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In apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.), fruit quality at consumption and shelf-life potential are strictly related to the ripening stage reached at harvest. As a result, definition of the optimal harvest time is a crucial issue and, nowadays, this is performed on the basis of fruit size, skin color and some internal quality traits, such as flesh firmness (FF), soluble solids content (SSC) and titratable acidity (TA), that are determined by standard techniques that require destruction of the fruit sample. Recently, extensive research has focused on the development of non-destructive visible/near-infrared spectroscopy (vis/NIRs) techniques that allow the ripening stage to be expressed as a new maturity index, called the index of “absorbance difference” (I(AD)). The I(AD) is used to establish, under field conditions, the optimal harvest time related to the ripening stage at harvest with a portable DA meter. More recently, a stationary DA machine prototype has been realized, allowing the grouping of fruits in classes of homogeneous ripening at the packing-house level. Preliminary results obtained with this prototype on some apricot cultivars grown in Valais (Sion, Switzerland) are reported. The results obtained showed that the I(AD) values obtained with the stationary DA allow fruit to be grouped according to their ripening stage. The data were comparable with those obtained with a portable DA meter, and correlate with standard internal quality traits.

The ripening stage reached by the fruits at harvest is linked to the fruit quality traits at consumption; it influences the postharvest management affecting storage length and fruit disease susceptibility. As a consequence, the knowledge of the ripening stage at harvest becomes essential, as well as the monitoring of the fruit ripening changes during cold storage. The index of absorbance difference (IAD) can follow the fruit ripening along the supply chain starting in the orchard, provided by the DA-Meter, a non-destructive device operating in VIS-NIR wavelenghts, and during cold storage, with the DAFL (difference absorbance fruit logger) that measures automatically the IAD at fixed intervals. The DAFL remote devices are positioned on a given number of fruits kept in cold storage and the IAD values are transmitted by radio to a server. The real time monitoring of these values gives indication on the management of the fruit as related to the ripening during storage.

Purpose The chapter builds on the literature of Agency and Signalling Theories to analyse the corporate governance factors associated with the voluntary decision to prepare an Integrated Report according to the International Framework promoted by the IIRC. Methodology/approach The chapter is based on the results of a probit regression run with regard to a sample of 35 companies that joined the Pilot Programme in 2011 and 137 similar companies that did not. Findings The analysis of two samples of European companies reveals that adhesion to the IR Pilot Programme is positively related to the gender diversity and size of the board. Research limitations Further research is required in order to study the differences between listed and non-listed companies in terms of variables affecting the adoption of the Framework and to increase the time range of our study. In addition, it would be interesting to include other variables capturing different aspects other than corporate governance, since the decision to join the Programme, as the results of our analysis have shown, may also be influenced by other factors, such as strategy decisions and communication policies. Originality/value The chapter adds to the existing literature by showing the main governance characteristics that impact the decision to adhere to the IR Pilot Programme. It is also important to the existing literature regarding the role played by gender diversity in corporate governance mechanisms and CSR policies.

Maturity at harvest greatly affects kiwifruit storage potential and quality at consumption: if fruits are picked too early, they undergo a precocious softening during storage, and do not reach full flavour and aroma when ripe. In Actinidia deliciosa, soluble solids content and dry matter has been proposed as maturity indexes. In Actinidia chinensis, the optimal harvest time is determined on the basis of flesh colour (Hue Angle= °H). In the last decade, non-destructive techniques, such as NIRs (Near Infrared Spectroscopy) have been used for evaluating kiwifruit quality. However, these devices require time consuming calibrations and they are used to measure the same parameters which are determined by traditional techniques (SSC; DM, °H). As a consequence, they do not give any added values as compared to the traditional methods to assess fruit quality. Recently, the University of Bologna patented innovative and simplified NIRs equipment (DA-Meter and Kiwi-Meter) which allows to define fruit maturity stage by means of an index based on the difference in absorbance between specific wavelengths (IDA). This index correlates with the main traditional parameters as well as with changes in flesh colour. In addition the availability of simple and portable instrument allow their use on the fruit attached to the trees to monitor the maturation and the ripening evolution, and determine the best cultural management practices (such as pruning, thinning, nutrition, etc) that allow to reduce the fruit ripening heterogeneity and simplify post-harvest management of the fruits. In the present work, results on different cultivars of Actinidia deliciosa and Actinidia chinensis are reported.

