Search

ABSTRACT: Objectives: Antimicrobial resistant (AMR) Campylobacter is a global health threat; however, there is limited information on genomic determinants of resistance in low- and middle-income countries. We evaluated genomic determinants of AMR using a collection of whole genome sequenced Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli isolates from Iquitos, Peru. Methods: Campylobacter isolates from two paediatric cohort studies enriched with isolates that demonstrated resistance to ciprofloxacin and azithromycin were sequenced and mined for AMR determinants. Results: The gyrA mutation leading to the Thr86Ile amino acid change was the only gyrA mutation associated with fluoroquinolone resistance identified. The A2075G mutation in 23S rRNA was present, but three other 23S rRNA mutations previously associated with macrolide resistance were not identified. A resistant-enhancing variant of the cmeABC efflux pump genotype (RE-cmeABC) was identified in 36.1% (35/97) of C. jejuni genomes and 17.9% (12/67) of C. coli genomes. Mutations identified in the CmeR-binding site, an inverted repeat sequence in the cmeABC promoter region that increases expression of the operon, were identified in 24/97 C. jejuni and 14/67 C. coli genomes. The presence of these variants, in addition to RE-cmeABC, was noted in 18 of the 24 C. jejuni and 9 of the 14 C. coli genomes. Conclusions: Both RE-cmeABC and mutations in the CmeR-binding site were strongly associated with the MDR phenotype in C. jejuni and C. coli. This is the first report of RE-cmeABC in Peru and suggests it is a major driver of resistance to the principal therapies used to treat human campylobacteriosis in this setting.

The extremotolerant red yeast Rhodotorula mucilaginosa displays resilience to diverse environmental stressors, including cold, osmolarity, salinity, and oligotrophic conditions. Particularly, this yeast exhibits a remarkable ability to accumulate lipids and carotenoids in response to stress conditions. However, research into lipid biosynthesis has been hampered by limited genetic tools and a scarcity of studies on adaptive responses to nutrient stressors stimulating lipogenesis. This study investigated the impact of nitrogen stress on the adaptive response in Antarctic yeast R. mucilaginosa M94C9. Varied nitrogen availability reveals a nitrogen-dependent modulation of biomass and lipid droplet production, accompanied by significant ultrastructural changes to withstand nitrogen starvation. In silico analysis identifies open reading frames of genes encoding key lipogenesis enzymes, including acetyl-CoA carboxylase (Acc1), fatty acid synthases 1 and 2 (Fas1/Fas2), and acyl-CoA diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 1 (Dga1). Further investigation into the expression profiles of RmACC1, RmFAS1, RmFAS2, and RmDGA1 genes under nitrogen stress revealed that the prolonged up-regulation of the RmDGA1 gene is a molecular indicator of lipogenesis. Subsequent fatty acid profiling unveiled an accumulation of oleic and palmitic acids under nitrogen limitation during the stationary phase. This investigation enhances our understanding of nitrogen stress adaptation and lipid biosynthesis, offering valuable insights into R. mucilaginosa M94C9 for potential industrial applications in the future.

Background: The 5th edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Hematolymphoid Tumors recently defined immune deficiency/dysregulation (IDD)-associated-lymphoid-proliferations in HIV settings, where information is scarce, often gone under or misdiagnosed. Objectives: To describe the clinical picture, histopathology, and outcomes of IDD-associated-lymphoidproliferations Epstein–Barr virus+ (EBV) in people living with HIV without organ transplantation, antiretroviral therapy (ART) treated. Materials and Methods: HIV+ patients diagnosed with IDD-associated-lymphoid-proliferations seen at an academic medical center in Mexico from 2016 to 2019 were included. Immunohistochemical studies, in situ hybridization, and polymerase chain reaction analysis for EBV and LMP1 gene deletions were performed and correlated with clinical data. Results: We included 27 patients, all men who have sex with men, median age 36 years (interquartile range [IQR] 22-54). The median baseline CD4+ T cells were 113/mL (IQR 89-243), the CD4+/CD8+ ratio was 0.15 (IQR: 0.09-0.22), and the HIV viral load was 184,280 copies/mL (IQR: 76,000-515,707). Twenty patients (74.07%) had IDD-associated-lymphoid-proliferations hyperplasia plasma cell type EBV+, 3 (11.1%) had hyperplasia mononucleosis-like type (IM-type), 1 patient (3.70%) had florid follicular hyperplasia, 3 (11.1%) IDD-associated-lymphoid-proliferations polymorphic type, and there were 22 cases (81.4%) of synchronic Kaposi Sarcoma. Two patients were diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma following a second positron emission tomography-computed tomography scan-guided biopsy. The median follow-up was 228 weeks (IQR 50-269); 6 patients died (22.2%) of causes unrelated to IDD-associated-lymphoid-proliferations related. Conclusion: IDD-associated-lymphoid-proliferations EBV+ occured in severely immunosuppressed HIV+ patients, a high percentage of whom had concomitant Kaposi sarcoma. The prognosis was good in patients treated only with ART.

