Enriched elderly virtual profiles by means of a multidimensional integrated assessment platform

The pressure over Healthcare systems is increasing in most developed countries. The generalized aging of the population is one of the main causes. This situation is even worse in underdeveloped, sparsely populated regions like Extremadura in Spain or Alentejo in Portugal. The authors propose to use the Situational-Context, a technique to seamlessly adapt Internet of Things systems to the needs and preferences of their users, for virtually modeling the elderly. These models could be used to enhance the elderly experience when using those kind of systems without raising the need for technical skills or the costs of implementing such systems by the regional healthcare systems. In this paper, the integration of a multidimensional integrated assessment platform with such virtual profiles is presented. The assessment platform provides and additional source of information for the virtual profiles that is used to better adapt existing systems to the elders needs

Inductive reasoning stages presented by mathematics teachers when solving a generalization problem

Se reportan seis fases del razonamiento inductivo que presentaron 19 profesores de matemáticas de secundaria al resolver un problema de generalización de un patrón cuadrático. Los datos se recolectaron mediante sus respuestas escritas y entrevistas. El análisis se realizó con base en el modelo de Cañadas y Castro (2007). Se encontró que, para generalizar de manera correcta, no basta con reconocer las regularidades en varios casos particulares, sino que se precisa de asociar esas regularidades con estructuras matemáticas que describan el patrón de manera general, y se detectaron dificultades en algunas fases que impidieron a los profesores llegar a generalizar.This investigation reports six inductive reasoning stages presented by nineteen middle school mathematics teachers when solving a generalization problem of a quadratic pattern. The data was collected through their written responses and interviews. The analysis was performed based on the model of Cañadas and Castro (2007). It was found that the correct generalization not only needed the recognition of regularities in some particular cases, but an accurate association between those regularities and the mathematical structures that describe the pattern in a general way. Furthermore, several difficulties that prevented the teachers from achieving a generalization were detected

Spray drying and process optimization of sour orange juice

In this study, production of sour orange juice powder utilizing a spray dryer was investigated. To prevent stickiness, maltodextrin DE 12 was used as a drying agent. While feed flow rate, feed temperature, and air flow rate were kept constant, inlet air temperature (120–160 °C) and maltodextrin content (maltodextrin dry solids/100 g feed mixture dry solids; 10–20%, w/w) were selected as the independent variables. Product properties investigated included ascorbic acid, volatile compounds, and moisture content. Ascorbic acid retention, volatiles retention, and moisture content were used in optimization of the process by response surface methodology. The optimum inlet air temperature and maltodextrin content were 156 °C and 20% w/w maltodextrin, respectively. This study revealed that by applying these optimal conditions, sour orange juice powder with 81.5% ascorbic acid retention, 5.5%, w/w moisture content, and 78% volatiles retention was produced

Absence of molecular evidence of Leptospira spp. in urine samples collected from rodents captured in Yucatán, México

Leptospira spp. is a spirochete bacteria, causal agent of leptospirosis, zoonotic disease endemic in México that represents a serious public health and veterinary problem. Rodents are recognised as the most important reservoirs of this bacteria, which is transmitted mainly through direct or indirect contact with the Leptospira spp. excreted in the urine of infected individuals. Theaim of this study was to evaluate the circulation of Leptospira spp. in urine samples of wild and synanthropic rodents from Yucatán, México. Eighty-four rodents were captured in the community of Cenotillo, Yucatán. Twenty-six urine samples were collected from the bladder and were used in the total DNA extraction. The identification of Leptospira spp. was intended through the polymerase chain reaction test in its endpoint variant. No evidence of Leptospira spp. was found in the urine samples. It is necessary to use other tissues for the identification of Leptospira spp., before concluding that the rodents used in the present study are not reservoirs of this bacteri

