Economic Improvement of Artisanal Fishing by Studying the Survival of Discarded Plectorhinchus mediterraneus.

Europe calls for the end to fisheries discards, which means bringing all caught fish (subject to minimum sizes or quotas) to land. This decision is beneficial to the ecosystem, since it forces the selectivity of the fishing gears to improve. However, artisanal fishermen find themselves in a vulnerable situation where their subsistence depends on catches with small profit margins. An exemption to this landing obligation exists, as it is also ruled that those animals whose survival is scientifically guaranteed may be returned to the sea. Here we study the survival of Plectorhinchus mediterraneus captured by hookline and gillnet, as well as their physiological recovery. Survival exceeds 93% in both cases. The physiological assessment of primary (cortisol) and secondary (energy mobilization, acid-base and hydromineral balance, and immune system) stress responses indicates that surviving animals are able to recover after fishing. Thus, we propose the optimal size of capture of this species to achieve greater economic benefit. For this, we rely on the prices according to size in recent years, as well as on the growth curves of the species. In this way, by releasing fish of less than 1 kg, the current benefits could be multiplied between 2.3 and 9.6 times. This pilot study lays the groundwork for regulating artisanal fisheries through scientific data related to survival of discards along with information on the sale prices.

Calidad de vida y su relación con la percepción de estrés y el perfil antropométrico en mujeres adultas / Quality of life and its relationship to stress perception and anthropometric profile in adult women

La perimenopausia produce cambios hormonales y emocionales, que podrían influir en la calidad de vida como en la percepción de estrés de las mujeres. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la calidad de vida y su relación con la percepción de estrés y el perfil antropométrico en mujeres adultas. Se efectuó un estudio transversal en mujeres adultas (40-65 años) que concurrieron a la Fundación Hemocentro Buenos Aires (FHBA). El estado nutricional se evaluó con el índice de masa corporal (IMC) y circunferencia de cintura (CC). La calidad de vida se valoró mediante el cuestionario de calidad de vida (CV) de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (WHOQoL-Bref). La percepción de estrés (PS) se valoró por escala de estrés percibido (PSS-10). Se incluyeron 128 mujeres (52,3% premenopáusicas y 47,7 % posmenopáusicas). El 56,3% refirió tener una CV entre bastante buena y muy buena. La prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad fue de 60,2% (IC 95%; 51,5 - 68,2%). La percepción de CV se asoció inversamente al IMC (p= 0,0031) al igual que los dominios físico (p= 0,016) y psicológico de CV (p= 0,001). Asimismo, la PS se asoció de manera inversa a la precepción de CV (p= 0,008) y los cuatro dominios de CV.

Perimenopause produces hormonal and emotional changes, which could influence quality of life as well as stress perception in women. The objective of this study was to evaluate quality of life and its relationship with stress perception and anthropometric profile in adult women. A cross-sectional study was carried out in adult women (40-65 years old) who attended the Fundación Hemocentro Buenos Aires. Nutritional status was evaluated with body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). Quality of life was assessed using the World Health Organization quality of life questionnaire. Perception of stress was assessed by the perceived stress scale (PSS-10). We included 128 women (52.3% premenopausal and 47.7% postmenopausal). Over half (56.3%) reported having a quality of life between fairly good and very good. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 60.2% (95% CI, 51.5 - 68.2%). The perception of quality of life was inversely associated to the BMI (p= 0.0031) as well as the physical (p= 0.016) and psychological domains of quality of life (p= 0.001). Similarly, perceived stress was associated inversely with the quality of life perception (p= 0.008) and the four quality of life domains.

Response to Extreme Temperatures of Mesoporous Silica MCM-41: Porous Structure Transformation Simulation and Modification of Gas Adsorption Properties.

Molecular dynamics (MD) and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations were applied together for the first time to reveal the porous structure transformation mechanisms of mesoporous silica MCM-41 subjected to temperatures up to 2885 K. Silica was experimentally characterized to inform the models and enable prediction of changes in gas adsorption/separation properties. MD simulations suggest that the pore closure process is activated by a collective diffusion of matrix atoms into the porous region, accompanied by bond reformation at the surface. Degradation is kinetically limited, such that complete pore closure is postponed at high heating rates. We experimentally observe decreased gas adsorption with increasing temperature in mesoporous silica heated at fixed rates, due to pore closure and structural degradation consistent with simulation predictions. Applying the Kissinger equation, we find a strong correlation between the simulated pore collapse temperatures and the experimental values which implies an activation energy of 416 ± 17 kJ/mol for pore closure. MC simulations give the adsorption and selectivity for thermally treated MCM-41, for N2, Ar, Kr, and Xe at room temperature within the 1-10 000 kPa pressure range. Relative to pristine MCM-41, we observe that increased surface roughness due to decreasing pore size amplifies the difference of the absolute adsorption amount differently for different adsorbate molecules. In particular, we find that adsorption of strongly interacting molecules can be enhanced in the low-pressure region while adsorption of weakly interacting molecules is inhibited. This then results in higher selectivity in binary mixture adsorption in mesoporous silica.

Template-based syntheses for shape controlled nanostructures.

A variety of nanostructured materials are produced through template-based synthesis methods, including zero-dimensional, one-dimensional, and two-dimensional structures. These span different forms such as nanoparticles, nanowires, nanotubes, nanoflakes, and nanosheets. Many physical characteristics of these materials such as the shape and size can be finely controlled through template selection and as a result, their properties as well. Reviewed here are several examples of these nanomaterials, with emphasis specifically on the templates and synthesis routes used to produce the final nanostructures. In the first section, the templates have been discussed while in the second section, their corresponding synthesis methods have been briefly reviewed, and lastly in the third section, applications of the materials themselves are highlighted. Some examples of the templates frequently encountered are organic structure directing agents, surfactants, polymers, carbon frameworks, colloidal sol-gels, inorganic frameworks, and nanoporous membranes. Synthesis methods that adopt these templates include emulsion-based routes and template-filling approaches, such as self-assembly, electrodeposition, electroless deposition, vapor deposition, and other methods including layer-by-layer and lithography. Template-based synthesized nanomaterials are frequently encountered in select fields such as solar energy, thermoelectric materials, catalysis, biomedical applications, and magnetowetting of surfaces.

The home visit experience: a medical student's perspective.

Incorporating home care education into the medical school curriculum is essential for providing a learning experience not duplicated elsewhere. Students rotating through family medicine write a reflection paper on their experiences. The papers about home visits from July 2000 to June 2004 were analyzed by a constant comparison technique developing seven themes: student paradigm shift in their understanding of causes vs. efects of disease, misconceptions about treatment, access to care, a return to the roots of medicine, quality of family caregiving, broader implications of providing care, and controversial issues. The students'papers demonstrate the unique environment of home visits.