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La generación de electricidad en Venezuela está dominada por los combustibles fósiles y las hidroeléctricas a gran escala, predominado sobre otras fuentes energéticas. El objetivo de esta investigación es determinar el potencial solar fotovoltaico y eólico y plantear escenarios de sistemas híbridos de energía eléctrica para la Isla de Toas, Estado Zulia. En una primera parte se realizó una investigación documental sobre dicho potencial, luego con datos obtenidos de irradiación solar y velocidad del viento, mediante Global Solar, NASA Power y el uso de la aplicación Homer se presenta un proyecto factible de una micro red aplicado a la Isla de Toas, Municipio Almirante Padilla, Edo. Zulia. Demostrando así que el escenario fotovoltaico, eólico, batería e interconexión es la opción que mejor aplica, con un costo nivelado de electricidad de 0,3 $/kWh, ofrece mayor confiabilidad y disponibilidad, con posibilidad de transmitir los excedentes a la red eléctrica. // Electricity generation in Venezuela is dominated by fossil fuels and large-scale hydroelectric plants, predominating over other energy sources. The objective of this research is to determine the solar photovoltaic and wind potential and to propose scenarios of hybrid electric energy systems for Toas Island, Zulia State. In the first part, a documentary research on this potential was carried out, then with data obtained from solar irradiation and wind speed, through Global Solar, NASA Power and the use of the Homer application, a feasible project of a micro grid applied to Toas Island, Almirante Padilla Municipality, Zulia State, was presented. Thus demonstrating that the photovoltaic, wind, battery and interconnection scenario is the best applicable option, with a levelized cost of electricity of 0.3 $/kWh, offering greater reliability and availability, with the possibility of transmitting surpluses to the electric grid.

Climate and market shocks impact on the livelihood strategies of families in Altiplano communities. A household survey of 360 families in the Altiplano sheds light how families participate in markets, cope with climate and market shocks, and their feelings of control over these events. Theory proposes that the higher levels of capitals and climate resilient activities will result in a greater sense of control and therefore lower sense of dread. Cluster analysis identified three groups by wealth and life cycle characteristics in each region, as well as clear differences in income, assets, and market production activities between and within regions. Coping strategies in region facing warming and drying trends has focused on loss of assets, such as sales of animals. While in both regions there is diversity of income sources, the major source of diversity in Ancoraimes is crop varieties. While in both regions climatic shocks have had a negative impact on production, this has been experienced in Ancoraimes by 99 to 100 percent of the families, which has implications in terms of coping mechanism that rely on community networks. The other region has also experienced high rates of production shocks, from 71 to 92 percent of household members in each group. Strategies to diversify to climate resilient activities have resulted in increased off farm activities, mostly migration, in the lower income, lower asset region, while the greater assets in livestock, which face a more stable market and ability to withstand climate shocks presents a bifurcated response. Comparison between groups identified in the clusters for each region found no significant differences between groups on climate shock and climate change perceptions, in both regions. The rating on the risk of climate shock hazards at the household level was above 4 in a scale of 1-5 where 4 meant a very high threat and 5 an extreme threat. Umala households ratings were higher for the shocks than for change in climate with an average of 3.79 for the latter, while in Ancoraimes most of the risks were rated from 3.70 to 3.92, with the exception of climate change that was around 4. Overall though, in both regions climate hazard perceptions are high. Market risks are also considered a threat but rated lower than climate. Dread of losing outside networks of support was ranked high by elderly men and women, as well as the change in climate, in Umala, with no differences in Ancoraimes, but higher rates of dread overall do to the significance of this income in their livelihood strategies. Finding to date are consistent with theory, in that the dread, a reflection of the coping or lack of coping mechanisms, is higher in terms of markets for livestock in Umala, and higher in terms of loss of remittances from family members in Ancoraimes. The study finds that coping mechanism are based on individual household strategies, rather than community or institutions. LTRA-4 (Practices and Strategies for Vulnerable Agro-Ecosystems)

