Estimating the prevalence of hunger and food insecurity: The validity of questionnaire-based measures for the identification of households

This study had three objectives: (1) to assess the validity of questionnaire-based measures in identifying households experiencing hunger and food insecurity, (2) to examine the interrelationships of different questionnaire-based measures, and (3) to examine the construction of a continuous food insecurity scale intended to differentiate three levels of food insecurity within households. A 1993 survey of 193 randomly sampled rural households with women and children living at home provided data on demographics, risk factors for food insecurity, Radimer/Cornell, CCHIP, and NHANES III hunger and food insecurity items, coping strategies, fruit and vegetable consumption, disordered eating behaviors, height, weight, dietary recall, and household food-stores inventory. This information was used to develop a definitive criterion measure for hunger and food insecurity, against which the Radimer/Cornell and CCHIP questionnaire-based measures, the NHANES III item, and the continuous food insecurity scale were tested for their specificity and sensitivity in measuring levels of food insecurity.

The use of zooplankton metrics to determine the trophic status and ecological potential: An approach in a large Mediterranean watershed.

In the European Water Framework Directive, zooplankton was not included as a Biological Quality Element despite its important place in the aquatic trophic web. In the present study on zooplankton abundances and biomasses, we used several metrics to test their ability to detect differences among trophic statuses and ecological potential levels, and collected a large sum of data in more than 60 reservoirs at Ebro watershed, on more than 300 sampling occasions over 10 years. Our results indicate that most zooplankton metrics are correlated to environmental variables that determine reservoirs' trophic states, especially chlorophyll a and total phosphorus. The metrics with better sensitivity to differentiate trophic states and ecological potential levels were ZOO (total zooplankton), LZOO (large zooplankton), CLAD (cladocerans), and ZOO:CHLA (zooplankton:chlorophyll a ratio). Microcrustacean metrics such as DAPHN (Daphnia), COP (copepods), CYCLO (cyclopoids), and CALA (calanoids) were good at differentiating between high and low water quality in trophic status (oligotrophic-eutrophic) and ecological potential (good or superior-moderate). Thus, zooplankton can be used as a valuable tool to determine water quality; we believe that zooplankton should be considered a Biological Quality Element withinWater Framework Directive monitoring programs for inland waters

Los Palaeotheriidae (Perissodactyla, Mammalia) del Eoceno de la Cuenca del Duero (Castilla y Leon, Espana)

The systematic study of the Palaeotheriidae (Perissodactyla, Mammalia) of the Eocene of the Duero Bassin (Castilla y León, Spain) has permited to identify 3 new species: Palaeotherium giganteum nov. sp., Cantabrotherium casanovasae nov. sp. and Franzenium durense nov. sp., all of the Mazaterón bed (middle Eocene-upper Eocene, MP16-17, Almazán subbassin, Soria). Franzenium durense nov. sp. is present also in Caenes (middle Eocene, MP16, southoccidental area, Salamanca). The described forrns display a special combination of primitive characters, mainly in the premolars, with almost void molarization, and derived characters, detaching a strong hipsodonty; such combination is not known in the other species of the Family. In a biogeographical order this fauna shows a strong endemic character, with a almost complete independence of the occidental Europe and subpyrenean area, and only sorne peninsular beds, Llamaquique (Oviedo) and Huérmeces del Cerro (Guadalajara) have similar forms. In 3 other beds, situates in the southoccidental area, Casaseca de Campeán (middle Eocene, MP13-14, Zamora), Molino del Pico (upper Eocene-Oligocene, Zamora) and San Morales (Middle Eocene, MP16, Salamanca) the Palaeotheriidae are very rares and the limited material doesn't have to perrnit the identification at the generic level.El estudio sistemático de los Palaeotheriidae (Perissodactyla, Marnmalia) del Eoceno de la Cuenca del Duero (Castilla y León, España) ha permitido identificar tres nuevas especies: Palaeotherium giganteum nov. sp., Cantabrotherium casanovasae nov. sp. y Franzenium durense nov. sp., todas ellas del yacimiento de Mazaterón (Eoceno medio-Eoceno superior, MP16-17, subcuenca de Almazán, Soria). Franzenium durense nov. sp. está también presente en Caenes (Eoceno medio, MP16, área suroccidental, Salamanca). Las formas descritas presentan una especial combinación de caracteres primitivos, principalmente en los premolares, con molarización prácticamente nula, y caracteres derivados, destacando una acusada hipsodoncia; tal combinación es desconocida en el resto de especies de la familia. Biogeográficamente, muestran un acusado carácter endémico, con independencia casi completa de Europa occidental y del área subpirenaica, y sólo en algunos yacimientos peninsulares, Llamaquique (Oviedo) y Huérmeces del Cerro (Guadalajara), existen formas similares. En otros tres yacimientos, situados en el área suroccidental, Casaseca de Campeán (Eoceno medio, MP13-14, Zamora). Molino del Pico (Eoceno superior-Oligoceno, Zamora) y San Morales (Eoceno medio, MP16, Salamanca) los Palaeotheriidae son muy raros y el escaso material encontrado no permite su identificación a nivel genérico

