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Izenman and Sommer (1988) used a non-parametric kernel density estimation technique to fit a seven-component model to the paper thickness of the 1872 Hidalgo stamp issue of Mexico. They observed an apparent conflict when fitting a normal mixture model with three components with unequal variances. This conflict is examined further by investigating the most appropriate number of components when fitting a normal mixture of components with equal variances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tapuya: Latin American Science, Technology & Society is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The quality of the presentation of a free paper in a medical congress is not necessarily related to the quality of the methodology., Objective: To analyze the quality of the presentation of the free papers in the National Congress of Gastroenterology in Mexico (Morelia-1997)., Methods: A prospective study was designed to evaluate the following aspects: Limitation to time assigned, adequate use and design of slides, and mentioning of the main methodologic characteristics., Results: There was a high quality of presentation in the majority of papers. The most frequent problems identified, amenable to improvement, were non-limitation to assigned time (24%), as well as problems in the design of slides (too many lines/columns in 32% and excessive number in 23%)., Conclusions: The knowledge of the results may help to improve the presentations of the free papers in the national congresses of gastroenterology.

Objective: To explore ability to read clinical research papers by pediatric residents at different stages of their training., Setting: Four hospitals of the Mexican Social Security System located in Mexico City., Material and Methods: An instrument to evaluate the ability to read critically pediatric research papers was developed and validated by four experts. It contained four abstracts generated from research articles and was integrated by 30 interpretation items, 30 judgment items and 30 alternative proposals items, to be answered by the true-false- don't know system., Results: Sixty seven residents participated (21 first year, 20 second year and 26 third year level). There were no significant differences in interpretation, judgment and overall scores between groups. There was a significant degree of agreement in the ordinality of the residents for the scores in interpretation, judgment and proposals (Kendall W = 0.55, p < 0.001)., Conclusions: We conclude that the residents were not influenced by the training received during their residence in regard to their ability for critical reading of clinical research papers.

Background: This study employed bibliometric analysis to ascertain the research focus areas among a group of Mexican physicians affiliated with the Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado (ISSSTE). ISSSTE, a healthcare institution catering to a diverse range of diseases, offers a distinctive perspective on the investigated specialties within the realm of health. The primary objective was to identify knowledge gaps in medical care disciplines through a comprehensive examination of scholarly publications. Methods: We retrieved Scopus papers affiliated with "ISSSTE" and saved them as.CSV files. Subsequently, we employed VOSviewer, biblioshiny, and bibliometrix for bibliometric analysis. This enabled us to identify prominent institutions, prolific authors, highly cited researchers, and their respective affiliations. Results: Our analysis identified 2063 publications; the specialty internal medicine accounted for the greatest proportion with 831 publications. Original papers accounted for 82% of the total, with 52% of them being written in Spanish. The majority of scientific output, 92%, originated from Mexico City. The annual production has steadily increased since 2010, peaking in 2021 with over 200 publications. However, papers on prevalent conditions, such as metabolic syndrome, received limited citations, and the L0 index (percentage of uncited items) for all papers is close to 60%. Scopus mislabeled one affiliation, and some cases show a low paper-to-author ratio of 0.5 Discussion: Additional concerns, such as honorary authorship due to excessive authors per paper, and the underlying causes of low citation rates in Mexican publications, warrant further examination. Moreover, our research emphasizes the urgency of bolstering research and development funding, which was consistently below 0.5% of GDP for the past four decades, falling short of legal mandates and international benchmarks. We endorse the establishment of robust research collectives in Latin America to address these challenges, foster regional scientific output, and transition from knowledge consumers to knowledge producers, thereby reducing dependence on foreign technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supply chain instabilities and inflated material prices have had a disruptive impact on cost estimating of construction projects. While several research efforts used national macroeconomic indicators to forecast the prices of domestically produced construction materials, none of the existing studies investigated whether the lagged macroeconomic indicators of the main trading partners could enhance the predictability of the prices of cement, steel, and lumber in the US construction sector. This paper fills this knowledge gap. The authors adopted a multi-step methodology that included: (1) collecting data on the target variables and the candidate leading indicators; (2) identifying the