Spectroscopic and Microestructural Evidence for T-2 Toxin Adsorption Mechanism by Natural Bentonite Modified with Organic Cations.

Aluminosilicates are adsorbents able to bind mycotoxins, and their chemical modification increases their affinity to adsorb low-polarity mycotoxins. To further investigate if the inclusion of salts in bentonite modifies its adsorptive capacity, we studied T-2 toxin adsorption in natural bentonite (NB) and when modified with quaternary ammonium salts differing in polarity and chain length: myristyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (B14), cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (B16) and benzyl dimethyl stearyl ammonium chloride (B18). The results showed that quaternary salts made bentonite: displace monovalent (Na+1, K+1) and divalent (Mg+2, Ca+2) ions; reduce its porosity; change its compaction and structure, becoming more crystalline and ordered; and modify the charge balance of sheets. T-2 adsorption was higher in all modified materials compared to NB (p ≤ 0.0001), and B16 (42.96%) better adsorbed T-2 compared to B18 (35.80%; p = 0.0066). B14 (38.40%) showed no differences compared to B16 and B18 (p > 0.05). We described the T-2 adsorption mechanism in B16, in which hydrogen bond interactions, Van der Waals forces and the replacement of the salt by T-2 were found. Our results showed that interaction types due to the inclusion in B16 might be more important than the hydrocarbon chain length to improve the adsorptive capacity of bentonite.

Brewing a Craft Belgian-Style Pale Ale Using Pichia kudriavzevii 4A as a Starter Culture.

There is an expanding market for beer of different flavors. This study aimed to prepare a craft Belgian-style pale ale with a non-Saccharomyces yeast. Pichia kudriavzevii 4A was used as a sole starter culture, and malted barley as the only substrate. The ingredients and brewing process were carefully monitored to ensure the quality and innocuousness of the beverage. During fermentation, the yeast consumed 89.7% of total sugars and produced 13.8% v/v of ethanol. The product was fermented and then aged for 8 days, adjusted to 5% v/v alcohol, and analyzed. There were no traces of mycotoxins, lead, arsenic, methanol, or microbiological contamination that would compromise consumer health. According to the physicochemical analysis, the final ethanol concentration (5.2% v/v) and other characteristics complied with national and international guidelines. The ethyl acetate and isoamyl alcohol present are known to confer sweet and fruity flavors. The sensory test defined the beverage as refreshing and as having an apple and pear flavor, a banana aroma, and a good level of bitterness. The judges preferred it over a commercial reference sample of Belgian-style pale ale made from S. cerevisiae. Hence, P. kudriavzevii 4A has the potential for use in the beer industry.

Continuous successive cycles of biosorption and desorption of acid red 27 dye using water hyacinth leaves as an effective, economic, and ecofriendly biosorbent.

We investigated the capacity of water hyacinth leaves (LEC) to biosorb 75 mg/L acid red 27 (AR27) in a continuous system comprising 30 successive biosorption/desorption cycles in a packed-bed column at pH 2.0 and 56.5 L/m2·h volumetric flux. Using 0.025 M NaHCO3 eluent at 113 L/m2·h volumetric flux, all the dye was desorbed (100% desorption efficiency) from the loaded LEC biomass within 5-6 h. The same biosorbent was used for 147.5 consecutive days. The AR27 biosorption capacity, breakthrough time, and exhaustion time decreased from 69.4 to 34.5 mg/g, 74.81 to 14.1 h, and 101.1 to 34.1 h, respectively, and the critical bed height increased from 1.04 to 2.35 cm, as the number of biosorption/desorption cycles increased from 1 to 30. LEC life factor based on biosorption capacity predicted that the packed bed would be exhausted after 51.95 cycles. LEC is a promising biosorbent for bioremediation of AR27-laden wastewaters.

Continuous biosorption of acid red 27 azo dye by Eichhornia crassipes leaves in a packed-bed column.

