Comparation of the new rebound tonometer IOPen and the Goldmann tonometer, and their relationship to corneal properties

Purpose To compare the intraocular pressures (IOPs) obtained with the IOPen rebound tonometer, Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT) and the ocular response analyzer (ORA) and investigate the effects of corneal biomechanical properties on IOPen measurements. Methods A total of 198 normal eyes were included in this cross-sectional and randomized study. Three measurements were taken using IOPen. Agreement between tonometers was calculated using the Bland and Altman limits of agreement (LoA) analysis. Results The median IOPen IOP was 3mmHg below the GAT (Po0.001), 3mmHg below the ORA IOP similar to Goldmann (IOPg), and 3mmHg below the ORA IOP corrected using corneal parameters (IOPcc)(Po0.01). The LoA width between the IOPen and GAT IOPs varied between 13.92 (mean IOPen IOP) and 15.99mmHg (third IOPen measurement). The central corneal thickness (CCT) was unrelated to IOPen measurements (P40.05). Corneal hysteresis (CH) and corneal rigidity factor (CRF) were correlated with IOPen and GAT. Conclusions IOPen underestimated the IOP compared with GAT and ORA. The effect of measurement quality or measurement order on IOPen was low. CCT did not affect the IOPen, but the CH and CRF did. The LoA width between the IOPen and GAT IOPs was higher than between the ORA IOPg or ORA IOPcc and GAT IOPs

Effect of microalgae incorporation on physicochemical and textural properties in wheat bread formulation

[EN] The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the incorporation of different microalgae on physicochemical and textural properties of bread. Four species of microalgae Isochrysis galbana, Tetraselmissuecica, Scenedesmus almeriensis, and Nannochloropsis gaditana were used in this study. Properties such as water activity, pH, microbiological counts, viscosity, and color were analyzed to determine the effect of microalgae addition on sourdough. The technological quality of breads was analyzed in terms of physicochemical properties, color, texture profile, and porosity. The main effect of microalgae addition was changes in bread color, crust, and crumb that implies an increase of browning and an evolution to more green-yellow tonalities. The textural parameters of breads such as hardness, chewiness, and resilience are not modified by microalgae addition.García-Segovia, P.; Pagán Moreno, MJ.; Lara, IF.; Martínez Monzó, J. (2017). Effect of microalgae incorporation on physicochemical and textural properties in wheat bread formulation. Food Science and Technology International. 23(5):437-447. doi:10.1177/1082013217700259S43744723

MEPSA: Minimum energy pathway analysis for energy landscapes

From conformational studies to atomistic descriptions of enzymatic reactions, potential and free energy landscapes can be used to describe biomolecular systems in detail. However, extracting the relevant data of complex 3D energy surfaces can sometimes be laborious. In this article, we present MEPSA (Minimum Energy Path Surface Analysis), a cross-platform user friendly tool for the analysis of energy landscapes from a transition state theory perspective. Some of its most relevant features are: identification of all the barriers and minima of the landscape at once, description of maxima edge profiles, detection of the lowest energy path connecting two minima and generation of transition state theory diagrams along these paths. In addition to a built-in plotting system, MEPSA can save most of the generated data into easily parseable text files, allowing more versatile uses of MEPSA's output such as the generation of molecular dynamics restraints from a calculated path.Grant IPT2011-0964-900000 (Government of Spain).Peer Reviewe

Measures for the assessment of stressful life events in the Spanish adult population: A systematic review