structural breaks in the collected data sets; (3) conducting causality tests to identify short-term associations and cointegration tests to examine long-term relationships; (4) developing vector error correction (VEC) models to forecast the prices in the short and long terms; and (5) evaluating the performance of the proposed models against existing forecasting models in the literature. Results of the Granger test and Johansen test indicate that Canada's overall producer price index (PPI) is a consistent leading indicator of the prices of cement, and Mexico's overall PPI is a consistent leading indicator of the prices of steel. Findings indicate no statistical evidence to suggest that neither Canada's PPI nor Mexico's PPI can be leading indicators of lumber prices. Over an 18-month ahead of sample horizon, the presented VEC models of cement and steel prices outperformed existing models, particularly beyond the 1-year-ahead forecasts. Utilization of the proposed forecasting models can significantly enhance the accuracy of cost estimates and feasibility studies of construction projects. This provides proactive financial planning for construction contractors and project owners through improved short- and long-term forecasting of the prices of main construction materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Plants, People, Planet is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper explores the relationship between access to early childhood education and care (ECEC) services and family arrangements in the distribution of work in four Latin American countries. We find that households in which all children aged 0 to 5 receive ECEC services exhibit smaller gender gaps in unpaid work, mainly due to a decrease in the amount of time women devote to care work. Women in these households devote more time to paid work, such that the gender gap in total work does not differ between households based on use of ECEC services. However, use of ECEC services for children aged 0 to 5 is associated with reduced hours of unpaid work among women and an increase in women's hours of paid work. These findings confirm the importance of increasing access to early childhood care and education services to reduce gender gaps in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines how the multilayered struggle for autonomy of Bernal Diaz del Castillo's work `Historia verdadera' has inscribed itself within the Mexican national identity. Comparison with Francisco Lopez de Gomara's `Historia de la conquista de Mexico'; Simplicity of Diaz's account; Diaz's efforts to resist the mythologizing effects of Gomara's text.

Villaseñor and Olóriz (2019) present a comprehensive review of latest Jurassic to earliest Cretaceous ammonites from Mexico, which previously were ascribed to the genus Kossmatia , and provides evidence that these fossils should be referred to other genera. However, descriptions of two new genera provided by Villaseñor and Olóriz (Burckhardtieia and Aguilerites) are lacking indication of their type species that make these genera unavailable following to ICZN articles 13.3 and 67.4.1. Discussed paper also includes figures of the new species Burckhardtieia westermanni , which is lacking formal description, although illustrated by few figures and its holotype is clearly indicated. The genus Burckhardtieia Villasenor and Oloriz can be considered as a junior synonym of the genus Fierrites Cantu Chapa. The latter genus is suggested to be invalid by Villaseñor and Olóriz (2019), but without strong background in support of this statement. Here the author is follow the proposal by Enay (2009) and consider the genus Fierrites as a correct name, which can be used for all American " Kossmatia ". Discussed article is also lacking detailed biostratigraphic data concerning the range of the Burckhardtieia , although clear indication of its range (and ranges of species included in this taxon) seems to be necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence in the New World of a variant strain of Plasmodium vivax (VK247) containing a unique circumsporozoite (CS) repeat domain was determined by the detection of antibodies to the variant CS protein and by genetic analysis of the CS gene from field isolates. Whole blood specimens were collected on filter paper from patients infected with P. vivax in Mexico and Peru. Plasmodium vivax DNA was eluted from filter paper samples and the CS gene was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and analyzed for the presence of VK247 or VK210 DNA by oligoprobe hybridization. Sera eluted from a companion filter paper sample were screened for antibodies reactive with the predominant and variant repeat peptides by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and with sporozoites by the immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) test. All 24 patients were positive by PCR and oligoprobe hybridization for either VK210 (16 of 24), VK247 (3 of 24), or both (5 of 24). Mixed infections were common (5 of 7) in Peru, but were not observed in the Mexican isolates (0 of 17). All three VK247 infections from Mexico occurred in residents of the foothills above Tapachula (P = 0.02). Of patients with smear-positive P. vivax infection, 42% (10 of 24) had detectable antibodies eluted from dried blood dots that were reactive with the CS protein by IFA or ELISA. These findings establish the widespread distribution of the P. vivax variant CS protein in the New World and indicate that dried blood filter paper samples represent a valuable source of material for the serologic and molecular analysis of plasmodial infections.

