Search

We report an observation of ultrahigh-energy (UHE) gamma rays from the Galactic center (GC) region, using 7 yr of data collected by the High-Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Observatory. The HAWC data are best described as a point-like source (HAWC J1746-2856) with a power-law spectrum ( ${d}N/{d}E=\phi {\left(E/26\,\mathrm{TeV}\right)}^{\gamma }$ ), where γ = −2.88 ± 0.15 _stat − 0.1 _sys and ϕ = 1.5 × 10 ^−15 (TeV cm ^2 s) ^−1 $\pm {0.3}_{\mathrm{stat}}{\,}_{-{0.13}_{\mathrm{sys}}}^{+{0.08}_{\mathrm{sys}}}$ extending from 6 to 114 TeV. We find no evidence of a spectral cutoff up to 100 TeV using HAWC data. Two known point-like gamma-ray sources are spatially coincident with the HAWC gamma-ray excess: Sgr A* (HESS J1745-290) and the Arc (HESS J1746-285). We subtract the known flux contribution of these point sources from the measured flux of HAWC J1746-2856 to exclude their contamination and show that the excess observed by HAWC remains significant (>5 σ ), with the spectrum extending to >100 TeV. Our result supports that these detected UHE gamma rays can originate via hadronic interaction of PeV cosmic-ray protons with the dense ambient gas and confirms the presence of a proton PeVatron at the GC.

Very-high-energy (0.1–100 TeV) gamma-ray emissions were observed in High-Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) data from the lobes of the microquasar SS 433, making them the first set of astrophysical jets that were resolved at TeV energies. In this work, we update the analysis of SS 433 using 2565 days of data from the HAWC observatory. Our analysis reports the detection of a point-like source in the east lobe at a significance of 6.6 σ and in the west lobe at a significance of 8.2 σ . For each jet lobe, we localize the gamma-ray emission and identify a best-fit position. The locations are close to the X-ray emission sites “e1” and “w1” for the east and west lobes, respectively. We analyze the spectral energy distributions and find that the energy spectra of the lobes are consistent with a simple power law d N / d E ∝ E ^α with $\alpha =-{2.44}_{-0.12-0.04}^{+0.13+0.04}$ and $\alpha =-{2.35}_{-0.11-0.03}^{+0.12+0.03}$ for the east and west lobes, respectively. The maximum energy of photons from the east and west lobes reaches 56 TeV and 123 TeV, respectively. We compare our observations to various models and conclude that the very-high-energy gamma-ray emission can be produced by a population of electrons that were efficiently accelerated.

The origin of high-energy galactic cosmic rays is yet to be understood, but some galactic cosmic-ray accelerators can accelerate cosmic rays up to PeV energies. The high-energy cosmic rays are expected to interact with the surrounding material or radiation, resulting in the production of gamma-rays and neutrinos. To optimize for the detection of such associated production of gamma-rays and neutrinos for a given source morphology and spectrum, a multimessenger analysis that combines gamma-rays and neutrinos is required. In this study, we use the Multi-Mission Maximum Likelihood framework with IceCube Maximum Likelihood Analysis software and HAWC Accelerated Likelihood to search for a correlation between 22 known gamma-ray sources from the third HAWC gamma-ray catalog and 14 yr of IceCube track-like data. No significant neutrino emission from the direction of the HAWC sources was found. We report the best-fit gamma-ray model and 90% CL neutrino flux limit from the 22 sources. From the neutrino flux limit, we conclude that, for five of the sources, the gamma-ray emission observed by HAWC cannot be produced purely from hadronic interactions. We report the limit for the fraction of gamma-rays produced by hadronic interactions for these five sources.

The first TeV γ -ray source with no lower energy counterparts, TeV J2032+4130, was discovered by HEGRA. It appears in the third HAWC catalog as 3HWC J2031+415 and it is a bright TeV γ -ray source whose emission has previously been resolved as two sources: HAWC J2031+415 and HAWC J2030+409. While HAWC J2030+409 has since been associated with the Fermi Large Area Telescope Cygnus Cocoon, no such association for HAWC J2031+415 has yet been found. In this work, we investigate the spectrum and energy-dependent morphology of HAWC J2031+415. We associate HAWC J2031+415 with a γ -ray binary system containing the pulsar PSR J2032+4127 and its companion MT91 213. We study HAWC data to observe their periastron in 2017. Additionally, we perform a combined multiwavelength analysis using radio, X-ray, and γ -ray emission. We conclude that HAWC J2031+415 and, by extension, TeV J2032+4130 are most probably a pulsar wind nebula powered by PSR J2032+4127.

We present the most precise measurements to date for the spatial extension and energy spectrum of the γ -ray region between a pulsar’s wind nebula and the interstellar medium, better known as the halo, present around Geminga and PSR B0656+14 (Monogem) using ∼2398 days of >1 TeV data collected by the HAWC observatory. We interpret the data using a physically motivated model for the diffuse γ -ray emission generated from positrons and electrons (e ^± ) injected by the pulsar wind nebula and inverse Compton scattering with interstellar radiation fields. We find the morphologies of the regions inside these halos are characterized by an inhibited diffusion that are approximately three orders of magnitudes smaller than the Galactic average. We also obtain the e ^± emission efficiencies of 6.6% and 5.1%, respectively, for Geminga and Monogem. These results have remarkable consequences for the study of the particle diffusion in the region between the pulsar wind nebulae and the interstellar medium, and for the interpretation of the flux of positrons measured by the AMS-02 experiment above 10 GeV.

The High-Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Gamma-Ray Observatory, located on the side of the Sierra Negra volcano in Mexico, has been fully operational since 2015. The HAWC collaboration has recently significantly improved their extensive air shower reconstruction algorithms, which has notably advanced the observatory performance. The energy resolution for primary gamma rays with energies below 1 TeV was improved by including a noise-suppression algorithm. Corrections have also been made to systematic errors in direction fitting related to the detector and shower plane inclinations, ${ \mathcal O }(0\buildrel{\circ}\over{.} 1)$ biases in highly inclined showers, and enhancements to the core reconstruction. The angular resolution for gamma rays approaching the HAWC array from large zenith angles (>37°) has improved by a factor of 4 at the highest energies (>70 TeV) as compared to previous reconstructions. The inclusion of a lateral distribution function fit to the extensive air shower footprint on the array to separate gamma-ray primaries from cosmic-ray ones based on the resulting χ ^2 values improved the background rejection performance at all inclinations. At large zenith angles, the improvement in significance is a factor of 4 compared to previous HAWC publications. These enhancements have been verified by observing the Crab Nebula, which is an overhead source for the HAWC Observatory. We show that the sensitivity to Crab-like point sources ( E ^−2.63 ) with locations overhead to 30° zenith is comparable to or less than 10% of the Crab Nebula’s flux between 2 and 50 TeV. Thanks to these improvements, HAWC can now detect more sources, including the Galactic center.

Galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) are charged particles that reach the heliosphere almost isotropically in a wide energy range. In the inner heliosphere, the GCR flux is modulated by solar activity so that only energetic GCRs reach the lower layers of the solar atmosphere. In this work, we propose that high-energy GCRs can be used to explore the solar magnetic fields at low coronal altitudes. We used GCR data collected by the High-Altitude Water Cherenkov observatory to construct maps of GCR flux coming from the Sun’s sky direction and studied the observed GCR deficit, known as Sun shadow (SS), over a 6 yr period (2016–2021) with a time cadence of 27.3 days. We confirm that the SS is correlated with sunspot number, but we focus on the relationship between the photospheric solar magnetic field measured at different heliolatitudes and the relative GCR deficit at different energies. We found a linear relationship between the relative deficit of GCRs represented by the depth of the SS and the solar magnetic field. This relationship is evident in the observed energy range of 2.5–226 TeV, but is strongest in the range of 12.4 33.4 TeV, which implies that this is the best energy range to study the evolution of magnetic fields in the low solar atmosphere.

Galactic gamma-ray diffuse emission (GDE) is emitted by cosmic rays (CRs), ultra-relativistic protons, and electrons, interacting with gas and electromagnetic radiation fields in the interstellar medium. Here we present the analysis of teraelectronvolt diffuse emission from a region of the Galactic plane over the range in longitude of l ∈ [43°, 73°], using data collected with the High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) detector. Spectral, longitudinal, and latitudinal distributions of the teraelectronvolt diffuse emission are shown. The radiation spectrum is compatible with the spectrum of the emission arising from a CR population with an index similar to that of the observed CRs. When comparing with the DRAGON base model , the HAWC GDE flux is higher by about a factor of 2. Unresolved sources such as pulsar wind nebulae and teraelectronvolt halos could explain the excess emission. Finally, deviations of the Galactic CR flux from the locally measured CR flux may additionally explain the difference between the predicted and measured diffuse fluxes.

Extended very-high-energy (VHE; 0.1–100 TeV) γ -ray emission has been observed around several middle-aged pulsars and referred to as “TeV halos.” Their formation mechanism remains under debate. It is also unknown whether they are ubiquitous or related to a certain subgroup of pulsars. With 2321 days of observation, the High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Gamma-Ray Observatory detected VHE γ -ray emission at the location of the radio-quiet pulsar PSR J0359+5414 with >6 σ significance. By performing likelihood tests with different spectral and spatial models and comparing the TeV spectrum with multiwavelength observations of nearby sources, we show that this excess is consistent with a TeV halo associated with PSR J0359+5414, though future observation of HAWC and multiwavelength follow-ups are needed to confirm this nature. This new halo candidate is located in a noncrowded region in the outer galaxy. It shares similar properties to the other halos but its pulsar is younger and radio-quiet. Our observation implies that TeV halos could commonly exist around pulsars and their formation does not depend on the configuration of the pulsar magnetosphere.

In the quest for high-energy neutrino sources, the Astrophysical Multimessenger Observatory Network has implemented a new search by combining data from the High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Observatory and the Astronomy with a Neutrino Telescope and Abyss environmental RESearch (ANTARES) neutrino telescope. Using the same analysis strategy as in a previous detector combination of HAWC and IceCube data, we perform a search for coincidences in HAWC and ANTARES events that are below the threshold for sending public alerts in each individual detector. Data were collected between 2015 July and 2020 February with a live time of 4.39 yr. Over this time period, three coincident events with an estimated false-alarm rate of

We present the results of dark matter (DM) searches in a sample of 31 dwarf irregular (dIrr) galaxies within the field of view of the HAWC Observatory. dIrr galaxies are DM-dominated objects in which astrophysical gamma-ray emission is estimated to be negligible with respect to the secondary gamma-ray flux expected by annihilation or decay of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs). While we do not see any statistically significant DM signal in dIrr galaxies, we present the exclusion limits (95% C.L.) for annihilation cross section and decay lifetime for WIMP candidates with masses between 1 and 100 TeV. Exclusion limits from dIrr galaxies are relevant and complementary to benchmark dwarf Spheroidal (dSph) galaxies. In fact, dIrr galaxies are targets kinematically different from benchmark dSph, preserving the footprints of different evolution histories. We compare the limits from dIrr galaxies to those from ultrafaint and classical dSph galaxies previously observed with HAWC. We find that the constraints are comparable to the limits from classical dSph galaxies and ∼2 orders of magnitude weaker than the ultrafaint dSph limits.

The latest High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) point-like source catalog up to 56 TeV reported the detection of two sources in the region of the Galactic plane at galactic longitude 52° < ℓ < 55°, 3HWC J1930+188 and 3HWC J1928+178. The first one is associated with a known TeV source, the supernova remnant SNR G054.1+00.3. It was discovered by one of the currently operating Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescope (IACT), the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS), detected by the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S), and identified as a composite SNR. However, the source 3HWC J1928+178, discovered by HAWC and coincident with the pulsar PSR J1928+1746, was not detected by any IACT despite their long exposure on the region, until a recent new analysis of H.E.S.S. data was able to confirm it. Moreover, no X-ray counterpart has been detected from this pulsar. We present a multicomponent fit of this region using the latest HAWC data. This reveals an additional new source, HAWC J1932+192, which is potentially associated with the pulsar PSR J1932+1916, whose γ -ray emission could come from the acceleration of particles in its pulsar wind nebula. In the case of 3HWC J1928+178, several possible explanations are explored, in an attempt to unveil the origins of the very-high-energy γ -ray emission.