In this work, the biosorption behavior of acid red 27 (AR27) dye using Eichhornia crassipes leaves (LECs) in a packed-bed column was investigated by varying relevant operational parameters and assessment of mathematical models. Results showed that the zero-charge point of LECs was 2.37 and that optima pH and volumetric flux of the influent solution for AR27 biosorption were 2.0 and [Formula: see text], respectively. The maximum specific and volumetric biosorption capacities were observed at influent AR27 concentrations and with LEC bed heights ranging between 50 and 400 mg/L and 2 and 8 cm, respectively. It was also found that if LEC bed height was increased and volumetric flux and AR27 concentration of the influent solution decreased, service and saturation time increased. Modeling results revealed that the Thomas, bed depth service time, Yoon-Nelson, dose-response, and logistic models accurately described the dynamic performance of the packed-bed column in terms of pH, AR27 concentration, and volumetric flux of influent AR27 solution, as well as that of LEC bed height. The findings revealed that LECs exhibited remarkable potential for the biosorption of AR27 from aqueous solutions in a packed-bed column and could potentially be useful for the treatment of AR27-laden wastewater.

Relatos sobre COVID-19 de profesionales de la salud en un hospital / Stories about covid-19 from health professionals in a hospital

Introducción: la pandemia de COVID-19 impone a los profesionales de la salud: altas exigencias y modificaciones en el modo de vincularse con pacientes, pares y familiares. Estos cambios implican consecuencias emocionales tales como el incremento del nivel de estrés y síntomas de ansiedad y de depresión. Objetivo: describir un proyecto interdisciplinario creado bajo el modelo de la Medicina Narrativa dirigido a habilitar el relato de la experiencia de profesionales de la salud pertenecientes a un hospital general privado de alta complejidad de la ciudad de Buenos Aires durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Metodología: se creó una lista de correo y se convocó a profesionales del hospital a realizar una producción escrita, oral o gráfica que represente su experiencia durante la pandemia. Luego, el material recibido se envió a la misma lista de distribución con frecuencia semanal. En cada correo se renovó la invitación a narrar lo vivido o comentar los relatos de otros. Resultados: en el transcurso de siete semanas se recibieron diez producciones individuales: ocho textos, un audio y un gráfico. Los principales temas tratados pudieron agruparse en tres ejes: sala COVID, comunidad y telemedicina. Los autores fueron profesionales de Medicina, Enfermería, Psicología y de Puericultura. Conclusión: desarrollamos un proyecto bajo el modelo de la Medicina Narrativa que permitió a profesionales narrar su experiencia durante la pandemia de COVID-19, habilitando la posibilidad de poner en palabras lo vivido, reflexionar sobre modelos de actuación y elaborar el desgaste emocional generado por el contacto permanente con el dolor y el sufrimiento. (AU)

Introduction: the COVID-19 pandemic imposes high demands on health professionals and changes in the way they relate to patients, peers and family members. These changes involve emotional consequences such as increased stress levels, symptoms of anxiety and depression. Objective: to describe an interdisciplinary project created under the Narrative Medicine model aimed at enabling the reporting of the experience of health professionals belonging to a highly complex private general hospital in the city of Buenos Aires during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: a mailing list was created and hospital professionals were invited to make a written, oral or graphic production that represents their experience during the pandemic. Then, the received material was sent to the same distribution list on a weekly basis. In each email, the invitation to narrate what was experienced or to comment on the stories of others was renewed. Results: over the course of seven weeks, ten individual productions were received: eight texts, one audio and one graphic. The main topics discussed could be grouped into three axes: COVID room, community and telemedicine. The authors were professionals from Medicine, Nursing, Psychology and Childcare. Conclusion: we developed a project under the Narrative Medicine model that allowed professionals to tell their experience during the covid 19 pandemic, enabling the possibility of putting into words what was experienced, reflecting on models of action and elaborating on the emotional exhaustion generated by permanent contact with pain and suffering. (AU)

Biosorptive removal of acid orange 74 dye by HCl-pretreated Lemna sp.

