Phytochemical characterization of Moringa oleifera leaves

Summary Introduction: Moringa oleifera (moringa) is a fast-growing tree from north India and Himalayan foothills considered to be one of the most nutritious species. Especially it’s leaves contain proteins in a high concentration, all essential amino acids, nutrients like calcium, iron, potassium and cooper, vitamin A, E and group B, and also antioxidants and polyphenols. Many studies have demonstrated the medicinal properties of moringa leaves consumption thanks to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, prevention of diabetes or antitumor and anticancer properties. The amount and number of essential nutrients and phytochemical constituents may vary depending on the plant tissue and age and especially on the climatic and edaphological conditions. Methods: We pointed to demonstrate moringa plants grown on proper conditions display a better production of its desired compounds. In this work, the mineral, amino acids, antioxidant activity and various bioactive compounds were analysed in moringa leaves extract from plants grown on Tenerife Island under organic production and similar climatic and edaphological conditions as the place of origin. Results: Our results revealed a high concentration of several nutrients as calcium, potassium and iron, as comparison to other moringa plants; β-carotene (pro-vitamin A), ascorbate (vitamin C) and glutathione, whose function is mainly antioxidant; chlorogenic acid with anticancer function; quercetin with antioxidant, anticancer and antidiabetic functions, among others; glucomoringin-isothiocyanate with anti-micro-biological and neuroprotective function. Conclusion: The results obtained in this study placed on Tenerife Island as one of the best suitable places for moringa good quality production and highlight the potential use of moringa novel food for humans and as a biostimulant for plants.

Temporal variations of CO2 efflux continuous monitoring at the summit cone of Teide volcano (Tenerife, Canary Islands) during the period1999-2021

<p>Tenerife Island (2034 km<sup>2</sup>), the largest of the Canarian archipelago, is characterized by three main volcano-tectonic axes: the NS, NE and NW rifts and a central caldera, Las Cañadas, hosting the twin stratovolcanoes Pico Viejo and Teide. Although Teide volcano hosts a weak fumarolic system, volcanic gas emissions from the summit cone consist mostly of diffuse CO<sub>2</sub> degassing. The first continuous automatic geochemical station in Canary Islands was installed at the south-eastern foot of summit cone of Teide volcano in 1999, with the aim of improving the volcanic monitoring system and providing a multidisciplinary approach to the surveillance program of Teide volcano. The 1999-2020 time series shows diffuse CO<sub>2</sub> emission values ranging between 0 and 62.8 kgm<sup>-2</sup>d<sup>-1</sup>, with a mean value of 4.3 kgm<sup>-2</sup>d<sup>-1</sup>. Inspection of the CO<sub>2</sub> efflux time series shows significant temporal variations with anomalous values of more than 20 kgm<sup>-2</sup>d<sup>-1</sup> centred at years 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2015 and 2016, always before a significant increase in the seismic activity beneath Tenerife Island. With the aim to filter out environmental variables, a multiple regression analysis (MRA) was applied to the first 12 years of the diffuse CO<sub>2</sub> flux time series (1999-2011), recorder on an hourly basis by the station, and we found that soil temperature, soil water content, wind speed and barometric pressure explained 16.7% of variability. The comparison between filtered CO<sub>2</sub> efflux (continuous, hourly, automated station) versus the temporal evolution of diffuse CO<sub>2</sub> emission estimated by ground CO<sub>2</sub> efflux surveys of summit cone of Teide (during summer season on an area of around 0.11 km<sup>2</sup>) for the period 1999-2011 (Pérez et al., 2013), shows a nearly coincident marked peak in December 2001 and a similar shaped evolution from each sampling type as the increase from ~2005 to 2009 and the subsequent decrease from ~2009 to 2011, reaching maximum values of 161.6 and 179.9 t d<sup>-1</sup>, respectively. Seismic activity displayed as of monthly earthquakes (M>1) occurring in and around Tenerife island is well correlated with diffuse CO<sub>2</sub> efflux relevant peaks. In average, the seismicity recorded during the study period was mainly preceded by geochemical anomalies of the registered surface CO<sub>2</sub> efflux by about one year. After we analysed the CO<sub>2</sub> efflux time series by using the Continuous Wavelet Transform (Ricker wavelet) to detect relevant time-frequency patterns in the signal, we found at low frequencies quasi-periodical oscillations with periods of 3-4 years, which might reflect the internal dynamics of the magmatic-hydrothermal system. Moreover, during the intervals of highest levels of CO<sub>2</sub> efflux, the analysis evidenced also oscillations with a period of about 6 months during the interval 1999-2011. Our study reveals that continuous geochemical monitoring data is representative of the same trends in flux that are quantitatively captured by annual surveys, and provides the basis for accurate determination of background values. This combined approach offers a useful template for application to other volcanic systems for the purposes of constructing quantitative dynamic models of hydrothermal systems and identifying processes at depth in near-real-time.</p>

