Nutritional assessment in a moroccan university population during Ramadan

En este trabajo se pretende evaluar el estado nutricional de una población musulmana, cada vez más numerosa en nuestras universidades, en un período en el que varían de forma considerable sus hábitos alimenticios. El estudio se ha realizado en una población de estudiantes musulmanes de la Universidad de Granada, comparándola con un grupo de población no musulmán del mismo ámbito. A los sujetos de estudio, se les realizó una encuesta en la que reflejaban la dieta de cada día durante el período del Ramadán. Se realizó el análisis de macronutrientes de dicha dieta mediante el programa Dietsource. De otra parte, se tomaron medidas antropométricas antes y después del período de estudio para así observar la variación de las medidas realizadas y obtener las conclusiones del estudio nutricional. Se ha observado que el aporte de lípidos de los musulmanes en el tiempo del Ramadán era excesivo (48% del total de la energía), a expensas de disminuir el aporte de hidratos de carbono y aún más el de proteínas. Esto se pone de manifiesto en el estudio antropométrico, observándose una disminución de medidas como área muscular del brazo, área del brazo, perímetro muscular del brazo y peso frente a un aumento del área grasa del brazo, perímetro del brazo, circunferencia de pierna y pierna media en el grupo musulmán, medidas que contrastan con las del grupo no musulmán. A la vista de los resultados cabe destacar que durante el tiempo de Ramadán los valores de ingesta de macronutrientes no son adecuados si se comparan con las recomendaciones de referencia en España. Asimismo, llama la atención cómo aumentan las medidas antropométricas que hacen referencia a la grasa a la vez que disminuyen aquéllas que miden la masa muscular.The aim of this work was to assess nutritional status in Muslim population, bigger and bigger in our universities, in a period during which its dietary habits change considerably. The study has been performed in a population of Muslim students from the University of Granada, and has been compared to a non-Muslim population within the same setting. Study subjects undertook a questionnaire in which they reported the diet consumed each day during the Ramadan period. Macronutrient analysis for such diet was performed with Dietsource software. On the other hand, anthropometrical parameters were taken before and after the study period to observe their change and obtain conclusions on nutritional status. It has been observed that lipid intake of Muslims during the Ramadan period was excessive (48% of total energy), by decreasing hydrocarbons and particularly proteins. This is highlighted by means of the anthropometrical study, observing a decrease in measurements such as muscular area of the arm, the arm area, the muscle perimeter of the arm, and weight, with an increase in arm fat, perimeter of the arm, leg and mid-ieg circumference in the Muslim group, which are in contrast with parameters in the non-Muslim group. From our results, we may stress that during the Ramadan period macronutrient intake values are not appropriate as compared to standard recommendations in Spain. Besides, it is striking to observe how anthropometrical measurements related to fat increase whereas those related to muscular mass decrease

3D Printed hydroponic system

Hydroponic systems have been around for many years and there is a large variety of designs. This project approaches the design of a stackable hydroponic system for domestic use aiming for high yield. The 3-D printed prototype consisted of cylindrical elements each with three entries for seeding. These elements can be stacked up and rotated around one another providing configuration flexibility. In addition, the cap of our system is a half cylindrical element. A preliminary test included the use of Rockwool to grow coriander for 14 days. Being a prototype, it is still necessary to optimize the design, fine-tune its operation beyond its initial feasibility to both, maximize yield and minimize cost, which implies compromising on these two conflicting objectives.Los sistemas hidropónicos existen desde hace ya varios años en una amplia variedad de diseños y configuraciones. El proyecto que aquí se describe comprende el diseño de un sistema hidropónico modular apilable para uso doméstico, con miras a que sea uno con alta productividad. Una impresora 3D se utilizó para desarrollar el prototipo que consta de elementos cilíndricos, cada uno con tres receptáculos. A los elementos cilíndricos apilables se les puede rotar con respecto de su eje, añadiendo así mayor flexibilidad de configuración. Convenientemente, la tapa del sistema está formada por medio elemento cilíndrico. Para la prueba preliminar que aquí se describe, se depositaron semillas de cilantro por un período de 14 días en Rockwool. En su fase prototípica, se determinó la factibilidad del sistema, aunque se reconoce que es aún necesario optimizar el diseño y afinar su operación. Esto implicará conciliar dos objetivos en conflicto: maximizar la productividad del sistema y minimizar su costo total

Costs and cost-effectiveness of malaria control interventions - a systematic review

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The control and elimination of malaria requires expanded coverage of and access to effective malaria control interventions such as insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), indoor residual spraying (IRS), intermittent preventive treatment (IPT), diagnostic testing and appropriate treatment. Decisions on how to scale up the coverage of these interventions need to be based on evidence of programme effectiveness, equity and cost-effectiveness.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A systematic review of the published literature on the costs and cost-effectiveness of malaria interventions was undertaken. All costs and cost-effectiveness ratios were inflated to 2009 USD to allow comparison of the costs and benefits of several different interventions through various delivery channels, across different geographical regions and from varying costing perspectives.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Fifty-five studies of the costs and forty three studies of the cost-effectiveness of malaria interventions were identified, 78% of which were undertaken in sub-Saharan Africa, 18% in Asia and 4% in South America. The median financial cost of protecting one person for one year was $2.20 (range$0.88-$9.54) for ITNs,$6.70 (range $2.22-$12.85) for IRS, $0.60 (range$0.48-$1.08) for IPT in infants,$4.03 (range $1.25-$11.80) for IPT in children, and $2.06 (range$0.47-$3.36) for IPT in pregnant women. The median financial cost of diagnosing a case of malaria was$4.32 (range $0.34-$9.34). The median financial cost of treating an episode of uncomplicated malaria was $5.84 (range$2.36-$23.65) and the median financial cost of treating an episode of severe malaria was$30.26 (range $15.64-$137.87). Economies of scale were observed in the implementation of ITNs, IRS and IPT, with lower unit costs reported in studies with larger numbers of beneficiaries. From a provider perspective, the median incremental cost effectiveness ratio per disability adjusted life year averted was $27 (range$8.15-$110) for ITNs,$143 (range $135-$150) for IRS, and $24 (range$1.08-$44.24) for IPT.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>A transparent evidence base on the costs and cost-effectiveness of malaria control interventions is provided to inform rational resource allocation by donors and domestic health budgets and the selection of optimal packages of interventions by malaria control programmes.</p