Performing quality assurance checks on hydrochemical data prior to interpreting these data is important as shown in this case study. The informative hydrochemistry paper authored by Mora et al. (Environ Monit Assess 189:394–408, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-017-6096-y) presents a significant amount of hydrogeochemical data for 30 large-yield wells, interpretation (including advanced statistics), findings, and conclusions for the Monterrey metropolitan area (MMA), Mexico. The author concludes that the probable analytical inaccuracy (notable bias and imprecision) and data conversion errors contained in the Mora et al. (2017) paper do not appreciably impact negatively their hydrogeochemical findings and conclusions. The author performed the cation–anion balance (CAB) quality assurance (QA) check method and discovered systematic error (bias) ranging from − 20.8% (Well S1) to 16.5% (Well S9), with 14 well analyses associated with CAB errors ≥ 5.0%. Coupling this simple but effective QA check with other QA algorithms, the author determined for nine well major-ion analyses, HCO3 concentrations were notably low, and 10 well analyses were identified as possessing anomalously low Ca concentrations. These QA check methods will enhance: (1) the accuracy and defensibility of analytical results, and (2) potentially the interpretation and findings of hydrochemical investigations. Additionally, this paper provides new hydrogeochemical evaluation, interpretation, and findings for the MMA, i.e., Na/Cl molar ratios ≤ 0.88 for six studied wells strongly suggest that the groundwater supplying these wells has been impacted by seawater intrusion most likely sourced by the Western Interior Seaway. At least four of these wells occur in an area underlain by marine sedimentary rocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Special Issue is intended to highlight both recent work to advance the physical understanding of transboundary aquifers and factors relevant in successful collaboration on transboundary groundwater resource use. The collected papers address: (1) the identification and prioritization of the needs and strategies for sustainable groundwater development and use, along with the complexities introduced by working across borders with differing governance frameworks, institutions, cultures, and sometimes languages; (2) the characterization of the physical framework of the aquifer, stressors on the aquifer system, and how those stressors influence the availability of groundwater in terms of its quantity and quality; and (3) the incorporation of stakeholder input and prioritization directly into the process of aquifer assessment and model building. The papers provide insights into the state of knowledge regarding the physical characterization of important transboundary aquifers, primarily along the U.S.–Mexico border and the opportunities for greater stakeholder involvement in resource evaluation and prioritization. They point the way towards a future focus that combines both of these aspects of transboundary aquifer assessment for informing groundwater management discussions by policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the highlights of the international conference on the Study of Matter at Extreme Conditions (SMEC) 2011 which was held from March 27 to April 2, 2012 on a cruise ship sailing from the port of Miami, Florida to the Belize and Mexico. The goal of the event was to provide a unique platform to meet frontier researchers and share new developments in the field. Aside from plenary talks on various disciplines, there were discussions on topics related to planetary interiors.

Food fortification in low-income settings is limited due to the lack of simple quality control sensing tools. In this study, we field validated a paper-based, smartphone-assisted colorimetric assay (Nu3Px) for the determination of iron in fortified flours against the gold standard method, atomic emission spectrometry (AES). Samples from commercial brands (n = 6) were collected from supermarkets, convenience stores, and directly from companies in Mexico and characterized using both Nu3Px and AES. Nu3Px's final error parameters were quantified (n = 45) via method validation final experiments (replication and comparison of methods experiment). Qualitative pilot testing was conducted, assessing Nu3Px's accept/reject batch decision making (accept ≥ 40 μg Fe/g flour; reject < 40 μg Fe/g flour) against Mexico's fortification policy. A modified user-centered design process was followed to develop and evaluate an alternative sampling procedure using affordable tools. Variation of iron content in Mexican corn flours ranged from 23% to 39%. Nu3Px's random error was 12%, and its bias was 1.79 ± 9.99 μg Fe/g flour. Nu3Px had a true mean difference from AES equal to 0 and similar variances. AES and Nu3Px made similar classifications based on Mexico's policy. Using simple, affordable tools for sampling resulted in similar output to the traditional sampling preparation (r = 0.952, p = 0.01). The affordable sample preparation kit has similar precision to using analytical tools. The sample preparation kit coupled with the smartphone app and paper-based assay measure iron within the performance parameters required for the application to corn flour fortification programs, such as in the case of Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the largest industries, tourism receives substantial attention for planning and development. This attention can contribute to achieving Agenda 2030 and localising the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Over the last decades, sustainable tourism