This study examined the interrelationships among and combined effects of word reading skills and syntactic knowledge on reading prosody in fifth-grade monolingual Spanish-speaking students. We used Spanish standardized tests to assess the participants (n = 169, 79 girls) on word and pseudoword reading skills, syntactic knowledge, and reading prosody. The results revealed significant relationships among these factors and reading prosody. Word reading emerged as a pivotal predictor, whereas syntactic knowledge, although playing a smaller role compared to word reading, was linked to improvements in expression, phrasing, and the reduction of ungrammatical pauses. We also found a non-significant interaction between the independent effects of word reading and syntactic knowledge on reading prosody. The study suggests the potential benefits of integrating explicit syntactic instruction into reading curricula and intervention programs to support the development of reading prosody in Spanish.

Cosmic rays, along with stellar radiation and magnetic fields, are known to make up a significant fraction of the energy density of galaxies such as the Milky Way. When cosmic rays interact in the interstellar medium, they produce gamma-ray emission which provides an important indication of how the cosmic rays propagate. Gamma-rays from the Andromeda galaxy (M31), located 785 kpc away, provide a unique opportunity to study cosmic-ray acceleration and diffusion in a galaxy with a structure and evolution very similar to the Milky Way. Using 33 months of data from the High Altitude Water Cherenkov Observatory, we search for teraelectronvolt gamma-rays from the galactic plane of M31. We also investigate past and present evidence of galactic activity in M31 by searching for Fermi bubble-like structures above and below the galactic nucleus. No significant gamma-ray emission is observed, so we use the null result to compute upper limits on the energy density of cosmic rays >10 TeV in M31. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the first full-sky analysis of the cosmic ray arrival direction distribution with data collected by the High-Altitude Water Cherenkov and IceCube observatories in the northern and southern hemispheres at the same median primary particle energy of 10 TeV. The combined sky map and angular power spectrum largely eliminate biases that result from partial sky coverage and present a key to probe into the propagation properties of TeV cosmic rays through our local interstellar medium and the interaction between the interstellar and heliospheric magnetic fields. From the map, we determine the horizontal dipole components of the anisotropy δ0h = 9.16 × 10−4 and δ6h = 7.25 × 10−4 (±0.04 × 10−4). In addition, we infer the direction (229.°2 ± 3.°5 R.A., 11.°4 ± 3.°0 decl.) of the interstellar magnetic field from the boundary between large-scale excess and deficit regions from which we estimate the missing corresponding vertical dipole component of the large-scale anisotropy to be . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microquasars are laboratories for the study of jets of relativistic particles produced by accretion onto a spinning black hole. Microquasars are near enough to allow detailed imaging of spatial features across the multiwavelength spectrum. The recent extension measurement of the spatial morphology of a microquasar, SS 433, to TeV gamma rays 1 localizes the acceleration of electrons at shocks in the jet far from the black hole 2 . V4641 Sagittarii (V4641 Sgr) is a similar binary system with a black hole and B-type main-sequence companion star and has an orbit period of 2.8 days (refs.  3,4 ). It stands out for its super-Eddington accretion 5 and for its radio jet, which is one of the fastest superluminal jets in the Milky Way. Previous observations of V4641 Sgr did not report gamma-ray emission 6 . Here we report TeV gamma-ray emission from V4641 Sgr that reveals particle acceleration at similar distances from the black hole as SS 433. Furthermore, the gamma-ray spectrum of V4641 Sgr is among the hardest TeV spectra observed from any known gamma-ray source and is detected above 200 TeV. Gamma rays are produced by particles, either electrons or protons, of higher energies. Because energetic electrons lose energy more quickly the higher their energy, such a spectrum either very strongly constrains the electron-production mechanism or points to the acceleration of high-energy protons. This suggests that large-scale jets from microquasars could be more common than previously expected and that they could be a notable source of galactic cosmic rays 7-9 ., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

The transformation of the first-food systems and the widespread availability and marketing of breastmilk substitutes undermine efforts to promote adequate breastfeeding practices. The objective of the present research was to explore mothers' perspectives on infant formula use in Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. A generic qualitative design was used to explore mothers' perspectives on the factors that act as enablers or barriers for infant formula use. Semi-structured interviews with thirty-four mothers of 0-23 months old children, aged between 25- and 40-years old, were conducted. The interview transcripts were analyzed using content analysis based on inductive-deductive coding considering the framework of the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, and Behavior (COM-B) model. The discourse of the interviewees enabled the identification of a wide range of barriers and enablers for the use of infant formula, which were related to the three components of the model: capabilities, opportunity, and motivation. The health system emerged as the key determinant of infant formula use. Most of the participants who used infant formula referred to medical indication when explaining the reasons underlying their infant feeding decisions. The working status of the mother and emotional aspects of the child feeding experience were also identified as key enablers of infant formula use, whereas knowledge about health benefits and breastfeeding techniques, support from families and health-professionals, and motivation to breastfeed were key barriers. Taken together, these results suggest that strategies to reduce the use of infant formula in Uruguay should mainly focus on providing opportunities to breastfeed by improving the quality of the support and guidance provided to families in the health system and facilitating greater balance between breastfeeding and work., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflicting interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

We determined the intersubject association between the rhythmic entrainment abilities of human subjects during a synchronization-continuation tapping task (SCT) and the macro- and microstructural properties of their superficial (SWM) and deep (DWM) white matter. Diffusion-weighted images were obtained from 32 subjects who performed the SCT with auditory or visual metronomes and five tempos ranging from 550 to 950 ms. We developed a method to determine the density of short-range fibers that run underneath the cortical mantle, interconnecting nearby cortical regions (U-fibers). Notably, individual differences in the density of U-fibers in the right audiomotor system were correlated with the degree of phase accuracy between the stimuli and taps across subjects. These correlations were specific to the synchronization epoch with auditory metronomes and tempos around 1.5 Hz. In addition, a significant association was found between phase accuracy and the density and bundle diameter of the corpus callosum (CC), forming an interval-selective map where short and long intervals were behaviorally correlated with the anterior and posterior portions of the CC. These findings suggest that the structural properties of the SWM and DWM in the audiomotor system support the tapping synchronization abilities of subjects, as cortical U-fiber density is linked to the preferred tapping tempo and the bundle properties of the CC define an interval-selective topography., Competing Interests: PG, Cd, FM, LC No competing interests declared, HM Reviewing editor, eLife, (© 2024, Garcia-Saldivar et al.)

