Estrategias de grandes, medianos y pequeños productores, para buscar la competitividad del cultivo del café

El sector cafetalero nicaragüense aglutina a 30.400 productores aproximadamente, entre pequeños, medianos y grandes productores. El cultivo del café es de enorme trascendencia económica para el país, como generador de divisas por ser un producto de exportación; es un importante factor de estabilidad social por la alta generación de empleo de esta actividad, es por esto que el impacto de la crisis provocada por la caída de los precios a nivel internacional ha sido tan fuerte y que ha afectado a todos los sectores económicos del país. Además de la crisis de precios internacionales, el sector enfrenta otros factores que dificultan su desarrollo, entre ellos encontramos Políticas de Gobierno inadecuadas y la poca participación del gremio en la elaboración de ellas, problemas de seguridad jurídica en la tenencia de la tierra, dificultad para accesar al financiamiento. También existen factores sociales, culturales, políticos y económicos que analizamos en este documento y que tienen su impacto en el sector. Como resultado del análisis, pudimos encontrar fortalezas y debilidades, así como oportunidades y amenazas que se presentan, obteniendo un FODA que nos permitirá proponer algunas acciones y metas a las estrategias planteadas para alcanzar la competitividad de los pequeños, medianos y grandes productores de café. Para poder lograr una transformación productiva de la caficultura en función de oportunidades estructurales que se presentan en el mercado del café, la Estrategia para pequeños, medianos y grandes productores, está basada básicamente en una mayor y mejor organización en asociaciones que los representen, la diversificación de sus propiedades en búsqueda de una explotación más eficiente del recurso tierra, alcanzar mayor productividad, teniendo como resultado la obtención de mayores ingresos y mejoramiento del nivel de vida; la búsqueda de nuevos mercados que ha abierto a los productores grandes oportunidades, pero también grandes desafíos; la Certificación para garantizar que la producción cumple con los requisitos de calidad exigidos en el mercado internacional por los comercializadores y consumidores, así también lograr la diferenciación de nuestro producto a través de la creación de marcas; por último, la Capacitación de los Recursos Humanos, que representa la base de las ventajas competitivas. La competitividad va a depender cada vez más de los niveles de destreza y la creatividad de la fuerza laboral. La formación de Aglomerados (Cluster) de Café y Alianzas Estratégicas, será el resultado del impulso de la diversificación y transformación productiva de la caficultura, que nos permitirá el desarrollo de la calidad, promoción y comercialización, a la vez que dará un impulso a la industrialización y producción de derivados de productos y servicios, dándole un valor agregado al caf

Urokinase-type Plasminogen Activator Receptor Transcriptionally Controlled Adenoviruses Eradicate Pancreatic Tumors and Liver Metastasis in Mouse Models

Treatment options for pancreatic cancer have shown limited success mainly owing to poor selectivity for pancreatic tumor tissue and to a lack of activity in the tumor. In this study, we describe the ability of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) promoter to efficiently and selectively target pancreatic tumors and metastases, which enables the successful management of pancreatic cancer. We have generated a replication-defective reporter adenovirus, AduPARLuc, and a conditionally replicating adenovirus, AduPARE1A, and we have studied the selectivity and antitumoral efficacy in pancreatic tumors and metastases. Toxicity was studied on intravascular delivery. We demonstrate that the uPAR promoter is highly active in pancreatic tumors but very weak in normal tissues. Tumor specificity is evidenced by a 100-fold increase in the tumor-to-liver ratio and by selective targeting of liver metastases (P < .001). Importantly, the AduPARE1A maintains the oncolytic activity of the wild-type virus, with reduced toxicity, and exhibits significant antitumoral activity (25% tumor eradication) and prolonged survival in pancreatic xenograft models (P < .0001). Furthermore, upon intravascular delivery, we demonstrate complete eradication of liver metastasis in 33% of mice, improving median survival (P = 5.43 x 10(-5)). The antitumoral selective activity of AduPARE1A shows the potential of uPAR promoter-based therapies in pancreatic cancer treatment

Gas phase selective hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol and 2-methylfuran over Cu-CeO2 coprecipitated catalysts