The respiratory activities of mitochondrial complexes I, II, and IV were analyzed in permeabilized Rhodotorula mucilaginosa cells and isolated mitochondria, and the kinetic parameters K0.5 and Vmax were obtained. No difference in substrate affinities were found between mitochondria and permeabilized cells. The activities of the components of the mitochondrial respiratory chain of the Antarctic yeast R. mucilaginosa M94C9 were identified by in-gel activity and SDS-PAGE. The mitochondria exhibited activity for the classical components of the electron transport chain (Complexes I, II, III, and IV), and supercomplexes were formed by a combination of the respiratory complexes I, III, and IV. Unfortunately, the activities of the monomeric and dimeric forms of the F1F0-ATP synthase were not revealed by the in-gel assay, but the two forms of the ATP synthase were visualized in the SDS-PAGE. Furthermore, two alternative pathways for the oxidation of cytosolic NADH were identified: the alternative NADH dehydrogenase and the glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. In addition, an NADPH dehydrogenase and a lactate cytochrome b2 dehydrogenase were found. The residual respiratory activity following cyanide addition suggests the presence of an alternative oxidase in cells.

Abstract Introduction Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disproportionately affect young gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) and transgender women of colour. We explored the experiences of community‐based peer navigators (‘Community Navigators’) who participated in Impact Triad, a bilingual multilevel intervention developed by our community‐based participatory research partnership to reduce STIs and HIV and address social determinants of health (e.g., employment, education, social support and discrimination) among young GBMSM and transgender women of colour. Methods Individual in‐depth interviews were conducted with 15 Community Navigators who participated in Impact Triad. Themes were identified through constant comparison. Results Community Navigators' mean age was 31.4 years. Seven were self‐identified as African American/Black, 5 as Latine, 2 as multiracial/multiethnic, 1 as Asian American, 10 as cisgender men, 4 as transgender women and 1 as gender nonbinary. Thirteen themes emerged in three domains: (1) key aspects of the Community Navigator role (e.g., desire to serve as a community resource, the importance of being part of the communities in which one was working, the value of having an official role, being connected to other Community Navigators to problem‐solving and sustaining intervention aspects long‐term); (2) experiences implementing Impact Triad (e.g., engaging community members, meeting prioritized needs, building trust, using social media, increasing awareness and knowledge and challenges related to COVID‐19) and (3) lessons learned for future interventions (e.g., facilitating access to broader resources, building additional skills and increasing interactions among Community Navigators). Conclusion Interviews identified important learnings about serving as Community Navigators and implementing Impact Triad that can guide future efforts to address STI/HIV disparities and social determinants of health through community‐based peer navigation. Patient or Public Contribution Throughout this intervention trial, our partnership worked collaboratively with a study‐specific community advisory board (CAB) comprised primarily of young GBMSM and transgender women of colour. Members of this CAB participated in all aspects of the trial including trial design, intervention development, recruitment and retention strategies, data collection and analysis, interpretation of findings and dissemination.

Abstract Background Food insecurity, or the lack of consistent access to nutritionally adequate and safe foods, effects up to 50% of people living with HIV (PWH) in the United States (US). PWH who are food insecure have lower antiretroviral adherence, are less likely to achieve viral suppression, and are at increased risk developing of serious illnesses, including cardiometabolic comorbidities. The objectives of this study are to better understand how food insecurity contributes to the development of cardiometabolic comorbidities among PWH and to test a novel bilingual peer navigation-mHealth intervention (weCare/Secure) designed to reduce these comorbidities in food-insecure PWH with prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Methods In Aim 1, we will recruit a longitudinal cohort of 1800 adult (≥18 years) PWH from our clinic-based population to determine the difference in the prevalence and incidence of cardiometabolic comorbidities between food-secure and food-insecure PWH. Food insecurity screening, indicators of cardiometabolic comorbidities, and other characteristics documented in the electronic health record (EHR) will be collected annually for up to 3 years from this cohort. In Aim 2, we will conduct a randomized controlled trial among a sample of food-insecure PWH who have prediabetes or T2DM to compare changes in insulin sensitivity over 6 months between participants in weCare/Secure and participants receiving usual care. In Aim 3, we will conduct semi-structured individual in-depth interviews to explore the effect of the intervention among intervention participants with varying insulin sensitivity outcomes. Trial status Aim 1 (longitudinal cohort) recruitment began in May 2022 and is ongoing. Aim 2 (intervention) recruitment is planned for spring 2023 and is expected to be completed in spring 2024. Aim 3 (process evaluation) data collection will occur after sufficient completion of the 6-month assessment in Aim 2. Final results are anticipated in fall 2025. Conclusions This research seeks to advance our understanding of how food insecurity impacts the development of cardiometabolic comorbidities among PWH and how food insecurity interventions may alleviate relevant comorbidities. Given the growing interest among health systems in addressing food insecurity, if the intervention is found to be efficacious, it could be broadly disseminated across HIV clinical care settings. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04943861 . Registered on June 29, 2021.

