A greener approach for synthesizing metal-decorated carbogels from alginate for emerging technologies.

In the present work, a series of metal nanoparticle-decorated carbogels (M-DCs) was synthesized starting from beads of parent metal-crosslinked alginate aerogels (M-CAs). M-CAs contained Ca(ii), Ni(ii), Cu(ii), Pd(ii) and Pt(iv) ions and were converted to M-DCs by pyrolysis under a N2 atmosphere up to pyrolysis temperatures of TP = 600 °C. The textural properties of M-CAs are found to depend on the crosslinking ion, yielding fibrous pore networks with a high specific mesoporous volume and specific surface area SV (SV ∼ 480-687 m2 g-1) for M-CAs crosslinked with hard cations, Ca(ii), Ni(ii) and Cu(ii), and comparably loose networks with increased macroporosity and lower specific surface (SV ∼ 240-270 m2 g-1) for Pd(ii) and Pt(iv) crosslinked aerogels. The pyrolysis of M-CAs resulted in two simultaneously occurring processes: changes in the solid backbone and the growth of metal/metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs). The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed a significant influence of the crosslinking cation on the decomposition mechanism and associated change in textural properties. Scanning electron microscopy-backscattered electron imaging (SEM-BSE) and X-ray diffraction revealed that metal ions (molecularly dispersed in the parent aerogels) formed nanoparticles composed of elementary metals and metal oxides in varying ratios over the course of pyrolytic treatment. Increasing the TP led to generally larger nanoparticles. The pyrolysis of the nickel-crosslinked aerogel (Ni-CA) preserved, to a large extent, the mesoporous structure and resulted in the evolution of fine (∼14 nm) homogeneously dispersed Ni/NiO nanoparticles. Overall, this work presents a green approach for synthesizing metal-nanoparticle containing carbon materials, useful in emerging technologies related to heterogeneous catalysis and electrocatalysis, among others.

The importance of estradiol for body weight regulation in women.

Obesity in women of reproductive age has a number of adverse metabolic effects, including Type II Diabetes (T2D), dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular disease. It is associated with increased menstrual irregularity, ovulatory dysfunction, development of insulin resistance and infertility. In women, estradiol is not only critical for reproductive function, but they also control food intake and energy expenditure. Food intake is known to change during the menstrual cycle in humans. This change in food intake is largely mediated by estradiol, which acts directly upon anorexigenic and orexigenic neurons, largely in the hypothalamus. Estradiol also acts indirectly with peripheral mediators such as glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1). Like estradiol, GLP-1 acts on receptors at the hypothalamus. This review describes the physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms governing the actions of estradiol during the menstrual cycle on food intake and energy expenditure and how estradiol acts with other weight-controlling molecules such as GLP-1. GLP-1 analogs have proven to be effective both to manage obesity and T2D in women. This review also highlights the relationship between steroid hormones and women's mental health. It explains how a decline or imbalance in estradiol levels affects insulin sensitivity in the brain. This can cause cerebral insulin resistance, which contributes to the development of conditions such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease. The proper use of both estradiol and GLP-1 analogs can help to manage obesity and preserve an optimal mental health in women by reducing the mechanisms that trigger neurodegenerative disorders.

The fisheries and aquaculture sector in Latin America: Exports to East Asia and production.

The Asian giant has agitated foreign trade in Latin America due to easy access to this market, tariff policies, and international agreements. In the face of a globalized world, in the last decade fisheries and aquaculture entrepreneurs of Latin American countries have taken on the challenge of getting their products known at International Fisheries and Aquaculture Exhibition fairs in Asian countries, which has generated an increase in the exportation of their products. Fishing and aquaculture exports are a variable of the economy of each country reflected in the gross domestic product and foreign exchange results. The present research work analyzed the fishing and aquaculture sector through the first difference Generalized Method of Moments estimator to establish the behavior of exports from Latin American countries to Asia, the production of each Latin American country, and the subsequent effect on the economic growth of the fishing and aquaculture sector during the period 2012-2019. The findings of this article suggest the significant positive relationship between output and economic growth, and a non-significant negative relationship between exports to East Asia and the economy.

Managing university e-learning environments and academic achievement in the United Arab Emirates: An instructor and student perspective.

