Dual effect of the presence of fruits on leaf gas exchange and water relations of olive trees.

The presence of fruits provokes significant modifications in plant water relations and leaf gas exchange. The underlying processes driving these modifications are still uncertain and likely depend on the water deficit level. Our objective was to explain and track the modification of leaf-water relations by the presence of fruits and water deficit. With this aim, net photosynthesis rate (AN), stomatal conductance (gs), leaf osmotic potential (Ψπ), leaf soluble sugars and daily changes in a variable related to leaf turgor (leaf patch pressure) were measured in olive trees with and without fruits at the same time, under well-watered (WW) and water stress (WS) conditions. Leaf gas exchange was increased by the presence of fruits, this effect being observed mainly in WW trees, likely because under severe water stress, the dominant process is the response of the plant to the water stress and the presence of fruits has less impact on the leaf gas exchange. Ψπ was also higher for WW trees with fruits than for WW trees without fruits. Moreover, leaves from trees without fruits presented higher concentrations of soluble sugars and starch than leaves from trees with fruits for both WW and WS, these differences matching those found in Ψπ. Thus, the sugar accumulation would have had a dual effect because on one hand, it decreased Ψπ, and on the other hand, it would have downregulated AN, and finally gs in WW trees. Interestingly, the modification of Ψπ by the presence of fruits affected turgor in WW trees, the change in which can be identified with leaf turgor sensors. We conclude that plant water relationships and leaf gas exchange are modified by the presence of fruits through their effect on the export of sugars from leaves to fruits. The possibility of automatically identifying the onset of sugar demand by the fruit through the use of sensors, in addition to the water stress produced by soil water deficit and atmosphere drought, could be of great help for fruit orchard management in the future.

[Determination of arm circumference for correct measurement of blood pressure. Results of an intervention study]. / La determinación del perímetro braquial para una adecuada medida de la presión arterial. Resultados de un estudio de intervención.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of an intervention to promote standardized arm circumference measurement as way to choose appropriate cuff size to measure blood pressure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A before-after intervention study was performed in a basic health care area in Barcelona. Doctors, nurses and pharmacy staff participated by filling out an anonymous self-administered questionnaire pre- and post-intervention (3m). Variables included: demographics, type of professional, years since they finished their studies, availability of different cuff sizes, if arm circumference measurement were obtained or not, knowledge about the cutoff values for each cuff size and type of blood pressure monitor. INTERVENTION: The written results were given to the participants and presented in sessions. RESULTS: Pre- and post-intervention: 74.3 and 67.3% answered the questionnaires (P=ns), respectively. Determination of arm circumference varied from 1.3 to 19.1% (P=.009). A total of 37.3% and 44.1% declared that they had 2 or more available cuff sizes (P=ns). Knowledge about the correct measurement of the cuffs was 2.7 to 33.8% regarding the standard cuff size (P=.0198) and 0 to 23.5% for obese subjects (P<.05). When more than one cuff was available, reasons for the choice went from: «making a rough guess¼ or «when velcro stops sticking¼ before and after the intervention. All blood pressure devices in our primary health care center were electronic and automatic as were those of the 9 pharmacies. CONCLUSION: The intervention increased the determination of arm circumference prior to the reading of the blood pressure and the knowledge about the cutoff interval for standard and obese cuff size after intervention. There was greater availability of different sized cuffs. Despite this, the choice of the appropriate cuff size was not made based on arm circumference.

Molecular and morphological characterization of local apple cultivars in Southern Spain.

The number of local and traditional fruit cultivars in Andalusia (Southern Spain) has decreased dramatically since the 1970s when new commercial cultivars from breeding programs were introduced, replacing old varieties, and thus decreasing genetic diversity. The present study was included in a genetic resources project with the objective of identifying and preserving traditional fruit tree cultivars in Southern Spain. The goal of this study was to begin the characterization of 29 apple accessions (Malus x domestica Borkh) belonging to 13 traditional cultivar denominations. For molecular characterization studies, 12 simple sequence repeat markers previously developed for apple species were used. Morphological characterization was performed using 33 fruit traits. A total of 115 alleles were amplified for the 12 loci, ranging from 7 (CH01h01, CH01h10, and GD 12) to 13 alleles per locus (CH02c11). Forty-one alleles were unique to specific genotypes. The locus with the highest number of detected unique alleles was CH01f03b with 6 alleles. Expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.74 for CH01h10 to 0.88 for CH02c11, with an average of 0.82. Observed heterozygosity varied from 0.45 for CH01h01 to 1.0 for CH02d08, with an average of 0.86. Three homonyms were found for accessions belonging to varieties 'Maguillo', 'Pero Minguela', and 'Castellana'. The most discriminant morphological characters studied revealed no homonyms or synonyms among cultivar denominations, although they are useful for describing varietal characteristics that have not been previously defined.

