Influence of temperature and time on the Eu3+ reaction with synthetic Na-Mica-n (n = 2 and 4)

Bentonite is accepted as the best clay material for the engineered barrier of Deep Geological Repositories (DGRs). The performance of clay as the main component of the engineered barrier in the DGR has been intensively studied and the structure of the selected clay mineral play a crucial role. In this sense, a new family of synthetic swelling silicates, Na-Mica-n, with tuned layer charge (n) values between 2.0 and 4.0 per unit cell has recently been synthesized and a general synthetic method has been reported. These swelling high-charge micas could be highly valuable for the decontamination of harmful cations. The ability of these micas to immobilize Eu3+ under subcritical conditions has been probed. The adsorption was in both non-specific sites (cation exchange mechanism) and specific sites (chemical reaction or surface defects adsorption). Moreover, its adsorption capacity, under the same conditions is higher than in saponite and far superior to the bentonites.Junta de Andalucía P12-FQM-567European Union 29178

Do the sex differences play such an important role in explaining performance in spatial tasks?

Authors posting Accepted Author Manuscript online should later add a citation for the Published Journal Article indicating that the Article was subsequently published, and may mention the journal title provided they add the following text at the beginning of the document: “NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Personality and individual differences. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Personality and individual differences, [VOL#, ISSUE#, (DATE)] DOI#”The largest average sex differences in cognitive performance derives from spatial tasks (Voyer, Voyer, & Bryden, 1995). Analyses performed to date have not been able to satisfactorily explain this difference in performance. Frequently, the ‘‘sex’’ variable is considered a causal factor. However, ‘‘sex’’ is a broad category that entails so many confounding factors that it is nearly impossible to consider it as a causal factor. It would be more appropriate to consider the ‘‘sex’’ variable like a construct that requires the analysis of the test’s cognitive requirements. This research is aimed at explaining sex differences in spatial task performance in terms of sex differences in lower-level cognitive processes. In the task at hand (SODT, Spatial Orientation Dynamic Test) we identified three processes that can be evaluated independently: Mental Rotation (MR), Spatial Orientation (SO), and Time Management (TM). The correlation between these proceses was relatively low (.16 < r < .36). Together, the three variables explain a significant portion of the variance in performance (R2 = 0.871). The variable Gender, surprisingly, did not increase the percentage of explained variance. The results are discussed in relation to the objective of identifying the psychological variables that account for differences in spatial tasks due to sex of the sample.This work has been partially funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología (Science & Technology State Department) (SEJ2007-64448/PSIC) and by the Scientific-Technical Collaboration Agreement AENA-UAM/785005

Validación de la versión española del Cuestionario Breve de Evitación Experiencial (BEAQ) en población clínica

The Brief Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire (BEAQ) has been suggested as the most appropriate instrument for measuring experiential avoidance. However, no Spanish validation has been published. The aim of this study was to validate a Spanish version of the BEAQ in a clinical sample treated at a community mental health unit. Methods: Participants (N = 332) completed the BEAQ as well as other self-report measures of experiential avoidance and psychopathology. Results: Internal consistency was satisfactory (α = .82). No statistically significant gender differences were found in the BEAQ scores. The data also showed high test-retest reliability after four to six weeks, acceptable concurrent validity with another experiential avoidance measure and acceptable convergent validity with the psychopathology measure. The principal component analysis, forcing the one factor solution proposed in the original scale, produced indicators similar to the English version of the BEAQ. Conclusions: These results firmly support the reliability and validity of this Spanish validation, stressing its usefulness as a measure of experiential avoidance in clinical populations.Antecedentes: el Cuestionario Breve de Evitación Experiencial (BEAQ) ha sido propuesto como el instrumento más adecuado para medir la evitación experiencial. Sin embargo, todavía no ha sido publicada ninguna validación en español. Por lo tanto, el objetivo del presente estudio ha sido la validación de una versión española del BEAQ, en una muestra clínica atendida en un Centro de Salud Mental Comunitario. Método: los participantes (N = 332) completaron el BEAQ, así como otras medidas de autoinforme de evitación experiencial y psicopatología. Resultados: la consistencia interna fue satisfactoria (α = .82). No se encontraron diferencias de género estadísticamente significativas en las puntuaciones del BEAQ. Los datos también mostraron una alta fiabilidad test-retest en un intervalo de cuatro a seis semanas, validez concurrente aceptable con otra medida de evitación experiencial y validez convergente aceptable con la medida de psicopatología. El análisis de componentes principales forzando a la solución de un factor, como se propuso en la escala original, obtuvo unos indicadores similares a los obtenidos en dicha versión inglesa. Conclusiones: los resultados confirman la adecuada fiabilidad y validez de la presente versión española del BEAQ, destacando su utilidad como medida de la evitación experiencial en población clínica

Buenas prácticas docentes en la formación de los profesionales de la Información y Documentación

