240 research outputs found
Starch-Galactomannans Mixtures: Rheological and Viscosity Behavior in Aqueous Systems for Food Modeling
Starch properties during processing are major determinants of starch employment for food development. The gelatinization, pasting, and retrogradation of starch can be modified by the addition of galactomannans, which can improve rheological, textural, and nutritional properties. Rheology is an important key to obtain information about thermal transitions of starch and controlling characteristics required in food applications and to enhance understanding of the effect of starch-galactomannans systems and starch properties. This chapter provides information on starch transitions under heating and after cooling, including a definition of the process, molecular mechanisms, and rheological methods and its modification using starch-galactomannans mixtures and explains interactions throughout several investigations. The chapter also discusses how the rheological properties can affect the rate of the enzyme digestibility of starch on in vitro measurements and presents the starch-galactomannan systems as an alternative that can be used in structured foods as functional ingredients
Mean Sombor index
A Special Volume on Chemical Graph Theory in Memory of Nenad TrinajsticWe introduce a degreeâbased variable topological index inspired on the power (or generalized) mean. We name this new index as the mean Sombor index: SOα(G) = P uvâE(G) [(d α u + d α v ) /2]1/α. Here, uv denotes the edge of the graph G connecting the vertices u and v, du is the degree of the vertex u, and α â R\{0}. We also consider the limit cases mSOαâ0(G) and
SOαâ±â(G). Indeed, for given values of α, the mean Sombor index is related to well-known opological indices such as the inverse sum indeg index, the reciprocal Randic index, the first Zagreb index, the StolarskyâPuebla index and several ÂŽSombor indices. Moreover, through a quantitative structure property relationship (QSPR) analysis we show that mSOα(G) correlates well with several physicochemical properties of octane isomers. Some mathematical properties of the mean Sombor index as well as bounds and new relationships with known topological indices are also discussed.J.A.M.-B. acknowledges financial support from CONACyT (Grant No. A1-S-22706) and BUAP (Grant No. 100405811VIEP2021) .E.D.M. and J.M.R. were supported by a grant from Agencia Estatal de InvestigaciĂłn (PID 2019-106433GBI00 / AEI / 10.13039 / 501100011033), Spain. J.M.R. was supported by the Madrid Government (Comunidad de Madrid-Spain) under the Multiannual Agreement with UC3M in the line of Excellence of University Professors (EPUC3M23), and in the context of the VPRICIT (Regional Programme of Research and Technological Innovation)
The impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on depression sufferers: a qualitative study from the province of Zaragoza, Spain
Background and purpose: The impact of COVID-19 and its control measures have exacerbated existing mental health conditions. Although the deleterious effects of mental health problems are well known, fewer studies have examined the links between the Social Determinants of Health (SDHs) and depression. This study provides insights into the relationship between SDHs and depression during the first strict lockdown in Spain, which lasted for a period of 7 weeks. Methods: Fifty-two structured interviews were conducted with people diagnosed with depression during June 2020 in the province of Zaragoza (Spain). Interviews were conducted by telephone due to lockdown constraints. Inductive thematic content analysis was used to explore, develop, and define emergent categories of analysis, which were mapped against the SDH framework. Results: Listening to peopleâs experiences of living with depression during lockdown provided insights into their concerns and coping strategies, which are greatly influenced by the conditions in which they live, their job and their age. Examples of these factors include access to and quality of physical spaces, including housing conditions and public spaces for socialising, social support, adverse working conditions which include caring responsibilities, and access to digital technologies and healthcare services. Conclusion: SDHs have played a fundamental role in shaping peopleâs health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic, and this study has shown that they have a considerable effect on depression outcomes. Governments should consider implementing social welfare programs to tackle both psychosocial problems and material need during crisis situations
Geographic factors associated with poorer outcomes in patients diagnosed with covid-19 in primary health care
Background: The prognosis of older age COVID-19 patients with comorbidities is associated with a more severe course and higher fatality rates but no analysis has yet included factors related to the geographical area/municipality in which the affected patients live, so the objective of this study was to analyse the prognosis of patients with COVID-19 in terms of sex, age, comorbidi-ties, and geographic variables. Methods: A retrospective cohort of 6286 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 was analysed, considering demographic data, previous comorbidities and geographic variables. The main study variables were hospital admission, intensive care unit (ICU) admission and death due to worsening symptoms; and the secondary variables were sex, age, comorbidities and geographic variables (size of the area of residence, distance to the hospital and the driving time to the hospital). A comparison analysis and a multivariate Cox model were performed. Results: The multivariate Cox model showed that women had a better prognosis in any type of analysed prog-nosis. Most of the comorbidities studied were related to a poorer prognosis except for dementia, which is related to lower admissions and higher mortality. Suburban areas were associated with greater mortality and with less hospital or ICU admission. Distance to the hospital was also associated with hospital admission. Conclusions: Factors such as type of municipality and distance to hospital act as social health determinants. This fact must be taken account in order to stablish specifics prevention measures and treatment protocols
Massive star formation in Wolf-Rayet galaxies: I. Optical and NIR photometric results
(Abridged) We have performed a comprehensive multiwavelength analysis of a
sample of 20 starburst galaxies that show the presence of a substantial