The new generation of seaweed extracts, such as Actiwave®, may represent a promising strategy to reduce the use of phytochemicals in agriculture. Actiwave® is a metabolic enhancer derived by the algae Ascophillum nodosum, but differently from some older seaweed extracts, it has a constant and balanced formulation containing kahydrin, alginic acid and betaines which synergistically contribute to the efficacy of the product. Actiwave® has been proposed to increase the mineral nutrient uptake and the abiotic stress tolerance. The aim of this work was to evaluate, under a multidisciplinary approach, the effect of the biostimulant on the vegetative and productive performances of strawberry plants grown on a lime inducing iron chlorosis substrate. This biostimulant increased the vegetative growth (10%), the leaf chlorophyll content (11%), the stomata density (6.5%), the photosynthetic rate and the fruit production (27%) and berry weight. The most significant result was the increase of the plant biomass: the shoot dry matter was increased up to 27% and root dry matter up to 76%. Finally, preliminary experiments showed that Actiwave® positively influenced also the root-associated microbial biocoenosis. These results are discussed in relation to the physiological and ecological mechanisms proposed to explain the beneficial effects of this seaweed extract. Finally, the effects of Actiwave® and sequestrene were significantly similar, thus showing that this biostimulant may represent an environmental-friendly substitute of the iron chelates.

In apricot fruit (Prunus armeniaca L.), establishing the optimal harvest time is crucial since fruit quality and shelf-life potential are closely related to the ripening stage at harvest. In order to develop a non-destructive index for monitoring the progression of ripening in apricot, the difference in absorbance between two wavelengths near the chlorophyll-a absorption peak (670 and 720 nm; Index of Absorbance Difference, I AD ) was related to the time course of changes in fruit quality parameters (flesh firmness, soluble solids content, flesh elasticity) occurring during ripening. Four-year trials on two cultivars ('OrangeRed' and 'Bergarouge') showed that the I AD was able to segregate fruits according to their ripening stage. Moreover, the index value corresponding to the optimal harvest time remained constant in different years, independently of quality parameters (soluble solids content, flesh firmness or elasticity). Fruit graded according the I AD also showed different consumer acceptance, the fruit with the lowest index score being the most appreciated.

In peach fruit ( Prunus persica L. Batsch), establishing the optimal harvest time is a crucial issue, since fruit shelf-life potential and quality are closely related to the ripening stage at harvest. In order to develop a non-destructive index for monitoring the progression of ripening, the difference in absorbance between two wavelengths near the chlorophyll- a absorption peak (670 and 720 nm; index of absorbance difference, I AD ) was related to the time course of ethylene production during on-tree ripening of peaches (cv. ‘Fayette’) and nectarines (cvs. ‘Laura’ and ‘Stark Red Gold’). For each variety, consecutive stages of ripening, as defined according to ethylene production (pre-climacteric, climacteric, post-climacteric), occurred in the same ranges of I AD in different years (2003 and 2004). In 2005, the relationship I AD /ethylene production was used to classify fruit at harvest according to their ripening stage (class 0: pre-climacteric; class 1: onset of climacteric; class 2: climacteric). For each cultivar, the transition from class 1 to 2 was marked by increased ethylene production, and reduced flesh firmness (FF) and titratable acidity (TA). In contrast, fruit quality traits did not discriminate between fruit belonging to classes 0 and 1. In ‘Stark Red Gold’ nectarines, the robustness of the I AD was further corroborated by changes in transcript levels of genes which are either up- or down-regulated during peach fruit ripening. Class 0 fruit had the lowest transcript amount of the up-regulated genes and the highest of the down-regulated ones, while the opposite occurred in class 2 fruit. Moreover, mRNA abundance of some marker genes discriminated class 0 and 1 fruit. Peaches and nectarines graded at harvest according to the I AD also differed in their postharvest ripening behaviour: fruit with higher I AD produced lower amounts of ethylene, began to soften later, and maintained higher TA than those with lower I AD . Present data demonstrate that the I AD identifies physiological changes occurring during ripening regardless of the fact that they might have or not led to appreciable modifications in fruit quality. Therefore, the I AD can be regarded as a very promising tool both for practical and scientific applications, since it allows to monitor on-tree fruit ripening, to establish accurately the optimal harvest time, and to reduce the variability which is present in fruit batches.