Objetivo: Este estudio pretende identificar y analizar los instrumentos de evaluación de los eventos vitales estresantes creados/adaptados para su uso con población española adulta, publicados en la literatura nacional e internacional, con especial atención en sus propiedades psicométricas y en su asociación con medidas de problemas de salud. Métodos: Se llevó a cabo una revisión sistemática de la literatura de todos los instrumentos publicados a través de los buscadores MEDLINE; ProQuest Health y Medical Complete ProQuest Psychology Journals PsycARTICLES PsycINFO Psicodoc OpenSIGLE desde la fecha de inicio hasta el 31 de enero de 2016. Dos investigadores independientes evaluaron la elegibilidad de todos los artículos, extrajeron los datos y evaluaron sus propiedades psicométricas. Resultados: Se seleccionaron 12 instrumentos que cumplían los criterios de inclusión en el estudio. Las medidas presentaron una gran heterogeneidad. La mayoría no incluían información sobre sus propiedades psicométricas o necesitaban aportar más datos, ya que eran pocas los que evaluaban su estabilidad test-retest y/o su estructura interna. Los cuestionarios creados o adaptados por González de Rivera y Morena (1983), Sandín y Chorot (1987), Fernández y Mielgo (1992), Gracia y Herrero (2004) y Motrico et al. (2013) mostraron asociaciones significativas con variables de problemas de salud. Discusión: Se requieren más estudios sobre la asociación de los instrumentos con variables de problemas de salud mental y física, lo que facilitaría su aplicación clínica. Estos resultados tienen una gran utilidad a la hora de seleccionar un instrumento de evaluación de eventos vitales estresantes en el ámbito clínico y de investigación en España

Modificaciones térmicas en las ciudades. Avance sobre la isla de calor en Barcelona

Cet article est la présentation des resultats initiels du premier étude empirique sur l'ile de chaleur a Barcelona. Après l'analyse de la bibliographie internationale sur le theme et son évolution, on présente la méthodologie du travail, basée en la prise de données sur terrain toutes les semaines pendant les annés 1985 a 1987, tout au long de cinc parcours, établis l'avance, à travers l'aire métropolitaine. D'abord, on analyse les caracteristiques morphologiques, environamentales et fonctionelles des cinc parcours. Après, avec la contrastation des données méteorologiques conventionelles, l'étude des situations atmosphériques et l'analyse de quelques images de satellite, on arrive a conclure l'existence d'ile de chaleur a Barcelone, avec 6,9 ºC d'intensité maximale et avec des configurations et localisations irrégulieres.This article try to present the results on the first empirical study on the heat island in Barcelona city. After the analysis of the internatio nal bibliography and its evolution, the autors present their methodology, based on the field research, weekly made from 1985 to 1987, in five transects throughout the metropolitan area, previously established. First, the main morphological, environmental and functional trends of the five transects are studied. After, the contrast with the conventional meteorological data, the atmospheric conditions and the satellite images information, the presence of the heat island in Barcelona is demonstrated, with a 6,9 "C on intensity, and irregular form and location.El articulo constituye la presentación de los primeros resultados del primer estudio empirico sobre la isla de calor en la ciudad de Barcelona. Tras un análisis de la bibliografia internacional sobre el tema y su evolución, se presenta la metodologia del trabajo, que se basa en la toma de observaciones en el campo, semanalmente, durante los años 1985 a 1987, a lo largo de cinco recorridos, previamente establecidos, a través del área metropolitana de Barcelona. En primer lugar, se analizan las caracteristicas morfológicas, ambientales y funcionales de los cinco recorridos. A continuación, con la contrastación de los datos meteorológicos convencionales, el estudio de las situaciones atmosféricas y el análisis de algunas imágenes de satélite, se llega a la conclusión de la existencia de una importante isla de calor en Barcelona, de 6,9 ºC de intensidad máxima y de configuración y localización variables.L'article presenta els resultats inicials del primer estudi empíric sobre l'existència de l'illa de calor a la ciutat de Barcelona. Després de l'analisi de la bibliografia internacional sobre el tema i sobre com evoluciona, hom presenta la metodologia que s'hi aplica, basada en observacions directes fetes setmanalment entre els anys 1985 a 1987, al llarg de cinc trajectes a través de l'area metropolitana, establerts previament. De primer, hom analitza les característiques morfologiques, ambientals i funcionals dels cinc trajectes. Després, contrastant les dades meteorològiques convencionals, les situacions atmosfèriques diferents, i consultant algunes imatges de satèl-lit, hom conclou que hi ha una illa de calor important a Barcelona, de 6,9 ºC d'intensitat maxima, amb una configuració i localització relativament irregulars

El espectrograma como base para la agrupación de paisajes sonoros urbanos

The main sound urban planning tool is the sound intensity level (dB), Which is not useful enough to show the time and frequency variation of sound. It is necessary to propose new and simple tools to help professionals. In this paper it evaluates the use of the spectrogram to characterize urban soundscapes predominantly commercial use. 16 urban environments have been evaluated in Barcelona, analyzing their spectrograms in relation to its commercial urban morphology and intensity. The spectrogram has been useful to understand how different urban configurations modulate the soundscape through the main noise source in the city, the vehicle traffic.Postprint (published version

