Nutraceutical profiles of apricots (Prunus armeniaca L.) as a source of fruit quality traits for breeding

Aim of study: In a social context of increasing concern about healthy diets, the development of new varieties with enhanced content in nutraceutical compounds is an important objective of the fruit breeding programs currently developed. In this sense, apricot is a fruit crop very appreciated by consumers worldwide due to its organoleptic characteristics, but also plays an important role in human nutrition due to its content of phytocompounds as sugars, organic acids, vitamins and polyphenols. Area of study: The identification of sources of variation for these traits could be useful for apricot breeding worldwide. Material and methods: New selections from the apricot breeding program carried out at the Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias (IVIA, Spain) and traditional varieties have been analysed aimed at identifying sources of genetic variation for fruit quality. For this purpose, sugar content, organic acids and ascorbic acid were studied during three crop years. Main results: Results revealed sucrose and glucose as the major sugars, malic and citric acid as the main organic acids, and diverse ascorbic acid content among the cultivars studied. Research highlights: Some accessions point as potential sources to increase fruit quality. In addition, the study showed that apricot peel is an excellent source of nutraceutical compounds. Moreover, this study opens up new possibilities to study the genetic control of these traits in apricot in the future

Anomalous temperature dependence of the first diffraction peak in vitreous boron trioxide

11 págs.; 9 figs.The temperature dependence of the parameters characterizing the first peak in the S(Q) and S(Q,E=0) diffraction patterns of vitreous boron trioxide is considered in some detail. The analysis of the experimental spectra is aided by results derived from molecular-dynamics simulations, which enable us to isolate the most relevant features driving the variation with temperature of both structure factors. The relevance of the present results regarding some recent phenomenological approaches developed towards the understanding of the dynamics of glasses at intermediate temperatures is finally discussed. ©1996 American Physical SocietyWork was performed in part under D.G.I.C.Y.T (Spain) Grant No. PB92-0114-C03-01. Financial support from the Large Scale Facilities Programme of the European Union for the measurements carried at Risoe National Laboratory (Denmark) is acknowledged. J.D. wishes to thank CONICET (Argentina) and CSIC (Spain) for financial support.Peer Reviewe

Thermal transport in glassy selenium: The role of low-frequency librations

7 págs.; 3 figs.The experimental curves giving the temperature dependence of the thermal conductivity of glassy selenium are considered in detail. The observed behavior can be taken into account quantitatively if the densities of states for short-wavelength phonons as well as for low-energy librations arising from computer simulations are used for the calculations. In particular, it is shown that the lowest frequency excitations of a chain of selenium atoms can give due account of the plateau observed at temperatures about 2-10 K. The implications of the present findings for the current debate regarding the mechanisms for thermal transport in glasses are finally discussed. © 1994 The American Physical Society.This work has been supported by DGICYT Grant No. PB92-0114-C03Peer Reviewe

High resolution infrared and Raman spectra of 13C12CD2: The CD stretching fundamentals and associated combination and hot bands

11 pags.; 4 figs.; 9 tabs.© 2015 AIP Publishing LLC. Infrared and Raman spectra of mono 13C fully deuterated acetylene, 13C12CD2, have been recorded and analysed to obtain detailed information on the C—D stretching fundamentals and associated combination, overtone, and hot bands. Infrared spectra were recorded at an instrumental resolution ranging between 0.006 and 0.01 cm−1 in the region 1800–7800 cm−1. Sixty new bands involving the ν 1 and ν 3 C—D stretching modes also associated with the ν 4 and ν 5 bending vibrations have been observed and analysed. In total, 5881 transitions have been assigned in the investigated spectral region. In addition, the Q branch of the ν 1 fundamental was recorded using inverse Raman spectroscopy, with an instrumental resolution of about 0.003 cm−1. The transitions relative to each stretching mode, i.e., the fundamental band, its first overtone, and associated hot and combination bands involving bending states with υ 4 + υ 5 up to 2 were fitted simultaneously. The usual Hamiltonian appropriate to a linear molecule, including vibration and rotation l-type and the Darling–Dennison interaction between υ 4 = 2 and υ 5 = 2 levels associated with the stretching states, was adopted for the analysis. The standard deviation for each global fit is ≤0.0004 cm−1, of the same order of magnitude of the measurement precision. Slightly improved parameters for the bending and the ν 2 manifold have been also determined. Precise values of spectroscopic parameters deperturbed from the resonance interactions have been obtained. They provide quantitative information on the anharmonic character of the potential energy surface, which can be useful, in addition to those reported in the literature, for the determination of a general anharmonic force field for the molecule. Finally, the obtained values of the Darling–Dennison constants can be valuable for understanding energy flows between independent vibrations.The Bologna authors acknowledge the Università di Bologna and the financial support of the Ministero dell’ Istruzione dell’Università e della Ricerca (PRIN 2012 “Spettroscopia e Tecniche computazionali per la ricerca Astrofisica, atmosferica e Radioastronomica”). D.B. and R.Z.M. acknowledge the financial support of the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through Research Grant No. FIS2012-38175.Peer Reviewe