Data on puberty development are available for several countries but not for Central Asia.Using data collected during the Kazakhstan Health and Nutrition Survey (KHA-ES), we evaluated the relationship between the living environment (rural vs. urban), ethnicity (Russians vs. Kazakhs) and pubertal status in children living in Kazakhstan.Genital (G1-G5), breast (B1-B5) and pubic hair (PH1-PH5) development were evaluated in a sample of 2389 boys and 2416 girls using Tanner's criteria. Age at menarche was evaluated using the 'status quo' and 'recall' methods.Rural children were older than urban children at stagesor =G2 for males andor =B2 for females, and this difference was more evident for Russian males. Differences levelled out at later stages of development in Kazakh males and in the pooled girls. The living environment was slightly but significantly associated with median age at menarche (12.89 years for urban Kazakhs to 13.43 years for rural Kazakhs). Male and female Kazakhs were older than Russians at stages 4 and 5, especially in the urban area.A relationship between pubertal status and the living environment was present in a rapidly modernizing country such as Kazakhstan.

This chapter has three main aims. First, it discusses the concept of Integrated Report (IR) as a privileged instrument of companies’ voluntary disclosure practices that answers to the investors and regulators’ call for a greater focus on companies’ strategy, governance, future performance and risks, overcoming a great part of the traditional financial statement’s limitations. Second, it introduces key issues currently being debated relating to the IR Pilot Program and the main characteristics of the companies that decided to adhere to it. Finally, it shows some empirical first results about the corporate governance factors associated with the voluntary decision to prepare an Integrated Report according to the IR International Framework. In so doing the authors draw some conclusions about how Corporate Governance structure and mechanisms—such as legal environment, composition of the board of directors or ownership structure—are related to company’s disclosure policies and the decision to adopt Integrated Report.

To date non-destructive techniques, such as Near Infra Red Spectroscopy (NIRS) and the electronic nose, are used only to segregate fruit based on pre-selected quality attributes. Since these techniques allow rapid and easy determination of a wide range of internal attributes related to fruit quality, the collected data could be used in the field to establish proper harvesting time or, in packing houses, to optimise storage strategy. In addition, analysis of volatile compounds performed via e-nose allows early diagnosis of important fruit diseases such as “grey mould” and Sclerotinia rot. This report presents preliminary results on the use of NIRS and e-nose techniques for fruit quality determination and as an alternative approach for early diagnosis on asymptomatic fruits. The research was carried on Actinidia deliciosa (‘Hayward’ and Summerkiwi™) and Actinidia chinensis (‘Hort16A’). Fruit quality studies were performed on all cultivars in the field as well as in the packing house. The diagnostic studies were performed under controlled conditions on fruit experimentally inoculated with pathogenic fungi. The olfactory profiles of control and inoculated fruits were compared by means of PCA.

