Migration of mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) from cardboard containers to dry food and prediction tool

This research aimed to study the migration of mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) from primary carton packages to dry foods, using 16 aromatic hydrocarbons as model substances, covering a wide range of molecular masses and chemical structures. Migration experiments were performed using modified polyphenylene oxide as a food simulant and couscous and polenta as dry foods. The migration tests were carried out to simulate storage at room temperature for long periods and in hot food containers as the worst scenario. Multivariate analysis algorithms were applied to correlate and group the migration of model substances, and a partial least squares regression (PLSR) model was built to predict the worst-case migration. The results showed strong correlations in the migration patterns of the model substances, based on their volatility, food matrix, migration time and temperature. Different behaviour between the migration of the most volatile and the heaviest model substances was observed

Actividad eléctrica muscular en la marcha a distintas velocidades y en la carrera

En este estudio se analiza la actividad electromiográfica de los principales músculos de la extremidad inferior derecha: Glúteos Mayor y Medio, Recto Anterior y Vasto Interno del Cuádriceps, Isquiotibioperoneos, Gemelos y Tibial Anterior, al caminar en un tapiz rodante a distintas velocidades y en una carrera suave. Para dividir el ciclo de la marcha y la carrera en fases se utilizó un sistema de análisis tridimensional con dos cámaras de vídeo. La señal electromiográfica de cada una de estas fases se integró y se expresó en porcentaje de la actividad máxima isométrica de su músculo correspondiente. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que la participación muscular en la marcha lenta y normal es muy similar, sin embargo, en la marcha rápida aparecen aumentos importantes conservando el mismo patrón de actuación. En la carrera, no sólo existen actividades del triple de las halladas en la marcha a velocidad cómoda, sino que se modifica el patrón de actuación, presentando todos los músculos sus picos de actividad durante la fase de apoyo, momento en el que el centro de gravedad se lleva hacia delante sobre el miembro inferior

Actividad eléctrica muscular en la marcha a distintas velocidades y en la carrera

En este estudio se analiza la actividad electromiográfica de los principales músculos de la extremidad inferior derecha: Glúteos Mayor y Medio, Recto Anterior y Vasto Interno del Cuádriceps, Isquiotibioperoneos, Gemelos y Tibial Anterior, al caminar en un tapiz rodante a distintas velocidades y en una carrera suave. Para dividir el ciclo de la marcha y la carrera en fases se utilizó un sistema de análisis tridimensional con dos cámaras de vídeo. La señal electromiográfica de cada una de estas fases se integró y se expresó en porcentaje de la actividad máxima isométrica de su músculo correspondiente. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que la participación muscular en la marcha lenta y normal es muy similar, sin embargo, en la marcha rápida aparecen aumentos importantes conservando el mismo patrón de actuación. En la carrera, no sólo existen actividades del triple de las halladas en la marcha a velocidad cómoda, sino que se modifica el patrón de actuación, presentando todos los músculos sus picos de actividad durante la fase de apoyo, momento en el que el centro de gravedad se lleva hacia delante sobre el miembro inferior

La marcha: diferencias según el sexo

Objetivo: La finalidad de este trabajo ha sido valorar la movilidad de las articulaciones de la extremidad inferior y la actividad electromiográfica de los principales músculos de la misma, en un grupo de hombres y de mujeres, con la finalidad de establecer las diferencias entre ambos, al caminar por terreno llano y al ascender y descender escaleras. Material y método: En el estudio han participado 22 hombres y 18 mujeres sanos a los que se ha determinado la movilidad articular con un sistema de análisis tridimensional denominado Orthobío y la actividad muscular mediante telemetría con un aparato MT8-3 Biological de MIE Medical Research Ltd y con con electrodos de superficie. Resultado y discusión: Los resultados obtenidos muestran respecto a la movilidad articular, que para la marcha en terreno llano no hay diferencias significativas entre ambos grupos mientras que en el ascenso y descenso de escaleras se realizan algunas adaptaciones. Sin embargo respecto a la actividad muscular aparece una clara tendencia a una mayor actuación de los músculos en el grupo femenino, tanto al caminar por terreno llano como subiendo y bajando escaleras, sobre todo en los de marcada acción estabilizadora de la extremidad inferior. Este hecho puede deberse a las diferencias en la composición corporal, ya que las mujeres presentan un mayor porcentaje de masa grasa, por lo que, proporcionalmente, con su masa muscular tienen que movilizar un peso mayor.Peer Reviewe

