Estimating the prevalence of hunger and food insecurity: The validity of questionnaire-based measures for the identification of households

This study had three objectives: (1) to assess the validity of questionnaire-based measures in identifying households experiencing hunger and food insecurity, (2) to examine the interrelationships of different questionnaire-based measures, and (3) to examine the construction of a continuous food insecurity scale intended to differentiate three levels of food insecurity within households. A 1993 survey of 193 randomly sampled rural households with women and children living at home provided data on demographics, risk factors for food insecurity, Radimer/Cornell, CCHIP, and NHANES III hunger and food insecurity items, coping strategies, fruit and vegetable consumption, disordered eating behaviors, height, weight, dietary recall, and household food-stores inventory. This information was used to develop a definitive criterion measure for hunger and food insecurity, against which the Radimer/Cornell and CCHIP questionnaire-based measures, the NHANES III item, and the continuous food insecurity scale were tested for their specificity and sensitivity in measuring levels of food insecurity.

The use of zooplankton metrics to determine the trophic status and ecological potential: An approach in a large Mediterranean watershed.

In the European Water Framework Directive, zooplankton was not included as a Biological Quality Element despite its important place in the aquatic trophic web. In the present study on zooplankton abundances and biomasses, we used several metrics to test their ability to detect differences among trophic statuses and ecological potential levels, and collected a large sum of data in more than 60 reservoirs at Ebro watershed, on more than 300 sampling occasions over 10 years. Our results indicate that most zooplankton metrics are correlated to environmental variables that determine reservoirs' trophic states, especially chlorophyll a and total phosphorus. The metrics with better sensitivity to differentiate trophic states and ecological potential levels were ZOO (total zooplankton), LZOO (large zooplankton), CLAD (cladocerans), and ZOO:CHLA (zooplankton:chlorophyll a ratio). Microcrustacean metrics such as DAPHN (Daphnia), COP (copepods), CYCLO (cyclopoids), and CALA (calanoids) were good at differentiating between high and low water quality in trophic status (oligotrophic-eutrophic) and ecological potential (good or superior-moderate). Thus, zooplankton can be used as a valuable tool to determine water quality; we believe that zooplankton should be considered a Biological Quality Element withinWater Framework Directive monitoring programs for inland waters

Wheat bran valorisation: Towards photocatalytic nanomaterials for benzyl alcohol photo-oxidation

In this work, we have successfully synthesized a set of titania photocatalytic nanocomposites by the incorporation of different TiO2 content on wheat bran residues. The obtained catalysts were characterized by different techniques including UVeVis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) while their photocatalytic activity was investigated in the oxidation of benzyl alcohol under UV light irradiation. Benzaldehyde yields were ca. 20%, with conversion in the systems of ca. 33% of benzyl alcohol by using 10%Ti-Bran catalyst, as compared to 33% yield to the target product (quantitative conversion of benzyl alcohol) using commercial pure TiO2 (P-25). The photocatalytic activity results indicate that designed waste-derived nanomaterials with low TiO2 content can efficiently photocatalyze the conversion of benzyl alcohol with relative high selectivity towards benzaldehyde

Architecture and Selectivity in Aquaporins: 2.5 Å X-Ray Structure of Aquaporin Z

Aquaporins are a family of water and small molecule channels found in organisms ranging from bacteria to animals. One of these channels, the E. coli protein aquaporin Z (AqpZ), has been shown to selectively conduct only water at high rates. We have expressed, purified, crystallized, and solved the X-ray structure of AqpZ. The 2.5 Å resolution structure of AqpZ suggests aquaporin selectivity results both from a steric mechanism due to pore size and from specific amino acid substitutions that regulate the preference for a hydrophobic or hydrophilic substrate. This structure provides direct evidence on the molecular mechanisms of specificity between water and glycerol in this family of channels from a single species. It is to our knowledge the first atomic resolution structure of a recombinant aquaporin and so provides a platform for combined genetic, mutational, functional, and structural determinations of the mechanisms of aquaporins and, more generally, the assembly of multimeric membrane proteins

Facile mechanochemical modification of g-C3N4 for selective photo-oxidation of benzyl alcohol

Graphitic carbon nitride enriched with ZnO or Fe2O3 were synthesized using a simple one-pot mechanochemical method. By using this method, composite samples were synthetized without the production of any potentially hazardous waste. The synthesized materials were used as catalysts during the selective photo-oxidation of benzyl alcohol. Both composite materials displayed an enhancement of the activity and benzaldehyde selectivity with respect to the pure g-C3N4. The most active catalyst was Fe2O3/g-C3N4. The conversion and benzaldehyde selectivity of this sample were 20 and 70 %, respectively. It showed a considerable increase of the benzaldehyde selectivity compared to the pure g-C3N4 and TiO2 P25 commercial reference. A complete structural and electronic characterization using Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive (SEM-EDX), BET measurements, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray Photoelectron (XPS), and UV–visible spectroscopies was carried out. The characterization analysis pointed out the leading role of the crystallinity and surface concentration over the activity and benzaldehyde selectivity of the reactio