The European higher education is immersed in an ineludible process of evolution in the than her the teaching competition of the professionals of teaching acquires a new relevance. Codes of Good Teaching Practices they constitute a good exponent of the permeability of the universities to the concept of corporate social responsibility, in as much as they project that than each the university proposes like competitive value and I eat referent formative of your professionals. The objective of this work is showing the process of planning and design of Good Code teaching practices developed at the University of Saragossa by the professors of the area of Library and Information science in the awarding of title willingly in Information, intervening knowledge and measure of your opinion on a set of factors directly related with the quality of your teaching activity. The theoretic referential frame is the competitive concept teacher established by Zabalza Beraza for the university teaching staff, as well as your analysis of them capacities, knowledge and skillful actions that characterize it. The material is described with attention to detail and method used, as well as the analysis of the data obtained, that they allow being enough, I eat main result, a Code of Good Teaching Practices, in the one that are picked up a set of recommendations guided when incrementing development of noncontentious stocks whose purpose is her quality of the teaching activity of the professors that they subscribe it. Between the findings stand out her appropriateness of the designed instrument to guide the learning-teaching processes

Aktivnost zgrušavanja mlijeka i primarna proteoliza liofiliziranog ekstrakta cvijeta artičoke (Cynara scolymus L.)

Research background. A few studies have investigated Cynara scolymus enzymes as a substitute for calf rennet in cheese making. They used aqueous extracts prepared by maceration of plant material and stored by freezing. However, it was indicated that lyophilisation is a better alternative to preserve the coagulant properties of plant extracts over a longer period of time, as it is a more controllable, stable and hygienic alternative with a better shelf life that is easier to transport, store and standardise. Experimental approach. We obtained a lyophilised extract of mature artichoke flowers, named CS, which was characterised for its milk-clotting properties at different pH and temperatures. In addition, the potential yield, whey composition and the primary hydrolysis profile of caseins by urea-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) of mini curds prepared with different doses of coagulant were determined. Results and conclusions. The lyophilised extract was able to hydrolyse casein and showed stable proteolytic activity at pH=6.4 and 37 °C for 50 min, which decreased when the process temperature was increased to 41 and 45 °C and was lost at 70 °C. On the other hand, milk-clotting activity increased significantly (p<0.001) when the temperature increased from 37 to 45 °C and the pH of the milk decreased from 6.8 to 5.8. Potential yield ​​between 10 and 17 % was obtained for the mini curds prepared with the lyophilised artichoke extract, and the casein degradation pattern obtained by urea-PAGE was similar to that of the commercial coagulant. Novelty and scientific contribution. On a laboratory scale, our work has shown that the lyophilised artichoke extract has sufficient proteolytic and coagulant activity to be used as a milk coagulant, i.e. plant rennet, in cheese making as an alternative to animal rennet. As this extract is lyophilised, it has the advantage of being a better alternative in terms of preservation and shelf-life. It offers an innovative way to diversify cheese products and appeal to consumers with different dietary preferences and needs.Pozadina istraživanja. U nekoliko je istraživanja ispitana primjena enzima dobivenih iz artičoke (Cynara scolymus) kao zamjena za teleće sirilo u proizvodnji sira. U njima su korišteni vodeni ekstrakti dobiveni maceracijom biljnog materijala te skladišteni zamrzavanjem. Međutim, pokazalo se da se liofilizacijom bolje očuvaju koagulacijska svojstva biljnih ekstrakata tijekom duljeg skladištenja, jer ih je jednostavnije kontrolirati, održati stabilnima i higijenski ispravnima, a mogu se i dulje vrijeme skladištiti te lakše distribuirati i standardizirati. Eksperimentalni pristup. U ovom smo radu pripravili liofilizirani ekstrakt cvijeta zrele artičoke, te opisali njegova svojstva zgrušavanja mlijeka pri različitim pH-vrijednostima i temperaturama. Osim toga, određeni su mogući prinos, sastav sirutke i uzorak razgradnje kazeina u grušu pripremljenom u malim porcijama s različitim količinama sredstva za koagulaciju, ispitanom elektroforezom na poliakrilamidnom gelu s dodatkom uree. Rezultati i zaključci. Liofilizirani ekstrakt je razgradio kazein i imao stabilnu proteolitičku aktivnost pri pH-vrijednosti od 6,4 i temperaturi od 37 °C tijekom 50 min, koja se smanjila pri porastu temperature na 41 i 45 °C, a potpuno nestala pri 70 °C. Nasuprot tome, aktivnost zgrušavanja mlijeka se bitno povećala (p<0,001) pri porastu temperature s 37 na 45 °C i padu pH-vrijednosti mlijeka sa 6,8 na 5,8. Mogući prinos gruša pripremljenog u malim porcijama pomoću liofiliziranog ekstrakta artičoke bio je od 10 do 17 %, a uzorak razgradnje kazeina određen elektroforezom na poliakrilamidnom gelu s dodatkom uree bio je sličan uzorku dobivenom primjenom komercijalnog koagulanta. Novina i znanstveni doprinos. Naše istraživanje provedeno u laboratorijskim uvjetima pokazalo je da liofilizirani ekstrakt artičoke ima dovoljno veliku proteolitičku aktivnost i sposobnost koagulacije, pa se može upotrijebiti kao sredstvo za zgrušavanje mlijeka, odnosno u proizvodnji sira kao koagulant biljnog podrijetla, umjesto sirila životinjskog podrijetla. Prednost liofiliziranog ekstrakta je u tome što bolje zadržava koagulacijska svojstva i može se dulje vrijeme skladištiti. Osim toga, pruža inovativnu mogućnost proizvodnje različitih vrsta sireva, što može biti zanimljivo potrošačima koji imaju različite prehrambene potrebe i navike

