Thermo‑magnetic signature of a superconducting multi‑band square with rough surface

In the present work, we will study the efect that the surface roughness of the sample has on the magnetic and thermodynamic properties in a mesoscopic superconducting meso-square under an external magnetic feld in a zero-feld cooling process. We will analyze the magnetization, superconducting electronic density, free Gibbs energy, specifc heat and entropy as a function of the roughness of the sample in a superconducting two-band square taking a Josephson type inter-band coupling. We show that the magnetic and thermodynamic properties depend on the roughness percentage of its surface. Our investigation was carried out by numerically solving the two-band time-dependent Ginzburg–Landau equations

Oregano essential oil-pectin edible films as anti-quorum sensing and food antimicrobial agents

Edible films can be used as carriers for antimicrobial compounds to assure food safety andquality; in addition, pathogenesis of food bacteria is related to a cell to cell communicationmechanism calledquorum sensing(QS). Oregano essential oil (OEO) has proved to beuseful as food antimicrobial; however, its foodapplications can be compromised by thevolatile character of its active constituents.Therefore, formulation of edible films containingOEO can be an alternative to improve its food usages. QS inhibitory activity of OEO andpectin-OEO films was evaluated usingChromobacterium violaceumas bacterial model.Additionally, antibacterial activity was tested againstEscherichia coliO157:H7,SalmonellaCholeraesuis,Staphylococcus aureus,andListeria monocytogenes. OEO was effective toinhibit bacterial growth at MIC of 0.24 mg/mL for all tested bacteria and MBC of 0.24,0.24, 0.48, and 0.24 mg/mL againstE. coliO157:H7,S.Choleraesuis,S. aureus, andL.monocytogenes, respectively. Pectin-films incorporated with 36.1 and 25.9 mg/mL of OEOshowed inhibition diameters of 16.3 and 15.2 mm forE. coliO157:H7; 18.1 and 24.2 mm forS.Choleraesuis; 20.8 and 20.3 mm forS. aureus; 21.3 and 19.3 mm forL. monocytogenes,respectively. Pectin-OEO film (15.7 mg/mL) was effective againstE. coliO157:H7 (9.3 mm),S. aureus(9.7 mm), andL. monocytogenes(9.2 mm), but not forS.Choleraesuis. Allconcentrations of OEO (0.0156, 0.0312, 0.0625 and 0.125 mg/mL) and pectin-OEO films(15.7, 25.9 and 36.1 mg/mL) showed a significant anti-QS activity expressed as inhibition ofviolacein production byC. violaceum. Additionally, the application of pectin-OEO films waseffective reducing total coliforms, yeast, and molds of shrimp and cucumber slices storedat 4◦C during 15 d.These results demonstrated the potential of pectin films enriched withOEO as food related microorganisms and QS inhibitorsFil: Alvarez, María Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Ingeniería Química. Grupo de Investigación en Ingeniería En Alimentos; ArgentinaFil: Ortega Ramirez, Luis Alberto. Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo. Hermosillo; MéxicoFil: Gutierrez Pacheco, Maria Melissa. Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo. Hermosillo; MéxicoFil: Bernal Mercado, Thalia. Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo. Hermosillo; MéxicoFil: Rodriguez Garcia, Isela. Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo. Hermosillo; MéxicoFil: Ponce, Alejandra Graciela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Ingeniería Química. Grupo de Investigación en Ingeniería En Alimentos; ArgentinaFil: Moreira, Maria del Rosario. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Ingeniería Química. Grupo de Investigación en Ingeniería En Alimentos; ArgentinaFil: Roura, Sara Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Ingeniería Química. Grupo de Investigación en Ingeniería En Alimentos; ArgentinaFil: Ayala Zavala, Jesús Fernando. Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo. Hermosillo; Méxic

Natural vs Synthetic Colors

Anthocyanins are the most important group of water-soluble compounds responsible for the red, purple, and blue colors seen in flowers, fruits, and other parts of the plant. For centuries, these compounds have been consumed by man without obvious detrimental effects due to their bright colors and anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Anthocyanins are an important alternative for synthetic food colorings that have been banned in foods, because they have been associated with certain diseases. Anthocyanins can be extracted from different plant tissues; the usual method of obtaining is solid-liquid extraction. However, it is worth mentioning the existence of other methods. Thus, Japanese scientists developed an alternative methodology that consists of extracting anthocyanins by fermenting the matrices that contain them. The stability of anthocyanins in processed products has been studied, and it has been shown that certain acid anthocyanins are stable after extraction. Anthocyanins are antioxidants that play an important role in reducing the risks of several human degenerative diseases

