Anxiety and Perceived Risk in Red Cross Volunteer Personnel Facing the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

In the current situation of sanitary emergencies, humanitarian organizations and their volunteers are playing an important role in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. A study is proposed that includes a network of volunteers who perform humanitarian activities during the COVID-19 pandemic to assess anxiety, perceived risk, and response behaviors and to explore their relationship with sociodemographic variables. For data collection, an online questionnaire was developed through the Google Forms® platform, where the perceived risk, anxiety, and behavioral responses of the general population to the Influenza A (H1N1) pandemic were assessed. The survey presented is a modified version of that survey adapted for COVID-19. This adaptation was endorsed by an experts committee made up of the health chief of the Ecuadorian Red Cross, the focus point of operations from the International Federation of the Red Cross in Ecuador, and a member from the Health Unit of the Americas Regional Office of the International Federation of the Red Cross. A significant relationship has been shown between the job situation and perceived risk and anxiety, being the staff who worked full time away from home, which was exposed to greater risk and anxiety. Both perceived risk and perceived anxiety are very high (according to a 5-point Likert scale). Knowing these data from this first-line personnel will allow adopting measures that could be beneficial for stress management and, therefore, contribute to the well-being and support of these humanitarian and volunteer organizations in the worldwide response to COVID-1 9

Valorization of Tomato Processing by-Products: Fatty Acid Extraction and Production of Bio-Based Materials

A method consisting of the alkaline hydrolysis of tomato pomace by-products has been optimized to obtain a mixture of unsaturated and polyhydroxylated fatty acids as well as a non-hydrolysable secondary residue. Reaction rates and the activation energy of the hydrolysis were calculated to reduce costs associated with chemicals and energy consumption. Lipid and non-hydrolysable fractions were chemically (infrared (IR) spectroscopy, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS)) and thermally (differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)) characterized. In addition, the fatty acid mixture was used to produce cutin-based polyesters. Freestanding films were prepared by non-catalyzed melt-polycondensation and characterized by Attenuated Total Reflected-Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), DSC, TGA, Water Contact Angles (WCA), and tensile tests. These bio-based polymers were hydrophobic, insoluble, infusible, and thermally stable, their physical properties being tunable by controlling the presence of unsaturated fatty acids and oxygen in the reaction. The participation of an oxidative crosslinking side reaction is proposed to be responsible for such modifications.Andalusian Regional Government P11-TEP-7418Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad AGL2015-65246-R and AGL2017-83036-RFondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) AGL2015-65246-R and AGL2017-83036-

Tourism and socio-economic development. An analysis of the Island of Santiago (Cape Verde)

