Economic evaluation of mechanical harvesting of lemons

[EN] Several hypotheses regarding hand and mechanical harvesting have been analysed, in order to estimate the economic possibilities for the mechanical harvesting of lemons taking into account the current availability of technology. We considered several detachment options under experimental conditions; only yellow detachment has been considered for mechanical harvesting, because the sensitivity to the impacts is lower and mechanical detachment was high (80%). Price changes throughout the season were also considered. Total harvest cost is an average of the cost of mechanical harvesting (80%) and the cost of manually harvesting remaining fruit (20%), plus the cost of handling the mechanical harvested fraction. This cost ranges between 0.031 and 0.058 € kg-1 for outputs between 20 and 60 t ha-1, respectively, which is always lower than harvesting by hand (0.065 € kg-1). A Monte Carlo approach was used to study the sensitivity of the results, and Value at Risk (VaR) calculated. The analysis showed that the mechanical harvesting margin is c0.020 € kg-1 higher than the hand harvesting margin, and the output dispersion is higher in March. The VaR analysis showed that at 10% there was no risk that the hand margin is higher than the mechanical margin; at 5% the risk is very low and only for March harvesting. Mechanical harvesting represents a good economic option compared to hand harvesting, since it can increase farmer income by between 400 and 1200 € ha-1.This work was funded by Consejería de Agricultura y Agua de la Región de Murcia and by INIA and FEDER funds (project no. RTA2014-00025-C05-02).Brotons-Martínez, JM.; Martín-Górriz, B.; Torregrosa, A.; Porras, I. (2018). Economic evaluation of mechanical harvesting of lemons. Outlook on Agriculture. 47(1):44-50. https://doi.org/10.1177/0030727018762657S4450471Bordas, M., Torrents, J., Arenas, F. J., & Hervalejo, A. (2012). HIGH DENSITY PLANTATION SYSTEM OF THE SPANISH CITRUS INDUSTRY. Acta Horticulturae, (965), 123-130. doi:10.17660/actahortic.2012.965.15Burns, J. K., Roka, F. M., Li, K.-T., Pozo, L., & Buker, R. S. (2006). Late-season `Valencia’ Orange Mechanical Harvesting with an Abscission Agent and Low-frequency Harvesting. HortScience, 41(3), 660-663. doi:10.21273/hortsci.41.3.660Grafiadellis, I., Mattas, K., Maloupa, E., Tzouramani, I., & Galanopoulos, K. (2000). An Economic Analysis of Soilless Culture in Gerbera Production. HortScience, 35(2), 300-303. doi:10.21273/hortsci.35.2.300Manera, F. J., Brotons, J. M., Conesa, A., & Porras, I. (2012). Influence of temperature on the beginning of degreening in lemon peel. Scientia Horticulturae, 145, 34-38. doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2012.07.021Moreno, R., Torregrosa, A., Moltó, E., & Chueca, P. (2015). Effect of harvesting with a trunk shaker and an abscission chemical on fruit detachment and defoliation of citrus grown under Mediterranean conditions. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, 13(1), e0206. doi:10.5424/sjar/2015131-6590Roka, F. M., & Hyman, B. R. (2012). MECHANICAL HARVESTING OF SWEET ORANGES FOR JUICE PROCESSING. Acta Horticulturae, (965), 241-243. doi:10.17660/actahortic.2012.965.32Sanders, K. F. (2005). Orange Harvesting Systems Review. Biosystems Engineering, 90(2), 115-125. doi:10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2004.10.006A. Torregrosa, I. Porras, & B. Martín. (2010). Mechanical Harvesting of Lemons (cv. Fino) in Spain Using Abscission Agents. Transactions of the ASABE, 53(3), 703-708. doi:10.13031/2013.30062Wagner, H. M. (1995). Global Sensitivity Analysis. Operations Research, 43(6), 948-969. doi:10.1287/opre.43.6.948J. D. Whitney. (1999). FIELD TEST RESULTS WITH MECHANICAL HARVESTING EQUIPMENT IN FLORIDA ORANGES. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 15(3), 205-210. doi:10.13031/2013.576

Effect of COMBinAtion therapy with remote ischemic conditioning and exenatide on the Myocardial Infarct size: a two-by-two factorial randomized trial (COMBAT-MI)

Remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) and the GLP-1 analog exenatide activate different cardioprotective pathways and may have additive effects on infarct size (IS). Here, we aimed to assess the efficacy of RIC as compared with sham procedure, and of exenatide, as compared with placebo, and the interaction between both, to reduce IS in humans. We designed a two-by-two factorial, randomized controlled, blinded, multicenter, clinical trial. Patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction receiving primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) within 6 h of symptoms were randomized to RIC or sham procedure and exenatide or matching placebo. The primary outcome was IS measured by late gadolinium enhancement in cardiac magnetic resonance performed 3–7 days after PPCI. The secondary outcomes were myocardial salvage index, transmurality index, left ventricular ejection fraction and relative microvascular obstruction volume. A total of 378 patients were randomly allocated, and after applying exclusion criteria, 222 patients were available for analysis. There were no significant interactions between the two randomization factors on the primary or secondary outcomes. IS was similar between groups for the RIC (24 ± 11.8% in the RIC group vs 23.7 ± 10.9% in the sham group, P = 0.827) and the exenatide hypotheses (25.1 ± 11.5% in the exenatide group vs 22.5 ± 10.9% in the placebo group, P = 0.092). There were no effects with either RIC or exenatide on the secondary outcomes. Unexpected adverse events or side effects of RIC and exenatide were not observed. In conclusion, neither RIC nor exenatide, or its combination, were able to reduce IS in STEMI patients when administered as an adjunct to PPCI

Environmentally induced changes in antioxidant phenolic compounds levels in wild plants

[EN] Different adverse environmental conditions cause oxidative stress in plants by generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Accordingly, a general response to abiotic stress is the activation of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems. Many phenolic compounds, especially flavonoids, are known antioxidants and efficient ROS scavengers in vitro, but their exact role in plant stress responses in nature is still under debate. The aim of our work is to investigate this role by correlating the degree of environmental stress with phenolic and flavonoid levels in stress-tolerant plants. Total phenolic and antioxidant flavonoid contents were determined in 19 wild species. Meteorological data and plant and soil samples were collected in three successive seasons from four Mediterranean ecosystems: salt marsh, dune, semiarid and gypsum habitats. Changes in phenolic and flavonoid levels were correlated with the environmental conditions of the plants and were found to depend on both the taxonomy and ecology of the investigated species. Despite species-specific differences, principal component analyses of the results established a positive correlation between plant phenolics and several environmental parameters, such as altitude, and those related to water stress: temperature, evapotranspiration, and soil water deficit. The correlation with salt stress was, however, very weak. The joint analysis of all the species showed the lowest phenolic and flavonoid levels in the halophytes from the salt marsh. This finding supports previous data indicating that the halophytes analysed here do not undergo oxidative stress in their natural habitat and therefore do not need to activate antioxidant systems as a defence against salinity.This work has been funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Project CGL2008-00438/BOS), with contribution from the European Regional Development Fund. Thanks to Dr. Rafael Herrera for critical reading of the manuscript.Bautista, I.; Boscaiu, M.; Lidón, A.; Llinares Palacios, JV.; Lull, C.; Donat-Torres, MP.; Mayoral García-Berlanga, O.... (2016). Environmentally induced changes in antioxidant phenolic compounds levels in wild plants. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum. 38(1):1-15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-015-2025-2S115381Agati G, Biricolti S, Guidi L, Ferrini F, Fini A, Tattini M (2011) The biosynthesis of flavonoids is enhanced similarly by UV radiation and root zone salinity in L. vulgare leaves. 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Is salinity the main ecologic factor that shapes the distribution of two endemic Mediterranean plant species of the genus Gypsophila?

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11104-014-2218-2Aims Responses to salt stress of two Gypsophila species that share territory, but with different ecological optima and distribution ranges, were analysed. G. struthium is a regionally dominant Iberian endemic gypsophyte, whereas G. tomentosa is a narrow endemic reported as halophyte. Theworking hypothesis is that salt tolerance shapes the presence of these species in their specific habitats. Methods Taking a multidisciplinary approach, we assessed the soil characteristics and vegetation structure at the sampling site, seed germination and seedling development, growth and flowering, synthesis of proline and cation accumulation under artificial conditions of increasing salt stress and effect of PEG on germination and seedling development. Results Soil salinity was low at the all sampling points where the two species grow, but moisture was higher in the area of G. tomentosa. Differences were found in the species salt and drought tolerance. The different parameters tested did not show a clear pattern indicating the main role of salt tolerance in plant distribution. Conclusions G. tomentosa cannot be considered a true halophyte as previously reported because it is unable to complete its life cycle under salinity. The presence of G. tomentosa in habitats bordering salt marshes is a strategy to avoid plant competition and extreme water stressSoriano, P.; Moruno Manchón, JF.; Boscaiu Neagu, MT.; Vicente Meana, Ó.; Hurtado, A.; Llinares Palacios, JV.; Estrelles, E. (2014). Is salinity the main ecologic factor that shapes the distribution of two endemic Mediterranean plant species of the genus Gypsophila?. Plant and Soil. 384(1-2):363-379. doi:10.1007/s11104-014-2218-2S3633793841-2Alonso MA (1996) Flora y vegetación del Valle de Villena (Alicante). 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African and local wind-blown dust contributions at three rural sites in SE Spain: the aerosol size distribution

