Educational disparities in diabetes: A mediation analysis through BMI among urban adults from Argentina

Low socio-economic status is linked to a higher probability of having type 2 diabetes mellitus in adulthood, including body mass index as a mediation factor in such association. However, the evidence from low- and middle-income countries is scarce and the mechanisms beyond this relationship are not yet completely acknowledge. Objective: The purposes of this study are to i) evaluate the potential mediating role of body mass index in the relationship between educational background and diabetes mellitus; ii) assess whether these associations vary by gender and age. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Data came from the Argentine National Health Survey of Risk Factors 2013 (n=30,119, 18-years-old and older). Age-adjusted genderspecific simple mediation modeling was conducted to estimate the potential mediation role of body mass index, in the association between educational level and self-reported diabetes mellitus. Results: In women there was a positive direct (OR 1.11; 95% CI 1.09, 1.13) and indirect -through body mass indexassociations (OR 1.12; 95% CI 1.09, 1.36) between low education and diabetes mellitus. The associations were also significant for older women (50 years +), directly (OR 1.28; 95% CI 1.12, 1.44) and indirectly (OR 1.09; 95% CI 1.07, 1.13). In men, low education was associated with lower odds of diabetes mellitus (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.76, 0.98). Conclusion: Decreasing body mass index might be an intermediate target to reduce the occurrence of diabetes mellitus among Argentinean adults, particularly among socially disadvantaged women.Fil: Rodríguez López, Santiago. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Cultura y Sociedad. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Cultura y Sociedad; ArgentinaFil: Tumas, Natalia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Cultura y Sociedad. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Cultura y Sociedad; Argentin

Effect of mold temperature on the impact behavior and morphology of injection molded foams based on polypropylene polyethylene–octene copolymer blends

Producción CientíficaIn this work, an isotactic polypropylene (PP) and a polyethylene–octene copolymer (POE) have been blended and injection-molded, obtaining solids and foamed samples with a relative density of 0.76. Different mold temperature and injection temperature were used. The Izod impact strength was measured. For solids, higher mold temperature increased the impact resistance, whereas in foams, the opposite trend was observed. In order to understand the reasons of this behavior, the morphology of the elastomeric phase, the crystalline morphology and the cellular structure have been studied. The presence of the elastomer near the skin in the case of high mold temperature can explain the improvement produced with a high mold temperature in solids. For foams, aspects as the elastomer coarsening in the core of the sample or the presence of a thicker solid skin are the critical parameters that justify the improved behavior of the materials produced with a lower mold temperature.Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (grant DI-15-07952

Persecution and expulsion of the jews: historical and literary sources from the Iberian Peninsula in the Fourteenth to Fifteenth Centuries

La persecución y ulterior expulsión de los judíos en la Península Ibérica se articuló en un proceso tripartito: persecución, segregación y expulsión. Si bien ni España ni Portugal son un caso excepcional en implementar estas medidas, la peculiaridad consiste en su tardía implantación respecto a otros países de Europa, aunque ya existía previamente un antijudaísmo ampliamente difundido no sólo entre las capas populares, como muchas veces se cree, sino también entre personas influyentes y relevantes. El presente artículo recoge estos testimonios, fuentes de enorme importancia para la comprensión de una época en la que se inicia el proceso de creación del Estado moderno basado en el lema: cuius regio eius religio.The prosecution and later expulsion of the Jews in the Iberian Peninsula took place in a threefold process: prosecution, segregation and expulsion. Despite the fact that neither Spain nor Portugal were an exceptional case when it came to the implementation of these measures, the special feature consisted in its late establishment when compared to other countries in Europe, although there was previously a widespread anti-Judaism not only among the popular strata, as is commonly believed, but also among influential and relevant personalities. The following article gathers these testimonies, sources of great importance in order to understand the historical period in which the beginning of the Modern State is forged based on the motto: cuius regio eius religio.peerReviewe

