2,267 research outputs found

    Influence of Food Matrices and the Population of Interfering Microorganisms on the Determination of Listeria monocytogenes by Conventional Methods and VIDAS

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    In this study, the possible influence of the food matrix and the interfering population of microorganisms on the detection and count of Listeria monocytogenes in three common foods of the Spanish diet (Spanish omelette, fresh cheese and vegetable salad) was determined. Four groups were assayed: one control, two groups with interfering microorganisms (Salmonella Enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus mirabilis) with different levels of L. monocytogenes and a final group only contaminated with L. monocytogenes. The samples were analyzed with the normalized method (UNE-EN ISO 11290:2018) and with an alternative technique (VIDAS). The results show that the presence of interfering microorganisms did not seem to interfere with the determination of L. monocytogenes. Furthermore, the type of food did not seem to influence the determination of L. monocytogenes, but the culture media used showed differences. In fact, regardless of the type of food, the ALOA medium showed higher sensitivity than the other media, with higher recovery in 100% of samples (only for the Spanish omelette in Group B was the result the same as that for PALCAM, −8.11 log cfu/g). The results obtained using the VIDAS were not influenced by any of the factors or conditions used and show 100% efficiency

    Industry 4.0-based dynamic Social Organizational Life Cycle Assessment to target the social circular economy in manufacturing

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    Nowadays in manufacturing, the topic of sustainability plays a key role. However, over the years, economic crises and the climate change debate have focused the attention of scholars, industrialists and policy makers mainly on environmental sustainability, putting social sustainability on the back burner. This is also evident in the scientific literature which highlights several knowledge gaps. The digital transition of factories and Industry 4.0 technologies have not yet been fully exploited to correlate production and social metrics. As a result, there is a lack of adequate tools for monitoring social performance in the factory environment. In this context, the social dimension of the circular economy is still an under-researched topic. This study aims to fill these gaps by integrating Social Organizational Life Cycle Assessment (SO-LCA) and Industry 4.0 technologies in a blended methodological approach designed to dynamically monitor the social performance of a major manufacturing industry. Using primary data, a set of site-specific social indicators and indexes were created to assess the organization's social impact against key stakeholder categories and subcategories. Finally, within that set, those social metrics that the organization considers essential to moving toward the circular economy were identified. Therefore, this study, has contributed to fill the literature gaps by demonstrating that the digitization of production processes, not only enables the assessment of environmental impact, but can also play a key role in knowing the social performance of a manufacturing organization and to identify the hidden social dimension in the circular economy

    Recovery of the physiological status in professional basketball players using NESA neuromodulation treatment during different types of microcycles in season: A preliminary randomized clinical trial.

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    The purpose of the study was to describe and compare recovery status after official basketball competition in players who underwent NESA neuromodulation treatment (NNT) in weeks with one or two matches. The recovery parameters of 12 professional male basketball players (mean ± SD, age: 20.6 ± 2.7 yr; height: 197.8 ± 11.7 cm; and body mass: 89.0 ± 21.2 kg) that competed in the LEB Plata (Spanish third division) were monitored 2 days after match-play over 6 weeks, and included: 1) the Hooper Test, which combines four subjective variables (sleep, stress, fatigue and soreness); 2) common biochemical markers (e.g., testosterone, cortisol and ratio T:C); and 3) lowest heart rate [HR], average HR, HR variability, sleep duration, awake time during night and onset latency before asleep). Players that completed NNT presented differences compared to the control group in sleep data. For instance, the lowest HR (p < 0.001), average HR (p < 0.001) and total awake time (p = 0.04) were significantly reduced in the NNT group. On the contrary, the control group presented greater values than the NNT group in the subjective Hooper Test, although only stress presented significant differences (Control 2.5 ± 1.2 vs. NNT cost or 3.2 ± 0.9; p = 0.01). Additionally, there were no significant differences in recovery parameters between weeks with one or two matches. In conclusion, the results suggest that players that underwent NNT tended to improve their sleep quality. Nevertheless, player’s values in the biochemical markers and wellness status remained similar in both groups. The fact that no significant differences were found between weeks with one or two matches could help basketball professionals to determine that a congested schedule does not seem to negatively alter recovery status.post-print1317 K

    Resonant radiation pressure on neutral particles in a waveguide

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    A theoretical analysis of electromagnetic forces on neutral particles in an hollow waveguide is presented. We show that the effective scattering cross section of a very small (Rayleigh) particle can be strongly modified inside a waveguide. The coupling of the scattered dipolar field with the waveguide modes induce a resonant enhanced backscattering state of the scatterer-guide system close to the onset of new modes. The particle effective cross section can then be as large as the wavelength even far from any transition resonance. As we will show, a small particle can be strongly accelerated along the guide axis while being highly confined in a narrow zone of the cross section of the guide.Comment: RevTeX,4 pages,3 PS figure

    The Relation of physical self-concept, anxiety, and BMI among mexicam university students

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    El propósito de la investigación es conocer y relacionar los resultados del autoconcepto físico, con diferentes tipos de ansiedad y el IMC en los estudiantes de enfermería y educación física dela península de Yucatán (México). La muestra estuvo formada por 264 participantes, de los cuales 91 eran varones y 173 mujeres, con edades comprendidas entre 18 y 25 años. Nuestros datos revelan que en el autoconcepto físico, los valores obtenidos por los estudiantes de educación física son superiores al de los estudiantes de enfermería. Los estudiantes de enfermería presentan mayores valores de ansiedad estado que los de educación física. La percepción que tienen los estudiantes de ciclos superiores en prácticamente todas las dimensiones del autoconcepto es superior a la del alumnado de ciclos inferiores. Los niveles de ansiedad disminuyen conforme pasan de ciclos inferiores a superioresThe purpose of this paper is to know and relate the results of the various dimensions formed by the physical self-concept with respect to the different types of anxiety and the BMI among nursing and physical education students in the area of the Yucatán peninsula in Mexico. The study is based on a sample of 264 people, being 91 men and 173 women between the ages of 18 and 25. The outcome shows that the values obtained by physical education students are higher than those obtained by nursing students regarding the physical selfconcept. Nursing students present a higher level of anxiety compared to physical education students. The perception showed by junior and senior students with regard to almost all dimensions of self-concept is higher than that of freshmen and sophomore students. Anxiety level among students decreases throughout the year

