Effect of the fructose and glucose concentration on the rheological behavior of high fructose syrups

The objective of this work was to study the effect of fructose and glucose content on the rheological behavior of syrups. Initially, high fructose syrup from the fructans present in leaves, bases and head of Agave tequilana Weber blue was obtained. Then, its contents of moisture, ash, fructose, glucose and direct and total reducing sugars were determined. Finally, the physicochemical properties of the syrups were evaluated and compared with a high commercial fructose corn syrup (Frudex 55) and other fructose, glucose and sucrose syrups. All of them had the same temperature and concentration of total solids. All syrups behaved as Newtonian fluids and had no statistically significant differences (p <0.05) in their density, water activity and in direct and total reducing sugars. The viscosity and surface tension of syrup depended on its fructose and glucose content. Also, greater fructose content produces syrups with lower viscosity and lower surface tension.Keywords: High fructose syrups, viscosity, rheological behavior, Newtonian fluidsAfrican Journal of Biotechnology, Vol. 12(12), pp. 1401-140

Influence of starch source in the required hydrolysis time for the production of maltodextrins with different dextrose equivalent

The starches were statistically different (p < 0.05) in their protein, ash, fat, phosphorus, amylose and amylopectin content. The amylose/amylopectin ratios in corn, potato and rice starches were 0.389, 0.282 and 0.220, respectively. The phosphorus content in the same order of starches was: 0.15 ± 0.01; 0.80 ± 0.02 and 0.95 ± 0.02 g/kg, respectively. The chemical composition of the different starches, and specifically its amylose and amylopectin content, its phosphorus content and the way it is bound to the starch molecule, affect the functional properties like the viscosity of gels and the enzymatic hydrolysis rate of these molecules. The rice starch is easily hydrolyzed by the á-amylase enzyme from Aspergillus oryzae and therefore, it required less time to obtain maltodextrin by enzymatic hydrolysis from rice starch compared with those from corn or potato starch. Under saturation conditions of the enzyme, the dextrose equivalent content was proportional to the hydrolysis time, regardless of the starting starch source.Key words: Starch, maltodextrins, dextrose equivalent, amylose, amylopectin

#commonfabbing. Experiencia piloto de fabricación digital comunitaria en Cáceres

El término #commonfabbing define la construcción de un concepto en tiempo real que se está llevando a cabo desde el Laboratorio de Fabricación Digital de la Universidad de Sevilla. El concepto reside en los condicionantes de la aplicación del diseño y la fabricación digital para la construcción de comunidades y la producción social del espacio. En la intersección de teoría y práctica, este ensayo presenta el proyecto Fabbing CC[*], experiencia piloto de intervención en dos solares de Cáceres, España. Fabbing CC consiste en dos intervenciones urbanas colaborativas a través de talleres en los que se involucren instituciones locales, diversos agentes sociales, y arquitectos y artistas especializados en fabricación digital, el resultado de los cuales fue la fabricación y la instalación in situ de varias piezas de mobiliario urbano. El objetivo final del proyecto es generar una red comunitaria en torno al diseño y la fabricación digital de código abierto de arquitecturas y otros elementos urbanos.The hashtag #commonfabbing refers to the real-time construction of a concept, that is being performed by the Laboratorio de Fabricación Digital at the University of Seville. The concept deals with virtualities of the application of digital design and fabrication to community building and social production of space. At the intersection of theory and practice, this paper presents Fabbing CC, a pilot intervention in two sites in Cáceres, Spain. Fabbing CC consisted in two participatory urban interventions, developed through a series of workshops engaging local institutions, various social agents and architects and designers specialized in digital fabrication, the result of which was the fabrication and on-site installation of various pieces of urban furniture. The final goal of the Project is to generate a community based worknet dedicated to open source digital design and fabrication of architectural and urban component

Hidroquímica de las aguas subterráneas de la cuenca del río Duero y normatividad para uso doméstico

