Relative Importance of Environmental Attributes Using Logistic Regression

We investigate the problem of determining the relative importance of attributes in the discrete choice setting. Four alternative methods of extracting the relative importance of attributes are considered. The empirical application involves the development of a risk index system for individual herbicides combining the information on the herbicides' different human and environmental risks. The values of the pesticide risk indices are found to be consistent across the different methods.Environmental Economics and Policy,

FATTY ACIDS COMPOSITION IN MACADAMIA SEDES OIL (MACADAMIA INTEGRIFOLIA) FROM ECUADOR

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the fatty acids composition in a macadamia seeds oil sample cultivated in Ecuador.Materials & Methods: macadamia oil was obtained of macadamia seeds using the cold pressing method. Fatty acids analysis was carried out using the Gas Chromathography method with a Mass Selective Detector (GC/MSD) and using the data base Library NIST14.L to identify the compounds.Results: macadamia seeds have a high content of unsaturated fatty acids with 41.36% of oleic acid. Macadamia seeds oil has 37.77% of polyunsaturated fatty acids of which 3.79% ɷ6 α- Linoleic and 33.98% of ɷ3 α- Linolenic. Macadamia seeds only have 9.33% of palmitic acid. Conclusions: Macadamia seeds are a good source of monounsaturated fatty acids oleic acid and with a good content of ɷ6 α- Linoleic and ɷ3 α- Linolenic. This profile enables their use as a good and healthy oil to be used in the food industry in Ecuador. Keywords: Macadamia, Macadamia integrifolia, Fatty acids, Gas chromatography-mass selective detector, Methyl ester, Omega acids

CHIA PROTEIN CONCENTRATE (SALVIA HISPANICA L.) ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY

 Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of chia proteins concentrates in in vitro conditions.Methods: Chia seeds (Salvia hispanica) were utilized to obtain chia protein concentrate at different pH 2.0, pH 3.0, pH 4.0, pH 5.0, and pH 6.0 using the isoelectric precipitation method and to evaluate the in vitro anti-inflammatory and in vitro inhibition of peroxidation lipid of chia protein concentrates.Results: The best treatment to obtain chia protein concentrate was at pH 3.0 with a value of 25.53% yield using water as solvent and 38.13% yield using NaCl 1M as solvent. The higher protein content was found in the chia protein concentrate at pH 4.0 with values of 91.18% and 57.87% of protein content. All chia protein concentrates presented high in vitro anti-inflammatory activity and inhibition peroxidation lipid. Chia protein concentrate at pH 3.0 (100–100 μg/ml) presented anti-inflammatory activity with values ranging from 56.32% to 103.00% in a form dependent doses. Chia protein concentrate at pH 6.0 presented a value range of 92.80–95.98% of inhibition of peroxidation lipid.Conclusion: This study suggests that chia protein concentrates possess potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in in vitro conditions

OBTENTION OF PROTEIN CONCENTRATE AND POLYPHENOLS FROM MACADAMIA (MACADAMIA INTEGRIFOLIA) WITH AQUEOUS EXTRACTION METHOD

Objective: The aim of this study was to obtain protein concentrates from macadamia using alkaline pH at different pHs of precipitation with water to analyze the protein isolates using the Native-PAGE, SDS-PAGE electrophoresis and RP-UHPLC methods.Materials & Methods: Macadamia protein concentrates were obtained using the isoelectric precipitation method at different pHs using water as solvent. Proteins were analyzed using the Native-PAGE, SDS-PAGE electrophoresis and RP-UHPLC methods.Results: A yield of 36.57±0.17a of protein concentrate of defatted macadamia flour at pH 6.0 with a 51.564% of protein was obtained using the Dumas method. Polypeptides profile was identified in the 11-63 kDa range. Total polyphenols content was high at pH 5.0 with a value of 367,340 mg GAE equivalents / 100 g.Conclusions: Macadamia seed is a good source of proteins. Native-PAGE, SDS-PAGE and RP-UHPLC are good methods to identify the macadamia protein isolate in presence of water. Â

