Limited genetic diversity among clones of red wine cultivar 'Carmenère' as revealed by microsatellite and AFLP markers

'Carmenère' is a fine red wine cultivar (Vitis vinifera L.) that has spread, unrecorded from France to  other countries. It probably arrived in Chile before the Phylloxera crisis in Europe where it remained confused with Merlot and other red wine cultivars until the mid 1990s. In this study, genetic diversity among 26 accessions from Chile, France and Italy was analysed using microsatellite (SSR) and AFLP markers. Using 20 SSR markers, a “standard genotype” was established and three different haplotypes were found, presumably arising by a mutation at the VVMD7 and VMC5g7 loci. In the case of AFLP, using 11 primer combinations five groups were identified, with one main cluster of 22 accessions not differentiated. Combining both techniques it was possible to identify five out of the 26 accessions analysed. Together, these results suggest that 'Carmenère' exhibits a lower genetic diversity in comparison with other French red wine cultivars. This is a factor to consider when managing a clonal selection assay. Possible causes are discussed.

The 2009 EU Industrial R&D Investment SCOREBOARD

The 2009 "EU Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard" (the Scoreboard) presents information on the top 1000 EU companies and the top 1000 non-EU companies ranked by their investments in research and development (R&D). The Scoreboard data are drawn from the latest available companies' accounts, i.e. the fiscal year 2008 . In the last part of this reporting period, the world economy entered into a strong financial and economic crisis that affected companies throughout the world. Some of the effects of the crisis are already reflected in these company results, namely on indicators such as sales, operating profits and market capitalisation. However, the full effects of the crisis, especially on R&D, tend to lag and are not yet captured in this Scoreboard.JRC.J.3-Knowledge for Growt

The Zero-Removing Property and Lagrange-Type Interpolation Series

The classical Kramer sampling theorem, which provides a method for obtaining orthogonal sampling formulas, can be formulated in a more general nonorthogonal setting. In this setting, a challenging problem is to characterize the situations when the obtained nonorthogonal sampling formulas can be expressed as Lagrange-type interpolation series. In this article a necessary and sufficient condition is given in terms of the zero removing property. Roughly speaking, this property concerns the stability of the sampled functions on removing a finite number of their zeros

Effect of cinnamon powder addition to a Portuguese custard tart (Pastel de Nata) on healthy adults' postprandial glycemia

Background and Objective: Cinnamon is a spice used over the years in cooking to impart aromatic, flavor and taste properties to food and beverages. Moreover, cinnamon has been used for its medicinal properties due to its potential phenolic content, which can protect against cardio-metabolic diseases. Previous studies reported an improvement of postprandial glycemia after addition of cinnamon powder to a high-sugar meal. The study aims at investigating the effect of adding cinnamon powder to a Portuguese custard tart (Pastel de Nata) on the postprandial glycemic response in healthy subjects. Subjects and Methods: After review board and Ethic Committee of the State approval, thirty-two healthy human subjects were assigned in a controlled study and randomly allocated into 2 groups: 16 subjects ingested a custard tart with cinnamon powder (cinnamon group) and 16 subjects ingested a custard tart alone (control group). Blood glucose concentrations were measured before interventions and after 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes. Chemical analysis was performed to quantify the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity. Results: The postprandial blood glucose (PBG) area under the curve (AUC) was significantly lower (p = 0.0005) in the cinnamon group (599.2 ± 9.1) compared to the AUC of the control group (645.7 ± 7.7). The administration of cinnamon powder to the custard tarts slightly decreased PBG mean values compared to custard tart without cinnamon powder, although it did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.273). Cinnamon addition to custard tart improved the total phenolic content (1278.7 ± 0.7 compared to 253.7 ± 22.8 mg/L gallic acid) and antioxidant properties, increasing 4.4 times the capacity of free-radical scavenger compared with custard tart without cinnamon (IC50). Conclusion: The addition of cinnamon powder to custard tart could be beneficial to glycemic control

Exploring working conditions as determinants of job satisfaction: an empirical test among Catalonia service workers

Job satisfaction is particularly important in the service industry since it involves direct contact with customers and thus has a direct influence on company performance. We analyzed the impact of ten working conditions on job satisfaction by means of structural equation modelling in a representative stratified random sample of 1553 service sector employees in Catalonia (Spain). We found significant effects in social aspects (recognition of a job well done and social support), followed by psychological loads (emotional demands and job insecurity) and by task contents (development & meaning and predictability). These variables explained 50% of the variance in job satisfaction

Cyrhetrenylaniline and new organometallic phenylimines derived from 4- and 5-nitrothiophene: Synthesis, characterization, X-Ray structures, electrochemistry and in vitro anti-T. brucei activity