This article presents a summary of the discussion which took place during the works of PRIER II in the session dedicated to the methodology of registries. Following a thorough analysis of the possible methods and the limits which deal with the collection of clinical data through the registries, the different points of view were compared, perhaps the most relevant, related to this activity. All this has been done by taking advantage by the possibility to observe aspects from different points of view. In particular, the exercise considered those who have to deal with the methodological aspects of the registries as an operator of public health or as a private operator who creates services for companies. The final goal, again, was to line up a few essential points accompanied by reasoning and comments useful to anyone who wants to address the issue of registries from the methodological point of view.

Fruit quality is influenced by cultural management in field, by the fruit picking time and by the storage strategy. The choice of the best techniques and strategies to enhance fruit quality is difficult, and even more complicate is the definition of the internal fruit quality changes occurring in pre- and post-harvest conditions. In fact, internal fruit quality is strictly related to the changes occurring during the ripening and maturation syndrome. Define them with accuracy would allow to verify the techniques adopted validity, to monitor the evolution of the ripening in field and in storage and finally to offer a uniform fruit quality to the consumers. Fruit internal quality is represented by the fruit texture, the sugars and organic acids content, the flavour, etc. Although a precise definition of the quality would require equipped laboratory and knowledgeable personnel, the standard techniques for assessing fruit quality are quite simple (refractometer and penetrometer for flesh soluble solids content and flesh firmness; titration for acidity, etc). These determinations are carried out on samples of a limited number of fruit, often not representative of all the fruit, but give the possibility to have real-time information. However, recently, the availability of non-destructive techniques to assess fruit quality, also offer real-time information, allow to determine quality traits on a high number or even on all the fruit, to repeat the analyses on the same samples monitoring their physiological evolution, to determine with the same measurement a number of information on several fruit quality parameters. Here are reported examples on how the internal fruit quality can be influenced (harvest time, 1-MCP applications, storage strategy) and the possibility offered by NIRs (near infrared spectroscopy) and electronic-nose non-destructive devices to monitor and define fruit quality changes of some fruit specie in pre- and post-harvest situations.

A validation of two rating scales is presented. We first translated the Modified Overt Aggression Scale (MOAS) and the Nurses' Observation Scale for In‐patient Evaluation (NOSIE), which cover different aspects of psychopathology, into Italian. We then tested their validity and reliability in terms of inter‐rater and internal consistency. For validity, both cases and controls were included: for the MOAS we compared patients who were aggressive (cases) to those who were presumably non‐aggressive (controls). For the NOSIE, cases were acute inpatients and controls were subjects with expected stable behaviour. The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) was also administered to cases in order to test convergent validity. Either the NOSIE and/or MOAS scales were administered to 358 psychiatric inpatients. A subset of these patients (131 for the MOAS and 226 for the NOSIE) was also used to test the inter‐rater reliability. Both scales showed good psychometric properties. The correlation coefficients between raters were much higher than 0.75 (for the NOSIE) or 0.90 (for the MOAS), while the discriminant power between cases and controls was confirmed for both scales and good concordance with BPRS was observed. The NOSIE showed good internal consistency for all domains except neatness. In general the MOAS showed better results than the NOSIE for all psychometric properties, although both scales are suitable for monitoring the behaviour and aggression of acute ward inpatients. Copyright © 2005 Whurr Publishers Ltd.

A reflecting mulch patented in New Zealand (Extenday®) was tested on a ‘Hayward’ kiwifruit vineyard to enhance light reflection and to study the effect of the mulch on gas exchange, yield and fruit quality. The mulch was positioned in one section of 3 alley-rows, so that it surrounded 2 rows on both sides and the results were compared with those obtained on uncovered row sections serving as the control. The mulch was laid down at shoot emergence and left up to a month after harvest. Data on vegetative and fruiting performance were collected throughout the vegetative season and at harvest. Whole-vine gas-exchanges were continuously monitored for two weeks during the summer using an original device. At harvest fruits were weighed, the average fruit weight determined and the main quality traits were assessed for the control- and the mulched-vine fruits. The reflecting mulch promoted higher photosynthesis during the day; with transpiration being higher in the morning and lower in the afternoon in the mulched vines as compared to the control. Yield and average fruit weight were positively affected by the mulch.

