Preferencias y aceptabilidad de los consumidores por la carne de vacuno enriquecida en omega-3 y ácido linoleico conjugado en tres ciudades españolas

Este trabajo analiza las preferencias de los consumidores en tres ciudades españolas (Barcelona, Zaragoza y Pamplona) con el objetivo de estimar la importancia relativa de los atributos más relevantes de la carne de vacuno incluyendo su enriquecimiento con ácidos grasos no saturados como el omega-3 (n-3) y el ácido linoleico conjugado (CLA). Asimismo, se pretende estudiar el impacto de la experiencia sensorial y la información sobre las preferencias y la heterogeneidad no observada tanto del factor de escala como de los atributos. Los datos fueron recogidos de un cuestionario estructurado y auto-completado en un ambiente controlado con dos muestras diferentes (320 y 325 consumidores) diferenciados por la información recibida. El experimento de elección fue aplicado antes y después de que los mismos consumidores evaluaran la aceptabilidad de la carne enriquecida. Para el análisis de datos se ha empleado el modelo Multinomial Generalizado (GMNL). Los resultados mostraron un impacto significativo de la información y la experiencia sensorial sobre las preferencias. La utilidad de la carne enriquecida con n-3 en las tres ciudades se incrementó significativamente después de probar la carne, sobre todo para los consumidores que no recibieron información, mientras que la utilidad de la carne enriquecida con CLA no fue significativa independientemente de la evaluación hedónica o la información proporcionada. Después de la experiencia sensorial, la heterogeneidad de escala, que es la variación del grado de aleatoriedad en el proceso de toma de decisiones y por lo tanto el grado de certeza de los individuos en sus elecciones, ha disminuido significativamente. Finalmente, los resultados mostraron un aumento de la aceptabilidad global de la carne enriquecida con n-3 y CLA respecto a la carne convencional y la información ofrecida a los consumidores no tuvo ningún impacto significativo en sus puntuaciones.Publishe

Análisis de la demanda de bienes y servicios no comerciales procedentes de la actividad agraria: El caso del olivar de montaña andaluz

[EN] Agricultural multifunctionality is the recognition of the joint exercise of economic, environmental and social functions by this sector. In order to make this concept operative for the design of public policies, it is necessary to estimate the social demand for such functions. The main objective of this article is to present an empirical application in this line. For this purpose we have taken the agricultural system of mountain olive groves in Andalusia (Southern Spain) at risk of abandonment after the decoupling of the EU subsidies as a case study. The economic valuation technique used is the Choice Experiment. According to the results, there is a different contribution of each attribute to the improvement of the Society level of utility. Thus, and taking into account its WTP for each attribute, keeping rural population in their villages and fighting soil erosion seem to be the most valued functions by Andalusian citizens. It follows the improvement of the visual quality of the rural landscapes and the reduction of food residuals. Finally, although the results suggest a significant demand for the different functions, this demand is heterogeneous, depending on the socio-economic characteristics of the individuals.[ES] El concepto de multifuncionalidad agraria supone el reconocimiento de la provisión conjunta de bienes y servicios de tipo económico, social y medioambiental. Con el objeto de hacer operativo este concepto para el diseño de políticas públicas es necesario estimar la demanda social de estas funciones. En este contexto, el presente trabajo supone una aplicación empírica de esta idea teniendo como caso de estudio el olivar andaluz de montaña. La valoración económica de las funciones no comerciales más relevantes de este sistema agrario se ha llevado a cabo utilizando los experimentos de elección. Según los resultados obtenidos, existe una contribución al bienestar social de cada uno de los atributos analizados, siendo el mantenimiento de la población en el medio rural y la lucha contra la erosión los dos atributos mejor valorados, seguidos por la provisión de un paisaje de calidad y la seguridad alimentaria. Por último, estos mismos resultados evidencian igualmente cómo esta valoración es heterogénea, dependiendo de las características socioeconómicas de los individuos.Kallas, Z.; Gómez-Limón, J.; Arriaza, M.; Nekhay, O. (2006). Demand for non-commodities outputs from agricultural activities: The case of mountain olive groves. Economía Agraria y Recursos Naturales - Agricultural and Resource Economics. 6(11):49-79. doi:10.7201/earn.2006.11.03SWORD497961

Can innovations in traditional pork products help thriving EU untapped pig breeds? A non-hypothetical discrete choice experiment with hedonic evaluation

