Public Support for the Imposition of a Tax on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and the Determinants of Such Support in Spain

Background: Taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages are an effective public health intervention, but can be difficult to implement in the absence of public support. This is the first study to analyze the Spanish population's support for a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of a representative sample of the Spanish adult population (n = 1002), using a computer-aided telephone interview with a questionnaire on nutritional policies. The support for the tax was calculated by the percentage of those who agreed plus those who strongly agreed with the measure. The sociodemographic determinants of support for the tax were analyzed using chi-squared test (χ2) and Poisson multiple regression models with robust variance. Results: Of the participants, 66.9% supported a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages. Support for the tax was 9.2% higher (70% vs. 64.1%) when responders were first asked about support for tax relief and subsidies for healthy foods (p = 0.049). Support for the tax was 16% and 35% lower among persons reporting center and right-wing political sympathies (p < 0.01), and 16% lower among regular consumers of sugar-sweetened beverages (p = 0.01). Conclusions: A clear majority of the Spanish population is in favor of imposing a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages. Awareness-raising campaigns and a policy of combining the measure with subsidies or tax cuts on healthy foods could increase the level of support among those currently against the intervention.This research was funded by the Spanish Health Research Fund of the Institute of Health Carlos III (Project ENPY 120/18).S

Effect of excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages in Catalonia, Spain, three and a half years after its introduction

Background: The World Health Organisation urges countries to levy specifc excise taxes on SSBs. Currently, more than 50 countries have introduced some type of tax on SSBs. In March 2017, the Autonomous Region of Catalonia approved the introduction of a tiered excise tax on SSBs for public health reasons. To evaluate the efect of the Catalonian excise tax on the price and purchase of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and their possible substitutes, i.e., non-sugar-sweetened beverages (NSSBs) and bottled water, three and half years after its introduction, and 1 year after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We analysed purchase data on soft drinks, fruit drinks and water, sourced from the Ministry of Agriculture food-consumption panel, in a random sample of 12,500 households across Spain. We applied the synthetic control method to infer the causal impact of the intervention, based on a Bayesian structural time-series model which predicts the counterfactual response that would have occurred in Catalonia, had no intervention taken place. Results: As compared to the predicted (counterfactual) response, per capita purchases of SSBs fell by 0.17 l three and a half years after implementing the SSB tax in Catalonia, a 16.7% decline (95% CI: −23.18, −8.74). The mean SSB price rose by 0.11 €/L, an 11% increase (95% CI: 9.0, 14.1). Although there were no changes in mean NSSB prices, NSSB consumption rose by 0.19 l per capita, a 21.7% increase (95% CI: 18.25, 25.54). There were no variations in the price or consumption of bottled water. The efects were progressively greater over time, with SSB purchases decreasing by 10.4% at 1 year, 12.3% at 2 years, 15.3% at 3 years, and 16.7% at three and a half years of the tax’s introduction. Conclusions: The Catalonian SSB excise tax had a sustained and progressive impact over time, with a fall in consumption of as much as 16.7% three and half years after its introduction. The observed NSSB substitution efect should be borne in mind when considering the application of this type of tax to the rest of Spain.This study was supported by the Spanish Health Research Strategic Action (Acción Estratégica en Salud) of the Carlos III Institute of Health (Project ENPY 120/18). The funders had no role in the design of the study, in collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, or in writing the manuscript.S

Proteomic study of the membrane components of signalling cascades of Botrytis cinerea controlled by phosphorylation

Protein phosphorylation and membrane proteins play an important role in the infection of plants by phytopathogenic fungi, given their involvement in signal transduction cascades. Botrytis cinerea is a well-studied necrotrophic fungus taken as a model organism in fungal plant pathology, given its broad host range and adverse economic impact. To elucidate relevant events during infection, several proteomics analyses have been performed in B. cinerea, but they cover only 10% of the total proteins predicted in the genome database of this fungus. To increase coverage, we analysed by LC-MS/MS the first-reported overlapped proteome in phytopathogenic fungi, the “phosphomembranome” of B. cinerea, combining the two most important signal transduction subproteomes. Of the 1112 membrane-associated phosphoproteins identified, 64 and 243 were classified as exclusively identified or overexpressed under glucose and deproteinized tomato cell wall conditions, respectively. Seven proteins were found under both conditions, but these presented a specific phosphorylation pattern, so they were considered as exclusively identified or overexpressed proteins. From bioinformatics analysis, those differences in the membrane-associated phosphoproteins composition were associated with various processes, including pyruvate metabolism, unfolded protein response, oxidative stress response, autophagy and cell death. Our results suggest these proteins play a significant role in the B. cinerea pathogenic cycl

