Bioactive compounds in Spanish extra virgin olive oils: Migration and stability according to the culinary technique used

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is a basic food of the Mediterranean diet and an important source of bioactive compounds, especially phenolic substances. The culinary techniques to which the oil is subjected before con- sumption cause the migration of these compounds, hence the importance of studying their stability before and after culinary treatment. We determined the behaviour of the phenols present in EVOO and its total antioxidant capacity before and after the use of various culinary techniques such as deep frying, boiling (in a water/oil mixture (W/O) and sauteing, observing that the study parameters varied according to the variety of oil and the culinary technique used. Significant statistical differences were observed between the different varieties of EVOO according to the culinary technique used. But this was not the case with respect to polyphenol content, for which no statistically significant differences were observed among the different varieties of EVOO according to the culinary techniques employed (p > 0.05), except with the Arbequina variety (p 0.05). There were sig- nificant losses of oleocanthal with the W/O boiling technique, but content increases were observed following sauteing and deep frying with respect to raw EVOO. Total antioxidant capacity presented a similar pattern in all samples, with increases after sauteing and decreases after W/O boiling and deep frying. ABTS was the most suitable technique for determining antioxidant capacity in EVOO. In short, the behaviour of the bioactive compounds in EVOO depends on the temperature and the cooking medium used

Comparative Analysis of Traditional Oriental Herbal Fruits as Potential Sources of Polyphenols and Minerals for Nutritional Supplements

There are a plethora of plant species in India, which have been widely used in vegetable dishes, soups, desserts and herbal medicine. In addition to these traditional uses, today there is the extra possibility of also being able to use these plants in the nutritional supplements industry due to their favorable antioxidant and mineral composition. In this sense, thirteen vegetable species—Chanania lanzan, Ziziphus mauritiana, Nilumbo nucifera, Terminalia catappa, Terminalia arjuna, Terminalia bellirica, Terminalia chebula, Lagenaria siceraria, Luffa aegyptiaca, Praecitrullus fistulosus, Benincasa hispida, Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus and Cucurbita maxima—have been analyzed. In this paper we discuss the distribution of polyphenols and minerals (Na, K, Mg, Ca, Al, P, S, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mo, As and Pb) in different seed parts (the rhizome, pericarp, carpel, seed coat and kernel) of the above species and their possible use in the nutritional supplements industry. The concentrations of total polyphenols, flavonoids and minerals ranged from 407 to 3144 mg rutin hydrate/100 g, 24 to 3070 mg quercetin/100 g and 1433 to 7928 mg/100 g, respectively. K, Ca, P and S were abundant in these herbal fruits. In two species of herbal fruits, Terminalia arjuna and Terminalia chebula, only part of the seed structure was suitable for use in nutritional supplements.The University Grant Commission (New Delhi) through grant No. F.18-1/2011(BSR)2016 under a basic science research (BCR) fellowship awarded to K.S.P

Mapping Mountain Landforms and Its Dynamics: Study Cases in Tropical Environments

High mountain areas are critical for water security and natural hazard dynamics, as well as glacier and ecosystem conservation in a warming world. We present a brief account of the methodological steps for geomorphological mapping in mountain areas, including the required scale, the legends, technology, and software. We analyze the best imagery sources and their combination with fieldwork and geographical information systems (GIS), in performing accurate cartography. In addition, we present two case studies in which we apply several methods described previously. Firstly, we carried out a classical and digital geomorphological mapping of Cerro Chirripó (Talamanca Range). Secondly, we studied the Reserva Biológica Alberto Manuel Brenes (Central Volcanic Range), where we used UAVs to map high-resolution fluvial geomorphology. This methodological framework is suitable for future geomorphological surveys in mountain areas worldwide. Moreover, the case studies can give ideas on the application of these approaches to different mountainous environments.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ciencias Sociales::Facultad de Ciencias Sociales::Escuela de Geografí