has been promoted as an economic and cultural activity that supports local communities. However, there has been limited research on evaluating sustainable tourism projects from a comprehensive perspective aligned with the SDGs. This paper introduces the sustainable tourism value chain analysis (STVCA), a tool to evaluate how sustainable tourism can contribute to advancing the SDGs at local levels. This study tested the STVCA on one Indigenous ecotourism venture in Mexico, considering economic, socio-cultural, and environmental components. Findings exposed that even though economic benefits were limited, the most significant benefits were non-economic, showing that sustainable tourism has contributed to the well-being of the community by empowering Indigenous people and, in doing so, advancing several SDGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought monitoring and early detection have improved greatly in recent decades through the development and refinement of numerous indices and indicators. However, a lack of guidance, based on user experience, exists as to which drought-monitoring tools are most appropriate in a given location. This review paper summarizes the results of targeted user engagement and the published literature to improve the understanding of drought across North America and to enhance the utility of drought-monitoring tools. Workshops and surveys were used to assess and make general conclusions about the perceived performance of drought indicators, indices and impact information used for monitoring drought in the five main Köppen climate types (Tropical, Temperate, Continental, Polar Tundra, Dry) found across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. In Tropical, humid Temperate, and southerly Continental climates, droughts are perceived to be more short-term (less than 6 months) in duration rather than long-term (more than 6 months). In Polar Tundra climates, Dry climates, Temperate climates with dry warm seasons, and northerly Continental climates, droughts are perceived to be more long-term than short-term. In general, agricultural and hydrological droughts were considered to be the most important drought types. Drought impacts related to agriculture, water supply, ecosystem, and human health were rated to be of greatest importance. Users identified the most effective indices and indicators for monitoring drought across North America to be the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) and Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) (or another measure of precipitation anomaly), followed by the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) (or another satellite-observed vegetation index), temperature anomalies, crop status, soil moisture, streamflow, reservoir storage, water use (demand), and reported drought impacts. Users also noted the importance of indices that measure evapotranspiration, evaporative demand, and snow water content. Drought indices and indicators were generally thought to perform equally well across seasons in Tropical and colder Continental climates, but their performance was perceived to vary seasonally in Dry, Temperate, Polar Tundra, and warmer Continental climates, with improved performance during warm and wet times of the year. The drought indices and indicators, in general, were not perceived to perform equally well across geographies. This review paper provides guidance on when (time of year) and where (climate zone) the more popular drought indices and indicators should be used. The paper concludes by noting the importance of understanding how drought, its impacts, and its indicators are changing over time as the climate warms and by recommending ways to strengthen the use of indices and indicators in drought decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the predictions of real business cycle theory on the roles of total factor productivity (TFP) and financial frictions to explain business cycles in emerging market economies (EMEs). I obtain evidence about TFP, price of capital, risk premium, and collateral constraint shocks by estimating structural vector autoregressions (SVARs) on a Brazilian sample from 1999Q1 to 2018Q4 and a Mexican sample from 1997Q1 to 2018Q4. On each sample, two SVARs are estimated. One SVAR identifies shocks by imposing restrictions on their short-run impact. The other SVAR is grounded on restrictions that shocks have long-run effects on business cycles in EMEs. Estimates of the SVARs show the TFP shock is the main driver of business cycle movements in Brazil and Mexico. However, this evidence is produced by the SVAR under the long-run restrictions, which indicates the identification of shocks matters to the explanation of business cycles in EMEs. Next, the Brazilian and Mexican business cycles are markedly different, as the contributions of shocks to aggregate fluctuations vary across the two countries. Hence, findings of this paper suggest although not all business cycles are alike in EMEs, "the cycle is the trend" view on aggregate fluctuations in EMEs remains valid. The empirical results of this paper are in support of the economic policies that aim to robustify the productivity process of EMEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Polish Statistician / Wiadomości Statystyczne is the property of State Treasury - Statistics Poland and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

An introduction is presented which discusses articles within the issue on topics including sediment fluxes in lake deposits from the Arabian Peninsula, fractionation of carbon isotopes into diatom frustules, and climate and environment in central Mexico.

