Dinámica de innovaciones en la producción de jitomate (Solanum lycopersicum) bajo invernadero en Puebla, México

The use of technological innovations in greenhouse vegetable growing translates into high yields to the producers. This study analyzes the innovation adoption index (InAI) in tomato production units (TPUs) under greenhouses in the municipalities of Aquixtla, Tetela de Ocampo, Tecamachalco and Tochtepec, state of Puebla and its relationship with the crop’s yield, in addition to understanding the stakeholders implicit in the dissemination of innovations through a social networks analysis. Interviews (103) were applied to producers in the second semester of 2017, using a structured questionnaire. A global InAI of 36% was obtained, highlighting the components of health and nutrition that showed an InAI of 57%. The social networks analysis showed that learning about innovations is done primarily between producers despite not having a formal organization. Private technical assistance is responsible for technology transfer in the TPUs, which is why it is important for decision makers and particularly for producers, by generating formal communication channels that allow exchanging experiences and fostering learning as a whole, with the aim of increasing the InAI and consequently improving the yield of TPUs in the state.El uso de innovaciones tecnológicas en el cultivo de hortalizas bajo invernadero se traduce en altos rendimientos para los productores. Esta investigación, analiza el índice de adopción de innovaciones (InAI) en las unidades de producción de jitomate (UPJ) bajo invernadero en los municipios de Aquixtla, Tetela de Ocampo, Tecamachalco y Tochtepec, estado de Puebla y su relación con el rendimiento del cultivo, además de conocer los actores implícitos en la difusión de innovaciones mediante un análisis de redes sociales. Se aplicaron 103 entrevistas a productores en el segundo semestre de 2017, utilizando un cuestionario estructurado. Se obtuvo un InAI global de 36%, destacando los componentes sanidad y nutrición que registraron un InAI de 57%. El análisis de redes sociales mostró que el aprendizaje de innovaciones se realiza principalmente entre productores a pesar de no contar con una organización formal. La asesoría técnica privada es la responsable de la transferencia de tecnologías en las UPJ. El InAI tiene una correlación positiva (p<0.05) con el rendimiento de las UPJ, por lo que es de importancia para los tomadores de decisiones y en particular para los productores, el generar canales formales de comunicación que permitan intercambiar experiencias fomentando el aprendizaje en conjunto, con la finalidad de aumentar el InAI y en consecuencia mejorar el rendimiento de las UPJ en el estado

Factores que explican la innovación en microempresarios agropecuarios en el estado de Puebla, México

Innovation is a development factor that has been at the center of the discussion in México during the last two decades, as an element that contributes to generate dynamics of entrepreneurialism. This induces to empirically revise models that attempt to describe the dynamics of innovation and their explicative factors. The objective of this research was to analyze the factors that explain the innovative behavior of small agricultural/livestock micro-entrepreneurs in Valle de Puebla, México. The data used were generated through a structured interview applied to a statistical sample. In order to value the relationship between innovative micro-entrepreneurs and their determinants, an innovation index was built from five variables related to innovative behavior, and it was related to possible explicative variables by using a correlation analysis, difference of means tests, and linear regression. It was found that training is an important factor in the development of new products. The factors related to the market are a source of changes and development of new products that drive innovation. In the regression model, the variables schooling, experience, propensity for risk, social relations and wholesale sales were statistically significant.La innovación es un factor de desarrollo que en las últimas dos décadas en México ha estado en el centro de la discusión, como elemento que coadyuva a generar dinámicas de emprendedurismo. Esto induce a revisar empíricamente modelos que intentan describir la dinámica de la innovación y sus factores explicativos. El objetivo de esta investigación fue analizar los factores que explican la conducta innovadora de los pequeños microempresarios agropecuarios del Valle de Puebla, México. Los datos utilizados se generaron mediante una entrevista estructurada, aplicada a una muestra estadística. Para valorar la relación entre microempresarios innovadores y sus determinantes, se construyó un índice de innovación a partir de cinco variables relacionadas con la conducta innovadora, y se relacionó con posibles variables explicativas usando análisis de correlación, pruebas de diferencia de medias, y regresión lineal. Se encontró que la capacitación es un factor importante en el desarrollo de nuevos productos. Los factores relacionados con el mercado son una fuente de cambios y desarrollo de productos nuevos que impulsan la innovación. En el modelo de regresión, las variables escolaridad, experiencia, propensión al riesgo, relaciones sociales, y venta al mayoreo fueron estadísticamente significativas

Clinical and genetic characteristics of late-onset Huntington's disease

Background: The frequency of late-onset Huntington's disease (>59 years) is assumed to be low and the clinical course milder. However, previous literature on late-onset disease is scarce and inconclusive. Objective: Our aim is to study clinical characteristics of late-onset compared to common-onset HD patients in a large cohort of HD patients from the Registry database. Methods: Participants with late- and common-onset (30–50 years)were compared for first clinical symptoms, disease progression, CAG repeat size and family history. Participants with a missing CAG repeat size, a repeat size of ≤35 or a UHDRS motor score of ≤5 were excluded. Results: Of 6007 eligible participants, 687 had late-onset (11.4%) and 3216 (53.5%) common-onset HD. Late-onset (n = 577) had significantly more gait and balance problems as first symptom compared to common-onset (n = 2408) (P <.001). Overall motor and cognitive performance (P <.001) were worse, however only disease motor progression was slower (coefficient, −0.58; SE 0.16; P <.001) compared to the common-onset group. Repeat size was significantly lower in the late-onset (n = 40.8; SD 1.6) compared to common-onset (n = 44.4; SD 2.8) (P <.001). Fewer late-onset patients (n = 451) had a positive family history compared to common-onset (n = 2940) (P <.001). Conclusions: Late-onset patients present more frequently with gait and balance problems as first symptom, and disease progression is not milder compared to common-onset HD patients apart from motor progression. The family history is likely to be negative, which might make diagnosing HD more difficult in this population. However, the balance and gait problems might be helpful in diagnosing HD in elderly patients