Factores asociados a la calidad de vida en adultos mayores con insuficiencia orgánica crónica avanzada en un hospital de Lima-Perú: Factors associated with quality of life in older adults with advanced chronic organ failure in a hospital in Lima, Peru

Objective: To determine the factors associated with the quality of life in older adults with advanced chronic organ failure. Materials and methods: Observational, cross-sectional analytical research, whose population was made up of 100 older adults; then the data collection technique was the interview and the instrument the question through the application of Barthel and WHOQoL-Bref; then to answer the study objectives, the non-parametric Mann Whitney U, Kruskal Wallis, and Spearman's Rho tests were applied, considering significance at 5%. Results: (44) 44% of older adults were over 80 years old, (59) 59% were male, (31) 31% studied higher technical level, (57) 57% were holders in the Navy. , (74) 74% presented high blood pressure. The most frequent geriatric syndromes were visual or auditory deficit (82) 82%, insomnia (59) 59%, constipation (52) (52%) and malnutrition (47) 47%. (50) 50% of older adults presented severe functional dependence. (63) 63% presented quality of life at a medium level. The epidemiological factors associated with low quality of life were age over 80 years (p = 0.032, Rp = 1.818), female sex (p = 0.009, Rp = 2.056), the level of instruction given by illiterate, primary and high school (p = 0.025, Rp = 1.930) and the relationship with the navy as a relative (p = 0.022, Rp = 1.894). Associated geriatric syndromes were insomnia (p=0.034, Rp=1.930), constipation (p=0.000, Rp=3.560), pressure injury (p=0.000, Rp=2.788), and severe functional dependence (p= 0.000, Rp = 4.667). Conclusions: Age over 80 years, female sex, the level of instruction given by illiterate, primary and secondary, the relationship with the Navy as a family member, insomnia, constipation, pressure injury and severe functional dependence were Factors associated with quality of life in older adults with advanced chronic organ failure. Keywords: Risk factors, quality of life, older adults.Objetivo: Determinar los factores asociados a la calidad de vida en adultos mayores con insuficiencia orgánica crónica avanzada. Materiales y métodos: Investigación observacional, analítica transversal, cuya población la conformaron 100 adultos mayores, la técnica de recolección de datos fue la entrevista y el instrumento el cuestionario a través de la aplicación del índice de Barthel y WHOQoL-Bref, luego, para responder a los objetivos de estudio se aplicaron las pruebas no paramétricas U de Mann Whitney, Kruskal Wallis y Rho de Spearman, considerando la significancia del 5%. Resultados: El (44) 44% de adultos mayores tenían más de 80 años, el (59) 59% eran varones, el (31) 31% estudiaron nivel técnico superior, el (57) 57% eran titulares en la marina de guerra, el (74) 74% presentó hipertensión arterial. Los síndromes geriátricos más frecuentes fueron déficit visual o auditivo (82) 82%, insomnio (59) 59%, estreñimiento (52) (52%) y malnutrición (47) 47%. El (50)50% de los adultos mayores presentó dependencia funcional grave. El (63)63% presentó Calidad de vida a nivel medio. Los factores epidemiológicos asociados a la baja calidad de vida, fueron la edad mayor a 80 años (p = 0.032, Rp = 1.818), sexo femenino (p = 0.009, Rp = 2.056), el grado de instrucción dado por analfabeto, primaria y secundaria (p = 0.025, Rp = 1.930) y la relación con la Marina de Guerra como familiar (p = 0.022, Rp = 1.894). Los síndromes geriátricos asociados fueron el insomnio (p = 0.034, Rp = 1.930), el estreñimiento (p=0.000, Rp = 3.560), la lesión por presión (p=0.000, Rp = 2.788) y la dependencia funcional grave (p=0.000, Rp = 4.667). Conclusiones: La edad mayor a 80 años, sexo femenino, el grado de instrucción  analfabeto, primaria y secundaria, la relación con la Marina de Guerra como familiar, el insomnio, el estreñimiento, la lesión por presión y la dependencia funcional grave fueron factores asociados a la calidad de vida  baja en los adultos mayores con insuficiencia orgánica crónica avanzada. Palabras clave: Factores de riesgo, calidad de vida, adultos mayores

