Assessing variability in carbon footprint throughout the food supply chain: a case study of Valencian oranges

[EN] Purpose This study aims to analyse the variability in the carbon footprint (CF) of organically and conventionally produced Valencian oranges (Spain), including both farming and post-harvest (PH) stages. At the same time, two issues regarding sample representativeness are addressed: how to determine confidence intervals from small samples and how to calculate the aggregated mean CF (and its variability) when the inventory is derived from different sources. Methods The functional unit was 1 kg of oranges at a European distribution centre. Farming data come from a survey of two samples of organic and conventional farms; PH data come from one PH centre; and data on exportation to the main European markets were obtained from official secondary sources. To assess the variability of the farming subsystem, a bootstrap of the mean CF was performed. The variability of the PH subsystem was assessed through a Monte Carlo simulation and a subsequent subsampling bootstrap. A weighted discrete distribution of the CF of distribution and end-of-life (EoL) was built, which was also bootstrapped. The empirical distribution of the overall CF was obtained by summing all iterations of the three bootstrap procedures of the subsystems. Results and discussion The CF of the baseline scenarios for conventional and organic production were 0.82 and 0.67 kg CO2 equivalent·kg orange¿1, respectively; the difference between their values was due mainly to differences in the farming subsystem. Distribution and EoL was the subsystem contributing the most to the CF (59.3 and 75.7% of the total CF for conventional and organic oranges, respectively), followed by the farming subsystem (34.1 and 19.8% for conventional and organic oranges, respectively). The confidence intervals for the CF of oranges were 0.72¿0.92 and 0.61¿0.82 kg CO2 equivalent·kg orange¿1 for conventional and organic oranges, respectively, and a significant difference was found between them. If organic production were to reach 50% of the total exported production, the CF would be reduced by 5.4¿8.4%. Conclusions The case study and the methods used show that bootstrap techniques can help to test for the existence of significant differences and estimate confidence intervals of the mean CF. Furthermore, these techniques allow several CF sources to be combined so as to estimate the uncertainty in the mean CF estimate. Assessing the variability in the mean CF (or in other environmental impacts) gives a more reliable measure of the mean impact.The Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad for provided financial support in the project Design of a life-cycle indicator for sustainability in agricultural systems (CTM2013-47340-R).Ribal, J.; Estruch, V.; Clemente, G.; Loreto Fenollosa, M.; Sanjuan, N. (2019). Assessing variability in carbon footprint throughout the food supply chain: a case study of Valencian oranges. International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. 24(8):1515-1532. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-018-01580-9S15151532248Agustí M, Martínez-Fuentes A, Mesejo C (2002) Citrus fruit quality. Physiological basis and techniques of improvement. Agrociencia 6(2):1–16Altman N, Krzywinski M (2017) Points of significance: P values and the search for significance. Nat Methods 14:1–4De Backer ED, Aertsens J, Vergucht S, Steurbaut W (2009) Assessing the ecological soundness of organic and conventional agriculture by means of life cycle assessment (LCA): a case study of leek production. Brit Food J 111(10):1028–1061Beccali M, Cellura M, Iudicello M, Mistretta M (2009) Resource consumption and environmental impacts of the Agrofood sector: life cycle assessment of Italian citrus-based products. J Environ Manag 43(4):707–724Bessou C, Basset-Mens C, Latunussa C, Vélu A, Heitz H, Vannière H, Caliman JP (2016) Partial modelling of the perennial crop cycle misleads LCA results in two contrasted case studies. Int J Life Cycle Assess 21(3):297–310Boone L, De Meester S, Vandecasteele B, Muylle H, Roldán-Ruiz I, Nemecek T, Dewulf J (2016) Environmental life cycle assessment of grain maize production: an analysis of factors causing variability. Sci Total Environ 553:551–564Boulard T, Raeppel C, Brun R, Lecompte F, Hayer F, Carmassi G, Gaillard G (2011) Environmental impact of greenhouse tomato production in France. Agron Sustain Dev 31(4):757–777CAMACCDR (2017a) Generalitat Valenciana. Conselleriad’Agricultura, Med Ambient, Canvi Climatic i Desenvolupament Rural. Informe del Sector Agrari Valencià 2015. Available at: http://www.agroambient.gva.es/documents/162218839/163510152/ISAV2015/ccc50371-e0c8-4462-9f3a-259fac20c49e . Accessed 9 March 2017CAMACCDR (2017b) Generalitat Valenciana. Conselleria d’Agricultura, Med Ambient, Canvi Climatic i Desenvolupament Rural. Informe sobre la superficie ecológica 2016 Comunitat Valenciana. Available at: http://www.agroambient.gva.es/documents/162218839/164381878/INFORME+SOBRE+LA+SUPERFICIE+ECOL%C3%93GICA+2016.pdf/065f453a-5ac8-4577-8351-84127b8b1fab . Accessed 9 March 2017Canellada F, Laca A, Laca A, Díaz M (2018) Environmental impact of cheese production: a case study of a small-scale factory in southern Europe and global overview of carbon footprint. Sci Total Environ 635:167–177CAPDR (2017) Junta de Andalucía. Consejería de Agricultura, Pesca y Desarrollo Rural. Observatorio de precios y mercados. Available at: http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/agriculturaypesca/observatorio/servlet/FrontController?action=SelectInformes&claseInforme=cm&tipoInforme=por_campanna&ec=subsector&subsector=647048 . Accessed 10 March 2017Chen X, Corson MS (2014) Influence of emission-factor uncertainty and farm-characteristic variability in LCA estimates of environmental impacts of French dairy farms. J Clean Prod 81:150–157Chernick MR (2008) Bootstrap methods: a guide for practitioners and researchers. John Wilery & Sons. Inc., Hoboken, New JerseyChernick MR, LaBudde RA (2011) An introduction to bootstrap methods with applications to R. John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, New JerseyColtro L, Mourad AL, Kletecke RM, Mendonça TA, Germer SPM (2009) Assessing the environmental profile of orange production in Brazil. Int J Life Cycle Assess 14(7):656–664Escobar N, Ribal J, Clemente G, Rodrigo A, Pascual A, Sanjuán N (2015) Uncertainty analysis in the environmental assessment of an integrated management system for restaurants and catering waste. Int J Life Cycle Assess 20(2):244–262European Union (2008) Commission Regulation 889/2008 of 5 September 2008 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products with regard to organic production, labelling and control. Available at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv:OJ.L_.2008.250.01.0001.01.ENG . Accessed 15 September 2017Eurostat (2018a) Recycling rates for packaging waste. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/tgm/refreshTableAction.do?tab=table&plugin=1&pcode=ten00063&language=en . Accessed 11 November 2018Eurostat (2018b) Recovery rates for packaging waste. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/tgm/refreshTableAction.do?tab=table&plugin=1&pcode=ten00062&language=en . Accessed 11 November 2018FEPEX (2017) Federación Española de Asociaciones de Productores Exportadores de Frutas, Hortalizas, Flores y Plantas vivas. EXPORTACIÓN/IMPORTACIÓN ESPAÑOLAS DE FRUTAS Y HORTALIZAS. Available at: http://www.fepex.es/datos-del-sector/exportacion-importacion-espa%C3%B1ola-frutas-hortalizas . Accessed 11 January 2017Finkbeiner M (2009) Carbon footprinting—opportunities and threats. Int J Life Cycle Assess 14:91–94Heidari MD, Mobli H, Omid M, Rafiee S, Marbini VJ, Elshout PM, Huijbregts MA (2017) Spatial and technological variability in the carbon footprint of durum wheat production in Iran. Int J Life Cycle Assess 22(12):1893–1900Heijungs R, Huijbregts M (2004) A review of approaches to treat uncertainty in LCA. In: Pahl C, Schmidt S, Jakeman T (eds) iEMSs 2004 International Congress: complexity and integrated resources management. International Environmental Modeling and Software Society, OsnabrueckHenriksson PJ, Heijungs R, Dao HM, Phan LT, de Snoo GR, Guinée JB (2015) Product carbon