Introduction: Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) is a plant from the Lamiaceae family that has been used as ancestral food, medicine, and oil, with culinary, artistic, and religious purposes by most of the Mesoamerican civilizations. Native from Mesoamerica, introduced into South America, Australia, and Europe, it is presently consumed as a nutritional and functional food., Objective: This research aims to characterize ancient native cultivars from four provenances in Guatemala to recommend their direct consumption by the population as well as to establish its trade., Methods: Seed samples were collected in four places where they have been cultivated for several generations. The oil was obtained by expression and analyzed chemically by gas chromatography following standard qualitative and quantitative methods., Results: Variations in oil yield and some of the characteristic parameters of the phytochemical analysis were obtained. In general, the profile was similar to most of the reported data in the literature, with the saturated fatty acids (8.54-9.25%) relatively lower than the references (7.95-11.45%) but a higher concentration of unsaturated fatty oils, particularly of omega-3 (64.68-68.62%)., Conclusion: The oil from native cultivars contains high quantities of omega-3, which might help pregnant women during gestation and to control other conditions such as metabolic syndrome, particularly in low- and middle-income populations where these seeds are consumed regularly. The suggestion is made to encourage the cultivation and use of these ancestral seeds with the possibility of commercialization abroad with an appellation of origin label., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Multi-Drug Resistance (MDR) is one of the most frequent problems observed in the course of cancer chemotherapy. Cells under treatment, tend to develop survival mechanisms to drug-action thus generating drug-resistance. One of the most important mechanism to get it is the over expression of P-gp glycoprotein, which acts as an efflux-pump releasing the drug outside of the cancer cell. A strategy for a succesfull treatment consists in the co-administration of one compound that acts against P-gp and another which acts against the cell during chemotherapy. Ningalins are pyrrole-containing naturally occurring compounds isolated mainly from the marine tunicate Didemnum spp and also they are some of the top reversing agents in MDR treatment acting on P-gp. Considering the relevance displayed for some of these isolated alkaloids or their core as a drug for co-administration in cancer therapy, all the total synthesis described to date for the members of ningalins family are reviewed herein., (© 2023 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of health-related cues as part of the digital marketing of ultraprocessed foods on Instagram among food companies in Uruguay., Methods: Cross-sectional exploratory study. All content posted by 118 Instagram accounts of companies promoting ultraprocessed foods in Uruguay over 6 months (from August 2020 to February 2021) was retrieved. The content of 1,893 Instagram posts was coded considering visual and textual cues conveying health-related associations. The number and percentage of posts, including cues within each category and theme, were calculated., Results: More than half of all posts contained at least 1 visual or textual cue conveying health-related associations. Three main themes emerged: i) product composition, ii) healthy lifestyle, and iii) health and health benefits. The prevalence of health-related cues differed dramatically across product categories, ranging from 100% to 1.5%., Conclusions and Implications: Health-washing constitutes an integral part of the digital marketing of ultraprocessed foods on Instagram in Uruguay. The inclusion of health-related cues can potentially undermine public health efforts targeted at reducing consumption of these foods. These findings suggest that strict and comprehensive regulations on the digital marketing of such products are needed in policies promoting healthy eating habits globally., (Copyright © 2023 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Coffee is widely consumed across the globe. The most sought out varieties are Arabica and Robusta which differ significantly in their aroma and taste. Furthermore, varieties cultivated in different regions are perceived to have distinct characteristics encouraging some producers to adopt the denomination of origin label. These differences arise from variations on metabolite content related to edaphoclimatic conditions and post-harvest management among other factors. Although sensory analysis is still standard for coffee brews, instrumental analysis of the roasted and green beans to assess the quality of the final product has been encouraged. Metabolomic profiling has risen as a promising approach not only for quality purposes but also for geographic origin assignment. Many techniques can be applied for sample analysis: chromatography, mass spectrometry, and NMR have been explored. The data collected is further sorted by multivariate analysis to identify similar characteristics among the samples, reduce dimensionality and/or even propose a model for predictive purposes. This review focuses on the evolution of metabolomic profiling for the geographic origin assessment of roasted and green coffee beans in the last 21 years, the techniques that are usually applied for sample analysis and also the most common approaches for the multivariate analysis of the collected data. The prospect of applying a wide range of analytical techniques is becoming an unbiased approach to determine the origin of different roasted and green coffee beans samples with great correlation. Predictive models worked accurately for the geographic assignment of unknown samples once the variety was known., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors.)

We report the first detection of a TeV γ-ray flux from the solar disk (6.3σ), based on 6.1 years of data from the High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) observatory. The 0.5-2.6 TeV spectrum is well fit by a power law, dN/dE=A(E/1  TeV)^{-γ}, with A=(1.6±0.3)×10^{-12}  TeV^{-1} cm^{-2} s^{-1} and γ=3.62±0.14. The flux shows a strong indication of anticorrelation with solar activity. These results extend the bright, hard GeV emission from the disk observed with Fermi-LAT, seemingly due to hadronic Galactic cosmic rays showering on nuclei in the solar atmosphere. However, current theoretical models are unable to explain the details of how solar magnetic fields shape these interactions. HAWC's TeV detection thus deepens the mysteries of the solar-disk emission.

Background: Labels are a key element of the marketing strategies of infant formula companies, and often include text or images that idealize their use, undermining efforts to promote breastfeeding., Research Aims: To evaluate the prevalence of marketing cues that idealize infant formula on labels of products commercialized in Uruguay and to assess changes after a periodic monitoring of compliance with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes (IC)., Method: This study is a descriptive, observational, and longitudinal assessment of the information included on infant formula labels. The first data collection was in 2019, as part of a periodic assessment to monitor the marketing of human-milk substitutes. In 2021, the same products were purchased to evaluate changes in their labels. Thirty-eight products were identified in 2019, of which 33 were still available in 2021. All information available on the labels was analyzed through content analysis., Results: Most products included at least one textual or visual marketing cue idealizing infant formula in both 2019 (n = 30, 91%) and 2021 (n = 29, 88%). This represents a violation of both the IC and national regulations. References to nutritional composition were the most frequent marketing cue, followed by references to child growth and development. No relevant changes were observed after the periodic assessment conducted by the Uruguayan government., Conclusions: Monitoring compliance with the IC per se cannot be expected to trigger changes in the marketing strategies of infant formula companies. More explicit regulations and strong enforcement mechanisms are needed to end the inappropriate marketing practices on infant formula labels.