Acid orange 74 (AO74) is a chromium-complex monoazo acid dye widely used in the textile industry. Due to being highly toxic and non-biodegradable, it must be removed from polluted water to protect the health of people and the environment. The aim of this study was two-fold: to evaluate the biosorption of AO74 from an aqueous solution by utilizing HCl-pretreated Lemna sp. (HPL), and to examine dye desorption from the plant material. The maximum capacity of AO74 biosorption (64.24 mg g-1) was reached after 4 h at the most adequate pH, which was 2. The biosorption capacity decreased 25% (to 48.18 mg g-1) during the second biosorption/desorption cycle and remained essentially unchanged during the third cycle. The pseudo-second-order kinetics model concurred well with the experimental results of assays involving various levels of pH in the eluent solution and distinct initial concentrations of AO74. NaOH (0.01 M) was the best eluent solution. The Toth isotherm model best described AO74 biosorption equilibrium data. FTIR analysis confirmed the crucial role of HPL proteins in AO74 biosorption. SEM-EDX and CLSM techniques verified the effective biosorption/desorption of the dye during the three cycles. Therefore, HPL has potential for the removal of AO74 dye from wastewaters.

Corncob as an effective, eco-friendly, and economic biosorbent for removing the azo dye Direct Yellow 27 from aqueous solutions.

The corncob is an agricultural waste generated in huge quantities during corn processing. In this paper, we tested the capacity of corncob particles for water purification by removing the azo dye Direct Yellow 27 (DY27) via biosorption. The biosorption process was investigated in terms of the kinetics, equilibria, and thermodynamics. Batch biosorption studies showed that the biosorption performance has strong inverse correlations to the solution pH and the corncob particle size, and it increases quickly with increasing contact time and initial dye concentration. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model provides the best fit to the experimental data, whereas the Redlich-Peterson isotherm model is most suitable for describing the observed equilibrium biosorption. The biosorption process is exothermic, spontaneous, and physisorption in character. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM) studies suggest that lignocellulose and proteins play key roles in the biosorption of DY27 from aqueous solutions by corncob. Furthermore, after biosorption onto the corncob, the dye can be effectively desorbed using 0.1 M NaOH solution. Therefore, the corncob can be used as a promising biosorbent to remediate DY27-contaminated water and wastewater.

[Stunting, overweight and obesity during the nutrition transition in schoolchildren of Arandas, Jalisco, Mexico]. / Desmedro, sobrepeso y obesidad durante la transición nutricia en escolares de Arandas, Jalisco, México.

BACKGROUND: Nutrition transition provokes changes in the nutritional status of individuals subjected to the interaction of various environmental factors; therefore, the aim was to demonstrate that nutrition transition is associated with socioeconomic changes, eating habits and physical activity, potentially involved in stunting, overweight and obesity of schoolchildren. METHODS: Case-control study. 102 participants from the Instituto Alteño para el Desarrollo de Jalisco (cases) and 194 from the elementary school system (controls), aged 5 to 12 years, were included. Dependent variables were these indexes weight/age (Z), height/age (Z), BMI (Z). Independent variables were the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. Student's t test, chi square, odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated. RESULTS: Family income was low (p = 0.031) and unstable job was higher in cases: OR = 4.1, 95% CI = 2.8-6.0. The frequency of stunting was higher in cases (9.9% vs. 5.9%). The combination of overweight/obesity was higher in controls (27.3% vs. 16.8%), OR = 1.85, 95% CI = 1.0-3.4. CONCLUSIONS: The nutritional status of children of Arandas, Jalisco, has been modified by an accelerate nutrition transition, provoked by socioeconomic, educational and demographic factors that might have influence on the persistence of stunting and an increasing prevalence of overweight/obesity.