footprints and their uncertainties in comparative decision contexts. PLoS One 10(3):e0121221Henson S, Reardon T (2005) Private agri-food standards: implications for food policy and the agri-food system. Food Pol 30(3):241–253Hospido A, Milà i, Canals L, McLaren S, Truninger M, Edwards-Jones G, Clift R (2009) The role of seasonality in lettuce consumption: a case study of environmental and social aspects. Int J Life Cycle Assess 14(5):381–391Huijbregts MAJ (1998) Application of uncertainty and variability in LCA. Int J Life Cycle Assess 3(5):273–280Iriarte A, Almeida MG, Villalobos P (2014) Carbon footprint of premium quality export bananas: case study in Ecuador, the world's largest exporter. Sci Total Environ 472:1082–1088Jones AK, Jones DL, Cross P (2014) The carbon footprint of lamb: sources of variation and opportunities for mitigation. Agric Syst 123:97–107Josling T (2002) The impact of food industry globalization on agricultural trade policy. In: Agricultural globalization trade and the environment. Springer, Boston, pp 309–328Keyes S, Tyedmers P, Beazley K (2015) Evaluating the environmental impacts of conventional and organic apple production in Nova Scotia, Canada, through life cycle assessment. J Clean Prod 104:40–51Knudsen MT, de Almeida G, Langer V, de Abreu LS, Halberg N (2011) Environmental assessment of organic juice imported to Denmark: a case study on oranges (Citrus sinensis) from Brazil. Org Agric 1:167–185Lacirignola M, Blanc P, Girard R, Perez-Lopez P, Blanc I (2017) LCA of emerging technologies: addressing high uncertainty on inputs’ variability when performing global sensitivity analysis. Sci Total Environ 578:268–280Laurent A, Olsen SI, Hauschild MZ (2012) Limitations of carbon footprint as indicator of environmental sustainability. Environ Sci Technol 46(7):4100–4108Leys C, Ley C, Klein O, Bernard P, Licata L (2013) Detecting outliers: do not use standard deviation around the mean, use absolute deviation around the median. J Exp Soc Psychol 49(4):764–766LineRail (2014) Boletín Fundación Valencia Port. Julio –Diciembre 2013. Available at: http://www.fundacion.valenciaport.com/Articles/Newsletter/Boletin-LinePort-LineRail/Newsletter-2014.aspx . Accessed 01 April 2018Lo Giudice A, Mbohwa C, Clasadonte MT, Incrao C (2013) Environmental assessment of the citrus fruit production in Sicily using LCA. Ital J Food Sci 25(2):202De Luca AI, Falcone G, Stillitano T, Strano A, Gulisano G (2014) Sustainability assessment of quality-oriented citrus growing systems in Mediterranean area. Calitatea 15(141):103Luè A, Bresciani C, Colorni A, Lia F, Maras V, Radmilović Z, Anoyrkati E (2016) Future priorities for a climate-friendly transport: a European strategic research agenda toward 2030. Int J Sust Transpor 10(3):236–246MAPAMA (2017) Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca, Alimentación y Medioambiente de España. Agricultura Ecológica. Estadisticas 2015. Available at: http://www.mapama.gob.es/es/alimentacion/temas/la-agricultura-ecologica/estadisticaseco 2015 connipoymetadatos_tcm7-435957.pdf . Accessed 20 January 2018Martínez-Jávega JM, Salvador A, Navarro P (2007) Adecuación del tratamiento de desverdización para minimizar alteraciones fisiológicas durante la comercialización de mandarinas. In Congreso Iberoamericano de Tecnología Postcosecha y Agroexportaciones Centro de Tecnología Postcosecha Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias Apartado Oficial (Vol. 46113)Meneses M, Pasqualino J, Castells F (2012) Environmental assessment of the milk life cycle: the effect of packaging selection and the variability of milk production data. J Environ Manag 107:76–83Meneses M, Torres CM, Castells F (2016) Sensitivity analysis in a life cycle assessment of an aged red wine production from Catalonia, Spain. Sci Total Environ 562:571–579Nicolo BF, De Luca AI, Stillitano T, Iofrida N, Falcone G, Gulisano G (2017) Environmental and economic sustainability assessment of navel oranges from the cultivation to the packinghouse according to environmental product declarations system. Calitatea 18(158):108Notarnicola B, Sala S, Anton A, McLaren SJ, Saouter E, Sonesson U (2017) The role of life cycle assessment in supporting sustainable Agri-food systems: a review of the challenges. J Clean Prod 140:399–409Pardo J, Soler G, Buj A (2016) Calendario de recolección de cítricos cultivados en España. Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias Available at: wwwiviagvaes/variedades/ Accesed 12 April 2016Pérez Neira DP, Soler Montiel MS, Delgado Cabeza MD, Reigada A (2018) Energy use and carbon footprint of the tomato production in heated multi-tunnel greenhouses in Almeria within an exporting agri-food system context. Sci Total Environ 628:1627–1636Pergola M, D'Amico M, Celano G, Palese A, Scuderi A, Di Vita G et al (2013) Sustainability evaluation of Sicily's lemon and orange production: an energy, economic and environmental analysis. J Environ Manag 128:674–682Poore J, Nemecek T (2018) Reducing food’s environmental impacts through producers and consumers. Science 360(6392):987–992Renouf MA, Wegener MK, Pagan RJ (2010) Life cycle assessment of Australian sugarcane production with a focus on sugarcane growing. Int J Life Cycle Assess 15(9):927–937Ribal J, Ramírez-Sanz C, Estruch V, Clemente G, Sanjuán N (2017) Organic versus conventional citrus. Impact assessment and variability analysis in the Comunitat Valenciana (Spain). Int J Life Cycle Assess 22(4):571–586Roibás L, Loiseau E, Hospido A (2017) Determination of the carbon footprint of all Galician production and consumption activities: lessons learnt and guidelines for policymakers. J Environ Manag 198:289–299Röös E, Sundberg C, Hansson PA (2010) Uncertainties in the carbon footprint of food products: a case study on table potatoes. Int J Life Cycle Assess 15(5):478–488Röös E, Sundberg C, Hansson PA (2011) Uncertainties in the carbon footprint of refined wheat products: a case study on Swedish pasta. Int J Life Cycle Assess 16(4):338–350Sanjuan N, Ubeda L, Clemente G, Mulet A, Girona F (2005) LCA of integrated orange production in the Comunidad Valenciana (Spain). Int J Agric Res Gov Ecol (2):163–177SI, PAS 2050–1:2012 (2012) Assessment of life cycle greenhouse gas emissions from horticultural products—supplementary requirements for the cradle to gate stages of GHG assessments of horticultural products undertaken in accordance with PAS 2050. British Standards Institution, Londonda Silva VP, van der Werf HM, Spies A, Soares SR (2010) Variability in environmental impacts of Brazilian soybean according to crop production and transport scenarios. J Environ Manag 91(9):1831–1839 Steinmann ZJ, Hauck M, Karuppiah R, Laurenzi IJ, Huijbregts MA (2014) A methodology for separating uncertainty and variability in the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of coal-fueled power generation in the USA. Int J Life Cycle Assess 19(5):1146–1155Van der Krogt D, Nilsson J, Host V (2007) The impact of cooperatives’ risk aversion and equity capital constraints on their inter-firm consolidation and collaboration strategies—with an empirical study of the European dairy industry. Agribusiness 23(4):453–472Vinyes E, Asin L, Alegre S, Muñoz P, Boschmonart J, Gasol CM (2017) Life cycle assessment of apple and peach production, distribution and consumption in Mediterranean fruit sector. J Clean Prod 149:313–320Webb J, Williams AG, Hope E, Evans D, Moorhouse E (2013) Do foods imported into the UK have a greater environmental impact than the same foods produced within the UK? Int J Life Cycle Assess 18(7):1325–1343Weber CL, Matthews HS (2008) Food-miles and the relative climate impacts of food choices in the United States. Environ Sci Technol 42(10):3508–3513Weidema BP, Thrane M, Christensen P, Schmidt J, Løkke S (2008) Carbon footprint. A catalyst for life cycle assessment? J Ind Ecol 12(1):3–6Williams AG, Audsley E, Sandars DL (2010) Environmental burdens of producing bread wheat, oilseed rape and potatoes in England and Wales using simulation and system modelling. Int J Life Cycle Assess 15(8):855–868Zaragozà JL (2016) Nueva ruta desde Valencia al norte de Europa para impulsar la exportación citrícola. Levante, 12/05/2016. Available at: https://www.levante-emv.com/economia/2016/05/12/nueva-ruta-valencia-saltarse-veto/1416515.html . Accessed 1 April 201