El Amor en los Tiempos del COVID-19: Centrado En Cuidado de las Personas Mayores

Older adults are the most vulnerable population group in the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only do they have the highest mortality, multimorbidity, and various problems during the pandemic, but they will have the greatest number of needs after it. To guarantee human rights, optimize the healthy aging process and center attention in person, the state and society in general will require a series of extraordinary measures.Las Personas Adultas Mayores son el grupo poblacional más vulnerable en la Pandemia por COVID-19. No solamente son los que tienen más mortalidad y multiples condiciones complejas durante la pandemia, sino los que tendrán más necesidades luego de esta. Para garantizar los derechos humanos, optimizar el proceso de envejecimiento saludable y centrar la atención en las personas se necesitará una serie de medidas extraordinarias por parte del estado y la sociedad en general

Mechanochemical Synthesis of TiO2 Nanocomposites as Photocatalysts for Benzyl Alcohol Photo-Oxidation

TiO2 (anatase phase) has excellent photocatalytic performance and different methods have been reported to overcome its main limitation of high band gap energy. In this work, TiO2-magnetically-separable nanocomposites (MAGSNC) photocatalysts with different TiO2 loading were synthesized using a simple one-pot mechanochemical method. Photocatalysts were characterized by a number of techniques and their photocatalytic activity was tested in the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde. Extension of light absorption into the visible region was achieved upon titania incorporation. Results indicated that the photocatalytic activity increased with TiO2 loading on the catalysts, with moderate conversion (20%) at high benzaldehyde selectivity (84%) achieved for 5% TiO2-MAGSNC. These findings pointed out a potential strategy for the valorization of lignocellulosic-based biomass under visible light irradiation using designer photocatalytic nanomaterial

Factores asociados a la falta de adherencia de tratamiento en pacientes con glaucoma

Objective. Was to determine the factors associated with the lack of adherence to ophthalmological treatment in patients with glaucoma, at a private clinic. Methods. Observational, analytical and crosssectional design. The sample consisted of 106 patients with a previous diagnosis of glaucoma. The statistical analysis was carried out with STATAv.16., the Student’s t test, the Chi square test and the logistic regression analysis were performed with a level of significance of 5%. Results. The average age of the patients was 66,6 ± 13,8 years, the majority were women (59,43%), from the coast (62,26%), with a high school degree education (38,68). The frequency of poor adherence to ophthalmological treatment was 69,81% (n = 74). The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that accessibility to medications (OR = 0,10; 95% CI = 0,03-0,32) and compliance with the time of medication (OR = 0,09; 95% CI = 0,02- 0,33) represent protective factors of poor adherence to treatment, while the interruption of medication due to feeling good in health (OR = 9,23; 95% CI = 1,08-78,52), needing help to place the drops (OR = 2,61; 95% CI = 1,10-6,20) and stopping treatment if help is not found (OR = 4,43; 95% CI = 1,19-16,25) represent risk factors for poor adherence to ophthalmological treatment. Conclusion. Glaucoma patients without access to medications, who fail to adhere to their medication schedule, who interrupt their medication because they feel good, who need help in their care and cannot find help are more prone to poor adherence to ophthalmological treatment.Objetivo. Determinar los factores asociados a la falta de adherencia al tratamiento oftalmológico en pacientes con glaucoma, en una clínica privada. Métodos. Estudio observacional, analítico y transversal. La muestra fue conformada por 106 pacientes con diagnóstico previo de glaucoma. El análisis estadístico se realizó con ayuda del programa STATAv.16., se realizó la prueba t de Student, la prueba Chi cuadrado y el análisis de regresión logística, el nivel de significancia fue 5%. Resultados. La edad promedio de los pacientes fue 66,6 ± 13,8 años, la mayoría fueron mujeres (59,43%), procedentes de la costa (62,26%), con grado de instrucción secundaria (38,68%). La frecuencia de mala adherencia al tratamiento oftalmológico fue 69,81% (n=74). El análisis multivariado de regresión logística reveló que la accesibilidad a los medicamentos (OR=0,10; IC95%=0,03-0,32) y cumplir la hora de la medicación (OR=0,09; IC95%=0.02-0.33) representaron factores protectores de mala adherencia al tratamiento, mientras que la interrupción de la medicación por sentirse bien de salud (OR=9,23; IC95%=1,08-78,52), necesitar ayuda para colocarse las gotas (OR=2,61; IC95%=1,10-6,20) y suspender el tratamiento si no encuentra ayuda (OR=4.43; IC95%=1,19-16,25) representaron factores de riesgo de mala adherencia al tratamiento oftalmológico. Conclusión. Los pacientes con glaucoma sin acceso a los medicamentos, que incumplen horario de su medicación, que interrumpen la medicación por sentirse bien de salud, que necesitan ayuda en su atención y no encuentran la ayuda son más propensos a una mala adherencia al tratamiento oftalmológico