Methane, sulfate and chloride concentrations in sediment porewater from two coastal mangrove ecosystems (Celestún and Chelem Lagoons) on the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico were measured. In these sediments methane exists in shallow sediments where sulfate is not depleted, and sulfate reduction is actively occurring. A transport-reaction model depicting the various production and consumption processes for methane and sulfate is used to elucidate processes responsible for this observation. The model illustrates that methane in the upper sediments is produced in-situ supported by high dissolved organic matter as well as by non-competitive substrates. In addition methane is contributed to porewater in the upper sediments, where sulfate reduction occurs, by transport from deeper zones within the sedimentary column through bubbles dissolution and diffusion. The shallow methane production and accumulation depths in these sediments promote high methane fluxes to the water column and atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leveraging organizational knowledge is very important to improve the competitiveness of any company. Likewise, in the case of companies engaged in production of goods, proper documentation of manufacturing processes is critical to ensure the quality of products reaching the customers. This paper aims to propose a methodology to structure and document the process that takes place in the development of new products through the application of tools for auditing knowledge in order to ensure quality in the finished products. In addition to the proposed methodology, it is proposed to structure and design procedures for documenting and troubleshooting processes in the development of new products with a primary emphasis on identifying the key knowledge existing in the processes that are intended to document. Obtaining this key knowledge is through the application of audit techniques for knowledge and its representation isthrough knowledge maps. To validate this proposal, this methodology was implemented in a company engaged in the manufacture of packaging products located in Northwest Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Interspecific interactions among tropical mesocarnivorous species and other mammalian trophic guilds have been poorly studied, despite their important implications in the survival, structure, demography, and distribution of these species. Objective: To analyze if sympatric mesocarnivores coexist or compete in the axis of the temporal and spatial niche. Methods: From January 2015 to December 2016 we recorded mammals with 26 stations of camera traps (in pairs, facing each other) along roads and animal trails, at Reserva de la Biosfera El Cielo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. We calculated temporal and spatial overlaps with the Czekanowski and Pianka indices. Results: We obtained 239 margay, 118 ocelot and 22 yaguarundi records. Margay and ocelot were nocturnal (75 % of their records) and had a high temporal overlap (0.85); whereas yaguarundi was fully diurnal, suggesting it may be able to coexist with the other two species. The three species used similar habitats: yaguarundi had 0.81 spatial overlap with margay and 0.72 with ocelot; spatial overlap between margay and ocelot was intermediate (0.53). Conclusions: There is no interspecific competition among these tropical mesocarnivores, probably due to antagonistic interactions leading to use of different parts of the temporal and spatial axes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a list of books in Mexican studies. They include "Adela Breton: A Victorian Artist Amid Mexico's Ruins," by Mary F. McVicker, "Black, Brown, Yellow, and Left: Radical Activism in Los Angeles," by Laura Pulido, and "Days of Death, Days of Life: Ritual in the Popular Culture of Oaxaca."

In this paper, we tackle the problem of forecasting future pandemics by training models with a COVID-19 time series. We tested this approach by producing one model and using it to forecast a non-trained time series; however, we limited this paper to the eight states with the highest population density in Mexico. We propose a generalized pandemic forecasting framework that transforms the time series into a dataset via three different transformations using random forest and backward transformations. Additionally, we tested the impact of the horizon and dataset window sizes for the training phase. A Wilcoxon test showed that the best transformation technique statistically outperformed the other two transformations with 100% certainty. The best transformation included the accumulated efforts of the other two plus a normalization that helped rescale the non-trained time series, improving the sMAPE from the value of 25.48 attained for the second-best transformation to 13.53. The figures in the experimentation section show promising results regarding the possibility of forecasting the early stages of future pandemics with trained data from the COVID-19 time series. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What a reporter is and does, and does not do, and the integrity of that idea, has always been an unsettled question, interrogated on the blurred, unregulated borders between journalism and the state. In embattled liminal spaces, reporters--negotiating a nebulous terrain of high-stakes reporting that tested and revised their emerging, unstable journalistic norms--fought in war, collaborated with US intelligence, and engaged in secret diplomacy. This article, focusing on the careers of two reporters, Sylvester Scovel in Cuba and William Bayard Hale in Mexico, explains how and why reporters came to work for the state, a neglected tradition conceptualized here as "state work," from the 1890s to 1920s. That history is an argument for scholars of journalism and political history to study what reporters did, not just what they published, to better understand the role of journalism in US democracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Instead of focusing on "why voters