The product space conditions the development of nations

Economies grow by upgrading the products they produce and export. The technology, capital, institutions, and skills needed to make newer products are more easily adapted from some products than from others. Here, we study this network of relatedness between products, or "product space," finding that more-sophisticated products are located in a densely connected core whereas less-sophisticated products occupy a less-connected periphery. Empirically, countries move through the product space by developing goods close to those they currently produce. Most countries can reach the core only by traversing empirically infrequent distances, which may help explain why poor countries have trouble developing more competitive exports and fail to converge to the income levels of rich countries.     

Propionate induces pH(i) changes through calcium flux, ERK1/2, p38, and PKC in bovine neutrophils

Propionate is a short-chain fatty acid produced under normal physiological conditions in the rumen of cattle. It is also involved in the inflammatory process and neutrophil function via calcium release, reactive oxygen species and intracellular pH (pH_(i)) changes. This study examined the effect of propionate on the pH_(i) of bovine neutrophils; specifically if pH_(i) changes are controlled by calcium flux, and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Propionate caused rapid intracellular acidification and sustained alkalinization in bovine neutrophils loaded with 2′,7′-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5-(and-6)-carboxyfluorescein acetoxymethyl ester (BCECF-AM), a fluorescent indicator of pH_(i). The acidification phase seems to be controlled by intracellular calcium release and p38 MAPK pathway. The pH recovery phenomenon was mediated by an amiloride-sensitive Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger and H⁺ channel, and was inhibited by UO126 (an ERK1/2 MAPK phosphorylation inhibitor), Gö6850 (a PKC inhibitor) and calcium chelating. Ionomycin, a calcium ionophore, induced intracellular acidification and sustained alkalinization. The intracellular acidification was strongly inhibited by BAPTA-AM (an intracellular calcium chelator) and SB203580 (a p38 MAPK inhibitor). In addition, the intracellular alkalinization was reduced by EGTA (a calcium chelator), UO126, LY294002 (a PI3K inhibitor) and Gö6850. Propionate did not increase superoxide production, however it reduced the superoxide production induced by platelet-activating factor (PAF), and increased the release of superoxide induced by ionomycin. Our results suggest that propionate-induced intracellular acidification is mediated by intracellular calcium release and p38 MAPK activation, and that pH recovery is controlled via ERK1/2 MAPK, PKC and calcium entry in bovine neutrophils.     

Relationship between vaginal mucus conductivity and time of ovulation in weaned sows

This study investigated whether changes in the vaginal electrical resistance (VER) of vaginal mucus of weaned sows during the first 7 d post-weaning are associated with time of ovulation. Time of ovulation was determined by ovarian ultrasound carried out from 91 to 146 h after weaning and at different seasons. Vaginal electrical resistance was measured at 20, 44, 68, 91, 96, 102, 115, 120, 126, 140, 146, and 164 h post-weaning and was found to decrease between 120 h and 31 h before ovulation and then increase until 40 to 50 h after ovulation. Duration and timing of the nadir was affected by the season (P < 0.01). Estrus was observed from day 4 after the lowest VER values. Ovulation occurred between late day 5 and late day 6, while VER values were still increasing. Ovulation was earlier in lower parity sows (P < 0.001). Compared to 0 h (ovulation time), VER was significantly lower from 50 to 5 h before ovulation in autumn and from 40 to 21 h in winter, but such differences were not seen in spring. Lowest VER value was not correlated with time of ovulation. It was concluded that VER increases before ovulation and, although this increase is influenced by the season, it cannot be used to accurately predict ovulation in weaned sows.     

Correction to: Factors influencing the occurrence of fall armyworm parasitoids in Zambia

Journal of Pest Science -     

Uracil as an index of lactic acid bacteria contamination of tomato products

The aim of this research was to evaluate the suitability of uracil as an hygienic quality index of tomato products. Whereas uridine was naturally present throughout tomato fruits' ripening, uracil appeared only after microbial contamination. In tomato pulp inoculated with nine different microbial strains, all five lactic acid bacteria (LAB) studied released relevant quantities of uracil (150-1040 mg/kg of dm), with a correlated partial or total decrease of uridine. Uracil production by yeasts and molds was very low or nonexistent; the starting uridine concentration (approximately 960 mg/kg of dm) remained constant or increased. Uracil thermostability was also verified. Twenty-six samples of tomato paste (30 degrees Brix) were collected from bag-in-drums produced in an industrial processing plant, some with evident swelling symptoms. All of the samples with high microbial count presented uracil. Uracil was also present in samples with microbial contamination under the detection limit and Howard mold count below legislation limits, implying the reprocessing, at least partial, of altered tomato product. The results indicate that uracil presence in tomato products is an index of LAB contamination that has occurred before heat treatment.     