CHARACTERIZATION OF FATTY ACIDS IN SAMBO OIL (CUCURBITA FICIFOLIA L.) FROM ECUADOR

  Objective: The aim of this study was to identify fatty acids in a sambo oil sample cultivated in Ecuador.Methods: Sambo oil was obtained from sambo seeds using the cold pressing method. Fatty acids analysis was carried out using the gas chromatography with a mass selective detector (MSD) and using the database Library NIST14.L to identify the compounds.Results: Sambo seeds have a high content of unsaturated fatty acids with 41.36% of oleic acid. Sambo oil has 37.77% of polyunsaturated fatty acids, of which 3.79% É·6 α- linoleic and 33.98% of É·3 α- linolenic. Sambo seeds only have 9.33% of palmitic acid.Conclusions: Sambo seed is a good source of monounsaturated fatty acids with a good content of É·3 α- linolenic. This profile enables their use as a good and healthy oil to be used in the food industry in Ecuador.Â

FATTY ACIDS COMPOSITION OF TOCTE (JUGLANS NEOTROPICA DIELS) WALNUT FROM ECUADOR

 Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the fatty acids composition in a tocte seeds oil (Juglans neotropica Diels) sample cultivated in Ecuador.Methods: Tocte oil was obtained from tocte seeds using the cold pressing method. Fatty acids analysis was carried out using the gas chromatography method with a mass selective detector (GC/MSD) and using the database Library NIST14.L to identify the compounds.Results: Methyl esters fatty acids were identified from tocte (J. neotropica Diels) walnut using the GC–MS analytical method. The total lipid content of tocte walnuts seeds of plants cultivated in Ecuador was of 49.01% of the total lipid content on fresh weight. Fatty acids were analyzed as methyl esters on a capillary column DB-WAX 122-7062 with a good separation of palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid. The structure of methyl esters fatty acids was determined using the GC–MS. Tocte walnut presents 5.05% of palmitic acid, 2.26% of stearic acid, 19.50% of oleic acid, 65.81% of linoleic acid, and 2.79% linolenic acid of the total content of fatty acids in tocte oil. Fatty acids content reported in this study were similar to the data reported for other walnuts seeds.Conclusions: Tocte seeds are a good source of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Tocte oil content oleic acid and with a good content of ɷ6 α-linoleic and ɷ3 α-linolenic. Tocte walnut can help reduce risk cardiovascular diseases in Ecuador for their good composition of fatty acids

CONTENT OF FATTY ACIDS IN CORN (ZEA MAYS L.) OIL FROM ECUADOR

  Objective: The aim of this work was to determine the fatty acids content in corn seeds oil (Zea mays) sample cultivated in Ecuador.Methods: Corn oil was obtained from corn oil seeds using the cold pressing method. Methyl esters fatty acids analysis were carried out using the gas chromatography (GC) method with a mass selective detector and using the database library NIST 14.L to identify the compounds present in the corn seed oil.Results: Methyl esters fatty acids were identified from corn (Z. mays) seeds using the GC mass spectrometer (GC-MS) analytical method. Fatty acids were analyzed as methyl esters on a capillary column DB-WAX 122-7062 with a good separation of palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, elaidic acid, linoleic acid, arachidic acid, and linolenic acid. The structure of methyl esters fatty acids was determined using the GS-MS method. Corn oil has a high content of linoleic acid (omega 6) with a value of 52.68% of the total content of fatty acids in corn oil and 29.70% of oleic acid (omega 9) of the total content of fatty acids in corn oil. The sample presented a value of 12.57% of palmitic acid.Conclusions: Corn oil shows a good content of fatty acids omega 6 and 9. The higher value was of omega 6 with 52.68% content. Corn oil has a good proportion of polyunsaturated of lipids (53.80%) and 14.86% of saturated lipids

Hypertension and cardiovascular risk factor management in a multi-ethnic cohort of adults with CKD: a cross sectional study in general practice