appear to tolerate rather than punish" as most previous literature, this paper advances an alternative explanation: it seeks to explain how voters process information about corruption. Consistent with research on public opinion formation, this paper argues that voters can perceive the same event and make different interpretation about its meaning. Based on an original survey experiment conducted during the 2018 presidential election in Mexico, this study finds that citizens hold partisan attitudes and are motivated to protect these partisan predispositions, which make them interpret common events in different way. In particular, when this study informed voters that an unnamed candidate engaged in corruption, respondents unequivocally considered such actions as corrupt. However, when the name of their co-partisan candidate was explicitly mentioned as engaging in the same activities, voters rejected to qualify them as corrupt. Partisans are not "tolerating" or "condoning" corruption; partisans tend to choose interpretations that rationalize their partisan priors and justify their co-partisans' behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Estudios Económicos is the property of El Colegio de Mexico AC and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We modelled the carbon (C) cycle in Mexico with a process-based approach. We used different available products (satellite data, field measurements, models and flux towers) to estimate C stocks and fluxes in the country at three different time frames: present (defined as the period 2000-2005), the past century (1901-2000) and the remainder of this century (2010-2100). Our estimate of the gross primary productivity (GPP) for the country was 2137±1023 TgCyr-1 and a total C stock of 34 506±7483 TgC, with 20 347±4622 PgC in vegetation and 14 159±3861 in the soil. Contrary to other current estimates for recent decades, our results showed that Mexico was a C sink over the period 1990-2009 (+31 TgCyr-1) and that C accumulation over the last century amounted to 1210±1040 TgC. We attributed this sink to the CO2 fertilization effect on GPP, which led to an increase of 3408±1060 TgC, while both climate and land use reduced the country C stocks by -458±1001 and -1740±878 TgC, respectively. Under different future scenarios the C sink will likely continue over 21st century, with decreasing C uptake as the climate forcing becomes more extreme. Our work provides valuable insights on relevant driving processes of the C-cycle such as the role of drought in marginal lands (e.g. grasslands and shrublands) and the impact of climate change on the mean residence time of C in tropical ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women in Mexico are subject to unusually high and traumatic levels of violence. This paper reviews a workshop process done in Mexico City that addressed the problem of violence against women using the Anticipatory Experimentation methodology. Based on a workshop at Centro University in Mexico City on the eve of historic protests against violence against women, the paper provides an overview of contemporary challenges, historical changes, as well as deep mythological images and assumptions within Mexican society that are pathways to reconceptualization. Leveraging emerging issues and recovered narratives to address and reframe the problem, the paper concludes with the metaphor of the Chamana as the narrative seed from which new ideas and experiments might be developed to address violence against women in Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite ample knowledge of the effect of warm-dry storage on breaking dormancy in chincuya (Annona purpurea Moc. & Sessé ex Dunal) seeds, this paper investigates an important new aspect of this process—the applicability of seed treatment with gibberellic acid and its influence on seed viability and fatty acid profile. Chincuya is an underutilized, tropical wild species native to Mexico, with potential as a biopesticide. The impact of warm-dry storage and gibberellic acid treatment on seed viability and germination was determined to improve that knowledge further. Also, the content and kinetics of fatty acids in chincuya seeds were profiled during warm-dry storage. Seed treatments included storage time (0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months), seed imbibition for 72 h in gibberellic acid at 350 mg L−1, and distilled water imbibition for 72 h for the control treatment. Seed viability was determined using the TTZ classic test. Imbibed seeds were germinated on paper towels and incubated at 30 °C during the day and 25 °C at night in a 12:12 h dark/light photoperiod. The lipid profile was obtained by gas chromatography. During the storage treatment, seeds stayed in darkness at 25 ± 3 °C. Results showed that high viability remained up to month 9 in storage when it significantly decreased. Freshly harvested seeds germinated at a statistically significantly lower rate (26.1%) than six-month-old seeds (65.6%). The profile of fatty acids breaks down as palmitic acid (33.41%), stearic acid (7.72%), and arachidic acid (1.30%), for a total of 42.44% of saturated fatty acids. The detected unsaturated fatty acids (52.15%) were palmitoleic acid (1.52%), oleic acid (43.37%), and linoleic acid (7.24%). No significant changes were detected in fatty acid content; however, the highest fatty acid content (92.84%) occurred with the highest germination rate. Regression analysis showed significant content changes: palmitoleic and palmitic acids increased while oleic acid decreased during dry storage. Arachidic acid showed a slight downward trend. Also, fatty acid content significantly differed between intact seeds (unstored and unincubated) and latent seeds (unstored, incubated, and ungerminated). The total fatty acids content for latent seeds was significantly lower. These results show that Annona purpurea seeds present morphophysiological dormancy. Also, we document the highest germination rate reported (65.6%) and report the presence of arachidic and palmitoleic acids in chincuya seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

