Competing for the disability tourism market - A comparative exploration of the factors of accessible tourism competitiveness in Spain and Australia

© 2014 Elsevier Ltd. This paper seeks to address the research question of what factors make a destination competitive for the accessible tourism market. The research design is based on destination competitiveness theories. The objective is to formulate a ranking that can compare the competitiveness factors between two countries, with historical and appropriate data sets, in order to examine destination competitiveness for accessible tourism across the tourist regions of both countries. The current research examines the background of destination competitiveness theories, both generally and specifically, as they relate to the research contexts. The research design was developed to examine the underlying elements that facilitate accessible tourism experiences through factorial and cluster analyses, adapting the Crouch's model of competitiveness destination. The findings suggest that the competitiveness factors are different in determinance and importance, and are country-dependent. The climate, locale and tourist structure are the most important for Spain, whereas quality of services, brand and infrastructure are of great importance for Australia. The cluster analysis of the different tourist regions suggests the existence of three main stages. These stages where related to their accessibility level of offered tourism product and their policies

Identification of inoculum sources of Fusicladium eriobotryae in loquat orchards in Spain

[EN] Fusicladium eriobotryae is the causal agent of loquat scab, the main disease damaging fruit, leaves and young twigs of this crop. A two-growing season study (2015¿2016 and 2016¿2017) was carried out in two loquat orchards (cv ¿Algerie¿) to determine the inoculum sources of F. eriobotryae by direct observation of conidia, pathogen isolation on culture media and detection using a new real time PCR protocol developed in this study. One-year-old twigs, fruit peduncles and fruit mummies were randomly sampled three times per growing season on each orchard, and inflorescences only at flowering. Conidia of F. eriobotryae were not found and the isolation of the pathogen was neither possible from any sample in both seasons. Specific primers FUG2F and FUG2R, were designed to detect and quantify DNA of F. eriobotryae on plant material, with a limit of detection (LOD) established at 48.6 fg/¿l. The DNA of the pathogen was not detected by real time PCR in fruit mummies nor inflorescences. It was detected in fruit peduncles and twigs in the season 2016¿2017 with concentrations ranging from 50 to 2742 fg/¿l, confirming that this two loquat organs might act as potential inoculum sources for F. eriobotryae. The detection of F. eriobotryae only in this season agrees with the predictions of an epidemiological model for this pathogen. Our results indicate that in years with a high disease pressure, fruit twigs and peduncles might act as a source of inoculum of new infections the following year.This study was funded by Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA) grant number RTA2013-00004-C03-03, and FEDER Funds. G. Elena was supported by the Spanish post-doctoral grant Juan de la Cierva-Formación. We thank the E. Soler from the Cooperativa Agrícola de Callosa d En Sarrià (Alicante, Spain) for his collaboration during orchard sampling, and A. Ramón-Albalat and V. Serra for their technical assistance.Elena-Jiménez, G.; Berbegal Martinez, M.; González Domínguez, E.; Armengol Fortí, J. (2020). Identification of inoculum sources of Fusicladium eriobotryae in loquat orchards in Spain. European Journal of Plant Pathology. 156:425-436. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-019-01892-yS425436156Acuña, R. P. (2010). Compendio de bacterias y hongos de frutales y vides en Chile. Santiago de Chile: Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero.Bilodeau, G. J., Koike, S. T., Uribe, P., & Martin, F. N. (2012). Development of an assay for rapid detection and quantification of Verticillium dahliae in soil. Phytopathology, 102, 331–343.Bustin, S. A., Benes, V., Garson, J. A., Hellemans, J., Huggett, J., Kubista, M., Mueller, R., Nolan, T., Pfaffl, M. W., Hipley, G. L., Vandesompele, J., & Wittwer, C. T. (2009). The MIQE guidelines: Minimum information for publication of quantitative real-time PCR experiments. Clinical Chemistry, 55, 611–622.Caballero, P., & Fernández, M. A. (2002). 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Journal of Agriculture Research, 28, 321–330.Ghasemkhani, M., Holefors, A., Marttila, S., Dalman, K., Zborowska, A., Rur, M., Rees-George, J., Nybom, H., Everett, K. R., Scheper, R. W. A., & Garkava-Gustavsson, L. (2016). Real-time PCR for detection and quantification, and histological characterization of Neonectria ditissima in apple trees. Trees, 30, 1111–1125.Gisbert, A. D., Besoain, X., Llácer, G., & Badenes, M. L. (2006). Protección de cultivo II, Enfermedades. In M. Agustí, C. Reig, & P. Undurraga (Eds.), El Cultivo del Níspero Japonés (pp. 227–246). Valencia: Gráficas Alcoy.Gladieux, P., Caffier, V., Devaux, M., & Le Cam, B. (2010). Host specific differentiation among populations of Venturia inaequalis causing scab on apple, pyracantha and loquat. Fungal Genetics and Biology, 47, 511–521.González-Domínguez, E., Rossi, V., Armengol, J., & García-Jiménez, J. (2013). 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L., Llacer, G., Bleiholder, H., Hack, H., & Meier, U. (1999). Phenological growth stages of loquat tree (Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb) Lindl.). Annals of Applied Biology, 134, 353–357.Pilotti, M., Lumia, V., Di Lernia, G., & Brunetti, A. (2012). Development of real-time PCR for in wood-detection of Ceratocystis platani, the agent of canker stain of Platanus spp. European Journal of Plant Pathology, 134, 61–79.Prota, U. (1960). Ricerche sulla «ticchiolatura del Nespolo del Giappone e sul suo agente (Fusicladium eriobotryae Cav.). I. Observazioni sull’epidemiologia della malattia e sui caratteri morfo-biologici del parassita in Sardegna. Studi di Sassari, 8, 175–196.Ptskialadze, L. (1968). The causal agent of loquat scab and its biological characteristics. Review of Applied Mycology, 47, 268.Raabe, R., & Gardner, M. W. (1972). Scab of pyracantha, loquat, Toyon and Kageneckia. Phytopathology, 62, 914–916.Rodríguez, A. (1983). El cultivo del níspero en el valle del Algar-Guadalest. Sociedad Cooperativa de Crédito de. Alicante: Callosa d’En Sarrià.Salerno, M., Somma, V., & Rosciglione, B. (1971). Ricerche sull’epidemiologia della ticchiolatura del nespolo del giappone. Technology Agriculture, 23, 947–956.Sánchez-Torres, P., Hinarejos, R., & Tuset, J. J. (2007a). Fusicladium eriobotryae: hongo causante del moteado del níspero en el Mediterráneo español. Boletín de Sanidad Vegetal. Plagas, 33, 89–98.Sánchez-Torres, P., Hinarejos, R., & Tuset, J. J. (2007b). Identification and characterization of Fusicladium eriobotryae: Fungal pathogen causing mediterranean loquat scab. Acta Horticulturae, 750, 343–347.Sánchez-Torres, P., Hinarejos, R., & Tuset, J. J. (2009). Characterization and pathogenicity of Fusicladium eriobotryae, the fungal pathogen responsible for loquat scab. Plant Disease, 93, 1151–1157.Schena, L., Li Destri Nicosia, M. G., Sanzani, S. M., Faedda, R., Ippolito, A., & Cacciola, S. O. (2013). 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Intrinsic and Selective Activity of Functionalized Carbon Nanotube/Nanocellulose Platforms Against Colon Cancer Cells

