Rapid Determination of Olive Oil Chlorophylls and Carotenoids by Using Visible Spectroscopy

The determination of total chlorophylls and total carotenoids in olive oil by using visible spectroscopy (VIS) is reported. The proposed technique has been compared with the determination of these pigments by near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and VIS together with NIRS. Several procedures for multivariate regression were tested. The reference methods used were the determination of the extinction coefficient K670 for total chlorophylls and K470 for total carotenoids. A total of 258 samples were tested. The optimization of the calibration for total chlorophylls was set by using multiple linear regression (MLR) from the wavelengths 670¿686 nm exclusively visible. Its satisfactory performance was proven from the model coefficients standard error of calibration SEC 2.63 and R2 0.97, and the residual predictive deviation (RPD) 5.76 from the external validation. For the total carotenoids the best VIS calibration was fit by using the window of 465¿475 nm and partial least squares (PLS), which provided an RPD of 3.68. However, the model built using the entire spectrum VIS-NIRS available (350¿2,500 nm) was slightly better for this last pigment, showing an RPD of 3.86. Hence, this study showed that the proposed VIS technique can be advantageous for the determination of total chlorophylls in olive oils while it is also suitable for determining total carotenoids.The authors are indebted to the Junta de Andalucía (project AGR-6456) for its financial support, and gratefully acknowledge Antonio Montero, of the Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología (CSIC) for his technical assistance. Our thanks are also due to the group Quality and Purity of Oils, of the Instituto de la Grasa (CSIC), for the use of the chromatographic equipmentPeer Reviewe

El mercado del libro en España 1989-2006. Un análisis económico

Mientras la literatura económica ofrece diversos estudios sobre las características del mercado del libro en otros países europeos, no existen estudios recientes sobre el mercado del libro en España desde un punto de vista económico. El presente artículo, ofrece una breve perspectiva de la industria de la edición de libros en España, a continuación exponemos aspectos teóricos sobre las características del mercado del libro, para finalizar con un modelo explicativo de la demanda de libros en los últimos 18 años. Para ello, utilizamos los datos proporcionados por el Ministerio de Cultura, la Federación de Gremios de Editores de España y el Instituto Nacional de Estadística.Whereas, economic literature provides some studies of the Book Publishing Industry in some European countries, there are no recent studies of the Spanish Book Market from an economic point of view. In this article we offer, firstly, a brief overview about Spanish Book Publishing Industry, secondly, we study some theoretical approaches to book market and finally we analyze the main factors that have determined book demand in the last 18 years. In this paper, we use data sources from the Ministry of Culture, Spanish Publishers Association, and the National Statistic Institute

Effects of an integrated harvest system on the quality of olive fruit for small producers

Small producers confront specific challenges when they opt to produce high-quality olive fruit. Limited resources for investing in harvest machinery and manpower are the main reasons for continuing a traditional harvest method that puts the final product and its economic value at risk. This paper discusses the efficiency of an integrated harvest system as a possible solution to these specific challenges. The system is formed by a newly designed manual harvesting device and the use of a cooling room near the olive grove. Both systems were evaluated to assess their feasibility for optimum conditions before processing. The combined effect of the harvesting method and cold storage on the fruit characteristics (incidence of decay, skin color, weight loss, firmness, respiration, and ethylene production) was evaluated on three different varieties (‘Arbequina’, ‘Picual’ and ‘Verdial’) and four different storage times (0, 4, 8, and 14 days). The results indicate that the proposed harvesting method in combination with an appropriate cooling system offers an affordable alternative for obtaining fruit with the best physiological characteristics.Efectos de un sistema integrado de recolección para pequeños productores en la calidad de la aceituna recogida. Los pequeños productores se enfrentan a retos específicos, cuando optan por producir aceitunas de alta calidad. La imposibilidad económica de invertir, tanto en maquinaria de cosecha, como en mano de obra es la razón principal que obliga a continuar una recolección tradicio-nal que pone en riesgo el producto final y su valor económico. Este estudio analiza la eficiencia de un sistema de recolección integrado como una posible solución a estos desafíos específicos. El sistema está formado por un dispositivo de recogida manual de nuevo diseño y el uso de una cámara de frío en la finca. El efecto combinado del método de recolección presentado y el almacenamiento en frío sobre las características de la fruta (incidencia de podredumbre, color de piel, pérdida de peso, firmeza, respiración y producción de etileno) se evaluó en tres variedades diferentes (‘Arbequina’, ‘Picual’ y ‘ Verdial’) y diferentes tiempos de almacenamiento (0, 4, 8, 14 días). Los re-sultados indican que la combinación de un método de recolección mecánica y un sistema de enfriamiento adecuado ofrece una alternativa económicamente asequible para obtener frutos con las mejores características fisiológicas.Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation AGL2015-71585-

