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The olive tree is one of the most common type of cultivation in the Mediterranean area, having high economic and social importance. The Alentejo region, Portugal, is an area with a high presence of olive groves, which in 2022 accounted for 201,474 hectares. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between olive pollen, weather data, and olive tree production, between the years 2002 and 2022. Pollen data were obtained from an urban station located in Évora, in the Alentejo region, and were used to calculate several metrics, such as the Pollen Season Duration (PSD), Seasonal Pollen Index (SPIn), peak value, and weekly pollen accumulation values. Monthly minimum, maximum, and mean temperature and precipitation sums were obtained from the E-OBS observational dataset. Considering the relationship between pollen/weather and olive production, mutual information and correlation analyses were conducted. Subsequently, several machine learning algorithms were trained using pollen and weather datasets, and we obtained suitable forecast models for olive tree production after cross-validation. The results showed high variability in pollen concentrations in Évora over the years. Complex associations were found, with certain weeks of pollen accumulation showing significant mutual information with olive production, particularly during June. The analyzed linear correlation coefficients remained generally low, underscoring the challenge of predicting olive production based on linear relationships. Among the machine learning algorithms employed to predict olive production, Decision Trees, Extreme Gradient Boosting, and Gradient Boosting Regressor were the most robust performers (r2 > 0.70), while linear models displayed a subpar performance (r2 < 0.5), emphasizing the complexity of this approach. These models highlight the roles of maximum and minimum temperatures during March and May and pollen accumulation during the second half of June. The developed models may be used as decision-support tools by growers and stakeholders to further enhance the sustainability of the thriving olive sector in southern Portugal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Olive fruit flies, Bactrocera oleae (Diptera: Tephritidae) reared in the laboratory on an artificial diet are essential for the genetic control techniques against this pest. However, the colony's laboratory adaptation can affect the quality of the reared flies. We used the Locomotor Activity Monitor to track the activity and rest patterns of adult olive fruit flies reared as immatures in olives (F2-F3 generation) and in artificial diet (>300 generations). Counts of beam breaks caused by the adult fly activity were used as an estimation of its locomotor activity levels during the light and dark period. Bouts of inactivity with duration longer than five minutes were considered a rest episode. Locomotor activity and rest parameters were found to be dependent on sex, mating status and rearing history. In virgin flies reared on olives, males were more active than females and increased their locomotor activity towards the end of the light period. Mating decreased the locomotor activity levels of males, but not of female olive-reared flies. Laboratory flies reared on artificial diet had lower locomotor activity levels during the light period and more rest episodes of shorter duration during the dark period compared to flies reared on olives. We describe the diurnal locomotor activity patterns of B. oleae adults reared on olive fruit and on artificial diet. We discuss how locomotor activity and rest pattern differences may affect the laboratory flies' ability to compete with wild males in the field.

The use of computed tomography perfusion (CTP), one of the multimodal imaging uncorrected proof modalities, has recently become an important tool in determining endovascular treatment candidates in stroke centers. However, the reliability of CTP in identifying the infarct core may vary depending on the time of symptom onset, collateral status, and other clinical factors. In some studies, it has been determined that showing the penumbra with CTP imaging increases the chance of success in the selection of patients for endovascular treatment. The difference in sensitivity to hypoxia in the brain parenchyma (such as white and gray matter) makes it difficult to determine the ischemic tissue response, thus increasing the importance of perfusion studies. Accordingly, many automatic software programs have been used with CTP imaging. Among these, RAPID (iSchemaView, Menlo Park, California, USA) and Olea Sphere (Olea Medical Solutions, La Ciotat, France) are among the most frequently used. The rates of each of these programs showing the infarct core and the probability of error have been discussed by different studies. In this article, we aim to evaluate the role of CTP imaging in the treatment process before deciding on whether to deliver endovascular treatment for a 55-year-old female patient who presented with right-middle cerebral artery infarction clinic and had a wake-up stroke.

Iridoids are natural monoterpenoids, widely distributed in ornamental plants, herbs, and medicinal plants, but particularly in the green parts of plants. Their significance arises from diverse biological activities (anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, anti-cancer, anti-atherogenic, antidiabetic, neuroprotective, etc.) which have been well-documented and point out to the natural-origin, non-toxic compounds for the use in disease prevention and treatment. Nonetheless, iridoids are scarce in edible fruits and are not perceived as important phytocompounds of dietary fruits and food products. However, they do occur in some common edible fruits – olive, noni, berries, and a few less-common, but unique fruits – Japanese cornel, cornelian cherry, kousa dogwood, haskap berry, and guelder rose. In this review, we present the current state of knowledge regarding the identification and content of iridoids in edible fruits, their predominant activities, and above all, the possibilities and effects of iridoids' application in foods, drinks, and pharmaceuticals. The consulted literature shows that iridoids or iridoid-rich fruits can be successfully applied to broaden the variety of foods, as functional additives, and possibly as future pharmaceuticals of natural origin. Therefore, iridoids deserve an important role in a healthy diet and disease prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of computed tomography perfusion (CTP), one of the multimodal imaging uncorrected proof modalities, has recently become an important tool in determining endovascular treatment candidates in stroke centers. However, the reliability of CTP in identifying the infarct core may vary depending on the time of symptom onset, collateral status, and other clinical factors. In some studies, it has been determined that showing the penumbra with CTP imaging increases the chance of success in the selection of patients for endovascular treatment. The difference in sensitivity to hypoxia in the brain parenchyma (such as white and gray matter) makes it difficult to determine the ischemic tissue response, thus increasing the importance of perfusion studies. Accordingly, many automatic software programs have been used with CTP imaging. Among these, RAPID (iSchemaView, Menlo Park, California, USA) and Olea Sphere (Olea Medical Solutions, La Ciotat, France) are among the most frequently used. The rates of each of these programs showing the infarct core and the probability of error have been discussed by different studies. In this article, we aim to evaluate the role of CTP imaging in the treatment process before deciding on whether to deliver endovascular treatment for a 55-year-old female patient who presented with right-middle cerebral artery infarction clinic and had a wake-up stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Olive is one of the most cultivated species in the Mediterranean Basin and beyond. Despite being extensively studied for its commercial relevance, the origin of cultivated olive and the history of its domestication remain open questions. Here, we present a genealogical and kinship relationships analysis by mean of chloroplast and nuclear markers of different genera, subgenus, species, subspecies, ecotypes, cultivated, ancient and wild types, which constitutes one of the most inclusive research to date on the diversity within Olea europaea species. A complete survey of the variability across the nuclear and plastid genomes of different genotypes was studied through single nucleotide polymorphisms, indels (insertions and deletions), and length variation. Results Fifty-six different chlorotypes were identified among the Oleaceae family including Olea europaea, other species and genera. The chloroplast genome evolution, within Olea europaea subspecies, probably started from subsp. cuspidata, which likely represents the ancestor of all the other subspecies and therefore of wild types and cultivars. Our study allows us to hypothesize that, inside the subspecies europaea containing cultivars and the wild types, the ancestral selection from var. sylvestris occurred both in the eastern side of the Mediterranean and in the central-western part of Basin. Moreover, it was elucidated the origin of several cultivars, which depends on the introduction of eastern cultivars, belonging to the lineage E1, followed by crossing and replacement of the autochthonous olive germplasm of central-western Mediterranean Basin. In fact, our study highlighted that two main ‘founders’ gave the origin to more than 60% of analyzed olive cultivars. Other secondary founders, which strongly contributed to give origin to the actual olive cultivar diversity, were already detected. Conclusions The application of comparative genomics not only paves the way for a better understanding of the phylogenetic relationships within the Olea europaea species but also provides original insights into other elusive evolutionary processes, such as chloroplast inheritance and parentage inside olive cultivars, opening new scenarios for further research such as the association studies and breeding programs.