Echocardiography is commonly used in veterinary clinical practice for many species but is not as easily applied in non-sedated marine mammals. Additionally, Doppler echocardiography provides further information on hemodynamics, estimation of cardiac output, characterization of flow patterns, and diastolic function. However, its applications in marine mammals have not been as widely explored either. The present report aimed to characterize the left ventricle structure and function of the Southern Sea Lion (Otaria flavescens) through a Doppler echocardiography study. Data were obtained from a healthy animal trained for different veterinary examination routines. This communication constitutes the first report of Doppler echocardiography with stroke volume, and cardiac output measurement in pinnipeds, and the first report of measurement of myocardial performance index in aquatic mammals. This data brought initial information about in vivo structure and function of the heart of the Southern Sea Lion that can be safely and effectively evaluated with the use of transthoracic Doppler echocardiography. Our data have both clinical and research implications for future studies evaluating diseases of the cardiopulmonary system in pinnipeds, and cardiovascular physiology investigation in diving mammals., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Digital marketing has seen a rapid rise in the last decade as a consequence of the increased popularity of social media. However, few studies so far have analyzed the prevalence and persuasive power of digital marketing of ultra-processed products. The present study aimed at: (i) analyzing the content of Instagram posts of ultra-processed products through the lens of the heuristic-systematic model, and (ii) evaluating the influence of the content of the posts on user interactions. A search for Instagram accounts of ultra-processed products was performed using a master list of products commercialized in the two most popular online supermarkets in Uruguay. For each of the identified Instagram accounts, all the content posted in a 6-month period was recorded (August 15th, 2020 to February 15th, 2021). The posts were analyzed using content analysis based on inductive coding, and gradient boosting models (GBMs) were used to address the second study objective. A total of 2178 Instagram posts promoting specific ultra-processed products or brands were identified. The posts included a diverse set of cues to trigger both systematic and heuristic processing. References to the pleasure derived from product consumption as well as health-related cues were most prevalent. The GBM showed that references to contests and raffles and invitations to interact encouraged users to engage with the posts through posting comments. Taken together, results stress the need to implement comprehensive regulatory approaches to reduce exposure to and the power of digital marketing of ultra-processed products given the harmful health-related consequences associated with excessive consumption of such products., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this study was to make the first characterization of the electrocardiogram (ECG) of the Burmeister porpoise (Phocoena sipinipinnis). A total of three ECGs were made in one, wild juvenile female (body weight = 32.5 kg, Lt = 1.45 m), temporarily held in captivity for rehabilitation at Mar del Plata Aquarium (Argentina). For ECG recordings, the animal was removed from its pool on a stretcher under constant veterinary supervision. A traditional six-lead system in the frontal plane was used, with the typical four "extremities" electrodes positioned bilaterally. ECGs were readable and all waves were detectable. The QRS complexes were characterized by Q wave absence in all leads. The ECG characteristically displayed distinctly defined STs, with a T wave clearly differentiated from the QRS complex. An STs elevation was detected in leads II and III. The mean electrical axis was -79°, meaning a cranial left axis orientation. The animal showed normal sinus rhythm and heart rate (HR) showed a continuous oscillation between tachycardia and bradycardia. Mean HR from all recordings was 147.02 ± 24.95 bpm (range = 71-176, n = 178). Evidence of the occurrence of respiratory sinus arrhythmia was detected through HR variations and RR interval differences, which suggested an adequate cardiovascular system compensation to handling conditions. This study has reported ECG amplitude and duration measurements of a potentially healthy specimen, which represents the starting point for the determination of normal ECG values for this species. Also, it has confirmed that ECG is a valuable noninvasive tool for rapid cardiac health assessment in small cetaceans., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Introduction: Fibromyalgia is a condition that is often misunderstood by the medical community. Misunderstandings are exacerbated when a patient is an ethnic minority, and recent literature suggests that ethnic minorities are shown to have a higher prevalence of fibromyalgia. Despite this information, many studies about fibromyalgia are conducted with Anglo-Americans while ethnic minorities are underrepresented. Methods: To address this research gap, this study uses qualitative interviews to discuss the dialogical experiences of Puerto Rican women with fibromyalgia through a combination of intersectional and rhetorical theory. These methodologies can reveal what having various identities can mean when communicating in institutional and cultural settings. Results: The data shows a significant level of gaslighting by providers, which led participants to more aggressively seek proper treatment. Cultural deference towards doctors was also noted as a practice that can backfire, especially when living with a condition that is often dismissed. Conclusion: The results indicate that when the body's truth is filtered through intersectional lenses, this truth can become distorted or lost.

Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to digital food marketing. However, research on adolescents' recall, awareness, and opinions of this type of marketing is still scarce. Accordingly, the present study aimed to conduct an in-depth examination of adolescents' experiences with digital food marketing. A convenience sample of 209 adolescents was recruited at two private educational institutions and a public health facility in Montevideo, the capital city of Uruguay. Semi-structured group interviews were conducted, recorded in audio and transcribed. The transcripts were analyzed using content analysis based on a deductive-inductive approach. Results showed that participants were highly exposed to digital food marketing, as they all remembered having seen advertisements, with those of fast-food restaurants and food-ordering apps being the most frequently mentioned. According to the adolescents' accounts, images, colors, music, oversized portions, product novelty, price promotions and celebrities were the most memorable aspects of food advertisements. Participants recognized the effect of advertisements on product awareness and wanting, and, to a lesser extent, on actual purchase and consumption behavior. Factors that were thought to mediate the impact of digital marketing on food choice were also identified. In the final part of the interviews, participants proposed strategies to reduce the effect of digital marketing on their food choices, which included both regulatory approaches to reduce exposure to digital marketing of unhealthy foods and behavior change communication. Together, the current findings provide insights for the development of multifaceted strategies to reduce the effects of digital food marketing on the eating habits of adolescents., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To explore parents' accounts of the goals they seek when choosing foods for their young children through the lens of goal-systems theory., Design: In-depth interviews with parents of children aged from 6 months to 5 years., Setting: Montevideo, Uruguay., Participants: Forty-two parents (aged 19-44 years, 90% female)., Phenomenon of Interest: Parents' personal experiences, feelings, and opinions related to how they choose foods for their children., Analysis: Content analysis based on deductive-inductive coding., Results: Parents' accounts confirmed they intended to pursue different goals when choosing foods for their children. Health-related goals mainly motivated the selection of healthy foods, but they also drove the selection of some ultra-processed products because of misconceptions about their healthiness. Pleasure and enjoyment motivated the selection of ultra-processed products, whereas stress avoidance was associated with selecting convenient foods. The selection of unhealthy foods raised conflicts between goals, which were solved using goal shielding, changes in risk perception and/or compensatory health beliefs., Conclusions and Implications: Results point to the need for communication campaigns and community-based interventions to introduce changes in how ultra-processed products are conceptualized and increase the associations between healthy foods and children's pleasure and enjoyment to promote healthier eating patterns during infancy and early childhood., (Copyright © 2022 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To analyse the content of the marketing of commercial foods for infants and young children on packages and social media., Design: Commercial foods targeted at children, regarded as potential breast-milk substitutes according to the Uruguayan breast-feeding standard, were considered: dairy products; teas, juices and bottled waters; glucose solutions; cereals and mixtures of fruits and vegetables. All the products sold at forty-four retail outlets were purchased. A Facebook search was performed to identify accounts of these products. For each account, all the content posted by the brands between July 2017 and July 2019 was recorded. The visual and textual information included in the packages and Facebook posts was analysed using content analysis. Products were classified using the nutrient profile model of the Pan American Health Organization., Setting: Montevideo, Uruguay., Results: Seventy-six unique commercial foods targeted at infants and young children were identified, 96 % of which were excessive in sugar. Packages frequently included textual and visual elements to convey health-related associations, including images of fruits and vegetables, nutrient content claims and endorsement logos. Ten Facebook accounts were identified, which generated 302 posts. Parents and caregivers were the main target audience of the posts, which mainly included content related to fun and social aspects of food consumption. Additionally, the posts frequently conveyed the idea that products would contribute to children's growth and development., Conclusions: Results suggest the need to implement comprehensive regulations on the marketing of commercial foods targeted at children, regarded as potential breast-milk substitutes according to the Uruguayan breast-feeding standard.

Objective: The information displayed on the packages of feeding bottles and teats commercialised in Montevideo (Uruguay) was analysed using content analysis with the goal of identifying key marketing practices that may discourage breast-feeding., Design: The study was conducted as part of the periodic assessment performed by the Uruguayan government to monitor the marketing of breast milk substitutes. All the feeding bottles and teats sold in forty-four retail outlets selling breast milk substitutes were purchased. The information available on the packages was analysed using content analysis and descriptive statistics., Setting: Montevideo, Uruguay., Results: A total of 197 feeding bottles and 71 teats were found. The majority of the packages included information to enable caregivers to adequately use the products, including recommended age, instructions on how to use the products and instructions on the use of hygienic practices. However, the packages frequently included information that implied that bottle feeding was equivalent to breast-feeding, particularly from a physiological perspective, or that idealised product use. Idealisations included ability to reduce colic, improvements in the feeding experience and improvements in children's health, well-being and development. Statements on the superiority of breast-feeding were infrequent., Conclusions: The results from the present work showed the high prevalence of marketing practices on the packages of feeding bottles and teats that may discourage breast-feeding. Stricter and more detailed regulations seem necessary to enable caregivers to make informed feeding decisions for infants.

Background: Hospitalized pediatric hematology-oncology (PHO) patients have frequent clinical deterioration events (CDE) requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission, particularly in resource-limited settings. The objective of this study was to describe CDEs in hospitalized PHO patients in Latin America and to identify event-level and center-level risk factors for mortality., Methods: In 2017, the authors implemented a prospective registry of CDEs, defined as unplanned transfers to a higher level of care, use of ICU-level interventions on the floor, or nonpalliative floor deaths, in 16 PHO centers in 10 countries. PHO hospital admissions and hospital inpatient days were also reported. This study analyzes the first year of registry data (June 2017 to May 2018)., Results: Among 16 centers, 553 CDEs were reported in PHO patients during 11,536 admissions and 119,414 inpatient days (4.63 per 1000 inpatient days). Event mortality was 29% (1.33 per 1000 inpatient days) but ranged widely across centers (11%-79% or 0.36-5.80 per 1000 inpatient days). Significant risk factors for event mortality included requiring any ICU-level intervention on the floor and not being transferred to a higher level of care. Events with organ dysfunction, a higher severity of illness, and a requirement for ICU intervention had higher mortality. In center-level analysis, hospitals with a higher volume of PHO patients, less floor use of ICU intervention, lower severity of illness on transfer, and lower rates of floor cardiopulmonary arrest had lower event mortality., Conclusions: Hospitalized PHO patients who experience CDEs in resource-limited settings frequently require floor-based ICU interventions and have high mortality. Modifiable hospital practices around the escalation of care for these high-risk patients may contribute to poor outcomes. Earlier recognition of critical illness and timely ICU transfer may improve survival in hospitalized children with cancer., (© 2021 The Authors. Cancer published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Cancer Society.)