La coordinacion de materias de economia en el Grado de Marketing e Investigación de Mercados

El objetivo del proyecto es conocer la posible existencia de solapamiento de los contenidos de las diversas asignaturas de economía que imparte el departamento de Economía e Historia Económica en el grado de Marketing y evaluar el grado de satisfacción del alumno con la metodología utilizada a fin de mejorar la misma. Para ello, se ha realizado una encuesta de elaboración propia a los alumnos matriculados entre los cursos académicos 2004-05 y 2008-09. Los resultados obtenidos nos permiten descartar un excesivo solapamiento de contenidos, tan solo el 10,6% de la muestra manifestó dicha opción, y para el 43,6% de los preguntados los contenidos de las asignaturas resultan complementarios. En cuanto a la metodología docente aunque no parece distar de la adecuada en función de las respuestas, un 60% considera que debería combinar las clases magistrales del profesor, con la preparación y posterior exposición por parte de los alumnos de contenidos teóricos y prácticos de las asignaturas .Sí manifiestan una excesiva carga teórica que dificulta en ocasiones la comprensión de las materias. En cuanto a la motivación del alumnado a partir del trabajo de los profesores, la respuesta supera una media de 3 en la escala de Likert, lo cual implica que no hay una clara desmotivación, aunque es susceptible de mejora al no encontraese con una media de 4The goal of this research is to determine if there exist overlapping contents among the different subjects of economics given by Economics and Economic History Department at the Marketing degree. In addition, we try to evaluate the student’s satisfaction with the methodology applied in the different subjects in the past, in order to improve it. To achieve these goals, we have carried out our own survey to the students along the academic years between 2004/2005 and 2008/2009. The main results can be summarised as follows: On the one hand, the existence of excessive common contents can be rejected since only the 10% of the sample suggests that such common contents exist. Moreover, for the 43,6% of the students, the content of the different subjects are complementary. On the other hand, as far as educational methodology is concerned, the answers given in the survey allow us to conclude that in general they have been satisfactory for the students. Nevertheless, more than the 60% of the sample considers that the methodology should combine the traditional lectures with personal work and later exposition of theoretical and practical contents of subjects by the students. Furthermore, students suggest that theoretical contents are excessive in comparison with the practical ones which can be an obstacle to understand the subjects. Concerning students’ motivation, on average the answer is over 3 in the Likert scale, which implies that, although there is not discouragement in relation to the subjects given by the Department, improvements can be done in this are

Efecto de la congruencia entre el patrón de conducta tipo A y el tipo de tarea en el rendimiento y la satisfacción

El presente trabajo es un estudio experimental cuyo objetivo es comprobar si la congruencia entre las características del individuo y las características de la tarea tiene consecuencias positivas para el rendimiento y la satisfacción. Los resultados obtenidos ponen de manifiesto que los individuos con patrón de conducta tipo A obtienen mejores resultados en los casos de ajuste o congruencia que en los casos de desajuste o incongruencia, mientras que el rendimiento de las personas con patrón de conducta tipo B no está relacionado con el ajuste/desajuste entre sus necesidades-metas personales y las demandas de la tarea. Además, las personas con patrón de conducta tipo A también presentan mayores niveles de satisfacción en los casos de congruencia que en los casos de incongruencia. Sin embargo, las personas con patrón de conducta tipo B presentan los mismos niveles de satisfacción en ambos casos.This paper is an experimental study whose basic aim is to check whether the congruence between personality characteristics and task characteristics has positive effects for performance and satisfaction in individuals. The results reveal that Type A Behaviour Pattern individuals get better results in cases of adjustment or congruence than in cases of disadjustment or incongruence, whereas the performance of Type B Behaviour Pattern individuals is not related to the adjustment or disadjustment between personal needs / aims and the task’s demands. In addition, we have found that Type A Behaviour Pattern persons also have greater levels of satisfaction in cases of congruence than in cases of incongruence. However, Type B Behaviour Pattern persons show the same level of satisfaction in both cases

Effect of temperature and time on oxygen consumption by olive fruit: Empirical study and simulation in a non-ventilated container