The olive tree is one of the most common type of cultivation in the Mediterranean area, having high economic and social importance. The Alentejo region, Portugal, is an area with a high presence of olive groves, which in 2022 accounted for 201,474 hectares. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between olive pollen, weather data, and olive tree production, between the years 2002 and 2022. Pollen data were obtained from an urban station located in Évora, in the Alentejo region, and were used to calculate several metrics, such as the Pollen Season Duration (PSD), Seasonal Pollen Index (SPIn), peak value, and weekly pollen accumulation values. Monthly minimum, maximum, and mean temperature and precipitation sums were obtained from the E-OBS observational dataset. Considering the relationship between pollen/weather and olive production, mutual information and correlation analyses were conducted. Subsequently, several machine learning algorithms were trained using pollen and weather datasets, and we obtained suitable forecast models for olive tree production after cross-validation. The results showed high variability in pollen concentrations in Évora over the years. Complex associations were found, with certain weeks of pollen accumulation showing significant mutual information with olive production, particularly during June. The analyzed linear correlation coefficients remained generally low, underscoring the challenge of predicting olive production based on linear relationships. Among the machine learning algorithms employed to predict olive production, Decision Trees, Extreme Gradient Boosting, and Gradient Boosting Regressor were the most robust performers (r2 > 0.70), while linear models displayed a subpar performance (r2 < 0.5), emphasizing the complexity of this approach. These models highlight the roles of maximum and minimum temperatures during March and May and pollen accumulation during the second half of June. The developed models may be used as decision-support tools by growers and stakeholders to further enhance the sustainability of the thriving olive sector in southern Portugal.

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (formerly Lactobacillus plantarum) is a lactic acid bacteria species found on plants that is essential for many plant food fermentations. In this study, we investigated the intraspecific phenotypic and genetic diversity of 13 L. plantarum strains isolated from different plant foods, including fermented olives and tomatoes, cactus fruit, teff injera, wheat boza and wheat sourdough starter. We found that strains from the same or similar plant food types frequently exhibited similar carbohydrate metabolism and stress tolerance responses. The isolates from acidic, brine-containing ferments (olives and tomatoes) were more resistant to MRS adjusted to pH 3.5 or containing 4% w/v NaCl, than those recovered from grain fermentations. Strains from fermented olives grew robustly on raffinose as the sole carbon source and were better able to grow in the presence of ethanol (8% v/v or sequential exposure of 8% (v/v) and then 12% (v/v) ethanol) than most isolates from other plant types and the reference strain NCIMB8826R. Cell free culture supernatants from the olive-associated strains were also more effective at inhibiting growth of an olive spoilage strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Multi-locus sequence typing and comparative genomics indicated that isolates from the same source tended to be genetically related. However, despite these similarities, other traits were highly variable between strains from the same plant source, including the capacity for biofilm formation and survival at pH 2 or 50°C. Genomic comparisons were unable to resolve strain differences, with the exception of the most phenotypically impaired and robust isolates, highlighting the importance of utilizing phenotypic studies to investigate differences between strains of L. plantarum. The findings show that L. plantarum is adapted for growth on specific plants or plant food types, but that intraspecific variation may be important for ecological fitness and strain coexistence within individual habitats.

Background: Olive is one of the most cultivated species in the Mediterranean Basin and beyond. Despite being extensively studied for its commercial relevance, the origin of cultivated olive and the history of its domestication remain open questions. Here, we present a genealogical and kinship relationships analysis by mean of chloroplast and nuclear markers of different genera, subgenus, species, subspecies, ecotypes, cultivated, ancient and wild types, which constitutes one of the most inclusive research to date on the diversity within Olea europaea species. A complete survey of the variability across the nuclear and plastid genomes of different genotypes was studied through single nucleotide polymorphisms, indels (insertions and deletions), and length variation. Results: Fifty-six different chlorotypes were identified among the Oleaceae family including Olea europaea, other species and genera. The chloroplast genome evolution, within Olea europaea subspecies, probably started from subsp. cuspidata, which likely represents the ancestor of all the other subspecies and therefore of wild types and cultivars. Our study allows us to hypothesize that, inside the subspecies europaea containing cultivars and the wild types, the ancestral selection from var. sylvestris occurred both in the eastern side of the Mediterranean and in the central-western part of Basin. Moreover, it was elucidated the origin of several cultivars, which depends on the introduction of eastern cultivars, belonging to the lineage E1, followed by crossing and replacement of the autochthonous olive germplasm of central-western Mediterranean Basin. In fact, our study highlighted that two main 'founders' gave the origin to more than 60% of analyzed olive cultivars. Other secondary founders, which strongly contributed to give origin to the actual olive cultivar diversity, were already detected. Conclusions: The application of comparative genomics not only paves the way for a better understanding of the phylogenetic relationships within the Olea europaea species but also provides original insights into other elusive evolutionary processes, such as chloroplast inheritance and parentage inside olive cultivars, opening new scenarios for further research such as the association studies and breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae, has been a key pest of olives in Europe and North America. We conducted the largest exploration for parasitoids associated with the fly across Sub-Saharan Africa (Kenya, Namibia, and South Africa) including some of the fly's adjoining regions (Canary Islands, Morocco, Réunion Island and Tunisia). From Sub-Saharan regions, four braconids were collected: Bracon celer, Psytallia humilis, P. lounsburyi, and Utetes africanus. Results showed that their regional dominance was related to climate niches, with P. humilis dominant in hot semi-arid areas of Namibia, P. lounsburyi dominant in more tropical areas of Kenya, and U. africanus prevalent in Mediterranean climates of South Africa. Psytallia concolor was found in the Canary Islands, Morocco and Tunisian, and the Afrotropical braconid Diachasmimorpha sp. near fullawayi on Réunion Island. Furthermore, we monitored the seasonal dynamics of the fly and parasitoids in Cape Province of South Africa. Results showed that fruit maturity, seasonal variations in climates and interspecific interactions shape the local parasitoid diversity that contribute to the low fly populations. The results are discussed with regard to ecological adaptations of closely associated parasitoids, and how their adaptations impact biocontrol.

IntroductionSpecific IgE (sIgE) is merely a sensitization marker that cannot be used for allergy diagnosis if there are no associated clinical symptoms. As of 2023, there is still no evidence regarding the quantity of sIgE necessary to confirm or exclude clinical disease. Therefore, this study aimed to calculate cut-offs for sIgE, allowing us to effectively diagnose olive or grass pollen allergy and select allergenic immunotherapy (AIT) candidate patients in a region under high olive and grass allergenic pressure.MethodsAn observational retrospective study consisting of the review of electronic medical records from 1,172 patients diagnosed with seasonal rhino-conjunctivitis and suspected allergy to olive or grass pollen. Symptoms correlated with sIgE to Poaceae and Oleaceae whole extracts and sIgE to genuine allergenic components were evaluated. Optimal cut-off values were calculated using receiver operating characteristic curves. Relevant clinical symptoms and AIT indications were taken into consideration when determining the clinical allergy diagnosis.ResultssIgE to Lolium showed the best area under the curve (AUC) for both diagnosis (0.957) and an indication of AIT (0.872). The optimal cut-off values for grass diagnosis and AIT indication were 1.79 kUA/L and 8.83 kUA/L, respectively. A value of 5.62 kUA/L was associated with a positive likelihood ratio (LR) of 10.08 set for grass allergy. Olea sIgE showed the best AUC for the diagnosis (0.950). The optimal cut-off for diagnosis was 2.41 kUA/L. A value of 6.49 kUA/L was associated with a positive LR of 9.98 to confirm olive pollen allergy. In regard to immunotherapy, Ole e 1 sIgE showed the best AUC (0.860). The optimal cut-off was 14.05 kUA/L. Ole e 1 sIgE value of 4.8 kUA/L was associated with a 0.09 negative LR to exclude olive AIT indication.ConclusionsThe sIgE cut-offs found in this population under high olive and grass allergenic pressure reduce the gap between sensitization and clinical allergy, providing a new tool for the diagnosis of seasonal allergic rhinitis/asthma and helping to discriminate patients who will benefit from AIT.

