Mauricio Quintero-Angel

The thermal processing of tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L. ), both at home and commercially, is key for obtaining derivatives, such as preserves, sauces, pastes, and purees, consumed worldwide. Therefore, in this study, the effects of different heat treatments, such as frying, blanching, and cooking, on the physicochemical parameters and antioxidant properties of yellow plum tomato ( S. lycopersicum L., var. Blondkopfchen ) were evaluated. The conditions used were frying in vegetable oil (150 ± 5 °C, 3 min), blanching in water (90 ± 2 °C, 5 min), and cooking in water (95 ± 2 °C, 10 min) compared to fresh fruit. Heat treatments showed significant differences ( p < 0.05) in physicochemical and antioxidant properties compared to fresh tomatoes. Regarding color, increases in the yellowness index were observed in all heat treatments. Frying resulted in the highest total carotenoid content (3.35 mg/100 g), and antioxidant activity (AA) [15.52 mmol Fe ^{+ 2} /100 g and 46.59% 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)] compared to the fresh sample, which had values of 2.07 mg/100 g, 9.63 mmol Fe ^{+ 2} /100 g, and 32.24% DPPH, respectively. Blanching resulted in the lowest loss of total phenolic content (8.34 mg GAE/100 g) compared to the other methods, while cooking resulted in the lowest loss of vitamin C (48.58 mg/100 g) compared to the other methods. It can be concluded that frying is the best treatment for increasing the ash, ether extract, total carotenoid content, and AA content in plum tomatoes compared to the other methods. Blanching and cooking allow for a higher concentration of preservation of total phenolic compounds and vitamin C compared to frying. This information is relevant for optimizing production processes and promoting the use of this little studied variety in the food industry.

Globally, changes in forest cover and fragmentation are a conservation concern. Updated information on their state is required, but it is often costly and difficult to obtain. This study evaluated the feasibility of using low-cost technologies, such as freely available remote sensing data and software, to monitor spatiotemporal changes in forest cover and their relationship to landscape dynamics in terms of structure, shape, and configuration. The latter, using a tropical ecosystem in Quindío (Colombia), between 2002 and 2019, as an example. This is particularly relevant given the complexities of land cover classification in tropical ecosystems and the presence of red howler monkeys ( Alouatta seniculus ), whose populations are threatened by changes in landscape dynamics. Satellite imagery (Landsat 7, Landsat 8, and Sentinel-2) and a 30-m Digital Elevation Model were processed using analysis algorithms: CART, Random Forest, Naive Bayes, and Support Vector Machine using six spectral indices (NDVI;EVI;SAVI;CIgreen;NDBI;NDWI). The classifications with the highest Kappa index for the Fragstats analysis were CART for 2002 under spectral bands with topographic variables (C4), and Random Forest for 2014 and 2019 under spectral indices with topographic variables (C5). The combination of spectral indices and topographic variables (C5) with Random Forest achieved the highest performance, with Kappa values up to 0.882 and detection accuracy above 95%. The latter, indicating superior capability for detecting land cover changes. Landscape metrics were also calculated using six indicators (NP,LPI, AREA_MN,SHAPE_MN,FRAC_MN,ENN_MN). Between 2002 and 2019, forest cover decreased by 4.05%, from 77.42% to 73.37%, reflecting quantifiable landscape transformation during the study period. The results demonstrate that open-source remote sensing data and software are useful and reliable to study land cover dynamics, while reducing processing costs, time, and resource demands. This cost-efficiency is particularly relevant in the Global South, where technological and budgetary constraints often limit effective monitoring of landscape change and informed conservation decision-making.

Purpose: Despite vaccine development, the emergence of new epidemics and enzootics remains a global risk. Therefore, studying mass vaccination processes and the associated logistical and reverse logistical challenges is important for better guiding future mass vaccination processes. This paper aims to analyze these challenges and suggests guidelines for mass vaccination from the perspective of the Latin American response. Design/methodology/approach: The study is exploratory and belongs to the heuristic philosophical paradigm. The method was qualitative and based on grounded theory. The selected instrument was an expert consultation, and the research technique was a self-administered online survey using the non-probability sampling method. The questionnaire was conducted in Spanish and applied to experts in industrial engineering, logistics or related areas from Latin America (N = 74; 52M, 22F). Findings: In purchases and procurement of vaccines, it is key to guarantee the delivery frequency. Similarly, temperature and specific conditions are issues in its storage. As for inventory management, it is fundamental to review the due dates of the vaccines, the input and output of vaccines; the temperature control and storage-specific conditions. Regarding distribution and transportation, it is key to determine the availability of equipped vehicles with minimum biosecurity protocols; route programming and last-mile logistics. Reverse logistics is important to avoid driving materials without biological risk to landfills. Research limitations/implications: The study delves into the underrepresented Latin American perspective in vaccine supply chain research and contributes insights into closing the health divide with high-income countries. Practical implications: The COVID-19 experience shows that mass vaccination processes are complex. So it is necessary to strengthen the capacity to generate vaccines against new pathogens but also to develop the capacity for their mass production, storage, distribution and logistics. Social implications: Governments must design plans according to the logistical and reverse logistical challenges, support in academic so as to face future disruptions in the vaccine supply chain and to protect society. The latter, is particularly benefit from decisions taking on time to health care as well as the environment is protected. Finally, the policy implications of the findings suggest to design models for decision making process in the massive vaccination in Latin America, at all levels like government, vaccine suppliers, health centers taking into account the challenges exposed for this region. Originality/value: It is necessary to strengthen the capacity to generate new vaccines and develop the capacity for their mass production, storage, distribution and logistics. The study delves into the underrepresented Latin American perspective in vaccine supply chain research and contributes insights into closing the health divide with high-income countries.

