•Significant variations among moringa cultivars in most of the parameters evaluated.•Physiological fruit-dropping may be one factor affecting the seed yield of moringa.•India cultivars showed higher ...leaf protein content with a balanced fibre component.•Myanmar cultivar demonstrated superior fruit pod traits and higher oil production.
Although Moringa oleifera is a globally recognized multipurpose plant, and its seed-oil has been identified as an industrial source for the manufacture of cosmetic emollient, there is however lack of conclusive data on its performance in China, which is the most northerly latitude of moringa distribution in the world today. The objectives of this study were to (i) determine the adaptability, and (ii) evaluate the yield potential of seed-oil and quality characteristics of leaf powder from eight M. oleifera cultivars (‘Mali’ ML, ‘Kenya’ KE, ‘USA’ US, ‘Cuba’ CU, ‘Bangalore’ BL, ‘Calcutta’ CT, ‘Taiwan’ TW, and ‘Myanmar’ PO) in the dry-hot regions of southwest China from 2014 to 2015. Evaluated cultivars showed variations in the studied vegetative and reproductive growth traits i.e. tree height, canopy diameter, and the number of branches producing fruit (NBF), etc. The results showed that the PO cultivar had the highest total number of ripe fruit loads (NRF). Although the plants from the US cultivar had the maximum number of fruit settings (NTF), they produced the smallest NRF/NTF ratio, suggesting that plants from different geographical provenances differed in their adapting to varied environments and a severe physiological fruit drop in the US cultivar. Also, the evaluated cultivars showed differences in the studied fruiting traits and yield components i.e. the number of seeds per fruit pod (NSF), seed weight, seed yield, and seed oil content. Among the plants assessed, M. oleifera from the PO produced significantly higher (P < 0.05) seed and oil yields per hectare, with respective average values of 1025 kg·ha−1 and 321 kg·ha−1 throughout the two evaluation years. In addition, nutrient variability in leaf powder as a fodder resource was analyzed for crude lipid, crude protein, and fibre components contents. There were no significant differences (P < 0.05) between the eight cultivars in the crude fiber, crude lipid, ash or dry matter (DM) contents, but the CT and BL cultivars exhibited significantly (P < 0.05) higher crude protein levels and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) concentrations. These findings suggested that the best varieties regarding seed oil yield and leaf powder quality may be the PO cultivar from Myanmar, and CT and BL cultivars from India, respectively.
In this work, we analysed the satellite-based responses of sea surface temperature (SST) and chlorophyll-a (chl-a) concentration in the waters of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Cuba to ...hurricanes that crossed the EEZ between 1998 and 2016 as well as the environmental drivers governing the post-storm responses. We considered two spatial scales to capture the spatially heterogeneous nature of the effects of hurricanes. A first more fine-grained one where we considered 120 km radius disks centered at every consecutive hurricane position within the EEZ (scale 1) and a second more coarse grained one enclosing the entire EEZ (scale 2). We conclude that the hurricanes induced a weak cooling since 75 and 85% of the SST anomalies at scale 1 and 2, respectively, were smaller than −1 °C. The sea surface cooling was mainly caused by wind-driven processes. The maximum chl-a responses were recorded in the first and second post-storm weeks, with 60% ranging between −0.01 and 0.04 mg m−3 at scale 1, and between −0.07 and 0.02 mg m−3 at scale 2. During those post-storm weeks SST and chl-a anomalies were 18 and 44% higher at scale 1 than at scale 2, respectively. We argue that the transport of chl-a from the deep chlorophyll maximum and/or the rich coastal waters are the dominant mechanisms determining the post-storm chl-a response in the EEZ. We also found that the magnitude of the Island Mass Effect (i.e., increase of chl-a concentration in waters surrounding islands) after the passage of the hurricanes was 89% higher in the EEZ than before its passage.
•Hurricanes generate weak cooling and chlorophyll-a blooms.•Blooming-prone regions in the Gulf of Mexico positively impact chlorophyll-a.•Post-storm Island Mass Effect is 89.•Entrainment of remote chlorophyll-a governs the biological post-storm responses.•Using large spatial scales underestimates the hurricane-induced biological effects.