INTRODUCCIÓN: la transición nutricia (TN) propicia cambios en el estado de nutrición de los individuos sometidos a la interacción de diversos factores ambientales; por tanto, el objetivo fue demostrar que la TN se asocia a cambios socioeconómicos, en los hábitos de alimentación y en la actividad física, potencialmente implicados en el desmedro, el sobrepeso y la obesidad en escolares. MÉTODOS: estudio de casos (n = 102) del Instituto Alteño para el Desarrollo de Jalisco y controles (n = 194) de escuelas públicas del municipio, de cinco a doce años de edad. Las variables dependientes fueron los índices peso/edad (Z), talla/edad (Z), IMC/E (Z). Las variables independientes fueron las características socioeconómicas y demográficas. Se utilizaron las pruebas t de Student, chi cuadrada y razón de momios (RM) con intervalos de confianza al 95% (IC 95%). RESULTADOS: el ingreso familiar mensual fue menor (p = 0.031) y el trabajo eventual fue más común en los casos, RM = 4.1, IC 95% = 2.8-6.0. La frecuencia de desmedro fue mayor en los casos (9.9% frente a 5.9%). La combinación de sobrepeso/obesidad fue mayor en los controles (27.3% frente a 16.8%), RM = 1.85, IC 95% = 1.0-3.4. CONCLUSIÓN: el estado nutricio de los niños de Arandas parece estar modificándose por una transición nutricia acelerada por cambios socioeconómicos, demográficos y educacionales que influyen en la persistencia de desmedro y en una creciente prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad.

[Factors associated with physical activity and body mass index among schoolchildren from Arandas, Jalisco, Mexico]. / Factores asociados a la actividad física y el índice de masa corporal en escolares de Arandas, Jalisco, México.

BACKGROUND: In 2015, Mexico was the top country for childhood obesity. The objective was to identify the association between physical activity and sedentary lifestyle with the social and demographic characteristics of families of schoolchildren in Arandas, Jalisco, Mexico. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 192 schoolchildren were randomly selected. Body mass index (BMI), active and sedentary behaviors, and socio-demographic characteristics of families were obtained. Logistic regression models with the included variables were constructed. RESULTS: Males living in not-crowding houses [OR 6.12 (2.17-17.25), p = 0.001], whose mothers were housewives [OR 2.44 (1.00, 5.94), p = 0.05], practiced more physical activity. Active transport to school was more common in schoolchildren whose fathers had lower income [OR 3.13 (1.27, 7.7), p = 0.013] and employment as peasant or mason [OR 5.12 (1.13, 23.3), p = 0.034]. Schoolchildren of nuclear families spent more hours watching television [OR 2.69 (1.10, 6.58), p = 0.03]. The frequency of outdoor playing was higher in males whose fathers had unstable employment [OR 2.93 (1.06, 8.1), p = 0.038] and low education [OR 2.94 (0.96, 8.98), p = 0.059]. CONCLUSION: Families with lower socioeconomic strata (less educated parents, unstable employment and family overcrowding) are more associated with active activities that do not require active economic spending.

Introducción: en 2015, México ocupaba el primer lugar mundial en obesidad infantil. El objetivo fue identificar la asociación entre conductas activas y sedentarias con características sociodemográficas de la familia en escolares de Arandas, Jalisco, México. Métodos: en estudio transversal se seleccionaron aleatoriamente 192 escolares. Se obtuvieron el índice de masa corporal (IMC), las conductas activas y sedentarias, y las características sociodemográficas de las familias. Se construyeron modelos de regresión logística con las variables incluidas. Resultados: los varones en condiciones de no hacinamiento (razón de momios [RM] 6.12, intervalo de confianza al 95% [IC 95%] 2.17-17.25, p = 0.001) cuyas madres se dedicaban al hogar (RM 2.44, IC 95% 1.00-5.94, p = 0.05) refirieron que practicaban actividad física con más frecuencia. El transporte activo hacia la escuela fue más común en hijos de padres con menor ingreso económico (RM 3.13, IC 95% 1.27-7.7, p = 0.013) y con empleo de albañil o campesino (RM 5.12, IC 95% 1.13-23.3, p = 0.034). Los escolares provenientes de familias nucleares pasaron más horas frente al televisor (RM 2.69, IC 95% 1.10-6.58, p = 0.03). La frecuencia de juegos en la calle fue significativamente mayor en varones cuyos papás tuvieron un empleo inestable (RM 2.93, IC 95% 1.06-8.1, p = 0.038) y baja escolaridad (RM 2.94, IC 95 % 0.96-8.98, p = 0.059). Conclusión: las familias con estrato socioeconómico más bajo se asociaron con mayor frecuencia a actividades activas que no requieren un gasto económico.