Total polyphenol content in food samples and nutraceuticals: antioxidant indices versus high performance liquid chromatography

The total content of polyphenols and the antioxidant capacity have been estimated in various food and nutraceutical samples including cranberry, raspberry, artichoke, grapevine, green tea, coffee, turmeric, and other medicinal plant extracts. Samples have been analyzed by using two antioxidant assays ¿ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and Folin-Ciocalteu (FC)¿ and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) focused on providing compositional fingerprints dealing with polyphenolic compounds. A preliminary data exploration by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) has revealed that HPLC fingerprints are suitable chemical descriptors to classify the analyzed samples according to their nature. Besides, chromatographic data have been correlated with antioxidant data using partial least squares (PLS) regression. Regression models have shown a good prediction capacity to estimate the antioxidant activity from chromatographic data, with determination coefficients (R2) of 0.971 and 0.983 for FRAP and FC assays, respectively

Myopic maculopathy: Current status and proposal for a new classification and grading system (ATN)

Myopia is a highly frequent ocular disorder worldwide and pathologic myopia is the 4th most common cause of irreversible blindness in developed countries. Pathologic myopia is especially common in East Asian countries. Ocular alterations associated with pathologic myopia, especially those involving the macular area—defined as myopic maculopathy—are the leading causes of vision loss in patients with pathologic myopia. High myopia is defined as the presence of a highly negative refractive error (>−6 to −8 diopters) in the context of eye elongation (26–26.5 mm). Although the terms high myopia and pathologic myopia are often used interchangeably, they do not refer to the same eye disease. The two key factors driving the development of pathologic myopia are: 1) elongation of the axial length and 2) posterior staphyloma. The presence of posterior staphyloma, which is the most common finding in patients with pathologic myopia, is the key differentiating factor between high and pathologic myopia. The occurrence of staphyloma will, in most cases, eventually lead to other conditions such as atrophic, traction, or neovascular maculopathy. Posterior staphyloma is for instance, responsible for the differences between a myopic macular hole (MH)—with and without retinal detachment—and idiopathic MH. Posterior staphyloma typically induces retinal layer splitting, leading to foveoschisis in myopic MH, an important differentiating factor between myopic and emmetropic MH. Myopic maculopathy is a highly complex disease and current classification systems do not fully account for the numerous changes that occur in the macula of these patients. Therefore, a more comprehensive classification system is needed, for several important reasons. First, to more precisely define the disease stage to improve follow-up by enabling clinicians to more accurately monitor changes over time, which is essential given the progressive nature of this condition. Second, unification of the currently-available classification systems would establish standardized classification criteria that could be used to compare the findings from international multicentric studies. Finally, a more comprehensive classification system could help to improve our understanding of the genetic origins of this disease, which is clearly relevant given the interchangeable—but erroneous—use of the terms high and pathologic myopia in genetic researc

Experts react: Catalan elections

Catalonia held elections on 27 September, with the poll being framed by several parties as a de facto vote on Catalan independence. The final result produced a majority of seats in the Catalan Parliament for pro-independence parties, with these parties securing 47.8 per cent of the votes cast. We asked some of EUROPP’s contributors for their reaction to the result and what it means for Catalonia and Spain going forward. Jonathan Hopkin: “The elections have produced a very complex outcome” Luis Moreno: “The Spanish elections in December will be crucial in determining what happens next” Alejandro Quiroga: “Artur Mas might have more pressing issues than the declaration of independence in the short term” Jose Javier Olivas: “Unilateral solutions, even when they seek to impose the ‘will of the majority’, are unlikely to deliver satisfactory results in the long run” Karlo Basta: “All sides have at least some leverage, and the true commitments of none are fully known, confounding any reliable predictions” Joan Costa Font: “The independence cause has attained an exceptional result, now it is time to either negotiate a referendum or, failing this, prepare for an orderly break up“ Mireia Borrell Porta: “A referendum has now become unavoidable