Optimal design of an hydrogeophysical monitoring system of compacting volcanic aquifers (Tenerife Island)

<p>Groundwater in volcanic islands is usually the main source of freshwater, and it is essential for sustainable development. In Tenerife Island, groundwater extraction occurs by drilling horizontal water tunnels, called water galleries, as well as numerous coastal wells. Since around 1900, but especially since the 1960s, hundreds of water tunnels have been drilled for agriculture and freshwater supply. This has resulted in a sustained extraction of groundwater larger than the natural recharge, leading to a general water table decline, locally up to 200 m of down drop. Since 2000, satellite radar interferometry (InSAR) applied to measure surface deformation has located several subsidence bowls (e.g., Fernandez et al., 2009). The localized surface deformation patterns have been correlated with water table changes and hence aquifer compaction. However, no further investigations have been carried out to confirm which characteristics (chemical composition, texture, porous network, alterations, etc.) of the volcanic materials can control compaction process, and to which extent porous volcanic units, the most abundant material in Tenerife, can compact to explain the observed surface deformation. This lack of knowledge might affect the effectiveness of water management policies.</p><p>To investigate the compaction processes affecting the volcanic aquifer, we propose to set up a passive hydrogeophysical monitoring network composed of geodetic and seismological instruments. However, considering logistic constrains it is desirable to have as low as possible number of observation sites, whist maximizing the detection and characterization of the aquifer dynamics. Here, we explore different network configurations to maximize the spatial and temporal characterization of the compaction processes using machine learning methods (low-rank matrix techniques). We pose the network design as an optimization process with the aim to parsimoniously have as fewer as possible ground station sites, and have a low error on reconstructing spatiotemporal land subsidence observations. Land subsidence rates were estimated using Sentinel-1 radar interferometric observations from October 2014 to December 2020. This method allows for an optimal network configuration, with respect to the dual penalty function, which facilitate the decision making. Nevertheless, this type of network design should be regarded as proposals because some station site conditions are a priori unknown. Although, one could modify the penalty function to optimize the network considering additional types of information, e.g., geological materials, groundwater table time series, etc.</p><p>Fernandez, J., et al. (2009), Gravity-driven deformation of Tenerife measured by InSAR time series analysis, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L04306, doi:10.1029/2008GL036920.</p>

Petrofabric and geochemical features of ultramafic rocks on the example of restite metamorphites of the Kuznetsk Alatau (Western Siberia), olivine cumulates of the Yoko-Dovyren layered massif (Northern Cisbaikalia) and their analogues from ultrabasic xenoliths of the Canary Islands (Spain)