Background: Hypertension, especially if poorly controlled, is a key determinant of chronic kidney disease (CKD) development and progression to end stage renal disease (ESRD). Aim: To assess hypertension and risk factor management, and determinants of systolic blood pressure control in individuals with CKD and hypertension. Design and setting: Cross-sectional survey using primary care electronic health records from 47/49 general practice clinics in South London. Methods: Known effective interventions, management of hypertension and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in patients with CKD Stages 3–5 were investigated. Multivariable logistic regression analysis examined the association of demographic factors, comorbidities, deprivation, and CKD coding, with systolic blood pressure control status as outcome. Individuals with diabetes were excluded. Results: Adults with CKD Stages 3–5 and hypertension represented 4131/286,162 (1.4%) of the total population; 1984 (48%) of these individuals had undiagnosed CKD without a recorded CKD clinical code. Hypertension was undiagnosed in 25% of the total Lambeth population, and in patients with CKD without diagnosed hypertension, 23.0% had systolic blood pressure > 140 mmHg compared with 39.8% hypertensives, p < 0.001. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that factors associated with improved systolic blood pressure control in CKD included diastolic blood pressure control, serious mental illness, history of cardiovascular co-morbidities, CKD diagnostic coding, and age < 60 years. African ethnicity and obesity were associated with poorer systolic blood pressure control. Conclusion: We found both underdiagnosed CKD and underdiagnosed hypertension in patients with CKD. The poor systolic blood pressure control in older age groups ≥ 60 years and in Black African or obese individuals is clinically important as these groups are at increased risk of mortality for cardiovascular diseases

Performance and challenges in the value chain of the Anadara tuberculosa bivalve mollusk in Ecuador

The bivalve mollusk, Anadara tuberculosa (Black Shell, in Spanish Concha Prieta), is found on America’s Pacific coast, where it is harvested for subsistence and commercial markets. This paper aims to diagnose the performance of the black shell’s value chain. We also identify several challenges that must be addressed to improve the sustainability of the black shell fishery in Ecuador. The applied methodology was quantitative and descriptive. Its design was non-experimental, field, cross-sectional and ex post facto. The investigation was carried out from January to October 2019 in the Jambelí archipelago, El Oro province, Ecuador. The study population consisted of 565 individuals, shellfish collectors, shellfish associations managers, traders, and restaurants from the A. tuberculosa production chain. The sample size was estimated at 222 informants. The type of sampling used was probabilistic, random, stratified, and with proportional allocation, with an effective participation rate of those selected of approximately 80%. The questionnaire was applied personally through the structured survey method, in writing, in the work area, and with their consent. The performance of the value chain was diagnosed in the dimensions of productivity, competitiveness, and quality of life, reaching a 75.1% index, a result that indicates that the value chain has a moderate to good performance level. The competitiveness dimension reached the highest performance, followed by productivity. Quality of life was the dimension with the lowest performance. The value chain can be improved if the following challenges are met: (1) Restoration of the mangrove ecosystem, (2) Promotion of low-intensity shellfish aquaculture, (3) Good sanitary management and purification, (4) Promotion of value-focused ventures, (5) Strengthening of organizations and agreements for the use and custody of mangroves, and (6) Strengthening of institutions that contribute to the advancement of these challenge

Perceived risks of infection, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19 at the Equator: Ecuador and Kenya

Objectives: This study''s goal was to determine the perceived risks of infection as well as the perceived risks of hospitalization and death from COVID-19 in Ecuador and Kenya. It also assessed the factors associated with the risk-related perceptions. Methods: Cross-sectional studies with samples from the adult populations in both countries were conducted to assess the perceived risks of contracting COVID-19. Data were collected online using the Qualtrics platform from samples of 1, 050 heads of households ages 18 years or older in each country. Three statistical analyses were conducted: summary statistics, correlation, and linear regression. Results: The average perceived risks of COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and death in the Kenyan sample were 27.1%, 43.2%, and 17.2%, respectively, and the values for the Ecuadorian sample were 34%, 32.8%, and 23.3%, respectively. The Pearson''s correlation coefficients between the risk measures in each country were less than 0.38. Risk measures were associated with several sociodemographic variables (e.g., income, gender, location) but not age. Conclusions: The perceived risks of COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and death in Kenya and Ecuador were significantly higher relative to the statistics reported; however, no strong association existed between perceived risk and age, which is a key factor in adverse health outcomes, including death, among COVID-19 infected individuals