Hydroxymethylfurfural and furosine reaction kinetics in tomato products

The reaction kinetics of two heat damage indices, HMF and furosine, were examined in four tomato products with different dry matter contents (10.2, 25.5, 28.6, and 34.5%) over a temperature-time range of 80-120 degrees C and 0-255 min. The reactions followed pseudo-zero order kinetics. E(a) and z-value were, respectively, 139. 9 kJ/mol and 19.2 degrees C for HMF, and 93.9 kJ/mol and 28.4 degrees C for furosine. The analyses of both indices in several samples of commercial and industrial tomato products showed very low levels of HMF (from 1 to 42 ppm) and a lack of correlation between HMF and furosine mainly because of the different evolution of the two indices during storage. The HMF level of a tomato paste sample stored at 25 degrees C decreased from 609 to 17 ppm after 98 days, while furosine increased from 458 to 550 mg/100 g of protein.     

Influence of cultivar and fruit ripening on olive (Olea europaea) fruit protein content, composition, and antioxidant activity

Proteins of olive fruit mesocarp are not very well-known at present. However, they have been shown to pass, at least partially, to the olive oil during its elaboration and therefore might be contributing to some of the special characteristics of this vegetable oil. In this study, protein content and composition were determined in olive fruits, cv. Arbequina and Picual, at three stages of ripening: green, spotted, and purple. Mesocarp proteins constituted 1.3-1.8% of the dry weight of the olive fruit, and cultivar and fruit ripening did not produce important changes in mesocarp protein content or composition. In addition, this composition was also similar to the amino acid composition of a 4.6-kDa polypeptide, which is the major protein component of olive oils and of oil bodies of olive fruit mesocarp, suggesting that this polypeptide is likely to be a major component of mesocarp proteins. There was, also, a relationship between the oil content of the olive fruit and the protein content determined, suggesting a stabilizing function of these proteins in the oil bodies of the olive fruit, analogously to the role suggested for oleosins. This stabilizing function does not seem to be extended to olive oils because when the polypeptides isolated were added at 20 ppm to soybean oil, the stability of the oil increased only slightly, suggesting that if these compounds play some role in the stability of the oils, this should be mostly a consequence of the possible interactions among these protein components and other olive oil antioxidant constituents.     

Phenolic acids composition,total polyphenols content and antioxidant activity of Triticum monococcum, Triticum turgidum and Triticum aestivum: A two-years evaluation

Wheat is a good source of polyphenols, plant metabolytes with beneficial effects on human health. However, little information is available on phenolic acid composition and concentration in different Triticum species, as well as on possible environmental effects. To shed some light on this issue, thirty-nine wheat accessions cropped for two years and belonging to different Triticum species (Triticum monococcum, Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccum, turanicum and durum, Triticum aestivum ssp. spelta and aestivum) were assessed for phenolic acids (ferulic, p-coumaric, vanillic, syringic, p-hydroxybenzoic, caffeic acids and syringaldehyde), total polyphenols and antioxidant activity in soluble conjugated and insoluble bound extracts. Ferulic acid was the most abundant compound in both extracts. Insoluble bound phenolic acids represented >90% of total phenolic acids. Einkorn showed the maximum concentration of conjugated phenolic acids (50.5 mg/kg DM), while durum and bread wheats presented the highest content of bound phenolic acids (651.8 and 629.2 mg/kg DM, respectively). Cropping year influenced the concentration of conjugated but not of bound phenolic acids. A survey of phenolic acid distribution in the kernel showed that they are rare in endosperm, but abundant in germ and bran. Total polyphenols and antioxidant activity were highly correlated to phenolic acid content.     

Characterizing Abandoned Mining Dams by Geophysical (ERI) and Geochemical Methods: The Linares-La Carolina District (Southern Spain)

The mining exploitation of metallic sulphides, together with the activities associated to the mineral treatment and smelting, when maintained through centuries due to the wealth of the ores, generate important accumulations of wastes in structures of different kind of tailing dams and ponds, for instance. When no previous corrective steps are taken, as usually happens in old exploitations, this means a serious risk of environmental pollution, due to the mobilisation of heavy metals. The present study has been carried out in a mining district, actively exploited during the last two millennia, that was the first world??s producer of lead during some periods (Linares-La Carolina, southern Spain). In this district, the mining activity was associated to a philonian network of metallic sulphurs and ended by the 1980s of the past century. The ancient mining operations, mostly subterranean, have generated large accumulations of residues without any prior corrective action. Therefore, this work intends to characterise these mining dams and determine the influence of these mining wastes on the quality of surface and ground waters. With this goal, three structures that store the mining refuse of different mineralogical origin have been selected. First, a geochemical characterisation of the soil was performed in the area surrounding each of the structures. In all cases, high levels of trace elements (including Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, Mn, As, Sb and Ba) were observed. A hydrochemical study revealed the mobilisation through the aqueous medium of certain contaminants from the leachate of these ancient accumulations; these contaminants will flow to the streams that drain the area or to the aquifers of the sector. The internal characterisation of these structures was performed with geophysical techniques, specifically electrical resistivity imaging (ERI). The six generated resistivity models have allowed the identification of the morphology of the structures, variations in the vertical and horizontal distribution of the deposited material, fracture zones, water content and reload?Cunload zones and the contact of the mining wastes with the substrate. Thus, the ERI study confirms the lack of impermeabilisation measures for the terrain in the spill zones in all three cases, which indicates a high risk of contamination of the soil and waters. The obtained images also permit the identification of the ideal positions to conduct future borehole controls.