Furfural is an important chemical derived from lignocellulosic biomass, in particular from C5 sugars like xylose, and it is considered as a platform molecule of great potential for the synthesis of a broad spectrum of chemicals. In this sense, furfuryl alcohol and 2-methylfuran are two important chemicals which can be produced through furfural hydrogenation, either in liquid or vapor phase, although the latter is preferred because it can be carried out at atmospheric pressure. Industrially, a copper chromite catalyst is used, although this catalyst can become very toxic due to the presence of chromium. Therefore, much attention is being paid to the development of chromium-free catalysts, more sustainable and environmentally friendly, as those based on Cu or Ni which are active and selective towards the formation of furfuryl alcohol and 2-methylfuran. Furfuryl alcohol is mainly used for the production of thermostatic resins, intermediate in the manufacture of lysine, vitamin C and dispersing agents. Meanwhile, 2-methyl furan is used in the synthesis of pesticides, or in the pharmaceutical and fragrance industries. The aim of this work is the synthesis of a series of copper based catalysts, which have been synthesized by coprecipitation of copper and cerium(IV) and subsequent thermal programmed reduction. This method allows increasing the dispersion of Cu particles, while the use of a support like CeO2 can modify the electronic density of the active phase, which can influence the catalytic activity and resistance to deactivation.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. Economy and Competitiveness Ministry (Project CTQ2012-38204-C03-02), Junta de Andalucía (Project: RNM-1565) and FEDER funds of the European Unio

Management of Patients with Hernia or Incisional Hernia Undergoing Surgery for Morbid Obesity

Morbidly obese patients (MOPs) are predisposed to developing abdominal wall hernias with the potential complication of small bowel obstruction and other morbidity. We report our experience in treating morbidly obese patients. Hernia prophylaxis has been attempted as a means of decreasing the incisional hernia risk associated with weight loss surgery. The controversy regarding the optimal time and method of repair of abdominal wall hernias in patients undergoing open or laparoscopic gastric bypass is discussed with emphasis placed on either a simultaneous repair or splits of the omentum, and of leaving a plug in the hernia defect, to allow time to perform a delayed repair

Mesoporous niobium oxide for dehydration of D-xylose into furfural

Se ha demostrado que el óxido de niobio mesoporoso es un catalizador eficaz para la deshidratación de D-xilosa a furfural, alcanzando una conversión del 92% y un rendimiento de furfural 49,3% a 170º C y 90 minutos. La lixiviación de Nb, determinada por ICP-MS, era inferior al 0,5% en peso de la concentración de Nb inicial, confirmando de este modo la estabilidad del catalizador ácido sólido.El furfural posee un gran potencial como molécula plataforma de origen renovable para la síntesis de una alta variedad de compuestos químicos. Se obtiene mediante la deshidratación de pentosas, principalmente a partir de D-xilosa, proceso catalizado por ácidos minerales en fase homogénea. Por tanto, dentro de la química verde y la búsqueda de sostenibilidad de los procesos catalíticos, es necesaria su sustitución por catalizadores sólidos ácidos que sean tolerantes al agua, ya que es el disolvente más utilizado para esta reacción. El óxido de niobio posee propiedades ácidas y es insoluble en agua, pero su superficie específica es muy baja. Por lo tanto, resulta muy interesante la síntesis de un óxido de niobio mesoporoso para emplearlo como catalizador en esta reacción. En este trabajo, se ha sintetizado un Nb2O5 mesoporoso y se ha evaluado su comportamiento catalítico en la obtención de furfural a partir de D-xilosa.Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (ENE2009-12743-C04-03 project)Junta de Andalucía (P09-FQM-5070).Ministry of Science and Innovation for the financial support under the Program Ramón y Cajal (RYC-2008-03387)

Endoscopic Management of Drain Inclusion in the Gastric Pouch after Gastrojejunal Leakage after Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass for the Treatment of Morbid Obesity (LRYGBP)

Background. Drain inclusion inside the gastric pouch is rare and can represent an important source of morbidity and mortality associated with laparocopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGBP). These leaks can become chronic and challenging. Surgical options are often unsuccessful. We present the endoscopic management of four patients with drain inclusion. Patients. All four obese morbidly patients underwent LRYGBP and presented a gastro-jejunal fistula after acute anastomotic leakage. During follow-up endoscopy the drain was found inside the gastric pouch. It was moved into the abdominal cavity. Fistula debit reduced significantly and closed. Results. Gastric leak closure in less than 24 hours was achieved in all, with complete resolution of symptoms. These patients benefited exclusively from endoscopic treatment. Conclusions. Endoscopy is useful and technically feasible in chronic fistulas. This procedure is a less invasive alternative to traditional surgical revision. Other therapeutic strategies can be used such as clips and fibrin glue. Drains should not be placed in contact with the anastomosis or stapled lines. Drain inclusion must be suspected when fistula debit suddenly arises. If so, endoscopy is indicated for diagnostic accuracy. Under endoscopy vision, the drain is gently removed from the gastric reservoir leading to sudden and complete resolution of the fistula

