Obtention of fatty acids and phenolic compounds from Colombian cashew (Anacardium occidentale) nut shells using pyrolysis: towards a sustainable biodiesel production.

Sustainable management of non-edible agricultural residues of cashew nut production is a concern in Colombia. Therefore, this study aimed to study the fatty acid content of a pyrolytic liquid obtained from cashew nut shells (CNSs) from the Vichada region in Colombia. Transesterification of pyrolytic liquid was conducted to obtain biodiesel at the micro-scale as the first approach for this valorization route. Proximal analysis of samples was carried out using advanced analytical techniques (UHPLC-MS and CG-MS) whereas phenolic content and antioxidant activity were determined. The production yield of pyrolytic liquid was 69.15 ± 5.07% weight (wt.), at 550 °C and 2h of pyrolysis and the liquid was rich in fatty acids (∼70% wt.) and long-chain phenols (∼18% wt.). Among the phenolic compounds in liquid, mainly unsaturated C15:4 cardanol was identified (82.1 ± 5.5 mg/g), whereas the antioxidant activity of pyrolytic liquid was 0.714 ± 0.030 TE/g. Moreover, the biodiesel yield was 81% using catalyst sodium methoxide (12% v), and 50 °C and 26 min for the reaction. The obtained biodiesel in the hexane fraction was rich in methyl trans-8-octadecanoate (20.9 % wt.) and methyl palmitate (14.3 % wt.), being the representative compounds in the biodiesel. Therefore, the results indicated that thermal conversion of CNSs for obtaining biodiesel on a one-step process is a suitable strategy for the management of toxic and non-edible cashew residues. Finally, this is the first work of its kind that propose in detail the composition of pyrolytic liquid obtained from Colombian cashew nut residues under the proximate analysis approach and using advanced analytical techniques.

Predictive factors of hesitancy to vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 virus in young adults in Spain: Results from the PSY-COVID study.

Widespread population vaccination against the SARS-CoV-2 virus is a matter of great interest to public health as it is the main pharmacological measure to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Hesitancy/reluctance to vaccination has become a main barrier to containing the pandemic. Young adults are the age group with the greatest resistance to vaccination, even in countries with the highest vaccination rates during this pandemic. The objective of this study was to identify the main predictive factors of vaccination intention and profile people with hesitancy/reluctance to vaccinate against SARS-CoV-2 virus in young adults living in Spain during the pandemic. A cross-sectional study was conducted based on the administration of an online survey (PSY-COVID-2) that evaluated the intention of vaccination together with a wide range of sociodemographic, social, cognitive, behavioral and affective variables in a sample of 2210 young adults. 14% of the sample showed hesitancy/reluctance to vaccination at the beginning of their vaccination campaign. A total of 35 factors were associated (small to medium effect sizes) with the intention to get vaccinated. A reduced set of 4 attitudinal and social variables explained 41% of the variability in vaccination intention: attitude to the vaccination, trust in health staff/scientists, conspiracy beliefs about SARS-CoV-2 and time spent being informed about COVID-19. These variables showed good sensitivity/specificity for classifying people as reluctant/not reluctant to vaccination, properly classifying 86% of people. Psychosocial processes related to attitudes, trust and information are the main predictors of vaccination intention in a highly reluctant group such as the young adult population.

Formulation and Characterization of Gelatin-Based Hydrogels for the Encapsulation of Kluyveromyces lactis-Applications in Packed-Bed Reactors and Probiotics Delivery in Humans.

One of the main issues when orally administering microorganism-based probiotics is the significant loss of bioactivity as they pass through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. To overcome these issues, here, we propose to encapsulate the probiotic yeast Kluyveromyces lactis on chemically crosslinked gelatin hydrogels as a means to protect the bioactive agents in different environments. Hydrogels were prepared by the chemical crosslinking of gelatin, which is commercially available and inexpensive. This is crucial to ensure scalability and cost-effectiveness. To explore changes in key physicochemical parameters and their impact on cell viability, we varied the concentration of the crosslinking agent (glutaraldehyde) and the gelatin. The synthesized hydrogels were characterized in terms of morphological, physical-chemical, mechanical, thermal and rheological properties. This comprehensive characterization allowed us to identify critical parameters to facilitate encapsulation and enhance cell survival. Mainly due to pore size in the range of 5-10 µm, sufficient rigidity (breaking forces of about 1 N), low brittleness and structural stability under swelling and relatively high shear conditions, we selected hydrogels with a high concentration of gelatin (7.5% (w/v)) and concentrations of the crosslinking agent of 3.0% and 5.0% (w/w) for cell encapsulation. Yeasts were encapsulated with an efficiency of about 10% and subsequently tested in bioreactor operation and GI tract simulated media, thereby leading to cell viability levels that approached 95% and 50%, respectively. After testing, the hydrogels' firmness was only reduced to half of the initial value and maintained resistance to shear even under extreme pH conditions. The mechanisms underlying the observed mechanical response will require further investigation. These encouraging results, added to the superior structural stability after the treatments, indicate that the proposed encapsulates are suitable to overcome most of the major issues of oral administration of probiotics and open the possibility to explore additional biotech applications further.

