Osmotic dehydration effects on mass transfer kinetics and characteristics of fried banana (Musa balbisiana) chips

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the osmotic dehydration (OD) treatments (using sucrose at 60 °Brix and a solution of salt 1.5% (m/m) with sucrose at 45 °Brix) in banana slices. The effects on the mass transfer kinetics (water loss and solids gain) were evaluated and described using the Page, Weibull, Peleg, Azuara, and Lewis mathematical models. Besides, the effect of OD on fat content, instrumental colour, and sensorial attributes was assessed after the frying process. The results showed that water loss occurs firstly and more quickly than solids gain. At the end of OD, the highest water loses (0.31 g water/g sample) and solids gain (0.42 g solid/g sample) were reached using sucrose OD treatment. The water loss and solid gain behaviour were described not only by the kinetics parameters but also by equilibrium parameters values of mathematical models. Furthermore, after frying, the Control samples presented a fat content of 15.5 ± 0.3%, where the moisture reduction during OD allowed to obtain fried samples with lower fat content (9.8 ± 0.3%), as well as, their instrumental colour was significantly affected mainly decreasing the lightness. Regarding sensorial attributes of fried chips, it was preferred the colour and flavour of samples with sucrose OD treatment, however, the Control samples obtained the best scores in texture attribute. Therefore, it was demonstrated that mass transfer of water and solid during osmotic dehydration treatments did not occur similarly and there were influenced by the concentration and type of osmotic solution. In addition, the modifications in structure and composition during osmotic treatments allowed to obtain a low-fat product with good sensorial attributes. Keyword

Implementation of an electrochemical impedance meter I

Las actuales circunstancias motivan a la Universidad a aplicar políticas de sustitución de importaciones y estrategias para minimizar el costo de equipos, de su mantenimiento y su reparación. De común acuerdo las escuelas de Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y Telecomunicaciones (E3T) y de Ingeniería Metalúrgica y Ciencia de Materiales (EIMCM), están desarrollando actualmente un proyecto para la construcción de equipos UIS, que permitan realizar actividades de laboratorios y de investigación que puedan ser revisados y reparados in situ. El presente artículo expone el proceso seguido para el diseño y construcción de un primer prototipo para ser implementado en el laboratorio de corrosión de la EIMCM, el cual se ha denominado Medidor de Impedancia Electroquímica (MIE).  Un Medidor de Impedancia Electroquímica se define como un equipo que permite realizar pruebas electroquímicas en corriente alterna con propósitos de valorar la corrosión en un material. Para esto, suministra una diferencia de potencial controlada a diferentes valores de frecuencia y adquiere el valor de la corriente que circula a través de la celda electroquímica. Posee la capacidad de registrar en forma automática los valores de tensión, corriente y diferencia de fase para cada valor de frecuencia a lo largo de la prueba, indicando situaciones anormales y desactivando el equipo cuando las condiciones así lo requieran. Ofrece además la posibilidad de enviar los datos a un PC en el que por medio de un software desarrollado en LABVIEW y algoritmos de procesamiento se genera la visualización de los datos a partir de la cual se pueden hacer observaciones y establecer conclusiones acerca de la prueba. Current circumstances motivate University to implement import substitution policies in order to minimize cost of equipment, maintenance and repair. In agreement, schools of Ingenierías Eléctrica, Electrónica y Telecomunicaciones y de Ingeniería Metalúrgica y Ciencia de Materiales, are developing a project for the construction of equipment, oriented to academic and research activities, that can be checked and repaired in situ. This paper presents the design and construction of an electrochemical impedance meter to be implemented in the laboratory of corrosion of the EIMCM.  An Electrochemical Impedance Meter is defined as a computer that allows electrochemical test with alternate current, in order to determinate corrosion on a material, providing a controlled voltage difference at different values of frequency and acquiring the value of current flowing through an electrochemical cell.&nbsp