España y el Holocausto: una relación controvertida

Basta con echar un mero vistazo a una librería española para encontrar cómo el Holocausto ocupa un puesto fundamental dentro de las temáticas históricas más vendidas, bien sea en formato de novela, trabajos de divulgación o libros monográficos. Sin embargo, la relación entre España y el Holocausto ha pasado desapercibida por casi toda la historia contemporánea de España hasta tiempos muy recientes. En este artículo observaremos cuál es la relación entre estos dos conceptos aparentemente inconexos: España y Holocausto

Colaboración, artilugio de la civilización y el mecanismo Covax

This paper reviews the ethical and economic paths of collaboration through the Covax mechanism (for the research, production, and distribution of the sars-CoV-2 vaccine). It studies the recent past of cooperation in epidemics and pandemics, how the mechanism arises, its evolution up to the cut of this article, the problems of inequitable distribution of the vaccine and the ethical analysis of the subject. Finding that collaboration as a fundamental tool of the human society unites the necessary characteristics to direct world solutions to the current social, political, and sanitary problems.En este documento se recorren los caminos éticos y económicos de la colaboración a través del mecanismo Covax (para la investigación, producción y distribución de la vacuna contra el sars-CoV-2). También se estudia el pasado reciente de la cooperación en epidemias y pandemias, cómo surge el mecanismo, su evolución hasta el corte de este artículo, las problemáticas de la distribución inequitativa de la vacuna y el análisis ético del tema. Encontrando que la colaboración como herramienta fundamental de la sociedad humana une las características necesarias para encaminar soluciones mundiales a la actual problemática social, política y sanitaria

The parlamientary debate on the definition of Spain in the Constituent Assembly (1977-1978)

Las constituciones contemporáneas son modelos de referencia básicos para analizar los conflictos inherentes a las sociedades que regulan. Su importancia radica en que no son solo un documento legal de primer orden sino también histórico, fidedigno reflejo de una época y de unas circunstancias específicas. El presente trabajo se centra en los debates parlamentarios en el Congreso de los Diputados entre el 1 de julio y el 21 de julio de 1978 con el fin de analizar la opinión de los diferentes partidos políticos que formaron parte de la Transición española y su diferente concepción del Estado español así como el modelo de Estado que proponían en la Carta Magna. Con este fin se han consultado los Diarios de Sesiones del Congreso de los Diputados en referencia al artículo 2 y el Título VIII así como fondos documentales del Archivo Gunther.Contemporary constitutions are basic reference models in order to analyze the inherent social conflicts they regulate. Not only are constitutions key legal documents but they also have a significant historical value. In this sense they are an accurate reflection of a specific period of time within a specific historical framework. This paper addresses the parliamentary debate in the Congress of Deputies from the 1st to the 21st of July 1978. The objective of this paper is twofold. On the one hand, it aims to contrast the different opinions had by the main Spanish political parties that participated in the Democratic Transition. On the other hand, the study focuses on the different conceptions of Spanish State as well as the model proposed for the future Magna Carta. The used bibliographic sources used were the Journals of Sessions of the Congress of Deputies, referring the 2nd Article and Title VIII, and the Gunther Archive.peerReviewe

Generalizing the convex hull of a sample: The R package alphahull

This vignette presents the R package alphahull which implements the α-convex hull and the α-shape of a finite set of points in the plane. These geometric structures provide an informative overview of the shape and properties of the point set. Unlike the convex hull, the α-convex hull and the α-shape are able to reconstruct non-convex sets. This flexibility make them specially useful in set estimation. Since the implementation is based on the intimate relation of theses constructs with Delaunay triangulations, the R package alphahull also includes functions to compute Voronoi and Delaunay tesselations

Asociación entre conductas relacionadas con la ingesta de alimentos y tensión arterial en adultos españoles