Miedo y depresión en la práctica del BMX en jóvenes deportistas de la liga Tunja Boyacá, Colombia / Fear and depression in the practice of BMX in young athletes of the Tunja-Boyacá league, Colombia

El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo explorar el miedo y la depresión en jóvenes deportistas de la liga de Tunja, en BMX, con una metodología de tipo descriptivo cuantitativo que da cuenta de resultados de investigación, los cuales se enmarcan dentro del campo de estudio de la educación física. Se suministró una escala a la totalidad de los corredores adscritos a la liga BMX, encontrando un total de 17 jóvenes que conforman el equipo, los cuales se encuentran entre los 17 a 23 años de edad, se midió el estado del ánimo, pesimismo, sentimientos de fracaso, insatisfacción, sentimiento de culpa, sentimiento de castigo, odio a sí mismo, autoacusación, impulso suicida y pedidos de llanto mediante el inventario de Depresión de Beck (2006), La escala se compone por 21 ítems con una validez, fiabilidad y equivalencia alta. Los resultados arrojaron que los deportistas no presentan niveles de depresión elevados, el estado de ánimo reporta dentro del promedio; aun así, los rangos más altos se ubican en sentimiento de fracaso y odio a sí mismo

The objective of this study was to explore fear and depression in young athletes of the Tunja League, in BMX, with a quantitative descriptive methodology that accounts for research results, which are framed within the field of study of physical education. A scale is provided to all runners assigned to the BMX league, finding a total of 17 young people who make up the team, which are between 17 and 23 years old, mood, pessimism, feelings were measured of failure, dissatisfaction, guilt, feeling of punishment, self-loathing, self-accusation, suicidal impulse and crying requests through the Beck Depression Inventory (2006), The scale is composed of 21 items with validity, risk and high equivalence The results showed that athletes do not have affected levels of depression, the mood reports within the average; Even so, the highest ranks are located in feelings of failure and self-loathing

Análisis de la figura humana en niños y niñas desplazados en Colombia / Analysis of the human figure in displaced children in Colombia

Esta es una investigación exploratoria cuyo objetivo es analizar las características psicológicasproyectadas en el dibujo de la figura humana en 45 niños y niñas en situación de desplazadosen Colombia. El estudio se ha realizó en el departamento del Quindío, a partir de la aplicación del Test del Dibujo de la Figura Humana de Karen Machover a niños y niñas en situación dedesplazamiento forzado. Muchos niños y niñas presentan problemas de ajuste a los nuevos entornos de socialización como efecto de las secuelas del conflicto armado evidentes en áreas conflictivas proyectadas en el dibujo tales como cabeza, expresiones faciales, extremidades, tronco y escases de movimiento. El conflicto persiste de formas simbólicas en los niños yniñas, lo cual dificulta sus habilidades sociales, la relación intrafamiliar y el aprendizaje, mostrando en muchos casos reacciones defensivas tales como, elevados niveles de ansiedad,depresión, ensimismamiento, al igual que impulsividad, agresión y aptitudes desafiantes.

This is an exploratory research that aims to analyze the psychological characteristics in analyzing the human figure in 45 displaced children in Colombia. The study was conductedin the State of Quindío, based on the application of the Karen Machover - Human Figure Drawing Test to children in a situation of forced displacement. Many children experience problems adjusting to new environments of socialization as a result of the aftermath of the armed conflict, which are made evident in conflict areas projected in the drawing, such as head, facial expressions, limbs, trunk and scarcity of movement. The conflict persists ofsymbolic forms in children, which hinders their social skills, family relationship and learning, showing in many cases defensive reactions such as high levels of anxiety, depression andself-absorption, as well as impulsivity, aggression, and challenging abilities.