Susceptibilidad del almidón presente en harinas crudas y modificadas al ataque enzimático con amilasa

Se determinaron las ratas de hidrólisis de almidones, para algunas harinas de alimentos (yuca, maíz y plátano) y la influencia de ciertos procedimientos industriales y caseros, de dichos productos, sobre las constantes anterioraiente mencionadas

Challenges in the COVID-19 vaccination era: Prioritization of vaccines among essential workers in Mexico

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic gave rise to a massive global health concern that has placed an unprecedented strain on healthcare systems, education and economy. The recent vaccine roll-out gave humanity a glimpse of hope. However, more than 50% of the vaccine supply has been acquired by high-income countries, forcing low- and middle-income countries to prioritize who should be vaccinated. In Mexico, the first phase of the vaccination program prioritized healthcare personnel working in front-line COVID-19 public institutions. The second phase was planned for the remaining healthcare workers attending at both COVID and non-COVID areas. The government, however, aiming to reopen schools, decided to vaccinate teachers instead. This raised several concerns, since Mexico tops the ranking of deaths among healthcare workers due to COVID-19 worldwide. Furthermore, the possible framing of vaccines as a political tool has caused commotion among the Mexican people and media, especially since 2021 is the Midterm Election year in Mexico, and the Teachers’ Union has historically played an essential role in this matter. Therefore, it is relevant to share the vaccination experience in resource-constrained settings to provide help and advice to reach an optimal strategy and deflate this pandemic

Relationship between erythemal UV and broadband solar irradiation at high altitude in Northwestern Argentina

An analysis of the broadband solar irradiation, IT, and the erythemal UV irradiation, IUVER, has been performed using the measurements made from 2013 to 2015 at three sites located at altitudes over 1000 m a.s.l. In Northwestern Argentina (Salta, El Rosal, and Tolar Grande). The main objective of this paper is to determine a relationship between IT and IUVER, which would allow to estimate IUVER from IT in places with few IUVER measurements available, and especially in those where is important to establish adequate photoprotection measures given their dense population and location at high altitude. The relationship between the daily values of IUVER and IT has been fitted to a linear regression (IUVER = m IT + n), showing good correlation in the three measurement sites (R2 ≥ 0.77). Besides, the IUVER/IT ratio shows an increase with altitude of 0.32 ± 0.03 units per km, indicating a more significant influence of altitude on IUVER than on IT. Total ozone column also attenuates more IUVER than IT. In order to reduce the local nature of the relationship between IUVER and IT, the clearness indices kT and kTUVER have been used to obtain a multivariable linear regression of kTUVER as a function of the solar zenith angle, θz, and kT, which shows good correlation (R2 ≥ 0.89) for the three measurement sites

Medición de radiación eritémica en sitios de altura de la provincia de Salta

Se presentan resultados obtenidos al medir la Irradiancia UV eritémica (UVER) en tres lugares de Salta (Argentina) y que se encuentran a distintas alturas, durante el período Diciembre 2012 - Mayo 2013. El efecto de la altitud se determinó mediante comparación horaria, diaria y promedio mensual de UVER. Las mediciones se realizaron con radiómetros UV-S-E-T de Kipp & Zonen. Los resultados experimentales indican altos valores de UVER en la ciudad de Salta (1.232 m.s.n.m), San Carlos (1.629 m.s.n.m) y El Rosal (3.354 m.s.n.m), alrededor del mediodía solar, con valores promedios entre 3.8 - 5.7 MEDII /hs. Se midió un aumento promedio en la dosis eritémica de un 5 – 8 %/km. Los índices de radiación solar ultravioleta en ausencia de nubosidad superan la calificación de riesgo extremo. Además, se calculan tiempos de exposición de riesgo (fototipos I-IV de Fitzpatrick) y Factores de Protección Solar (FPS) necesarios según la categoría de riesgo.Results obtained by measuring the UV radiation erythematic (UVER) in three places in Salta (Argentina) at different heights, during the period December 2012-May 2013. The effect of altitude was determined by comparing hourly, daily and monthly average UVER. The measurements were performed with UV-S-E-T radiometers Kipp & Zonen. The experimental results indicate high values of UVER in the city of Salta (1,232 m), San Carlos (1,629 m) and El Rosal (3,354 m) around solar noon, with average values between 5.7- 3.8 MEDII / Hs. An average increase in erythemal doses of a 5-8 %/km was measured. The indices of solar ultraviolet radiation in the absence of cloudiness outweigh the extreme risk. Furthermore, risk exposure times are calculated (phototypes I-IV of Fitzpatrick) and Sun Protection Factor (SPF) recommended by risk categoryAsociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

Medición de riesgo solar en Salta

El riesgo por exposición a radiación solar en una región se mide calculando el índice Solar Ultravioleta Eritémico (IUV). Este califica el riesgo solar desde bajo (0-2), hasta extremo (11-o más) según la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS). En este trabajo se presentan datos de IUV medidos en Salta, Argentina (24.7287 S, 65.4096 W, 1232 m.s.n.m.), durante el período Diciembre 2012 -Julio 2013. Los datos se tomaron con un radiómetro ultravioleta eritémico de Kipp & Zonen. Los resultados indican elevados valores de IUV en la ciudad de Salta alrededor del mediodía solar, con valores altos (5 11). Además, se calculan tiempos de exposición de riesgo para el fototipo cutáneo II de Fitzpatrick y Factores de Protección Solar (FPS) recomendados según la categoría de riesgo.The risk of exposure to solar radiation in a region is measured by calculating the Solar UV Index Erythemic (UVI). This index rates the solar risk from low (0-2) to extreme (11 or more) according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In this paper, UVI data is measured in Salta, Argentina (24.7287 S, 65.4096 W, 1232 m), along the period December 2012-July 2013. UV radiometer erythemic (UVER) Kipp & Zonen was used. The results show high UVI values in the city of Salta around solar noon, with high values (5 ≤ UVI <7), very high (7 ≤ UVI <11) and extreme (UVI ≥ 11). Furthermore, risk exposure times are calculated for phototype II and Sun Protection Factor (SPF) recommended according to risk category.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