Classification of uterine anomalies by three-dimensional ultrasonography using ESHRE/ESGE criteria: inter-observer variability.

Objective: To evaluate the interobserver repeatability of the coronal view measurements and classification of the uterine malformations (UM) according to the ESHRE/ESGE consensus by transvaginal three-dimensional ultrasound (3D US). Methods: 89 transvaginal 3D volumes acquired during the last two years at Delta Ecografía in Madrid, Spain, were selected from our archive by convenience sampling. Two expert operators blinded from each other, performed post-hoc analysis using render mode and multiplanar-VCI navigation. Uterine wall thickness at the fundus, indentation of the cavity and indentation of the fundus were measured, classified and sub-classified following the recommendations of the ESHRE/ESGE consensus. The reproducibility of interobserver measurements and classification was examined by calculating intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) and kappa statistic (k).pre-print261 K

Anomalías Congénitas en España: Vigilancia epidemiológica en el último cuarto de siglo (1980-2004)

Resultados de Vigilancia Epidemiológica de los defectos congénitos sobre los datos del ECEMCThe main results of the annual surveillance of congenital anomalies performed in the ECEMC (Spanish Collaborative Study of Congenital Anomalies) are presented here. The analysed data correspond to the last 25 years (1980-2004). A total of 2,045,751 newborn infants were surveyed, for an overall coverage of 23.39% of births in Spain. Among those infants, 32,883 were registered because of the presence of congenital defects detected during the first three days of life, for a prevalence of 1.61%. A statistically significant decrease of the global prevalence has been observed after the passing of the law permitting terminations of pregnancy (TOP) following prenatal detection of malformations. According to the ECEMC's data, that decrease can be attributable to the impact of TOP on the neonatal frequency, as there is an increasing number of defects that can be prenatally detected. The global decrease is also observed in most of the 17 Spanish Autonomic Regions, and is statistically significant in 11 of them. After studying the secular trend for some selected anomalies, either globally or by Autonomic Regions, the decrease is the rule. However, given the difficulties to routinely gather data on TOP, the epidemiological and etiological analyses including them are still almost unfeasible. Another circumstance that has to be taken into consideration in any investigation on congenital defects in our country, is the increasing number of immigrant people having infants in Spain, as it has been observed in the ECEMC's data. Finally, the versatility of the ECEMC registry to adapt itself to changes in the surveyed population and in knowledge, is highlighted, as well as the accomplishment, in the ECEMC, of the objectives summarized by the NBDPN (National Birth Defects Prevention Network), from the USA, in their guidelines for conducting birth defects surveillance, edited in 2004.N