In order to focus the situation of Kazakhstan today in relation to the processes of modernization and transition to a market economy and to evidence their effects on the biology and health status of the population of Kazakhstan, we have reviewed recently available data for this region (1993-1999). Kazakhstan is still characterized by a pyramid shaped age distribution of its population and by a high incidence of not communicable diseases and lack of nutrient and micronutrients, especially among children. However, the population of Kazakhstan seems to be not immune to the diseases of the modernization. I.e., among women obesity is more frequent than underweight, especially in the urban areas. In rural populations the frequency of clinically relevant hypertension resulted low in the more isolated and traditionally living communities but it increased to 20% in the less isolated one. Although it is expected a strong increase of urbanized population in the next 25 years, currently, modernization is probably influencing life style and nutritional habits of almost only a minority of the inhabitants of Kazakhstan.

To evaluate adaptive responses to high-altitude environment, we examined three groups of healthy adult males from Central Asia: 94 high-altitude (HA) Kirghiz subjects (3,200 m above sea level); 114 middle-altitude (MA) Kazakh subjects (2,100 m), and 90 low-altitude (LA) Kirghiz subjects (900 m). Data on chest size (chest perimeter and chest diameter), lung volume (forced expiratory volume (FEV) and forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1)), and hematological parameters (hemoglobin, erythrocytes, hematocrit, and SaO(2)) are discussed. The results show that 1) chest shape is less flat in the samples living at higher altitude. In the HA sample, chest perimeter is lower but chest excursion is high. 2) In the highlanders, forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1 are no higher than in the other samples, even when corrected for stature and body weight. The negative correlation between FVC-FEV1 and age decreases with increasing altitude. 3) The HA and MA samples have higher values of hemoglobin, erythrocytes, and hematocrit. The HA sample has lower SaO(2) and higher arterial oxygen content than the LA sample. No association between hematocrit and age was detected in the four samples. The results indicate that the high-altitude Kirghiz present features of developmental acclimatization to hypobaric hypoxia which are also strongly influenced by other major high-altitude environmental stresses.

SummaryCentral Asia is a vast region at the crossroads of different habitats, cultures, and trade routes. Little is known about the genetics and the history of the population of this region. We present the analysis of mtDNA control-region sequences in samples of the Kazakh, the Uighurs, the lowland Kirghiz, and the highland Kirghiz, which we have used to address both the population history of the region and the possible selective pressures that high altitude has on mtDNA genes. Central Asian mtDNA sequences present features intermediate between European and eastern Asian sequences, in several parameters—such as the frequencies of certain nucleotides, the levels of nucleotide diversity, mean pairwise differences, and genetic distances. Several hypotheses could explain the intermediate position of central Asia between Europe and eastern Asia, but the most plausible would involve extensive levels of admixture between Europeans and eastern Asians in central Asia, possibly enhanced during the Silk Road trade and clearly after the eastern and western Eurasian human groups had diverged. Lowland and highland Kirghiz mtDNA sequences are very similar, and the analysis of molecular variance has revealed that the fraction of mitochondrial genetic variance due to altitude is not significantly different from zero. Thus, it seems unlikely that altitude has exerted a major selective pressure on mitochondrial genes in central Asian populations.