Background: Lactic Acid Bacteria are a group of Gram-positive bacteria which are widely used in the food industry as organic ferments called starter cultures. In this study, Enterococcus faecium, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Lactococcus lactis, Weissella paramesenteroides, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum isolated from Moroccan table olives were tested for their acquisition of probiotic and technological properties. Methods: The 5 strains were previously isolated from table olives in 2017. Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer (MALDI-TOF MS) and intergenic space sequencing were used for molecular identification. Following that, probiotic and physicochemical properties were evaluated, including growth at different pH levels (2, 3, and 10), temperatures (7, 45, and 50 °C), and sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations (6.5 and 18% m/v). Antibacterial activity was tested out against Gram-positive and Gram-negatives bacteria. Results: The 5 strains (E. faecium 168, L. lactis 9, L. plantarum 11, L. mesenteroides 62, and W. paramesenteroides 36) showed an ability to grow at low temperatures (7 °C). L. lactis 9 and L. plantarum 11 showed higher acid (pH 2) and salt (18% NaCl) tolerances. In addition, L. lactis 9 and L. plantarum 11 exhibited the highest level of free radical scavenging activity after 48 h of incubation, respectively). L. plantarum 11 and E. faecium 168 showed the highest antibacterial capacity. However, E. faecium 168 and W. paramesenteroides 36 demonstrated better and more rapid acid production capabilities. Conclusion: L. plantarum 11, E. faecium 168, and W. paramesenteroides 36 were considered the best candidates as probiotic cultures for further in vivo studies and functional food product development. DOI: 10.18502/jfqhc.9.3.11155

Olives are inedible because of high levels of bitter phenolics (e.g., oleuropein) which are removed during commercial olive processing. Current commercial processing methods are highly water-intensive, produce toxic wastewater, and are environmentally unsustainable. To address this, macroreticular polymeric resins were used to assist debittering and decrease water use. Amberlite resins XAD4, XAD16N, XAD7HP, and FPX66 were evaluated for the ability to adsorb bitter and/or high-value phenolic compounds (i.e., oleuropein, ligstroside, oleuropein aglycone, ligstroside aglycone, oleocanthal, oleacein, and hydroxytyrosol) from whole olives during typical brine storage. All resins effectively adsorbed oleuropein and ligstroside. FPX66 reduced oleuropein in whole olives suspended in a 1.0% acetic acid brine to 0.635 mg/kg wet weight in 2.5 months with no further processing. This concentration is below levels measured in commercial California-style black ripe olives (0.975 mg/kg wet weight). Resins in storage brines effectively decrease levels of bitter phenolic compounds without additional lye processing. Excellent recoveries of high-value phenolic compounds are obtained from resins (e.g., 80.2 ± 3.3% to 89.4 ± 8.9% hydroxytyrosol).

LC-HRESIMS metabolomic profiling of Olea europaea L. cv. Picual (OEP) (Saudi Arabian olive cultivar, F. Oleacea) revealed 18 compounds. Using pharmacology networking to specify the targets of the identified compounds with a relationship to Alzheimer's disease, it was possible to identify the VEGFA, AChE, and DRD2 genes as the top correlated genes to Alzheimer's disease with 8, 8, and 6 interactions in the same order. The mechanism of action on cellular components, biological processes, and molecular functions was determined by gene enrichment analysis. A biological pathway comparison revealed 13 shared pathways between the identified genes and Alzheimer protein genes (beta-amyloid band tau proteins). The suggested extract's anti-Alzheimer potential in silico screening was confirmed through in vivo investigation in regressing the neurodegenerative features of Alzheimer's dementia in an aluminum-intoxicated rat model (protective and therapeutic effects, 100 mg/kg b.w.). In vivo results suggested that OEP extract significantly improved Alzheimer's rats, which was indicated by the crude extract's ability to improve T-maze performance; lower elevated serum levels of AChE, AB peptide, and Ph/T ratio; and normalize the reduced level of TAC during the study. The results presented in this study may provide potential dietary supplements for the management of Alzheimer's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bacterium Xylella fastidiosa re-emerged as a plant pathogen of global importance in 2013 when it was first associated with an olive tree disease epidemic in Italy. The current threat to Europe and the Mediterranean basin, as well as other world regions, has increased as multiple X. fastidiosa genotypes have now been detected in Italy, France, and Spain. Although X. fastidiosa has been studied in the Americas for more than a century, there are no therapeutic solutions to suppress disease development in infected plants. Furthermore, because X. fastidiosa is an obligatory plant and insect vector colonizer, the epidemiology and dynamics of each pathosystem are distinct. They depend on the ecological interplay of plant, pathogen, and vector and on how interactions are affected by biotic and abiotic factors, including anthropogenic activities and policy decisions. Our goal with this review is to stimulate discussion and novel research by contextualizing available knowledge on X. fastidiosa and how it may be applicable to emerging diseases.

Oleuropein, ligstroside, and related hydrolysis products are key contributors to olive bitterness, and several of these phenolics are implicated in the prevention of lifestyle age-related diseases. While table olive processing methods are designed to reduce oleuropein, the impact of processing on ligstroside and related hydrolysis products (e.g., oleacein, oleocanthal, hydroxytyrosol glucoside, ligstroside aglycone, and oleuropein aglycone) is relatively unknown. Herein, levels of these compounds were measured in Spanish-style green (SP), Californian-style black ripe (CA), and Greek-style natural fermentation (GK) olives using rapid ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). GK olives had the highest concentration of all compounds measured, with the exception of oleocanthal, which was highest in SP olives (0.081 mg kg-1 wet weight (w.wt)). CA olives had the lowest levels of most compounds measured, including ligstroside (0.115 mg kg-1 w.wt) and oleuropein (0.974 mg kg-1 w.wt). Hydroxytyrosol was the predominate compound in all three styles of commercial olives, with similar concentrations observed for GK and SP olives (134.329 and 133.685 mg kg-1 w.wt, respectively) and significantly lower concentrations observed for CA olives (19.981 mg kg-1 w.wt).

Background: Table olives are nutritionally a complete food and considered as one of the oldest fermented products. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 11 as a starter culture on the fermentation of table olives at two incubation temperatures 22 and 30 °C and different salt concentrations (0, 4, 8, and 12% m/v) of sodium chloride (NaCl). Methods: The fermentation of table olives was carried out according to the Spanish style. L. plantarum 11 was inoculated as a starter culture (106 Colony Forming Unit (CFU)/ml), and Listeria monocytogenes CECT 4032 was used as an indicator strain. Under the same experimental conditions, the fermentation of olives without the inoculation of starter culture was used as a control. Then, biochemical and microbiological quality of each experimental batch was tested. Results: Unlike the incubation temperature of 22 °C, the pH values ​​obtained in salted batches and incubated at 30 °C were all below the marketing limits for table olives. At the end of the process, the maximum load of yeasts and molds (>5 log CFU/ml) was recorded in the batches incubated at 22 °C. At 22 °C, Listeria was absent in inoculated fermenters at a concentration greater than or equal to 8% (w/v) of NaCl. However, at 30 °C, Listeria was not detected in treatment groups and in the control group with 12% NaCl. Conclusion: L. plantarum 11 could be potentially considered as a probiotic starter culture during the fermentation of black table olives. DOI: 10.18502/jfqhc.8.4.8255