Abstract
Cuba has long‐standing development partnerships with many African countries. In Nigeria, this includes medical staff training, interventions in malaria disease and death. Using a two‐tiered ...analytical framework and elite interviews, we problematise ideological conceptualisation of development and its praxis, particularly capability and willingness to explore alternative approaches or partnerships for development. We argue that what occurs between rhetoric and reality of this case is characteristic of entrenched structural and operational dynamics to layers of institutionalised development agenda‐setting sustained by international development policy regimes. This research highlights the need to explore alternative development approaches that engender mutually beneficial and equal partnerships.
A multidimensional approach was applied to analyze trends of the Cuban scientific output in the context of the 21 Latin American countries exceeding two million inhabitants. Output performance for ...each country were compared. The following parameters were analyzed: output and journals indexed at Scopus (SCImago stats, 1996–2018) and the Web of Science Core Collection (1996–2019), journals covered by SciELO, academic journals registered at Latindex, and the number of serials registered by the ISSN International Centre. The comparative elements include: Web of Science vs. Scopus annual output and by cumulative frequency, share of academic journal output by country vs. total output, output in national journals and document typologies. It was shown that either annual or cumulative, ranking in the LAC region has been quite stable despite few changes during 2015–2019. The rise of Brazil’s output either in foreign or Brazilian journals increased its cumulative regional contribution by 11.37% from 1996 to 2018 and equivalently stabilized or decreased the relative regional contribution indexes for most countries either cumulative (positive change only for Mexico) or annual (positive changes for Colombia, Ecuador, Chile and Peru). In spite of its 11th position in population and 10th position in GDP, Cuba ranked among the first eight most productive countries (ranked 7th in total documents), quantitatively outperforming LAC countries with more GDP and population. Its ranking was highly influenced by Cuban journals’ output. Some considerations are provided for a more balanced analysis of scientific output in relation to socio-economic and database indexing aspects.
The empirical literature on the nexus between finance and economic growth is vast, but two issues have been almost absent from it. One is the role of financial depth in communist countries with ...minimal market-oriented reforms. The other is the role of currency in circulation not only in these kinds of nations but also in underdeveloped countries, in general. This article investigates the nexus of banking deposits and currency in circulation with long-run economic growth in Cuba. We find a negative overall causality of deposits for economic growth. However, the currency was boosting growth. Our findings point at the relevance of currency for the private sector, and at multidimensional problems in the state-owned sector of Cuba.
Latin American and Caribbean's (LAC) external dependency on fossil fuels and the pursuit for renewable energy leads to the need for a strategy to afford a cleaner and reliable domestic energy supply. ...Sugarcane presents high photosynthetic efficiency and it is a well-spread crop in LAC. Our study aims to explore the potential of different approaches of modern energy production from sugarcane, at a national level, and its implication to the environmental aspects. We found that Guatemala, Nicaragua and Cuba would be able to replace 10% of the gasoline and about 2–3% of the diesel consumption by only using the current molasses. With a slight expansion on sugarcane production, Bolivia can replace 20% of the gasoline and diesel, besides providing surplus ethanol for exportation or other purposes. With a minor investment, bagasse may enlarge the electricity access in many countries whereas in other may represent an alternative to replace fossil fuel sources. We also found relevant potential on reducing the GHG emissions specially in Bolivia, Paraguay and Nicaragua. However, the implementation of such strategies must be supported by appropriate policies to ensure competitive prices, overcome opportunity costs, and stimulate investments.
•Sugarcane offers a large potential as renewable energy.•Sugarcane ethanol can reduce the fossil fuel imports in LAC countries.•Bagasse can contribute to enlarge the electricity access.•Sugarcane can promote the GHG emission savings.•Appropriate policy is key issue to put in place such strategy.
