Worldwide evaluations of quinoa: preliminary results from post International Year of Quinoa FAO projects in nine countries

Chenopodium quinoa Willd, a high quality grain crop, is resistant to abiotic stresses (drought, cold, and salt) and offers an optimal source of protein. Quinoa represents a symbol of crop genetic diversity across the Andean region. In recent years, this crop has undergone a major expansion outside its countries of origin. The activities carried out within the framework of the International Year of Quinoa provided a great contribution to raise awareness on the multiple benefits of quinoa as well as to its wider cultivation at the global level. FAO is actively involved in promoting and evaluating the cultivation of quinoa in 26 countries outside the Andean region with the aim to strengthen food and nutrition security. The main goal of this research is to evaluate the adaptability of selected quinoa genotypes under different environments outside the Andean region. This paper presents the preliminary results from nine countries. Field evaluations were conducted during 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 in Asia (Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan), and the Near East and North African countries (Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Mauritania, and Yemen). In each country, the trials were carried out in different locations that globally represent the diversity of 19 agrarian systems under different agro-ecological conditions. Twenty-one genotypes of quinoa were tested using the same experimental protocol in all locations consisting in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. Some genotypes showed higher yields and the Q18 and Q12 landraces displayed greater adaptation than others to new environmental conditions. The Q21 and Q26 landraces were evaluated with stable and satisfactory levels of yield (>1 t.ha−1) in each of the different trial sites. This production stability is of considerable importance especially under climate change uncertainty. While these results suggest that this Andean crop is able to grow in many different environments, social, and cultural considerations remain crucial regarding its possible introduction as a staple food in new cropping systems around the world

Transitions at CpG Dinucleotides, Geographic Clustering of TP53 Mutations and Food Availability Patterns in Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is mainly attributed to diet, but the role exerted by foods remains unclear because involved factors are extremely complex. Geography substantially impacts on foods. Correlations between international variation in colorectal cancer-associated mutation patterns and food availabilities could highlight the influence of foods on colorectal mutagenesis. mutations from 12 countries/geographic areas. For food availabilities, we relied on data extracted from the Food Balance Sheets of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Dendrograms for mutation sites, mutation types and food patterns were constructed through Ward's hierarchical clustering algorithm and their stability was assessed evaluating silhouette values. Feature selection used entropy-based measures for similarity between clusterings, combined with principal component analysis by exhaustive and heuristic approaches. hotspots. Pearson's correlation scores, computed between the principal components of the datamatrices for mutation types, food availability and mutation sites, demonstrated statistically significant correlations between transitions at CpGs and both mutation sites and availabilities of meat, milk, sweeteners and animal fats, the energy-dense foods at the basis of “Western” diets. This is best explainable by differential exposure to nitrosative DNA damage due to foods that promote metabolic stress and chronic inflammation

Independent of local properties mathematical models for the calculation of retention indices in programmed temperature gas chromatography

Retention indices of some phthalates separated in temperature programming on SE-30 packed column were calculated by smoothing calibration data with Bezier curves, and from 2 to 6 order B-splines. The values thus obtained were compared to the corresponding ones calculated in a classical way. Whatever the standard n-alkane mixtures used (homologous series, alternate members with even or odd carbon atoms, any mixture with consecutive members not exceeding 4 carbon atoms between each two) the B-splines interpolations lead to retention indices values in better agreement with these ones, although Bezier curve smoothing still leads to values more consistent with the scheme of retention indices. Referring the phthalates to n-alkane standard mixtures, with consecutive members not exceeding 3 or 4 carbon atoms between each 2, connecting the calibration data by B-splines, with orders from 2 to 5, and selecting the set of retention indices corresponding to the smallest value of the sum of squared second divided differences one may recover, with a good accuracy, classical programmed retention indices

Subnanometer CdS clusters self-confined in MFI-type zeolite nanoparticles and thin films

One-step colloidal synthesis of subnanometer CdS clusters in hydrophobic MFI-type zeolite crystals in the presence of 3-mercaptopropyl-trimethoxysilane (MPS), cadmium precursor, and tetrapropylammonium hydroxide (TPAOH) is performed. MPS is used as the bifunctional agent, as it hydrolyzes fast, cross-links with the silica framework, and provides thiol groups to anchor Cd2+, and subsequently forms CdS clusters. The MFI crystals with the thiol groups not only function as a nanochamber for the formation of CdS but also prevent further moisture-induced agglomeration of the clusters. Direct evidence for the presence of asymmetric shaped subnanometer CdS clusters aligned in the channels of MFI crystals stabilized in suspensions and films is provided by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GI-XRD), and photoluminescence spectra (emission < 350 nm). The CdS clusters are stable for months in colloidal suspensions and films without any particular precaution against water. The hydrophobicity of the MFI zeolite and the presence of the organic template in the channels favor the stabilization of small CdS clusters, which are available for further applications