The article presents the results of petrostructural and mineralogical studies of olivine grains from ultrabasic and basic rocks of different genesis. In particular, they correspond to cumulative dunites of the Yoko-Dovyren layered massif (Northern Cisbaikalia), restite hyperbasites of the Velvet massif (Kuznetskiy Alatau), and xenoliths of peridotites from basalts of the Canary Islands (Spain). The relationship between the petrostructural and mineralogical features of ultrabasic rocks is shown, which makes it possible to identify their cumulative and restite varieties. An important element of the petrostructure of ultrabasites is the orientation of olivine, which reflects either the conditions for the formation of primary crystals in the magmatic melt, or the conditions for its recrystallization as a result of plastic deformations during exhumation to the Earth's surface. The mineral composition of rocks is an additional feature that reflects the real conditions of formation. In the presence of basic plagioclase, it is already quite difficult to speak about the restitic nature of these ultrabasic rocks. On the other hand, plastic deformations of olivine are characteristic of restitic hyperbasites, in which plagioclase is absent. The results of mineralogical studies in ultrabasic xenoliths of the Canary Islands showed the presence of basic plagioclase (labradorite), as well as chrysolite-type olivine (12-16 Fa), which corresponds to the attributes of ultrabasic layered intrusions such as the Yoko-Dovyren dunite-troctolite-gabbro pluton. For restite hyperbasites (by the example of the Kuznetsk Alatau), the iron content of olivine does not exceed 9-10% of the fayalite end, while plagioclase and clinopyroxene are absent. A characteristic feature of the xenoliths of the Canary Islands is the presence of endiopside, which is present in layered intrusions, but is absent in the restrained fragments of the upper and lower mantle. It is assumed that the xenoliths in the basalts of the Canary Islands are not of a mantle nature, but are fragments of a deep magma chamber. The studies of the optical orientation of olivine in xenoliths of the rocks of Lanzarote Island confirm these conclusions. The geochemical parameters of ultramafic xenoliths on Tenerife Island may well correspond to deeper formations.

Biomarkers of acute respiratory distress syndrome in adults hospitalised for severe SARS-CoV-2 infection in Tenerife Island, Spain

Objective The dramatic spread of SARS-CoV-2 infections calls for reliable, inexpensive tools to quickly identify patients with a poor prognosis. In this study, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) was assessed within 72 h after admission of each of 153 consecutive, SARS-CoV-2 infected, adult patients to either of two hospitals in Tenerife, Spain, using suitable routine laboratory tests for lymphocyte counts, as well as ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and C-reactive protein levels. Results were correlated with the patients’ respiratory function, defined through their pulse oximetric saturation/fraction of inspired oxygen (SpO2/FiO2) ratio. Results Within 72 h from admission, criteria matched ARDS (SpO2/FiO2 < 235) in 13.1% of cases. We found a significant, negative correlation between SpO2/FiO2 ratios and d-dimer, ferritin, and LDH levels (− 0.31, − 0.32, and − 0.41; p = 0.004, 0.004, and < 0.0001, respectively). In patients with ARDS, the mean LDH was 373 U/L (CI95%: 300.6–445.3), but only 298 U/L (CI95%: 274.7–323.1) when they did not develop the syndrome (p = 0.015). None of the additionally evaluated biomarkers correlated with the SpO2/FiO2 ratios. Serum LDH levels in patients hospitalised for COVID-19 correlate with ARDS, as defined by their SpO2/FiO2 ratio, and might help to predict said complication.

Restoring the night sky darkness at Observatorio del Teide: First application of the model Illumina version 2

ABSTRACT The propagation of artificial light into real environments is complex. To perform its numerical modelling with accuracy, one must consider hyperspectral properties of the lighting devices and their geographic positions, the hyperspectral properties of the ground reflectance, the size and distribution of small-scale obstacles, the blocking effect of topography, the lamps angular photometry and the atmospheric transfer function (aerosols and molecules). A detailed radiative transfer model can be used to evaluate how a particular change in the lighting infrastructure may affect the sky radiance. In this paper, we use the new version (v2) of the Illumina model to evaluate a night sky restoration plan for the Teide Observatory located on the island of Tenerife, Spain. In the past decades, the sky darkness was severely degraded by growing light pollution on the Tenerife Island. In this work, we use the contribution maps giving the effect of each pixel of the territory to the artificial sky radiance. We exploit the hyperspectral capabilities of Illumina v2 and show how the contribution maps can be integrated over regions or municipalities according to the Johnson–Cousins photometric bands spectral sensitivities. The sky brightness reductions per municipality after a complete shutdown and a conversion to light-emitting diodes are calculated in the Johnson–Cousins B, V, R bands. We found that the conversion of the lighting infrastructure of Tenerife with LED (1800 and 2700 K), according to the conversion strategy in force, would result in a zenith V-band sky brightness reduction of ≈0.3 mag arcsec−2.

