Influence of pH and CO2 source on the performance of microalgae-based secondary domestic wastewater treatment in outdoors pilot raceways.

Influence of pH and CO2 source on the performance of microalgae-based secondary domestic wastewater treatment in outdoors pilot raceway

Prevalencia de sobrecarga en cuidadores principales e informales de personas con demencia y estudio de factores relacionados

Objetivo: determinar la prevalencia de la sobrecarga percibida por los cuidadores principales e informales (CPI) de personas con demencia, y su relación con variables del cuidador y variables clínicas de la enfermedad. Material y Métodos: Estudio transversal, multicéntrico, llevado a cabo en siete centros asistenciales nacionales. Fueron entrevistados 125 pacientes de población general geriátrica y pregeriátrica, no institucionalizados, de nacionalidad española, con diagnóstico de demencia (neurodegenerativa, vascular o mixta) y sus 125 cuidadores informales. Se recogieron datos sociodemográficos de ambos (género, edad, nivel educativo, parentesco). Posteriormente se les aplicaron distintos instrumentos psicométricos. A los pacientes para evaluar la pérdida cognoscitiva, el Examen Cognoscitivo de 30 ítems (ECMM-30). A los cuidadores: para evaluar la sobrecarga percibida, la Escala de sobrecarga del cuidador de Zarit reducida (ZARIT-7); para clasificar la gravedad de la demencia, la Escala de Clasificación Clínica de la Demencia (CDR); para valorar la autonomía para realizar diez actividades básicas de la vida diaria, el Índice de Barthel modificado (BARTHEL-MD) y para valorar la autonomía para realizar una serie de actividades complejas de la vida diaria, el Cuestionario de actividad funcional de Pfeffer (PFEFFER-11). Resultados: En una población de 125 CPI de personas con demencia el 64,8% experimentaron una sobrecarga intensa al cuidar de sus familiares/conocidos enfermos. Se halló correlación entre PFEFFER-11 y ZARIT-7 (p = 0,001), luego mayores niveles de sobrecarga del cuidador se correlacionaron significativamente con mayor dependencia en las actividades complejas de la vida diaria. Mientras que entre ZARIT-7 y ECMM-30, BARTHEL-MD y CDR respectivamente no se alcanzó significación estadística. Conclusiones: 2 de cada 3 CPI de personas con demencia presentan sobrecarga intensa al tener que cuidar de sus familiares/conocidos, ésta es significativamente mayor en los cuidadores familiares frente a los que no lo son, entre los de menor edad y también aumenta cuando los pacientes presentan mayor nivel de dependencia de actividades complejas o instrumentales de la vida diaria

Blunted autonomic reactivity to mental stress in depression quantified by nonlinear cardiorespiratory coupling indices

In this study, differences in autonomic reactivity to mental stress between Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) patients and healthy control (HC) subjects are assessed by nonlinear cardiorespiratory coupling indices derived from the Real Wavelet Biphase. The degree and strength of Quadratic Phase Coupling (QPC) between interacting oscillations of Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and respiration are quantified before, during and after the execution of acognitive task. Results show that the QPC strength and QPC degree between the respiration and the respiratory sinus arrhythmia component of HRV were lower in HC compared to MDD during stress, suggesting that the parasympathetic branch was less inhibited in MDD patients. During recovery, only in HC group, this degree of QPC increased, while the respiratory rate was reduced, compared to the basal stage. The degree of QPC between the respiration and components of HRV in the low frequency band ([0.04, 0.15] Hz) increased in HC during stress, compared to the basal stage, while remained unchanged in MDD patients. These results imply that depression is associated with blunted autonomic reactivity to mental stres

Quality and Yield of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) essential oil under hydroponic cultivation

Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is an aromatic plant whose fresh, dried leaves and essential oils are used in the manufacture of medicines, perfumes, food and beverage flavoring. Although worldwide consumption and production is increasing considerably, Mexico intensive cultivation of this species is emerging. From this perspective, this study raises, with the objective of evaluating the production of basil grown in hydroponic greenhouse under an open system using volcanic rock as substrate. D1, D2 and D3 (14, 28 and 71 plants m-2, respectively) and two concentrations Steiner nutrient solution (S1: 100% and S2: 50%) three planting densities were evaluated. A factorial arrangement 3x2 was used with four replicates per treatment. The results show that the highest values ??for plant height were presented with S1 D1 and D2; for fresh and dry weight of the aerial part were the treatments S1 D1, S1 and S2 D1 D2 which threw the higher S1 and D1 values ??greater leaf area was obtained. In the quantification of essential oils 14.03 mg was obtained essential oil, per gram of dry matter, the major component was linalool. The use of hydroponics with an increase in plant density, can generate up to 70.21 ton ha, increasing production by more than 600%, with the economic gains that this represents.Objective: to assess the production of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) grown in a greenhouse under open hydroponic system, using tezontle (volcanic gravel) as substrate. Methodology: three planting densities were evaluated: D1, D2 and D3 (14, 28 and 71 plants m-2, respectively) and two concentrations of Steiner nutrient solution (S1: 100%, and S2: 50%). Results: the highest values for fresh and dry weight of the aerial part, were the treatments S1 D1, S1 D2 and S2 D1. With S1 D1 the largest leaf area was obtained. Dry matter obtained was 14.03 mg g-1 of essential oil. Findings: the use of hydroponics with an increase in sowing density can generate up to 70.21 t ha-1

Photoplethysmographic waveform analysis for autonomic reactivity assessment in depression

