Abiotic Factors from Different Ecuadorian Regions and Their Contribution to Antioxidant, Metabolomic and Organoleptic Quality of Theobroma cacao L. Beans, Variety "Arriba Nacional".

Fine flavor cocoa is a unique category of cocoa that produces almonds with high aromatic potential and several sensory benefits that make it different from the basic or ordinary cocoas. Ecuador is the world's leader in the production and export of fine flavor cocoa, responsible for 63% of the world's total production due to the commercialization of the Arriba Nacional variety, known to possess an intense aroma that is unique in the cocoa world market. Besides its organoleptic specificity, this variety represents a source of important bioactive compounds associated with both sensory and health properties. This study evaluates the influence of an abiotic factor, nutritional soil status, on the phytochemical composition (methylxantines and phenolic compounds), and antioxidant and sensory properties of Arriba variety cocoa beans originating from three different geographical regions of Ecuador. We used the Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS), Folin-Ciocalteau, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), ABTS free-radical-scavenging activity, the α, α-diphenyl-ß-picrylhydrazyl free-radical-scavenging method (DPPH), and Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) analysis to reveal a significant correlation between Mn ions and total phenolic content, a positive implication of N in methylxanthine composition and antioxidant properties, and the importance of Ca, Mg, and K ions in increasing the flavonoid and anthocyanin content of raw cocoa beans. We showed that these nutritional elements can interfere with the nutraceutical and sensory properties of cocoa beans, as Cu, Mg, and K are correlated with anthocyaninic content, while Fe, Ca, P and Zn influenced the flavonoid content. We underline that the Arriba variety is suitable not only for the production of high-quality chocolate, but also for the increasing worldwide nutraceutical market, generating qualitative and competitive products.

Effect of the growing area on the fat content and the fatty acid composition of Ecuadorian cocoa beans.

Cocoa presents a high fat content and a unique fatty acid profile defining its technological and nutritional properties. This study evaluated the fat content and fatty acid composition of Nacional cocoas, a worldwide recognised "fine" variety, collected in 85 Ecuadorian farms while taking into account 3 geographical levels (region, province, and canton). The total fat content varied from 45.61 ± 1.27 to 52.13 ± 0.58 g/100 g DW and was higher in the provinces and cantons from the Amazonian region than in those from the Pacific Coast region. A remarkable effect of the region and the province was shown on the content of individual fatty acids of Nacional cocoa beans. Total amounts of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids also depended on the growing area. Multivariate analysis provided a comprehensive assessment of the cocoa fat composition according to the origin, which may be useful for the selection of cocoas with specific technological and nutritional characteristics.

La gobernabilidad migratoria en Sudamérica: la difusión de abajo hacia arriba (ascendente) del Acuerdo de Residencia del Mercosur / Migration governance in south america: the bottom-up diffusion of the residence agreement of mercosur / A governança migratória na américa do sul: a difusão de baixo para cima (bottom-up) do acordo de residência do mercosul

Abstract This article offers a complementary explanation to the diffusion theory that focuses on the process of governance emergence from a top-down perspective. This complementary explanation analyzes the bottom-up processes of diffusion and tested them by studying the policy formulation process in the Mercosur Residence Agreement (RA) signed in 2002. Based on interviews with key actors, documents, and academic literature, this article concludes that the RA was mainly the result of Brazilian and Argentinian negotiations. Brazil needed to boost regional cooperation after the Mercosur crisis, and considered that a joint migration amnesty could have a positive impact on the trading bloc's image. However, the Argentinian experience in migration issues allowed for a more coherent policy on the matter. Therefore, I maintain that the mode of interaction in the Residence Agreement negotiations was a bottom up diffusion process that allowed the regionalization of domestic policies.

Resumen Este artículo ofrece una explicación complementaria a la teoría de la difusión que se centra en el proceso de emergencia de la gobernanza desde una perspectiva de arriba hacia abajo (top-down). Esta explicación complementaria analiza los procesos de abajo hacia arriba (bottom-up) de difusión y los prueba mediante el estudio de la formulación de políticas en el Acuerdo de Residencia del Mercosur, firmado en el 2002. En base a entrevistas con actores clave, documentos y literatura académica, este artículo concluye que el Acuerdo fue principalmente el resultado de las negociaciones brasileñas y argentinas. Brasil necesitaba impulsar la cooperación regional después de la crisis del Mercosur y consideró que una amnistía migratoria conjunta podría tener un impacto positivo en la imagen del bloque. Sin embargo, la experiencia argentina en temas de migración permitió una política más coherente en la materia. Por lo tanto, se sostiene que el modo de interacción en las negociaciones del Acuerdo fue un proceso de difusión de abajo hacia arriba (bottom-up) que posibilitó la regionalización de las políticas domésticas.

