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- The effect of calcium in the fermentation of white cabbage with salicorniaPublication . Pires-Cabral, Patrícia; Pires-Cabral, Paula; Mira, Helena; Quintas, CéliaThis study investigates the fermentation of white cabbage with salicornia and CaCl2 to assess its effect on the fermentation profiles and properties of the final products. Two sets of experiments were performed: A-cabbage with salt and salicornia, and B-cabbage with salt, salicornia, and CaCl2. The fermentative processes were studied through the microbial (lactic-acid bacteria (LAB), coliforms, and fungi), physicochemical (pH, total acidity), and mineral properties. A diminution of pH values (4.07, 3.58) and increased acidity values (0.70, 0.77 g lactic acid/100 mL) were registered at the end of the fermentation period (A and B, respectively). A stationary phase followed the exponential growth of LAB, and a slight decrease was observed (6.01, 5.51 Log CFU/g) in both experiments. A fungi decline was observed during the first week and the coliform populations disappeared after about 13 days of fermentation. Staphylococcus coagulase-positive, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella were not detected in the final products. The utilization of CaCl2 resulted in fermented cabbage with analogous microbial and sensorial characteristics to fermented cabbage without CaCl2 but with an increased hardness. However, Ca interfered with the diffusion of K, Mg, and Zn, resulting in lower levels of these elements in the final product, particularly Zn, which exhibited a reduction of 37%, reducing the nutritional value of the final products.
- The diet and feeding habits of lagocephalus sceleratus in the eastern Mediterranean: a case study carried out off the island of Crete (southern Greece)Publication . Vieira de Carvalho Gomes, Rita; Christidis, Georgios; Peristeraki, Panagiota; Somarakis, stylianos; Tserpes, GeorgeThis study focused on the diet and feeding habits of the invasive pufferfish Lagocephalus sceleratus in the coastal waters of Crete (Cretan and Libyan Sea, eastern Mediterranean). The diet was composed of a wide variety of organisms, while the number of specimens with empty gastrointestinal tracts was low (14.41%). In total we were able to identify 38 different species of fish and invertebrates within the tracts analysed. Fish were the main diet component, followed by crustaceans and mollusks (mostly gastro- pods and cephalopods). At family level, the most significant preys were Sparidae and Mullidae teleosts, along with Cavoliniidae gastropods. The trophic level of L. sceleratus was estimated to be 4.13. The trophic niche breadth was intermediate, whereas the L. sceleratus population exhibits a mixed feeding strategy. Spatiotemporal differences in diet composition were also identified. The application of generalized additive models (GAMs) revealed that depth at which the fish were captured, season, region and total length, were significant predictors of the probability of occurrence of its most frequent prey groups. Fish prey occurrence was more probable in autumn and summer and at circa 20-25 m depth. In contrast, the probability of consuming crustaceans was higher in spring and winter and in specimens measuring 450-500 mm in length, and lower at 20-25 m, whilst increasing until a maximum at 40 m. The probability of non-cephalopod mollusks consumption was higher in winter and in the Libyan Sea, as well as at greater depths. Fish size had a significant effect on the likelihood of consuming photosynthetic organisms (algae and seagrass) and cepha- lopods, which was higher in larger fish. This study presents further evidence of the negative impact of L. sceleratus on the fisheries sector, revealing both predation on commercial species and the ingestion of various fishing gear parts.
- Flake production: a universal by-product of primate stone percussionPublication . Proffitt, Tomos; Medeiros, Paula de Sousa; Martins, Waldney Pereira; Luncz, Lydia. V.The evolution of stone tool technology marks a significant milestone in hominin devel-opment, enabling early humans to manipulate their environments. The oldest known evidence, dating to 3.3 Ma, indicates a combination of percussive and flake production activities. Studying the archaeological signature of percussive stone tool use in living primate provides a potential analog to the origin of stone flake technology in the hom-inin lineage. Here, we present a yellow- breasted capuchin (Sapajus xanthosternos) stone tool assemblage from Fazenda Matos, Brazil, to explore the variability of the material signatures associated with percussive tool use. Our analysis of this record demonstrates many archaeological features previously associated with intentional flake production. This includes hammerstones with substantial percussive damage and a range of flaked and detached pieces. Comparative analyses with other flaked primate and hominin assemblages reveals that, unintentional flake production is a universal component of stone hammer and anvil percussive behaviors, suggesting that similar behaviors by early hominins may have led to stone flake technology and that this record may have been highly variable. To fully understand the origins of hominin stone technology, a broad spectrum of material records including both hominin and primate must be considered.