The olive genus Olea includes c. 30–40 taxa in three subgenera (Olea, Tetrapilus, and Paniculatae) within the family Oleaceae. Historically, the Olea genus was classified into four groups that were overall well supported by reconstructed phylogenies, despite incomplete sampling of subgenus Tetrapilus and poor resolution within clades. These analyses also showed that the genus was not monophyletic. Reliable identification of Olea species is important for both their conservation and utilization of this economically important genus. In this study, we used phylogenomic data from genome skimming to resolve relationships within Olea and to identify molecular markers for species identification. We assembled the complete plastomes, and nrDNA of 26 individuals representing 13 species using next‐generation sequencing and added 18 publicly available accessions of Olea. We also developed nuclear SNPs using the genome skimming data to infer the phylogenetic relationships of Olea. Large‐scale phylogenomic analyses of 138 samples of tribe Oleeae supported the polyphyly of Olea, with Olea caudatilimba and Olea subgenus Tetrapilus not sharing their most recent common ancestor with the main Olea clade (subgenus Paniculatae and subgenus Olea). The interspecific phylogenetic resolution was poor owing to a possible rapid radiation. By comparing with the plastome data, we identified the markers ycf1b and psbE‐petL as the best Olea‐specific chloroplast DNA barcodes. Compared with universal barcodes, specific DNA barcodes and super‐barcode exhibited higher discriminatory power. Our results demonstrated the power of phylogenomics to improve phylogenetic relationships of intricate groups and provided new insights into barcodes that allow for accurate identification of Olea species. Highlights: Genus Olea was a polyphyletic group and had undergone rapid radiation.ycf1b and psbE‐petL were two Olea‐specific chloroplast DNA barcodes.Plastome sequence data had effective power to improve phylogenetic resolution and species discrimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lactic Acid Bacteria are a group of Gram -positive bacteria which are widely used in the food industry as organic ferments called starter cultures. In this study, Enterococcus faecium, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Lactococcus lactis, Weissella paramesenteroides, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum isolated from Moroccan table olives were tested for their acquisition of probiotic and technological properties. Methods: The 5 strains were previously isolated from table olives in 2017. Matrix - Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization -Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer (MALDI -TOF MS) and intergenic space sequencing were used for molecular identification. Following that, probiotic and physicochemical properties were evaluated, including growth at different pH levels (2, 3, and 10), temperatures (7, 45, and 50 °C), and sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations (6.5 and 18% m/v). Antibacterial activity was tested out against Gram -positive and Gram -negatives bacteria. Results: The 5 strains (E. faecium 168, L. lactis 9, L. plantarum 11, L. mesenteroides 62, and W. paramesenteroides 36) showed an ability to grow at low temperatures (7 °C). L. lactis 9 and L. plantarum 11 showed higher acid (pH 2) and salt (18% NaCl) tolerances. In addition, L. lactis 9 and L. plantarum 11 exhibited the highest level of free radical scavenging activity after 48 h of incubation, respectively). L. plantarum 11 and E. faecium 168 showed the highest antibacterial capacity. However, E. faecium 168 and W. paramesenteroides 36 demonstrated better and more rapid acid production capabilities. Conclusion: L. plantarum 11, E. faecium 168, and W. paramesenteroides 36 were considered the best candidates as probiotic cultures for further in vivo studies and functional food product development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Olea europaea L. Cv. Arbequina (OEA) (Oleaceae) is an olive variety species that has received little attention. Besides our previous work for the chemical profiling of OEA leaves using LC–HRESIMS, an additional 23 compounds are identified. An excision wound model is used to measure wound healing action. Wounds are provided with OEA (2% w/v) or MEBO® cream (marketed treatment). The wound closure rate related to vehicle-treated wounds is significantly increased by OEA. Comparing to vehicle wound tissues, significant levels of TGF-β in OEA and MEBO® (p < 0.05) are displayed by gene expression patterns, with the most significant levels in OEA-treated wounds. Proinflammatory TNF-α and IL-1β levels are substantially reduced in OEA-treated wounds. The capability of several lignan-related compounds to interact with MMP-1 is revealed by extensive in silico investigation of the major OEA compounds (i.e., inverse docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and ΔG calculation), and their role in the wound-healing process is also characterized. The potential of OEA as a potent MMP-1 inhibitor is shown in subsequent in vitro testing (IC50 = 88.0 ± 0.1 nM). In conclusion, OEA is introduced as an interesting therapeutic candidate that can effectively manage wound healing because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Olive mill wastewater (OMWW) was used in ferti-irrigation due to its high water content, as well as its organic and mineral richness. However, this by-product also contains elevated levels of polyphenols, which may pose phytotoxic risks to soil microbiota and plants over time. To address this concern, we conducted a thorough examination of the phenolic composition of OMWW and the phenolic content of amended soils using HPLC analysis. Additionally, we assessed the residual phytotoxicity of OMWW across various soil rhizospheric layers (0-30 cm, 30-60 cm, and 60-90 cm). Standard germination tests were performed using soil extracts with sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) seeds. We also measured α-amylase activities in the germinated seeds for both species, comparing them to raw OMWW and control soil extracts. HPLC analysis revealed that tyrosol, ferulic acid, and hydroxytyrosol were the predominant phenolic compounds in crude OMWW, while no detectable compounds were found in the soil extracts. Germination tests indicated minimal toxicity in the topsoil amended with OMWW, with a noticeable reduction in residual phytotoxicity at greater depths. These results aligned with the α-amylase activity assessments, which demonstrated significantly higher enzyme activity in the deeper soil layers (30-60 cm and 60-90 cm), with no substantial differences compared to control extracts., Competing Interests: Declarations Ethics approval All authors have read, understood, and have complied as applicable with the statement on “Ethical responsibilities of Authors” as found in the Instructions for Authors. Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Olea pollen is considered one of the most critical causes of respiratory allergic disease in the Mediterranean region, contributing to different symptoms in allergic sufferers. Due to the high increase in the prevalence of olive pollen caused by the expansion of cultivated areas especially in the Mediterranean region, the aim of this study was to examine the Olea pollen sampling efficiency between gravimetric and volumetric pollen traps over the period 2018-2022. Our data demonstrated that Olea pollen season start-date was generally recorded earlier with volumetric trap than shown with gravimetric method. Moreover, the peak dates occurred mainly in May for the years studied. Across the entire period, the greatest pollen concentrations were reached in the week 11th and >60 % of the total Olea pollen were already reached after the ninth week of sampling in 2020. In general, the evolution of pollen sampling for both methods demonstrates similar temporal development. Variations in the seasonal pollen integral could be attributed to the elevation above ground level at which the traps were placed, exposure to regional winds, the influence of long-range transported pollen and the mode of pollen transport. The findings indicate that the gravimetric method was equally practical as the volumetric method in estimating airborne pollen., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The integration of organic wastes into cement-based materials shows promise as a solution to mitigate environmental pollutants. It achieves this by minimizing waste sent to landfills and in some conditions decreasing Portland cement use. One of these organic wastes that produces positive effects when used in cement products is olive seed. In this study, the effect of a new generation bio-polymeric admixture on the physical and mechanical properties of cement mortars is examined in detail. The bio-polymeric admixture is prepared by grinding olive seeds in 0/125 μm sizes. The olive seeds have been used as bio-polymeric admixture in cement mortars at different rates, i.e., 0, 0.2, 0.35, 0.5, 1 and 1.5% of total weight. The olive seed is characterized by XRD, FT-IR analysis and by determining extracts, pectin, cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin content. The characteristics of hydration products were analyzed by SEM/EDS and XRD investigations. Effect of bio-polymeric admixture addition on the unit weight, flowability, setting time, compressive and flexural strength and capillary water absorption was analyzed. The results suggested that the bio-polymeric admixture hindered the cement hydration at low usage rates but promoted at high usage rates. Accordingly, 28 days compressive and flexural strength of test samples decreased. However, 1.5 wt% bio-polymeric admixture was associated with a slight increase of 150-days compressive strength. Bio-polymeric admixture improves the hydrophobicity property of the hardened mortar samples by declining effect on the water absorption. Another important effect of the bio-polymeric admixture contribution was also observed on the flowability property of the cement mortars. As the bio-polymeric admixture increased, the flow diameter values of the mortar were also significantly increased. The research outcomes suggested for the first time the beneficial effect of bio-polymeric admixture as a natural and bio-degradable alternative of chemical admixtures on especially flowability, set retarder and hydrophobicity of cement mortars with comparable mechanical properties., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Soil degradation poses a significant challenge to Egypt's agriculture, making resource optimization essential. Nanobiochar presents a promising solution for pollutant removal; however, its low yields may hinder commercialization. This study investigates the production of biochar from sugarcane bagasse and olive mill waste, focusing on its composition, morphology, and effectiveness in soil immobilization. Advanced techniques like SEM, TEM, and FTIR were used to characterize the nanobiochar, highlighting its potential as a sustainable solution to soil contamination. The study revealed that ZnCl2 treatment significantly lowers pH, while KOH modification raises it. Surface morphology analysis showed that SCB biochar exhibited a highly porous structure, while OMW biochar had less porous edges and irregular oval-shaped pores. The effects of biochar activation on the availability of heavy metals like Ni, Pb, and Mo (in mg.Kg -1 ) were also examined. Ni concentrations decreased from 1.27 mg.Kg -1 in untreated biochar (NA) to 0.78 mg.Kg -1 in KOH-treated biochar (KA) and 0.67 mg.Kg -1 in ZnCl2-treated biochar (ZnA). Pb levels dropped from 7.7 mg.Kg -1 in NA to 5.2 mg.Kg -1 in KA and slightly to 4.74 mg.Kg -1 in ZnA. Mo showed a similar trend, with the highest concentration in NA at 1.21 mg.Kg -1 , followed by 0.88 mg.Kg -1 in KA and 0.75 mg.Kg -1 in ZnA. Overall, OMW nanobiochar demonstrated a greener, more sustainable solution to soil contamination compared to SCB nanobiochar., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Four previously described species of Argopistes are recognized and redescribed from Japan and Taiwan: A.biplagiatus Motschulsky, 1860, A.rufus Chen, 1934, A.tsekooni Chen, 1934, and A.unicolor Jacoby, 1885. Three new species from Taiwan, A.jungchani sp. nov. , A.tsoui sp. nov. , and A.yuae sp. nov. , are described. Descriptions of species include illustrations of aedeagi, antennae, gonocoxae, abdominal ventrite VIII, and spermathecae. Argopistesrufus Chen, 1934, stat. nov. is raised to species status from a variety of A.biplagiatus Motschulsky, 1860. Argopistescoccinelliformis Csiki, 1940, syn. nov. and A.ryukyuensis Shigetoh & Suenaga, 2022, syn. nov. are proposed as junior synonyms of A.rufus Chen, 1934 Lectotypes are designated for A.undecimmaculata Jacoby, 1885, A.unicolor Jacoby, 1885, and A.biplagiatusvar.rufus Chen, 1934., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Chi-Feng Lee, Ming-Yao Chiang, Haruki Suenaga.)