Food availability and affordability in a Mediterranean urban context: Associations by store type and area-level socioeconomic status

Objective: Although food environments have been highlighted as potentially effective targets to improve population diets, evidence on Mediterranean food environments is lacking. We examined differences in food availability and affordability in Madrid (Spain) by store type and area-level socioeconomic status. Design: Cross-sectional study. Trained researchers conducted food store audits using the validated NEMS-S-MED tool to measure the availability and price of 12 food groups(specific foods=35). We computed NEMS-S-MED scores and summarized price data with a Relative Price Index (RPI, comparing prices across stores) and an Affordability Index (normalizing prices by area-level income). We compared availability and affordability of ‘healthier–less healthy’ food pairs, scores between food store types (supermarkets, specialized, convenience stores, and others) and area-level socioeconomic status using ANOVA and multilevel regression models. Setting: City of Madrid. 2016 and 2019 to cover a representative sample. Participants: Food stores within a socioeconomically diverse sample of 63 census tracts (n=151). Results: Supermarkets had higher food availability (37.5/49 NEMS-S-MED points), compared to convenience stores(13.5/49), and specialized stores(8/49). Supermarkets offered lower prices (RPI: 0.83) than specialized stores(RPI: 0.97) and convenience stores(RPI: 2.06). Both ‘healthy’ and ‘less healthy’ items were more available in supermarkets. We found no differences in food availability or price by area-level socioeconomic status, but affordability was higher in higher-income areas. Conclusions: Supermarkets offered higher food availability and affordability for healthy and less healthy food items. Promoting healthy food availability through supermarkets and specialized stores and/or limiting access to convenience stores are promising policy options to achieve a healthier food environment.CFE was supported by the Institute of Health Carlos III under a Medical Residency programme. MF was supported by the European Research Council under the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme [FP7/2007-2013/ERC Starting Grant HeartHealthyHoods Agreement n. 336893]. UB was supported by an award from the National Institutes of Health's Office of the Director [DP5OD26429]. Open Access for this study was funded by the University of Alicante

ASPECTOS ANALITÍCOS DE LA BIFURCACIÓN ZIP

En el presente artículo de investigación se estudian aspectos analíticos relacionados con el comportamiento dinámico y asintótico de la componente real de los valores propios de la linealización del sistema a lo largo de un conjunto continuo de equilibrios LK en un modelo del tipo predador presa generado a partir de un campo tridimensional no lineal  diferenciable que presenta el fenómeno de la bifurcación zip. Estas relaciones analíticas  son interesantes, ya  que ellas permiten realizar una nueva prueba de la existencia de la bifurcación de zip a la dada por el Profesor Miklós Farkas en [5] la cual puede extenderse al análisis de la componente imaginaria de los valores propios de la linealización del sistema a lo largo de LK para tratar la bifurcación de zip en sistemas dinámicos no suaves

Evolutionary genetic approach of Carrion's disease. MN, Ss, Diego, Duffy blood groups polymorphisms and clinical stages in endemic areas of Bagua, Amazonas, Peru.

