The appearance of a new coronavirus (Covid-19) and its rapid expansion throughout the world has forced all countries to establish regulations based on social confinement. In the early days of a ...pandemic, the adherence to regulations is crucial to be able to block its spread. This research aims to analyse the relationship between motivational variables associated with physical distancing and self-interested consumption behaviours in the first 10 days of confinement in Spain. A total of 1,324 people participated throughout the country (mean age 28.92 years). Participants answered an online survey about socio-demographic, motivational variables, which included a) risk information seeking, b) confidence in self- and collective efficacy in coping with the pandemic, and c) the four higher-order personal values ‒conservation (security, conformity, and tradition), self-transcendence (universalism and benevolence), openness (self-direction actions and stimulation), and self-improvement (hedonism and power) ‒ and the aforementioned behaviours in coping with Covid-19. Results showed a positive association between self- and collective efficacy and both coping behaviours analysed: a protective role of conservation values on normative behaviours; and a negative relationship between self-transcendence values and self-interested consumption. Additionally, risk information seeking was positively associated with the development of physical distancing behaviour.
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•FTIR-ATR imaging and MCR-ALS were able to analyze the location of the antibiotic florfenicol (FF) in feed pellets, even when this compound is in a very low concentration.•The ...antibiotic florfenicol (FF) is located mainly on the surface of feed pellets when is added with surface-coating.•The rest of the compound in the feed pellets (oil, protein and carbohydrates) shows better distributional homogeneity.•This is the first publication showing the contribution of these analytical techniques to study the penetration of an antibiotic added with surface coating to feed pellets.
Fourier Transform Mid Infrared with Attenuated Total Reflection Imaging (FTIR-ATR imaging) and Multivariate Curve Resolution with Alternating Least Squares (MCR-ALS) were used in a multiblock fashion to study the presence, distribution and penetration depth of very low concentrations of florfenicol (FF) in a complex matrix like feed pellets for salmonids. Images from the surface, at 150 µm deep and 200 µm deep from the surface were analyzed to certify the penetration power of FF added by surface coating methodology. Besides, the unique homogeneity index was calculated in order to evaluate the distributional homogeneity of each component. The results demonstrated the reliability of MCR-ALS in studying the distributional homogeneity of FF. It was demonstrated that FF remains mostly on the surface of the pellets with almost no penetration. The rest of the components of the pellets (oil, protein and carbohydrates) were also analyzed. These three nutrients are distributed on the three layers analyzed with a relatively homogeneous location, being carbohydrates (%H = 51 ± 3) the component with the best homogeneous distribution, unlike protein (%H = 45 ± 5), and oil (%H = 40 ± 7). This is the first publication where the penetration of an antibiotic, added with surface-coating to feed pellets, was analyzed with FTIR-ATR imaging and multivariate analysis, showing the contribution these analytical tools can make to the medicated feed industry.
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•Evaluation of FTIR imaging for brown seaweed chemical characterization.•Nondestructive characterization of main polysaccharides in Macrocystis pyrifera.•Microscopic location of main ...polysaccharides in different structures of M. pyrifera.•Improving selectivity of FTIR imaging by MCR-ALS for calculus of M/G ratio.•Differentiation of two types of fucoidans in Macrocystis pyrifera analysis.
The current hydrocolloid industry requires new techniques for biomass characterization, which can quickly and ecologically characterize contained sugars. This work proposes the use of Fourier Transform Infrared microspectroscopy in combination with multivariate methods, to localize and identify the main carbohydrates and other components present in fresh brown seaweeds, avoiding time-consuming samples pre-treatments. Infrared images of Macrocystis pyrifera samples were analyzed by Multivariate Curve Resolution-Alternating Least Squares (MCR-ALS) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) as chemometrics techniques to identify the compounds. MCR-ALS was the best strategy, delivering pure spectra of chemical compound that PCA did not. The carbohydrates identified by this method were 1-3-β-glucans divided into endofibers and laminarin; two types of fucoidans (rich in fucose or mannuronic acid), alginate and mannitol, besides other compounds such as proteins. This technique represents an opportunity for the hydrocolloid industry for a modern, rapid and environmentally-friendly characterization of macroalgal biomass to enhance its use.