Introduction and objectives: Eating frequency has been suggested to modify blood pressure. Yet, the results are inconclusive, possibly because eating frequency, particularly meal intake behavior (MIB), does not differentiate between meals and snacks. Hence, the aim of this study was to examine the association between more specifi c MIBs, like the consumption of the three main meals, the intake of forenoon and afternoon meals and snacking between the regular meals, and systolic/diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP). Methods: This cross-sectional study includes 1,314 Spanish adults aged 20-79 years. Data collection occurred during cardiovascular health day events organized in four Spanish cities (Madrid, Las Palmas, Seville and Valencia) in 2008. Linear regression analysis was performed to assess the independent association between the mentioned MIBs and SBP/DBP, controlling for several confounders in multiples models. Results: After adjusting for sex, age and individual risk factors, having an afternoon meal was associated with lower SBP (ß -3.91, 95% CI [-6.33, -1.49]) and DBP (ß -2.35, 95% CI [-3.76, -0.94]). This association was attenuated when introducing dietary intake and waist circumference in the predictive models (SBP: ß -2.83, 95% CI [-5.25, -0.40]; DBP: ß -1.67, 95% CI [-3.04, -0.31]), although it still remained signifi cant. None of the other investigated MIBs showed any associations with SBP/DBP. Conclusions: This study suggests that SBP/DBP might be reduced by the intake of an afternoon meal. However, population-based prospective studies are needed in order to confi rm the consequences of the investigated associations on healthIntroducción y objetivos: evidencias sugieren que el número de ingestas alimentarias modifi can la presión arterial. Sin embargo, los resultados encontrados no son concluyentes, probablemente debido a que esta conducta relacionada con la ingesta de alimentos (CRIA) no diferencia entre comidas y snacks. Este estudio examina la asociación entre CRIA más específi cas como la realización de las tres comidas principales, de la media mañana, de la merienda y picar entre las comidas regulares, y la tensión arterial sistólica y diastólica (TAS y TAD). Métodos: es un estudio transversal, en el cual fueron incluidos 1.314 españoles (20-79 años). Los datos fueron recogidos en las Jornadas de Salud Cardiovascular en Madrid, Las Palmas, Sevilla y Valencia, durante el año 2008. Se aplicaron análisis de regresión lineal, controlando el efecto de diversos factores de confusión en múltiples modelos. Resultados: después de ajustar por sexo, edad y factores de riesgo individual, tomar la merienda se asoció directamente a menor TAS (ß -3,91, 95% CI [-6,33, -1,49]) y TAD (ß -2,35, 95% CI [-3,76, -0,94]). La introducción del consumo alimentario y la circunferencia de cintura en los modelos predictivos atenuó esta asociación (TAS: ß -2,83, 95% CI [-5,25, -0,40]; TAD: ß -1,67, 95% CI [-3,04, -0,31]). Ninguna de las otras CRIA investigadas mostró asociaciones con TAS y TAD. Conclusiones: el estudio sugiere que tanto la TAS como la TAD podrían verse reducidas mediante la ingesta de la merienda, aunque se requieren estudios adicionales para confi rmar y profundizar en las consecuencias sobre la salud de las asociaciones investigada

Power control strategies during voltage sags according to Spanish grid code

In order to connect any power converters into the grid there are some grid requirements to insure the safe operation of the grid. So, the control of the converters especially during abnormal condition e.g. during voltage sags is a very important key to guarantee the good behavior of the distributed generation system. In this paper four control strategies, will be stated in the literature, are discussed in order to ensure their ability to match the grid requirements when unsymmetrical voltage sags are produced in the network. The Spanish grid code did not give any information about the negative sequence, and it only represents the positive sequence components. Therefore, the main contribution of this paper is to verify the grid code with not only the positive sequence but also with the negative sequence. Moreover, the system is tested by simulation to show that the results cope well with the analytical equations.Postprint (published version

A New Approach to Laminar Flowmeters

After studying the performance and characteristics of actual laminar flowmeters a new disposition for this type of sensors is proposed in such a way that the measurement errors introduced by the intrinsic nature of the device can be minimized. The preliminary study shows that the developing entry region introduces non-linearity effects in all these devices. These effects bring about not only errors, but also a change in the slope of the linear calibration respect of the Poiseuille relation. After a subsequent analysis on how these non-linearity errors can be reduced, a new disposition of this type of flowmeters is introduced. This device makes used of flow elements having pressure taps at three locations along its length and connected to three isolated chambers. In this way, the static pressure can be measured at three locations and contributed to by the pressure taps at the level of each chamber. Thus the linearization error is reduced with an additional advantage of producing a reduced pressure drop.Xunta de Galicia; 07DPI166EXunta de Galicia; 08TIC035