Analyzing artificial intelligence systems for the prediction of atrial fibrillation from sinus-rhythm ECGs including demographics and feature visualization

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an abnormal heart rhythm, asymptomatic in many cases, that causes several health problems and mortality in population. This retrospective study evaluates the ability of different AI-based models to predict future episodes of AF from electrocardiograms (ECGs) recorded during normal sinus rhythm. Patients are divided into two classes according to AF occurrence or sinus rhythm permanence along their several ECGs registry. In the constrained scenario of balancing the age distributions between classes, our best AI model predicts future episodes of AF with area under the curve (AUC) 0.79 (0.72–0.86). Multiple scenarios and age-sex-specific groups of patients are considered, achieving best performance of prediction for males older than 70 years. These results point out the importance of considering different demographic groups in the analysis of AF prediction, showing considerable performance gaps among them. In addition to the demographic analysis, we apply feature visualization techniques to identify the most important portions of the ECG signals in the task of AF prediction, improving this way the interpretability and understanding of the AI models. These results and the simplicity of recording ECGs during check-ups add feasibility to clinical applications of AI-based modelsGJO, AS-G, LJJ-B received a research grant from the Carlos III Institute of Health under the health Strategy action 2020-2022 with reference PI20/00792. Tis study is also supported partially by projects TRESPASS-ETN (H2020-MSCAITN-2019-860813), PRIMA (H2020-MSCA-ITN-2019-860315), IDEA-FAST (IMI2-2018-15-853981), BIBECA (RTI2018-101248-B-I00 MINECO/FEDER

ICF-Based Disability Survey in a Rural Population of Adults and Older Adults Living in Cinco Villas, Northeastern Spain: Design, Methods and Population Characteristics

Background: This article describes the methods of a door-to-door screening survey exploring the distribution of disability and its major determinants in northeastern Spain. This study will set the basis for the development of disability-related services for the rural elderly in northeastern Spain. Methods: The probabilistic sample was composed of 1,354 de facto residents from a population of 12,784 Social Security card holders (age: 6 50 years). Cognitive and disability screenings were conducted (period: June 2008-June 2009). Screening instruments were the MMSE and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule. Participants screened positive for disability underwent an assessment protocol focusing on primary care diagnoses, disability, lifestyle, and social and health service usage. Participants screened positive for cognitive functioning went through in-depth neurological evaluation. Results: The study sample is described. Usable data were available for 1,216 participants. A total of 625 individuals (51.4%) scored within the positive range in the disability screening, while 135 (11.1%) scored within the positive range of the cognitive screening. The proportion of positively screened individuals was higher for women and increased with age. Conclusions: Screening surveys represent a feasible design for examining the distribution of disability and its determinants among the elderly. Data quality may benefit from methodological developments tailored to rural populations with a low education level. Copyright (C) 2010 S. Karger AG, Base

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in beef retail markets from Argentina

