High Tunnel Pole Bean Evaluation

There are two major types of green beans: bush or pole. Bush are short, erect plants (determinate) with a uniform pod set resulting in a short harvest season. Pole beans are trained on poles, fence, or string, and grow 7 to 8 ft in height and bear fruit continuously (indeterminate) requiring only one field planting. Further, the consumer perceives pole beans, with its longer pod, to be of superior quality. Our objective was to evaluate two pole bean varieties: Fortex, an extra long pod (11 in.) 60 day maturity, and Blue Lake, a standard pole bean variety, 6 to 7 in. round pod with 55-day maturity. Also, we wished to compare high tunnel production with field production and obtain two crops in the high tunnel by double cropping

High Tunnel Tomato, Pepper, and Bean Observations

Previous vegetable trials (2006 through 2008) concentrated on tomato and bell pepper variety adaption to early planning (mid-April) in a high tunnel structure. That work indicated growers should use an early, determinate tomato variety as opposed to an indeterminate greenhouse type to gain earlier production in the marketplace. The production of colored bell peppers, from traditional field varieties, was successful but did not allow double cropping because of the maturation time length before fall freeze; and, thus, was not profitable. The use of a greenhouse bell variety with a long harvest period may provide more opportunity for income particularly when using a vertical training system

High Tunnel Tomato Production

This years’ high tunnel tomato work is a continuation of last year’s variety evaluation research (for a copy of the 2006 progress report see, http://www.public.iastate.edu/~taber/Extension/ Progress%20Rpt%2006/High%20Tunnel%20fin al%20report.pdf. We evaluated 10 varieties in both high tunnel and outdoor field plantings in 2006, and for 2007 selected the top three performing varieties across three maturity classes: early = Sunstart(67 day), 2 nd early = Mountain Fresh (72 day), and main season = Florida 91 (80 day). Our objective was to evaluate a sequential planting scheme using high tunnels and outdoor field plantings to maintain a continuous market supply

High Tunnel Colored Pepper Production

Bell pepper varieties developed for unique fruit color characteristics were evaluated as part of the high tunnel project. Previous evaluation of six colored pepper varieties at the Armstrong Research Farm, Lewis, IA and the Horticulture Research Station, Ames, IA in 2007 indicated only Tequila (green to purple) developed full color for commercial production. The major problem seems to be the high daytime temperatures in the tunnel as well as outdoor field production, which produced a high level of rots. Generally, bell peppers take 45 to 55 days from pollination to green market maturity and an additional 15 days to the red stage (70 days total)

Forcing Spring Bulbs in High Tunnels for Profitability

High tunnels are a relatively new concept primarily used by vegetable growers for season extension (both spring and fall, but mainly for early spring production). There also are a few Iowa growers raising strawberries and cut flowers. Almost any annual outdoor vegetable crop can be raised successfully in a high tunnel, but the key is profitability. A common structure is 30 × 96 ft and typically costs about $1.60 to$2.35/sq ft (with automatic side rollup). Some crops can be double cropped in a high tunnel (peppers, pole beans, and specialty cucumbers)

Implementing Eccentric Resistance Training—Part 1: A Brief Review of Existing Methods

The purpose of this review was to provide a physiological rationale for the use of eccentric resistance training and to provide an overview of the most commonly prescribed eccentric training methods. Based on the existing literature, there is a strong physiological rationale for the incorporation of eccentric training into a training program for an individual seeking to maximize muscle size, strength, and power. Specific adaptations may include an increase in muscle cross-sectional area, force output, and fiber shortening velocities, all of which have the potential to benefit power production characteristics. Tempo eccentric training, flywheel inertial training, accentuated eccentric loading, and plyometric training are commonly implemented in applied contexts. These methods tend to involve different force absorption characteristics and thus, overload the muscle or musculotendinous unit in different ways during lengthening actions. For this reason, they may produce different magnitudes of improvement in hypertrophy, strength, and power. The constraints to which they are implemented can have a marked effect on the characteristics of force absorption and therefore, could affect the nature of the adaptive response. However, the versatility of the constraints when prescribing these methods mean that they can be effectively implemented to induce these adaptations within a variety of populations