Eleven anthropometric variables related to fat patterning were analyzed in two populations of Central Asia, the Kazakhs of the Tien Shan mountains (2100 m) and the Uighurs of the Semericia plains. Subjects were healthy unrelated males, 122 Kazakhs and 79 Uighurs, 19-65 years. Comparisons were done with a preliminary analysis of variance and then by covariance analysis, taking into account the influence of age. The Uighurs, independently of age, show higher values than Kazakhs for all of the characteristics related to fat patterning, but principal components analysis suggests a similar somatic structure in the two samples. The presence of lower adiposity in the Kazakhs than in the Uighurs could be related to stress, probably associated with nutrition and lifestyle in a mountain environment. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 10:241-247, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Acute exposure to high altitude produces characteristic changes in body water distribution from which acclimatized individuals seem to be spared. However, it has been suggested that body water distribution may be different in highlanders (HL) as compared to lowlanders (LL). We studied the distribution of total body water (TBW) between extracellular water (ECW) and intracellular water (ICW) in a group of 20 HL (3200 m above sea level) versus one of 20 LL (900 m above sea level). Subjects were matched for ethnic group (Kirghiz), sex (male), weight (Wt), height and body mass index. TBW:Wt and ECW:TBW were not different in HL as compared to LL (mean +/- SD, 58.5 +/- 5.0% versus 56.0 +/- 4.2% and 40.5 +/- 4.2% versus 40.7 +/- 2.2%; p = n.s. for both). This study does not support the hypothesis that body water distribution is different in HL as compared to LL.

The reduction of the energy demand of building stocks is a crucial issue for designers and public administrations, considering the huge effect on population in terms of health related to thermal comfort and to pollution, and in terms of energy costs. However, in common design practice just the effect of climate on buildings is considered, while designers, normally, since they are not provided with the suited tools for this, do not care about the influence of the built environment, which is proved in the literature to be huge. Herein we present the analyses of possible actions for refurbishing and reshaping the energy demand of the Walled City of Multan, focusing on three main aspects: urban scale, building scale, and solar energy exploitation. In detail, we analyzed and modeled the existing condition and possible improvements to mitigate thermal stress in urban areas. Then, we analyzed the energy demand of single buildings, modeling possible actions to improve indoor thermal comfort. Finally, we considered the possible ways to exploit the available solar energy to reduce the energy use in buildings. The aim of this study is then to assess the mitigation of outdoor heat stress conditions, within the urban environment; the thermal comfort conditions indoors; the operational energy need of buildings; and the fraction of energy that is possible to cover with renewable sources.

The study investigates whether and how earnings management depends on board monitoring, focusing, in particular, on two aspects: the role of independent directors and the presence of an audit committee in the Italian context. Empirical evidence about the topic does not come to unique results. In fact, on the one hand, independent directors and audit committees, being independent on management influence, are able to better protect shareholders from managerial opportunism (Fama and Jensen, 1983, Weisbach, 1988; Rosenstein and Wyatt, 1990; Byrd and Hickman, 1992; McWilliams and Sen, 1997), but, on the other hand, outside independent directors do not necessarily produce a better performance (Bhagat and Black, 1999; Klein, 1998; Agrawal and Knoeber, 1996) because the boards are “controlled” by management having better information than outside independent directors (Berle and Means 1932; Mace 1971).The purpose of the paper is providing an evidence about the impact of independent directors and audit committee on earnings management of Italian listed companies during the period 2002-2007. A regression analysis statistically examines this correlation. Our dependent variable is an earnings management metric based on the modified Jones model (Dechow, 1995). The results suggest that both independent directors and the existence of an audit committee mitigate earnings management. Governance and control variables are considered in terms of CEO powers and companies size and profitability.