Shiga toxing-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are foodborne pathogens that cause mild or serious diseases and can lead to people death. This study reports the prevalence and characteristics of STEC O157 and non-O157 in commercial ground beef and environmental samples, including meat table, knife, meat mincing machine and manipulator hands (n= 450) obtained from 90 retail markets over a nine-month period. The STEC isolates were serotyped and virulence genes as stx (Shiga toxin), rfbO157 (O157 lipopolysaccharide), fliCH7 (H7 flagellin), eae (intimin), ehxA (enterohemolysin) and saa (STEC autoagglutinating adhesin), were determined. STEC O157 were identified in 23 (25.5%) beef samples and 16 (4.4%) environmental samples, while STEC non-O157 were present in 47 (52.2%) and 182 (50.5%), respectively. Among 54 strains isolated, 17 were STEC O157:H7 and 37 were STEC non-O157. The prevalent genotype for O157 was stx2/eae/ehxA/fliCH7 (83.4%), and for STEC non-O157 the most frequent ones were stx1/stx2/saa/ehxA (29.7%); stx2 (29.7%); and stx2/saa/ehxA (27%). None of the STEC non-O157 strains were eae-positive. Besides O157:H7, other 20 different serotypes were identified, being O8:H19, O178:H19 and O174:H28 the prevalent. Strains belonging to the same serotype could be isolated from different sources of the same retail market. Also, the same serotype could be detected in different stores. In conclusion, screening techniques are increasingly sensitive, but the isolation of STEC non-O157 is still a challenge. Moreover, with the results obtained from the present work, although more studies are needed, cross-contamination between meat and the environment could be suspected.Fil: Brusa, Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico La Plata. Instituto de Genética Veterinaria "Ingeniero Fernando Noel Dulout"; ArgentinaFil: Aliverti, Virginia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico La Plata. Instituto de Genética Veterinaria "Ingeniero Fernando Noel Dulout"; ArgentinaFil: Aliverti, Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico La Plata. Instituto de Genética Veterinaria "Ingeniero Fernando Noel Dulout"; ArgentinaFil: Ortega, Emanuel Eneas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico La Plata. Instituto de Genética Veterinaria "Ingeniero Fernando Noel Dulout"; ArgentinaFil: de la Torre, Julian Horacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico La Plata. Instituto de Genética Veterinaria "Ingeniero Fernando Noel Dulout"; ArgentinaFil: Linares, Luciano Hector. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico La Plata. Instituto de Genética Veterinaria "Ingeniero Fernando Noel Dulout"; ArgentinaFil: Sanz, Marcelo Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tandil. Centro de Investigacion Veterinaria de Tandil; ArgentinaFil: Etcheverría, Analía Inés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tandil. Centro de Investigacion Veterinaria de Tandil; ArgentinaFil: Padola, Nora Lía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tandil. Centro de Investigacion Veterinaria de Tandil; ArgentinaFil: Galli, Lucía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico La Plata. Instituto de Genética Veterinaria "Ingeniero Fernando Noel Dulout"; ArgentinaFil: Peral Garcia, Pilar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico La Plata. Instituto de Genética Veterinaria "Ingeniero Fernando Noel Dulout"; ArgentinaFil: Copes, Julio Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico La Plata. Instituto de Genética Veterinaria "Ingeniero Fernando Noel Dulout"; ArgentinaFil: Leotta, Gerardo Anibal. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico La Plata. Instituto de Genética Veterinaria "Ingeniero Fernando Noel Dulout"; Argentin

Self-reported glaucoma prevalence and related factors, contribution to reported visual impairment, and functional burden in a cross-sectional study in Colombia