The present research evaluates how E-learning environment, E-learning adoption, Digital readiness, and Students attitudes towards E-learning, affect Academic achievement. The study focuses on a much-neglected cultural context, Gulf Cooperation Council countries (GCC), since Student's readiness as well as institutions and professors' endowments greatly varied within countries and among universities. The study further incorporates Instructors attitudes and evaluates the mediation effect of Academic engagement on Academic achievement. The methodology relies on Partial Least Squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The research findings emphasize the role of E-learning environment, Digital readiness, Academic engagement, students as well as instructors E-learning attitude as the decisive factors that determine students' Academic achievement. This implies that institutions who adapt to a changing environment by aligning students and instructors' goals to develop a positive and supportive E-learning environment, will foment Academic engagement and promote students' Academic achievement.

Exploring the role of human resource development functions on crisis management: The case of Dubai-UAE during Covid-19 crisis.

Employee welfare represents a critical element of success for companies to remain competitive. Human resources increasingly encompass the management of critical situations that affect the employees' wellbeing. This research analyzes the effect of Human Resource Development (HRD), functions on the effectiveness of crisis management. It is an attempt to include HRD in the theory of Crisis management. Using Structural Equation Models-Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) analysis, the study analyzes how training, leadership, organizational strategy, and organizational culture directly positively impact the efficiency of Crisis management (CM) during the Covid-19 crisis in the public entities of Dubai-UAE. In particular, training showed to be the best predictor, followed by the Organizational culture. Organizational structure, Values and uniqueness show no impact on CM within the context of public entities of Dubai-UAE.

Study of citizen satisfaction and loyalty in the urban area of Guayaquil: Perspective of the quality of public services applying structural equations.

This study investigates the satisfaction and adequacy of citizens through the expected quality and perceived quality in the areas of planning and territorial viability, experience in the provision of municipal services and citizen experience in environmental issues, in order to provide tools for territorial decision making for the citizens' well-being. In our research PLS software is used for the analysis of hypotheses. A questionnaire was delivered to a sample of 521 citizens, representing the spectrum of the population, and the statistical study of the responses yielded results on citizen satisfaction and loyalty. Our research includes the study of moderating effects on the causal ratio of perceived value and satisfaction in territorial planning and viability, the perceived quality in the provision of municipal services and the perceived quality in the citizen experience in the environmental management of the territory on the value relationship perceived by the citizen and general satisfaction. A second objective of the study is to see if there are significant differences in the hypotheses raised by gender by performing a multigroup analysis. This difference has been appreciated in two of the hypotheses. The study shows that the policies exercised by the territorial managers of the different areas have a significant influence on the value perceived by citizens, satisfaction and loyalty, which shape their general well-being. Areas for improvement in territorial policies and municipal services such as citizen security, air quality, public lighting and sports services have been identified. Knowing these shortcomings allows politicians to focus their efforts on improving the quality of life in cities.

The Spanish Labor Market: A Gender Approach.

The massive incorporation of Spanish women into the labor market is a phenomenon that began in the second half of the 20th century, being many the obstacles that this group has had to overcome to reach the current situation, where getting a job can be an achievement that, in many cases, does not correspond to the capacity and academic training of the worker, creating a labor and economic imbalance (the cost in training is not rewarded with the work done). In this work, the Spanish labor market was analyzed through the labor force survey (EPA) from a gender perspective, demonstrating the existing inequalities at the labor level, both of employment and unemployment rates, and of jobs where the glass ceiling is evident and of economic remuneration where the salary gap continues to be important. In addition, through an ARIMA model, the evolution of the number of Spanish working women was analyzed, and how the economic crisis of 2009 and the sanitaria have affected their employment in the various crises (COVID-19). Measures to solve the problem as well as laws and active policies in favor of the creation of female jobs and a greater awareness of empowerment on the part of the female collective are proposed.

Loyalty in Heritage Tourism: The Case of Córdoba and Its Four World Heritage Sites.

The aim of this research is to study visitor loyalty at a destination with heritage sites and to use the results to improve the competitiveness of the destination. This study used the SPSS AMOS software with a model of structural equations to evaluate the proposed hypotheses. A questionnaire was given to a sample of 428 tourists who visited the heritage sites in Córdoba. The management of any World Heritage City needs to know about the visitors' experience at the destination, which includes their expectations for the trip, expected quality of the destination, satisfaction with the destination, and how these affect visitor loyalty to the city, because it is important to get the visitor to recommend, and return to, the destination. In the case of Córdoba, the research has proven that visitor loyalty depends on visitor satisfaction with the destination, which depends on the perceived quality and value of the visit. In addition, the following areas for improvement have been identified: improvement of the information about the destination, improvement of waiting times and the professionalization of specialized tour guides at heritage sites. Therefore, the findings are important for city managers in order to be able to take actions which increase the loyalty to, and competitiveness of, the city compared to other similar destinations with heritage sites.