Understanding how people trust autonomous systems is crucial to achieving better performance and safety in human-autonomy teaming. Trust in automation is a rich and complex process that has given rise to numerous measures and approaches aimed at comprehending and examining it. Although researchers have been developing models for understanding the dynamics of trust in automation for several decades, these models are primarily conceptual and often involve components that are difficult to measure. Mathematical models have emerged as powerful tools for gaining insightful knowledge about the dynamic processes of trust in automation. This paper provides an overview of various mathematical modeling approaches, their limitations, feasibility, and generalizability for trust dynamics in human-automation interaction contexts. Furthermore, this study proposes a novel and dynamic approach to model trust in automation, emphasizing the importance of incorporating different timescales into measurable components. Due to the complex nature of trust in automation, it is also suggested to combine machine learning and dynamic modeling approaches, as well as incorporating physiological data.

Abstract Background Deworming programs aimed at reducing morbidity and mortality from geohelminth infections are common in many countries where these infections are endemic, but data demonstrating increasing levels of resistance to albendazole and mebendazole are causes for concern. Studies to evaluate the clinical efficacy of deworming programs are critical to maintain high infection control goals. Methods We propose to assess the clinical efficacy of Peruvian national guidelines for deworming programs in a prospective observational study conducted in the Amazon River basin area near Iquitos, Peru. Major outcomes to be evaluated include (1) albendazole resistance of intestinal helminths (trichuriasis, ascariasis, hookworm), and (2) frequency of reinfection with intestinal helminths 4 months after treatment with albendazole. Children ages 2–11 years from the Belén District of Iquitos will be identified based on a community census. Following parental informed consent, demographic data, weight, and height will be recorded and a stool specimen for parasitological exam by direct observation and Kato-Katz concentration method, and helminthic egg counts will be collected prior to administration of albendazole, following Peruvian national guidelines. Follow-up stool specimens examined in the same manner will be collected at 20 days, 90 days, and 100 days following initial administration of albendazole, and based on parasites found repeat treatment will be administered in accordance with national guidelines. Real-time multiplex qPCR will be performed on helminth positive samples collected prior to initial deworming and on helminth-positive specimens detected on day 15–20. A total sample size of 380 participants was calculated based on total population in the target group and prevalence estimates of helminth infections and clinical resistance based on recent data. Discussion Data from observational clinical efficacy studies are important to guide geohelminth infection control programs. Trial registration https://www.researchregistry.com/ . Identification number: researchregistry7736; Registered retrospectively March 13, 2022; https://www.researchregistry.com/browse-the-registry#home/registrationdetails/622e024cf06132001e3327bf/

