Resumen Se evaluó el efecto de la estacionalidad en la calidad microbiológica y fisicoquímica de leche de cabra producida en el centro del estado de Veracruz, México. Se evaluaron leches de diferentes unidades de producción caprina (Coatepec, Perote y Tatatila) producidas en las épocas de lluvias, secas y nortes. Se determinaron los contenidos de mesófilos aerobios, coliformes totales Eschericha coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella ssp y Brucella sp. así como proteína, grasa, lactosa, sólidos no grasos, densidad y acidez. Los resultados microbiológicos determinaron la ausencia de Eschericha coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp y Brucella sp en las leches analizadas. El efecto de la interacción Época del año por Unidad de producción por Tipo de leche mostró que el 50% de las leches (crudas y pasteurizadas) producidas en las épocas de nortes y lluvias presentaron los mayores contenidos de Mesófilos aerobios y Coliformes totales. El efecto de la interacción unidad de producción por tipo de leche presentaron los mayores contenidos de sólidos no grasos, proteínas, lactosa y densidad debido a uso de diferentes forrajes como morera, cascaras de naranja, pasto Taiwán, alfalfa y rastrojo de maíz. Los mayores contenidos de grasa se encontraron en las unidades de producción de Coatepec y Tatatila.

Abstract The effect of seasonality on the microbiological and physicochemical quality of goat milk produced at the center of the Veracruz state, Mexico, was evaluated. Milk from different goat production units (Coatepec, Perote and Tatatila) during the rainy, dry and windy seasons were evaluated. The contents of aerobic mesophiles, total coliform Eschericha coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella ssp. and Brucella sp. as well as protein, fat, lactose, non-fat solids, density and acidity. The microbiological results determined the absence of Eschericha coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp. and Brucella sp. in the analyzed milks. The effect of the interaction season of the year per production unit per type of milk showed that 50 % of the milk (raw and pasteurized) produced in the windy and rainy seasons presented the highest contents of aerobic mesophiles and total coliforms. The effect of the interaction unit of production by type of milk showed the highest content of non-fat solids, proteins, lactose and density due to the use of different forages such as mulberry, orange peel, Taiwan grass, alfalfa and corn stover. The highest fat contents were found in the production units of Coatepec and Tatatila.

Abstract Multiple references in sensory science indicate that foods evoke memories during consumption, however, research regarding those memories is still limited. The objective of this study was to develop a vocabulary and implement it in a memories vocabulary related to food as a complement for the evaluation of sensory attributes and emotions, using coffee as a model. The memories vocabulary was generated with a series of successive studies that involved assigning positive and negative memories to different food groups and applying mathematical algorithms (WordCountAna and Factorial Approach) and contrasting memories with the scientific literature. Subsequently, the vocabulary was used to determine the profile of memories and their association with sensory attributes and emotions in coffee samples evaluated by trained judges and consumers. The memories vocabulary consisted of a total of 14 and 12 positive and negative memories terms, respectively. The vocabulary of memories was used in a similar way by both panels allowing them to differentiate between artisanal and industrial coffees. The memories vocabulary of the coffees showed a positive association with sensory attributes and emotions, thus achieving a more robust explanation of the samples used in the research.

Abstract The aim of this work was to determine in Capsicum chinense the 1) concentration of heavy metals (Al, As, Cd, Pb), majority (Ca, K, Mg, Na) and essential (Cu, Fe, Mn, Se, Zn) mineral elements, 2) effects of ripening stage, harvest number and type of soil on the mineral content and 3) authenticity markers. Peppers grown in black and red soils of this Mayan region, were harvested in two ripening stages (ripe and ripening peppers [orange and green peppers, respectivily]) and in four post-transplant dates: I (132 post-transplant days, PTD), II (160PTD), III (209PTD) and IV (265PTD). These samples were analyzed by ICP-Spectroscopy. The ripening stage affected the Al, Cu and Zn contents in ripe peppers while As presented the highest content in ripening peppers. Harvests I y III presented the highest Al, Ca, K contents while harvests II y III presented the highest As and Pb contents. Nine and ten elements developed authenticity markers according to the maturation and harvest number, respectively. The results obtained will help the producers and industrialists to focused on the production and agronomic management of high quality habanero peppers.

Abstract There are many definitions of forest degradation, however, most of them are not operational because they do not propose variables to measure it. Its measurement is complex. Evaluation involves comparing the status of the forest at a given time with a previous state (reference condition or baseline). The challenge to follow-up the degradation process begins with its definition and the identification of the baseline. The present paper proposes a General Index of Degradation (IGD, for its meaning in Spanish) to assess forest degradation that occurs in Mexico in the time period between measurements of the National Inventory of Forest and Soil (Infys). The IGD is composed of indicators that take as input the Infys database. At the same time, the study aims to build a base line that will allow monitoring forest degradation in future years. The results at the scale of federal entity indicate that the states of Puebla, Veracruz, Morelos and Colima show no evidence of degradation processes (IGD) during the period evaluated. On the contrary, Querétaro, Tamaulipas and Mexico City recorded certain process of degradation. The value of the IGD weighted at the national scale indicates that in general, for the five-year periods evaluated (e.g. 2004-2009, 2005-2010, etc.) the country’s ecosystems do not record any significant degradation, i.e., the value obtained from the IGD is equal to the baseline value. However, at the local scale it is possible to identify areas severely degraded or even deforested.

Resumen Existen muchas definiciones de degradación forestal. Sin embargo, la mayoría no son operativas dado que no proponen variables para medirla. Su medición es compleja; evaluarla implica comparar el estatus del bosque en un momento dado con un estado previo (condición de referencia o línea base). El reto del seguimiento (monitoreo) de la degradación inicia con su definición y con la identificación de la línea base. En este trabajo se propone un índice general de degradación (IGD) para evaluar la degradación forestal que ocurre en México en el periodo que transcurre entre mediciones del Inventario Nacional Forestal y de Suelos (Infys). El IGD está compuesto de indicadores que toman como insumo la base de datos del Infys. Paralelamente, el estudio pretende construir una línea base que permita dar seguimiento a la degradación forestal en años futuros. Los resultados a escala de entidad federativa indican que los estados de Puebla, Veracruz, Morelos y Colima no muestran evidencia global de procesos de degradación en el periodo evaluado. Contrariamente, Querétaro, Tamaulipas y el D.F. (Ciudad de México) registran cierto proceso de degradación. El valor del IGD ponderado a escala nacional indica que, en general, para los periodos evaluados de cinco años (e.g. 2004-2009, 2005-2010, etc.) los ecosistemas del país no registran procesos considerables de degradación, es decir, el valor obtenido del IGD es igual al valor de referencia. Sin embargo, a escala local es posible identificar áreas severamente degradadas o incluso deforestadas.