Objectives:
The chronic restrictions to mitigate the new SARS-CoV-2 virus may result in pandemic fatigue. This study set out to develop a short, reliable, valid, and gender-invariant instrument—the ...Pandemic Fatigue Scale (PFS).
Methods:
In the first phase, 300 students responded to a pilot questionnaire that allowed the reduction and refinement of the items. In the second phase, the validity, reliability, and invariance of the scale were explored among a sample of 596 participants.
Results:
Factor exploratory and confirmatory analyses confirmed a robust adjustment for the bifactorial structure that explained 79,36% of the variance. The two factors identified were 1) people’s demotivation in continuing to follow the recommended protective behaviors (
neglect
) and 2) people’s boredom regarding the pandemic-related information (
boredom
). The pattern of relations between the Pandemic Fatigue Scale and other variables—find through correlation, mediation, and path analyses—and the gender differences—find in the ANOVA analyses—provided strong evidence of the construct validity. Moreover, the PFS was shown to be invariant regarding gender in a multigroup factor confirmatory analysis.
Conclusion:
The instrument can be of utility for professionals and researchers to assess pandemic fatigue, a variable that can affect the adoption of protective measure to avoid catching and spreading the virus.
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•Improved discrimination of sugar sources by 1H NMR using MCR-ALS as preprocessing.•Reliable identification of compounds for sugar differentiation from MCR-ALS outputs.•Discrimination ...of brown edible sugars attributed to organic acids and carbohydrates.•Discrimination of sugar beet by origin and storage attributed to amino acids.•MCR-ALS allows the differentiation of highly similar 1H NMR spectra of sugars.
The different types of sugar employed in the food industry exhibit chemical similarity and are mostly dominated by sucrose. Owing to the sugar origin of and differences in production, the presence of certain minor organic compounds differs. To differentiate between sugars based on their botanical source, geographical origin, or storage conditions, commercial brown sugars and sugar beet extracts were analyzed by 1H NMR spectroscopy applying a segmented analysis by means of multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares (MCR–ALS). Principal component analysis and partial least squares-discriminant analysis yielded excellent differentiation between sugars from different sources after the application of this preprocessing strategy; without loss of chemical information and with direct interpretation of the results. By applying a segmented analysis via MCR–ALS to 1H NMR sugar data, similar spectroscopic profiles could be differentiated. This improved the selectivity of 1H NMR spectroscopy for sugar source differentiation which can be useful for industrial sugar authentication purposes.
Food literacy is a combination of functional, critical, and relational skills that pave the way for navigating the food system properly, taking personally and contextually available resources into ...account. The aim was to validate the Spanish version of the self-perceived food literacy scale in university students to explore the factorial structure of it and to correlate food literacy with other variables. The sample was composed of 362 Spanish university students (314 women). The full questionnaire was administered online and also assessed adherence to a Mediterranean diet, impulsivity, and health-related quality of life for convergent validity testing purposes. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to determine the factor structure of the food literacy scale. The Spanish version of the scale showed good indices of internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.894). Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a five-factor model that had a better fit index than the seven-factor model of the original scale. External validity was assessed by showing significant correlations with the rest of the variables. Therefore, the Spanish version of the scale is a reliable and valid measure of food literacy. It could be used to promote policies at Spanish universities to improve the food-related behaviors of students.
The high sensitivity Compton and Rayleigh X‐ray scattering signals can be used to gain valuable information on the chemical composition of various matrices, by exploiting the ratio of those signals ...as a function of the effective atomic number (Zeff). Neither total reflection X‐ray fluorescence (TXRF) nor the effect of the experimental setup, including sample preparation, X‐ray excitation source selection, and band deconvolution procedure, has been assessed in this kind of approach. Here, a Compton/Rayleigh ratio and Zeff‐based TXRF method was set up and tested as an analytical tool for milk samples differentiation. The method was developed using a 90° scattering angle and assessed using different X‐ray excitation sources: a molybdenum tube (Mo Kα 17.5 KeV) and a tungsten tube (W Lα 8.5 KeV and W‐Brems 35 KeV). The evaluation of independent Compton and Rayleigh signals was performed by non‐Gaussian and Gaussian curve resolution methods, and both height and area‐based calculations were evaluated. Different sample preparation conditions were assessed. By using 11 standard materials, a calibration curve for Compton/Rayleigh ratio versus Zeff was established. The method was tested to determine the Zeff of milk samples, which enabled its use as a parameter to differentiate them. Good precisions were obtained with the Mo excitation source and the area‐based calculations, which allowed to differentiate undiluted milk samples by species, treatment, and fat content according to their Compton/Rayleigh ratio. This simple and rapid method has the potential to be used for the differentiation of various types of samples, including liquids, solids, and aerosols.