The EU is supporting measures that stimulate enhanced value-added products in order to conserve local and threatened livestock breeds. Several Traditional Pork Products (TPP) and Innovative Traditional Pork Products (ITPP) with health innovations from four untapped pig breeds in Spain (Porc Negre Mallorquí), Croatia (Turopolje), Italy (Cinta Senese) and Slovenia (Krškopolje) were analysed. Consumers' “Non-hypothetical” willingness to pay (WTP) and hedonic evaluation were investigated. An integrated experimental approach using two Non-Hypothetical Discrete Choice Experiment (NH-DCE) was carried out before and after a hedonic evaluation test. Results showed that the health innovative products (ITPP) received similar and even lower WTP than the “control” products (TPP) from the untapped pig breeds. The TPP outperformed products enriched with healthy ingredients or with reduced undesirable compounds. The potential demand for traditional and “unaltered” product from the rustic pig breeds could contribute to their conservation. A market niche exists, where consumers appreciate these high-quality products and where no “add-ons” are required to enhance their uptake.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Evaluating blood-brain barrier permeability in delayed cerebral infarction after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patients with SAH are at increased risk of delayed infarction. Early detection and treatment of delayed infarction remain challenging. We assessed blood-brain barrier permeability, measured as permeability surface area product, by using CTP in patients with SAH with delayed infarction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of patients with SAH with delayed infarction on follow-up NCCT. CTP was performed before the development of delayed infarction. CTP data were postprocessed into permeability surface area product, CBF, and MTT maps. Coregistration was performed to align the infarcted region on the follow-up NCCT with the corresponding location on the CTP maps obtained before infarction. Permeability surface area product, CBF, and MTT values were then obtained in the location of the subsequent infarction. The contralateral noninfarcted region was compared with the affected side in each patient. Wilcoxon signed rank tests were performed to determine statistical significance. Clinical data were collected at the time of CTP and at the time of follow-up NCCT. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients with SAH were included in the study. There was a statistically significant increase in permeability surface area product in the regions of subsequent infarction compared with the contralateral control regions (P \u3c .0001). However, CBF and MTT values were not significantly different in these 2 regions. Subsequent follow-up NCCT demonstrated new delayed infarction in all 21 patients, at which time 38% of patients had new focal neurologic deficits. CONCLUSIONS: Our study reveals a statistically significant increase in permeability surface area product preceding delayed infarction in patients with SAH. Further investigation of early permeability changes in SAH may provide new insights into the prediction of delayed infarction

Impact of the sensory experience on consumers' preference toward the origin of honey: a case study in Mar del Plata, Argentina

This study analysed consumers' expected preference toward local honey with different colour and texture. We analysed the impact of the sensory experience on consumers' expectation and their willingness to pay for the honey products. We carried out two Non-Hypothetical Discrete Choice Experiments (DCE) by creating a real shopping scenario before and after the hedonic sensory test for a sample of 145 consumers from Mar del Plata, Argentina. Data used in this analysis were obtained from questionnaires completed in a controlled environment and estimated using the random parameters Logit model (MIXL). Results showed both high preference and acceptance for local honey with solid texture and light colour and also revealed a high rejection for dark honeys. Consumers also declared their willingness to pay a premium for their most preferred honey type if it is produced from local place. The sensory experience has had impact on expectation. Consumers were not willing to compromise their perceived quality and their eating experience with other descriptors of the honey product.Fil: Kallas, Z. Centro de Investigación en Economía y Desarrollo Agroalimentario; España.Fil: Alba, M. F. Centro de Investigación en Economía y Desarrollo Agroalimentario; España.Fil: Casellas, Karina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Economía y Sociología; Argentina.Fil: Berges, Miriam. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Sociales; Argentina.Fil: De Greef, G. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Centro de Investigación de Agroindustria; Argentina.Fil: Gil, J. M. Centro de Investigación en Economía y Desarrollo Agroalimentario; España

Invariant Natural Killer T-cells and their subtypes may play a role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis

Objective: To evaluate the frequencies of iNKT cells and their subsets in patients with deep endometriosis. Methods: A case-control study was conducted between 2013 and 2015, with 73 patients distributed into two groups: 47 women with a histological diagnosis of endometriosis and 26 controls. Peripheral blood, endometriosis lesions, and healthy peritoneal samples were collected on the day of surgery to determine the frequencies of iNKT cells and subtypes via flow cytometry analysis. Results: The authors observed a lower number of iNKT (p = 0.01) and Double-Negative (DN) iNKT cells (p = 0.02) in the blood of patients with endometriosis than in the control group. The number of DN iNKT IL-17+ cells in the secretory phase was lower in the endometriosis group (p = 0.049). There was an increase in the secretion of IL-17 by CD4+ iNKT cells in the blood of patients with endometriosis and severe dysmenorrhea (p = 0.038), and severe acyclic pelvic pain (p = 0.048). Patients with severe dysmenorrhea also had a decreased number of CD4+ CCR7+ cells (p = 0.022). Conclusion: The decreased number of total iNKT and DN iNKT cells in patients with endometriosis suggests that iNKT cells play a role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis and can be used to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic agents

A Sino-German 6 cm polarization survey of the Galactic plane II. The region from 129 degree to 230 degree longitude

Linearly polarized Galactic synchrotron emission provides valuable information about the properties of the Galactic magnetic field and the interstellar magneto-ionic medium, when Faraday rotation along the line of sight is properly taken into account. We aim to survey the Galactic plane at 6 cm including linear polarization. At such a short wavelength Faraday rotation effects are in general small and the Galactic magnetic field properties can be probed to larger distances than at long wavelengths. The Urumqi 25-m telescope is used for a sensitive 6 cm survey in total and polarized intensities. WMAP K-band (22.8 GHz) polarization data are used to restore the absolute zero-level of the Urumqi U and Q maps by extrapolation. Total intensity and polarization maps are presented for a Galactic plane region of 129 degree < l < 230 degree and |b| < 5 degree in the anti-centre with an angular resolution of 9'5 and an average sensitivity of 0.6 mK and 0.4 mK Tb in total and polarized intensity, respectively. We briefly discuss the properties of some extended Faraday Screens detected in the 6 cm polarization maps. The Sino-German 6 cm polarization survey provides new information about the properties of the magnetic ISM. The survey also adds valuable information for discrete Galactic objects and is in particular suited to detect extended Faraday Screens with large rotation measures hosting strong regular magnetic fields.Comment: 17 pages, 20 figures, accepted by A&amp;A. Resolutions of the figures have been significantly reduced. For version with full resolution, see http://159.226.88.6/zmtt/6cm/papers/gao.paper2.pd