Resulta muy importante el sector turístico en países más desfavorecidos como motor de desarrollo endógeno, alcanzando mayor protagonismo en países que tengan un atractivo singular, que permita un desarrollo sectorial de ese fenómeno. De esta manera podemos segmentar según los principales atractivos que atraen turistas en: turismo de sol y playa, turismo cultural, gastronómico, ecoturismo, agroturismo,... A su vez este sector puede implicar un importante crecimiento socioeconómico para la zona y, a su vez, servir para fortalecer otras actividades empresariales. De esta manera, el turismo se está convirtiendo en un motor de desarrollo en algunos países de África, en los cuáles la puesta en valor de diferentes recursos está articulando la creación de una oferta turística sostenible que sirva para dar respuesta a la demanda de unos viajeros cada vez más exigentes y que buscan nuevas experiencias. En esta comunicación presentamos un estudio realizado en la isla de Santiago (Cabo Verde) sobre la importancia del turismo, como alternativa a los tradicionales destinos turísticos masificados, y que permite un mayor contacto con la comunidad local y el conseguir nuevas experiencias para los viajeros. Para ello presentamos los resultados de un trabajo de campo realizado en esta isla donde se analiza y discute la valoración y la percepción que tienen los viajeros que visitan esta isla sobre diferentes aspectos en que se basa el turismo de la misma. Los principales resultados de este estudio resaltan la calidad de los servicios ofertados por las empresas, la importancia de los recursos naturales en la zona y la hospitalidad de la comunidad local, elementos clave para el desarrollo de esta clase de turismo. Resultan ser por tanto estos elementos la clave esencial para el desarrollo de una forma de turismo singular como es el turismo comunitario: la implicación de la comunidad local en el desarrollo del turismo, desplegándose a su vez elementos de desarrollo tan importantes como la democracia y planificación social, extendiéndose así el desarrollo no solo a aspectos económicos, sino que trasciende a procesos políticos y sociales.It is very important to the tourism sector in poor countries as an engine of endogenous development, reaching greater role in countries that have a unique attraction, allowing a sectorial development of this phenomenon. In this way, we can segment according to the main attractions that attract tourists in: tourism of Sun and beach, cultural, gastronomic tourism, ecotourism, rural tourism,... In turn this sector can involve a significant socio-economic growth to the area and, in turn, serve to strengthen other business activities. In this way, tourism is becoming an engine of development in some African countries, in which the enhancement of different resources is articulating the creation of a sustainable tourist offer that serves to respond to the demand for a more discerning travelers and looking for new experiences. In this communication are a study in the Santiago Island (Cape Verde) on the importance of tourism, as an alternative to the traditional tourist destinations, and allowing more contact with the local community and get new experiences for travellers. So we present the results of a field work carried out on this island where he analyzes and discusses the valuation and the perception that have travelers who visit this island on various aspects underlying tourism of the same. The main results of this study highlight the quality of the services offered by the companies, the importance of natural resources in the area and the hospitality of the local community, key elements for the development of this kind of tourism. They happen to be for both these elements the key essential for the development of a form of unique tourism such as community-based tourism: the involvement of the local community in the development of tourism, unfolding at the same time elements of development such as democracy and social planningextending the development not only to economic aspects as well, but that it transcends political and social processes

Experiencia docente en el desarrollo de competencias transversales como metodología de aprendizaje y evaluación

[SPA]En este trabajo se presenta una experiencia docente enfocada desde la óptica del EEES y conducente a la obtención de competencias transversales. La experiencia docente resume el desarrollo y evaluación de varias competencias transversales en el ámbito de la asignatura Interfaces y Periféricos de la Universidad de Córdoba. La metodología se centra en la construcción de una tarjeta de sonido USB y la programación del funcionamiento de ésta, sirviendo como base para desarrollar/evaluar varias competencias transversales. La evaluación de las competencias se realizará mediante una ficha que contempla distintos indicadores para cada competencia. Finalmente se analizarán los resultados y se proyectarán varias conclusiones de esta experiencia. [ENG]This paper presents an educational experience focused on the perspective of the EEES and conducive to the achievement of transversal competences. Teaching experience summarizes the development and evaluation of several transversal competences in the Interfaces and Peripherals subject, field of University of Córdoba. The methodology focuses on building a USB sound card and its programming operation, serving as a basis for developing / evaluating several transversal competences. The competence assessment will be made by a worksheet that provides different indicators for each competence. Finally we analyze the results and show some conclusions from this experience.Campus Mare Nostrum, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Universidad de Murcia, Región de Murci

Efecto del procesado sobre las propiedades y morfología de bioplásticos de proteína de soja