Tourist loyalty and mosque tourism: The case of the Mosque-Cathedral in Córdoba (Spain).

Loyalty is important in the tourism sector since tourists are the key to returning to a destination or recommending it, which is a determining factor in the management of tourist sites. The tourism of Mosques, is a contextualized tourism within religious and cultural tourism. This research aims to analyze the loyalty of tourists of Islamic origin in the Cathedral Mosque of Cordoba. Unlike previous studies, this research adopts a comprehensive approach by considering cultural factors in the analysis of loyalty of Islamic tourists in mosque tourism. The methodology used in this study was a structural equation model with a partial least squares (PLS) analysis. The sample is made up of 262 tourists of Islamic origin at Cordoba Cathedral Mosque. This model does not correspond to factors identified by the previous literature, which adopts an religious perspective of Islamic tourists in mosque tourism. The methodology used in this study was a structural equation model with a partial least squares (PLS) analysis. The sample is made up of 262 tourists of Islamic origin in Cordoba Cathedral Mosque. This model does not correspond to factors identified by the previous literature, which adopts an religious perspective.

Tibolone as Hormonal Therapy and Neuroprotective Agent.

Tibolone (TIB), a selective tissue estrogenic activity regulator (STEAR) in clinical use by postmenopausal women, activates hormonal receptors in a tissue-specific manner. Estrogenic activity is present mostly in the brain, vagina, and bone, while the inactive forms predominate in the endometrium and breast. Conflicting literature on TIB's actions has been observed. While it has benefits for vasomotor symptoms, bone demineralization, and sexual health, a higher relative risk of hormone-sensitive cancer has been reported. In the brain, TIB can improve mood and cognition, neuroinflammation, and reactive gliosis. This review aims to discuss the systemic effects of TIB on peri- and post-menopausal women and its role in the brain. We suggest that TIB is a hormonal therapy with promising neuroprotective properties.

The Loyalty of Tourism in Synagogues: The Special Case of the Synagogue of Córdoba.

Tourism in synagogues is an activity which is increasing in popularity due to the current interest in cultural and patrimonial heritage. The synagogue in Córdoba has become an irreplaceable Jewish tourist destination in Spain due to its origins, construction, conservation, and recognition by international organizations. This article analyzes the loyalty of tourism in synagogues using variables such as satisfaction, loyalty and the expected and perceived value of the destination and the historical monument using a structural research equations methodology. No previous studies on tourism at synagogues using structural equations have been made. The data was obtained by means of a survey given to 350 tourists visiting this cultural heritage site. The results showed that there is strong loyalty to the heritage site as well as the destination.

Steroid Hormones and Their Action in Women's Brains: The Importance of Hormonal Balance.

Sex hormones significantly impact women's lives. Throughout the different stages of life, from menarche to menopause and all stages in between, women experience dramatic fluctuations in the levels of progesterone and estradiol, among other hormones. These fluctuations affect the body as a whole, including the central nervous system (CNS). In the CNS, sex hormones act via steroid receptors. They also have an effect on different neurotransmitters such as GABA, serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate. Additionally, studies show that sex hormones and their metabolites influence brain areas that regulate mood, behavior, and cognitive abilities. This review emphasizes the benefits a proper hormonal balance during the different stages of life has in the CNS. To achieve this goal, it is essential that hormone levels are evaluated considering a woman's age and ovulatory status, so that a correct diagnosis and treatment can be made. Knowledge of steroid hormone activity in the brain will give women and health providers an important tool for improving their health and well-being.

Effect of the Addition of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Yeast Cell Walls to Diets with Mycotoxins on the Performance and Immune Responses of Broilers.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast cell walls (YCWs) in diets with low doses of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA), alone or in combination, on broiler performance and immune response. A total of 210 male broilers aged 1-21 days were used. Broilers were completely randomized into seven treatments with five replicates of six broilers each, as follows: 1) control diet; 2) control + 350 µg/kg AFB1; 3) Control + 350 µg/kg OTA; 4) Control + 350 µg/kg AFB1 and 350 µg/kg OTA; 5) Control + 350 µg/kg AFB1 and 1.5 kg/ton YCW; 6) control + 350 µg/kg OTA and 1.5 kg/ton YCW; 7) control + 350 µg/kg AFB1, 350 µg/kg OTA, and 1.5 kg/ton YCW. The broilers were housed under environmentally controlled conditions in Petersime battery cages. Weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion index were measured. The relative weights of the thymus, spleen, and bursa of Fabricius (BF) were evaluated. The local immune response was assessed by quantifying the level of intestinal immunoglobulin A (IgA). The cellular immune response was evaluated using a delayed hypersensitivity test. Hemograms and blood cell counts were also performed. The results showed that mycotoxins decreased performance and reduced the immune response (p<0.05) of broilers. Weight gain and feed conversion improved in the groups receiving YCWs. The YCWs increased (p<0.05) intestinal IgAs and the cellular immune response (p<0.05). The addition of YCWs also affected the relative weight of the thymus, spleen, and BF (p<0.05), and the leukocyte, lymphocyte, and heterophil counts (p<0.05). The addition of YCWs can be an alternative to counterage the negative effect of low doses of AFB1 and OTA in broilers diets.

