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Although a large number of pesticides of different compositions are regularly used in agriculture, the impact of pesticides on the physiology of field crops is not well understood. Pesticides can produce negative effects on crop physiology―especially on photosynthesis―leading to a potential decrease in both the growth and the yield of crops. To investigate these potential effects in greenhouse sweet peppers, the effect of 20 insecticides and 2 fungicides (each sprayed with a wetting agent) on the photosynthesis of sweet pepper leaves was analyzed. Among these pesticides, nine caused significant reductions in photosynthetic activity. The effects were observed in distinctive ways—either as a transitory drop of the photosynthetic-rate values, which was observed at two hours after the treatment and was found to have recovered after 24 h, or as a sustained reduction of these values, which remained substantial over a number of days. The results of this study suggest that the production of a crop may substantially benefit when the frequent use of pesticides can be substituted with alternative pest control methods (e.g., biological control). Our results advocate further investigation of the potential impact of pesticides, either alone or in combination, on the photosynthesis of crop plants.

The horticultural industry demands high-quality resources to achieve excellence in yield and optimal revenues. Nitrogen is a pivotal nutrient to accomplish these goals for plant growth and product quality. However, competition for water in semi-arid regions can force the use of brackish waters, which can impair N uptake. The lower N uptake can be due to several reasons, such as an antagonism between ions, an absence of ATP, and/or alteration of N metabolism. The effect of supplying N as alone or in combination with , coupled with low or high salinity (8 or 20 mM NaCl), has been studied in sweet pepper fruits ( L. cv. Melchor). The application of at high salinity affected chromatic parameters (a , b , and C ), while chlorophyll a and b levels declined and β-carotene increased. The concentrations of P, K, Ca, Mg, and Cu were reduced in the fruits of plants irrigated with . The concentration of Na was only reduced when was supplied. Likewise, the concentration of total phenolics was also reduced at high salinity. However, total protein was unaffected. The amino acid profile was altered by the supply of , which reduced the concentrations of histidine and phenylalanine. Moreover, the concentrations of putrescine and cadaverine were increased by at high salinity, whereas that of cadaverine was reduced by at low salinity. The observed changes in fruit quality triggered by salinity, under the conditions of this study, should be borne in mind for this crop with regard to the envisaged palliative effect of the supply of N- .

Sweet pepper is susceptible to changes in temperature conditions, especially above 30 °C. In this research study, two cultivars, Melchor and Tamarín, were subjected to three different temperatures. For this, the experiment was run at three specific temperatures (24 °C, 28 °C, and 32 °C), keeping the rest of the parameters the same in all experiments. In fully mature fruits, parameters such as weight, color, TSS, total phenols, mineral content, and amino acid content were analyzed. Our results showed that high temperatures reduced fruit weight and increased color parameters, mainly in Melchor. In addition, a temperature of 28 °C advanced the maturation of the Tamarín fruits by 14 days with respect to 24 °C. At a nutritional level, high temperatures caused a reduction in TSS, total phenols, and cations, and on the contrary, increased the content of anions. In the case of amino acids, a temperature increase to 28 °C caused a general increase in the amino acids measured, except for proline, which was reduced. Thus, the data from this study support the need to study new strategies in crop management to reduce the negative effects that the unstoppable rise in temperatures due to climate change will produce.

Background An early detection of Osteoarthritis is urgently needed and still not possible until today. The aim of the study was to assess whether molecular biomarkers of cartilage turnover are associated with longitudinal change in knee cartilage thickness during a 2 year period in individuals with increased risk of developing knee osteoarthritis. A secondary aim was to assess whether prior knee injury or subjective patient-reported outcomes at baseline (BL) were associated with articular cartilage changes. Nineteen volleyball players (mean age 46.5 ± 4.9 years, 47% male) with a 30-year history of regular high impact training were recruited. The serum biomarkers Cpropeptide of type II procollagen (CPII), cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), collagenase generated carboxy-terminal neoepitope of type II collagen (sC2C), cartilage intermediate layer protein 2 (CILP-2), and the urine biomarkers C-telopeptide of type II collagen (CTX-II) and collagenase-generated peptide(s) of type II collagen (C2C-HUSA) were assessed at BL and at 2 year follow up (FU). Femorotibial cartilage thinning, thickening and absolute thickness change between BL and FU was evaluated from magnetic resonance imaging. Subjective clinical status at BL was evaluated by the International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form and the Short-Form 36 Physical Component Score. Results CILP-2 was significantly higher at FU and linearly associated with the absolute cartilage thickness change during the experimental period. Prior injury was a predictor of increased absolute cartilage thickness change. Conclusion Measuring the change in the cartilage biomarker CILP-2 might be a valid and sensitive method to detect early development of knee osteoarthritis as CILP-2 appears to be related to cartilage thickness loss in certain individuals with increased risk of developing knee osteoarthritis. Prior knee injury may be predictive of increased articular cartilage thickness change.