Spirometric parameters are influenced by several factors and many reference data are available in the literature. However, no spirometric data are available for children and adolescents from Central Asia.The study aimed to calculate spirometric reference curves on the basis of anthropometry, ethnicity (Kazakh vs. Russian) and living environment (urban vs. rural).Spirometry (FEV1, FVC and FEF25-75%) was performed and anthropometric measurements taken for 1926 male and 1967 female Kazakh children aged 7-18 years.Height explained almost all the variance of forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) for both sexes, while age and inspiratory circumference contributed slightly to the prediction. Moreover, FVC and FEV1 were greater in Russians than in Kazakhs and ethnicity did enter the prediction model for these parameters. The living environment had a marginal effect on spirometry. In fact, forced expiratory flow 25-75% (FEF25-75%) was slightly higher in urban than in rural females, FVC was slightly higher in rural than in urban males, while FEV1 was not affected. Finally, among several spirometric equations available in the literature, those performing better in our children were obtained in developed countries.Anthropometry was the most important predictor of spirometry. Age and ethnicity were also predictors, while the contribution of the living environment was more limited.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is getting an increasingly important issue for economic agents all over the world, due to a new attention to all the aspects of firms activities and their relationships with stakeholders. Also in Italy, the number of firms that prepare voluntary corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports (e.g. sustainability reports, environmental reports, environmental and social reports or corporate social responsibility reports) is increasing. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of the voluntary disclosure about Corporate Social Responsibility on firms stock prices of Italian listed companies in order to analyze if it can somehow contribute to increase the stock market prices. Our empirical analysis will test the relation, during a period of three years, between corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports and firms stock prices, considering a sample of Italian listed companies.

In the last years banks and firms relationship in Italy has experienced deep changes due to a new revised national and international regulation and to an increasing globalization of economic environment. These evolutions imply a new bank-firm relationship with a deeper disclosure, in a perspective of partnership between them. In this scenario, Basel 1 and 2 accords have been contributing to revise bank-firm relationship, moreover in the specific perspective of small-medium sized firms. In Italy, the evolution of bank-firm relation has been also influenced by an intensive banking system restructuring process, characterized by big mergers and small local banks aggregations. This paper focuses on bank-firm relation impact on small-medium sized firms financial reporting quality. The analysis empirically examines some proxies for earnings quality for a sample of Italian small-medium sized firms over 10 years period. Earnings quality metrics are based on the relation between working capital accruals and cash flows, following Dechow and Dichev (2002) approach. Across these metrics we will perform a cross-sectional analysis on the relation between earnings quality and some variables regarding banks and firms governance, controlling for regulation changes and other variables such as size, sector etc.

The concept of frame size has not undergone a thorough evaluation in non-Caucasian populations. Using data from the Central Asia High Altitude Population (CAHAP) study, we tested whether: (1) the relationship between frame size and body composition is different in high-, medium- and low-altitude populations; (2) elbow breadth is a better index of frame size than biacromial and biiliac breadth; and (3) measures of frame size are associated with blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides. A number of 334 male subjects aged 33 ± 10 years (mean ± standard deviation) were selected from the CAHAP population (n = 384) on the basis of the availability of breadth measurements. The subjects were 85 high-altitude Kirghizs, 105 medium-altitude Kazakhs, 79 low-altitude Kirghizs and 65 low-altitude Uighurs. A detailed anthropometric evaluation and blood pressure, cholesterol and trygliceride measurements were performed on all individuals. Among breadths, elbow had the lowest correlation with arm fat area, thigh fat area, calf fat area and the sum of trunk skinfolds (r ≤ 0.196, P < 0.01). Even if elbow breadth did not have the highest correlation with muscularity indexes, its constantly lower association with adiposity indexes shows that it is a better measure of frame size than biacromial breadth and biiliac breadth. The relationship between frame size and body composition did not differ in high-, medium- and low-altitude subjects (P = not significant, analysis of co-variance). Only a weak association was present between breadths, blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides (r ≤ 0.230, P < 0.01) and it was not influenced by altitude (P = not significant, analysis of co-variance). Elbow breadth was significantly correlated only with diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.121, P < 0.05). In conclusion: (1) the relationship between frame size and body composition is similar in high- and low-altitude populations; (2) elbow breadth is an index of frame size independent of altitude; and (3) elbow breadth is correlated with diastolic blood pressure, but this correlation is of doubtful biological relevance.