    Lipidomics to analyze the influence of diets with different EPA:DHA ratios in the progression of Metabolic Syndrome using SHROB rats as a model

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    8 páginas, 4 tablasThe role of specific proportions of ω-3 EPA and DHA, in the modulation of inflammation and oxidative stress markers associated to the progression of Metabolic Syndrome was investigated. Potential inflammatory eicosanoids and docosanoids were discussed together to biomarkers of CVD, obesity, inflammation and oxidative stress in an animal model of metabolic disorders. Results evidenced a noteworthy health effect of 1:1 and 2:1 EPA:DHA proportions over 1:2 EPA:DHA based diets through a down-regulation in the production of strong pro-inflammatory ω-6 eicosanoids, a decrement of biomarkers of oxidative stress, and a modulation of fatty acid desaturase activities and plasma and membrane PUFAs towards greater anti-inflammatory profiles. Outcomes contribute to the general knowledge on the health benefits of marine lipids and their role on the progress of MetS, inflammation and oxidative stress. Results shed light on controversial protective mechanisms of EPA and DHA to better design dietary interventions aimed at reducing MetSThis work was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (AGL2009-12374-C3-1, -2, and -3, and AGL2013-49079-C2-1,2-R). The Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) and the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC) are gratefully acknowledged for the doctoral fellowship to Gabriel Dasilva. Xunta de Galicia and European Social Fund are also thankfully recognized for the financial support of the postdoctoral contracts to M. P and E.G.-E., and ISCIII for the postdoctoral contract “Sara Borrell” to J.P.-J. (CD09/00068)Peer reviewe

    Mapping localized surface plasmons within silver nanocubes using cathodoluminescence hyperspectral imaging

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    Localized surface plasmons within silver nanocubes less than 50 nm in size are investigated using high resolution cathodoluminescence hyperspectral imaging. Multivariate statistical analysis of the multidimensional luminescence dataset allows both the identification of distinct spectral features in the emission and the mapping of their spatial distribution. These results show a 490 nm peak emitted from the cube faces, with shorter wavelength luminescence coming from the vertices and edges; this provides direct experimental confirmation of theoretical predictions

    Oral health-related quality of life and malnutrition in patients treated for oral cancer.

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    This study examined whether oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) is associated with nutritional status in patients treated for oral cancer

    Variable Stars in the Quintuplet stellar cluster with the VVV Survey

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    This article has been accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, © : 2016 C Navarro Molina et al., published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.The Quintuplet cluster is one of the most massive star clusters in the Milky Way, situated very close to the Galactic center. We present a new search for variable stars in the vicinity of the cluster, using the five-year database of the Vista Variables in the Via Lactea (VVV) ESO Public Survey in the near-infrared. A total of 7586 objects were identified in the zone around 22' from the cluster center, using 55 KSK_S-band epochs. Thirty-three stars show KSK_S-band variability, 24 of them being previously undiscovered. Most of the variable stars found are slow/semiregular variables, long-period variables of the Mira type, and OH/IR stars. In addition, a good number of our candidates show variations in a rather short timescale. We also propose four Young Stellar Object (YSO) candidates, which could be cluster members.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

    Optimization of α-tocopherol and ascorbyl palmitate addition for the stabilization of sardine oil

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    The purpose of the present work was to optimize the addition of natural antioxidants (α- tocopherol and ascorbyl palmitate) for the stabilization of sardine oil rich in omega-3 PUFA. The optimal values for peroxide value (PV), which minimizes primary oxidation products, were obtained at low concentrations of α-tocopherol (50–207 ppm), high content of ascorbyl palmitate (450 ppm) and 50 ppm citric acid. On the other hand, optimal values for <em>p</em>-anisidine value (AV), which minimizes secondary oxidation products, were found at medium concentrations of α-tocopherol (478–493 ppm), high contents of ascorbyl palmitate (390–450 ppm) and 50 ppm citric acid. The conflicting effect of α-tocopherol on the individual optimization of PV and AV motivated the generation of a Pareto front (set of non inferior solutions) employing the weighted-sum multi-objective optimization technique.<br><br>El objetivo de este trabajo fue optimizar la adición de antioxidantes naturales (α-tocoferol y palmitato de ascorbilo) para la estabilización de aceite de sardina rico en omega-3 PUFA. Bajas concentraciones de α-tocoferol (50–207 ppm) combinadas con la adicción de antioxidantes secundarios como palmitato de ascorbilo (450 ppm) y ácido cítrico (50 ppm), minimizaron la formación de hidroperóxidos en el aceite de sardina estudiado. Sin embargo, los productos secundarios de oxidación se redujeron para concentraciones medias de α-tocoferol (478–493 ppm), altas de palmitato de ascorbilo (390–450 ppm) y 50 ppm de ácido cítrico. El efecto contradictorio de la concentración de α-tocoferol en la optimización individual del índice de peróxidos e índice de <em>p</em>-anisidina motivó la realización de una optimización simultánea que permite satisfacer la optimización de cada una de las variables individuales en el grado deseado
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