Aerosol radiative forcing efficiency in the UV region over southeastern Mediterranean: VELETA2002 campaign

Atmospheric aerosol effects on spectral global UV irradiance were evaluated during the VELETA2002 field campaign between 8 and 19 July 2002 in southeast Spain. In the first stage, seven UV spectroradiometer and six CIMEL Sun photometer measurements were carried out simultaneously, allowing them to be calibrated and intercompared. The mean ratio obtained for the global irradiance between the spectroradiometers, with regards to a reference instrument, ranges from 0.98 up to 1.04 with standard deviations that oscillate between ±0.01 and ±0.17. In particular, the two spectroradiometers used to obtain the aerosol forcing efficiencies have a ratio of 1.000 ± 0.001. The aerosol optical depth (AOD) obtained with the CIMEL Sun photometers has a standard deviation of lower than ±0.01 for all the channels. Under clear sky conditions, the diurnal aerosol forcing efficiency (DDFe) and fractional diurnal forcing efficiency (DFDFe) was calculated for two Mediterranean stations: Armilla (691 m.a.s.l.) within the boundary layer and Sabinas (2200 m.a.s.l) on the lower limit of the free troposphere and 25 km away from the first station. The DDFe values obtained at Armilla range between _2.72 ± 0.45 W m_2/t380 and _2.88 ± 0.45 W m_2/t440 and between _3.22 ± 0.61 W m_2/t380 and _3.40 ± 0.62 W m_2/t440 at Sabinas station; the DFDFe values range from _8.0 ± 1.4%/t380 to _8.6 ± 1.3%/t440 and _12.0 ± 2.3%/t380 to _12.6 ± 2.3%/t440 at the two stations, respectively. Also, an experimental aerosol transmittance factor, CT, used to obtain UV satellite derived products was found as a result of the dependence of the global irradiance with the AOD, under cloudless conditions. The average aerosol attenuation factor, h, obtained from the CT, is 6 ± 2% under weakly absorbing aerosols, with a negligible spectral dependence.This work was supported by CICYT–MCYT through the coordinated projects CGL2004-05984-C07-05 and CGL2005-03428-C04-02

Re-thinking the Etiological Framework of Neurodegeneration

Neurodegenerative diseases are among the leading causes of disability and death worldwide. The disease-related socioeconomic burden is expected to increase with the steadily increasing life expectancy. In spite of decades of clinical and basic research, most strategies designed to manage degenerative brain diseases are palliative. This is not surprising as neurodegeneration progresses "silently" for decades before symptoms are noticed. Importantly, conceptual models with heuristic value used to study neurodegeneration have been constructed retrospectively, based on signs and symptoms already present in affected patients;a circumstance that may confound causes and consequences. Hence, innovative, paradigm-shifting views of the etiology of these diseases are necessary to enable their timely prevention and treatment. Here, we outline four alternative views, not mutually exclusive, on different etiological paths toward neurodegeneration. First, we propose neurodegeneration as being a secondary outcome of a primary cardiovascular cause with vascular pathology disrupting the vital homeostatic interactions between the vasculature and the brain, resulting in cognitive impairment, dementia, and cerebrovascular events such as stroke. Second, we suggest that the persistence of senescent cells in neuronal circuits may favor, together with systemic metabolic diseases, neurodegeneration to occur. Third, we argue that neurodegeneration may start in response to altered body and brain trophic interactions established via the hardwire that connects peripheral targets with central neuronal structures or by means of extracellular vesicle (E\-mediated communication. Lastly, we elaborate on how lifespan body dysbiosis may be linked to the origin of neurodegeneration. We highlight the existence of bacterial products that modulate the gut-brain axis causing neuroinflammation and neuronal dysfunction. As a concluding section, we end by recommending research avenues to investigate these etiological paths in the future. We think that this requires an integrated, interdisciplinary conceptual research approach based on the investigation of the multimodal aspects of physiology and pathophysiology. It involves utilizing proper conceptual models, experimental animal units, and identifying currently unused opportunities derived from human data. Overall, the proposed etiological paths and experimental recommendations will be important guidelines for future cross-discipline research to overcome the translational roadblock and to develop causative treatments for neurodegenerative diseases

A search for point sources of EeV photons

Measurements of air showers made using the hybrid technique developed with the fluorescence and surface detectors of the Pierre Auger Observatory allow a sensitive search for point sources of EeV photons anywhere in the exposed sky. A multivariate analysis reduces the background of hadronic cosmic rays. The search is sensitive to a declination band from -85{\deg} to +20{\deg}, in an energy range from 10^17.3 eV to 10^18.5 eV. No photon point source has been detected. An upper limit on the photon flux has been derived for every direction. The mean value of the energy flux limit that results from this, assuming a photon spectral index of -2, is 0.06 eV cm^-2 s^-1, and no celestial direction exceeds 0.25 eV cm^-2 s^-1. These upper limits constrain scenarios in which EeV cosmic ray protons are emitted by non-transient sources in the Galaxy.Comment: 28 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journa

Operations of and Future Plans for the Pierre Auger Observatory

Technical reports on operations and features of the Pierre Auger Observatory, including ongoing and planned enhancements and the status of the future northern hemisphere portion of the Observatory. Contributions to the 31st International Cosmic Ray Conference, Lodz, Poland, July 2009.Comment: Contributions to the 31st ICRC, Lodz, Poland, July 200