Structural analysis and design of a large inflatable hangar for aircrafts

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis Group in Structural Engineering International on 2022, available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/10168664.2022.2064403.Buildair S.A. has designed, manufactured and built an inflatable hangar (called hangar H75) for the aeronautical industry at Jeddah Airport, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. H75 is the largest air-cell inflated structure ever built in the world, finally erected in July 2019. The structural analysis and design of the main body of the hangar has involved complex structural concepts due to the specificity of the structural elements employed, like membranes and straps that lead to a highly nonlinear mechanical problem, or the treatment of wind over the structure without a defined standard for inflatable structures. In this article, the structural concept and specificities of the structure are presented, as well as the design procedure for H75 based on numerical analysis, to fulfil the design requirements in terms of stress and deformation of the main body.This work was supported by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities [MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033: Grant Number CEX2018-000797-S].Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Structural analysis and design of a large inflatable hangar for aircrafts (preprint)

Buildair S.A. has recently designed, manufactured and built an inflatable hangar (termed H75 hangar) for the aeronautic industry in Jeddah Airport (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). H75 hangar is the largest aircell inflated structure ever built in the world, finally erected in July 2019. The structural analysis and design of the main body of the hangar has involved complex structural concepts due to the specificity of the structural elements employed, like membranes and straps which lead to a highly non-linear mechanical problem, or the treatment of wind over the structure without a defined standard for inflatable structures. In this paper, the structural conception and specificities of the structure are presented, as well as the design procedure for the H75 hangar based in the numerical analysis, to fulfill the design requirements in terms of stresses, and deformations for the structural elements of the main body

Numerical simulation of an inflated structure for an aircraft hangar

BuildAir S.A. has projected and built the H75 hangar in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) for aircraft storage and maintenance tasks. The hangar is mainly conceived as a set of inflatable tubes where the stiffness is provided by the internal pressure and the stability of the structure is assured by a textile straps network. The structural analysis and design of this structure involves complex structural concepts due to the specificity of the structural elements employed which makes the problem highly non-linear. In this paper, the numerical simulation of the hangar and its structural units is presented as well as some structural and numerical conclusions and/or recommendations coming out from the work developed in the H75 structural analysis. The lack of standards for wind loads over this type of structures lead to oversized pressure distribution over the hangar. To improve the knowledge about the wind loads a coupled fluid-structure interaction is being developed a Panel Method approach for the fluid. Preliminary and promising results for an inflatable hangar are also presented.Postprint (published version