Fermentation processes within olive fruit jeopardize the quality of the extracted oil. Aera-tion, temperature, and time play a crucial role in attaining the critical threshold at which an aerobic respiration shifts towards anaerobic. In this work, the O2 consumption and CO2 production of olive fruit kept in a closed container at different temperatures (5–45◦ C) were measured over 7 h. The data allowed us to describe the relationship between the temperature and the respiration rate as an Arrhenius function and simulate the oxygen consumption in the inner part of a container full of fruit with low aeration, considering the generated respiration heat over time. The simulation revealed that olives risk shifting to anaerobic respiration after 3 h at 25◦ C and less than 2 h at 35◦ C when kept in a non-ventilated environment. The results underline the irreversible damage that high day temperatures can produce during the time before fruit processing, especially during transport. Lowering, as soon as possible, the field temperature thus comes to the fore as a necessary strategy to guarantee the quality of the olives before their processing, like most of the fruit that is harvested at excessive temperatures

Translation and first pilot validation study of the “Undergraduate Nursing Students’ Academic Satisfaction Scale” questionnaire to the Spanish context

Satisfaction helps nursing students to develop skills and improve their academic performance, hence the importance of assessing it by means of a reliable instrument. The objective was to translate and culturally adapt the “Undergraduate Nursing Student Academic Satisfaction Scale” (UNSASS) instrument to the Spanish context. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a representative sample of 354 fourth-year nursing students from University of Seville, Seville, Spain. The validation process was carried out in five phases as follows: direct translation, synthesis of the translations, back translation, consolidation by a panel of experts, and pilot test with nursing students. After two rounds among two expert committees, the Content Validity Index (CVI) varied from 0.85 to 1, obtaining a CVI above 0.8 with the global questionnaire. A scale composed of 48 items and 4 subscales was obtained, resulting in a Cronbach’s α coefficient of 0.96. Within the subscales, this coefficient varied between 0.92 and 0.94. No statistically significant differences were found between the total satisfaction of the scale and gender and teaching unit. An inversely proportional relationship was found between the age and the “Support & Resources” scale. The “Escala de Satisfacción Académica del Estudiante de Enfermería” (ESAEE) scale was obtained, translated, and adapted to the Spanish context from the UNSASS scale, with satisfactory consistency and validity

Teachers’ life satisfaction: A structural equation model analyzing the role of trait emotion regulation, intrinsic job satisfaction and affect

Teaching is an emotionally demanding profession that can negatively affect teacher well-being. This cross-sectional study aimed to test a comprehensive structural equation model of both the direct and indirect (through affect and intrinsic job satisfaction) relationships between trait emotion regulation and life satisfaction in a sample of 404 Spanish teachers. The model obtained good fit (SeB c2 ¼ 319.142, df ¼ 201, p < .001; CFI ¼ 0.957; RMSEA ¼ 0.038). Outcomes suggested that: i) positive and negative affect mediates the relationship between trait emotion regulation and both life and job satisfaction; ii) job satisfaction is the main determinant of life satisfaction. Practical implications and limitations are also discussed.Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Granada / CBU

Effects of Supervised Cardiac Rehabilitation Programmes on Quality of Life among Myocardial Infarction Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Traditionally, cardiac rehabilitation programmes are offered after cardiac events to aid recovery, improve quality of life, and reduce adverse events. The objective of this review was to assess the health-related quality of life, after a supervised cardiac rehabilitation programme, of patients who suffered a myocardial infarction. A systematic review was carried out in the CINAHL, Cochrane, LILACS, Medline, Scopus, and SciELO databases, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Randomised controlled trials were selected. Meta-analyses were performed for the Short Form Health Survey SF-36, Myocardial Infarction Dimensional Assessment Scale (MIDAS), MacNew Heart Disease-Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) questionnaire, and European Quality of Life-Visual Analogue Scale (EuroQol-VAS) with the software Cochrane RevMan Web. Ten articles were found covering a total of 3577 patients. In the meta-analysis, the effect size of the cardiac rehabilitation programme was statistically significant in the intervention group for physical activity, emotional reaction, and dependency dimensions of the MIDAS questionnaire. For the control group, the score improved for SF-36 physical functioning, and body pain dimensions. The mean difference between the control and intervention group was not significant for the remaining dimensions, and neither for the MacNew Heart Disease-HRQL and EuroQol-VAS questionnaires. Supervised cardiac rehabilitation programmes were effective in improving health-related quality of life, however, there was a potential variability in the interventions; therefore, the results should be interpreted with caution. This study supports the importance of providing care and evaluating interventions via the supervision of trained health professionals, and further randomised clinical trials are needed to analyse the positive changes in mental and physical health outcomes