Evaluation of new antimicrobial materials incorporating ethyl lauroyl arginate or silver into different matrices, and their safety in use as potential packaging

A big challenge for today’s industry is antimicrobial preservation and the safety of food. An effective solution to this problem can be a modern invention such as antimicrobial packaging. In the presented research the antimicrobial activity of two new active films incorporating silver, as IONPURE IPL, and ethyl lauroyl arginate (LAE) were evaluated, by employing a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) matrix and a biofilm material, respectively. Additionally, LAE was also incorporated into polystyrene (PS) pads by two different methods: by spraying and by immersion of the PS pads into an aqueous LAE solution. LDPE films containing silver did not show any antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Aspergillus flavus, whereas the biofilm containing LAE reduced the growth of Salmonella enterica but did not inhibit Aspergillus flavus. The active PS pads, both sprayed and immersed in LAE solution, also showed antimicrobial activity, causing a reduction of 99.99% of Pseudomonas putida growth. Thermal treatment at 180¿C for 6 and 15 min did not modify the antimicrobial activity of LAE against Salmonella enterica. Moreover, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis was performed to check the migration of silver from developed material intended for food packaging applications into food simulant

Cuantificación de la actividad muscular en los grandes músculos de la extremidad inferior durante el mantenimiento de la postura erecta

Es importante el conocimiento de la participación muscular en el mantenimiento de la postura. Se acepta que el esfuerzo muscular necesario para mantener la postura erecta es muy pequeño, pero no se suele indicar su valor. En este trabajo se ha pretendido cuantificar la participación de los músculos de la extremidad inferior durante esta actividad, para tener unos valores de referencia que nos ayuden en la evaluación del equilibrio postural y en el tratamiento de sus alteraciones. Mediante un sistema telemétrico y electrodos de superficie, se registró en 10 sujetos sanos la actividad eléctrica de los grandes músculos de extremidad inferior manteniendo una postura erecta y, además, para que sirviera como referencia, durante una contracción isométrica máxima y caminando. La actividad registrada durante el mantenimiento de la postura erecta y durante la marcha se expresó respecto a la obtenida durante la contracción máxima isométrica de cada uno de los músculos estudiados, por ser una referencia habitual en los estudios dinámicos, y, en el caso del mantenimiento de la postura se expresó, además, con respecto a la actividad media que se produce durante la marcha, ya que es una referencia fácil de tomar para el clínico. Al caminar, la participación muscular no es muy importante (25% de su actividad máxima isométrica-AMI), pero está lejos de la hallada en el mantenimiento de la postura, que no sobrepasa en ningún músculo de los estudiados el 4% de su AMI, y que supone valores inferiores al 33% de la obtenida durante la marcha.The knowledge about muscular participation in standing maintainance is very important. It is accepted that we need a little muscular effort to maintain the standing balance, but its value is not ussually indicated. In this work we have tried to cuantify the performance of the lower extremity muscles during this activity in order to have some reference values which help us in the evaluation of the standing balance and in the treatment of its problems. We recorded, in ten healthy subjects, using a telemetric system and surface electrodes, the electrical activity of the big muscles of the lower extremity during standing, and, besides, so as to have a reference, during a maximum isometric contraction and during walking. The recorded activity during standing and walking was expressed regarding the one obtained during a maximum isometric contraction of each of the studied muscles, since it is a normal reference in dynamic studies, and in the case of standing, this was expressed as well regarding the average activity which is produced during walking, as it is an easy refence for the clinic to take. On walking, the muscular performance is not of any great importance (25% of its maximum isometric activity -MIA-), but it is far from the one found during standing, which does not exceed the 4% of its MIA in any of the studied muscles, and which represents values under 33% of the one obtained walking

Adherence to treatment to help quit smoking: effects of task performance and coping with withdrawal symptoms