The new tiltmetric network of Tenerife: technical and scientific issues

&lt;p&gt;Since 2004, the Instituto Tecnol&amp;#243;gico y de Energ&amp;#237;as Renovables (ITER) in collaboration, since 2011, with the Instituto Volcanol&amp;#243;gico de Canarias (INVOLCAN), are monitoring Canary Islands archipelago with a network of more than 30 differential GPS stations. Specifically, in Tenerife island alone there are 12 permanent GPS receivers. Data are processed automatically using Bernese software, constituting an important tool for the geodetic monitoring of Tenerife.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Since 2016, the volcanic system of Tenerife is experiencing a hydrothermal unrest, with a marked increase of the diffuse CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; flux from the crater of Mt. Teide, the major volcanic edifice of the island. This increased flux is likely to be related to the injection of fluids of magmatic origin within the hydrothermal system of Tenerife. The subsequent pressurization of this system is reflected also by the increase in the background microseismicity observed since July 2017. Until now, the GPS network has not recorded significant ground deformation above the instrumental error.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;With the aim of improving the geodetic monitoring of Tenerife, detecting possible small ground deformation below the sensitivity of the GPS network, INVOLCAN has recently started deploying, since June 2019, high-gain tiltmeters (Jewell Instruments A603-C) in the surrounding of Mt. Teide. Currently the tiltmetric network consists of 3 tiltmeters, located close to existing seismic or GPS stations. Data are automatically downloaded via UMTS connection and processed daily.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The nominal sensitivity of such instruments is less than 2.5 nradians, hence their installation and calibration require very careful operations. The sensors are equipped with leveling worm-gear feet to guarantee a perfect levelling. However, the high sensitivity of the instrumentation makes adjustments made manually totally useless. The tilt change caused by the weight of the human operator during the levelling is enough to drive the instrument out of scale. For this reason, INVOLCAN developed a robotic system to perform the required adjustments from remote. The system is based on Arduino Mega 2560, driving two servomotors to adjust the leveling worm-gears. Another servomotor allows switching the gain level. The system can be accessed and operated through an internal web page, which allows driving the servomotors and checking the leveling of the tiltmeter platform by using an Arduino Ethernet.&lt;/p&gt;

Diffuse CO2 degassing monitoring of the Tenerife North–South Rift Zone (NSRZ) volcano, Canary Islands