Biodegradation of Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) by a Microbial Consortium in a Continuous Up-Flow Packed-Bed Biofilm Reactor: Kinetic Study, Metabolite Identification and Toxicity Bioassays.

This study investigated the aerobic biodegradation of methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) by a microbial consortium in a continuous up-flow packed-bed biofilm reactor using tezontle stone particles as a supporting material for the biofilm. Although MTBE is toxic for microbial communities, the microbial consortium used here was able to resist MTBE loading rates up to 128.3 mg L-1 h-1, with removal efficiencies of MTBE and chemical oxygen demand (COD) higher than 90%. A linear relationship was observed between the MTBE loading rate and the MTBE removal rate, as well as between the COD loading rate and the COD removal rate, within the interval of MTBE loading rates from 11.98 to 183.71 mg L-1 h-1. The metabolic intermediate tertiary butyl alcohol (TBA) was not detected in the effluent during all reactor runs, and the intermediate 2-hydroxy butyric acid (2-HIBA) was only detected at MTBE loading rates higher than 128.3 mg L-1 h-1. The results of toxicity bioassays with organisms from two different trophic levels revealed that the toxicity of the influent was significantly reduced after treatment in the packed-bed reactor. The packed-bed reactor system used in this study was highly effective for the continuous biodegradation of MTBE and is therefore a promising alternative for detoxifying MTBE-laden wastewater and groundwater.

ENERGY CONSUMPTION, THE DISTRIBUTION OF MACRONUTRIENTS AND BMI IN MOTHERS AND THEIR MEXICAN SCHOOLCHILDREN.

OBJECTIVE: to identify the association between the percentage of adequacy of energy and protein and the distribution of macronutrients and sugar in the diets of mothers and schoolchildren with their respective BMI. METHODS: in a cross-sectional study, 174 5-12-year-old schoolchildren and their mothers were randomly selected. BMI was measured, and 24-hour dietary surveys were administered on weekdays and weekends. The associations between the dietetic indicators in the mothers and their children and the BMI of the mothers and their children were assessed. The chi-square test, linear regression and odds ratio were used for analysis. RESULTS: excessive energy consumption in the mothers increased the risk of excessive energy consumption in their daughters by 11-fold (p=0.04). Maternal lipid intake was associated with the consumption of lipids in their sons and daughters (p.

Objetivo: identificar la asociación entre el porcentaje de adecuación de energía y proteína y la distribución de macronutrientes y azúcar en la dieta de madres e hijos con sus respectivos índices de masa corporal. Material y métodos: en estudio transversal se seleccionaron de forma aleatoria 174 escolares de 5 a 12 años y sus madres. Se obtuvo el IMC y se aplicaron encuestas dietéticas por recordatorio de 24 h entre semana y en fin de semana. Se identificó la asociación de indicadores dietéticos en la díada madre-hijo y de los mismos con el IMC de madres e hijos. Se utilizó la prueba de ji cuadrada, regresión linear y razón de momios. Resultados: el consumo excesivo de energía en las madres incrementó 11 veces el riesgo de consumo excesivo de energía en sus hijas (p=0,04). El consumo materno de lípidos se asoció al consumo de estos en sus hijos e hijas (p.

Energy consumption, the distribution of macronutrients and BMI in mothers and their Mexican schoolchildren / Consumo energético, distribución de macronutrientes e índice de masa corporal en madres mexicanas y sus hijos escolares

