Characteristics Defining Broccoli Cultivars from Different Seed Producers

Broccoli (Brassica oleraceaL. var.italica) is currently considered a main vegetable food in the markets due to its high nutritional value, containing elevated levels of phytochemicals widely described to have beneficial effects against cancer and other illnesses. Broccoli is an interesting crop with a high commercial value because it complements the tomato industry, the main agricultural income in Badajoz, Spain. Nine varieties of broccoli from four nurseries were evaluated by analyzing both agronomic and quality parameters. Total yield and number of harvests were monitored. Parameters defining quality like diameter, weight, and height of the heads were determined. Granulometry, compactness, and the presence of internal leaves in the heads were also analyzed. Diameter and height of sprouts were complementarily estimated. Principal component analysis was further employed to investigate the relationship between the agronomic variables and the cultivars and nurseries. Results revealed that both first and second principal components explained more than 75% of the variance and grouped data according their cultivar and commercial origin. Additionally, correlations between the scores of those components and the values of the phenotypic parameters suggested that head weights are main determinants of the phenotypic differences observed among the cultivars whereas the presence of internal leaves and granulometry and head weight appear to be key traits defining nurseries.

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Examining the relationship between the price, the characteristics and the visitor evaluation of attributes of Italian farmhouses with an educational farm

Tourism Review ◽

10.1108/tr-07-2019-0316 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 75 (5) ◽

pp. 827-839 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rosa Maria Fanelli

Keyword(s):

A Priori ◽

Principal Component ◽

Online Reviews ◽

Latent Factors ◽

Content Type ◽

Visitor Satisfaction ◽

Main Determinants ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between the price charged for a guest room in a farmhouse with an educational farm, the farmhouse characteristics and the visitor evaluation of the principal external and internal farmhouse attributes. Design/methodology/approach A large sample of 10,880 visitor reviews, extrapolated from the websites of 399 Italian farmhouses with an educational farm (FEF), was analyzed. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to identify the main latent dimensions of the farmhouses (visitor satisfaction with farmhouse attributes, farmhouse dimensions, visitor frequency, farmhouse services, types of accommodation and altitude) that affect the price charged for a guest room. Subsequently, multivariate regression was applied to measure the impact of these new latent factors on the price. Findings Overall, the results indicate that the price of a farmhouse with an educational farm – in the context of this niche of the Italian agritourism sector – reflects the visitor evaluation of the farmhouse attributes (especially activities and facilities available in the surrounding countryside), the farmhouse dimensions, the types of accommodation, the number of services on offer and the presence of connectivity (WI-FI). In addition, the results reveal that the price represents an important driver that guides guests in their choice of a farmhouse and that it affects visitor satisfaction with farmhouse attributes. Research limitations/implications Because of the sample chosen, the data gathered are limited to one type of organization – Italian FEF. Furthermore, it may be important to investigate in more depth some issues that remain partly unanswered that concern this niche of the Italian agritourism sector. Practical implications Thanks to the identification of latent dimensions by PCA and the examination of their impact on the farmhouse price, farmhouse operators can understand a priori the main determinants on which to focus to improve the quality of activities and facilities available in the farmhouse location to better satisfy visitor expectations. Originality/value This study provides new and practical insights into the farmhouse experience in Italian municipalities, an area where very limited research has been conducted. Indeed, this is one of the few studies to focus on online reviews to evaluate more than two farmhouse attributes and their impact on pricing.

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Traditional, Indigenous Apple Varieties, a Fruit with Potential for Beneficial Effects: Their Quality Traits and Bioactive Polyphenol Contents

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods9010052 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 52 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Lidija Jakobek ◽

Jozo Ištuk ◽

Ivana Buljeta ◽

Sandra Voća ◽

Jana Šic Žlabur ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Principal Component ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Internal Quality ◽

Quality Traits ◽

Commercial Variety ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Apple Varieties ◽