Wheat bran valorisation: Towards photocatalytic nanomaterials for benzyl alcohol photo-oxidation

In this work, we have successfully synthesized a set of titania photocatalytic nanocomposites by the incorporation of different TiO2 content on wheat bran residues. The obtained catalysts were characterized by different techniques including UVeVis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) while their photocatalytic activity was investigated in the oxidation of benzyl alcohol under UV light irradiation. Benzaldehyde yields were ca. 20%, with conversion in the systems of ca. 33% of benzyl alcohol by using 10%Ti-Bran catalyst, as compared to 33% yield to the target product (quantitative conversion of benzyl alcohol) using commercial pure TiO2 (P-25). The photocatalytic activity results indicate that designed waste-derived nanomaterials with low TiO2 content can efficiently photocatalyze the conversion of benzyl alcohol with relative high selectivity towards benzaldehyde

Architecture and Selectivity in Aquaporins: 2.5 Å X-Ray Structure of Aquaporin Z

Aquaporins are a family of water and small molecule channels found in organisms ranging from bacteria to animals. One of these channels, the E. coli protein aquaporin Z (AqpZ), has been shown to selectively conduct only water at high rates. We have expressed, purified, crystallized, and solved the X-ray structure of AqpZ. The 2.5 Å resolution structure of AqpZ suggests aquaporin selectivity results both from a steric mechanism due to pore size and from specific amino acid substitutions that regulate the preference for a hydrophobic or hydrophilic substrate. This structure provides direct evidence on the molecular mechanisms of specificity between water and glycerol in this family of channels from a single species. It is to our knowledge the first atomic resolution structure of a recombinant aquaporin and so provides a platform for combined genetic, mutational, functional, and structural determinations of the mechanisms of aquaporins and, more generally, the assembly of multimeric membrane proteins

Facile mechanochemical modification of g-C3N4 for selective photo-oxidation of benzyl alcohol

Graphitic carbon nitride enriched with ZnO or Fe2O3 were synthesized using a simple one-pot mechanochemical method. By using this method, composite samples were synthetized without the production of any potentially hazardous waste. The synthesized materials were used as catalysts during the selective photo-oxidation of benzyl alcohol. Both composite materials displayed an enhancement of the activity and benzaldehyde selectivity with respect to the pure g-C3N4. The most active catalyst was Fe2O3/g-C3N4. The conversion and benzaldehyde selectivity of this sample were 20 and 70 %, respectively. It showed a considerable increase of the benzaldehyde selectivity compared to the pure g-C3N4 and TiO2 P25 commercial reference. A complete structural and electronic characterization using Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive (SEM-EDX), BET measurements, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray Photoelectron (XPS), and UV–visible spectroscopies was carried out. The characterization analysis pointed out the leading role of the crystallinity and surface concentration over the activity and benzaldehyde selectivity of the reactio

El Amor en los Tiempos del COVID-19: Centrado En Cuidado de las Personas Mayores

Older adults are the most vulnerable population group in the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only do they have the highest mortality, multimorbidity, and various problems during the pandemic, but they will have the greatest number of needs after it. To guarantee human rights, optimize the healthy aging process and center attention in person, the state and society in general will require a series of extraordinary measures.Las Personas Adultas Mayores son el grupo poblacional más vulnerable en la Pandemia por COVID-19. No solamente son los que tienen más mortalidad y multiples condiciones complejas durante la pandemia, sino los que tendrán más necesidades luego de esta. Para garantizar los derechos humanos, optimizar el proceso de envejecimiento saludable y centrar la atención en las personas se necesitará una serie de medidas extraordinarias por parte del estado y la sociedad en general