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The present work aims to empirically analyse the halal food purchase intention from the perspective of Spanish consumers. This is considering the fact that even though Spain is a country where Muslims are not the majority, it still has a big potential to become a major halal tourist destination. The collected data were retrieved through a survey of 500 Muslims in various regions of Spain. Structured questionnaires were used to gather information on their purchase intention of halal food products. The research used a quantitative method to analyse 500 respondents to represent the Muslim community in Spain. The results of the present work suggest that religious involvement acts as a moderator on the relationship between presumed influence and purchase intention. However, it does not act as a moderator on the relationship between attitude towards halal and purchase intention. The most possible reason behind this is because Muslim consumers, especially the second or third generation of Muslims in a non-Muslim country such as Spain, do not have the same food-shopping habits as their parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Evidences have suggested that larger utensils may provoke 'size-contrast illusions', influencing the perceived volume and food consumption. Objective To analyse the influence of plate size on the visual estimate of food portion size. Methods Two 400 g portions of pasta with tomato sauce were presented on two plates of different diameters (24.0 and 9.0 cm). Each participant visually estimated on an individual basis the quantities of the pasta portions (g) present on each plate. In addition, each subject classified the size of the portions on each plate as 'small', 'medium' and 'large'. The mean estimates of the amount of pasta on each plate were compared by the nonparametric Mann-Whitney. The differences in the frequencies of portion classifications between plates were evaluated by the chi-squared test. Results Forty-eight students (average 25.8 ± 8.9 years) participated in the study. There was no difference in the median amount of pasta estimated for the large and small plates (150 g; range 50-500 and 115 g; range 40-500 g, respectively). The classification of the portion size as 'large' was reported by a significantly greater number of persons when they evaluated the amount of pasta arranged on the large plate compared to the small plate (47.9 versus 22.9%, respectively; P = 0.018). Conclusion The size of the plate did not influence the estimate of food portions, even though it did influence the classification of portion size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Influenza has a high morbidity and mortality rate and an increased risk of complications in vulnerable individuals. Children and adults with asthma have a high risk of complications, hospitalisation and even death. The objectives of this study were as follows: to compare influenza vaccination coverage in Spain in a population of asthmatics aged ≥16 years with an equivalent population of non-asthmatics; to identify the factors that influence vaccination coverage among patients with asthma; and to compare coverage during the period 2006/2007 with that of 2009/2010. Methods: We used data from the 2009 European Health Survey (EHS), which included a population of 22,188 individuals (≥16 years of age), of whom 1,669 [7.5 %; 95 % confidence interval (CI), 7.13-7.98] had asthma. The dependent variable was the answer (yes/no) to a question asking whether or not the interviewed person had been vaccinated against seasonal (not pandemic) influenza in the previous season. As independent variables, we analysed socio-demographic characteristics, health-related variables and the use of health care services. Results: Vaccination coverage was 35.2 % (95 % CI, 32.5-37.9) among asthmatics and 22.1 % (95 % CI, 21.4-22.7) among non-asthmatics ( p < 0.001). The probability of being vaccinated is almost twice as high for asthmatics as it is for non-asthmatics [odds ratio (OR), 1.92; 95 % CI, 1.69-2.17]. Among asthmatics, vaccination coverage increased with age, worse self-rated health status and not smoking. No significant change in coverage was observed between the study periods. Conclusions: Seasonal influenza vaccination coverage among Spanish asthmatics is lower than desired and has not improved in recent years. Urgent strategies are necessary in order to increase vaccination coverage among asthmatics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The lamproitic rocks of the southeastern Spain outcrop in an area of intense Alpine tectonic activity, marking the second cycle of the three episodes of volcanism in this region. These rocks contain large amounts of incompatible elements (Rb, Ba, Sr and Zn, etc.) as well as Cr, Ni and Y. Their rare earth element (REE) contents are very high (406-802 ppm), with Eu/Eu* ratios of 0.63 and 0.77. The initial Sr87/Sr86] ratios are also very high (0.715 and 0.720). According to the general view, these chemical features imply that crustal anatectic liquids have had a major role in the origin of the lamproite magmas of the southeastern Spain. In