Beyond ‘BRICS’: ten theses on South–South cooperation in the twenty-first century

Grounded in a review of past and present academic South–South cooperation literatures, this article advances ten theses that problematise empirical, theoretical, conceptual and methodological issues essential to discussions of South–South cooperation in the 21st century. This endeavour is motivated by the perceived undermining, especially in the contemporary Anglophone academic South–South cooperation literature, of the emancipatory potential historically associated with South–South cooperation. By drawing on the interventionist South–South cooperation agendas of ‘left’-leaning Latin America-Caribbean governments, the article seeks to establish a dialogue between social science theories and less ‘visible’ analyses from academic (semi)peripheries. The ten theses culminate in an exploration of the potential of South–South cooperation to promote ‘alternative’ development

Cien días vistos por CINEP (No. 78 mar-mayo 2013)

La edición no 78 de la revista Cien días vistos por CINEP/PPP: "La trastienda de la paz", aborda temas de actualidad y coyuntura sobre los diálogos de paz que tienen lugar en La Habana entre el gobierno y las FARC. Escenarios como el de los diálogos entre el Gobierno del Presidente Santos Calderón y la Guerrilla de las FARC-EP en La Habana, abonan de manera importante a una salida más política que guerrera tanto para la desactivación y superación del conflicto armado como para la necesaria y profunda construcción de un proceso de pazÍndice: Desarrollo/regiones "El desarrollo enomico como plataforma para la Paz: Una contradicción que compromete los territorios rurales" por Zohanny Arboleda; "Alambre de púas en Playa Blanca" por Dairo Andrés Sánchez Mojica; "¿Quién decide sobre el ecoturismo en el Paque Tayrona" por Julián Eduardo Naranjo; "Consulta previa: ¿obstáculo u oportunidad para la profundización democrática?" por Ana María Restrepo y Sergio Coronado Delgado. Paz. "Entre las armas y la política: Aproximación a las visiones subjetivas de las FARC en el proceso de paz" por Teófilo Vásquez; "La reedición del sesgo anticampesino" por Andrés Aponte; "Dudas sonbre la sostenibilidad del proces" por Fernán E. González G.; "Cubrimiento mediático y polarización frente a las negociaciones de paz en La Habana" por Laura González Pérez; "Una negociación en dos carriles. Un acercamiento a la coyuntura de las negociaciones en La Habana" por Fernán E. González G. Movimientos Sociales. "La movilización popular guajira por el carbón" por Alvaro Delgado; "Conflicto en la Universidad Nacional: una crisis anunciada" por Mauricio Archila; "Comunidad de San José de Apartadó. Construir esperanza desde el dolor" por Javier Giraldo M., S.J. Derechos Humanos. "Memorias Débiles de los hechos de violencia político-social en el Valle del Cauca. Primer trimestre del año 2013" por Cristian Llanos. Elecciones. "El país político ante los retos de la paz. Entre la competencia y la polarización" por Víctor Barrera. Bogotá. "¿Es capaz la ciudadanía de deliberar y decidir en Bogotá?: el reto de la Bogotá Humana entre la legitimidad y la revocatoria" por Marcela Cadena Cruz y Juan Carlos Merchán Zuleta. Economía. "¡La enfermedad holandesa ya es evidente!" por Jorge Iván González; "¿La economía en Colombia va tan bien como la pintan?" por Mónica Osorio Aguiar. Internacional."Venezuela más allá de Hugo Chavez" por Mónica Osorio Aguiar

Connecting physical and social science datasets: challenges and pathways forward

The integration of physical and social science data can enable novel frameworks, methodologies, and innovative solutions important for addressing complex socio-environmental problems. Unfortunately, many technical, procedural, and institutional challenges hamper effective data integration—detracting from interdisciplinary socio-environmental research and broader public impact. This paper reports on the experiences and challenges of social and physical data integration, as experienced by diverse Early Career Researchers (ECRs), and offers strategies for coping with and addressing these challenges. Through a workshop convened by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Innovator Program, 33 participants from different disciplines, career stages, and institutions across the United States identified four thematic data integration challenges related to complexity and uncertainty, communication, scale, and institutional barriers. They further recommended individual, departmental, and institutional scale responses to cope with and address these integration challenges. These recommendations seek to inform faculty and department support for ECRs, who are often encouraged—and even expected—to engage in integrative, problem-focused, and solutions-oriented research

Frequency of viral pathogens in children with URTI and LRTI.

a<p>The number of viruses include those present in single and mixed infections. The percentage refers to the total number of viruses detected.</p><p>Frequency of viral pathogens in children with URTI and LRTI.</p