dietary guideline to address the importance of clean and safe water/fluid consumption regularly throughout the day among the elderly in SA.

International audience | Bioactive aminooxime ligands based on optically pure (R)-limonene have been synthesized in two steps. Their ruthenium (II) cationic water-soluble complex was prepared by a reaction between dichloro (para-cymene) ruthenium (II) dimers and aminooxime ligands in a 1:2 molar ratio. Antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of the synthetized complex were assessed against Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus aureus , Listeria monocytogenes , and Enterococcus faecalis. The results revealed that the ruthenium (II) complex has higher antibacterial and antibiofilm activities in comparison with free ligands or the enantiopure (R)-limonene. Moreover, microencapsulation of this complex reduced its cytotoxicity and improved their minimum inhibitory concentration and antibiofilm activity toward the considered bacteria. The ruthenium (II) complex targets the bacterial cell membrane, which leads to rapid leakage of intracellular potassium. Our study suggests that the developed ruthenium (II) complexes could be useful as an alternative to conventional disinfectants.

Bioactive aminooxime ligands based on optically pure (R)-limonene have been synthesized in two steps. Their ruthenium (II) cationic water-soluble complex was prepared by a reaction between dichloro (para-cymene) ruthenium (II) dimers and aminooxime ligands in a 1:2 molar ratio. Antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of the synthetized complex were assessed against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Enterococcus faecalis. The results revealed that the ruthenium (II) complex has higher antibacterial and antibiofilm activities in comparison with free ligands or the enantiopure (R)-limonene. Moreover, microencapsulation of this complex reduced its cytotoxicity and improved their minimum inhibitory concentration and antibiofilm activity toward the considered bacteria. The ruthenium (II) complex targets the bacterial cell membrane, which leads to rapid leakage of intracellular potassium. Our study suggests that the developed ruthenium (II) complexes could be useful as an alternative to conventional disinfectants.

An online micro solid-phase extraction (online-µSPE) using electrospun nanofibers, as an efficient sorbent, was developed to extract chlorobenzenes (CBs) from paddy soil, agricultural wastewater, and food samples (fruit juices, vegetables, rice samples) followed by high performance liquid chromatography analysis. Electrospun nanofibers were fabricated using a nanocomposite containing polyacrylonitrile and Zn-metal organic framework 74 @graphene oxide (PAN/Zn-MOF-74@GO), and subsequently characterized. Under the optimal conditions, acceptable linearity was obtained in the range of 0.25–700.00 ng mL⁻¹ for 1,2-dichlorobenzene (1,2-DCB) and 2.50–700.00 ng mL⁻¹ for both 1,2,3-trichlorobenzene (1,2,3-TCB) and 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (1,2,4-TCB) with determination coefficients ≥ 0.9991. The limits of detection ranged from 0.08 to 1.10 ng mL⁻¹. The intra-day and inter-day single fiber and fiber to fiber relative standard deviations were observed in the range of 4.1%–9.5% and 5.8%–12.1%, respectively. The performance of this method was examined by determining the target analytes in the different spiked samples.

We applied novel vortex-assisted ionic liquid dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (VA-IL-DLLME) method to preconcentration and extraction of Se(IV) ions from water, beverage and food samples. The method was optimized using central composite design combined with the response surface analysis. After extraction, inorganic selenium species (total Se, Se(IV) and Se(VI)) were determined by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry. 1-n-Octyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethane)-sulfonamide [C8mim NTf2] and tetrahydrofuran were used as the extraction and dispersive solvents, respectively. Applied vortex assisted the extractant dispersion and accelerated the mass transfer process. Obtained optimum conditions for microextraction procedure are as follows: mass of [C8mim NTf2], pH, extraction time and THF volume should be equal to 85 mg, 6.8, 15 min and 730 μL, respectively. Under these conditions, we observed linear range, limit of detection and enrichment factor equal to 5−500ng L⁻¹, 1.5 ng L⁻¹ and 120, respectively. We also fount linear regression coefficients in the dependence between Absorbance and Se(IV) concentration: Absorbance = 0.0652 CSₑ₍IV₎ + 0.0185. We added 200 μg kg⁻¹ of Se(IV) to selected food samples and 100 ng L⁻¹ of Se(IV) to selected waters and beverages. Relative standard deviations and recovery values were within the ranges of 2.4–3.5 % and 92.7÷103.4 %, respectively. The optimized VA-IL-DLLME method reported here provides high extraction efficiency, fast extraction and lower detection limit without a heating step than alternative microextraction methods. This method also requires environmental solvents for determination and preconcentration of trace Se species in the selected samples. In addition, the reported VA-IL-DLLME procedure is the first method which use [C8mim NTf2] as extraction solvent for the preconcentration and separation of Se(IV) ions.