5-Methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) is a psychedelic and entheogenic compound that has been used for centuries by Indigenous Peoples in the Amazon, Caribbean, and more recently in communities in Northern Mexico in ceremonial practices and to connect with nature. In recent years, there has been growing interest in 5-MeO-DMT to treat mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In response, there has been an increase in scientific research of the efficacy of 5-MeO-DMT in treating such conditions. Little is known about the compound's historical use; this paper will explore and examine the known writings about the origins and original use of 5-MeO-DMT. Additionally, this paper will present the limited data and accounts regarding the use of 5-MeO-DMT and the intersection of those accounts in historical and cultural contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Salud Mental is the property of Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatria Ramon de la Fuente and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Researchers and theorists in the management and educational leadership fields have debated the importance of mission statements. This study investigated this issue within the context of American schools that are members of the Tri-Association (Mexico, Central America, Colombia, and the Caribbean). The results showed that about the same percentage of principals felt that mission statements differed and did not differ significantly from one school to the next. However, a considerable number of principals reported using their mission statements in many of the managerial and leadership tasks of their daily jobs.

Background: Palliative care is insufficiently integrated in the continuum of care for older people. It is unclear to what extent healthcare policy for older people includes elements of palliative care and thus supports its integration. Aim: (1) To develop a reference framework for identifying palliative care contents in policy documents; (2) to determine inclusion of palliative care in public policy documents on healthcare for older people in 13 rapidly ageing countries. Design: Directed documentary analysis of public policy documents (legislation, policies/strategies, guidelines, white papers) on healthcare for older people. Using existing literature, we developed a reference framework and data extraction form assessing 10 criteria of palliative care inclusion. Country experts identified documents and extracted data. Setting: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, England, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain. Results: Of 139 identified documents, 50 met inclusion criteria. The most frequently addressed palliative care elements were coordination and continuity of care (12 countries), communication and care planning, care for family, and ethical and legal aspects (11 countries). Documents in 10 countries explicitly mentioned palliative care, nine addressed symptom management, eight mentioned end-of-life care, and five referred to existing palliative care strategies (out of nine that had them). Conclusions: Health care policies for older people need revising to include reference to end-of-life care and dying and ensure linkage to existing national or regional palliative care strategies. The strong policy focus on care coordination and continuity in policies for older people is an opportunity window for palliative care advocacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite increased militarization along international borders, border communities share elements of natural and cultural heritage. This shared heritage invokes a form of solidarity whose influence on cross-border tourism and bordering processes is understudied. The purpose of this study is to analyze how community solidarity influences tourism and border processes at the highly militarized U.S.-Mexico border by using photo-elicitation. Data were collected from 21 participants from Mexico and the U.S. A direct and indirect analysis of the interviews and photos found major themes and common focal points within photos, and the findings demonstrate binational solidarity for heritage and a desire for sharing this heritage with visitors. The paper contributes a conceptual framing of how borders are reinforced through militarization and softened through tourism, cross-border collaboration, and biodiversity conservation and ecological restoration. The implications of these findings for border theories and frameworks are discussed in further detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the past century, Mexico has tightly managed its heritage resources to emphasise the achievements of Prehispanic civilisations which contribute to national patrimony. Public interest in these great civilisations has fuelled an impressive national archaeological programme that has resulted in cutting-edge research and sometimes helped elevate the status and visibility of living indigenous communities. However, nationalist narratives of the past tend to be somewhat monolithic, and in the case of Mexico, they have emphasised hierarchical, exploitative states with powerful, urban capitals. The social value of Aztec identity and icons has become so potent that even in places with unique archaeological signatures and their own exceptional histories, local heritages are often intertwined with the Aztec narratives. This paper analyses two modern monuments in the small central Mexican town of Xaltocan, reflecting on long-term and recent developments in the region that have influenced the perceived social and political values of narratives of the past and the identities connected to them. Based on these analyses and drawing on interview responses from current residents, I argue that the monuments are important testaments to the complex ways that locals conceptualise and strategically articulate their heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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