Although several efforts to promote breastfeeding have been implemented worldwide, the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months of life remains low. One of the factors responsible for this trend is the widespread sales and marketing of breast-milk substitutes. In this context, the present work aimed at exploring mothers and health professionals' social representations of breastfeeding and infant formula. The study was conducted in Montevideo (Uruguay), as part of the periodic assessment performed by the Uruguayan government to monitor the marketing of breast-milk substitutes according to the OMS/UNICEF NetCode toolkit. A total of 330 mothers of children under 24 months old and 154 health professionals were recruited at 33 health care facilities. Participants were asked to complete two word association tasks, one with breastfeeding and the other with infant formula. Inductive coding was used to classify the responses into categories and dimensions. The structure of the social representations was explored considering the frequency of mention and the average rank of appearance of the categories. Results showed that mothers' social representations mainly positioned breastfeeding as a feeding practice, whereas infant formulas were mainly perceived as a complement to breast-milk that provides support. In the case of health professionals, the social representations of breastfeeding and infant formulas were in line with scientific evidence and health recommendations. These results suggest that efforts to promote breastfeeding should focus on raising public awareness of the risks associated with breast-milk substitutes and on overcoming the systemic barriers to breastfeeding, particularly among working mothers., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Because of the high energies and long distances to the sources, astrophysical observations provide a unique opportunity to test possible signatures of Lorentz invariance violation (LIV). Superluminal LIV enables the decay of photons at high energy. The high altitude water Cherenkov (HAWC) observatory is among the most sensitive gamma-ray instruments currently operating above 10 TeV. HAWC finds evidence of 100 TeV photon emission from at least four astrophysical sources. These observations exclude, for the strongest of the limits set, the LIV energy scale to 2.2×10^{31}  eV, over 1800 times the Planck energy and an improvement of 1 to 2 orders of magnitude over previous limits.

We present the first catalog of gamma-ray sources emitting above 56 and 100 TeV with data from the High Altitude Water Cherenkov Observatory, a wide field-of-view observatory capable of detecting gamma rays up to a few hundred TeV. Nine sources are observed above 56 TeV, all of which are likely galactic in origin. Three sources continue emitting past 100 TeV, making this the highest-energy gamma-ray source catalog to date. We report the integral flux of each of these objects. We also report spectra for three highest-energy sources and discuss the possibility that they are PeVatrons.

In this Letter, owing to a production error, the penultimate version of the PDF was published. The HTML version was always correct. The PDF has been corrected online.

SS 433 is a binary system containing a supergiant star that is overflowing its Roche lobe with matter accreting onto a compact object (either a black hole or neutron star) 1-3 . Two jets of ionized matter with a bulk velocity of approximately 0.26c (where c is the speed of light in vacuum) extend from the binary, perpendicular to the line of sight, and terminate inside W50, a supernova remnant that is being distorted by the jets 2,4-8 . SS 433 differs from other microquasars (small-scale versions of quasars that are present within our own Galaxy) in that the accretion is believed to be super-Eddington 9-11 , and the luminosity of the system is about 10 40 ergs per second 2,9,12,13 . The lobes of W50 in which the jets terminate, about 40 parsecs from the central source, are expected to accelerate charged particles, and indeed radio and X-ray emission consistent with electron synchrotron emission in a magnetic field have been observed 14-16 . At higher energies (greater than 100 gigaelectronvolts), the particle fluxes of γ-rays from X-ray hotspots around SS 433 have been reported as flux upper limits 6,17-20 . In this energy regime, it has been unclear whether the emission is dominated by electrons that are interacting with photons from the cosmic microwave background through inverse-Compton scattering or by protons that are interacting with the ambient gas. Here we report teraelectronvolt γ-ray observations of the SS 433/W50 system that spatially resolve the lobes. The teraelectronvolt emission is localized to structures in the lobes, far from the centre of the system where the jets are formed. We have measured photon energies of at least 25 teraelectronvolts, and these are certainly not Doppler-boosted, because of the viewing geometry. We conclude that the emission-from radio to teraelectronvolt energies-is consistent with a single population of electrons with energies extending to at least hundreds of teraelectronvolts in a magnetic field of about 16 microgauss.

The unexpectedly high flux of cosmic-ray positrons detected at Earth may originate from nearby astrophysical sources, dark matter, or unknown processes of cosmic-ray secondary production. We report the detection, using the High-Altitude Water Cherenkov Observatory (HAWC), of extended tera-electron volt gamma-ray emission coincident with the locations of two nearby middle-aged pulsars (Geminga and PSR B0656+14). The HAWC observations demonstrate that these pulsars are indeed local sources of accelerated leptons, but the measured tera-electron volt emission profile constrains the diffusion of particles away from these sources to be much slower than previously assumed. We demonstrate that the leptons emitted by these objects are therefore unlikely to be the origin of the excess positrons, which may have a more exotic origin., (Copyright © 2017, American Association for the Advancement of Science.)

The frog prince with his two identities pales in comparison with the shape-shifting barbaralyl cation, which exists as a mixture of 181,400 degenerate forms. Gold-catalyzed cycloisomerizations of 7-alkynyl cyclohepta-1,3,5-trienes were found to proceed via fluxional barbaralyl intermediates. The evolution of the intermediates into 1- or 2-substituted indenes could be controlled by the choice of gold complex., (Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Background: The ATP7A gene encodes the ATP7A protein, which is a trans-Golgi network copper transporter expressed in the brain and other organs. Mutations in this gene cause disorders of copper metabolism, such as Menkes disease. Here we describe the novel and unusual mutation (p.T1048I) in the ATP7A gene of a child with Menkes disease. The mutation affects a conserved DKTGT1048 phosphorylation motif that is involved in the catalytic activity of ATP7A. We also describe the clinical course and the response to copper treatment in this patient., Case Presentation: An 11-month-old male Caucasian infant was studied because of hypotonia, ataxia and global developmental delay. The patient presented low levels of serum copper and ceruloplasmin, and was shown to be hemizygous for the p.T1048I mutation in ATP7A. The diagnosis was confirmed when the patient was 18 months old, and treatment with copper-histidinate (Cu-His) was started immediately. The patient showed some neurological improvement and he is currently 8 years old. Because the p.T1048I mutation affects its catalytic site, we expected a complete loss of functional ATP7A and a classical Menkes disease presentation. However, the clinical course of the patient was mild, and he responded to Cu-His treatment, which suggests that this mutation leads to partial conservation of the activity of ATP7A., Conclusion: This case emphasizes the important correlation between genotype and phenotype in patients with Menkes disease. The prognosis in Menkes disease is associated with early detection, early initiation of treatment and with the preservation of some ATP7A activity, which is necessary for Cu-His treatment response. The description of this new mutation and the response of the patient to Cu-His treatment will contribute to the growing body of knowledge about treatment response in Menkes disease.