addition, the authors suggest that metapelites and metacarbonate rocks occurring in the regional basement can account for such an anatectic liquid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Our study aimed at describing the health profiles, life styles and use of health resources by the immigrant population resident in Spain. Methods: Cross-sectional, epidemiological study from the Spanish National Health Survey (NHS) in 2003. We analysed 1506 subjects of both sexes, aged >16 years, resident in Spain. Results: The immigrant population present diseases that are similar to those of the autochthonous population. The autochthonous population had significantly higher values for alcohol consumption and smoking (60.8 and 39.6%) than immigrants (39.6 and 27.5%). The percentage of immigrants hospitalized in the preceding 12 months was observed to be higher than that of the Spanish population (11.4 vs. 8.2%, P<0.05). The immigrant population consumed fewer medical drugs than the Spanish population (42.6 and 49.9%, respectively). Conclusions: Immigrants in Spain display better lifestyle-related parameters, in that they consume less alcohol and smoke less than the autochthonous population. As for the use of health-care resources, while immigrants register higher percentages of hospitalization compared with the Spanish population, there is no evidence of excessive and inappropriate use of other health-care resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specific studies about the stable isotope composition (18O/16O and D/H) of atmospheric icy conglomerations are still scarce. The present work offers, for the first time, a very detailed analysis of oxygen and hydrogen isotopic signatures of unusually large ice conglomerations, or “megacryometeors”, that fell to the ground in Spain during January 2000. The hydrochemical analysis is based on the bulk isotopic composition and systematic selective sampling (deuterium isotopic mapping) of eleven selected specimens. δ18O and δD (V-SMOW) of all samples fall into the Meteoric Water Line matching well with typical tropospheric values. The distribution of the samples on Craig's line suggests either a variation in condensation temperature and/or different residual fractions of water vapour (Rayleigh processes). Three of the largest megacryometeors exhibited unequivocally distinctive negative values (δ18O = −17.2%0 and δD = −127 %0 V-SMOW), (δ18O = −15.6%0 and δD = −112%0 V-SMOW) and (δ18O = −14.4%0 and δD = −100%0 V-SMOW), suggesting an atmospheric origin typical of the upper troposphere. Theoretical calculations indicate that the vertical trajectory of growth was lower than 3.2 km. During the period in which the fall of megacryometeors occurred, anomalous atmospheric conditions were observed to exist: a substantial lowering of the tropopause with a deep layer of saturated air below, ozone depression and strong wind shear. Moreover, these large ice conglomerations occurred during non-thunderstorm conditions, suggesting an alternative process of ice growth was responsible for their formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ten superficial sediments from river estuaries of Gipuzkoa (North Spain) were collected and analyzed for nine metals (including tin, Sn) and butyltin compounds (monobutyltin, MBT; dibutyltin, DBT; tributyltin, TBT). Total metal concentration in the fine fraction (<63 μm) of the sediment was determined in aqua regia––hydrofluoric acid extracts by atomic absorption spectrometry. The butyltin species (BTs) were firstly extracted from the sediments with hydrochloric acid–methanol mixture. After derivatization with sodium tetraethyl borate, the organotin compounds were extracted by solid phase microextraction (SPME) in headspace mode. A fiber coated with 100 μm poly(dimethylsiloxane) was used for SPME. The organotin species were analyzed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection. Analysis of the certified reference sediment (PACS-2) shown the suitability of the procedures for determination of metal contents and DBT–TBT species in contaminated sediments. Factorial analysis was used to examine the main sources of metals. Three factors represented more than 89% of the total variance of the metal system, and the Sn was related with Cu–Zn–Pb suggesting the same pollution source. The BTs concentrations in the area were high (TBT ranged from 0.05 to 5.48 mg Sn kg−1). The percentage of total butyltin species (∑BTs) respect to the total Sn amount was higher than 4% in all the sediments, showing in the Bidasoa river estuary a remarkable value higher than 20%. Hence, the studied estuarine sediments reflect a pollution that is related with historical industrial and fishing activities of the area. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction: The presence of mental illness in any of the parents can be a stressful factor in the child and be in certain way generator of disease. AIMS describe and quantify the psychiatric family history in patients who were consecutively referred to the outpatient department of children and adolescent psychiatry,mental health community center of collado villalba, Madrid Material and method: Obtain data of a series of cases filing a card of the 18-year-old minor patients who in September, October, November and December, 2007 come for the first time to our mental health community center. Results: The total number of patients were 114. There were psychiatric family history in 36,8% (N=42), the mother was or had been in psychiatric treatment in 28% (N=31)) of the cases, the father in 15% (N=17) and the brothers in 7 % (N=8), the most frequent diagnoses in mothers it were neurosis in 21 % (N=24), toxic abuse in 3,5% (N=4) and personality disorder in 1,8% (N=2), toxic abuse was the most frequent with 8,8% (N=10) in parents, followed by neurosis diagnosed in 4,4% (N=5), the most frequent diagnoses in brothers was the emotional disorder in 4,4,% (N=5). The mean age of parents was 41,34 (SE =6,34), in mothers was 38,43 (SE=6,59). Conclusions: We have to consider the existence of some kind of psychiatric family history in the therapeutic plan of the patient. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper presents the potential manufacture, and the engineering properties, of producing an economical, ecological and sustainable building material using a Spanish clay soil. Cylindrical clay soil test specimens incorporating three types of commercials stabilizer additives i) Portland cement (PC), ii) Natural Hydraulic Lime (NHL-5) and iii) Hydrated Lime (CL-90-S) were used, on similar mix compositions for brick production. The investigations were carried out using a clay soil supplied by a rural bricks manufacturer. The laboratory results demonstrated that compaction effort, compressive strength, moisture content, rate of water absorption, density and durability (repeated 48-hours of freezing/thawing cycles) were all within acceptable engineering standards typical for clay masonry bricks. This paper has demonstrated that with the mix formulations tested, unfired masonry bricks can be manufactured at the appropriate optimal compaction and optimum additive content depending on the desired engineering properties and any other desirable brick characteristics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Bulk samples of mortars from the Santa Eulalia de Bóveda temple (NW Spain) have been characterized from a chemical and mineralogical point of view, with the aims of contributing technological and provenance inferences, and evaluating possible correlations with the various identified stages along historical periods of construction. Mortar samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and neutron activation analysis. Mineralogical associations found are similar (quartz, alkali feldspars, calcite and mica) for all samples, only varying in their proportions, mainly calcite. Statistical and geochemical studies allowed the differentiation of two main groups, enhancing definition of the granite nature of the aggregate, and of a significant variation in calcite proportion (lime binder). Two outlying samples were identified: one with higher calcite proportion and other corresponded to a plaster with a different raw material source. A clear correlation between the chemical groups and the independently defined chronological stages could not be found in this work. However, mortar samples from the earlier stage were associated with a higher aggregate/binder proportion. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Recent epidemiological research suggests that short-term effects of particle matter (PM) in urban areas may preferentially be driven by fine fractions. Questions remain concerning the adverse health effects of coarse particles generated by noncombustion, traffic-related processes and the mechanism of action of PM. Using a time-stratified case-crossover design, we investigated the association between three independent size fractions, coarse (PM10-2.5), intermodal (PM2.5-1), and very fine PMs (PM1), and three health outcomes, respiratory, cardiovascular, and cerebrovascular mortality in Barcelona, Spain, during the period of March 2003-December 2005. Using existing data, we examined the chemical composition of each fraction to explore the effects of PM from different sources and the mechanisms of action. We found that increased levels of PM1 and PM10-2.5 were associated with increased levels of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular mortality at lag 1 and lag 2. At lag 1, the odds ratio (OR) for a 10 μg/m³ increase in PM1 was 1.028 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.000-1.058] for cardiovascular mortality and 1.063 (95% CI, 1.004-1.124) for cerebrovascular mortality. At lag 1, the odds ratio per a 10 μg/m³ increase of PM10-2.5 was 1.059 (95% CI, 1.026-1.094) for cardiovascular mortality and 1.098 (95% CI, 1.030-1.171) for cerebrovascular mortality. Association with respiratory mortality was only detected for PM2.5-1 at lag 2 (OR, 1.206 per a 10 μg/m³ increase; 95% CI, 1.028-1.416). Chemical composition data showed that PM in Barcelona was generated in a large proportion by vehicle traffic. Vehicle traffic PM, generated by combustion and noncombustion processes, should be considered in air pollution mitigation strategies in urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]