IntroductionHigh HHV-8 viral load (VL) in Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) has been associated with Severe Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome (Severe-IRIS-KS), which can occur after initiating cART, and leads to high mortality, particularly in patients with pulmonary involvement. We investigate if valganciclovir (as an anti-HHV-8 agent) initiated before cART reduces the mortality associated with Severe-IRIS-KS and the incidence of Severe-IRIS-KS.MethodsOpen-label parallel-group randomized clinical trial in AIDS cART naïve patients with disseminated KS (DKS) as defined by at least two of the following: pulmonary, lymph-node, or gastrointestinal involvement, lymphedema, or ≥30 skin lesions. In the experimental group (EG), patients received valganciclovir 900 mg BID four weeks before cART and continued until week 48; in the control group (CG), cART was initiated on week 0. Non-severe-IRIS-KS was defined as: an increase in the number of lesions plus a decrease of ≥one log10 HIV-VL, or an increase of ≥50cells/mm3 or ≥2-fold in baseline CD4+cells. Severe-IRIS-KS was defined as abrupt clinical worsening of KS lesions and/or fever after ruling out another infection following cART initiation, and at least three of the following: thrombocytopenia, anemia, hyponatremia, or hypoalbuminemia.Results40 patients were randomized and 37 completed the study. In the ITT analysis, at 48 weeks, total mortality was the same in both groups (3/20), severe-IRIS-KS attributable mortality was 0/20 in the EG, compared with 3/20 in the CG (p = 0.09), similar to the per-protocol analysis: 0/18 in the EG, and 3/19 in the control group (p = 0.09). The crude incidence rate of severe-IRIS-KS was four patients developed a total of 12 episodes of Severe-IRIS-KS in the CG and two patients developed one episode each in the EG. Mortality in patients with pulmonary KS was nil in the EG (0/5) compared with 3/4 in the CG (P = 0.048). No difference was found between groups in the number of non-S-IRIS-KS events. Among survivors at week 48, 82% achieved >80% remission.ConclusionsAlthough mortality attributable to KS was lower in the EG the difference was not statistically significant.

La desnutrición se asocia con una larga lista de complicaciones intrahospitalarias, incluidos aquellos pacientes que se someterán a cirugía mayor. Por lo tanto, es importante optimizar el estado nutricional en el período preoperatorio, siendo el objetivo principal la restauración de anomalías metabólicas e inmunitarias. El ayuno preoperatorio es una práctica sistemática en el ámbito clínico, a pesar de que se ha demostrado que induce resistencia a la insulina. Una de las intervenciones para evitar dicha práctica es la implementación del protocolo ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery). Una correcta valoración nutricional en los pacientes hospitalizados es de vital importancia para identificar aquellos con riesgo nutricional, o bien aquellos en desnutrición que pudieran beneficiarse de intervenciones nutricionales tempranas. La ruta de alimentación debe elegirse de acuerdo con el estado del paciente, por vía oral con el uso de suplementos nutricionales o con nutrición enteral en aquellos cuyos requerimientos calóricos no logran ser alcanzados por dicha vía, y reservando el apoyo nutricional parenteral para aquellos con tracto gastrointestinal no funcional, con el objetivo de mejorar la morbilidad y la mortalidad posoperatorias.

Ustilago maydis is an important model to study intermediary and mitochondrial metabolism, among other processes. U. maydis can grow, at very different rates, on glucose, lactate, glycerol, and ethanol as carbon sources. Under nitrogen starvation and glucose as the only carbon source, this fungus synthesizes and accumulates neutral lipids in the form of lipid droplets (LD). In this work, we studied the accumulation of triacylglycerols in cells cultured in a medium containing acetate, a direct precursor of the acetyl-CoA required for the synthesis of fatty acids. The metabolic adaptation of cells to acetate was studied by measuring the activities of key enzymes involved in glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, and the pentose phosphate pathways. Since growth on acetate induces oxidative stress, the activities of some antioxidant enzymes were also assayed. The results show that cells grown in acetate plus nitrate did not increase the amount of LD, but increased the activities of glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase, suggesting a higher production of reactive oxygen species in cells growing in acetate. The phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK1) was the enzyme with the lowest specific activity in the glycolytic pathway, suggesting that PFK1 controls the flux of glycolysis. As expected, the activity of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, a gluconeogenic enzyme, was present only in the acetate condition. In summary, in the presence of acetate as the only carbon source, U. maydis synthesized fatty acids, which were directed into the production of phospholipids and neutral lipids for biomass generation, but without any excessive accumulation of LD.

Universal access to safe drinking water is assumed to be a defining characteristic of cities in the Global North. This article documents the daily challenges facing working class women in Flint, Michigan, when the promise of modern water infrastructure cracks. In 2014, in order to reduce costs, Flint’s drinking water source was switched from Lake Huron to the Flint River. This change, and specifically the way it was managed, resulted in contamination of the water supply with lead and pathogens. While the experience of Flint is now an emblematic case of water insecurity in the Global North, it is not unique. Through a case study developed in the context of a community-based participatory research project, this article details how water insecurity transferred the burden of clean water provisioning back to individual households, and specifically to women. Rather than being able to rely on the labour and technical expertise that have rendered water safe in the modern city, Flint residents were abruptly made responsible for ensuring their own water security. We detail how the Flint water crisis brought about a 'new normal'; we consider the ways in which it gave rise to a new relationship to potable water that was characterised by a (re)turn to bottled or filtered water (from tap water) and a shift in who is responsible for the labour necessary to render water safe. The women’stestimonies that we present here illustrate how, when modern uniform water fails, people begin to see heterogeneous waters.