English: The purpose of the work was to provide a description of the processes that occur once the fermentation of cocoa beans occurs. The variables that influence during this stage and the information gaps that lead to the development of new research in this field were identified. Yeast activity is of special interest during the first 48 h since ethanol production is associated with the sensory traits that the grain will finally present. The variables that most affect alcoholic fermentation are temperature and oxygen supply; in this sense, the recommendation is to use square-shaped containers and do the first removal of the grains at the end of the 48 h period. Additionally, a waiting time for the pod should be considered to raise the temperature and accelerate their rise during the first two days. Español: El propósito del trabajo fue brindar una descripción de los procesos que se producen una vez que ocurre la fermentación de las semillas de cacao. Se identificaron las variables que influyen durante esta etapa y los vacíos de información que conducen al desarrollo de nuevas investigaciones en este campo. La actividad de las levaduras es de especial interés durante las primeras 48 h, dado que la producción de etanol está asociada con los rasgos sensoriales que finalmente presentará el grano. Las variables que más afectan la fermentación alcohólica son la temperatura y el suministro de oxígeno; en este sentido, la recomendación es utilizar contenedores de forma cuadrada y hacer la primera remoción de los granos al finalizar el período de las 48 h. Adicionalmente, se debe considerar un tiempo de espera de las mazorcas para elevar la temperatura y acelerar su ascenso durante los primeros dos días.

Sweeping changes are beginning to transform energy scenarios around the world. The gas revolution, a renaissance in petroleum technology and exploration, and a chaotic but powerful movement toward the goal of low-carbon economies are three of the principal energy trends currently interacting with structural changes in the geo-economics of the Atlantic world to present new perspectives and opportunitiesfor the diverse actors in the ‘Atlantic Basin’. This article explores how changes in the energy landscape are contributing to a reassessment of the strategic horizon. The potential impacts of the shale revolution, deep-offshore oil, biofuels and other modern renewable energies on the geopolitics of the Atlantic Basin will be assessed, and the hypothesis that an Atlantic Basin energy system is now taking shape will be evaluated, along with an analysis of anticipated impacts.

In this article, it was reviewed as the postpartum negative energy balance (NEB) affects the health and the reproductive efficiency of water buffaloes. The increase in the world buffalo population has been accompanied by an improvement in the milk yield per lactation and this could be causing negative consequences for health and reproductive efficiency, although there are still few studies about this relationship. Higher milk yield without the corresponding increase in the dry matter and energy intake can intensify the NEB, increasing weight and body condition loss, and this implies a decrease in glucose, insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels and the increases of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB). This scenario may imply a greater susceptibility to diseases such as placental retention, endometritis, metritis and mastitis, as well as a longer period of anestrus, lower fertility and the lengthening of the interval to conception. To solve this situation, it is necessary to guarantee a good body condition at calving, and a high dry matter intake that allows reducing weight loss and body condition and different management, feeding and genetic alternatives are proposed.

The amount of energy and food consumed in Puerto Rico is more indicative of a developed nation than one than is underdeveloped. All the energy consumed in Puerto Rico is from fossil fuels, while the agricultural sector marginally provides the needs of the consumer. In addition, the animal production sectors rely exclusively on imported feedstock for the preparation of feeds. There is a potential to develop an ethanol industry based initially on sugarcane, as the main feedstock and then turn to biomass from energy cane and or organic solid waste in the future. In order to move to the second generation of ethanol production, the cellulosic ethanol industry has to become economically viable. A limiting factor in the use of sugarcane is that only 40,000 ha are currently available to grow this crop. Potentially, Puerto Rico can produce 200 million liters of ethanol on this area which could substitute 5% of the gasoline that was consumed in 2007. On the other hand, biomass could be obtained from bagasse, energy cane, and from 1.3 metric tons of organic solid waste (food and yard waste) produced annually on the island. This strategy can provide a relief to decreasing the amounts of organic solid waste that end up in the landfills.