AGROINDUSTRIALIZATION IN EMERGING MARKETS: OVERVIEW AND STRATEGIC CONTEXT

This article offers an overview for a special issue on agroindustrialization. It reviews eleven articles analyzing the agroindustrialization process in Latin America and Asia. It sets out a conceptual framework from the organizational economics and strategic management literature to enhance the understanding of the process of agroindustrialization from a competitive strategy point of view.Agribusiness, Industrial Organization,

Metal-insulator transition in Nd1−x_{1-x}Eux_{x}NiO3_{3} compounds

Polycrystalline Nd$_{1-x}$Eu$_{x}$NiO$_3$ ($0 \leq x \leq 0.5$) compounds were synthesized in order to investigate the character of the metal-insulator (MI) phase transition in this series. Samples were prepared through the sol-gel route and subjected to heat treatments at $\sim$1000 $^\circ$C under oxygen pressures as high as 80 bar. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Neutron Powder Diffraction (NPD), electrical resistivity $\rho(T)$, and Magnetization $M(T)$ measurements were performed on these compounds. The results of NPD and XRD indicated that the samples crystallize in an orthorhombic distorted perovskite structure, space group $Pbnm$. The analysis of the structural parameters revealed a sudden and small expansion of $\sim$0.2% of the unit cell volume when electronic localization occurs. This expansion was attributed to a small increase of $\sim$0.003 \AA{} of the average Ni-O distance and a simultaneous decrease of $\sim$$- 0.5^\circ$ of the Ni-O-Ni superexchange angle. The $\rho(T)$ measurements revealed a MI transition occurring at temperatures ranging from $T_{\rm MI}\sim 193$ to 336 K for samples with $x = 0$ and 0.50, respectively. These measurements also show a large thermal hysteresis in NdNiO$_{3}$ during heating and cooling processes suggesting a first-order character of the phase transition at $T_{\rm MI}$. The width of this thermal hysteresis was found to decrease appreciably for the sample Nd$_{0.7}$Eu$_{0.3}$NiO$_{3}$. The results indicate that cation disorder associated with increasing substitution of Nd by Eu is responsible for changing the first order character of the transition in NdNiO$_{3}$.Comment: 19 pages, 9 figure

Evidence of reduced surface electron-phonon scattering in the conduction band of Bi_{2}Se_{3} by non-equilibrium ARPES

The nature of the Dirac quasiparticles in topological insulators calls for a direct investigation of the electron-phonon scattering at the \emph{surface}. By comparing time-resolved ARPES measurements of the TI Bi_{2}Se_{3} with different probing depths we show that the relaxation dynamics of the electronic temperature of the conduction band is much slower at the surface than in the bulk. This observation suggests that surface phonons are less effective in cooling the electron gas in the conduction band.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Economic assessments of practices and policies to address climate change and sustainable development for agriculture at global, regional and farm population scales

The objective of this thesis is to address knowledge gaps, which can assist policy makers in preparing the agriculture sector for the challenges of addressing climate change. A range of methodologies are employed at different scales for these purposes. These include a global bioeconomic analysis and a global computable general equilibrium model to assess the global scale abatement potential of the ruminant sector (inclusive of cattle, sheep and goats), and the economic consequences of policies employed to achieve this potential. With the inevitable emergence of climate change policies and growing consumer expectations for improved environmental performance, these global analyses reveal that there is reasonable potential for the ruminant sector to contribute to global greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation efforts, with the associated effectiveness and economic impacts varying widely depending on the choice of policy. The global scale analyses are complemented by a range of modelling assessments at the region and farm population scale in different smallholder production contexts, which reveal that there are also opportunities to exploit synergies between agricultural development, and climate change mitigation and adaptation objectives. It should be noted, however, that the global scale models are not formally linked to the smaller scale models (i.e. changes in the price and quantity variables in the global models are not used to update any of the variables in the smaller scale models). It was shown that the global abatement potential for the ruminant sector indicated by the marginal abatement cost curves constructed in this thesis, could be substantially amplified by a global carbon tax. However, due to its disproportionately harmful impacts on ruminant production in low income countries, the overall merit of this policy option is questionable. In contrast, the use a producer subsidy to compensate producers for their tax expenses could effectively address these issues, albeit for a much reduced global mitigation potential. Another key insight of this research is that a carbon tax could restructure the global cattle sector, increasing the share of cattle meat supplied by the dairy sector relative to the beef sector. Closing yield gaps for mixed smallholder farmers in several parts of Sub Saharan Africa, without the introduction of new technologies, could provide marked benefits for smallholder incomes and food supply, and reduce GHG emission intensities of production. Similarly, the intensification of beef production in Eastern Indonesia with improved feed from tree-legumes could deliver large increases in production and smallholder incomes and also lower the emission intensity of beef products. This innovation also has good potential for scaling up and is likely to benefit multiple value chain participants. It was also found that the costs of climate change could be partially offset by interventions based on increased fertilisation and the retention of crop residues for a population of mixed smallholder farmers in Sub Saharan Africa. Significantly, vastly different conclusions about the economic desirability of these practices were apparent when assessing their performance through the lens of the aggregate population, compared to considering the impacts on individual farms within the population. Despite the large variation in scales and methods utilised in this thesis, a number of cross-cutting themes emerged from the analyses. For instance, the economic advantages of targeting sectors and producers with practices that can contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation for the least cost or highest return, were apparent at different scales of analyses. Related to this, positive synergies between producer profits and mitigation or adaptation outcomes were also found across the analyses, for a range of improved practices and policies. Further, benefits from the integration of crop and livestock enterprises were apparent in the different analyses, although some practices were shown to generate trade-offs between these enterprises. Finally, all the studies in this thesis touched upon the challenges associated with barriers to the adoption of improved practices