Implementing Eccentric Resistance Training—Part 1: A Brief Review of Existing Methods

The purpose of this review was to provide a physiological rationale for the use of eccentric resistance training and to provide an overview of the most commonly prescribed eccentric training methods. Based on the existing literature, there is a strong physiological rationale for the incorporation of eccentric training into a training program for an individual seeking to maximize muscle size, strength, and power. Specific adaptations may include an increase in muscle cross-sectional area, force output, and fiber shortening velocities, all of which have the potential to benefit power production characteristics. Tempo eccentric training, flywheel inertial training, accentuated eccentric loading, and plyometric training are commonly implemented in applied contexts. These methods tend to involve different force absorption characteristics and thus, overload the muscle or musculotendinous unit in different ways during lengthening actions. For this reason, they may produce different magnitudes of improvement in hypertrophy, strength, and power. The constraints to which they are implemented can have a marked effect on the characteristics of force absorption and therefore, could affect the nature of the adaptive response. However, the versatility of the constraints when prescribing these methods mean that they can be effectively implemented to induce these adaptations within a variety of populations

Implementing Eccentric Resistance Training—Part 1: A Brief Review of Existing Methods

The purpose of this review was to provide a physiological rationale for the use of eccentric resistance training and to provide an overview of the most commonly prescribed eccentric training methods. Based on the existing literature, there is a strong physiological rationale for the incorporation of eccentric training into a training program for an individual seeking to maximize muscle size, strength, and power. Specific adaptations may include an increase in muscle cross-sectional area, force output, and fiber shortening velocities, all of which have the potential to benefit power production characteristics. Tempo eccentric training, flywheel inertial training, accentuated eccentric loading, and plyometric training are commonly implemented in applied contexts. These methods tend to involve different force absorption characteristics and thus, overload the muscle or musculotendinous unit in different ways during lengthening actions. For this reason, they may produce different magnitudes of improvement in hypertrophy, strength, and power. The constraints to which they are implemented can have a marked effect on the characteristics of force absorption and therefore, could affect the nature of the adaptive response. However, the versatility of the constraints when prescribing these methods mean that they can be effectively implemented to induce these adaptations within a variety of populations

Perceived psychosocial stress and glucose intolerance among pregnant Hispanic women

Aim—Prior literature suggests a positive association between psychosocial stress and the risk of diabetes in non-pregnant populations, but studies during pregnancy are sparse. We evaluated the relationship between stress and glucose intolerance among 1115 Hispanic (predominantly Puerto Rican) prenatal care patients in Proyecto Buena Salud, a prospective cohort study in Western Massachusetts (2006–2011). Methods—Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14) was administered in early (mean = 12.3 weeks gestation; range 4.1–18 weeks) and mid-(mean = 21.3 weeks gestation; range 18.1–26 weeks) pregnancy. Participants were classified as having a pregnancy complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus, impaired glucose tolerance, and abnormal glucose tolerance, based on the degree of abnormality on glucose tolerance testing between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation. Results—The prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus, impaired glucose tolerance, and abnormal glucose tolerance was 4.1%, 7.2%, and 14.5%, respectively. Absolute levels of early or mid-pregnancy stress were not significantly associated with glucose intolerance. However, participants with an increase in stress from early to mid-pregnancy had a 2.6-fold increased odds of gestational diabetes mellitus (95% confidence intervals: 1.0–6.9) as compared to those with no change or a decrease in stress after adjusting for age and pre-pregnancy body mass index. In addition, every one-point increase in stress scores was associated with a 5.5 mg/dL increase in screening glucose level (β = 5.5; standard deviation = 2.8; P = 0.05), after adjusting for the same variables. Conclusion—In this population of predominantly Puerto Rican women, stress patterns during pregnancy may influence the risk of glucose intolerance