Publicacions de projectes finançats per la Unió Europea
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Publicacions resultants de les investigacions finançades pel 7è Programa Marc, pel Programa H2020 i l’European Research Council de la Unió Europea, recollides en el Projecte OpenAIRE (Open Access Infraestructure for Research in Europe) que promou l’accés obert a Europa.
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- ItemOpen AccessEmerging Chemical, Biochemical and Non-Thermal Physical Treatments in the Production of Hypoallergenic Plant Protein Ingredients(MDPI, 2024) Oñate Narciso, Joan; Gulzar, Saqib; Soliva-Fortuny, Robert; Martín Belloso, OlgaAllergies towards gluten and legumes (such as, soybean, peanut, and faba bean) are a global issue and, occasionally, can be fatal. At the same time, an increasing number of households are shifting to plant protein ingredients from these sources, which application and consumption are limited by said food allergies. Children, the elderly, and people with immune diseases are particularly at risk when consuming these plant proteins. Finding ways to reduce or eliminate the allergenicity of gluten, soybean, peanut, and faba bean is becoming crucial. While thermal and pH treatments are often not sufficient, chemical processes such as glycation, polyphenol conjugation, and polysaccharide complexation, as well as controlled biochemical approaches, such as fermentation and enzyme catalysis, are more successful. Non-thermal treatments such as microwave, high pressure, and ultrasonication can be used prior to further chemical and/or biochemical processing. This paper presents an up-to-date review of promising chemical, biochemical, and non-thermal physical treatments that can be used in the food industry to reduce or eliminate food allergenicity.
- ItemOpen AccessThe fall of the summer truffle: Recurring hot, dry summersresult in declining fruitbody production of Tuber aestivum inCentral Europe(Wiley, 2022) Steidinger, Brian S.; Büntgen, Ulf; Stobbe, Uli; Tegel, Willy; Sproll, Ludger; Haeni, Matthias; Moser, Barbara; Bagi, István; Bonet Lledos, José Antonio; Buée, Marc; Dauphin, Benjamin; Martínez-Peña, Fernando; Molinier, Virginie; Zweifel, Roman; Egli, Simon; Peter, MartinaGlobal warming is pushing populations outside their range of physiological tolerance. According to the environmental envelope framework, the most vulnerable populations occur near the climatic edge of their species' distributions. In contrast, populations from the climatic center of the species range should be relatively buffered against climate warming. We tested this latter prediction using a combination of linear mixed effects and machine learning algorithms on an extensive, citizen-scientist generated dataset on the fruitbody productivity of the Burgundy (aka summer) truffle (Tuber aestivum Vittad.), a keystone, ectomycorrhizal tree-symbiont occurring on a wide range of temperate climates. T. aestivum's fruitbody productivity was monitored at 3-week resolution over up to 8 continuous years at 20 sites distributed in the climatic center of its European distribution in southwest Germany and Switzerland. We found that T. aestivum fruitbody production is more sensitive to summer drought than would be expected from the breadth of its species' climatic niche. The monitored populations occurring nearly 5°C colder than the edge of their species' climatic distribution. However, interannual fruitbody productivity (truffle mass year−1) fell by a median loss of 22% for every 1°C increase in summer temperature over a site's 30-year mean. Among the most productive monitored populations, the temperature sensitivity was even higher, with single summer temperature anomalies of 3°C sufficient to stop fruitbody production altogether. Interannual truffle productivity was also related to the phenology of host trees, with ~22 g less truffle mass for each 1-day reduction in the length of the tree growing season. Increasing summer drought extremes are therefore likely to reduce fruiting among summer truffle populations throughout Central Europe. Our results suggest that European T. aestivum may be a mosaic of vulnerable populations, sensitive to climate-driven declines at lower thresholds than implied by its species distribution model.