The pancreatic pathology in cystic fibrosis (CF) is normally attributed to the failure of ductal fluid secretion resulting from the lack of functional CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). However, murine models of CF show little or no pancreatic pathology. To resolve this dichotomy we analysed the transport mechanisms involved in fluid and electrolyte secretion by pancreatic ducts isolated from CFTR-null mice. Experiments were performed on cultured interlobular duct segments isolated from the pancreas of the Cftr tm1Cam strain of CFTR-null mouse. Fluid secretion to the closed luminal space was measured by video microscopy. The secretory response of ducts isolated from CF mice to cAMP-elevating agonists forskolin and secretin was significantly reduced compared with wild type but not abolished. The Cl − - and HCO 3 − -dependent components of the ductal secretion were affected equally by the absence of CFTR. The secretory response to carbachol stimulation was unaltered in CF ducts. Loading the ductal cells with the Ca 2+ chelator BAPTA completely abolished carbachol-evoked secretion, but did not affect forskolin-evoked secretion in CF or wild-type ducts. We conclude that pancreatic duct cells from CF mice can secrete a significant amount of water and electrolytes by a cAMP-stimulated mechanism that is independent of CFTR and cannot be ascribed to the activation of calcium-activated chloride channels.

This work focuses on studying the early events associated with pancreatic damage after retrograde infusion through the pancreatic duct in rats. We have analyzed changes in calcium homeostasis and secretory response in pancreatic acini from rats with taurocholate-induced acute pancreatitis. Moreover, in order to test whether pancreatic duct manipulation can trigger damage inside pancreatic acinar cells, we have studied both parameters in acini from animals infused with saline. Our study demonstrates that taurocholate causes evident damage to acinar cells, impairing both calcium homeostasis and secretory response to CCK. In saline, a significant decrease in calcium cytosolic response to CCK was observed. Calcium disturbances similar to those observed in acute pancreatitis appear before secretion blockade and inflammation processes in saline treated rats. These results could be interesting since pancreatitis is associated to clinical procedures that require duct manipulation such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Purpose - Within the Mondragón Valley - an industrial heartland in the Basque Country, in the North of Spain - there has been a growing need for a practical model of the new product development (NPD) process which fulfils a variety of needs, notably the integration of strategy and technology considerations.Design methodology approach - The paper is based on a review of the state of the art in the NPD field, focusing on the use and limitations of both established and newer models for guiding product development. This is combined with the experiences of managing real NPD projects for companies in the Mondragón Corporación Cooperativa over the past several years.Findings - The paper presents the Ikerlan new product creation (NPC) model, designed primarily in response to area needs, which attempts to combine the most useful aspects of existing NPD models.Research limitations implications - In the first instance, the model is created for use by companies in the Mondragón Valley - therefore it may not be possible to generalise findings, yet the paper may be instructive in showcasing the real industrial innovation needs of a European region. The model evolved from several notable works in the NPD community which may address these limitations in part.Practical implications - The model may be used as a basic guide for aspects including NPD outsourcing, idea generation and, ultimately, reducing time to market. This is specifically tailored to companies in the Mondragón Valley. However, depending on the operating context certain aspects may be transferable to other European areas.Originality value - The paper details the industrial context, introducing the Mondragón cooperative - the largest industrial cooperative in the world with over 100 companies in seven industrial sectors - the academic context, discussing state of the art in NPD processes and models, and concludes with short industrial cases which show the potential use of the developed model. As such, insight is presented into a European area with a tradition of innovation, together with some of the challenges it faces in the years ahead. A new NPD model, combining the most useful aspects of existing models may also be of use to certain members of the academic and industrial communities.

The book entitled Anthropology and Development: Challenges for the Twenty First Century by Gardner and Lewis (2015) is the second edition of their previous book entitled Anthropology, Development and the Post-Modern Challenge, which was published in 1996. This second book incorporates recent issues that emerged since the first edition was released two decades ago. As the world keeps on changing, there are always new pressing issues that exert a significant influence upon development work to which an anthropological perspective has much to contribute.

Tras las investigaciones realizadas por C. Michaelis en su ejemplar edición y estudio del Cancioneiro da Ajuda (Michaelis de Vasconcelos, II 210-22), la crítica ha aceptado de modo unánime que los primeros proyectos de antologías elaborados en el Occidente peninsular se organizaron en función de dos criterios fundamentales: por una parte, los compiladores habrían utilizado una norma estética, según la cual los textos fueron distribuidos en tres secciones correspondientes a los tres grandes géneros de la tradición gallego-portuguesa (amor, amigo y escarnio e maldizer); por otra, esa pauta distributiva se habría combinado en los scriptoria encargados de disponer el material poético con la aplicación de un orden cronológico relativo, que habría determinado que la producción de los autores más antiguos se colocase al inicio de cada una de las tres secciones de 'género' apenas señaladas.