This study investigates the relationships among hematological variables, pulmonary function, and age in a sample of high-altitude natives. The following anthropometric and physiological variables were examined in 77 adult Quechua males from the Peruvian Central Andes (Huancavelica, 3,680 m): height, weight, sitting height, chest diameters, chest and abdominal circumferences, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume at 1 sec (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), red blood cells (RBC), hematocrit (Htc), diastolic and systolic blood pressure, body temperature, pulmonary rate, and pulse rate. The means of these variables for the Huancavelica sample fall within the range of variability previously observed in Andean populations. Principal components analysis and canonical correlation analysis suggest that in this native Andean population: 1) aging decreases lung function but does not affect hematological features, and 2) there is a negative age-independent correlation between lung function (FVC, FEV1, PEF) and hematological traits (Hb, RBC, Htc).

This work describes a fruit gauge based on a low-cost linear potentiometer interfaced to a data-logger, which allows continuous measurement of fruit diameter. The sensor is supported by a custom-built stainless steel frame designed to be easily applied to different size fruits. Highly significant linear relationships between tension (mV) and displacement (mm) have been found during sensor calibration. The average slope of this relationship, 5.4 · 10 -3 with a standard deviation of 5 · 10 -5 , was used as conversion coefficient. Temperature stability was tested by submitting both the sensor and the whole gauge to a temperature range of 5-60 8C. The maximum deflection found was ±1 mV. Measurements performed during the three developmental stages of peach (Prunus persica (L), Batsch.) fruit showed high sensitivity of the gauge which allowed clear detection of diurnal patterns of fruit diameter changes and precise monitoring of minute variations in fruit growth rates during 24 h. Fruit growth dynamics has received little attention over the years. Knowledge of the daily variations in fruit size in response to environmental and physiological conditions is highly desirable, but it is hampered by the technical difficulty of measuring fruit diam- eter changes accurately and at a sufficiently low cost to allow proper replication of the experiments. In recent decades, continuous and precise monitoring of stem and fruit diameter changes have been carried out by automatic gauges, most often custom-built by the authors for the specific studies they intended to carry out (Araki et al., 2000; Berger and Selles, 1993; Garnier and Berger, 1986; Jones and Higgs, 1982; Peramaki et al., 2001). However, either the high cost of the components or technical difficulties in con- struction could hinder their use both for research and practical purposes. The measurement of fruit diameter change is of great interest both for whole- tree and single-fruit physiology research and for commercial applications, as it may pro- vide useful information for orchard manage- ment. Several papers report fruit or stem diurnal shrinkages in response to environ- mental conditions and tree water status (Berger and Selles, 1993; Garnier and Berger, 1986; Jones and Higgs, 1982; Tromp, 1984). Studies on fruit growth mechanisms were made possible by precise monitoring of fruit diameter changes over time, such as the daily in/outflows of phloem, xylem, and transpiration to/from the single fruit in apple (Lang, 1990) and peach (Morandi, 2006). Likewise, models to manage orchard irriga- tion have been developed (Huguet, 1985) and patented, complete with field systems for automatic data collection and analysis (patent numbers: US2004088916; WO02084248; WO0235193; US20020170229). Many devices for accurate measurement of fruit growth have been developed in the past (Beedlaw et al., 1986; Higgs and Jones, 1984; Tukey, 1964). In most cases, a sensor, supported by a frame, is placed in contact with the epidermis of the growing fruit. Although supporting frames have been pro- gressively modified and improved in their shapes and structures, the most adopted sensors are either linear variable differential transducers (LVDTs) or strain gauges. LVDT technology, though precise, accurate, and stable under field conditions, is expensive; strain gauges are cheaper than LVDTs, but they require some very specific electronic sensor arrangements (Wheatstone bridge) and need to be mounted on flexible frames (Beedlaw et al., 1986; Link et al., 1998). Commercial units are also available, but their price seems to hinder their widespread adop- tion, as a large number of units would be needed for both research and orchard man- agement purposes. One aspect that bears considerably on the choice of sensor and of the materials used in constructing field probes is their ruggedness and accuracy under varying environmental conditions, including large temperature, precipitation, and air moisture changes. This is more so when the degree of accuracy required of the