Green chemistry or in other words “green world” is referred to a sustainable environment using biocompatible, biodegradable, renewable, economical, and simple materials, and methods. Without any exaggeration, the exceptional chemical and physical properties of ZnO bionanocomposites beside various utilizations, make it vital materials in research and green chemistry field. Biocompatible ZnO nanoparticles with fascinating antimicrobial, physicochemical, as well as photocatalytic performance could be applied as a prominent candidate to reinforce diverse biopolymer matrixes, for instance, chitosan, starch, cellulose, gelatin, alginate, poly(hydroxyalkanoates), carrageenan, and so on. With a combination of advantageous properties of these materials, they could be illustrated specific utilizations in different areas. In this regard, the following context focuses on highlighting the recent achievements of this category of material on three important and widely used scopes: eco-friendly food packaging, biomedical specially wound dressings, and water remediation technologies.

A cardinal model (CM) for the effects of temperature (range: 32–59 °C), pH (range: 5.0–8.5) and water activity (aw) (range: 0.980–0.995) on Bacillus coagulans DSM 1 growth rate was developed in brain heart infusion broth (BHI), using the Bioscreen C method and further validated in selected food products. The estimated values for the cardinal parameters Tmin, Topt, Tmax, pHmin, pHopt, pHmax, awmin and awopt were 23.77 ± 0.19 °C, 52.89 ± 0.01 °C, 59.37 ± 0.07 °C, 4.70 ± 0.02, 6.43 ± 0.02, 8.56 ± 0.01, 0.969 ± 0.0007 and 0.998 ± 0.0011, respectively. The growth behaviour of B. coagulans was studied in five commercial non-refrigerated ready-to-eat food products under static conditions at 53 °C in order to estimate the optimum specific growth rate for each tested food product. The developed models were validated in the five selected food products under four different dynamic temperature profiles by comparing predicted and observed growth behaviour of B. coagulans. The validation results indicated a good performance of the model for all tested products with the overall Bias factor (Bf) and Accuracy factor (Af) estimated at 1.00 and 1.12, respectively. The developed model can be considered an effective tool in predicting B. coagulans growth and spoilage risks of non-refrigerated ready-to-eat food products during distribution and storage.

La acuicultura ha sido considerada en las últimas décadas la solución más factible de cara a suplir la creciente demanda de alimento de una población mundial estimada de 9,8 billones de personas en 2050, dado el aumento de consumo de pescado y el estancamiento de la producción de otros sectores de la alimentación. En Europa, el sector de la acuicultura requiere establecer una serie de especies pioneras que le permita expandirse y aumentar su producción. Una de estas especies es el mugílido Chelon labrosus, cuyo interés reside en su naturaleza omnívora, eurihalina y euriterma; facilitando su cultivo en términos económicos y de sostenibilidad ambiental. En el presente estudio se comparan los efectos en el crecimiento y en la salud de los ejemplares, a partir de métodos morfológicos e histológicos, de individuos de C. labrosus alimentados con pienso comercial de trucha y de tilapia, cultivados tanto en sistemas de flujo abierto como de recirculación de agua. Los resultados obtenidos muestran un buen rendimiento del pienso de tilapia en cuanto al aprovechamiento proteico y la tasa de crecimiento, aunque los individuos presentan acumulación de lípidos en el hígado. Los individuos alimentados con pienso de trucha presentaron tallas y peso mayores, pero a su vez una mayor acumulación de grasa perivisceral e intestinal. La discusión de los resultados servirá para evaluar futuras vías en la formulación de piensos sostenibles y específicos para el cultivo de C. labrosus en acuicultura | In the last decades aquiculture has been considered the most feasible solution to meet the growing demand for food from an estimated world population of 9,8 billion people in 2050, given the increase in fish consumption and the stagnation of production from other food sectors. In Europe, the aquaculture sector needs to establish a series of pioneer species that allow it to expand and increase its production. One of these species is a member of the family mugilidae, Chelon labrosus, whose interest lies in its omnivorous, euryhaline, and eurythermal nature; which facilitatesits cultivation in economic and environmentalsustainability terms. The present study compares the effects in growth and health, based in morphological and histological methods, of C. labrosus fed with commercial trout and tilapia feeds, using both open flow and recirculatory aquaculture systems. The results obtained show a good performance of the tilapia feed in terms of protein use and growth rate, although the individuals present lipids accumulation in the liver. The individuals fed with trout feed had greater sizes and weight, but at the same time a greater accumulation of perivisceral and intestinal fats. The results are discussed in order to assess future directions of sustainable and specific formulation of feeds for C. labrosus aquaculture