fases clínicas de la enfermedad de Carrión, interpretado en un contexto genético coevolutivo del hospedero amerindio con la bacteria Bartonella bacilliformis. Diseño: Estudio asociativo y analítico. Lugar: Instituto de Medicina Tropical Daniel A. Carrión, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Perú. Participantes: Pobladores de Bagua Grande, Amazonas, Perú. Intervenciones: Se determinó los grupos sanguíneos MN, Ss, Diego y Duffy, según metodología estándar, en 40 pobladores de las zonas de Tomocho-Collicate-Vista Hermosa (antecedente de casos en fase verrucosa o benigna, sin aparente fase aguda previa) y 36 pobladores de la zona de Miraflores (antecedente de casos solo en fase aguda), de Bagua Grande, Amazonas. Principales medidas de resultados: Frecuencias fenotípicas y alélicas de los referidos grupos sanguíneos en las localidades estudiadas. Resultados: No existieron diferencias significativas entre las frecuencias fenotípicas, genotípicas y/o alélicas de los grupos sanguíneos MN, Ss, Diego, Duffy en las zonas de Tomocho-Collicate-Vista Hermosa (predominancia de fase verrucosa) y en la zona de Miraflores (predominancia de fase aguda). La más variable fue la del grupo MN, pero encontrándose en equilibrio de Hardy-Weinberg. Conclusiones: Los marcadores sanguíneos Ss, Diego y Duffy -inclusive el MN, que aparentemente mostró la mayor variabilidad-, no tuvieron relación con las fases clínicas de la enfermedad de Carrión, en las localidades estudiadas. Sin embargo, en el contexto de un enfoque genético evolutivo, es necesario evaluar dicha asociación en otras zonas endémicas del país, así como la susceptibilidad, resistencia y otras carácterísticas clínicas de esta ancestral enfermedad.phases of Carrion's disease, interpreted in a coevolutive genetic context of amerindian hosts with Bartonella bacilliformis. Design: Associative and analytical study. Setting: Daniel A. Carrion Tropical Medicine Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru. Participants: Bagua Grande, Amazonas, Peru settlers. Interventions: MN, Ss, Duffy and Diego blood groups were determined using standard methodology in 40 Tomocho-Collicate-Vista Hermosa settlers (background of benign or verrucose phase cases without apparent acute phase) and 36 residents of Miraflores area (background of only acute phase cases), Bagua Grande, Amazonas. Main outcomes measures: Phenotypic and allele frequencies of these blood groups in the localities studied. Results: There were no significant differences between the phenotypic, genotypic or alleles frequencies of the MN, Ss, Diego, Duffy blood groups in the Tomocho-Collicate-Vista Hermosa areas (predominance of the verrucose phase) and the Miraflores area (predominance of the acute phase), Bagua Grande, Amazonas. The most variable frequency was found in the MN group, but it was within Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Conclusions: Ss, Duffy and Diego blood markers, including the most variable MN, were unrelated to Carrion's disease clinical phases in the localities studied. However, in the context of evolutionary genetic approach, association must be assessed in other endemic areas of the country, as well as susceptibility, resistance and other clinical features of this ancient disease

ASPECTOS ANALITÍCOS DE LA BIFURCACIÓN ZIP

En el presente artículo de investigación se estudian aspectos analíticos relacionados con el comportamiento dinámico y asintótico de la componente real de los valores propios de la linealización del sistema a lo largo de un conjunto continuo de equilibrios LK en un modelo del tipo predador presa generado a partir de un campo tridimensional no lineal  diferenciable que presenta el fenómeno de la bifurcación zip. Estas relaciones analíticas  son interesantes, ya  que ellas permiten realizar una nueva prueba de la existencia de la bifurcación de zip a la dada por el Profesor Miklós Farkas en [5] la cual puede extenderse al análisis de la componente imaginaria de los valores propios de la linealización del sistema a lo largo de LK para tratar la bifurcación de zip en sistemas dinámicos no suaves

Lenguaje metafórico en los elementos de Euclides

Este artículo1 es una reflexión sobre el carácter metafórico de los conceptos que aparecen en el lenguaje matemático y sus implicaciones sociales. El concepto de número, es un ejemplo de construcción metafórica. Según los escritos históricos que hasta hoy han sobrevivido, a este concepto se han tratado de acercar matemáticos de todos los tiempos, entre ellos los matemáticos de la Grecia Clásica. Se pretende mostrar que el concepto de número que aparece en los Elementos de Euclides, ha sido estructurado sobre uno de los tres tipos de metáforas tratados en el libro Poética de Aristóteles

MÉTODOS ENERGÉTICOS PARA ANALIZAR LA ESTABILIDAD

En este trabajo se analiza la estabilidad utilizando métodos de energía en forma general  y como aplicación se analiza la estabilidad de una barra delgada finita sujeta en los extremos. Se obtendrán las condiciones de estabilidad para una barra finita sujeta en los extremos