Due to its high market demand and its exceptional nutritional value, pomegranate juice is an expensive product particularly vulnerable to adulteration. This fraud consists of diluting with cheaper juices, such as apple or grape juice, or masking poor-quality pomegranate juice with dark colored juices such as blueberry or black grape juice. To address this issue, a simple, rapid, and green methodology based on headspace gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) combined with chemometrics was proposed, to detect adulteration using volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as markers. Spectra from 295 samples of pure and adulterated pomegranate juice were analyzed using a non-targeted approach and, in addition, 28 VOCs were identified.Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) models enabled the classification of samples as pure or adulterated pomegranate juice (100 % validation success rate) and discriminated among the three studied adulterants (blueberry, apple, and grape juices) with misclassifications occurring only at low levels of adulteration. Partial least squares (PLS) regression models were also developed to estimate the percentage of adulterants. High greenness (AGREE score of 0.73/1) and applicability (BAGI score of 72.5/100), together with encouraging analytical performance, highlight the proposed approach as a promising tool for pomegranate juice authentication.
This study examines how hospitality efficiency, sustainability and social inclusion are associated with the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Spain's 17 autonomous communities (ACs) in 2023. Using non-parametric efficiency analysis with bootstrap correction, quantile regression models, and Random Forest methods, an efficiency frontier is constructed for the regional hotel sector and is then related to five sustainability indicators: energy efficiency renovations, ecological certification, quality certification, territorial competitiveness and inclusive employment. The results indicate that sustainability practices and social inclusion are positively associated with efficiency rather than hindering it. On average, each additional energy reform is associated with a 2.8-percentage-point increase in the efficiency score; each additional percentage point of vulnerable employment with a 3.5-point increase, and a one-point increase in territorial competitiveness with a 10.2-point increase. These findings provide empirical evidence, within the Spanish context, that investments in green transition and dignified employment tend to align with higher hotel productivity, particularly in tourism-dependent regions, while also supporting an operational policy agenda at administrative levels.
Terfezia claveryi is a hypogeous fungus that forms desert truffles through ectendomycorrhizal symbiosis with Cistaceae plants in arid and semiarid environments. The study presented herein elucidates the organization and structure of the mating type (MAT) locus in this species and the spatio-temporal dynamics of T. claveryi strains in Helianthemum almeriense mycorrhizal plants and soil from nursery to field. MAT genes are the master loci controlling sexual reproduction and development in fungi. Our findings demonstrate that T. claveryi is a haploid and heterothallic species as its strains harbor and express either TcMAT1-1-1 or TcMAT1-2-1 genes as revealed by genome sequencing and RNAseq analyses. DNA-binding motifs located in their respective promoter regions appear to play a major role in the regulation of reproductive processes. The α-box and HMG-box domains are highly conserved along the Pezizomycetes and their strong structural similarity despite its poor sequence similarity supports a common evolutionary origin. Moreover, we set out a PCR-based approach to monitor the dynamics of T. claveryi strains of opposite mating type on mycorrhizal plants and soil. T. claveryi mycorrhizal plants at the nursery stage presented strains of both mating types, whereas a notable dominance of strains with the TcMAT1-1-1 gene was observed in field stage. Altogether, this research provides insights about genetic regulation and evolution of the MAT locus within the Pezizomycetes, and the reproductive biology of this important desert truffle, along with reliable markers to track the spatio-temporal distribution of strains of opposite mating types.
BackgroundIncreasing physical activity levels among people with disabilities requires innovative and accessible interventions. Telecoaching represents an innovative training approach that uses technological and digital tools, including computers, mobile devices, video tutorials, and training manuals, to remotely manage and deliver training programs. This study aimed to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and effectiveness of the telecoaching across various functional limitations and health conditions, providing practical insights into its applications for promoting physical activity in various populations.MethodsThis study adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. The following databases were utilized to analyze the scientific literature: Scopus, NLM PubMed, and Web of Science. Included studies examined the effects of telecoaching on individuals with different functional limitations and health conditions. Quality assessment was conducted using an adapted version of the "Downs and Black Checklist."ResultsA total of 17 articles involving 1469 individuals (sample sizes 5-343) met inclusion criteria telecoaching intervention ranged from 8 to 36 weeks. Quality assessment rated studies from "fair" to "excellent." Telecoaching training was associated with improvements in quality of life, physical activity levels, physical fitness, and exercise tolerance.ConclusionsTelecoaching is a safe, effective, and injury-free modality for secondary prevention. Future studies should identify optimal duration (in weeks), frequency (sessions per week), and intensity of telecoaching training, and expand evaluation across a broader range of functional limitations and health conditions.
Many studies have highlighted the potential negative effects of recreational hunting on wildlife species. In this study, we used a long-term (14 years) dataset to evaluate the effect of red-legged partridge Alectoris rufa call-lure hunting, a type of hunting that occurs from fixed places (hunters in blinds close to a live caged lure) in late winter, on the incubation behaviour and hatching success of Bonelli’s eagles Aquila fasciata in southeastern Spain. Call-lure hunting affected the incubation behaviour of Bonelli’s eagles, but this effect varied in relation to the distance between the hunter and the nest and whether a gunshot occurred during the hunting activity. Call-lure hunting only induced an eagle’s reaction behaviour leading to temporary interruption of incubation if close (< 600 m) to the nest. Our models showed that a combination of acoustic and visual stimuli caused a longer duration of the reaction, although the specific contribution of a gunshot was almost three times greater than that of a hunter´s presence alone. In territories where call-lure hunting occurred, we also found a positive relationship between hatching success and the altitudinal difference between the nest and a hunter´s blind; the probability of breeding failure increased with increasing nest exposure to hunting activity. Our results suggest that a buffer zone around Bonelli’s eagle nests of 600 m would eliminate all impact of these hunting activities on eagles, and that location of blinds should also be considered to minimize exposure of nests to hunting activity to reduce disturbances and potential reproductive failures. This behavioural study may contribute to a better understanding of the magnitude of the conflict and provides alternative solutions for reconciling conservation and hunting.
