Archive for July 15th, 2008
Tuesday, July 15th, 2008
Unused Trains Sit at Old Railway Stations in Costa Rica.
In the midst of global fuel and energy pressures, Costa Rica has researched several ways to alleviate the country’s dependence on outside fuel sources. Though experts are researching energy from marine algae, trash-to-plasma conversion, wind power, and many other ideas, there is one energy-saving tactic that has been ignored until now: 11 unused electric cargo trains.
The Costa Rican Railroad Institute (Incofer) is in possession of eleven unused electric trains, manufactured in 1981 and unused since 1995, when former president José María Figueres closed the institute. The train fleet was specially built for extremely difficult work conditions, and they remain in very good condition. If the trains were used, in conjunction with electric cables, they would help to greatly reduce the country’s dependence on diesel and gasoline-fueled vehicles to transport goods throughout Costa Rica. (more…)
Posted in Costa Rica News | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, July 15th, 2008
Like people with an accent, snakes from different regions pack different venom. A new study finds that antivenoms, the drugs created to combat snake bites in humans, need to take these chemical differences into account.
A snake bites the hand of a snake charmer at Lohagara village, 45 km (28 miles) south of the northern Indian city of Allahabad, April 22, 2008. The snake charmer says the venom has been removed from the snake
|
Scientists have known for many decades that venom of snakes of the same species can vary geographically, causing snakebite victims to suffer different symptoms. Yet while these differences in symptoms had been studied, little research has been done on the chemical differences in venom within any given species.
The new study compares the protein chemistry of the deadly lancehead pitviper (Bothrops asper) from two geographically isolated populations from the Caribbean and Pacific regions of Costa Rica. The researchers also analyzed venom from adult and newborn snakes.
The researchers “found major differences in the venoms collected from the two regions,” they report in the August issue of the Journal of Proteome Research.
They also found distinct differences in proteins of venom collected from newborns and adult snakes, “indicating that the requirement for the venom to immobilize prey and initiate digestion may change with the size (age) of the snake.”
Snake-bite antivenoms (sometimes called antivenins) are often expensive, available only at select hospitals, and don’t always work.
The study, funded by the University of Costa Rica and the Spanish Ministry of Education, suggests that venom should be mixed with geographical and age distribution of the snakes in mind when creating antivenin, the authors conclude.
Posted in Costa Rica News | No Comments »
Tuesday, July 15th, 2008
Despite the fact that coffee shop giant Starbucks has announced it will close 600 underperforming stores, it will continue buying gourmet Costa Rican coffees.
According to Carlos Vargas, deputy manager of Coopetarrazu, and Roberto Mata, manager of Coopedota, two cooperatives from which Starbucks currently buys mountain-grown beans, the US chain of coffee stores has not given any indication in reducing purchases.
“Our product is key to their blends. I found out in Switzerland, at Starbucks’ purchase center, that our sales are not going to suffer,” Mata said.
Coopedota annually sells 15,000 quintals and Coopetarrazu 40,000 of the 100-lb bags of coffee to Starbucks
Posted in Costa Rica News | No Comments »