Objective: to identify the association between the percentage of adequacy of energy and protein and the distribution of macronutrients and sugar in the diets of mothers and schoolchildren with their respective BMI. Methods: in a cross-sectional study, 174 5-12-year-old schoolchildren and their mothers were randomly selected. BMI was measured, and 24-hour dietary surveys were administered on weekdays and weekends. The associations between the dietetic indicators in the mothers and their children and the BMI of the mothers and their children were assessed. The chi-square test, linear regression and odds ratio were used for analysis. Results: excessive energy consumption in the mothers increased the risk of excessive energy consumption in their daughters by 11-fold (p=0.04). Maternal lipid intake was associated with the consumption of lipids in their sons and daughters (p<0.001 and p=0.005, respectively), and mothers’ carbohydrate consumption was associated with their daughters’ consumption (p=0.004). Mothers’ excessive sugar consumption increased the risk of excessive sugar consumption in their sons and daughters by 4- to 5-fold. Obese mothers had higher proportions of obese children [RM 15.5 (95% CI 1.8, 132), p=0.003]. Conclusions: the excessive energy consumption of mothers is a risk for excessive energy consumption in their children, differentiated by gender. Maternal obesity reflects an obesogenic environment and represents a risk factor for obesity in their children (AU)

Objetivo: identificar la asociación entre el porcentaje de adecuación de energía y proteína y la distribución de macronutrientes y azúcar en la dieta de madres e hijos con sus respectivos índices de masa corporal. Material y métodos: en estudio transversal se seleccionaron de forma aleatoria 174 escolares de 5 a 12 años y sus madres. Se obtuvo el IMC y se aplicaron encuestas dietéticas por recordatorio de 24 h entre semana y en fin de semana. Se identificó la asociación de indicadores dietéticos en la díada madre-hijo y de los mismos con el IMC de madres e hijos. Se utilizó la prueba de ji cuadrada, regresión linear y razón de momios. Resultados: el consumo excesivo de energía en las madres incrementó 11 veces el riesgo de consumo excesivo de energía en sus hijas (p=0,04). El consumo materno de lípidos se asoció al consumo de estos en sus hijos e hijas (p<0,001 y p<0,005) y el de hidratos de carbono al consumo de lípidos de sus hijas (p=0,004). El consumo excesivo de azúcar de las madres incrementó 4-5 veces el riesgo de consumo excesivo de hidratos de carbono en sus hijos e hijas. Las madres con obesidad tuvieron mayor proporción de niños con obesidad [RM 15,5 (IC 95% 1,8, 132), p=0,003]. Conclusiones: el consumo excesivo de energía en la madre constituyó un riesgo de consumo excesivo de energía en sus hijos de manera diferenciada por género. La obesidad materna reflejaría un ambiente obesogénico y representaría un factor de riesgo de obesidad en sus hijos (AU)

Kinetic, isotherm and thermodynamic studies of amaranth dye biosorption from aqueous solution onto water hyacinth leaves.

The present study explored the kinetics, equilibrium and thermodynamics of amaranth (acid red 27) anionic dye (AD) biosorption to water hyacinth leaves (LEC). The effect of LEC particle size, contact time, solution pH, initial AD concentration and temperature on AD biosorption was studied in batch experiments. AD biosorption increased with rising contact time and initial AD concentration, and with decreasing LEC particle size and solution pH. Pseudo-second-order chemical reaction kinetics provided the best correlation for the experimental data. Isotherm studies showed that the biosorption of AD onto LEC closely follows the Langmuir isotherm, with a maximum biosorption capacity of about 70 mg g(-1). The thermodynamic parameters confirm that AD biosorption by LEC is non-spontaneous and endothermic in nature. Results indicate that LEC is a strong biosorbent capable of effective detoxification of AD-laden wastewaters.

Risk factors associated with iron depletion and parasites in preschool and school children of Arandas, Jalisco, México / Factores de riesgo asociados con la depleción de hierro y parasitosis en niños preescolares y escolares de Arandas, Jalisco, México