Surveillance of congenital anomalies in Spain during the last 24 years

Resultados de Vigilancia Epidemiológica de los defectos congénitos sobre los datos del ECEMCAs a part of the usual surveillance of congenital anomalies performed in the ECEMC (Spanish Collaborative Study of Congenital Anomalies) database, we have analysed the information gathered in the period 1980-2003, during which a total of 1,941,742 newborn infants were surveyed. The ECEMC registry covered 26.48% of total births occurred in Spain in 2002. We have studied the global prevalence of infants with congenital anomalies in 3 different periods: a) before the passing of the law permitting voluntary interruption of gestation -VIG- following prenatal detection of anomalies (1980-85); b) after such passing (1986-2002); and c) year 2003. The baseline frequency of congenital anomalies corresponds to the period 1980-1985. Comparisons with this baseline mainly indicate the impact of VIG on the birth prevalence for defects which are prenatally detectable. The global prevalence continues diminishing over the years, and the significant decrease can also be observed in 13 out of 17 Spanish Autonomic Regions. All these decreases are mostly attributable to the impact of VIG. When studying the time distribution of the frequency of some selected anomalies, as well as their geographical distribution, we have observed that VIG plays an important role. However, it is difficult to get information on VIGs. The problem is that if it is not registered on a routine basis and with complete data on exposures and other variables, it will be impossible to perform analytic studies on the causes of birth defects . A question that has recently raised is the increasing number of immigrants in Spain. We have analysed the distribution of the control group of the ECEMC by country from which the parents come from. On the other hand, we have also analysed the evolution along the time of the proportion of different ethnic groups in the control group. Finally, in spite of the decreasing frequency of congenital anomalies, it should be considered that such decrease is mainly due to the impact of VIG, so we underline the need of investigating in order to reach primary prevention of birth defects, and applying the known preventive measures, getting infants being born healthy.N

Low-frequency excitations in glassy selenium: A comparison of neutron-scattering and molecular-dynamics results

12 págs.; 9 figs.; 1 tab.The microscopic low-frequency dynamics of glassy selenium is investigated by means of the concurrent use of neutron inelastic scattering and computer simulations. A separation of the dynamic response in terms of intra- and interchain processes is achieved from the analysis of the simulation results. The S(Q,E) dynamic structure factors are analyzed in terms of the frequency moments or from a model scattering law, and the wave-vector dependence of the relevant quantities is established. Finally, the anomalous behavior of the heat capacity at moderately low temperatures is shown to be originated by mostly interchain interactions. © 1993 The American Physical Society.This work has been supported in part by DGICYT Grant No. PB89-0037-C03.Peer Reviewe

Polyphenol content in apricot fruits

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) species is one of the most important Mediterranean fruits. The fruits are important in the diet of Asian and Mediterranean countries in which the apricot is used as fresh and dried fruit, being an important source of nutrients. Despite of the amount of genetic resources and diversity studies available into the species, there are a few studies focused on fruit quality. Among the different compounds of fruit quality, polyphenols are classified as the most abundant antioxidants in nature, being important as a source of health benefits as well as a potential source of natural products for the food industry. The important role of polyphenols in human nutrition, outline these compounds as the most relevant for defining fruit quality. In this study, the polyphenol content on fruits from different apricot varieties included elite cultivars and hybrids from the IVIA breeding program have been compared for identifying the genotypes with relevant contribution to fruit quality. The most important compounds obtained in terms of quantity were: phenolic acids and flavonoids. Results identified the PPV resistant cultivar ‘Goldrich’ as the best cultivar for increasing the content of antioxidants in the varieties of the breeding program

Surveillance of congenital anomalies in Spain in the last 23 years (period 1980-2002)

Resultados de Vigilancia Epidemiológica de los defectos congénitos sobre los datos del ECEMCWe have analysed data from the ECEMC database, gathered in the period 1980-2002, during which a total of 1,838,654 newborn infants were surveyed. The ECEMC programme covered 25.6% of total births occurred in Spain in 2001. We have calculated the global frequency of infants with congenital anomalies in different periods of time (before or after the passing of the law permitting voluntary interruption of gestation -VIG- following prenatal detection of anomalies). This allows to figure out the baseline frequency of congenital anomalies (corresponding to the period 1980-1985), and to assess the impact of VIG on the birth prevalence by comparing the baseline frequency of congenital anomalies with the frequency registered after 1985. The global frequency is decreasing over the years, and in 11 out of 17 Spanish Autonomic Regions we have also observed significant decreases of the frequency along the time. All those decreases are attributable to VIG. We have also studied the time distribution of the frequency of some selected anomalies, as well as their geographical distribution, and both are highly influenced by VIG. Nevertheless, the information on VIG is rather scarce. We consider that if it is not registered on a routine basis, it will be impossible to perform analytic studies on the causes of birth defects and to evaluate any preventive measure. Another question that will have to be approached in years to come is the distribution of birth defects depending on the country the parents come from, as immigration from other countries is increasing in Spain. Finally, we consider that even though the birth prevalence of these pathologies is decreasing as a consequence of the prenatal diagnosis and the possibility of voluntarily interrupting the gestation, it is necessary to search for primary prevention measures in order to get infants being born healthy.N