Background: Currently the combined cognitive-behavioral and pharmacological treatment is the best option to quit smoking, although success rates remain moderate. This study aimed to identify predictors of continuous abstinence in an assisted smoking cessation program using combined treatment. In particular, we analyzed the effects of socio-demographic, smoking-, and treatment-related variables. In addition, we analyzed the effect of several risk factors on abstinence, and estimated a model of risk for smoking relapse.Methods: Participants were 125 workers at the University of Granada (50 males), with an average age of 46.91 years (SD = 8.15). They were recruited between 2009 and 2013 at an occupational health clinic providing smoking cessation treatment. Baseline measures included socio-demographic data, preferred brand of cigarettes, number of years smoking, use of alcohol and/or tranquilizers, past attempts to quit, Fargerström Test for Nicotine Dependence, Smoking Processes of Change Scale, and Coping with Withdrawal Symptoms Interview. Participants were invited to a face-to-face assessment of smoking abstinence using self-report and cooximetry hemoglobin measures at 3, 6, and 12 months follow-up. The main outcome was smoking status coded as “relapse” versus “abstinence” at each follow-up. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to estimate the probability of continued abstinence during 12 months and log-rank tests were used to analyze differences in continued abstinence as a function of socio-demographic, smoking-, and treatment-related variables. Cox regression was used to analyze the simultaneous effect of several risk factors on abstinence.Results: Using alcohol and/or tranquilizers was related to shorter abstinence. Physical exercise, the number of treatment sessions, performance of treatment tasks, and coping with withdrawal symptoms were related to prolonged abstinence. In particular, failure to perform the treatment tasks tripled the risk of relapse, while lack of coping doubled it.Conclusions: Our results show that physical exercise, performance of treatment-related tasks, and effective coping with withdrawal symptoms can prolong abstinence from smoking. Programs designed to help quit smoking can benefit from the inclusion of these factors.This research was supported by the Occupational Medicine Area (Prevention Service) of the University of Granada

Incidence, clinical characteristics and management of inflammatory bowel disease in Spain: large-scale epidemiological study

(1) Aims: To assess the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Spain, to describe the main epidemiological and clinical characteristics at diagnosis and the evolution of the disease, and to explore the use of drug treatments. (2) Methods: Prospective, population-based nationwide registry. Adult patients diagnosed with IBD—Crohn’s disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC) or IBD unclassified (IBD-U)—during 2017 in Spain were included and were followed-up for 1 year. (3) Results: We identified 3611 incident cases of IBD diagnosed during 2017 in 108 hospitals covering over 22 million inhabitants. The overall incidence (cases/100, 000 person-years) was 16 for IBD, 7.5 for CD, 8 for UC, and 0.5 for IBD-U; 53% of patients were male and median age was 43 years (interquartile range = 31–56 years). During a median 12-month follow-up, 34% of patients were treated with systemic steroids, 25% with immunomodulators, 15% with biologics and 5.6% underwent surgery. The percentage of patients under these treatments was significantly higher in CD than UC and IBD-U. Use of systemic steroids and biologics was significantly higher in hospitals with high resources. In total, 28% of patients were hospitalized (35% CD and 22% UC patients, p < 0.01). (4) Conclusion: The incidence of IBD in Spain is rather high and similar to that reported in Northern Europe. IBD patients require substantial therapeutic resources, which are greater in CD and in hospitals with high resources, and much higher than previously reported. One third of patients are hospitalized in the first year after diagnosis and a relevant proportion undergo surgery. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Innovation and entrepreneurship as strategies for success among Cuban-based firms in the late years of the transatlantic slave trade

This article examines how Cuban-based firms and entrepreneurs circumvented ever- increasing risks in the illegal slave trade. The article sheds light to this question by analyzing new qualitative information of 65 Cuban-based firms against the Slavevoyages database. Our findings indicate that Cuban-based firms were entrepreneurial as they exploited the opportunities arising from the volatility of the slave trade by: (a) internalizing networks of agents which allowed the rapid diffusion of information, (b) diversifying trading goods and expanding the number of partnerships to reduce transaction costs and risk, and (c) adopting technological innovations that modified the design and use of vessels