[Abstract] Given their large surface area and versatile chemical reactivity, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are regarded as the basis of new pharmacological complexes. In this study, SWCNTs are chemically functionalized with fluorescein, folic acid, and capecitabine, a drug that is commonly used against colorectal cancer. These functionalized SWCNTs are dispersed in water by taking advantage of their synergistic interaction with type-II nanocrystalline cellulose (II-NCC), and the resulting colloidal system is tested in vitro on both normal (differentiated) and cancerous (proliferative) human colon cells (Caco-2). The functionalized SWCNT/II-NCC hybrids show a higher activity than the reference (capecitabine) against the Caco-2 cancer cell line. However, this effect appears to be intrinsically associated with the SWCNT/II-NCC complex, particularly boosted by fluorescein, as the presence of capecitabine is not required. In addition, confocal microscopy fluorescence imaging using cell cultures highlights the enormous potential of this nanohybrid platform for colon cancer theranostics.This research was funded by the regional government of Aragón, DGA (Grupos Reconocidos DGA-T03_17R, DGA-T03_20R and DGA-A20_20R), together with associated EU Regional Development Funds, and also the Spanish MINEICO through a “Juan de la Cierva Incorporación” contract, and their associated research funds (ref. IJCI-2016–27789). A.C. thanks the Xunta de Galicia for an “Atracción de Talento” research grant (no. ED431H 2020/17)Gobierno de Aragón; DGA-T03_17RGobierno de Aragón; DGA-T03_20RGobierno de Aragón; DGA-A20_20RXunta de Galicia; ED431H 2020/1

Nanoparticles for death‑induced gene therapy in cancer (Review)

Abstract. Due to the high toxicity and side effects of the use of traditional chemotherapy in cancer, scientists are working on the development of alternative therapeutic technologies. An example of this is the use of death-induced gene therapy. This therapy consists of the killing of tumor cells via transfection with plasmid DNA (pDNA) that contains a gene which produces a protein that results in the apoptosis of cancerous cells. The cell death is caused by the direct activation of apoptosis (apoptosis-induced gene therapy) or by the protein toxic effects (toxin-induced gene therapy). The introduction of pDNA into the tumor cells has been a challenge for the development of this therapy. The most recent implementation of gene vectors is the use of polymeric or inorganic nanoparticles, which have biological and physicochemical properties (shape, size, surface charge, water interaction and biodegradation rate) that allow them to carry the pDNA into the tumor cell. Furthermore, nanoparticles may be functionalized with specific molecules for the recognition of molecular markers on the surface of tumor cells. The binding between the nanoparticle and the tumor cell induces specific endocytosis, avoiding toxicity in healthy cells. Currently, there are no clinical protocols approved for the use of nanoparticles in death-induced gene therapy. There are still various challenges in the design of the perfect transfection vector, however nanoparticles have been demonstrated to be a suitable candidate. This review describes the role of nanoparticles used for pDNA transfection and key aspects for their use in death-induced gene therap