Resumo Este artigo oferece uma explicação complementar à teoria da difusão que explica o processo de surgimento da governança regional a partir de uma perspectiva de cima para baixo (top-down). Essa explicação complementar analisa os processos de difusão de baixo para cima (bottom-up), e os testa por meio do estudo da formulação de políticas no Acordo de Residência do Mercosul, assinado em 2002. Tomando em consideração entrevistas com atores destacados, documentos e literatura acadêmica, este artigo conclui que o Acordo foi principalmente o resultado das negociações brasileiras e argentinas. O Brasil em um primeiro momento considerou uma anistia migratória regional para melhorar a imagem do Mercosul. No entanto, a experiência argentina em questões de migração permitiu uma política mais coerente na matéria. Portanto, este trabalho conclui que o modo de interação na negociação do Acordo foi um processo de difusão de baixo para cima (bottom-up) que produziu a regionalização de políticas domésticas.

Differentiation of Ecuadorian National and CCN-51 cocoa beans and their mixtures by computer vision.

BACKGROUND: Ecuador exports two major types of cocoa beans, the highly regarded and lucrative National, known for its fine aroma, and the CCN-51 clone type, used in bulk for mass chocolate products. In order to discourage exportation of National cocoa adulterated with CCN-51, a fast and objective methodology for distinguishing between the two types of cocoa beans is needed. RESULTS: This study reports a methodology based on computer vision, which makes it possible to recognize these beans and determine the percentage of their mixture. The methodology was challenged with 336 samples of National cocoa and 127 of CCN-51. By excluding the samples with a low fermentation level and white beans, the model discriminated with a precision higher than 98%. The model was also able to identify and quantify adulterations in 75 export batches of National cocoa and separate out poorly fermented beans. CONCLUSION: A scientifically reliable methodology able to discriminate between Ecuadorian National and CCN-51 cocoa beans and their mixtures was successfully developed. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

DNA-based differentiation of the Ecuadorian cocoa types CCN-51 and Arriba based on sequence differences in the chloroplast genome.

Two cocoa types, Arriba and CCN-51, are being cultivated in Ecuador. With regard to the unique aroma, Arriba is considered a fine cocoa type, while CCN-51 is a bulk cocoa because of its weaker aroma. Because it is being assumed that Arriba is mixed with CCN-51, there is an interest in the analytical differentiation of the two types. Two methods to identify CCN-51 adulterations in Arriba cocoa were developed on the basis of differences in the chloroplast DNA. On the one hand, a different repeat of the sequence TAAAG in the inverted repeat region results in a different length of amplicons for the two cocoa types, which can be detected by agarose gel electrophoresis, capillary gel electrophoresis, and denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography. On the other hand, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) between the CCN-51 and Arriba sequences represent restriction sites, which can be used for restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. A semi-quantitative analysis based on these SNPs is feasible. A method for an exact quantitation based on these results is not realizable. These sequence variations were confirmed for a comprehensive cultivar collection of Arriba and CCN-51, for both bean and leaf samples.

Desviación paroxística de la mirada hacia arriba: estudio de caso / Paroxysmal upgaze deviation: case report / Desvio paroxístico do olhar para cima: estudo de caso

La desviación paroxística de la mirada hacia arriba es un síndrome infantil descrito por primera vez en 1988 y desde entonces solo se registran alrededor de cincuenta reportes en el mundo. Su etiología no es clara y, aunque su pronóstico es variable, la mayoría de los informes señalan que durante el crecimiento los episodios tienden a disminuir en frecuencia y duración hasta desaparecer. El caso que se reporta corresponde a un niño de 16 meses de edad, quien desde los 11 meses presenta episodios de supraversión sostenida de la mirada conjugada de duración variable con flexión cervical compensatoria y nistagmo vertical a la fijación ocular sin alteración del estado de conciencia. Los episodios son de predominio matinal y se exacerban por situaciones de estrés como el ayuno o el insomnio; sin embargo, ceden con la conciliación del sueño. Los exámenes neurológico y oftalmológico resultan normales y a su vez las neuroimágenes y electroencefalograma no tienen hallazgos relevantes.

The paroxysmal upgaze deviation is a syndrome that described in infants for first time in 1988; there are just about 50 case reports worldwide ever since. Its etiology is unclear and though it prognosis is variable; most case reports indicate that during growth the episodes tend to decrease in frequency and duration until they disappear. It describes a 16-months old male child who since 11-months old presented many episodes of variable conjugate upward deviation of the eyes, compensatory neck flexion and down-beat saccades in attempted downgaze. These events are predominantly diurnal, and are exacerbated by stressful situations such as fasting or insomnia, however and improve with sleep. They have normal neurologic and ophthalmologic examination, and neuroimaging and EEG findings are not relevant.

O desvio paroxístico do olhar para cima é um síndrome infantil foi descrito por primeira vez no ano 1988 e desde então só se registram cerca de cinquenta reportes no mundo. Sua etiologia não é clara e, mesmo que seu prognóstico é variável, a maioria dos informes assinalam que durante o crescimento, os episódios tendem a diminuir em frequência e duração até desaparecer. O caso que é reportado corresponde a uma criança de 16 meses de idade, que desde os 11 meses, apresenta episódios de supraversão sustentada do olhar conjugado de duração variável com flexão cervical compensatória e nistagmo vertical à fixação ocular sem alteração do estado de consciência. Os episódios são de predomínio matinal e se exacerbam por situações de estresse como o jejum ou a insônia; no entanto, cedem com a conciliação do sono. Os exames neurológico e oftalmológico resultam normais e a sua vez as neuroimagens e electroencefalograma não têm resultados relevantes.