Objetivo Describir la prevalencia autorreportada de glaucoma en adultos mayores colombianos, enfatizando los factores de riesgo más importantes y las alteraciones funcionales de la vida diaria asociadas. Métodos Este es un análisis secundario de la encuesta de Salud, Bienestar y Envejecimiento realizada en el año 2015. El diagnóstico de glaucoma se obtuvo del autoinforme. Las variables funcionales se evaluaron mediante cuestionarios de actividades de la vida diaria. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo seguido de modelos de regresión bivariados y multivariados ajustando por variables de confusión. Resultados La prevalencia autoinformada de glaucoma fue de 5,67%, con mayor tasa en mujeres, OR 1,22 (1,13–1,40) p = ,003, mayor edad OR 1,02 (1,01–1,02) p < ,001, y con educación superior OR 1,38 (1,28 –1.50) p < .001. El glaucoma se asoció de forma independiente con diabetes OR 1,37 (1,18–1,61) p  < ,001 e hipertensión 1,26 (1,08–1,46) p = ,003. También mostró correlaciones estadísticamente significativas con mala SSR OR 1.15 (1.02–1.32) p < .001, discapacidad visual autoinformada 1.73 (1.50–2.01) p < .001 y deterioro en el manejo del dinero OR 1.59 (1.16–2.08) p = .002, compras de comestibles OR 1.57 (1.26–1.96) p < .001 y preparación de comidas OR 1.31 (1.06–1.63) p  = .013 y haber tenido caídas en el último año OR 1.14 (1.01–1.31) p = 0.041. Conclusión Nuestros hallazgos sugieren que la prevalencia autoinformada de glaucoma en adultos mayores en Colombia es más alta que los datos informados. El glaucoma y la discapacidad visual en adultos mayores representan un problema de salud pública, ya que el glaucoma se asoció con resultados adversos como pérdida funcional y riesgo de caídas, afectando la calidad de vida y su participación en la sociedad.Q2Q2Purpose Describe the self-reported prevalence of glaucoma in Colombian older adults, emphasizing the most important risk factors and associated daily-life functional alterations. Methods This a secondary analysis of the Health, Wellness, and Aging survey conducted in the year 2015. Diagnosis of glaucoma was obtained from self-report. Functional variables were assessed through activities of daily living questionnaires. A descriptive analysis followed by bivariate and multivariate regression models adjusting for confounding variables was conducted. Results Self-reported prevalence of glaucoma was 5.67%, with higher rate in women, OR 1.22 (1.13–1.40) p = .003, older age OR 1.02 (1.01–1.02) p < .001, and with higher education OR 1.38 (1.28–1.50) p < .001. Glaucoma was independently associated with diabetes OR 1.37 (1.18–1.61) p  < .001 and hypertension 1.26 (1.08–1.46) p = .003. It also showed statistically significant correlations with poor SRH OR 1.15 (1.02–1.32) p < .001, self-reported visual impairment 1.73 (1.50–2.01) p < .001, and impairment in money management OR 1.59 (1.16–2.08) p  = .002, grocery shopping OR 1.57 (1.26–1.96) p < .001 and preparing meals OR 1.31 (1.06–1.63) p  = .013 and having had falls during the last year OR 1.14 (1.01–1.31) p = 0.041. Conclusion Our findings suggest the self-reported prevalence of glaucoma in older adults in Colombia to be higher than reported data. Glaucoma and visual impairment in older adults represent a public health concern, since glaucoma was associated with adverse outcomes like functional loss and risk of falling, affecting the quality of life and their participation in society.https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5680-7880https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=search_authors&mauthors=carlos+alberto+cano-gutierrez&hl=es&oi=aohttps://scienti.minciencias.gov.co/cvlac/visualizador/generarCurriculoCv.do?cod_rh=0000054895Revista Internacional - IndexadaS

La imagen como pensamiento

Este libro es resultado del 1er Foro Internacional de Estudios Visuales ‘La imagen como pensamiento’ que se llevó a cabo del 13 al 16 de octubre del año 2014 en la Facultad de Artes de la UAEMéx.RECURSOS DEL PIFI 2013. ADMINISTRACIÓN 2013-2017 DE LA FACULTAD DE ARTES DE LA UNIVERSIDAD AUTONÓMA DEL ESTADO DE MÉXIC

A protective personal factor against disability and dependence in the elderly: an ordinal regression analysis with nine geographically-defined samples from Spain

Background: Sense of Coherence (SOC) is defined as a tendency to perceive life experiences as comprehensible, manageable and meaningful. The construct is split in three major domains: Comprehensibility, Manageability, and Meaningfulness. SOC has been associated with successful coping strategies in the face of illness and traumatic events and is a predictor of self-reported and objective health in a variety of contexts. In the present study we aim to evaluate the association of SOC with disability and dependence in Spanish elders. Methods: A total of 377 participants aged 75 years or over from nine locations across Spain participated in the study (Mean age: 80.9 years; 65.3% women). SOC levels were considered independent variables in two ordinal logistic models on disability and dependence, respectively. Disability was established with the World health Organization-Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (36-item version), while dependence was measured with the Extended Katz Index on personal and instrumental activities of daily living. The models included personal (sex, age, social contacts, availability of an intimate confidant), environmental (municipality size, access to social resources) and health-related covariates (morbidity). Results: High Meaningfulness was a strong protective factor against both disability (Odds Ratio [OR] = 0.50; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 0.29-0.87) and dependence (OR = 0.33; 95% CI = 0.19-0.58) while moderate and high Comprehensibility was protective for disability (OR = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.22-0.70 and OR = 0.39; 95% CI = 0.21-0.74), but not for dependence. Easy access to social and health resources was also highly protective against both disability and dependence. Conclusions: Our results are consistent with the view that high levels of SOC are protective against disability and dependence in the elderly. Elderly individuals with limited access to social and health resources and with low SOC may be a group at risk for dependence and disability in Spain