Influence of sex steroid hormones on the adolescent brain and behavior: An update.

This review explains the main effects exerted by sex steroids and other hormones on the adolescent brain. During the transition from puberty to adolescence, these hormones participate in the organizational phenomena that structurally shape some brain circuits. In adulthood, this will propitiate some specific behavior as responses to the hormones now activating those neural circuits. Adolescence is, then, a critical "organizational window" for the brain to develop adequately, since steroid hormones perform important functions at this stage. For this reason, the adolescent years are very important for future behaviors in human beings. Changes that occur or fail to occur during adolescence will determine behaviors for the rest of one's lifetime. Consequently, understanding the link between adolescent behavior and brain development as influenced by sex steroids and other hormones and compounds is very important in order to interpret various psycho-affective pathologies. Lay Summary : The effect of steroid hormones on the development of the adolescent brain, and therefore, on adolescent behavior, is noticeable. This review presents their main activational and organizational effects. During the transition from puberty to adolescence, organizational phenomena triggered by steroids structurally affect the remodeling of brain circuits. Later in adulthood, these changes will be reflected in behavioral responses to such hormones. Adolescence can then be seen as a fundamental "organizational window" during which sex steroids and other hormones and compounds play relevant roles. The understanding of the relationship between adolescent behavior and the way hormones influence brain development help understand some psychological disorders.

XVI Congreso Nacional de la Sociedad Española de Medicina del Deporte: Granada, 23 al 26 de noviembre de 2016 / No disponible

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Mantram Repetition With Homeless Women: A Pilot Study.

Women and families are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population. Negative attitudes of nurses toward homeless women are a major barrier to homeless women seeking health care. This cross-sectional, mixed-methods pilot study, conducted primarily by nurses, tested the Mantram Repetition Program for the first time with 29 homeless women. The Mantram Repetition Program is a spiritually based skills training that teaches mantram (sacred word) repetition as a cost-effective, personalized, portable, and focused strategy for reducing stress and improving well-being. For the cross-sectional, pretest-posttest design portion of the study, the hypothesis that at least half of the homeless women would repeat their mantram at least once a day was supported with 88% of the women repeating their mantram 1 week later. The qualitative portion of this study using phenomenology explored the women's thoughts on mantram week 2. Themes of mantram repetition, mantram benefits, and being cared for emerged. This groundbreaking, interventional, mixed-methods pilot study fills a gap in interventional homeless research.

Anti-Inflammatory Activity and Changes in Antioxidant Properties of Leaf and Stem Extracts from Vitex mollis Kunth during In Vitro Digestion.

Vitex mollis is used in traditional Mexican medicine for the treatment of some ailments. However, there are no studies on what happens to the anti-inflammatory activity or antioxidant properties and total phenolic content of leaves and stem extracts of Vitex mollis during the digestion process; hence, this is the aim of this work. Methanolic, acetonic, and hexanic extracts were obtained from both parts of the plant. Extract yields and anti-inflammatory activity (elastase inhibition) were measured. Additionally, changes in antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS) and total phenols content of plant extracts before and after in vitro digestion were determined. The highest elastase inhibition to prevent inflammation was presented by hexanic extracts (leaf = 94.63% and stem = 98.30%). On the other hand, the major extract yield (16.14%), antioxidant properties (ABTS = 98.51% and DPPH = 94.47% of inhibition), and total phenols (33.70 mg GAE/g of dried sample) were showed by leaf methanolic extract. Finally, leaf and stem methanolic extracts presented an antioxidant activity increase of 35.25% and 27.22%, respectively, in comparison to their initial values after in vitro digestion process. All samples showed a decrease in total phenols at the end of the digestion. These results could be the basis to search for new therapeutic agents from Vitex mollis.