La determinación del perímetro braquial para una adecuada medida de la presión arterial. Resultados de un estudio de intervención / Determination of arm circumference for correct measurement of blood pressure. Results of an intervention study

Objetivo: Evaluar la eficacia de una intervención para promover la determinación del perímetro braquial para seleccionar el manguito adecuado para la toma de la presión arterial. Pacientes y métodos: Estudio de intervención antes-después. Incluyó médicos, enfermeras y personal de oficinas de farmacia de un área básica de salud en Barcelona. Encuesta autoadministrada pre y posintervención (3 m). Variables recogidas: demográficas, tipo de profesional, años desde la finalización de los estudios, disponibilidad de manguitos de diferentes medidas, determinación o no del perímetro braquial, conocimiento o no de los valores de corte para cada manguito y tipo de aparatos de medida. Intervención: entrega de los resultados escritos y presentación en sesiones. Resultados: Pre y posintervención: 74,3 y 67,3% encuestas cumplimentadas (p = ns), respectivamente. La determinación del perímetro braquial varió del 1,3 al 19,1% (p = 0,009). Declararon disponer de 2 o más manguitos de diferente medida el 37,3 y el 44,1% de los encuestados (p = ns). El conocimiento del intervalo de medida correcto de los manguitos fue del 2,7 al 33,8% para el manguito estándar (p = 0,0198) y del 0 al 23,5% para el de obesos (p < 0,05). Cuando disponían de más de un manguito la elección se realizaba por motivos como «a ojo» o «cuando salta el velcro» antes y después de la intervención. La totalidad de los aparatos del centro de atención primaria eran electrónicos automáticos, así como los de 9 farmacias. Conclusión: La intervención aumentó la determinación del perímetro braquial previa a la lectura de la presión arterial y el conocimiento del intervalo de los manguitos estándar y para obesos. Hubo una mayor disponibilidad de manguitos de distinto tamaño. A pesar de ello, la utilización de uno u otro manguito no se realizaba en función de la medida del perímetro braquial

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of an intervention to promote standardized arm circumference measurement as way to choose appropriate cuff size to measure blood pressure. Patients and methods: A before-after intervention study was performed in a basic health care area in Barcelona. Doctors, nurses and pharmacy staff participated by filling out an anonymous self-administered questionnaire pre- and post-intervention (3 m). Variables included: demographics, type of professional, years since they finished their studies, availability of different cuff sizes, if arm circumference measurement were obtained or not, knowledge about the cutoff values for each cuff size and type of blood pressure monitor. Intervention: The written results were given to the participants and presented in sessions. Results: Pre- and post-intervention: 74.3 and 67.3% answered the questionnaires (P = ns), respectively. Determination of arm circumference varied from 1.3 to 19.1% (P = .009). A total of 37.3% and 44.1% declared that they had 2 or more available cuff sizes (P = ns). Knowledge about the correct measurement of the cuffs was 2.7 to 33.8% regarding the standard cuff size (P = .0198) and 0 to 23.5% for obese subjects (P < .05). When more than one cuff was available, reasons for the choice went from: «making a rough guess» or «when velcro stops sticking» before and after the intervention. All blood pressure devices in our primary health care center were electronic and automatic as were those of the 9 pharmacies. Conclusion: The intervention increased the determination of arm circumference prior to the reading of the blood pressure and the knowledge about the cutoff interval for standard and obese cuff size after intervention. There was greater availability of different sized cuffs. Despite this, the choice of the appropriate cuff size was not made based on arm circumference