Practical Quantum Key Distribution based on the BB84 protocol

[EN] This paper provides a review of the most important and widely used Quantum Key Distribution systems and then describes our recently proposed scheme based on Subcarrier Multiplexing that opens the possibility of parallel Quantum Key Distribution. We report the first-ever experimental implementation of parallel quantum key distribution using this technique showing a maximum multiplexing gain.This work was supported in part by the Spanish Government through Quantum Optical Information Technology (QOIT), a CONSOLIDER-INGENIO 2010 Project and in part by the Generalitat Valenciana through the PROMETEO 2008/092 research excellency award.Ruiz Alba Gaya, A.; Calvo Díaz-Aldagalán, D.; García Muñoz, V.; Martínez García, A.; Amaya Ocampo, WA.; Rozo Chicue, JG.; Mora Almerich, J.... (2011). Practical Quantum Key Distribution based on the BB84 protocol. Waves. 1(3):4-14. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/53967S4141

Effectiveness of a strategy that uses educational games to implement clinical practice guidelines among Spanish residents of family and community medicine (e-EDUCAGUIA project):A clinical trial by clusters

This study was funded by the Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias FIS Grant Number PI11/0477 ISCIII.-REDISSEC Proyecto RD12/0001/0012 AND FEDER Funding.Background: Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) have been developed with the aim of helping health professionals, patients, and caregivers make decisions about their health care, using the best available evidence. In many cases, incorporation of these recommendations into clinical practice also implies a need for changes in routine clinical practice. Using educational games as a strategy for implementing recommendations among health professionals has been demonstrated to be effective in some studies; however, evidence is still scarce. The primary objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of a teaching strategy for the implementation of CPGs using educational games (e-learning EDUCAGUIA) to improve knowledge and skills related to clinical decision-making by residents in family medicine. The primary objective will be evaluated at 1 and 6months after the intervention. The secondary objectives are to identify barriers and facilitators for the use of guidelines by residents of family medicine and to describe the educational strategies used by Spanish teaching units of family and community medicine to encourage implementation of CPGs. Methods/design: We propose a multicenter clinical trial with randomized allocation by clusters of family and community medicine teaching units in Spain. The sample size will be 394 residents (197 in each group), with the teaching units as the randomization unit and the residents comprising the analysis unit. For the intervention, both groups will receive an initial 1-h session on clinical practice guideline use and the usual dissemination strategy by e-mail. The intervention group (e-learning EDUCAGUIA) strategy will consist of educational games with hypothetical clinical scenarios in a virtual environment. The primary outcome will be the score obtained by the residents on evaluation questionnaires for each clinical practice guideline. Other included variables will be the sociodemographic and training variables of the residents and the teaching unit characteristics. The statistical analysis will consist of a descriptive analysis of variables and a baseline comparison of both groups. For the primary outcome analysis, an average score comparison of hypothetical scenario questionnaires between the EDUCAGUIA intervention group and the control group will be performed at 1 and 6months post-intervention, using 95% confidence intervals. A linear multilevel regression will be used to adjust the model. Discussion: The identification of effective teaching strategies will facilitate the incorporation of available knowledge into clinical practice that could eventually improve patient outcomes. The inclusion of information technologies as teaching tools permits greater learning autonomy and allows deeper instructor participation in the monitoring and supervision of residents. The long-term impact of this strategy is unknown; however, because it is aimed at professionals undergoing training and it addresses prevalent health problems, a small effect can be of great relevance. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02210442.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

SOCIB: the impact of new marine infrastructures in understanding and forecasting the coastal oceans: some examples from the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea

New monitoring technologies are being progressively implemented in coastal ocean observatories. As an example, gliders allow high resolution sampling, showing the existence of new features, such as submesoscale eddies with intense vertical motions that significantly affect upper ocean biogeochemical exchanges, an issue of worldwide relevance in a climate change context. SOCIB, is one of such systems, a new facility of facilities (covering from the coast to the open sea, and including among others a nearshore beach monitoring facility, HF radar, gliders and AUV’s, moorings, satellite, drifters and ARGO profilers, modelling), a scientific and technological infrastructure which is providing free, open, quality controlled and timely streams of oceanographic and coastal data and also modelling services. SOCIB takes profit of the strategic position of the Balearic Island at the Atlantic/Mediterranean transition area, one of the ‘hot spots’ of biodiversity in the world’s oceans. As an example of on-going SOCIB operations, since January 2011 sustained glider operations are in place in the Ibiza and Mallorca channels. The data centre is the core of SOCIB. The data management system created for gliders is an example of the new informatics capabilities for real time definition of mission planning, including adaptive sampling and real time monitoring using a Web tool that allows quick visualization and download. This type of new infrastructures, combined with new technologies and careful scientific analysis will allow new ways of international cooperation leading to major science breakthroughs in the very near future and new ways of science based coastal and ocean management.Peer Reviewe

Effects of intubation timing in patients with COVID-19 throughout the four waves of the pandemic : a matched analysis

The primary aim of our study was to investigate the association between intubation timing and hospital mortality in critically ill patients with COVID-19-associated respiratory failure. We also analysed both the impact of such timing throughout the first four pandemic waves and the influence of prior non-invasive respiratory support on outcomes. This is a secondary analysis of a multicentre, observational and prospective cohort study that included all consecutive patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation due to COVID-19 from across 58 Spanish intensive care units (ICU) participating in the CIBERESUCICOVID project. The study period was between 29 February 2020 and 31 August 2021. Early intubation was defined as that occurring within the first 24 h of intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Propensity score (PS) matching was used to achieve balance across baseline variables between the early intubation cohort and those patients who were intubated after the first 24 h of ICU admission. Differences in outcomes between early and delayed intubation were also assessed. We performed sensitivity analyses to consider a different timepoint (48 h from ICU admission) for early and delayed intubation. Of the 2725 patients who received invasive mechanical ventilation, a total of 614 matched patients were included in the analysis (307 for each group). In the unmatched population, there were no differences in mortality between the early and delayed groups. After PS matching, patients with delayed intubation presented higher hospital mortality (27.3% versus 37.1%, p =0.01), ICU mortality (25.7% versus 36.1%, p=0.007) and 90-day mortality (30.9% versus 40.2%, p=0.02) when compared to the early intubation group. Very similar findings were observed when we used a 48-hour timepoint for early or delayed intubation. The use of early intubation decreased after the first wave of the pandemic (72%, 49%, 46% and 45% in the first, second, third and fourth wave, respectively; first versus second, third and fourth waves p<0.001). In both the main and sensitivity analyses, hospital mortality was lower in patients receiving high-flow nasal cannula (n=294) who were intubated earlier. The subgroup of patients undergoing NIV (n=214) before intubation showed higher mortality when delayed intubation was set as that occurring after 48 h from ICU admission, but not when after 24 h. In patients with COVID-19 requiring invasive mechanical ventilation, delayed intubation was associated with a higher risk of hospital mortality. The use of early intubation significantly decreased throughout the course of the pandemic. Benefits of such an approach occurred more notably in patients who had received high-flow nasal cannul

Dendritic cell deficiencies persist seven months after SARS-CoV-2 infection

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2 infection induces an exacerbated inflammation driven by innate immunity components. Dendritic cells (DCs) play a key role in the defense against viral infections, for instance plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs), have the capacity to produce vast amounts of interferon-alpha (IFN-α). In COVID-19 there is a deficit in DC numbers and IFN-α production, which has been associated with disease severity. In this work, we described that in addition to the DC deficiency, several DC activation and homing markers were altered in acute COVID-19 patients, which were associated with multiple inflammatory markers. Remarkably, previously hospitalized and nonhospitalized patients remained with decreased numbers of CD1c+ myeloid DCs and pDCs seven months after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, the expression of DC markers such as CD86 and CD4 were only restored in previously nonhospitalized patients, while no restoration of integrin β7 and indoleamine 2,3-dyoxigenase (IDO) levels were observed. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the immunological sequelae of COVID-19