Structural determination, dielectric and photoluminescence properties of Ba0.975Ln(0.017)(Ti(0.95-x)ZrxSn(0.05))O-3 (Ln = Eu, Ho; x=0.05, 0.20)

International audienceLead-free compounds with formula Ba0.975Ln0.017(Ti0.90Zr0.05Sn0.05)O3 (BLnZ5TS) and Ba0.975Ln0.017(Ti0.75Zr0.20Sn0.05)O3 (BLnZ20TS) [Ln = Eu, Ho] were synthesized using the solid-state reaction technique. Scanning electron micrographs of ceramics showed a decrease in the average grain size as the Ln3+ radii increases. The structural study allowed the identification of tetragonal and cubic symmetries at room temperature for BLnZ5TS and BLnZ20TS, respectively. Dielectric measurements were carried out as a function of temperature and frequency. The results revealed that BLnZ5TS exhibited normal ferroelectric behavior with diffuse phase transition, whereas BLnZ20TS displayed relaxor ferroelectric properties. The diffuse phase transition parameters were determined from the modified Curie-Weiss law, while the relaxor behavior in BLnZ20TS was highlighted by a good fit to the Vogel-Fulcher relationship. The photoluminescence of the prepared specimens was investigated and the results showed that these compositions bear interest for green and red emission

Worldwide evaluations of quinoa: Preliminary results from post international year of quinoa FAO projects in nine countries

Chenopodium quinoa Willd., a high quality grain crop, is resistant to abiotic stresses (drought, cold, and salt) and offers an optimal source of protein. Quinoa represents a symbol of crop genetic diversity across the Andean region. In recent years, this crop has undergone a major expansion outside its countries of origin. The activities carried out within the framework of the International Year of Quinoa provided a great contribution to raise awareness on the multiple benefits of quinoa as well as to its wider cultivation at the global level. FAO is actively involved in promoting and evaluating the cultivation of quinoa in 26 countries outside the Andean region with the aim to strengthen food and nutrition security. The main goal of this research is to evaluate the adaptability of selected quinoa genotypes under different environments outside the Andean region. This paper presents the preliminary results from nine countries. Field evaluations were conducted during 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 in Asia (Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan), and the Near East and North African countries (Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Mauritania, and Yemen). In each country, the trials were carried out in different locations that globally represent the diversity of 19 agrarian systems under different agro-ecological conditions. Twenty-one genotypes of quinoa were tested using the same experimental protocol in all locations consisting in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. Some genotypes showed higher yields and the Q18 and Q12 landraces displayed greater adaptation than others to new environmental conditions. The Q21 and Q26 landraces were evaluated with stable and satisfactory levels of yield (&gt; 1 t.ha-1) in each of the different trial sites. This production stability is of considerable importance especially under climate change uncertainty. While these results suggest that this Andean crop is able to grow in many different environments, social, and cultural considerations remain crucial regarding its possible introduction as a staple food in new cropping systems around the world

Capturing the formation of sub-nanometer sized CdS clusters in LTL zeolite

The radiolytic preparation of sub-nanometer sized CdS clusters in LTL-type zeolite crystals in suspension is reported. The growing process of CdS in the zeolite crystals using a γ-ray irradiator (low dose rate) and a pulse electron accelerator (high dose rate) is followed by UV-vis spectroscopy. The pulse electron accelerator equipped with a transient absorption setup allowed the real-time capturing of CdS formed in the zeolite suspension. Two distinct stages during the formation of sub-nanometer sized CdS clusters in the LTL-type zeolite are identified: (i) fast formation of dispersed small oligomers exhibiting a well-defined sharp absorption peak, which is shifted from 292 to 350 nm in the course of the growth process, and (ii) formation of interconnected CdS clusters along the zeolite channels by diffusion-assisted process. Additionally, the presence of sub-nanometer sized CdS clusters in the zeolite channels is confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The sub-nanometer sized CdS clusters formed in the LTL-type zeolite suspension exhibit good stability under hydrous conditions, and no coalesce in the presence of water is observed