Objective: The objective of this study is to explore factors associated with iron depletion and parasites in preschool and school children attending the Instituto Alteño para el Desarrollo de Jalisco (INADEJ) and children who attend preschools and schools in Arandas, Jalisco. Methods: This cross sectional study assessed two groups of children. In the INADEJ group, 102 children aged 60 to 144 months old were included, and in the School group of Arandas, Jalisco, 206 children were randomly selected from schools and preschools in the same municipality. Variables: Ferritin concentration (μg/ml), parasites, demographic, socioeconomic, educational and dietary data were collected. The Student’s t test, U Mann Whitney, chi square, odds ratio and logistic regressions were estimated. Results: Family income in the Schools group was $5,707 Mexican pesos (MP), which was higher than the family income in the INADEJ group ($4,311 MP), p = 0.031. The proportion of parents with incomplete primary education was higher in the INADEJ group (41.3%) than in the Schools group (35.4%) [OR = 1.88 (1.0-3.55)]. Unstable work was more frequent in the INADEJ group than in the Schools group [OR = 5.6 (3.26-9.62)]. The ferritin concentration was lower in the INADEJ group than in the Schools group (25 μg/L vs. 60 μg/mL, respectively), p <0.001. Having giardiasis and two or more parasites was more common in the INADEJ group compared with the Schools group [OR = 7.2 (2.25-23.0)] and [RM 3.86 (1.35- 10.98)]. Heme iron intake was lower in the INADEJ group. Conclusion: Low family income, father’s job instability, lower levels of education, overcrowding, living with animals and lower consumption of heme iron were associated with parasites and iron depletion (AU)

Objetivo: Explorar factores asociados con depleción de hierro y parasitosis en preescolares y escolares que asisten al Instituto Alteño para el Desarrollo de Jalisco (INADEJ) y los niños que asisten a escuelas en Arandas, Jalisco. Métodos: Este estudio transversal evaluó dos grupos de niños. En el grupo INADEJ, fueron incluidos 102 niños de 60 a 144 meses de edad; en el grupo Escuelas fueron seleccionados 206 niños al azar de las escuelas del mismo municipio. Se obtuvieron las variables: ferritina (g/mL), parasitosis, variables demográficas, socioeconómicas, educativas y datos dietéticos. Se realizaron pruebas t de Student, U de Mann-Whitney, ji cuadrada; odds ratio y regresiones logísticas. Resultados: El ingreso familiar en el grupo escuelas era $ 5,707 pesos mexicanos (pm), más alto que el grupo INADEJ ($ 4,311 pm), p=0,031. La proporción de padres con educación primaria incompleta fue mayor en el grupo INADEJ (41,3%) que en el grupo escuelas (35,4%) [OR = 1,88 (1,0-3,55)]. Trabajo inestable del padre fue más frecuente en el grupo INADEJ [OR = 5,6 (3,26-9,62)]. La concentración de ferritina fue menor en el grupo INADEJ que en el grupo Escuelas (25 μg/L vs. 60 μg/ml, respectivamente), p <0,001. Tener giardiasis y dos o más parásitos fue más frecuente en el grupo INADEJ [OR = 7,2 (2,25 a 23,0)] y [RM 3,86 (1,35-10,98)]. La ingestión de hierro heme fue menor en el grupo INADEJ. Conclusion: Los bajos ingresos familiares, inestabilidad laboral de su padre, pobre educación, hacinamiento, convivencia con animales y menor consumo de hierro hemo se asociaron a parasitosis y depleción de hierro de hierro (AU)

Effect of pH, ionic strength, and background electrolytes on Cr(VI) and total chromium removal by acorn shell of Quercus crassipes Humb. & Bonpl.

The ability of Quercus crassipes acorn shells (QCS) to remove Cr(VI) and total chromium from aqueous solutions was investigated as a function of the solution pH, ionic strength, and background electrolytes. It was found that Cr(VI) and total chromium removal by QCS depended strongly on the pH of the solution. Cr(VI) removal rate increased as the solution pH decreased. The optimum pH for total chromium removal varied depending on contact time. NaCl ionic strengths lower than 200 mM did not affect chromium removal. The presence of 20 mM monovalent cations and anions, and of divalent cations, slightly decreased the removal of Cr(VI) and total chromium by QCS; in contrast, divalent anions (SO4(2-), PO4(2-), CO3(2-)) significantly affected the removal of Cr(VI) and total chromium. The biosorption kinetics of chromium ions followed the pseudo-second-order model at all solution pH levels, NaCl ionic strengths and background electrolytes tested. Results suggest that QCS may be a potential low-cost biosorbent for the removal of Cr(VI) and total chromium from aqueous solutions containing various impurities.