A new maize disease appeared in the State of Veracruz, Mexico during 2003-2004. Initial symptoms in the leaves were small, white-yellow, watery spots, which coalesced into dry necrotic stripes that were 0.3 wide and 8 cm long. Reddening sometimes developed on these leaves. Stems developed a rot in the crown. The flag leaf showed a rot and necrosis at the base, rolled inward, and dried out. Necrosis developed at the base of the corn ears and their growth was halted. A bacterium characterized by white colonies was consistently isolated from lesions on casamino acid peptone and glucose (CPG), King's medium B, and nutrient agar media. Ten isolates were chosen for further characterization. Pathogenicity was confirmed in the greenhouse (25 to 30°C) on 45-day-old ASGROW 7573 maize plants by injection of bacterial suspensions (10 7 CFU/ml) at the base of the stem. Control maize seedlings were injected with phosphate buffer. Symptoms similar to those observed in the field were observed after 3 days on all inoculated plants but were not observed on control plants. Koch's postulates were fulfilled with reisolation of the inoculated strain from the inoculated tissues and confirmation was fulfilled by phenotypic characters and 16S rDNA sequences. The white colonies on CPG were slightly convex, shiny, circular with entire margins, gram negative, lacked arginine dihydrolase, did not produce fluorescent pigment on Pseudomonas F medium, and grew aerobically. The strains were able to utilize l-arabinose, d-mannitol, and cellobiose, but unable to utilize d-maltose and l-rhamnose. Gel hydrolysis was positive but starch hydrolysis was not positive. Colonies grew at 40°C. These characteristics are the same as those described previously for Burkholderia gladioli (3). The identity of these isolates was confirmed by 16S analysis with two universal primers, FD1 and RD1, for Eubacteria (2), which generate a 1,600-bp fragment. Two primers specific for the genus Burhkolderia, RHG-F and RHG-R that generate a 500-bp fragment (1) were also used for amplification. Comparison of sequences using Clustal W and Megaline, DNAstar software showed 100% similarity among strains isolated from the three counties (GenBank Accession Nos. EU161873 to EU161878) and 99% similarity of field isolates with B. gladioli in the GenBank database. To our knowledge, this is the first report of B. gladioli causing leaf stripe and stem rot of maize in Mexico. References: (1) J. J. Lipuma et al. J. Clin. Microbiol. 37:3167, 1999. (2) L. M. Rodrigues et al. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69:4249, 2003. 3) N. W. Shaad et al., eds. 3rd ed. Laboratory Guide for Identification of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 2001.

The frequency of Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar infection was analyzed in a rural community in the state of Morelos, Mexico, through PCR technique by using specie specific primer. The E. histolytica specie was detected in 33 of 290 analyzed stool samples (11.4%), E. dispar specie was observed in 21 samples (7.2%) and both species of Entamoeba were detected in seven samples (2.4%). So a higher E. histolytica than E. dispar frequency infection was detected (13.8 versus 9.6%). Even though in our design we did not considered the follow-up of included individuals, the absence of invasive amebiasis cases in the studied population during our stay in town was unexpected.

The frequency of Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar infection was analyzed in a rural community in the state of Morelos, Mexico, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Sociodemographic variables as risk factors for the infection were assessed. Results highlighted the number of individuals with intestinal parasites (43.1%) in the community, indicating extensive fecalism. A high frequency of E. histolytica asymptomatic infection, higher than E. dispar infection (13.8% versus 9.6%), was detected by PCR. Anti-amebic antibody levels (IgG) in serum and saliva (IgA) samples were not associated with E. histolytica intestinal infection. These findings suggest a predominant distribution of E. histolytica strains of low invasive potential in this community.

Recent U.S. EPA regulations (40 CFR Section 503) specify maximum concentrations of pathogens and metals for Class A wastewater treatment plant sludges. The most common sludge process is mesophilic (35 degrees C) digestion which stabilizes the solids, produces a combustible gas but does not create an effluent that meets the 503 Class A pathogen requirements. This investigation was conducted to determine whether anaerobic digestion processes incorporating a thermophilic stage could achieve 503 Class A pathogen levels. The research reported here was a bench-scale screening study meant to identify the most promising process alternatives for further investigation. Fecal Coliform (FC) concentrations were used to assess disinfection efficiency. Digesters were 30 L capacity fed semi-continuously in draw-fill mode. Digester startup was rapid to produce true thermophiles. Temperature staging and pH were assessed in 3 sets of experiments: Set 1 were one stage ("acid phase"), Set 2 were one stage ("acid + methane phases") and Set 3 were two stage ("acid phase" then "methanogenic phase"). Feed was a 1:1 mixture of Thickened Waste Activated Sludge and Primary Sludge. The following anaerobic digestion configurations and operating parameters allowed the production of digested sludge with a mean FC concentration statistically less than 10(3) (the regulatory value for Class A sludge): thermophilic single stage acid phase at 52 and 62 degrees C; thermophilic single stage acid + methane phase at 48 degrees C, 52 degrees C and 62 degrees C; two-stage mesophilic acid phase followed by mesophilic methane phase; two stage mesophilic acid phase followed by thermophilic methane phase at 48 degrees C, 52 degrees C and 62 degrees C. If the maximum digested FC concentration must be below 10(3) MPN/g TS then the following digester configurations and operating conditions will be compliant: two stage mesophilic acid phase followed by thermophilic methane phase at 52 degrees C and 62 degrees C.

To assess if a dehydrated extract of nopal stems retains the effect on glycemia of the entire nopal stems two experiments were performed. A. Six patients with type II diabetes mellitus in fasting condition received 30 capsules containing 10.1 +/- 0.3 g of the extract, and serum glucose levels were measured hourly from 0 to 180 minutes. B. Six healthy volunteers received 30 capsules with the extract followed by 74 g of dextrose orally. Serum glucose measurements were made in a similar fashion. In each experiment a control test with empty capsules was performed. Nopal extract did not reduce fasting glycemia in diabetic subjects. Nevertheless, the extract diminished the increase of serum glucose which followed a dextrose load. Peak serum glucose was 20.3 +/- 18.2 mg/dl (X +/- SD) lower in the test with nopal than in the control one (P less than 0.025). Dehydrated extract of nopal (Opuntia ficus-indica Mill) did not show acute hypoglycemic effect, although could attenuate postprandial hyperglycemia.