Effects of a Novel Nutraceutical Combination (Aquilea Colesterol®) on the Lipid Profile and Inflammatory Biomarkers: A Randomized Control Trial

Background: Cholesterol-lowering nutraceuticals are useful in the management of moderate hypercholesterolemia. Methods: In a parallel-group, randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind trial we evaluated the effects on plasma total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), and inflammatory biomarkers of a nutraceutical combination (Aquilea Colesterol®) containing phytosterols (1.5 g), red yeast rice providing monacolin K (10 mg), hydroxytyrosol (5 mg), and plasma cholesterol values >5.17 mmol/L (>200 mg/dL) and LDL-c >2.97 mmol/L (>115 mg/dL). At baseline and at one and three months we recorded dietary habits; anthropometric parameters; blood pressure; lipid profile; fasting glucose; liver, renal, and muscle function tests, C-reactive protein (hs-CRP); and interleukin-6. Results: 13 men and 27 women (mean age 61.8 years) completed the trial; 20 participants received the nutraceutical and 20 received placebo. No adverse effects were noted. Compared to placebo, at one and three months the nutraceutical reduced total cholesterol by 11.4% and 14.1%, LDL-c by 19.8% and 19.7%, and apolipoprotein B by 12.4% and 13.5%, respectively (p < 0.001; all). hs-CRP decreased significantly (p = 0.021) in the nutraceutical group. Conclusion: The nutraceutical Aquilea Colesterol® is useful for reducing total cholesterol, LDL-c, and inflammation in individuals with moderate hypercholesterolemia

Development and assessment of fire-related risk unavailability matrices to support the application of the maintenance rule in a PWR nuclear power plant

Two methods are presented which serve to incorporate the fire-related risk into the current practices in nuclear power plants with respect to the assessment of configurations. The development of these methods is restricted to the compulsory use of fire probabilistic safety assessment (PSA) models. The first method is a fire protection systems and key safety functions unavailability matrix which is developed to identify structures, systems, and components significant for fire-related risk. The second method is a fire zones and key safety functions (KSFs) fire risk matrix which is useful to identify fire zones which are candidates for risk management actions. Specific selection and quantification methodologies have been developed to obtain the matrices. The Monte Carlo method has been used to assess the uncertainty of the unavailability matrix. The analysis shows that the uncertainty is sufficiently bounded. The significant fire-related risk is localized in six KSF representative components and one fire protection system which should be included in the maintenance rule. The unavailability of fire protection systems does not significantly affect the risk. The fire risk matrix identifies the fire zones that contribute the most to the fire-related risk. These zones belong to the control building and electric penetrations building.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Comparativa entre los resultados obtenidos mediante evaluación continua y evaluación final en materias técnicas online de posgrado. Influencia del factor tiempo y la puntuación de las actividades

[ES] La metodología empleada para la evaluación de los procesos de aprendizaje es clave para determinar la adquisición de las competencias. En docencia online, la autoevaluación y el feedback emergen como elementos indispensables que, combinados con distintas actividades de aprendizaje, trabajan en línea para conseguir que el alumnado alcance los objetivos marcados. Este trabajo analiza los resultados conseguidos por los alumnos de posgrado de la formación online Cursosagua a lo largo de cuatro cursos académicos, para determinar cuáles son los factores más influyentes y mejorar el sistema de evaluación actual.Del Teso March, R.; Estruch-Juan, E.; Gómez Sellés, E.; Soriano Olivares, J. (2021). Comparativa entre los resultados obtenidos mediante evaluación continua y evaluación final en materias técnicas online de posgrado. Influencia del factor tiempo y la puntuación de las actividades. En Proceedings INNODOCT/20. International Conference on Innovation, Documentation and Education. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 469-477. https://doi.org/10.4995/INN2020.2020.11846OCS46947

Reduced circulating sTWEAK levels are associated with metabolic syndrome in elderly individuals at high cardiovascular risk