Risk factors associated with iron depletion and parasites in preschool and school children of Arandas, Jalisco, México.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to explore factors associated with iron depletion and parasites in preschool and school children attending the Instituto Alteño para el Desarrollo de Jalisco (INADEJ) and children who attend preschools and schools in Arandas, Jalisco. METHODS: This cross sectional study assessed two groups of children. In the INADEJ group, 102 children aged 60 to 144 months old were included, and in the School group of Arandas, Jalisco, 206 children were randomly selected from schools and preschools in the same municipality. VARIABLES: Ferritin concentration (µg/ml), parasites, demographic, socioeconomic, educational and dietary data were collected. The Student's t test, U Mann Whitney, chi square, odds ratio and logistic regressions were estimated. RESULTS: Family income in the Schools group was $5,707 Mexican pesos (MP), which was higher than the family income in the INADEJ group ($4,311 MP), p = 0.031. The proportion of parents with incomplete primary education was higher in the INADEJ group (41.3%) than in the Schools group (35.4%) [OR = 1.88 (1.0-3.55)]. Unstable work was more frequent in the INADEJ group than in the Schools group [OR = 5.6 (3.26-9.62)]. The ferritin concentration was lower in the INADEJ group than in the Schools group (25 µg/L vs. 60 µg/mL, respectively), p <0.001. Having giardiasis and two or more parasites was more common in the INADEJ group compared with the Schools group [OR = 7.2 (2.25-23.0)] and [RM 3.86 (1.35-10.98)]. Heme iron intake was lower in the INADEJ group. CONCLUSION: Low family income, father's job instability, lower levels of education, overcrowding, living with animals and lower consumption of heme iron were associated with parasites and iron depletion.

Objetivo: Explorar factores asociados con depleción de hierro y parasitosis en preescolares y escolares que asisten al Instituto Alteño para el Desarrollo de Jalisco (INADEJ) y los niños que asisten a escuelas en Arandas, Jalisco. Métodos: Este estudio transversal evaluó dos grupos de niños. En el grupo INADEJ, fueron incluidos 102 niños de 60 a 144 meses de edad; en el grupo Escuelas fueron seleccionados 206 niños al azar de las escuelas del mismo municipio. Se obtuvieron las variables: ferritina (g/mL), parasitosis, variables demográficas, socioeconómicas, educativas y datos dietéticos. Se realizaron pruebas t de Student, U de Mann-Whitney, ji cuadrada; odds ratio y regresiones logísticas. Resultados: El ingreso familiar en el grupo escuelas era $ 5,707 pesos mexicanos (pm), más alto que el grupo INADEJ ($ 4,311 pm), p=0,031. La proporción de padres con educación primaria incompleta fue mayor en el grupo INADEJ (41,3%) que en el grupo escuelas (35,4%) [OR = 1,88 (1,0-3,55)]. Trabajo inestable del padre fue más frecuente en el grupo INADEJ [OR = 5,6 (3,26-9,62)]. La concentración de ferritina fue menor en el grupo INADEJ que en el grupo Escuelas (25 µg/L vs. 60 µg/ml, respectivamente), p.

Biosorption of Ni(II) from aqueous solutions by Litchi chinensis seeds.

The potential of Litchi chinensis seeds (LCS) for biosorption of Ni(II) ions from aqueous solutions was investigated in batch systems in terms of kinetics, equilibrium and thermodynamics. Experimental data showed that the biosorption capacity of LCS was dependent on operating variables such as solution pH, initial Ni(II) concentration, contact time, and temperature. The optimum pH value for Ni(II) biosorption was 7.5. Significant enhancement of Ni(II) biosorption was observed by increasing initial metal concentration and temperature. Modeling of sorption kinetics showed good agreement of experimental data with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Langmuir model exhibited the best fit to experimental data. According to this isotherm model, the maximum Ni(II) biosorption capacity of LCS is 66.62 mg g(-1). The calculated thermodynamic parameters showed that the biosorption of Ni(II) ions is an endothermic and non-spontaneous process. Results indicate that LCS can be used as an effective and environmentally friendly biosorbent to detoxify Ni(II)-polluted wastewaters.