Soluble Solid ◽

First Time ◽

Seed Characteristics

Earlier studies suggested that traditional apple varieties have quality traits well accepted by consumers and beneficial effects on human health. The aim was to collect 25 traditional apple varieties grown in Croatia and to determine, for the first time in so many details, their external (weight, height, width, shape, color), internal quality traits (firmness, starch decomposition index, maturity index, soluble solid concentration, total acids, soluble solid/total acids ratio, pH), and seed characteristics. In addition, individual polyphenols were determined in the flesh and peel, by using RP-HPLC. All was compared to the commercial variety ‘Idared’. Quality parameters of these varieties were similar to those of the commercial variety. The flesh and peel contained flavan-3-ols, dihydrochalcones, phenolic acids, and flavonols, while anthocyanins were additionally found in the peel. Total polyphenols in the peel (536–3801 mg kg−1 fresh weight (FW)) and in the flesh (79–1294 mg kg−1 FW) of the majority of varieties were higher than in the commercial variety. Principal component analysis showed possible clustering according to polyphenol amounts. According to the observed diversity of quality traits and bioactive polyphenol contents, the traditional varieties have potential for consumer acceptance and increased cultivation.

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What Does Human Development Index Rating Mean in Terms of Individualism/Collectivism?

European Psychologist ◽

10.1027//1016-9040.8.2.97 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 97-100 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Maria José Sotelo ◽

Luis Gimeno

Keyword(s):

Human Development ◽

Human Development Index ◽

Principal Component ◽

General Idea ◽

Development Index ◽

Low Levels ◽

The Relationship

The authors explore an alternative way of analyzing the relationship between human development and individualism. The method is based on the first principal component of Hofstede's individualism index in the Human Development Index rating domain. Results suggest that the general idea that greater wealth brings more individualism is only true for countries with high levels of development, while for middle or low levels of development the inverse is true.

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HUBUNGAN KEPADATAN BIVALVIA DENGAN PARAMETER LINGKUNGAN DI PESISIR TANJUNG PURA KABUPATEN BANGKA TENGAH

Akuatik Jurnal Sumberdaya Perairan ◽

10.33019/akuatik.v13i2.1434 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 112-121

Author(s):

Sudiyar . ◽

Okto Supratman ◽

Indra Ambalika Syari

Keyword(s):

Negative Impact ◽

Principal Component ◽

Environmental Parameters ◽

Data Retrieval ◽

Distribution Patterns ◽

Random System ◽

System Method ◽

Relationship Of ◽

The Relationship ◽

Anadara Granosa

The destructive fishing feared will give a negative impact on the survival of this organism. This study aims to analyze the density of bivalves, distribution patterns, and to analyze the relationship of bivalves with environmental parameters in Tanjung Pura village. This research was conducted in March 2019. The systematic random system method was used for collecting data of bivalves. The collecting Data retrieval divided into five research stasions. The results obtained 6 types of bivalves from 3 families and the total is 115 individuals. The highest bivalve density is 4.56 ind / m², and the lowest bivalves are located at station 2,1.56 ind / m², The pattern of bivalve distribution in the Coastal of Tanjung Pura Village is grouping. The results of principal component analysis (PCA) showed that Anadara granosa species was positively correlated with TSS r = 0.890, Dosinia contusa, Anomalocardia squamosa, Mererix meretrix, Placamen isabellina, and Tellinella spengleri were positively correlated with currents r = 0.933.

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The relationship between health effects in triathletes and microbiological quality of freshwater

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1995.0549 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 31 (5-6) ◽

pp. 19-26 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

G. J. Medema ◽

I. A. van Asperen ◽

J. M. Klokman-Houweling ◽

A. Nooitgedagt ◽

M. J. W. van de Laar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Geometric Mean ◽

Microbiological Quality ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Health Complaints ◽

E Coli ◽

Thermotolerant Coliforms ◽

Microbiological Water Quality ◽

The Relationship ◽

Faecal Streptococci

This pilot study was carried out to determine the relationship between microbiological water quality parameters and the occurrence of health complaints among triathletes. Data were collected at an Olympic distance triathlon (n=314) and a run-bike-run (n=81; controls for exposure to fresh water). At the time of the triathlon, the concentrations of Escherichia coli , thermotolerant coliforms, faecal streptococci, entero- and reoviruses, F-specific RNA phages, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Aeromonas, Plesiomonas shigelloides, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus were examined over the swimming course. Information on the occurrence of health complaints during the competition and in the week thereafter was collected through a written questionnaire. The results show that triathletes and run-bike-runners are comparable with respect to factors other than water exposure (age, sex, training history, physical stress, lower intestinal health complaints during the competition) that may influence the occurrence of health complaints in the week after the competition. Triathletes and run-bike-runners reported gastro-intestinal (7.7% vs 2.5%), respiratory (5.5% vs 3.7%), skin/mucosal (2.6% vs 1.2%), general (3.5% vs 1.2%) and total symptoms (14.8% vs 7.4%) in the week after the event. The health risks for triathletes for all symptom groups are not significantly higher than for run-bike-runners. The geometric mean concentration of faecal indicator bacteria is relatively low: E. coli 170/100 ml; faecal streptococci 13/100 ml, enteroviruses were present at concentrations of 0.1/l. The group of triathletes was homogeneusly and relatively intensely exposed to water; they all swam in the same body of water at the same time and 75% reported to have swallowed freshwater. It was concluded that this study design is suitable to study the relationship between health complaints and microbiological water quality. In the summers of 1993 and 1994, a study will be carried out concerning several run-bike-runs and triathlons in freshwaters of different quality.