Furfuryl alcohol production by liquid phase catalytic transfer hydrogenation of furfural on alumina as Lewis acid catalyst

Currently, much attention is being paid to the development of efficient and environmentally friendly technologies for the sustainable production of energy, fuels and chemicals [1]. In this context, lignocellulosic biomass appears as a renewable alternative feedstock to fossil resources. Thus, dehydration of C5 carbohydrates leads to furfural (FUR), a versatile platform molecule for the synthesis of a large spectrum of chemicals. Among them, the most important is furfuryl alcohol (FOL), accounting for 65% of FUR production, which finds application in the preparation of resins used as high-quality cores and molds for metal casting, reactive solvent for phenolic resins in the refractory industry, chemical building block for the synthesis of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol and pharmaceuticals and manufacture of fragrances [2,3]. FOL is prepared industrially by the catalytic hydrogenation of furfural, which can be carried out in vapor or liquid-phases, being the former in the presence of copper chromite the preferred industrial route. However, other products such as 2-methylfuran, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol and 2-methyl tetrahydrofuran can result from furfural hydrogenation, besides furan and THF, different pentanediols, 2-pentanone and 2-pentanol, cyclopentanone and cyclopentanol. The selectivity pattern depends strongly on reaction conditions and on the nature of the catalyst used. Nevertheless, a synthetic approach based on the catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH), based on the Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley (MPV) reduction of an aldehyde (or ketone) coupled to the oxidation of a secondary alcohol, has been also proposed, which does not require supply of external hydrogen and the alcohol can be chosen in order to produce an aldehyde or ketone with industrial applications [4,5]. The present contribution deals with the production of FOL from furfural by CTH, using different commercial aluminas as catalysts and a secondary alcohol as hydrogen donor, in liquid phase. The results have demonstrated that the formation of other by-products is minimized and FOL is produced in high yield, at temperatures ranging between 90 and 150ºC, by using 2-propanol. Thus, full conversion of furfural and a FOL selectivity higher than 90 mol% are attained after only 2 h, at 150ºC, a FUR concentration of 0.25 M in 2-propanol and a catalyst/FUR weight ratio of 1:1 (Fig. 1). A reaction mechanism, involving Lewis acid sites present on the alumina surface in the activation of FUR and 2-propanol, has been put forward. Different experimental parameters (FUR concentration, reaction temperature, catalyst loading, type of alumina and nature of alcohol) have been optimized in order to achieve suitable FOL yields. Moreover, reutilization has been evaluated to support the advantage of the heterogeneous catalytic process which allows the reuse of the solid catalyst. Finally, and considering that dehydration of xylose to furfural is accomplished in the presence of solid acid catalysts, the one-pot synthesis of FOL from xylose has been undertaken by tuning selected experimental variables.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

Estimación de la humedad de tapones de corcho mediante medida de la resistencia electrica

En este trabajo se exponen los resultados obtenidos en el Departamento de Productos Forestales del CIFOR-INIA sobre la relación entre la resistencia eléctrica y el contenido de humedad de los tapones de corcho. Estos resultados muestran que los medidores de humedad utilizados habitualmente en la industria pueden alcanzar una precisión elevada, siempre y cuando se tenga en cuenta la influencia de los distintos factores que afectan a la relación resistencia eléctrica-humedad: tipo de tapón, dirección de la medida, temperatura del material. Además, se han obtenido los modelos matemáticos que permiten la calibración de cualquier aparato de este tipo de manera rápida y sencill

Isolated Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis of the Thyroid in an Adult Female: One-Year Followup

Thyroid gland involvement as the unique presentation of Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a rare phenomenon that can result in misdiagnosis. We report a case of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) presenting as a thyroid mass. It is a 52-year-old woman who presented an enlarged, diffusely firm, nontender, nonmobile, and not particularly nodular thyroid gland with mild compressive symptoms. Ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration showed a unique right node with benign signs. Patient was referred to our Ambulatory Surgery Department, where a hemithyroidectomy was performed. Histologic evaluation of the right thyroid gland revealed an involvement by LCH, confirmed by immunohistochemical analysis showing Langerhans cells that were positive for CD1a. LCH was a completely incidental occult finding apparent only after surgical resection and examination of the gland. Patient was evaluated, and no evidence of systemic affectation was found. LCH can rarely involve the thyroid gland in adults. Few cases have been reported in the literature. Most patients had evidence of LCH involving other anatomic sites

Comercialización del Huevo en el municipio de Santa Marta (Magdalena)

El objetivo general de la investigación es determinar y analizar los factores que inciden en el poco desarrollo de las granjas avícolas para huevos, y resaltar los aspectos más importantes del proceso tribuitivo