Anthocyanin Pigments: Importance, Sample Preparation and Extraction

Anthocyanins are naturally occuring pigments belonging to the group of flavonoids, a subclass of the polyphenol family. They are common components of the human diet, as they are present in many foods, fruits and vegetables, especially in berries and red wine. There were more studies conducted on effect of processing and storage on changes and stability of colors of anthocyanins in foods such as fruits and also for their use as natural colorants. Besides, the interest on anthocyanins is still growing also owing to their strong antioxidant activity against many chronic diseases, numerous studies about their medicinal, therapeutical and nutritional value were also conducted. There are pieces of evidence regarding the positive association of their intake with healthy biological effects. They act as antioxidants both in the foodstuffs in which they are found and in the organism that take in foods rich in anthocyanins. Many efforts have been carried out to develop new analytical techniques for identification and quantification of anthocyanins in plant materials, as well as their effects in vivo and in vitro. With this in mind, an overview to general considerations concerning (i) polyphenol and flavonoid history; (ii) chemical structure, color and intake of anthocyanins and (iii) sample preparation and extraction methods are presented in this chapter

Small area estimation of proportions under area-level compositional mixed models

[Abstract]: This paper introduces area-level compositional mixed models by applying transformations to a multivariate Fay–Herriot model. Small area estimators of the proportions of the categories of a classification variable are derived from the new model, and the corresponding mean squared errors are estimated by parametric bootstrap. Several simulation experiments designed to analyse the behaviour of the introduced estimators are carried out. An application to real data from the Spanish Labour Force Survey of Galicia (north-west of Spain), in the first quarter of 2017, is given. The target is the estimation of domain proportions of people in the four categories of the variable labour status: under 16 years, employed, unemployed and inactive.Supported by the Instituto Galego de Estatística, by the grants PGC2018-096840-B-I00 and MTM2017-82724-R of the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad and by the Xunta de Galicia (Grupos de Referencia Competitiva ED431C-2016-015 and Centro Singular de Investigación de Galicia ED431G/01), all of them through the ERDF.Xunta de Galicia; ED431C-2016-015Xunta de Galicia; ED431G/0

Small area estimation of expenditure means and ratios under a unit-level bivariate linear mixed model

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Journal of Applied Statistics on 05 Aug 2020, available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/02664763.2020.1803809[Abstract]: Under a unit-level bivariate linear mixed model, this paper introduces small area predictors of expenditure means and ratios, and derives approximations and estimators of the corresponding mean squared errors. For the considered model, the REML estimation method is implemented. Several simulation experiments, designed to analyze the behavior of the introduced fitting algorithm, predictors and mean squared error estimators, are carried out. An application to real data from the Spanish household budget survey illustrates the behavior of the proposed statistical methodology. The target is the estimation of means of food and non-food household annual expenditures and of ratios of food household expenditures by Spanish provinces.Supported by the grants MTM2017-82724-R and PGC2018-096840-B-I00 of the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO) and by the Xunta de Galicia (Grupos de Referencia Competitiva ED431C-2016-015 and Centro Singular de Investigación de Galicia ED431G/01), all of them through the ERDF.Xunta de Galicia; ED431C-2016-015Xunta de Galicia; ED431G/0

Isotope Labelling for Reaction Mechanism Analysis in DBD Plasma Processes

Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasmas and plasma catalysis are becoming an alternative procedure to activate various gas phase reactions. A low-temperature and normal operating pressure are the main advantages of these processes, but a limited energy efficiency and little selectivity control hinder their practical implementation. In this work, we propose the use of isotope labelling to retrieve information about the intermediate reactions that may intervene during the DBD processes contributing to a decrease in their energy efficiency. The results are shown for the wet reforming reaction of methane, using D2O instead of H2O as reactant, and for the ammonia synthesis, using NH3/D2/N2 mixtures. In the two cases, it was found that a significant amount of outlet gas molecules, either reactants or products, have deuterium in their structure (e.g., HD for hydrogen, CDxHy for methane, or NDxHy for ammonia). From the analysis of the evolution of the labelled molecules as a function of power, useful information has been obtained about the exchange events of H by D atoms (or vice versa) between the plasma intermediate species. An evaluation of the number of these events revealed a significant progression with the plasma power, a tendency that is recognized to be detrimental for the energy efficiency of reactant to product transformation. The labelling technique is proposed as a useful approach for the analysis of plasma reaction mechanisms