A novel series of cyrhetrenyl (3a-4a) and ferrocenyl (3b-4b) Schiff bases were synthesized through a condensation reaction, between the known 4-ferrocenylaniline (2b) or the unreported 4-cyhretrenylaniline (2a) with 4- or 5-nitrothiophenecarboxaldehyde. The structure of 2a and the new Schiff bases have been elucidated using conventional spectroscopic techniques (FT-IR, 1H and 13C NMR), mass spectrometry, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of compounds 2a, 4a and 3b. Cyclic voltammetry of organometallic phenylimines derived from 5-nitrothiophene showed NO2 group reduction potentials (E1/2z 0.575 V) that were more anodic than those registered for their 4-nitro analogues (E1/2z 0.981 V). All organometallic imines were tested against the bloodstream form of Trypanosoma brucei. Evaluation indicated that the most active complexes are the 5-nitrothiophene derivatives, 4a, which were remarkably more active than nifurtimox. In addition, complex 4b resulted in less toxicity to host L6 cells than nifurtimox. The results revealed that the electronic effects of cyrhetrene and ferrocene are not an influential factor in E1/2 and anti-Trypanosoma brucei activity for these new imines, which is probably due to the non-coplanarity of the [(h5-C5H4)-C6H4-N=CH-(C4H2S)] system

Hydrogymnastics training program on physical fitness in elderly women

Se evaluó un programa de entrenamiento de hidrogimnasia sobre las capacidades físicas en 26 adultas mayores (grupo experimental n=16, grupo control n=10), determinadas mediante el protocolo senior fitness test, la hidrogimnasia fue 5 veces por semana por 12 semanas, con ejercicios aeróbicos del 50%-60% de la FCmáx. Se utilizó ANOVA 2x2, indicando interacción significativa (p=0.052) entre grupos y mediciones en la prueba de resistencia a la fuerza en extremidades inferiores, la prueba de agilidad de 2.4 metros tuvo interacción significativa (p≤0.01) entre grupos y mediciones, las pruebas de capacidad aeróbica step test de 2 minutos (p=0.02) y caminar 6 minutos indicaron interacción significativa entre grupos y mediciones (p=0.50); Se infiere que la hidrogimnasia en las adultas mayores participantes es eficaz en la mejora de las capacidades físicas principalmente aeróbicas, de resistencia a la fuerza y agilidad de miembros inferioresThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a hydrogymnastics training program on physical fitness in 26 elderly women (experimental group n=16, control group n=10). The physical fitness was determined by the senior fitness test protocol, the hydrogymnastics consisted in aerobic exercise at 50%-60% of maximum heart rate, 5 times a week in a period of 12 weeks. ANOVA 2x2 as statistical test was used, indicating statistically significant interaction (p=0.052) between groups and measurements on test strength endurance in the legs by squatting on chair in 30 s, agility test 2.4 meters was significant interaction (p≤0.01) between groups and measures, testing aerobic capacity test step 2 minutes (p=0.02) and six minutes walk indicated significant interaction between groups and measurements (p=0.50), the results shown that hydrogymnastics in the elderly women participants was effective improving endurance, strength and agility mainly in leg

Satellite galaxies in groups in the CIELO Project I: Gas removal from galaxies and its re-distribution in the intragroup medium

We study the impact of the environment on galaxies as they fall in and orbit in the potential well of a Local Group (LG) analogue, following them with high cadence. The analysis is performed on eight disc satellite galaxies from the CIELO suite of hydrodynamical simulations. All galaxies have stellar masses within the range [10 8.1 -109.56 ] M⊙h-1. We measure tidal torques, ram pressure, and specific star formation rates (sSFRs) as a function of time, and correlate them with the amount of gas lost by satellites along their orbits. Stronger removal episodes occur when the disc plane is oriented perpendicular to the direction of motion. More than one peripassage is required to significantly modify the orientations of the discs with respect to the orbital plane. The gas removed during the interaction with the central galaxies may also be found opposite to the direction of motion, depending on the orbital configuration. Satellites are not totally quenched when the galaxies reach their first peripassage and continue forming about 10 per cent of the final stellar mass after this event. The fraction of removed gas is found to be the product of the joint action of tidal torque and ram pressure, which can also trigger new star formation activity and subsequent supernova feedback.Fil: Rodríguez Moncada, Silvio Ribamar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Garcia Lambas, Diego Rodolfo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Padilla, Nelson David. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Tissera, P.. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile; ChileFil: Bignone, Lucas Axel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciónes Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio. - Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio; ArgentinaFil: Dominguez Tenreiro, Rosa. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile; ChileFil: Gonzalez, R.. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile; ChileFil: Pedrosa, Susana Elizabeth. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciónes Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio. - Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio; Argentin