El trabajo se realizó en la cuenca del río Duero, en el noroeste del estado de Michoacán, México. El objetivo fue evaluar la composición química de las aguas subterráneas utilizadas para uso doméstico, con énfasis en los metales pesados, dados sus efectos potenciales en la salud humana. Se revisó la normativa para el control de la calidad del agua potable para, con base en los datos obtenidos, discutir los alcances y limitaciones de su aplicación. Se analizó la composición físico-química del agua en 17 sitios y dos fechas de muestreo, determinando pH, CE, t(oC), iones mayores y metales pesados, utilizando metodologías estandarizadas. Los datos se procesaron usando análisis estadístico multivariado (Análisis de Componentes Principales ACP). La CE varió de 135 a 880 μS cm-1. El pH fue de 6.28 a 7.83. Las principales familias de agua encontradas fueron magnésico-bicarbonatadas, cálcico-bicarbonatadas y sódico-cálcico-bicarbonatadas. La concentración de Zn, Mn, Cu y Fe se encontró dentro de los límites permitidos para este uso. El Pb se detectó en todos los sitios estudiados y en concentraciones que exceden el límite máximo permitido para consumo humano. Los factores asociados con el origen de los componentes químicos del agua fueron rocas basálticas con minerales tipo olivino, feldespatos y calcita. La concentración de Pb se asoció con clastos volcánicos (arenas silíceas)

Hydroclimatic variations reveal differences in carbon capture in two concurrent conifers in northern Mexico

Forest ecosystems are considered among the largest terrestrial carbon sinks. The dynamics of forest carbon depend on where the carbon is stored and its responses to environmental factors, as well as the physiology of the trees. Thus, threatened forest regions with high biodiversity have great scientific importance, such as the Sierra Madre Occidental in Mexico. A comparative analysis of tree species can expand the knowledge of the carbon cycle dynamics and ecological processes in this region. Here, we examined the growth, wood density, and carbon accumulation of two threatened species (Pseudotsuga menziesii and Cupressus lusitanica) to evaluate their hydroclimatic responsiveness

An Unprecedented Aggregation of Whale Sharks, Rhincodon typus, in Mexican Coastal Waters of the Caribbean Sea

Whale sharks, Rhincodon typus, are often perceived as solitary behemoths that live and feed in the open ocean. To the contrary, evidence is accumulating that they are gregarious and form seasonal aggregations in some coastal waters. One such aggregation occurs annually north of Cabo Catoche, off Isla Holbox on the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico. Here we report a second, much denser aggregation of whale sharks (dubbed “the Afuera”) that occurs east of the tip of the Yucatán Peninsula in the Caribbean Sea. The 2009 Afuera event comprised the largest aggregation of whale sharks ever reported, with up to 420 whale sharks observed in a single aerial survey, all gathered in an elliptical patch of ocean approximately 18 km2. Plankton studies indicated that the sharks were feeding on dense homogenous patches of fish eggs, which DNA barcoding analysis identified as belonging to little tunny, Euthynnus alletteratus. This contrasts with the annual Cabo Catoche aggregation nearby, where prey consists mostly of copepods and sergestid shrimp. Increased sightings at the Afuera coincide with decreased sightings at Cabo Catoche, and both groups have the same sex ratio, implying that the same animals are likely involved in both aggregations; tagging data support this idea. With two whale shark aggregation areas, high coastal productivity and a previously-unknown scombrid spawning ground, the northeastern Yucatán marine region is a critical habitat that deserves more concerted conservation efforts

Diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of patients with acromegaly in a clinical practice setting in Spain: the ACROPRAXIS program Delphi survey