The entrainment of particulate material into the atmosphere by wind action on surface soils both disturbed and natural, as well as directly due to human activities like agricultural practices, mineral industry operations, construction works and traffic, is a significant contribution to the aerosol load in Mediterranean semi-arid areas. A further crustal contribution in the region comes from the frequent arrival of African mineral dust plumes. We summarize some of the results obtained after 4-6 -month campaigns at three rural sites in SE Spain where the aerosol number size distribution (31 size bins between 0.25 and 32 μm) was continuously measured. The influence of both local wind speed and the arrival of air masses loaded with African dust on the airborne particulate distribution is assessed. Similarities and differences between the three locations give information that allows a better understanding of the influence of both local wind speed and African dust outbreaks (ADO), while highlight what is mostly related to local features

Aplicación del Modelo EUROSEM en un área forestal del Barranc de la Casella de Alzira (València)

Poster presentado en el IV Congreso Ibérico de la Ciencia del Suelo celebrado en Granada del 21 al 24 de septiembre de 2010Peer Reviewe

Nanogoniometry with scanning force microscopy: a model study of CdTe thin films.

In this paper scanning force microscopy is combined with simple but powerful data processing to determine quantitatively, on a sub-micrometer scale, the orientation of surface facets present on crystalline materials. A high-quality scanning force topography image is used to determine an angular histogram of the surface normal at each image point. In addition to the known method for the assignment of Miller indices to the facets appearing on the surface, a quantitative analysis is presented that allows the characterization of the relative population and morphological quality of each of these facets. Two different CdTe thin films are used as model systems to probe the capabilities of this method, which enables further information to be obtained about the thermodynamic stability of particular crystallographic facets. The method, which is referred to as nanogoniometry, will be a powerful tool to study in detail the surface of crystalline materials, particularly thin films, with sub-micrometer resolution

La enseñanza de las Ciencias Sociales en la segunda etapa de EGB a través de objetivos operativos

Recopilar y seleccionar los objetivos generales que, para el área de Ciencias Sociales en la segunda etapa de EGB, habían legislado las autoridades educativas del país, someterlos a discusión y llegar a una ordenación y secuencialización de los mismos de acuerdo con los criterios que se expresan en el grupo de trabajo. Realizar un trabajo en equipo de programación, aplicación y evaluación de objetivos operativos, partiendo de una selección, organización y secuencialización de los objetivos generales propuestos por las orientaciones pedagógicas emanadas del Ministerio de Educación. El trabajo se organiza de forma que tiene en cuenta los enfoques siguientes: lógico, sociológico y psicólogico. Para ello se dividen los contenidos de las orientaciones pedagógicas en 6 grandes núcleos para trabajarlos durante todo el curso escolar. Se determinan, teniendo en cuenta los objetivos generales, los objetivos específicos y de acuerdo con ellos se formulan los objetivos operativos. De acuerdo con los objetivos operativos, se programan las actividades que tienen como ejercicios fundamentales: comentarios de texto, series estadísticas, gráficas, mapas, libros, resúmenes, etc. El cuadernillo de actividades contiene: ejercicios de distinto nivel de dificultad, relacionados con el nivel de la taxonomía elegido y el objetivo operativo correspondiente. Existen por tanto 3 aspectos de actividades: I.-Serían como un resumen condensado del tema y los alumnos prácticamente no tendrían más que memorizar. II.-Contienen cuestiones que hacen pensar y se prestan a ser tratadas de manera que el alumno pueda obtener sus propias conclusiones. III.-Contienen ejercicios de pensar y razonar pero sobre situaciones nuevas u originales. A pesar de que la experiencia no ha sido aplicada, los autores piensan que el sistema de programación por objetivos operativos puede resultar perfectamente válido desde un punto de vista metodológico ya que pretenden un sistema abierto a todo tipo de actividad por parte del alumno y el hecho de marcar unos objetivos operativos mínimos, no impide que se de una gran dinamicidad de relaciones en clase, que generen actitudes, aprendizajes e intereses y resultados educativos muy interesantes. La creatividad del alumno se logra a traves de ciertas actividades del propio alumno y en virtud del tipo de planteamiento metodológico, que va más lejos del simple hecho de la consecucion de los objetivos operativos. Con la programación y evaluación de los objetivos operativos, se logra que los alumnos conozcan, participen y acepten al menos unos dominios mínimos de contenido en cada uno de los nucleos señalados y al mismo tiempo se contribuye a una mayor calidad de la enseñanza.ValenciaBiblioteca de Educación del Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte; Calle San Agustín, 5 - 3 Planta; 28014 Madrid; Tel. +34917748000; Fax +34917748026; [email protected]