Microencapsulation of the Aroma from Capsicum chinense Jacq. cv. Habanero

An aroma distillate with the odour note described as ‘fresh Habanero chilli pepper’ was obtained from hydrodistillation of the fruit. GC-MS analysis of the volatile constituents from the aroma distillate allowed the identification of 100 compounds, most of them esters followed by aldehydes, alcohols, terpenes, ketones, and acids. Encapsulation process of the aroma distillate by spray drying was optimised using response surface methodology. Independent variables were inlet air temperature (150–200 °C) and carrier (maltodextrin 10 DE and gum arabic in 2:1 ratio) content (10–20% wb), while response variables were powder moisture and volatiles retention. Moisture content of the powder varied inversely proportional to the air temperature, while the volatile retention was directly related. Retention of volatiles in the powder increased when the carrier content increased, while this factor negatively affected moisture content. Based on the optimisation model of the response variables, the powder with the highest flavour quality was obtained with an air inlet temperature of 200 °C and 20% wb carrier content, with 4% moisture content and 88.6% volatiles retention

Características físicas de la carne de corderos Katahdín con Pelibuey alimentados a base de forraje y concentrado

Objective: To evaluate the effect of forage and concentrate in diet on physical characteristics of meat of crossed (F1) Katahdin with Pelibuey lambs. Design/methodology/approach: Thirty-six entire male lambs were distributed in a completely randomized design to four treatments: 1) 100% Concentrated food (CF) with 15 % of CP; 2) 70% CF + 30% of Maralfalfa forage (Pennisetum sp); 3) 70% CF + 30% of Mombaza forage (M. maximum); 4) 70% CF + 30% CT-115 forage (P. Purpureum). Results: No effect of diet on carcass traits and physical properties of meat was found (P> 0.05). The average value of pH and temperature ± SD were 5.58 ± 0.12 and 6.38 ± 0.56 o C, respectively. The little loss of water in meat (0.1%), indicates that it retains its physical-chemical characteristics for storage. Limitations on study/implications: Consumer demands of lamb meat are more focused on quality traits than quantity details, so, in order to comply with demands demanded by market, it is necessary to carry out meat quality evaluations, compare between breeds and feeding systems to determine which genotype produces the best meat. Findings/conclusions: Lambs fed diets that include forage have similar physical characteristics of meat to those that received only concentrate food, which indicates that it is possible to produce lamb meat with excellent properties, using diets with good quality forage.Objetivo: Evaluar el efecto del forraje y concentrado en la dieta sobre las características físicas de la carne de corderos cruzados (F1) Katahdín × Pelibuey (KtPb). Diseño/metodología/aproximación: Treinta y seis corderos machos enteros fueron distribuidos mediante un diseño completamente al azar a cuatro tratamientos:1) 100% Alimento concentrado (AC) con 15 % de PC: 2) 70% AC + 30% de pasto Maralfalfa (Pennisetum sp); 3) 70% AC + 30% pasto Mombaza (M. maximum ); 4) 70% AC + 30%   CT-115 (P. Purpureum). Resultados: No se encontró un efecto de la dieta sobre las características de la canal y propiedades físicas de la carne (P>0.05). Los valores promedio para el pH y temperatura ± DE encontrados fueron de 5.58 ± 0.12 y 6.38 ± 0.56 o C, respectivamente. La poca pérdida de agua en la carne (0.1%), indica que esta conservo sus propiedades físico-químicas adecuadas para su almacenamiento Limitaciones del estudio/implicaciones: Las demandas de los consumidores de cortes de cordero se centran más en los rasgos de calidad que en los detalles de cantidad. Para poder cumplir con los estándares que exige el mercado, es necesario realizar evaluaciones de calidad de la carne, comparar entre razas y sistemas de alimentación para conocer cual fenotipo produce la mejor carne. Hallazgos/conclusiones: Los corderos alimentados con dietas que incluyen forraje tienen características físicas de la carne similar a los que recibieron solo concentrado, lo que indica que es posible producir carne de corderos con excelentes propiedades, utilizando dietas con forrajes de buena calidad