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Antidiabetic Properties of Medicinal Mushrooms with Special Reference to Phellinus Species: A Review

The Natural Products Journal ◽

10.2174/2210315510666200124124540 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 ◽

Author(s):

Thekkuttuparambil A Ajith ◽

Kynoor K Janardhanan

Keyword(s):

Nutritional Value ◽

Modern Medicine ◽

Lifestyle Changes ◽

Controlled Clinical Trials ◽

Chronic Complications ◽

Medicinal Mushrooms ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

First Line Therapy ◽

Public Health Challenge ◽

Microvascular Diseases

: Diabetes remains the major public health challenge to 21st century. It is strongly related to lifestyle changes. Most chronic complications of diabetes are macrovascular and microvascular diseases resulting from the existing hyperglycemic status. Failure of first line therapy which is based on diet modifications and exercise, conventional treatment using antihyperglycemic agents with different mechanisms of action will be implemented for type II diabetes in modern medicine. Higher Basidiomycetes mushrooms are highly praised for their nutritional value and pharmacological properties. They have long been used traditionally for the maintenance of health, prevention and treatment of various human ailments. Reports indicate the beneficial effects of medicinal mushrooms in diabetes treatments. However, scientific evidences are insufficient to make definitive conclusions on the efficacy of individual medicinal mushrooms. Mushrooms belong to the genera Phellinus such as Phellinus linteus, Phellinus ribis, Phellinus rimosus and Phellinus igniarius. They possess significant hypoglycemic effect in experimental diabetic models. However, well-designed controlled clinical trials are needed to establish their safety and bioactivity.

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Nonverbal Semantics Test (NVST)—A Novel Diagnostic Tool to Assess Semantic Processing Deficits: Application to Persons with Aphasia after Cerebrovascular Accident

Brain Sciences ◽

10.3390/brainsci11030359 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 359

Author(s):

Katharina Hogrefe ◽

Georg Goldenberg ◽

Ralf Glindemann ◽

Madleen Klonowski ◽

Wolfram Ziegler

Keyword(s):

Language Processing ◽

Cerebrovascular Accident ◽

Semantic Processing ◽

Factor Model ◽

Principal Component ◽

Original Data ◽

Verbal Abilities ◽

Verbal Tasks ◽

Alternative Means ◽

The Relationship

Assessment of semantic processing capacities often relies on verbal tasks which are, however, sensitive to impairments at several language processing levels. Especially for persons with aphasia there is a strong need for a tool that measures semantic processing skills independent of verbal abilities. Furthermore, in order to assess a patient’s potential for using alternative means of communication in cases of severe aphasia, semantic processing should be assessed in different nonverbal conditions. The Nonverbal Semantics Test (NVST) is a tool that captures semantic processing capacities through three tasks—Semantic Sorting, Drawing, and Pantomime. The main aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between the NVST and measures of standard neurolinguistic assessment. Fifty-one persons with aphasia caused by left hemisphere brain damage were administered the NVST as well as the Aachen Aphasia Test (AAT). A principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted across all AAT and NVST subtests. The analysis resulted in a two-factor model that captured 69% of the variance of the original data, with all linguistic tasks loading high on one factor and the NVST subtests loading high on the other. These findings suggest that nonverbal tasks assessing semantic processing capacities should be administered alongside standard neurolinguistic aphasia tests.