New industries are proliferating in the recovery of agri-food wastes, such as those involved in the revaluation of alperujo, generated in the production of olive oil. Despite the potential environmental benefits, their activity is not exempt from new forms of emissions, aggravated by the massification of waste treatments. This work reports a six-month field campaign carried out in an alperujo desiccation plant which can serve as a proxy for these emerging industries in the Mediterranean countries. The study focused on air quality parameters, covering criteria pollutants, metals and microbiological load of particulate matter and the characterization of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The results show a slight contribution of the factory to the NOx levels in the surroundings (3.0-12.5 μg/m 3 ). Statistically significant effects were not observed for ozone, CO, SO 2 , or PM 10 . Concerning the levels of metals, concentrations were low and calculated health risk indexes indicated safe conditions in the area. The most abundant elements were Na (6.5 × 10 2  ng/m 3 ), K (4.0 × 10 2  ng/m 3 ), Al (2.7 × 10 2  ng/m 3 ), Zn (2.1 × 10 2  ng/m 3 ), Ca (2.16 × 10 2  ng/m 3 ), Fe (3.6 × 10 1  ng/m 3 ) and Mg (3.2 × 10 1  ng/m 3 ). Bacterial counts, with a mean value of 15.9 CFU/m 3 , showed a seasonal shift, mainly explained by weather (air moisture and temperature) and PM 2.5 concentration. The genomic analysis showed Cutibacterium as the dominant genus during the cold months while Bacillus predominated in the warm season. The VOCs with higher average concentrations were acetic acid (130 μg/m 3 ), nonanoic acid (124 μg/m 3 ), benzoic acid (29.7 μg/m 3 ), octanoic acid (19.9 μg/m 3 ) and nonanal (4.70 μg/m 3 ), with the rest of compounds in concentrations below 4 μg/m 3 . Odorant pollutants with the greatest contribution to olfactory nuisance were aldehydes (from pentanaldehyde to decanaldehyde), acetic acid and phenol. Although the observable effects of the waste treatments were low, several parameters showed an influence on the environment which should be assessed to foresee and prevent long-term consequences., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

The dataset presents a 43 year-long reanalysis of pollen seasons for three major allergenic genera of trees in Europe: alder (Alnus), birch (Betula), and olive (Olea). Driven by the meteorological reanalysis ERA5, the atmospheric composition model SILAM predicted the flowering period and calculated the Europe-wide dispersion pattern of pollen for the years 1980-2022. The model applied an extended 4-dimensional variational data assimilation of in-situ observations of aerobiological networks in 34 European countries to reproduce the inter-annual variability and trends of pollen production and distribution. The control variable of the assimilation procedure was the total pollen release during each flowering season, implemented as an annual correction factor to the mean pollen production. The dataset was designed as an input to studies on climate-induced and anthropogenically driven changes in the European vegetation, biodiversity monitoring, bioaerosol modelling and assessment, as well as, in combination with intra-seasonal observations, for health-related applications., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Kalamata table olives are a widely exported Greek protected designation of origin (PDO) product with distinct organoleptic profile. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of label color on the flavor perception of pasteurized and unpasteurized Kalamata PDO olives. Consumer perception was assessed in two studies. First, four packaged products with green, blue, red, and purple labeling were assessed by participants (n = 106) for preference using rating scales, and emotional profiles were obtained using a check-all-that-apply list of 33 emotions developed in language native to the participants (Greek). The green label resulted to more positive emotion profiling of olive products (i.e., "healthy," "pleased," and "satisfied" with mean scores correspondingly equal to 2.99, 2.95, and 2.87), and red labeled olives resulted to willingness to pay more. In the second study, unpasteurized and pasteurized olives in red and green labeled glass jars were sensorially assessed by participants (n = 124) using rating scales, showing that green labeled products are liked most (mean scores; 5.12 and 5.12), whereas red labeled was scored less (mean scores; 4.96 and 4.67), along emotion profiles with emojis. Principal component analysis of emotional reactions revealed grouping of samples based only on pasteurization/no pasteurization, without been affected by the color of the label, and did not relate to the liking scores. The results showed that sensory perception of olives is significantly affected by the color of packaging (p-value <0.05) due to emotional reactions and color of packaging can enhance the perception of olives' quality as improvement of the processing is limited by the PDO status., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Food Science published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Institute of Food Technologists.)

The degradation of antipyrine (AP) in water has been studied using persulfate activated with biochar obtained from gasification of olive pomace (BC) combined with ferric salts in the presence of UV-A radiation. Firstly, the adsorption of AP on biochar was evaluated. The data were adjusted using various kinetic models verifying that AP adsorption on BC occurs in three stages and follows pseudo-second order kinetics. Degradation tests show that the presence of iron or persulfate (PS) in binary systems with BC produces increases AP degradation when no radiation is used, reaching 75.7 % due to the ability of BC to donate electrons. On the other hand, addition of PS showed an increase in efficiency in the presence of BC (up to 79%). For ternary systems the best result was found when UVA/PS/Fe was used (100% of AP degradation in 30 min). The addition of UV-A radiation to the BC/PS system improves the degradation of the contaminant by only 6.7%, while the presence of iron in the studied conditions does not cause any improvement. A Central Composite Factorial Design of experiments was used to optimize the UVA/BC/PS/Fe system, leading to an 89.3% AP degradation rate in 90 min (k = 0.0134 min-1) under optimal conditions ([Fe(III)] = 10 mg/L, [PS] = 379 mg/L, [BC] = 500 mg/L). Although the best results were obtained for the UVA/PS/Fe process without BC, systems based on BC/PS can be considered as an alternative in cloudy days or when simple processes are selected due to economical/technical reasons., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Acrylic acid, N-acetyl-glucosamine and glucosamine were investigated for their role in the formation of acrylamide in California-style black ripe olives [CBROs]. Levels of acrylic acid and glucosamine are reported for the first time in fresh (333.50 ± 21.88 and 243.59 ± 10.06 nmol/g, respectively) and in brine-stored olives (184.50 ± 6.02 and 165.88 ± 11.51 nmol/g, respectively). Acrylamide levels significantly increased when acrylic acid (35.2%), N-acetyl-glucosamine (29.9%), and glucosamine (124.0%) were added to olives prior to sterilization. However, isotope studies indicate these compounds do not contribute carbon and/or nitrogen atoms to acrylamide. The base-catalyzed degradation of glucosamine is demonstrated in olive pulp and a strong correlation (r2 = 0.9513) between glucosamine in olives before sterilization and acrylamide formed in processed CBROs is observed. Treatment with sodium hydroxide (pH > 12) significantly reduces acrylamide levels over 1 to 5 d without impacting olive fruit texture.