PRIMER REGISTRO DE PROBSTMAYRIA TAPIRI (NEMATODA: ATRACTIDAE) EN TAPYIRUS BAIRDII (GILL, 1865) DE LA SIERRA MADRE DEL ESTADO DE CHIAPAS, MÉXICO

This is a first record of Probstmayria tapiri in Mexico, was found in 60 (41.09%) fecal samples from Baird´s tapir (Tapirus bairdii) in the Biosphera Reserves La Sepultura and El Triunfo in the Sierra Madre de Chiapas, Mexico. Morphological characteristics of small nematode spindle-shaped forms truncated anteriorly and with a long, gradually attenuated, acutely pointed tail. Mouth with tree lips, pharynx elongated, aesophagus with tree portions: Anterior portion, long and slender, posterior portion, shorter, and pyriform portion, with a bulb. The excretory pore is situated near oesophagi bulb and ventral surface of the body. Vulva of female at about the middle of the body. Spicules assymetrical and curved. On the ventral surface of the tail there are nine small postanal papillae. These results allow us to extend their geographic distribution of nematode to Central America and another species of Tapir’s (T. bairdii). Finally we emphasized that the environmental conditions of La Sierra Madre de Chiapas, are optimal for the biological development of this nematode from tapirs of Central and South America.Primer registro de Probstmayria tapiri en México y para la especie de Tapirus bairdii (tapir Centroamericano), en la que se hace una redescripción de este nematodo. Se encontró en 60 (41.09%) muestras de excretas frescas recolectadas en las Reservas de la Biosfera La Sepultura y El Triunfo en la Sierra Madre de Chiapas, México. Las características morfológicas de los especimenes observados son nematodos pequeños con cutícula finamente estriada, fusiforme que gradualmente disminuye su diámetro hacia ambos extremos, terminando en una cola aguda. Boca hexagonal con tres labios bilobulados, faringe alargada, esófago con tres porciones: anterior, larga y delgada, media, corta y estrecha, piriforme, con un bulbo. El poro excretor se encuentra situado cerca del bulbo esofágico y ventral a la superficie del cuerpo. La vulva de la hembra esta cerca de la porción media del cuerpo. Las espículas del macho son asimétricas y curvadas. En la superficie ventral de la cola hay nueve papilas postanales. Estos resultados nos permiten ampliar la distribución geográfica del nematodo a Centroamérica y otra especie de tapir (T. bairdii). Finalmente enfatizamos que las condiciones ambientales de la Sierra Madre son óptimas para el desarrollo biológico de este nematodo de los miembros de la Familia Tapiridae en Centroamérica y Sudaméric

Ensemble Composition and Activity Levels of Insectivorous Bats in Response to Management Intensification in Coffee Agroforestry Systems

Shade coffee plantations have received attention for their role in biodiversity conservation. Bats are among the most diverse mammalian taxa in these systems; however, previous studies of bats in coffee plantations have focused on the largely herbivorous leaf-nosed bats (Phyllostomidae). In contrast, we have virtually no information on how ensembles of aerial insectivorous bats – nearly half the Neotropical bat species – change in response to habitat modification. To evaluate the effects of agroecosystem management on insectivorous bats, we studied their diversity and activity in southern Chiapas, Mexico, a landscape dominated by coffee agroforestry. We used acoustic monitoring and live captures to characterize the insectivorous bat ensemble in forest fragments and coffee plantations differing in the structural and taxonomic complexity of shade trees. We captured bats of 12 non-phyllostomid species; acoustic monitoring revealed the presence of at least 12 more species of aerial insectivores. Richness of forest bats was the same across all land-use types; in contrast, species richness of open-space bats increased in low shade, intensively managed coffee plantations. Conversely, only forest bats demonstrated significant differences in ensemble structure (as measured by similarity indices) across land-use types. Both overall activity and feeding activity of forest bats declined significantly with increasing management intensity, while the overall activity, but not feeding activity, of open-space bats increased. We conclude that diverse shade coffee plantations in our study area serve as valuable foraging and commuting habitat for aerial insectivorous bats, and several species also commute through or forage in low shade coffee monocultures