population of massive stars. The main aims are the study of the massive star
formation and stellar populations in these galaxies, and the role that
interactions with or between dwarf galaxies and/or low surface companion
objects have in triggering the bursts. We completed new deep optical and \NIR\
broad-band images, as well as the new continuum-subtracted H maps, of
our sample of Wolf-Rayet galaxies. We analyze the morphology of each system and
its surroundings and quantify the photometric properties of all important
objects. All data were corrected for both extinction and nebular emission using
our spectroscopic data. The age of the most recent star-formation burst is
estimated and compared with the age of the underlying older low-luminosity
population. The \Ha-based star-formation rate, number of O7V equivalent stars,
mass of ionized gas, and mass of the ionizing star cluster are also derived. We
found interaction features in many (15 up to 20) of the analyzed objects, which
were extremely evident in the majority. We checked that the correction for
nebular emission to the broad-band filter fluxes is important in compact
objects and/or with intense nebular emission to obtain realistic colors and
compare with the predictions of evolutionary synthesis models. The estimate of
the age of the most recent star-formation burst is derived consistently. With
respect to the results found in individual objects, we remark the strong \Ha\
emission found in IRAS 08208+2816, UM 420, and SBS 0948+532, the detection of a
double-nucleus in SBS 0926+606A, a possible galactic wind in Tol 9, and one
(two?) nearby dwarf star-forming galaxies surrounding Tol 1457-437.Comment: Published in A&A, 491, 131 (2008). 39 Figures have NOT been included
here. Full version in
http://www.atnf.csiro.au/people/Angel.Lopez-Sanchez/papers/9409WRG1.pdf False
color pictures of the galaxies can be found in
http://www.atnf.csiro.au/people/Angel.Lopez-Sanchez/pictures.htm
Certificação de produtos orgùnicos: obståculos à implantação de um sistema participativo de garantia na Andaluzia, Espanha.
O trabalho analisa o processo de organização de produtores orgĂąnicos da Andaluzia que estiveram envolvidos em uma tentativa de implantação de um sistema participativo de garantia. Esta iniciativa foi liderada pela administração dessa comunidade autĂŽnoma espanhola entre 2006 e 2008. O estudo baseia-se em entrevistas realizadas com atores sociais que estiveram implicados nesse processo, identificando os obstĂĄculos polĂticos e organizativos que impediram que essa proposta pudesse avançar
Evolutionary and pulsational properties of white dwarf stars
Abridged. White dwarf stars are the final evolutionary stage of the vast
majority of stars, including our Sun. The study of white dwarfs has potential
applications to different fields of astrophysics. In particular, they can be
used as independent reliable cosmic clocks, and can also provide valuable
information about the fundamental parameters of a wide variety of stellar
populations, like our Galaxy and open and globular clusters. In addition, the
high densities and temperatures characterizing white dwarfs allow to use these
stars as cosmic laboratories for studying physical processes under extreme
conditions that cannot be achieved in terrestrial laboratories. They can be
used to constrain fundamental properties of elementary particles such as axions
and neutrinos, and to study problems related to the variation of fundamental
constants.
In this work, we review the essentials of the physics of white dwarf stars.
Special emphasis is placed on the physical processes that lead to the formation
of white dwarfs as well as on the different energy sources and processes
responsible for chemical abundance changes that occur along their evolution.
Moreover, in the course of their lives, white dwarfs cross different
pulsational instability strips. The existence of these instability strips
provides astronomers with an unique opportunity to peer into their internal
structure that would otherwise remain hidden from observers. We will show that
this allows to measure with unprecedented precision the stellar masses and to
infer their envelope thicknesses, to probe the core chemical stratification,
and to detect rotation rates and magnetic fields. Consequently, in this work,
we also review the pulsational properties of white dwarfs and the most recent
applications of white dwarf asteroseismology.Comment: 85 pages, 28 figures. To be published in The Astronomy and
Astrophysics Revie
Randomised controlled study in the primary healthcare sector to investigate the effectiveness and safety of auriculotherapy for the treatment of uncomplicated chronic rachialgia: a study protocol
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Uncomplicated chronic rachialgia is a highly prevalent complaint, and one for which therapeutic results are contradictory. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of treatment with auriculopressure, in the primary healthcare sector, carried out by trained healthcare professionals via a 30-hour course.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>The design consists of a multi-centre randomized controlled trial, with placebo, with two parallel groups, and including an economic evaluation. Patients with chronic uncomplicated rachialgia, whose GP is considering referral for auriculopressure sensory stimulation, are eligible for inclusion. Sampling will be by consecutive selection, and randomised allocation to one of the two study arms will be determined using a centralised method, following a 1:1 plan (true auriculopressure; placebo auriculopressure). The implants (true and placebo) will be replaced once weekly, and the treatment will have a duration of 8 weeks. The primary outcome measure will be the change in pain intensity, measured on a visual analogue scale (VAS) of 100 mm, at 9 weeks after beginning the treatment. A follow up study will be performed at 6 months after beginning treatment. An assessment will also be made of the changes measured in the Spanish version of the McGill Pain Questionnaire, of the changes in the Lattinen test, and of the changes in quality of life (SF-12). Also planned is an analysis of cost-effectiveness and also, if necessary, a cost-benefit analysis.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>This study will contribute to developing evidence on the use of auriculotherapy using Semen vaccariae [wang bu liu xing] for the treatment of uncomplicated chronic rachialgia.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN01897462.</p
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