TEMA 16-2014: Síndrome de Obstrucción Intestinal

La obstrucción intestinal es un conjunto de signos y síntomas que se pueden producir por diversas patologías luminales (bezoares, litos), extraluminales (adherencias) o intramurales (enfermedad de Crohn) del tracto gastrointestinal, peritoneales y sistémicas, que dan como problema principal la imposibilidad de canalizar gases y evacuar el contenido intestinal. Ocupa un 20% de las admisiones quirúrgicas agudas y es una de las causas más frecuentes de intervención quirúrgica

TEMA 12-2014: Síndrome Compartimental Abdominal

El seguimiento adecuado de los pacientes críticos médico-quirúrgicos facilita el diagnóstico temprano y el tratamiento adecuado de la hipertensión intraabdominal (HIA) y del síndrome compartimental abdominal (SCA). La cavidad abdominal y el retroperitoneo actúan como compartimentos cerrados y cualquier cambio en el volumen de su contenido puede elevar la presión intraabdominal (PIA). La HIA es sólo una medida elevada de la PIA y el SCA supone el punto final de una HIA sostenida, con la aparición de disfunción orgánica. Para el diagnóstico de la HIA y del SCA se requiere medir la PIA, la presión de perfusión abdominal y el pH intramucoso gástrico, para correlacionar estos datos con signos de deterioro clínico en el paciente. Las medidas terapéuticas médicas en el SCA son limitadas y la descompresión abdominal es el tratamiento del SCA sintomático establecido

Estudio del rol del emprendedor y su influencia en el desarrollo de un emprendimiento

Proyecto de Investigación. Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica. Escuela de Administración de Empresas. Programa de Emprendedores, 2009El rol que ejerce el emprendedor en el crecimiento de las empresas es un tema de interés, tanto para los practicantes que ejercen el emprendimiento como los académicos, entes gubernamentales y otros, que requieren comprender el fenómeno en aras de propiciarlo. Este estudio exploratorio indagó sobre las motivaciones, rasgos y conocimientos que han facilitado, en la percepción de los emprendedores investigados, el crecimiento de sus empresas. El objetivo fue determinar cuáles de esos factores son más relevantes para explicar el crecimiento de una empresa. Se trabajó con una metodología de casos de empresas de base tecnológica. Los resultados más relevantes muestran que las motivaciones que originaron el negocio difieren de las que lo hacen crecer, aunque en ambos casos el contexto social cercano al emprendedor (familia, sistema educativo y un sentido de responsabilidad social) es importante. Los rasgos señalados por los emprendedores como más valiosos para el crecimiento de sus empresas pueden ser asociados con el liderazgo. Finalmente los conocimientos requeridos para sustentar el crecimiento empresarial fueron tanto de índole administrativo como técnico.The role played by the entrepreneur in his company’s growth is a subject of great interest, as much to entrepreneurs as well as to academics, government institutions and others that require comprehending this phenomenon in order to facilitate it. This exploratory study questioned the motivation, traits and knowledge that have facilitated the growth of enterprises, as perceived by interviewed entrepreneurs. The objective was establishing which of those factors were most relevant to explain a company’s growth. The work followed a case study methodology for technology based companies. The most relevant results show that the motivations leading to business creation differ from those that make them grow, although in both cases the social environment close to the entrepreneur (family, schooling system and social responsibility sense) is also important. Traits pointed out by entrepreneurs as the most valuable for their companies’ growth can be associated with leadership. Lastly, the technical knowledge required to sustain entrepreneurial growth was both administrative and technical.Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica. Administración de Empresas. Programa de Emprendedores

Experiencias intergeneracionales en torno a la promoción de la salud en Costa Rica

A continuación se exponen los resultados de una experiencia intergeneracional que fomentó la Asociación Gerontológica Costarricense (AGECO) y la Escuela de Enfermería (EE) de la Universidad de Costa Rica, durante el 2003 y el 2004. El objetivo de este proyecto interinstitucional estaba dirigido a promover la salud en el proceso de envejecimiento mediante el fomento de los saberes de los estudiantes y las personas adultas mayores