- ItemOpen AccessPublic perception vs ecological quality status: Examining the ecological restoration of the Congost River's Environment(Elsevier, 2024) Zaldo-Aubanell, Quim; Mas-Ponce, Antoni; Asbert, Guiu; Clota, Berta; Isnard, Manel; Proia, Lorenzo; Bach, Albert; Sànchez Mateo, SòniaThis study examines the public’s perceptions of the ecological restoration of the Congost River over the past thirty years, focusing on the period between 2010 and 2022. We conducted a survey of 112 river users across five key zones identified through a pilot study for their high pedestrian density, aiming to analyse how different sociodemographic groups perceive the river’s ecological state. A structured questionnaire was distributed along both sides of the river to engage a diverse range of individuals typically utilizing the river environment. The collected data were analysed using regression models and Mann-Whitney U tests to assess differences between groups, with Bonferroni adjustments applied to control for multiple comparisons. The results reveal a broad increase in appreciation for the river since 2010, alongside measurable ecological improvements supported by scientific data. Despite these positive changes, a majority of surveyed users remain sceptical about the river’s recovery, with less pronounced scepticism among older respondents, those with higher education, and environmental volunteers. These groups’ perceptions align more closely with empirical evidence, highlighting the influence of sociodemographic factors on environmental awareness. Individuals living closer to natural settings and frequent river visitors were found to be more attuned to changes in the river’s environment, particularly in aesthetic and sensory aspects. The study underscores the persistence of a perceptual gap between scientific assessments of ecological health and public sentiment, emphasizing the complex relationship between community perceptions and objective environmental indicators. These insights underline the complex relationship between community perceptions and objective environmental indicators, reflecting a broader trend in environmental awareness and the importance of factual communication in ecological issues.
- ItemOpen AccessAssessing the dynamics of forest ecosystem services to define forest use suitability: a case study of Pinus sylvestris in Spain(Springer, 2024) Krsnik, Goran; Reynolds, Keith M.; Aquilué, Núria; Mola-Yudego, Blas; Pecurul-Botines, Mireia; García-Gonzalo, Jordi; González Olabarria, José RamónAdopting a multi-criteria approach in forest management is essential for preserving or improving specifc benefts while minimizing negative environmental impacts. Determining the appropriate long-term management approach for a forest requires considering heterogeneous environmental and social factors, as well as changes in forest characteristics over time. Conducting a strategic assessment of forest use suitability (FUS), namely productive, protective, conservation-oriented, social and multifunctional, at the national level, taking into account the dynamics in the provision of forest ecosystem services and the trade-ofs between FUS alternatives, can guide the development of cus‑ tomized management strategies and policies that align with the specifc requirements and conditions of the forest. In this study, we evaluate the supply and simulation-based changes over time of diverse ecosystem services of Pinus sylvestris stands in Spain and utilize a decision model to determine the most suitable FUS alternative that enhances the provision of these services. The assignment of the most appropriate FUS alternative aims to help in decision-making processes and in the selection of the most adequate management strategies. To achieve this, we utilize the last version of ecosystem management decision support (EMDS) system, a spatially focused decision support tool capable of generating precise results for multi-criteria assessment. Participatory planning actions based on Delphi principles and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) analysis were applied and combined with geospatial logic-based modelling. According to the results, the dominant FUS is protective, followed by productive alternative, exhibiting high levels of multifunctionality.
- ItemOpen AccessTransient performance modelling of solar tower power plants with molten salt thermal energy storage systems(Elsevier, 2024) Tagle-Salazar, Pablo D.; Cabeza, Luisa F.; Prieto, CristinaConcentrating solar power (CSP) has emerged as a dynamic and promising technology, demonstrating a burgeoning market potential for power generation through the utilization of solar thermal resources. Notably, global installed capacity has witnessed a substantial uptick in recent years, indicative that this technology is increasing traction worldwide. To optimize the utilization of CSP systems, particularly during periods of low or absent solar radiation, the integration of thermal energy storage (TES) systems using molten salts has become a prevailing strategy. This research introduces an innovative transient modelling tailored for the comprehensive annual performance analysis of a solar tower power plant coupled to a two-tank TES system, incorporating molten salts as the storage medium. The modelling of the power plant is conducted using OpenModelica, a versatile software platform renowned for its capability in system-level modelling and simulation. The simulation outcomes encompass a power plant configuration boasting a turbine gross output of 110 MWe. The results of performance parameters are subsequently contrasted with those generated by commercially available software tool, effectively corroborating the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed simulation approach. The obtained results demonstrate a favourable concurrence in the transient behaviour of performance parameters, considering heat flows, state of charge, net power, and others, with a discrepancy of less than 1 % in annual production when benchmarked against a commercial software reference. Particularly, the incorporation of the local heat loss due to assembly defects within the thermal modelling of the TES system exerts a discernible albeit relatively minor influence on the overall performance of the power plant. The occurrence of local heat loss primarily stems from distortions or imperfections within the construction, including the structure, insulation layers, or foundation, thereby creating thermal bridges between the storage fluid and the external ambient environment. This impact, while small, is not negligible, as it introduces the potential for the power block to unexpectedly shut down owing to TES system depletion, a behaviour that is challenging to simulate when neglecting local heat loss.