BACKGROUND: The circulating soluble TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (sTWEAK) is a cytokine that modulates inflammatory and atherogenic reactions related to cardiometabolic risk. We investigated the association between sTWEAK levels and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components in older subjects at high cardiovascular risk. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of 452 non-diabetic individuals (men and women aged 55-80 years) at high cardiovascular risk. MetS was defined by AHA/NHLBI and IDF criteria. Logistic regression analyses were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) for MetS and its components by tertiles of serum sTWEAK concentrations measured by ELISA. RESULTS: sTWEAK concentrations were lower in subjects with MetS than in those without. In gender- and age-adjusted analyses, subjects in the lowest sTWEAK tertile had higher ORs for overall MetS [1.71 (95% CI, 1.07-2.72)] and its components abdominal obesity [2.01 (1.15-3.52)], hyperglycemia [1.94 (1.20-3.11)], and hypertriglyceridemia [1.73 (1.05-2.82)] than those in the upper tertile. These associations persisted after controlling for family history of diabetes and premature coronary heart disease, lifestyle, kidney function and other MetS components. sTWEAK concentrations decreased as the number of MetS components increased. Individuals in the lowest vs the upper sTWEAK tertile had an increased risk of disclosing greater number of MetS features. Adjusted ORs for individuals with 2 vs ≤1, 3 vs ≤1, and ≥4 vs ≤ 1 MetS components were 2.60 (1.09-6.22), 2.83 (1.16-6.87) and 6.39 (2.42-16.85), respectively. CONCLUSION: In older subjects at high cardiovascular risk, reduced sTWEAK levels are associated with MetS: abdominal obesity, hypertriglyceridemia and hyperglycemia are the main contributors to this association

Alumnos de empresa vs alumnos por cuenta propia en la formación online. Análisis de su desarrollo y éxito aplicado a un curso a distancia en hidráulica

[EN] The training of active workers has been growing unstoppably in recent years. Companies are increasingly demanding qualified personnel and funding specific training for their employees. Within this framework, the demand for e-learning courses offered by the ITA can be divided into two types of students, those who register on a personal basis and those who do so through their company. The training received by both groups is identical, and they must achieve the same learning outcomes. In this paper we analyse different variables involved in the learning process of the course with more participants than any other offered by ITA: Analysis of water networks with EPANET. The aim of the study is to detect if there is a lack of motivation on the part of the students coming from companies, and determine the most significant differences between the students of both groups. Results will point the way to readapt and improve students' learning regardless of their type.[ES] La formación de trabajadores en activo está creciendo de forma imparable en los últimos años. Las empresas cada vez demandan más personal cualificado, apostando por ofrecer o costear una formación específica para el puesto de trabajo a desempeañar por sus empleados. Dentro de este marco, la demanda de formación a distancia ofrecida por el ITA, se puede dividir en dos tipos de alumnos, los que se inscriben de forma particular, y los que lo hacen a través de su empresa. La formación que reciben ambos grupos es idéntica, debiendo alcanzar los mismos resultados de aprendizaje. En este trabajo se analizan diferentes variables que intervienen en el proceso de aprendizaje del curso con más participantes de los ofertados por el ITA: Análisis de redes de agua con EPANET. El objetivo es detectar si existe una falta de motivación por parte de los alumnos provenientes de empresas, y de poder concluir las diferencias más significativas entre los alumnos de ambos grupos. Esto permitirá actuar de forma pertinente para readaptar y mejorar el aprendizaje de los estudiantes.Del Teso March, R.; Estruch Juan, ME.; Gómez Sellés, E.; Soriano Olivares, J. (2021). Alumnos de empresa vs alumnos por cuenta propia en la formación online. Análisis de su desarrollo y éxito aplicado a un curso a distancia en hidráulica. En IN-RED 2021: VII Congreso de Innovación Edicativa y Docencia en Red. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 1540-1551. https://doi.org/10.4995/INRED2021.2021.13784OCS1540155