Estimation of the aroma potential of Grapes

Wine suffers important chemical transformations since the end of the fermentation process tillthe moment of consumption, whose object is the stabilization and maturation and fining ofwine organoleptic character. Within this context, the goal of the work is to understand thewine ageing process as a result of different enological variables involved in the formation ofsensory active molecules in wine. In particular, we aim to study the potential aromaticcomposition of wine as a function of its aroma precursor content along with the generationand degradation kinetics under the ageing conditions occurring in wine. For this purpose aseries of model solutions supplemented with, either flavor precursors extracted from differentgrape varieties, or with pure aromatic compounds, were submitted to an accelerated ageing(45ºC for 60 days) simulating maturation in the bottle. Volatile compounds derived from grapeflavor precursors were extracted by SPE and determined by GC‐MS after diferent times ofageing. The model wine spiked with the pure aromatic compounds was employed to monitorthe hydrolysis kinetics and compounds stability. On the other hand, in the solution spiked withflavor precursors, major differences in concentration were observed during the first week ofaccelerated ageing. Most compounds exhibited an initial significant increase and furthersteady decrease in their concentrations. Results from this experiment were employed toestablish a mathematical model to determine the number of aromatic compounds present atdifferent moments of the ageing process

[Grupo deportivo Novostil 1976] [Material gráfico]

Contiene fotografías pertenecientes al archivo fotográfico del diario "Región", publicadas entre 1976 y 1977, aunque la mayoría publicadas en 1976Algunas no indican autoría. El resto firmadas por Foto S. B. Cacho, Foto Santiago (Valladolid) y Ángel Ricardo (Oviedo

Prevalencia de hipotensión ortostática en ancianos hipertensos tratados en atención primaria

ObjetivoConocer la prevalencia de hipotensión ortostática (HO) y los factores asociados en ancianos hipertensos tratados en atención primaria (AP).DiseñoEstudio descriptivo, transversal.EmplazamientoCentro de Salud La Marina (centro urbano en Santander).PacientesUna muestra aleatoria de 295 pacientes de 65 o más años atendidos regularmente por presentar hipertensión arterial (HTA).Mediciones y resultados principalesSe han obtenido cifras de presión arterial (PA) en sedestación y en bipedestación. La definición de HO utilizada ha sido: disminución de 20 mmHg o más en la PA sistólica (PAS) o de 10 mmHg o más en la PA diastólica (PAD), tras 1 o 5 minutos de bipedestación. También se han recogido datos sobre enfermedades asociadas, síntomas en bipedestación, medicación utilizada, hábitos de los pacientes y resultados de otras exploraciones clínicas. La prevalencia global encontrada de HO fue del 14,6%. La prevalencia de HO sistólica tras un minuto (HO-S1) y tras 5 minutos (HO-S5) de bipedestación ha sido del 5,8% en ambas, y la de HO diastólica del 5,1% tras un minuto (HO-D1) y del 4,1% tras 5 minutos (HO-D5) de bipedestación. En el análisis de regresión logística se encontró una asociación entre la existencia de HO global y la mayor elevación de la PA sistólica inicial, la presencia de síntomas de intolerancia ortostática (aunque sólo un 25,6% de los pacientes con HO presentaba síntomas) y el hábito tabáquico. Asimismo, se encontró una asociación con el uso de bloqueadores beta y antagonistas del calcio (diferentes de las dihidropiridinas) y la existencia de HO al minuto de bipedestación, y entre el consumo de tabaco y la HO a los 5 minutos de bipedestación.ConclusionesLa prevalencia detectada es alta y justifica la búsqueda sistemática de HO en los pacientes ancianos que son tratados de HTA en AP. La existencia de síntomas con el ortostatismo se relaciona con una mayor prevalencia de HO, pero sólo los presentó uno de cada 4 pacientes con HO. El consumo de tabaco podría estar relacionado con la presencia de HO, así como el uso de bloqueadores beta y antagonistas del calcio (diferentes de las dihidropiridinas).ObjectiveTo find the prevalence of orthostatic hypotension (OH) and associated factors in elderly hypertensive patients in a primary care setting.DesignDescriptive cross-sectional study.SettingLa Marina Health Centre (an urban centre in Santander).PatientsA random sample of 295 patients aged 65 years or older regularly assisted from hypertension.Measurements and main resultsMeasurements of sitting and standing blood pressure were obtained. Orthostatic hypotension was defined as 20 mmHg or greater decrease in systolic or 10 mmHg or greater decrease in diastolic blood pressure after 1-minute or 5-minute standing. Associated diseases, symptoms upon standing, medication use, habits and other clinical assessments were also recorded. The prevalence of OH was 14.6%. The prevalence of systolic OH after 1-minute (OH-S1) and after 5-minute (OH-S5) standing was 5.8% in both, and the diastolic OH was 5.1% after 1-minute (OH-D1) and 4.1% after 5-minute (OH-D5) standing. By logistic regression analysis, association between higher level of systolic blood pressure and global OH was found, also with the presence of orthostatic intolerance symptoms (although only 25.6% of the patients with OH showed symptoms) and smoking. Beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers (different from dihydropyridines) use was associated with OH after 1-minute standing and smoking with OH after 5-minute standing.ConclusionsThe detected prevalence is high and justifies the case finding of OH in elderly hypertensive patients in primary care. The symptoms of orthostatic intolerance are correlated with OH, but only 1 out of 4 patients showed symptoms. Smoking could be related with OH, so beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers (different from dihydropyridines) use