Objective: In the present study, a photoplethysmographic (PPG) waveform analysis for assessing differences in autonomic reactivity to mental stress between patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and healthy control (HC) subjects is presented. Methods: PPG recordings of 40 MDD and 40 HC subjects were acquired at basal conditions, during the execution of cognitive tasks, and at the post-task relaxation period. PPG pulses are decomposed into three waves (a main wave and two reflected waves) using a pulse decomposition analysis. Pulse waveform characteristics such as the time delay between the position of the main wave and reflected waves, the percentage of amplitude loss in the reflected waves, and the heart rate (HR) are calculated among others. The intra-subject difference of a feature value between two conditions is used as an index of autonomic reactivity. Results: Statistically significant individual differences from stress to recovery were found for HR and the percentage of amplitude loss in the second reflected wave ( A13 ) in both HC and MDD group. However, autonomic reactivity indices related to A13 reached higher values in HC than in MDD subjects (Cohen's d =0.81, AUC = 0.74), implying that the stress response in depressed patients is reduced. A statistically significant (p < 0.001) negative correlation (r = 0.5) between depression severity scores and A13 was found. Conclusion: A decreased autonomic reactivity is associated with higher degree of depression. Significance: Stress response quantification by dynamic changes in PPG waveform morphology can be an aid for the diagnosis and monitoring of depression

Antifungal potential and chemical composition of Tagetes lunulata Ort. essential oil for the control of Trichophyton rubrum Malmsten

The essential oils of aromatic and medicinal plants are an important resource used to control several health conditions; however, information about their composition and antimicrobial activity is scarce. This study used a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to analyze the composition of the essential oil (EO) of Tagetes lunulata Ort., a Mexican endemic plant, known as wild cempaxúchitl. The major components of the EO include: verbenone (47.17%), α-pinene (10.93%), 1,1,1-Trifluoro-2-hexanone (9.63%), β-caryophyllene (6.10%), germacrene-D (4.99%), L-verbenone (4.89%), and E-tagetone (4.44%). The disk agar diffusion method was used to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of T. lunulata against Trichophyton rubrum (athlete's foot). A significant antimicrobial activity was observed with a ≥60% EO concentration. The dilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC): 200 μg ml-1. The T. lunulata EO recorded a strong antimicrobial activity against T. rubrum; therefore, it is a natural alternative for the control of natural antifungals

Postharvest management of Heliconia psittacorum x H. spathocircinata cv. Tropics

Objetive:&nbsp; Evaluate different techniques to prolong the postharvest life of &nbsp;Heliconia psittacorum x H. spathocircinata cv. Tropics. Design/methodology/approach: Two experiments were carried out; in the first it was evaluated the effect of five pulse solutions [(T1 = control (water); T2 = Hydraflor® 100 (0.5 g L-1); T3 = Hydraflor® 100 (0.5 g L-1) + sucrose (5% w/v); T4 = salicylic acid (1mM) and T5 = salicylic acid (1mM) + sucrose (5% w / v)] prior to storage at 11 ° C and 85 % RH for 10 d. In the second experiment, a wax coating was applied to the heliconia bracts and then maintain at 13 °C and 84% RH for 10 d; after storage the stems were placed in water or salicylic acid solution (1 mM). The results were analyzed by a completely randomized design, 10 replicates were used per treatment, one stem was one experimental unit. An ANOVA and a means comparison test (Tukey, ?=0.05) were performed with the SAS version 9.4. Results: The anatomy of heliconia stems determines their vase life, since they have wide xylem vessels susceptible to cavitation, for which the absorption of water is limited, also and non-functional stomata in the bracts, which increase the loss of moisture from the tissue. The use of pulse solutions or preservatives has little effect in prolonging the life of heliconia stems. Therefore, the application of wax creates a physical barrier that maintains the turgor of the stems, reduces oxidation, maintaining the bracts quality and increased the total postharvest life for 6 d more than the control stems. Study limitations/implications: No limitations were found in this study Findings/conclusions: The postharvest life of heliconia is conditioned by the loss of turgor and low water absorption, which leads to an early wilting of the inflorescences. The application of pulse solutions or preservatives have little effect in prolonging the life of the vase, so the most suitable technique to preserve the quality of the stems is waxing

Antibacterial activity of the Calendula officinalis L. essential oil on Escherichia coli

In developing countries, the risk of getting sick from eating food contaminated with Escherichia coli is very high. As a consequence of the multidrug resistance of this bacterium, a therapeutic alternative has been sought in the plant kingdom. The Objective of this research was to evaluate the antibacterial effect of pot marigold (Calendula officinalis) essential oil (EO) on the growth of E. coli. Design/Methodology/Approach: The antibacterial activity was determined using a Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion susceptibility test. A 90 to 60% dilution of EO generated 24 to 22 mm halos. The EA was subjected to a GC/MS analysis. The results showed that cadinene (53.8%) was the main constituent, followed by germacrene (22.5%). The minimum inhibitory concentration was 7 μg mL-1. Findings/Conclusions: C. officinalis EO can be considered as an option in the treatment against this enterobacteria

Social brain, social dysfunction and social withdrawal

The human social brain is complex. Current knowledge fails to define the neurobiological processes underlying social behaviour involving the (patho-) physiological mechanisms that link system-level phenomena to the multiple hierarchies of brain function. Unfortunately, such a high complexity may also be associated with a high susceptibility to several pathogenic interventions. Consistently, social deficits sometimes represent the first signs of a number of neuropsychiatric disorders including schizophrenia (SCZ), Alzheimer's disease (AD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) which leads to a progressive social dysfunction. In the present review we summarize present knowledge linking neurobiological substrates sustaining social functioning, social dysfunction and social withdrawal in major psychiatric disorders. Interestingly, AD, SCZ, and MDD affect the social brain in similar ways. Thus, social dysfunction and its most evident clinical expression (i.e., social withdrawal) may represent an innovative transdiagnostic domain, with the potential of being an independent entity in terms of biological roots, with the perspective of targeted interventions