Clustering COVID-19 ARDS patients through the first days of ICU admission. An analysis of the CIBERESUCICOVID Cohort

Background Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) can be classified into sub-phenotypes according to different inflammatory/clinical status. Prognostic enrichment was achieved by grouping patients into hypoinflammatory or hyperinflammatory sub-phenotypes, even though the time of analysis may change the classification according to treatment response or disease evolution. We aimed to evaluate when patients can be clustered in more than 1 group, and how they may change the clustering of patients using data of baseline or day 3, and the prognosis of patients according to their evolution by changing or not the cluster.Methods Multicenter, observational prospective, and retrospective study of patients admitted due to ARDS related to COVID-19 infection in Spain. Patients were grouped according to a clustering mixed-type data algorithm (k-prototypes) using continuous and categorical readily available variables at baseline and day 3.Results Of 6205 patients, 3743 (60%) were included in the study. According to silhouette analysis, patients were grouped in two clusters. At baseline, 1402 (37%) patients were included in cluster 1 and 2341(63%) in cluster 2. On day 3, 1557(42%) patients were included in cluster 1 and 2086 (57%) in cluster 2. The patients included in cluster 2 were older and more frequently hypertensive and had a higher prevalence of shock, organ dysfunction, inflammatory biomarkers, and worst respiratory indexes at both time points. The 90-day mortality was higher in cluster 2 at both clustering processes (43.8% [n = 1025] versus 27.3% [n = 383] at baseline, and 49% [n = 1023] versus 20.6% [n = 321] on day 3). Four hundred and fifty-eight (33%) patients clustered in the first group were clustered in the second group on day 3. In contrast, 638 (27%) patients clustered in the second group were clustered in the first group on day 3.Conclusions During the first days, patients can be clustered into two groups and the process of clustering patients may change as they continue to evolve. This means that despite a vast majority of patients remaining in the same cluster, a minority reaching 33% of patients analyzed may be re-categorized into different clusters based on their progress. Such changes can significantly impact their prognosis

The evolution of the ventilatory ratio is a prognostic factor in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 ARDS patients

Background: Mortality due to COVID-19 is high, especially in patients requiring mechanical ventilation. The purpose of the study is to investigate associations between mortality and variables measured during the first three days of mechanical ventilation in patients with COVID-19 intubated at ICU admission. Methods: Multicenter, observational, cohort study includes consecutive patients with COVID-19 admitted to 44 Spanish ICUs between February 25 and July 31, 2020, who required intubation at ICU admission and mechanical ventilation for more than three days. We collected demographic and clinical data prior to admission; information about clinical evolution at days 1 and 3 of mechanical ventilation; and outcomes. Results: Of the 2,095 patients with COVID-19 admitted to the ICU, 1,118 (53.3%) were intubated at day 1 and remained under mechanical ventilation at day three. From days 1 to 3, PaO2/FiO2 increased from 115.6 [80.0-171.2] to 180.0 [135.4-227.9] mmHg and the ventilatory ratio from 1.73 [1.33-2.25] to 1.96 [1.61-2.40]. In-hospital mortality was 38.7%. A higher increase between ICU admission and day 3 in the ventilatory ratio (OR 1.04 [CI 1.01-1.07], p = 0.030) and creatinine levels (OR 1.05 [CI 1.01-1.09], p = 0.005) and a lower increase in platelet counts (OR 0.96 [CI 0.93-1.00], p = 0.037) were independently associated with a higher risk of death. No association between mortality and the PaO2/FiO2 variation was observed (OR 0.99 [CI 0.95 to 1.02], p = 0.47). Conclusions: Higher ventilatory ratio and its increase at day 3 is associated with mortality in patients with COVID-19 receiving mechanical ventilation at ICU admission. No association was found in the PaO2/FiO2 variation