Olives are evergreen trees with a low growth rate that are cultivated in semi-tropical climates. The biochemical properties of three olive cultivars were explored under the foliar application of amino and organic acids in a two-factor factorial experiment based on a randomized complete block design with three replications in Rudbar County, Iran. The first factor was assigned to olive cultivar ('Zard', 'Arbequina', and 'Manzanilla') and the second factor to the foliar application of organic acids at 9 levels of control, arginine, glutamine, humic acid, fulvic acid, arginine + humic acid, arginine + fulvic acid, glutamine + humic acid, and glutamine + fulvic acid. The recorded traits included the Brix value, content of oil, protein, chlorophyll, carotenoid, anthocyanins, phenols, and the activity of antioxidant enzymes. The Results showed that cv. 'Zard' had the highest Brix value, fruit protein content, carotenoid, anthocyanins, and phenols, and cv. 'Arbequina' had the highest oil fraction. The Results of the simple effects of organic acids revealed that the trees treated with arginine + humic acid had the highest fruit protein content and total chlorophyll, and those treated with humic acid had the highest anthocyanin and phenol contents. Data on the interaction of 'cultivar × organic acids' showed that 'Arbequina × glutamine' had the highest oil content, 'Manzanilla × fulvic acid' and 'Manzanilla × glutamine + fulvic acid' had the highest fruit protein content, 'Zard × humic acid' had the highest phenol content, 'Arbequina × arginine' had the highest superoxide dismutase activity, and 'Arbequina × glutamine + fulvic acid' had the highest peroxidase activity. Finally, it can be concluded that Arbequina cultivar produced the most oil when foliar sprayed with glutamine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is one of the most widespread diseases globally and one of the leading causes of death. Known cancer treatments are chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy, targeted hormonal therapy, or a combination of these methods. Antitumor drugs, with different mechanisms, interfere with cancer growth by destroying cancer cells. However, anticancer drugs are dangerous, as they significantly affect both cancer cells and healthy cells. In addition, there may be the onset of systemic side effects perceived and mutagenicity, teratogenicity, and further carcinogenicity. Many polyphenolic extracts, taken on top of common anti-tumor drugs, can participate in the anti-proliferative effect of drugs and significantly reduce the side effects developed. This review aims to discuss the current scientific knowledge of the protective effects of polyphenols of the genera Vaccinium, Citrus, Olea, and Cynara on the side effects induced by four known chemotherapy, Cisplatin, Doxorubicin, Tamoxifen, and Paclitaxel. In particular, the summarized data will help to understand whether polyphenols can be used as adjuvants in cancer therapy, although further clinical trials will provide crucial information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of vaginal candidiasis is high in women and proper treatment is essential in this regard. Materials and Methods: This single-blind randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 120 women who were referred to Hamadan health centers in 2019. The patients were randomly divided into Clotrimazole cream and Nika vaginal cream groups each including 60 cases. The intervention group received Nika vaginal cream once a day for a week and those in the control group were given Clotrimazole vaginal cream in the same way. The clinical symptoms were studied by clinical examinations and the culture of vaginal discharge before and 7 days after the treatment to confirm the diagnosis of Candida albicans. The results were analyzed by SPSS 21.0 using an independent t test, Mann–Whitney U test, and Chi-square, Fisher's exact, and McNemar's tests, the significance level was set at 0.05. Results: Most patients in both groups reported no clinical symptoms after the intervention, and no significant difference was observed between the two groups in this regard (χ2 = 2.23, p = 0.566). Conversely, a significant difference was found in Nika and Clotrimazole groups before and after the intervention regarding improving Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (VVC) symptoms χ2 = 86.01, χ2 = 99.41, respectively (p < 0.001). Finally, 84.48% and 75.86% of women in the Nika χ2 = 45.02 (p < 0.001) and Clotrimazole cream χ2 = 40.02 (p < 0.001) groups had negative culture results after the intervention. Conclusions: In general, the Nika and Clotrimazole vaginal creams have the same effects concerning improving the symptoms of vaginal candidiasis and thus can be used to treat VVC.

The OleA enzyme is distinct amongst thiolase enzymes in binding two long (≥C8) acyl chains into structurally-opposed hydrophobic channels, denoted A and B, to carry out a non-decarboxylative Claisen condensation reaction and initiate the biosynthesis of membrane hydrocarbons and β-lactone natural products. OleA has now been identified in hundreds of diverse bacteria via bioinformatics and high-throughput screening using p-nitrophenyl alkanoate esters as surrogate substrates. In the present study, p-nitrophenyl esters were used to probe the reaction mechanism of OleA and shown to be incorporated into Claisen condensation products for the first time. p-Nitrophenyl alkanoate substrates alone were shown not to undergo Claisen condensation, but co-incubation of p-nitrophenyl esters and CoA thioesters produced mixed Claisen products. Mixed product reactions were shown to initiate via acyl group transfer from a p-nitrophenyl carrier to the enzyme active site cysteine, C143. Acyl chains esterified to p-nitrophenol were synthesized and shown to undergo Claisen condensation with an acyl-CoA substrate, showing potential to greatly expand the range of possible Claisen products. Using p-nitrophenyl 1-13C-decanoate, the Channel A bound thioester chain was shown to act as the Claisen nucleophile, representing the first direct evidence for the directionality of the Claisen reaction in any OleA enzyme. These results both provide new insights into OleA catalysis and open a path for making unnatural hydrocarbon and β-lactone natural products for biotechnological applications using cheap and easily synthesized p-nitrophenyl esters.

Olive trees hold a significant economical, ecological and ornamental value, especially in the Mediterranean area. It is a wind-pollinated species emitting huge quantities of pollen with a high degree of allergenic sensitization. Andalusia region (southern Spain), where 15 % of the global olive tree population is cultivated, present a high density of this crop, reaching daily airborne olive pollen concentrations up to 6.000 pollen/m 3 . Although daily variations during the pollen season have been widely investigated in bibliography, factors influencing the intradiurnal dynamics of olive pollen concentrations remains underexplored in aerobiology. The present paper focuses on it, characterizing main intradiurnal patterns, identifying potential pollen source areas and the influence of wind dynamics on Córdoba city olive pollen data. The results reveal the presence of different pollen peaks at various hours of the day, depending on the stage of the pollen season (pre- and post-peak) and wind dynamics. Nevertheless, the main one is detected at midday during the pre-peak season, with secondary peaks at night, morning and late afternoon. A thorough examination of wind dynamics highlighted the significant influence of distant and local sources on the hourly pollen peaks and hence, on intradiurnal patterns. The analysis of the intradiurnal pattern associated with different air mass patterns demonstrated a considerable variability in the occurrence of peak concentrations and hence, in the contribution of sources. The characterization of surface winds confirms the substantial differences in the dynamics of atmospheric transport processes that influence the primary intradiurnal patterns of olive pollen in this region., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The accumulation of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) over anaerobic digestion (AD) leads to malfunctioning of industrial reactors, hence decreasing biogas production. Real-time monitoring of VFAs is a challenge due to the complexity and high cost of current methods for their quantification. For this reason, this research evaluated the application of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to quantify volatile fatty acids as a tool for AD reactors monitoring. To do that, 129 samples from various AD reactors fed with olive oil pomace were taken and their NIR spectra were acquired with a hand-held spectrometer. After performing grid search, three spectral variable selection methods, namely competitive adaptive reweighted sampling, uninformative variable elimination (UVE) and successive projections algorithm, were assayed before developing PLRS models to correlate the NIR light transmittance through the samples at the wavelengths selected by those methods with their VFAs concentrations. UVE led to the best performance for all the VFAs assayed. Thus, R 2 of validation of UVE-PLSR models for acetic, propionic, butyric, valeric and total VFAs were 0.895, 0.622, 0.866, 0.898 and 0.871, respectively. The predictive model for total VFAs achieved the highest accuracy (RMSEV = 539.5 mg/L), explained by the correlation between the light absorption at the wavelengths selected by UVE and the chemical characteristics of VFAs. All in all, the prediction errors achieved suggest that a portable near infrared spectrometer can be used for monitoring VFAs in AD processes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