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Preliminary Insights in Sensory Profile of Sweet Cherries

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods10030612 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 612

Author(s):

Vânia Silva ◽

Sandra Pereira ◽

Alice Vilela ◽

Eunice Bacelar ◽

Francisco Guedes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sweet Cherry ◽

Prunus Avium ◽

Sugar Content ◽

Principal Component ◽

Titratable Acidity ◽

Physicochemical Characteristics ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Sensory Profile ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Sensory Data

Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) is a fruit appreciated by consumers for its well-known physical and sensory characteristics and its health benefits. Being an extremely perishable fruit, it is important to know the unique attributes of the cultivars to develop cultivation or postharvest strategies that can enhance their quality. This study aimed to understand the influence of physicochemical characteristics of two sweet cherry cultivars, Burlat and Van, on the food quality perception. Several parameters (weight, dimensions, soluble solids content (SSC), pH, titratable acidity (TA), colour, and texture) were measured and correlated with sensory data. Results showed that cv. Van presented heavier and firmer fruits with high sugar content. In turn, cv. Burlat showed higher pH, lower TA, and presented redder and brightest fruits. The principal component analysis revealed an evident separation between cultivars. Van cherries stood out for their sensory parameters and were classified as more acidic, bitter, and astringent, and presented a firmer texture. Contrarily, Burlat cherries were distinguished as being more flavourful, succulent, sweeter, and more uniform in terms of visual and colour parameters. The results of the sensory analysis suggested that perceived quality does not always depend on and/or recognize the quality parameters inherent to the physicochemical characteristics of each cultivar.

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Reduction in mobility and COVID-19 transmission

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-021-21358-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Pierre Nouvellet ◽

Sangeeta Bhatia ◽

Anne Cori ◽

Kylie E. C. Ainslie ◽

Marc Baguelin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Predictive Ability ◽

Control Measures ◽

Social Distancing ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Mobility Data ◽

Strict Control ◽

Before And After ◽

Proxy Measure ◽

Lower Transmission ◽

The Relationship

AbstractIn response to the COVID-19 pandemic, countries have sought to control SARS-CoV-2 transmission by restricting population movement through social distancing interventions, thus reducing the number of contacts. Mobility data represent an important proxy measure of social distancing, and here, we characterise the relationship between transmission and mobility for 52 countries around the world. Transmission significantly decreased with the initial reduction in mobility in 73% of the countries analysed, but we found evidence of decoupling of transmission and mobility following the relaxation of strict control measures for 80% of countries. For the majority of countries, mobility explained a substantial proportion of the variation in transmissibility (median adjusted R-squared: 48%, interquartile range - IQR - across countries [27–77%]). Where a change in the relationship occurred, predictive ability decreased after the relaxation; from a median adjusted R-squared of 74% (IQR across countries [49–91%]) pre-relaxation, to a median adjusted R-squared of 30% (IQR across countries [12–48%]) post-relaxation. In countries with a clear relationship between mobility and transmission both before and after strict control measures were relaxed, mobility was associated with lower transmission rates after control measures were relaxed indicating that the beneficial effects of ongoing social distancing behaviours were substantial.

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Effect of Maritime Traffic on Water Quality Parameters in Santa Marta, Colombia

Journal of Marine Science and Engineering ◽

10.3390/jmse9050474 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 474

Author(s):

René Rodríguez-Grimón ◽

Nestor Hernando Campos ◽

Ítalo Braga Castro

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Petroleum Hydrocarbons ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Water Quality Parameters ◽

Maritime Traffic ◽

Natural Park ◽

High Concentrations ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship ◽

Multiple Chemical

Since 2013, there has been an increase (>23%) in naval traffic using maritime routes and ports on the coastal fringe of Santa Marta, Colombia. Of major concern, and described by several studies, is the relationship between maritime traffic and coastal contamination. This study proposed a maritime traffic indicator considering the simultaneous effects of several relevant measurements of water quality parameters to estimate the impact of naval activity. The approach involved developing a model including the number of vessels, hull length, and permanence time in berths. In addition, water quality variables, considering climatic seasons, were used to verify association with maritime traffic and touristic activities. The high concentrations of total coliforms (TC) and dissolved/dispersed petroleum hydrocarbons in chrysene equivalents (DDPH) reported by the International Marina of Santa Marta (SM) were affected by the local anthropic activities, including tourism, naval traffic, and urban wastewater discharges. Moreover, our results suggest the occurrence of multiple chemical impacts within Tayrona National Natural Park (PNNT) affecting conservation goals. The estimation of the maritime traffic indicator proposed in this study may be an easy and more complete tool for future studies evaluating the impact of naval activities on environmental quality.

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