Prevalencia de candidiasis vaginal en una población obstétrica de bajo riesgo en Santander

ObjetivoConocer la prevalencia de candidiasis vaginal en embarazadas controladas desde atención primaria y ver si está aumentando con el paso del tiempo.DiseñoEstudio descriptivo, retrospectivo del universo de mujeres embarazadas.EmplazamientoZona Básica de Salud Cazoña (34.783 habitantes).SujetosToda la población obstétrica controlada en nuestro centro de salud desde 1992 a 1997, ambos inclusive.Mediciones y resultadosEstudio retrospectivo de las historias clínicas de todas las mujeres embarazadas captadas en nuestro centro de salud (878 embarazos). Descartados los derivados a tocólogo, abortos y partos prematuros, se han valorado 549 embarazos (62,30% del total) normales, de bajo riesgo, controlados hasta el final por atención primaria, con un rango de edad de 16-40 años. La prevalencia media de candidiasis es de un 18% (IC, 15,0-21,6). Su frecuencia aumenta a medida que se incrementa el número de gestaciones y disminuye a medida que aumenta la edad de la embarazada.ConclusionesLa prevalencia encontrada en nuestro estudio es de un 18%, y no está aumentando a medida que pasan los años.ObjectivesTo find the prevalence of vaginal candidiasis in pregnant women monitored through primary care and to see whether it is on the increase.DesignDescriptive and retrospective study of pregnant women.SettingCazoña Health District (34783 inhabitants).SubjectsThe entire obstetric population monitored by our health centre between 1992 and 1997 inclusive.Measurements and resultsRetrospective study of clinical histories of all the pregnant women seen at our health centre (878 pregnancies). After discounting those referred to obstetricians, abortions/ miscarriages and premature births, 549 normal low-risk pregnancies (62.30% of the total) were monitored to completion in primary care. The women's age range was 16 to 40. The mean prevalence of candidiasis was 18% (CI, 15.0-21.6). Its frequency increased as the number of pregnancies increased and dropped as the age of the pregnant women increased.ConclusionsPrevalence found in our study was 18% and did not increase as the years passed

15-item version of the Boston naming test: normative data for the Latin American spanish-speaking adult population.

Objective: Naming is commonly impaired in people with neurodegenerative diseases and brain injury, and as a result, its accurate assessment is essential. The aim of this study was to provide normative data for the 15-item Spanish version of the Boston Naming Test (BNT) for an adult population from eight Latin American countries/regions. Method: The total sample consisted of 2,828 participants from Argentina, Chile, Cuba, El Salvador, Mexico, Honduras, Paraguay, and Puerto Rico. Multiple regressions were used to generate normative data following a four-step process. Results: Regression models showed a linear effect of age on the 15-item BNT total score for Argentina, Chile, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. In contrast, Paraguay showed a quadratic age effect. Almost all countries showed a positive linear effect of education, except Cuba which had a quadratic effect. Sex was a significant predictor in Argentina, Chile, Cuba, and Mexico, where in women scored lower than men. Conclusions: This study generates normative data for the 15-item Spanish version of the BNT and offers a free open-source calculator that will assist in the efficacious use of this neuropsychological test in clinical practice and research