La industria de los plásticos ha crecido notablemente en los últimos años. Este crecimiento, ligado a la baja biodegradabilidad de estos materiales, ha causado un grave problema medioambiental. La presente investigación pretende la obtención de materiales con alta capacidad de absorción de agua, que sean biodegradables y obtenidos a partir de fuentes renovables. Deberían además poseer propiedades mecánicas adecuadas para constituir una alternativa real a los plásticos sintéticos. Estos bioplásticos son obtenidos mediante un proceso con diferentes etapas: una de mezclado de los componentes para conformar una masa homogénea; y una segunda de inyección en la que, aplicando presión, la masa es introducida en un molde de forma deseada. La capacidad de absorción de agua es afectada por la composición y las condiciones de procesado. El presente documento estudia cómo la temperatura y duración de la etapa de moldeo, además del tratamiento dehidrotérmico, modifican la capacidad de absorción del bioplástico. Los resultados concluyen que la capacidad de absorción de agua aumenta con menores temperaturas y tiempos de moldeo, a la vez que aumenta cuando el tratamiento dehidrotérmico es más corto. Asimismo, los módulos viscoelásticos poseen una tendencia a disminuir cuando la capacidad de absorción de agua en las muestras aumenta.The remarkable growth experienced by the production and demand of the plastic industry during the last few years has resulted in a serious environmental issue associated specially to their low biodegradability. This work is focused on the manufacture of bioplastics with high water absorption capacity, obtained from renewable sources. Bioplastics produced should have adequate mechanical properties to be able to replace eventually synthetic plastics in specific markets. In order to obtain these bioplastics, two steps were carried out: the first one consists of a mixing stage to achieve a homogenous blend that is injection-molded during the second step. The water uptake capacity of these samples is influenced by both the formulation and the processing conditions of the blends. The present study is focused on the evolution of water uptake values when either the molding conditions (temperature and duration) or the length of a post-dehydrothermal treatment are modified. Results indicated an improvement in the water uptake when lower mold temperatures and shorter compaction stages were used. An analogous improvement was observed when the dehydrotermal process was shorter. Mechanical properties usually decreased as the water uptake of samples was improved.Plan Propio de la Universidad de Sevilla Proyecto: 2017/00000962MINECO (España)/FEDER (UE) proyecto CTQ2015-71164-

Effects of Advertising on Food Consumption Preferences in Children

Childhood obesity is a public health problem. The purpose of this study was to know if exposure to commercial messages which advertise food products exerts any effect on the short-term consumption preferences of 4- to 6-year-old children. (2) Methods: A double-blind and randomized experimental design. Sample consisted of 421 boys and girls from twelve schools in a city in Spain. (3) Results: In three of the four product pairs shown, the products advertised in the intervention were preferred. In the results of applying the model for the first product pair presented, sugared cereals, the predictive variable which best explains the behavior of the preferences expressed is gender (Odds Ratio 0.285 (0.19–0.42); p < 0.05). For the second pair, chocolate cookies, the family’s nationality has a strong weight in the model. As regards the regression model calculated for the last pair (filled rolls), the predictive variable which showed having more influence was gender. Boys had a 1.39 times higher risk of selecting the advertised product than girls. (4) Conclusions: The persuasive effect of commercials has shown to be influential in a general, immediate, and significant way only in the case of products with wide brand awareness. This study reinforces the importance of advertising and emphasizes the need to initiate measures to control the content of TV commercials

Temporal and spatial patterns of airborne pollen dispersal in six salt marsh halophytes

Pollination is a key process in the life cycle of most plant species, but very little is known about airborne pollen dispersal in salt marsh anemophilous halophytes. We analyzed the temporal and spatial dynamics of airborne pollen dispersal, using portable volumetric pollen traps, for six anemophilous Chenopodiaceae halophytic species in tidal salt marshes. In addition, we studied the effects of air temperature and wind speed on airborne pollen dispersal. Our study shows high levels of temporal and spatial constraint on airborne pollen dispersal. We recorded the lowest airborne pollen concentrations at air temperatures lower than 22 °C and wind speeds higher than 6 m s−1. These environmental conditions set up a narrow temporal pollination window during morning hours. We also recorded severe spatial limitation for pollen dispersal in three of the six halophytes studied, which presented airborne pollen concentrations that were 9 to 53 times smaller only 5 m away from source populations than within those populations. These results show that even related species colonizing the same ecosystem may show contrasted airborne pollen spatial dispersal dynamics that depend on several environmental factors. This should be taken into account for estimates of vegetation composition based on pollen production in aerobiological and paleopalinological studies. The restricted airborne pollen dispersal recorded would promote geitonogamy and limit interpopulation genetic exchange to the dispersal of their hydrochorous fruits.The authors thank the Directorate of the Natural Parks for supporting field work conducted in this study. María Dolores Infante- Izquierdo thanks Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte (Spain) for a predoctoral fellowship (FPU-2015)