Estudio de mercado sobre el comportamiento de compra y credibilidad percibida en las ofertas de productos en Internet por el cliente en Costa Rica

Proyecto de graduación (Licenciatura en Administración de Empresas. Énfasis en Mercadeo) Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Escuela de Administración de Empresas, 2013.La presente investigación tiene como finalidad comprender las dinámicas de compras y sus tendencias para el presente año 2013, tomado en consideración públicos meta más diversificados, con mayores niveles de educación y acceso a más y mejores medios de comunicación e interacción social. Ante tal situación y en vista de la creciente evolución de los mercados, e inmersión en nuevas formas de oferta de servicios; es que se vio en la necesidad de estudiar la migración de modalidades tradicionales de ventas a aquellas que emplean Internet. Recurriendo a formas ingeniosas y novedosas que aumentan exponencialmente el grado de exposición y tráfico de personas en las tiendas a nivel virtual. Ésta investigación se enfoca, en una de las modalidades de ofertas diarias en Internet, conocida como cuponeras; para así tratar de comprender el papel que desempeñan hoy en día como nuevos procesos de compra y las variadas adopciones de redes sociales para comunicar sus ofertas al mercado costarricense

Seeds as Potential Sources of Phenolic Compounds and Minerals for the Indian Population

PThis study was funded by the University Grant Commission through grant No. F.181/2011(BSR)2016 under a basic science research (BSR) fellowship awarded to KSP.Seeds are major sources of nutrients and bioactive compounds for human beings. In this work, the chemical composition and physicochemical properties of 155 Indian seeds (belonging to 49 families) are reported. Moisture and ash were measured with reference protocols from AOAC; total polyphenols and flavonoids were measured with spectrophotometric methods after extraction with organic solvents, and mineral elements were determined by X-ray fluorescence spectrophotometry. Total phenolic compounds, flavonoids and mineral contents (Al, Ba, Ca, Cl, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, P, Rb, S, Sr, Ti, V and Zn) were found to vary in the ranges 182–5000, 110–4465 and 687–7904 mg/100 g (DW), respectively. Noticeably, polyphenol contents higher than 2750 mg/100 g were observed in 18 seeds. In addition, mineral contents >5000 mg/100 g were detected in the seeds from Cuminum cyminum, Foeniculum vulgare, Commiphora wightii, Parkia javanica, Putranjiva roxburghii, Santalum album and Strychnos potatorum. Botanical and taxonomical variations in the proximate characteristics of the examined seeds are also discussed.University Grants Commission, India F.181/2011(BSR)201

Improving regional flood risk assessment using flood frequency and dendrogeomorphic analyses in mountain catchments impacted by tropical cyclones

River floods frequently occur when tropical cyclones hit land. Nonetheless, systematic, long-term discharge data remain rather scarce in many tropical countries, which prevent proper analysis of peak discharges occurring during floods. The Térraba catchment is the biggest and most dynamic catchment in Costa Rica. In this study, we developed regional flood-frequency analyses combining tree-ring based estimation and measurement of peak discharge at monitoring stations during tropical cyclones to derive flood quartiles. Flood quartiles were combined with the Topographic Wetness Index (TWI) to determine regional flood hazards along floodplains. The flood risk assessment was based on a high-resolution mapping of infrastructure, population density (as a measure of exposure), and a social development index (to represent vulnerability). We show that peak discharge of cycloneinduced floods can be assessed accurately with flood-frequency analyses including dendrogeomorphic reconstructions and systematic discharge measurements. We also show that regional flood risk assessments can be performed in large-scale catchments if both coarse and detailed inputs are used. The results of this study will be useful for the development of flood risk schemes promoting resilience of local populations.Swiss Federal Commission for Scholarships/[ESKAS-Nr 2017.1072]//SuizaMinisterio de Ciencia, Innovación, Tecnología y Telecomunicaciones/[No MICITT-PINN-CON-2-1-4-17-1-002]/MICITT/Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa Rica/[OAICE-187-2017]/UCR/Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ciencias Sociales::Facultad de Ciencias Sociales::Escuela de Geografí