•FTIR imaging with chemometric techniques were used to detect florfenicol in feed pellets at microscopical level.•Analytical conditions for acquisition of hyperspectral images of pellets were ...evaluated.•It was possible to study florfenicol distribution in feed pellets at very low concentration in a complex matrix.•Presence of florfenicol in different zones of pellets was investigated to monitor its incorporation to this matrix.•Powerful of Augmented MCR-ALS to provide distribution maps of florfenicol in all the studied zones was demonstrated.
Fourier Transform infrared imaging and multivariate analysis were used to identify, at the microscopic level, the presence of florfenicol (FF), a heavily-used antibiotic in the salmon industry, supplied to fishes in feed pellets for the treatment of salmonid rickettsial septicemia (SRS). The FF distribution was evaluated using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Augmented Multivariate Curve Resolution with Alternating Least Squares (augmented MCR-ALS) on the spectra obtained from images with pixel sizes of 6.25 μm × 6.25 μm and 1.56 μm × 1.56 μm, in different zones of feed pellets. Since the concentration of the drug was 3.44 mg FF/g pellet, this is the first report showing the powerful ability of the used of spectroscopic techniques and multivariate analysis, especially the augmented MCR-ALS, to describe the FF distribution in both the surface and inner parts of feed pellets at low concentration, in a complex matrix and at the microscopic level. The results allow monitoring the incorporation of the drug into the feed pellets.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the world's most prevalent chronic disease and the leading chronic cause of morbidity. There are several psychosocial factors associated with quality of life during ...CVD. Our main objectives were to analyze the roles of conscientiousness, subjective wellbeing and self-efficacy beliefs. The sample comprised 514 patients (mean age 63.57 years) who were assessed twice over a nine-month interval. At Time 1, participants answered a questionnaire assessing conscientiousness, perceived subjective wellbeing (positive and negative affect, life satisfaction), cardiac self-efficacy and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The same variables (except for conscientiousness) were re-assessed at Time 2. Results showed that conscientiousness had a positive relation with subjective wellbeing, cardiac self-efficacy, and HRQoL at Time 1. Moreover, cardiac self-efficacy at Time 1 had a positive longitudinal effect on HRQoL at Time 2, while controlling for autoregressive effects. Mediation analyses indicated that the relationship between conscientiousness and HRQoL was mediated by positive affect and cardiac self-efficacy. These results suggest the usefulness of psychosocial interventions aimed at promoting positive affect and self-efficacy beliefs among CVD patients.
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The distribution and chemical patterns of lignocellulosic components at microscopic scale and their effect on the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process (SSF) in the ...production of bioethanol from Pinus radiata pulps were analyzed by the application of diverse microscopical techniques, including scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and attenuated total reflectance (ATR) – Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy. This last technique was accompanied with multivariate methods, including principal component analysis (PCA) and multivariate curve resolution with alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) to evaluate the distribution patterns and to generate pure spectra of the lignocellulosic components of fibers. The results indicate that the information obtained by the techniques is complementary (ultrastructure, confocality and chemical characterization) and that the distribution of components affects the SSF yield, identifying lignin coalescence droplets as a characteristic factor to increase the SSF yield. Therefore, multivariate analysis of the infrared spectra enabled the in situ identification of the cellulose, lignin and lignin-carbohydrates arrangements. These techniques could be used to investigate the lignocellulosic components distribution and consequently their recalcitrance in many applications where minimal sample manipulation and microscale chemical information is required.
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