Energy analysis of irrigation delivery systems: monitoring and evaluation of proposed measures for improving energy efficiency

In Spain, the Ministry of Industry is implementing actions for analyzing the energy efficiency of Water User Associations (WUAs) by using energy indicators and proposing measures to improve the use of energy. The main objective of this work was to develop tools to improve energy efficiency in WUAs. These tools were validated by utilizing them in the energy analysis of 15 WUAs located in Castilla-La Mancha Region (Spain) during the 2007 irrigation season. These tools were also utilized for the proposal of measures to improve the use of energy. The proposed measures were monitored and evaluated in 7 of the 15 WUAs during the 2008 irrigation season. The developed tools were integrated into a Decision Support System for performing energy analysis and for proposing measures of energy efficiency improvement. In most of the study cases, an improvement of the energy efficiency after the implementation of the proposed measures was detected, with an average energy saving of the 10.2%.     

Inheritance and relationships of important agronomic traits in almond

The inheritance of 16 important agronomic traits and its relationship were studied for four years in a population of 167 almond [P. dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb] seedlings obtained from a cross between the French selection ‘R1000’ (‘Tardy Nonpareil’ × ‘Tuono’) and the Spanish cultivar ‘Desmayo Largueta’. For some traits (blooming and leafing date) descendants segregated between the value of both progenitors, meanwhile for others the mean of the offspring was lower (bloom density, productivity and ripening date) or higher (in-shell/kernel ratio and double kernels). As expected, kernel bitterness and self-incompatibility behaved as monogenic traits. Some important correlations between traits were detected. The implications of the transmission and the correlation of these traits in the breeding programmes are discussed.     

Food, youth and the Mediterranean diet in Spain. Development of KIDMED, Mediterranean Diet Quality Index in children and adolescents

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate dietary habits in Spanish children and adolescents based on a Mediterranean Diet Quality Index tool, which considers certain principles sustaining and challenging traditional healthy Mediterranean dietary patterns. DESIGN: Observational population-based cross-sectional study. A 16-item Mediterranean Diet Quality Index was included in data gathered for the EnKid study (in which two 24-hour recalls, a quantitative 169-item food-frequency questionnaire and a general questionnaire about socio-economic, demographic and lifestyle items were administered). SETTING: Spain. SUBJECTS: In total, 3850 children and youths aged 2-24 years residing in Spain. RESULTS: Of the sample, 4.2% showed very low KIDMED index results, 49.4% had intermediate values and 46.4% had high index results. Important geographical differences were seen, with subjects from the Northeast showing the most favourable outcomes (52% with elevated scores vs. 37.5% of those from the North). Lower percentages of high diet quality were observed in low socio-economic groups, compared with middle and upper income cohorts (42.8%, 47.6% and 54.9%, respectively). Large cities had more positive results and only slight variations were seen for gender and age. CONCLUSIONS: The KIDMED index, the first to evaluate the adequacy of Mediterranean dietary patterns in children and youth, confirms that this collective is undergoing important changes, which makes them a priority target for nutrition interventions. Results challenge certain commonly perceived notions tied to income level, population size and diet quality.     

Chemometrical analysis of capillary electrophoresis casein fractions for predicting ripening times of milk mixture cheese

The effect of the ripening time on the proteolytic process in cheeses manufactured from mixtures of cow's and ewe's milk during a 167-day ripening period was monitored by capillary electrophoresis of the pH 4.6-insoluble fraction. Totals of 21 and 16 peaks were recognized and matched in the electropherograms obtained with a fused-silica capillary and a neutral capillary (hydrophilically coated), respectively. These peaks corresponded to intact bovine and ovine caseins and their hydrolysis products (e.g., alpha(s1)-casein, gamma-caseins). In 167-day-old cheeses, bovine alpha(s0)-casein (alpha(s1)-casein 9P) had been completely degraded and 6% of the residual bovine alpha(s1)-casein remained intact. Breakdown of the beta-casein fraction was lower than that of the alpha(s)-casein fraction. Finally, partial least-squares regression and principal component regression were used to predict the ripening time in cheeses. The root-mean-square errors in prediction by cross-validation were <7.8 days in all cases.     

Pattern of genetic diversity of cultivated and non-cultivated mashua, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tropaeolum tuberosum</Emphasis>, in the Cusco region of Perú

This paper analyzes the genetic diversity of mashua cultivars grown in six communities in the Cusco region of Perú, of non-cultivated forms collected in the same region, and a sample of cultivars from the germplasm collection at the International Potato Center (CIP). From the DNA fingerprinting generated by SRAP markers, it is clear that mashua is a genetically variable crop with a range of similarity ranging from 65 to 99%. The widest range of variation was found for the most isolated community, Sayllafaya. Another important finding was that most of the non-cultivated accessions are likely feral races resulting from escape to cultivation rather than wild relatives. In general the range of variation of the cultivars from the communities and their feral relatives are not represented in the cultivars sampled of the collection maintained at the International Potato Center, Perú.     

Immunohistochemical Expression of Growth Factors in the Follicular Wall of Normal and Cystic Ovaries of Sows

The expression of growth factors was evaluated immunohistochemically in normal and cystic ovaries of sows. The immunohistochemically stained area (IHCSA) was quantified by image analysis to analyse the expression of these proteins in the follicular wall of secondary, tertiary and cystic follicles. IGF‐I immunoreactivity was strong in the granulosa cell layer (GC), moderate in the theca interna (TI) and mild in the theca externa (TE) of the normal follicles. There was severe reduction of the labelling to IGF‐I in the GC of the follicular and luteinized cysts. In the normal follicles, the reactivity for IGF‐II was very similar to pattern noted in IGF‐I. There was reduction of the IHCSAs in the GC of the follicular and luteinized cysts, but the decrease was not significant. The staining of the IGF‐II in the TI and TE of the cysts was increased, in comparison with normal follicles. The IHCSAs for VEGF were higher in the GC and TE of the normal follicles in contrast to TI, but this difference was noted only in the tertiary follicle. The VEGF reactivity increased in the GC of the cysts, in relation to normal follicles. The results of the current study show that the formation of ovarian cysts in sows is associated with alterations in the immunohistochemical expression of some growth factors.     

Influence of the Th2 immune response established by Nippostrongylus brasiliensis infection on the protection offered by different vaccines against Chlamydophila abortus infection

Chlamydophila abortus is the aetiological agent of enzootic abortion in small ruminants in which it infects the placenta to cause abortion during the last trimester of gestation. In a mouse model, a Th1 immune response involving IFN-gamma production and CD8+ T cells is necessary for the infection to be resolved. The authors previously demonstrated that infection with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, a rodent gastrointestinal nematode extensively used in experimental models to induce Th2 responses, alters the specific immune response against C. abortus infection, increasing bacterial multiplication in liver and reducing specific IFN-gamma production. The aim of the present work was to clarify whether a Th2 immune response has any influence on the success of vaccination using both inactivated and attenuated vaccines. The results showed that the Th2 response established prior to vaccination did not influence the induction of protection offered by the vaccines. However, the effectiveness of this protective response can be altered, depending on the adjuvant employed in the inactivated vaccines, when the Th2 response is established after vaccination, just before challenge with C. abortus.