&lt;p&gt;Tenerife (2,034 km&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;) is the largest of the Canary Islands and the North South Rift Zone (NSRZ) is one of the three active volcanic rift-zones of the island. The NSRZ (325 km&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;) is characterized mainly by effusive activity of basaltic lavas forming spatter and cinder cones and comprises 139 monogenetic cones representing the most common eruptive activity occurred on the island during the last 1Ma. In order to provide a multidisciplinary approach to monitor potential volcanic activity changes at the NSRZ volcano, diffuse CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; emission surveys have been undertaken since 2002. This study shows the results of the last soil CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; efflux survey undertaken in summer 2019, with &amp;#8275;600 soil gas sampling sites homogenously distributed in the study area. Soil CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; efflux measurements were performed at the surface environment by means of a portable non-dispersive infrared spectrophotometer (NDIR) LICOR Li820 following the accumulation chamber method. Soil CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; efflux values ranged from non-detectable (&amp;#8275;0.5 g m&lt;sup&gt;-2&lt;/sup&gt; d&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;) up to 30 g m&lt;sup&gt;-2&lt;/sup&gt; d&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;, with an average value of 2.6 g m&lt;sup&gt;-2&lt;/sup&gt; d&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;. In order to distinguish the existence of different geochemical populations on the soil CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; efflux data, a Sinclair graphical analysis was done. The average value of background population was 2.1 g m&lt;sup&gt;-2&lt;/sup&gt; d&lt;sup&gt;-1 &lt;/sup&gt;and that of peak population was 18.5 g m&lt;sup&gt;-2&lt;/sup&gt; d&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;, representing the 97% and the 1% of the total data, respectively. To quantify the total CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; emission rate from the NSRZ volcano a sequential Gaussian simulation (sGs) was used as interpolation method. The diffuse CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; emission rate for the studied area was estimated in 2019 in 819 &amp;#177; 18 t d&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;, ranging from 466 to 819 t d&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt; between 2002 and 2019, with the highest value measured in 2015 (707 t d&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;). The temporal evolution of diffuse CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; emission at the NSRZ shows a clear relationship with the volcano seismic activity in and around Tenerife Island, which started to taking place from the end of 2016. This study demonstrates the importance of studies of soil CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; efflux at the NSRZ volcano of Tenerife island as an effective volcanic monitoring tool, especially in areas where there is no visible degassing (fumaroles, etc.)&lt;/p&gt;

Surface diffuse degassing monitoring of the Tenerife Northeastern Rift Zone (NERZ) volcano, Canary Islands

&lt;p&gt;The North East Rift volcanic Zone (NERZ) of Tenerife Island is one of the three volcanic rift-zones of the island, oriented NW-SE (NWRZ), NE-SW (NERZ) and a more scattered area on the south (NSRZ). From a volcano-structural point of view, NERZ is more complex than NW or NS rifts due the existence of Pedro Gil stratovolcano that broke the main NE-SW structure. Pedro Gil Caldera was formed&amp;#160; 0.8&amp;#160; Ma ago by a vertical collapse of this stratovolcano. The most recent eruptive activity along the NERZ took place during 1704 and 1705 along a 13 km of fissural eruption of Arafo-Fasnia-Siete Fuentes. Diffuse CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; emission surveys have been undertaken in a yearly basis since 2001 in order to provide a multidisciplinary approach to monitor potential volcanic activity changes at the NERZ. The aim of this study is to report the results of the last soil CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; efflux survey undertaken in summer 2019, with 639 measuring sites homogeneously distributed in an area of 210 km&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;. In-situ measurements of CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; efflux from the surface environment of NERZ were performed by means of a portable non-dispersive infrared spectrophotometer (NDIR) following the accumulation chamber method. Soil CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; efflux contour maps were constructed to identify spatio-temporal anomalies and to quantify the total CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; emission using the sequential Gaussian simulation (sGs) interpolation method. The CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; efflux values ranged from non-detectable (0.5 g m&lt;sup&gt;-2&lt;/sup&gt; d&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;) up to 72,3 g m&lt;sup&gt;-2&lt;/sup&gt; d&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;, with an average value of 10,9 g m&lt;sup&gt;-2&lt;/sup&gt; d&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;. Statistical-graphical analysis of the 2019 data show two different geochemical populations; background (B) and peak (P) represented by 70.4% and 1.9% of the total data, respectively. The geometric means of the B and P populations are 0.4 and 4.3 g m&lt;sup&gt;-2&lt;/sup&gt; d&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;, respectively. The diffuse CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; emission rate was estimated in 2,205 t d&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;. Studying the long-term variations on the diffuse CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; emission since 2001, two main pulses are identified: one in 2007 and a second one sustained over time between 2014 and 2019. Enhanced endogenous contributions of deep-seated CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; might have been responsible for the higher CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; emissions values observed during those pulses. The 2014-2019 pulse appears to be related to the seismic activity that started taking place in Tenerife at the end of 2016. This study denotes the importance of soil CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; efflux surveys at the NERZ volcano of Tenerife Island as an effective volcanic monitoring tool.&lt;/p&gt;