In this article, I elaborate on discourses and discursively mediated subject positions regarding the working self in Cuba. My main objective is to analyze whether and how highly qualified ...professionals in Cuba position themselves relating to these discourses and subject positions. Building on the hitherto little-known conceptual framework of interpretive sutjectitication analysis, I perform the empirical analysis in two parts: First, I identify subject positions directed at Cuban workers in contemporary discourses on the Cuban realm of work. Second, based on qualitative interviews with highly qualified professionals in Havana, I reconstruct individual selfpositioning modes. I demonstrate how the interviewees described and explained their professional biographies by relating to discourses and subject positions. By indicating similarities and differences with the existing literature on the working self in Western, post-Fordist, and neoliberal contexts, I intend to enhance the understanding of subjectification processes in a new context. Simultaneously, I evaluate whether the approach of interpretive sutjectitication analysis, which was developed in a Western, market-capitalist context, is equally fruitful for understanding subjectification processes in Cuba. In doing so, I contribute to the advancement of this approach.
Zusammenfassung In der kubanischen Hauptstadt Havanna eröffnet am 19. Dezember 2019 eine Dauerausstellung zu Alexander von Humboldt. Die Casa Museo Humboldt an einem historischen Ort der Altstadt ...wird damit zum weltweit ersten Alexander von Humboldt-Museum. In kubanischer-deutscher Kooperation erarbeitet, zeigt die Ausstellung Humboldt auf zwei Ebenen: im Kontext seiner Naturerforschung und dem seiner Begegnungen auf der fünfjährigen Amerikareise. Die Ausstellung richtet sich an kubanische wie internationale Besucher. Sie wirft einen hintergründigen und aktuellen Blick auf Humboldt in Amerika und versteht sich als Partner und Forum für Wissenschaft, Bildung und Kultur in Kuba. Abstract A permanent exhibition on Alexander von Humboldt will be inaugurated in the Cuban capital Havana on 19 December 2019. The Casa Museo Humboldt in Havana’s historic center will be the world’s first museum dedicated to Alexander von Humboldt. Developed in Cuban-German cooperation, the exhibition follows two main perspectives on Humboldt: the context of his research about nature and that of his human encounters during his five-year trip to America. The exhibition is focused both on a Cuban and an international public. It takes a profound and up-to-date look at Humboldt in America and aims to be partner and forum for science, education and culture in Cuba. Resumen Una exposición permanente sobre Alexander von Humboldt se inaugurará en la capital cubana, La Habana, el 19 de diciembre de 2019. La Casa Museo Humboldt, situada en un lugar histórico del casco antiguo, se convertirá así en el primer museo Humboldt del mundo. Desarrollada en cooperación cubano-alemana, la exposición muestra a Humboldt en dos niveles: en el contexto de su investigación sobre la naturaleza y en el de sus encuentros durante su viaje de cinco años a América. La exposición está dirigida a visitantes cubanos e internacionales. Ofrece una visión profunda y actual de Humboldt en América y se ve a sí mismo como un socio y un foro para la ciencia, la educación y la cultura en Cuba.
This book chronicles the dawn of the global movement for women's rights in the first decades of the twentieth century. The founding mothers of this movement were not based primarily in the United ...States, however, or in Europe. Instead, Katherine M. Marino introduces readers to a cast of remarkable Latin American and Caribbean women whose deep friendships and intense rivalries forged global feminism out of an era of imperialism, racism, and fascism. Six dynamic activists form the heart of this story: from Brazil, Bertha Lutz; from Cuba, Ofelia Domingez Navarro; from Uruguay, Paulina Luisi; from Panama, Clara Gonzalez; from Chile, Marta Vergara; and from the United States, Doris Stevens. This Pan-American network drove a transnational movement that advocated women's suffrage, equal pay for equal work, maternity rights, and broader self-determination. Their painstaking efforts led to the enshrinement of women's rights in the United Nations Charter and the development of a framework for international human rights. But their work also revealed deep divides, with Latin American activists overcoming U.S. presumptions to feminist superiority. As Marino shows, these early fractures continue to influence divisions among today's activists along class, racial, and national lines.
Marino's multinational and multilingual research yields a new narrative for the creation of global feminism. The leading women introduced here were forerunners in understanding the power relations at the heart of international affairs. Their drive to enshrine fundamental rights for women, children, and all people of the world stands as a testament to what can be accomplished when global thinking meets local action.
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