The ACROPRAXIS program aims to describe the management of acromegaly in Spain and provide guidance. Methods: Ninety-three endocrinologists were organized into 13 panels to discuss the practical issues in managing acromegaly. Based on the key learnings, an online Delphi survey with 62 statements was performed, so those statements achieving consensus could be used as guidance. Statements were rated on a 9-point scale (9, full agreement; consensus > 66.6% of response in the same tertile). Results: Ninety-two endocrinologists (98.8%) answered two rounds of the survey (mean age 47.6 years; 59.8% women; median 18.5 years of experience). Consensus was achieved for 49 (79%) statements. Diagnosis: The levels of insulin-like growth factor I (IGFI) is the preferred screening test. If IGFI levels 1–1.3 ULN, the test is repeated and growth hormone (GH) after oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is assessed. A pituitary magnetic resonance is performed after biochemical diagnosis. Treatment: Surgery is the first treatment choice for patients with microadenoma or macroadenoma with/without optical pathway compression. Pre-surgical somatostatin analogues (SSA) are indicated when surgery is delayed and/or to reduce anaesthesia-associated risks. After unsuccessful surgery, reintervention is performed if the residual tumor is resectable, while if non-resectable, SSA are administered. Follow-up First biochemical and clinical controls are performed 1–3 months after surgery. Disease remission is considered if random GH levels are < 1 µg/L or OGTT is < 1 or ≤ 0.4 µg/L, depending on the assay’s sensitivity. Conclusion: Current clinical management for acromegaly is homogeneous across Spain and generally follows clinical guideline

The role of bioimpedance analysis in overweight and obese patients with acute heart failure: a pilot study.

AIMS Residual congestion at the time of hospital discharge is an important readmission risk factor, and its detection with physical examination and usual diagnostic techniques have strong limitations in overweight and obese patients. New tools like bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) could help to determine when euvolaemia is reached. The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of BIA in management of heart failure (HF) in overweight and obese patients. METHODS AND RESULTS Our study is a single-centre, single-blind, randomized controlled trial that included 48 overweight and obese patients admitted for acute HF. The study population was randomized into two arms: BIA-guided group and standard care. Serum electrolytes, kidney function, and natriuretic peptides were followed up during their hospital stay and at 90 days after discharge. The primary endpoint was development of severe acute kidney injury (AKI) defined as an increase in serum creatinine by >0.5 mg/dL during hospitalization, and the main secondary endpoint was the reduction of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels during hospitalization and within 90 days after discharge. The BIA-guided group showed a remarkable lower incidence of severe AKI, although no significant differences were found (41.4% vs. 16.7%; P = 0.057). The proportion of patients who achieved levels of NT-proBNP < 1000 pg/mL at 90 days was significantly higher in the BIA-guided group than in the standard group (58.8% vs. 25%; P = 0.049). No differences were observed in the incidence of adverse outcomes at 90 days. CONCLUSIONS Among overweight and obese patients with HF, BIA reduces NT-proBNP levels at 90 days compared with standard care. In addition, there is a trend towards lower incidence of AKI in the BIA-guided group. Although more studies are required, BIA could be a useful tool in decompensated HF management in overweight and obese patients.This research received no external funding.S

Similar incidence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients with rheumatic diseases with and without hydroxychloroquine therapy

Background Hydroxychloroquine is not efficacious as post-exposure prophylaxis against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It is not known whether as pre-exposure prophylaxis it may prevent COVID-19. Objective To compare the incidence of COVID-19 in Spanish patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases treated with and without hydroxychloroquine. Patients and methods Retrospective electronic record review, from February 27th to June 21st, 2020, of patients with autoimmune inflammatory diseases followed at two academic tertiary care hospitals in Seville, Spain. The cumulative incidence of confirmed COVID-19, by PCR or serology, was compared between patients with and without hydroxychloroquine as part of their treatment of autoimmune inflammatory diseases. Results Among 722 included patients, 290 (40%) were receiving hydroxychloroquine. During the seventeen-week study period, 10 (3.4% [95% CI: 1.7%-6.7%] cases of COVID-19 were registered among patients with hydroxychloroquine and 13 (3.0% [1.6%-5.1%]) (p = 0.565) in those without hydroxychloroquine. COVID-19 was diagnosed by PCR in four (1.4%, 95% CI 0.38%-3.5%) subject with hydroxychloroquine and six (1.4%, 95% CI 0.5%-3.0%) without hydroxychloroquine (p = 0.697). Three patients on hydroxychloroquine and four patients without hydroxychloroquine were admitted to the hospital, none of them required to be transferred to the intensive care unit and no patient died during the episode. Conclusions The incidence and severity of COVID-19 among patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases with and without hydroxychloroquine was not significantly different.Instituto de Salud Carlos III I3SNSMinisterio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades CP18/0014