Social-ecological systems (SESs) in the Andean-Amazon transition zone are complex and adaptive and can withstand disturbances through strong interconnections between social and ecological factors. This study employed a comprehensive analysis of these SESs using the community capital approach. Data were collected via community capital-based surveys to identify distinct producer types and calculate a socioecological status index (SESI) for each. The analysis revealed three rural family types namely, multifaceted producers (MP, 42.3%), biodiverse producers (BP, 34.6%), and versatile producers (VP, 23.1%), each characterized by differing capital endowments and productive logics. Furthermore, social, financial, and natural capital significantly influenced the equilibrium and functionality of these SESs. MP families, characterized by multiple productive activities, organic waste use for fertilizers, and forest conservation areas, exhibited the highest SESI values. BP families showed the greatest productive autonomy, supported by strong cultural capital, traditional knowledge, and high medicinal plant diversity. VP families had the lowest SESI values, with greater dependence on government subsidies and nonagricultural income. The SESI proved to be a valuable tool for differentiating socioecological conditions across producer types, underscoring the importance of integrated capital endowments for system stability and resilience in the Andean-Amazon transition zone.

En la actualidad, el emprendimiento universitario de base tecnológica (EBT) se considera un factor clave para el desarrollo de nuevos productos y servicios de alto impacto. Sin embargo, debido al rápido dinamismo del mercado, las competencias necesarias para el éxito de un EBT se vuelven obsoletas con mayor rapidez. Además, no existe un marco de competencias específico para el contexto latinoamericano. Con el propósito de abordar esta problemática, el objetivo de este artículo es establecer las competencias requeridas en procesos de formación de EBT en universidades con poca experiencia en emprendimiento. Para ello, se realizó una consulta a expertos colombianos vinculados a instituciones y programas de emprendimiento, en la que se indagó sobre los conocimientos, habilidades, cualidades, metodologías y didácticas necesarias para el surgimiento de EBT. Los resultados destacaron la importancia de que el emprendimiento sea una prioridad institucional, visto como una transversalidad y no limitado solo a disciplinas empresariales o económicas. Asimismo, se señaló que las universidades con poca trayectoria en formación emprendedora deben adoptar una formación por competencias, lo cual implica la implementación de estrategias pedagógicas dinámicas centradas en la experiencia, el autoconocimiento y la acción práctica, en aras de lograr que el estudiantado se involucre activamente en el proceso de aprendizaje.

Para Colombia la generación de nuevos productos, procesos y servicios de alto valor agregado y sofisticación a partir de la biodiversidad en el marco de una bioeconomía tropical sostenible, constituye una ventana de oportunidad. Este artículo tiene por objeto identificar las brechas de investigación en torno a la bioeconomía tropical sostenible en el contexto colombiano, y presenta las bases para el Centro Nacional de Investigación e Innovación para las Biociencias y la Bioindustria en el Valle del Cauca. Se emplea el enfoque metodológico de la investigación orientada por misión, con el que se identificaron cinco brechas de investigación: i) Limitado conocimiento científico de la biodiversidad útil para la bioeconomía, ii) Limitada integración de la cadena de valor bio, iii) Dependencia tecnológica y limitado desarrollo de tecnologías propias para la transición hacia la bioeconomía, iv) Limitado desarrollo de mercados para productos y servicios en el marco de la bioeconomía, y v) Limitada capacidad de gestión y gerencia para bionegocios. El cierre de estas brechas permitirá avanzar hacia la consolidación de una bioindustria con carácter diferenciador e innovador de clase mundial. Finalmente, se concluye que es necesario fortalecer las capacidades científicas y tecnológicas para generar a partir del capital natural una oferta de productos, procesos y servicios con carácter diferenciador e innovador, de clase mundial, con los volúmenes, calidad y estandarización necesarios, para responder a las necesidades regionales y contribuir sosteniblemente a optimizar la competitividad de las cadenas de abastecimiento bioindustriales.