An introduced plant pathogen proves difficult to contain in southern Italy

Background: Table olives are nutritionally a complete food and considered as one of the oldest fermented products. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 11 as a starter culture on the fermentation of table olives at two incubation temperatures 22 and 30 °C and different salt concentrations (0, 4, 8, and 12% m/v) of sodium chloride (NaCl). Methods: The fermentation of table olives was carried out according to the Spanish style. L. plantarum 11 was inoculated as a starter culture (106 Colony Forming Unit (CFU)/ml), and Listeria monocytogenes CECT 4032 was used as an indicator strain. Under the same experimental conditions, the fermentation of olives without the inoculation of starter culture was used as a control. Then, biochemical and microbiological quality of each experimental batch was tested. Results: Unlike the incubation temperature of 22 °C, the pH values obtained in salted batches and incubated at 30 °C were all below the marketing limits for table olives. At the end of the process, the maximum load of yeasts and molds (>5 log CFU/ml) was recorded in the batches incubated at 22 °C. At 22 °C, Listeria was absent in inoculated fermenters at a concentration greater than or equal to 8% (w/v) of NaCl. However, at 30 °C, Listeria was not detected in treatment groups and in the control group with 12% NaCl. Conclusion: L. plantarum 11 could be potentially considered as a probiotic starter culture during the fermentation of black table olives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The natural production of olefins (unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons) by certain bacterial genera represents an alternative and sustainable source of biofuels and lubricant components. The biochemical steps of olefin biosynthesis via the ole pathway encoded by oleABCD have been unraveled recently, and the occurrence of olefins has been reported for several Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. However, the distribution and diversity of olefins among the Gram-positive bacteria has not been studied in detail. Results We report the distribution of olefin synthesis gene clusters in the bacterial domain and focus on the olefin composition and the determinants of olefin production within the phylum of Actinobacteria. The olefin profiles of numerous genera of the Micrococcales order were analyzed by GC/MS. We describe for the first time olefin synthesis in representatives of the genera Pseudarthrobacter, Paenarthrobacter, Glutamicibacter, Clavibacter, Rothia, Dermacoccus, Kytococcus, Curtobacterium, and Microbacterium. By exchange of the native ole genes of Micrococcus luteus with the corresponding genes of actinobacteria producing different olefins, we demonstrate that the olefin composition can be manipulated with respect to chain length and isomer composition. Conclusions This study provides a catalogue of the diversity of olefin structures found in the Actinobacteria. Our ole gene swapping data indicate that the olefin structures are fundamentally determined by the substrate specificity of OleA, and at the same time by the availability of a sufficient supply of suitable fatty acyl-CoA substrates from cellular fatty acid metabolism. This makes OleA of Gram-positive bacteria a promising target for structural analysis and protein engineering aiming to generate olefin chain lengths and isomer profiles which are designed to match the requirements of various industrial applications.

Background: Usage of chemical mouthwashes for controlling dental caries can end to some side effects such as oral biological imbalance. Recently, using natural derivatives such as herbs, presented to overcome such adverse effects. Due to antibacterial property of olive leaf extracts (Olea europaea), this study conducted in order to evaluate bacteriocidal, anti-acid production, and anti-adhesion effects of olive leaf ethanolic, methanolic, and hydroalcoholic extracts on Streptococcus mutans. Materials and Methods: In this in vitro study, nine strains of S. mutans (PTCC1683) were used. Maceration methods were done in order to provide the olive leaf ethanolic, methanolic, and hydroalcoholic extracts. The antibacterial activities evaluated by macrodilution and disc diffusion method in different concentrations (3.25%–100%). Acid production and adhesion of bacterial strains also were evaluated. The obtained data were analyzed by analysis of variance method using SPSS software. P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration for ethanolic, methanolic, and hydroalcoholic olive leaf extracts on S. mutans are 12%–25%, 50%–75%, and 12%–25%, respectively. In addition, inhibition zone of S. mutans significantly increased in higher concentration (ethanolic and methanolic extracts: P = 0.004; hydroalcoholic extract: P = 0.003). The acid production and adhesion significantly decreased by increase in the concentration (P < 0.001). Conclusion: In general, olive leaf ethanolic, methanolic, and hydroalcoholic extracts induce growth inhibition, acid production, and adhesion of S. mutans. Consequently, it can be used as a natural preservative in the food industry, as well as in the production of commercial products such as chewing gum, chocolate, and toothpaste to prevent dental caries.

In recent years, a new phenomenon of early olive drop is causing production losses in olive groves throughout northern Italy. To analyze the possible causes, field and laboratory trials were performed to assess the involvement of fungal pathogens and insect pests in this disease. External and internal symptoms of fungal infections or insect-feeding activities were researched. Fungi present in healthy and dislodged olives were investigated. The relationship between olives that fell and Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) infestation was assessed in a controlled infestation trial, and the effectiveness of an insecticidal strategy in reducing early olive drop was tested in open field conditions. A comparable number of fungi, mostly endophytes, were isolated and identified from both healthy and dislodged olives. The damage observed on dislodged olives was primarily ascribed to pentatomids feeding activity. Six stink bugs species were found in olive canopies, that is, the invasive H. halys, which was by far the most abundant, and Acrosternum heegeri Fieber, Nezara viridula (Linnaeus), Palomena prasina (Linnaeus), Piezodorus lituratus (Fabricious), and Rhaphigaster nebulosa (Poda). Halyomorpha halys caused intense fruit drop in the controlled infestation trial, and its infestation level significantly correlated with the number of olives that fell. Native stink bugs, present in much lower population compared to H. halys, could also partially contribute to early drop of olives. Insect proof net significantly reduced the early olive drop disease, while insecticide applications only partially reduced the stink bugs population density and, proportionally, early olive drop., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America.)

