(1) Background: Phosphates are used in the food industry to improve water retention and product quality. However, when consumed in excess, they can be harmful to health. Instead, bovine skin gelatin hydrolysates present health benefits such as being a rejuvenating agent, stimulating collagen production, and improving food quality, in addition to being a source of protein. The effect of the addition of bovine skin gelatin hydrolysates on the texture and color of thermally processed chicken meat (boiled type) and antioxidant activity was evaluated. (2) Methods: Hydrolysates were prepared with subtilisin with the degree of hydrolysis being 6.57 and 13.14%, which were obtained from our previous study. (3) Results: The hydrolysates improved the firmness of the meat matrix compared to the control. Additionally, the hydrolysate with a 13.14% degree of hydrolysis reached the same firmness (p > 0.05) as the commercial ingredient sodium tripolyphosphate at its maximum limit allowed in the food industry when it was applied at 5% (w/w meat) in the meat matrix, improving firmness over the control by 63%. Furthermore, both hydrolysates reached a similar color difference to sodium tripolyphosphate at its maximum allowed limit when applied at a concentration of 2% (w/w meat). Additionally, it was found that these hydrolysates obtained the same antioxidant activity as sodium tripolyphosphate, capturing free radicals at 10%. (4) Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that bovine skin gelatin hydrolysates can be applied as an ingredient with functional properties, being an alternative to phosphates to improve the quality of meat products.

The global energy transition is pivotal in mitigating climate change. In Chile, the energy system that includes hydropower faces challenges from prolonged megadroughts, necessitating diversification toward renewable energy sources like solar and wind energy. However, research gaps persist in understanding how these sources can optimally address climate-induced vulnerabilities. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis to identify global research trends on renewable energy strategies under extreme drought conditions, distinguishing it from systematic or narrative reviews. A bibliometric analysis was conducted using Scopus, incorporating 82 selected documents analyzed via Bibliometrix and VOSviewer to map co-authorship networks, keywords, and publications. Results revealed a significant increase in research on solar energy (26.83%) and renewable energy (25.61%) within the study period (2005–2024), with the most notable growth occurring in the last six years. Key findings include the predominance of studies on energy optimization, with solar and wind technologies emerging as pivotal for enhancing resilience in water-scarce regions. These insights underscore the strategic role of renewable energies in addressing climate vulnerabilities while supporting sustainable energy transitions. The implications of this work lie in guiding future research and policy frameworks to enhance energy security and environmental sustainability.

The meat industry uses phosphates to improve the water-holding capacity (WHC) of meat products, although excess phosphates can be harmful to human health. In this sense, protein hydrolysates offer an alternative with scientific evidence of improved WHCs. Salmon frames, a byproduct rich in protein, must be processed for recovery. Enzymatic technology allows these proteins to be extracted from muscle, and the sequential batch strategy significantly increases protein nitrogen extraction. This study focused on evaluating the WHC of protein hydrolysates from salmon frames obtained through double- and triple-sequential batches compared to conventional hydrolysis. Hydrolysis was carried out for 3 h at 55 °C with 13 mAU of subtilisin per gram of salmon frames. The WHC of each hydrolysate was measured as the cooking loss using concentrations that varied from 0 to 5% (w/w) in the meat matrix. Compared with those obtained through conventional hydrolysis, the hydrolysates obtained through the strategy of double- and triple-sequence batches demonstrated a 55% and 51% reduction in cooking loss, respectively, when they were applied from 1% by weight in the meat matrix. It is essential to highlight that all hydrolysates had a significantly lower cooking loss (p ≤ 0.05) than that of the positive control (sodium tripolyphosphate [STPP]) at its maximum allowable limit when applied at a concentration of 5% in the meat matrix. These results suggest that the sequential batch strategy represents a promising alternative for further improving the WHC of hydrolysates compared to conventional hydrolysis. It may serve as a viable substitute for polyphosphates.

This paper presents a numerical model for thermal energy storage systems’ design, development, and feasibility. The energy storage was composed of a tank that stores phase change material (AlSi12) and internal pipes with heat transfer fluid (Cerrolow 117), coupled to a power block to dispatch electrical energy on a small scale for off-grid industrial applications. Subsequently, the evolution of the temperature in charge/discharge cycles, temperature degradation, and storage efficiency was determined with the appropriate magnitudes and behavior through the resolution of a numerical model. In addition, for the proposed electric power generation plant for an off-grid pumping system in the mining industry of Chile, a numerical model was developed using the finite volumes method to simulate the thermocline performance. As a result, the temperature history reflects stable thermal behavior, low degradation, and high efficiency of approximately 92%, with a storage time increasing up to 13 [h] and 384.8 [kWh] capacity. Also, implementation was feasible on a small scale due to its compact, modular, and economically competitive characteristics in a concentrated solar power plant. Finally, the proposed design was proven to be an accurate and reliable alternative for small-scale off-grid mining applications.