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Prickly pears (Opuntia ficus-indica), which are well known for their beneficial properties for human health, are the subject of many studies due to their high content of bioactive compounds. However, the presence of spines on the fruit’s surface is a factor that limits consumption. Therefore, the viability and nutritional quality of peeled and packaged white, orange, and pink prickly pears were studied during storage. Refrigerated whole fruits stored at 8 °C and 85% RH for 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 weeks were electrically peeled and packaged with micro-perforated film. At each time point, their microbial quality; physical parameters, such as hardness, texture, and color; and chemical parameters, including pH, titratable acidity, total soluble solids content, sugar content, ascorbic acid content, antioxidant capacity, and total phenol content, were analyzed. The mesophilic aerobic counts were lower than the values established by Spanish legislation (7 log (CFU/g f.w.)) until day 8 after packaging (or until day 6 after 4 weeks of storage). The hardness, texture, pH, sugar content, ascorbic acid content, and antioxidant capacity decreased significantly between day 0 and day 8 after packaging, independently of the number of weeks for which the whole fruits had been refrigerated previously. Furthermore, the changes in the parameters analyzed for whole fruits during storage were less remarkable. The evaluation of the sensory features was positive throughout the preserved period. The minimally processed prickly pears retained suitable microbial, nutritional, and sensory qualities when the whole fruits had been refrigerated for 1, 2, 3, or 4 weeks, facilitating their management in small processing companies.

Phytoene (PT) and phytofluene (PTF) are colourless carotenoids presents in the human diet and in blood, faeces and tissues and are biologically active. However, there is very little data on these carotenoids. This study aims to assess PT and PTF concentrations in serum from healthy Spanish normolipemic subjects (n = 101, 45–65 years) and the effect of a fruit and vegetable dietary intervention (4 weeks, n = 29) on PT and PTF concentration in serum and faeces and dietary intake. Serum and faecal concentrations were analysed by HPLC and dietary intake by 3 × 24 h recalls. PT showed higher concentrations than PTF in serum, faeces and in the dietary intake. Considering both studies, PT and PTF concentrations in serum were 0.16 ± 0.07 and 0.05 ± 0.04 µmol/L, respectively, in faeces 17.7 ± 20.3 and 6.5 ± 7.9 µg/g, respectively, and in dietary intake the median was 2.4 and 0.6 mg/p/day, respectively. Carrots and tomatoes were the major dietary contributors of these carotenoids. The dietary intervention did not cause significant variations in the PT and PTF intake or serum concentrations, but a lower concentration in faeces was observed for the fruit group (PT: p = 0.024; PTF isomer-3: p = 0.034). These data highlight the need for further research on the activities of these carotenoids in humans.

El "INSTrumento de Apoyo infoGRAFico (InstaGRAF)" es una actividad docente basada en la creación de un recurso educativo innovador en abierto y virtual que utiliza infografías y redes sociales para motivar, apoyar e incentivar el aprendizaje activo de los estudiantes aplicando de forma integradora los diferentes conocimientos teóricos impartidos en clases teóricas de los Grados de Farmacia y Nutrición Humana y Dietética durante el curso academico 2020/2021. Los resultados de la implantación de InstaGRAF durante el curso académico ponen de manifiesto que La elaboración de infografías y su difusión a través de redes sociales constituyen un método didáctico original y creativo bien aceptado y valorado por los estudiantes que les ha permitido comprender mejor los conceptos explicados en clase y ha contribuido a obtener un mejor rendimiento académico de los estudiantes participantes. La plataforma InstaGRAF podría ser una herramienta útil y sencilla con gran versatilidad que podría ser utilizada en cualquier asignatura y grado académico.

Due to the health benefits associated with proanthocyanidins (PAs), it is useful to identify dietary PA biomarkers that can be determined by simple methods. Since increased levels of circulating PA metabolites are associated with increased fecal PA content, this study explores the spectrophotometric measurement of fecal PA content and its use as a biomarker of PA intake. To this end, fecal PA content was measured using an adaptation of Porter’s spectrophotometric method in samples from a preclinical study and an observational study. In the former, excretion of 250–400 mg PA polymer equivalents/100 g feces was observed during supplementation and the day after, together with a significant association (p < 0.05) between PA intake and the excretion of both intact PAs and some PA metabolites, i.e., (+)-catechin, (−)-epicatechin and syringic acid. No relationship between intake and excretion was found in the observational study, either for the entire group (mean excretion of 240 ± 226 mg PA polymer equivalents/100 g feces) or after stratification into tertiles of consumption. In conclusion, the spectrophotometric determination of total PA content in feces proved to be a valid compliance marker in a preclinical study, but it was not associated with PA intake in free-living subjects. The potential of total PA excretion in observational studies, determined in fecal samples collected the day before dietary recall or in several fecal samples from the same subject, remains to be elucidated, as does a complete validation of the method proposed here.

El presente trabajo es una crítica a la adopción de una imagen ecológica por parte de las empresas para atraer a los consumidores concienciados con la conservación del medio ambiente. Para ello, estas recurren al greenwashing, una práctica de comunicación publicitaria que se ha popularizado estos últimos años. Los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible se presentan como precursores de esta acción llevada a cabo por las empresas. Esta técnica, aunque lo pueda parecer, no es efectiva en la lucha contra el cambio climático, concluyendo aún así que la publicidad puede ser una herramienta útil para alcanzar un desarrollo sostenible del planeta., This paper deals a critique of the adoption of an ecological image by companies to attract consumers aware of environmental conservation. To do this, they use greenwashing, a practice of advertising communication that has become popular in recent years. The Sustainable Development Goals are presented as precursors of this action carried out by companies. This technique, although it may seem so, is not effective in the fight against climate change, concluding still that advertising can be a useful tool to achieve a sustainable development of the planet.

En este Trabajo de Fin de Grado se analiza el proceso que tiene lugar durante la experiencia sensorial en la arquitectura, apoyándonos en las interpretaciones desarrolladas por Steven Holl, Juhani Pallasmaa y Peter Zumthor. Un proceso que parte de un conocimiento previo de nuestro cuerpo, que nos permite comprender aquello que nos rodea, percibiéndolo a través de nuestros sentidos. Esta información recopilada por cada uno de ellos, queda almacenada en nuestra memoria en forma de imagen sensorial y contendrá la esencia del espacio. Allí, nuestro cerebro tiende a compararla con experiencias pasadas que creíamos olvidadas, estableciéndose una interrelación entre ellas, y completándose la imagen percibida con nuestros recuerdos sensoriales. De modo que se produce un intercambio entre el espacio y el hombre, proyectamos parte de nosotros mismos en ese espacio. Nos veríamos reflejados en él, no como meros espectadores, sino como un componente más del espacio que con su presencia lo habita y constituye la propia “conciencia” del espacio. Para la aplicación de la base teórica desarrollada se escogen las Termas de Vals de Peter Zumthor, debido a su potencial sensorial. Un recorrido por el conjunto termal nos permitirá catalogar las sensaciones experimentadas, y por consiguiente la comprobación de la hipótesis planteada.