İzmir, Turkey's third most populous city, is in an important position in terms of both agriculture and industry. The province, which contributes 9.3% to the country's industrial production, also has an important potential in terms of olive cultivation. However, until now, no research has been undertaken to analyze the content of trace elements (TEs) in the soil of olive orchards in İzmir. This study was carried out to determine the pollution level and ecological risks of TEs in the olive orchards soils of İzmir province, to reveal their potential sources and to evaluate their health risks. Among the TEs, the average content of only Ni (37.9 mg/kg) exceeded the world soil average content (29 mg/kg), while the average content of only Cd (0.176 mg/kg) exceeded the upper continental crust content (0.09 mg/kg). Enrichment factor revealed that there was significant enrichment for Cd in 73.6%, Ni in 11.6% and Cr in 5.4% of olive orchards, respectively, due to polluted irrigation water and agrochemicals. Similarly, ecological risk factor indicated that there were moderate and considerable ecological risks for Cd in 48.8% and 23.3% of olive orchards, respectively. Absolute principal component scores-multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR) model showed that Ni and Cr in the study area are affected by agricultural sources, Al, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn originate from lithogenic sources, and Cd originates from mixed sources. Based on health risk evaluation methods, non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic effects would not be expected for residents. This study provides significant knowledge for evaluating soil TE pollution in olive orchards and serves a model for source apportionment and human health risk evaluation of TEs in other agricultural regions., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The possibility of obtaining energy or nutritive streams and bioremediation as an add-on opens new perspectives for the massive culturing of microalgal biomass on waste waters generated by the agro-food sector. Ordinary revenue streams are fully preserved, or even boosted, if they are used in microalgal cultivation; however, the suitability of wastewaters depends on multiple nutritional and toxic factors. Here, the effect of modulating the Olive Mill Wastewater (OMW) and cattle digestate (CD) fraction in the formulation of a growth medium on biomass accumulation and productivity of selected biomass fractions and their relevance for biofuel and/or feed production were tested for the microalga Scenedesmus dimorphus and for the cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina). Tests highlighted the strong S. dimorphus adaptability to digestate, as on OMW, compared to A. platensis, with the maximum lipid storage (48 %) when culture medium was composed by 50 % of cattle digestate., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Soil and earthworms are threatened by anthropogenic contamination resulting from olive mill waste dumping on the soil due to their pollutant properties. While several studies have explored the effects of olive mill waste on soil properties and the accumulation of heavy metals in soil, there is currently a gap in the literature regarding the potential bioaccumulation of heavy metals from olive mill waste in earthworms. In this study, soil with earthworms from two ecological categories (endogeic: Aporrectodea trapezoides and epigeic: Eisenia fetida) was treated with increasing doses of olive mill wastewater (OMWW) and olive mill pomace (OMP), applied individually or combined, in an indoor experiment in plastic containers, under laboratory conditions. The results revealed the presence of significant concentrations of heavy metals in the two types of wastes ranging as follows: Fe˃ Zn˃ Cu˃ Cd˃ Cr for OMWW, and Fe˃ Zn˃ Cu˃ Cr for OMP (with Cd below the detection limit). The study demonstrated distinct effects of OMWW and OMP, both individually and in combination, on soil heavy metal content, ranging as follows: soil OMWW > soil Combination > soil OMP for Cd; soil Combination > soil OMWW > soil OMP for Cr and Fe; and soil Combination > soil OMP > soil OMWW for Cu and Zn. Additionally, our investigation showed that both earthworm species exhibited significant uptake of these metals into their tissues, particularly the endogeic species. Interestingly, the most significant difference between species was in the accumulation of Cu, with the epigeic species accumulating significantly lower amounts., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The olive mill industry is a relevant sector in the economy of Mediterranean countries, while it involves high consumption of water and the production of effluents with high environmental impact. The efficient treatment of olive mill wastewater (OMW) is of high relevance, particularly for these countries. Climate changes are leading to increasing periods of droughts, and water recovery from polluted streams is essential to ensure the sustainability of this scarce resource. A combination of various technologies involving physical, chemical, and biological processes has been developed for OMW treatment. However, the treatments studied have limitations such as the operation costs, difficulty of industrial scale-up, and the fact that the vast majority do not lead to suitable treated water for discharge/reuse. As such, it is urgent to develop a solution capable of efficiently treating this effluent, overcoming the disadvantages of existing processes to convert OMW from a serious environmental problem into a valuable source of water and nutrients. In this review, several studies based on the OMW treatment are critically discussed, from conventional approaches such as the physical (e.g. centrifugation, filtration, and adsorption) and biological (anaerobic digestion and anaerobic co-digestion) processes, to the most recent technologies such as advanced membrane filtration, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) and sulfate radical based AOPs (SR-AOPs). Due to the complexity of the effluent, OMW cannot be efficiently treated by a single process, requiring a sequence of technologies before reaching the required characteristics for discharge into water courses or use in crop irrigation. Reviewing the published results in this matter, it seems that the sequence of processes encompassing ozonation, anaerobic digestion, and SR-AOPs could be the ideal combination for this purpose. However, membrane technologies may be necessary in the final stage of treatment so that the effluent meets legal discharge or irrigation limits., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The transition towards a sustainable model, particularly the circular economy, emphasizes the importance of redefining waste as a valuable resource, paving the way for innovative upcycling strategies. The olive oil industry, with its significant output of agricultural waste, offers a promising avenue for high-value biomass conversion into useful products through microbial processes. This study focuses on exploring new, high-value applications for olive leaves waste, utilizing a biotechnological approach with Lactobacillus casei for the production of second-generation lactic acid. Contrary to initial expectations, the inherent high polyphenol content and low fermentable glucose levels in olive leaves posed challenges for fermentation. Addressing this, an enzymatic hydrolysis step, following a preliminary extraction process, was implemented to increase glucose availability. Subsequent small-scale fermentation tests were conducted with and without nutrient supplements, identifying the medium that yielded the highest lactic acid production for scale-up. The scaled-up batch fermentation process achieved an enhanced conversion rate (83.58%) and specific productivity (0.26 g/L·h). This research confirms the feasibility of repurposing olive waste leaves for the production of lactic acid, contributing to the advancement of a greener economy through the valorization of agricultural waste. KEY POINTS: • Olive leaves slurry as it did not allow L. casei to ferment. • High concentrations of polyphenols inhibit fermentation of L. casei. • Enzymatic hydrolysis combined to organosolv extraction is the best pretreatment for lactic acid production starting from leaves and olive pruning waste., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Tunisia is known as an underprivileged country in water resources, and water scarcity is evident in certain regions. In the long term, this situation could become more exacerbated, considering the increased risk of aridity. In this context, this work was carried out to study and compare the ecophysiological behavior of five olive cultivars facing drought stress and to evaluate the contribution of rhizobacteria to mitigate the effects of drought stress on these cultivars. The results showed a significant decrease in the relative water content (RWC) with the lowest percentage recorded for the 'Jarboui' cultivar (RWC = 37%), and the highest percentage was registered for the 'Chemcheli' cultivar (RWC = 71%). In addition, the performance index (PI) decreased for all the five cultivars and it reached the lowest values for 'Jarboui' and 'Chetoui' with 1.51 and 1.57, respectively. For the SPAD index, a decrease was registered for all the cultivars, except 'Chemcheli' (SPAD index = 89). Furthermore, the bacterial inoculation treatment improved the responses of cultivars to water stress. In fact, for all of the studied parameters, it was found that rhizobacterial inoculation significantly attenuated the effects of drought stress with variability dependent on the level of tolerance of the tested cultivars. This response improvement was noted especially in susceptible cultivars like 'Chetoui' and 'Jarboui'., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: The prevalence of vaginal candidiasis is high in women and proper treatment is essential in this regard. Materials and Methods: This single-blind randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 120 women who were referred to Hamadan health centers in 2019. The patients were randomly divided into Clotrimazole cream and Nika vaginal cream groups each including 60 cases. The intervention group received Nika vaginal cream once a day for a week and those in the control group were given Clotrimazole vaginal cream in the same way. The clinical symptoms were studied by clinical examinations and the culture of vaginal discharge before and 7 days after the treatment to confirm the diagnosis of Candida albicans. The results were analyzed by SPSS 21.0 using an independent t test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Chi-square, Fisher's exact, and McNemar's tests, the significance level was set at 0.05. Results: Most patients in both groups reported no clinical symptoms after the intervention, and no significant difference was observed between the two groups in this regard (χ² = 2.23, p = 0.566). Conversely, a significant difference was found in Nika and Clotrimazole groups before and after the intervention regarding improving Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (VVC) symptoms χ² = 86.01, χ² = 99.41, respectively (p < 0.001). Finally, 84.48% and 75.86% of women in the Nika χ² = 45.02 (p < 0.001) and Clotrimazole cream χ² = 40.02 (p < 0.001) groups had negative culture results after the intervention. Conclusions: In general, the Nika and Clotrimazole vaginal creams have the same effects concerning improving the symptoms of vaginal candidiasis and thus can be used to treat VVC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]