Desde que se detectó el primer caso positivo de COVID-19 a fines de marzo en la Amazonía peruana, el virus se propagó a un ritmo acelerado en los territorios indígenas. En la provincia de Condorcanqui del departamento de Amazonas se encendieron las alertas sobre la rápida diseminación del virus entre la población Awajun y Wampis. En este artículo presentamos las narrativas de dos líderes y profesionales awajún, Clelia Jima y Zebelio Kayap. En sus relatos interpelan la acción del Gobierno peruano develando las trampas burocráticas que impidieron la implementación de acciones específicas para pueblos indígenas en esta pandemia. Del mismo modo, nos hablan de las iniciativas que las organizaciones indígenas impulsaron para salvar sus vidas. En las voces de Clelia y Zebelio se tejen interrogantes y reflexiones profundas a partir del conocimiento que les confiere la experiencia y los años de lucha contra la indolencia del Estado.

En este artículo se aborda la incorporación de la comunidad nativa San José de Karene, del pueblo Arakbut, a la economía extractiva a través de la minería aurífera hace medio siglo. Además, se presenta una discusión sobre las transformaciones sociales y ecológicas generadas por la dependencia del oro, la deforestación de sus territorios, el abandono de las prácticas agrícolas y las estrategias frente a los desafíos de la pandemia y la post-pandemia.

Las enfermedades mentales y los trastornos neurológicos se encuentran entre las principales causas de discapacidad a nivel mundial. En los últimos años, múltiples estudios epidemiológicos han investigado la relación existente entre los patrones dietéticos y el estado mental, con énfasis en la influencia de factores genéticos y ambientales en el desarrollo de dichos trastornos.

Ustilago maydis, a basidiomycete that infects Zea mays, is one of the top ten fungal models for studying DNA repair, signal transduction pathways, and dimorphic transitions, among other processes. From a metabolic point of view, U. maydis lacks fermentative capacity, pointing to mitochondria as a key player in central metabolism. Oxidative phosphorylation, synthesis of heme groups, Krebs cycle, β-oxidation of fatty acids, and synthesis of amino acids are some of the processes that take place in mitochondria. Given the importance of this organelle in eukaryotic cells in general, and in fungal cells in particular, we present a protocol for the isolation of U. maydis mitochondria based on the enzymatic disruption of U. maydis cell wall and differential centrifugation. The method can easily be extrapolated to other fungal species, by using appropriate lytic enzymes.

Urban agriculture is an important neighborhood revitalization strategy in the U.S. Rust Belt, where deindustrialization has left blighted and vacant land in the urban core. Immigrants and refugees represent a growing and important stakeholder group in urban agriculture, including in community gardens across the Rust Belt Midwest. Community gardens provide a host of social and economic benefits to urban landscapes, including increased access to culturally appropriate food and medicinal plants for refugee and immigrant growers. Our work in Lansing, Michigan was part of a collaboration with the Greater Lansing Food Bank’s Garden Project (GLFGP) to describe the refugee and immigrant community gardening experience in three urban gardens with high refugee and immigrant enrollment. Our research describes the ways garden management facilitates inclusion for refugee and immigrant gardeners and how particular factors of inclusion in turn contribute to social capital, an important outcome that plays a critical role in refugee and immigrant subjective wellbeing.

The objective of this study was the design and simulation of a single effect evaporator for an agave syrup production line, using as the main raw material, the aguamiel obtained from Agave salmiana produced in the ejido "Las Mangas" municipality of Saltillo Coahuila, Mexico. The design of the single effect evaporator was carried out by evaluating the equipment design variables (such as the raw material feed to the evaporator and its outlet streams) by the response surface methodology (RSM), with which it was possible to determine saturation temperature inside the evaporator (F1) and the feed temperature (F2), which allow optimizing the consumption and supply of the flow required for saturated steam entering the evaporator (S, kg/h) and the heat required for the operation of the evaporator (q, kJ/h) in yield to obtain agave syrup.

It has been shown that the alternative oxidase in mitochondria of fungi and plants has important functions in the response against stress conditions, although their role in some organisms is still unknown. This is the case of Ustilago maydis. There is no evidence of the participation of the U. maydis Aox1 in stressful conditions such as desiccation, high or low temperature, and low pH, among others. Therefore, in this work, we studied the role of the U. maydis Aox1 in cells exposed to oxidative stress induced by methyl viologen (paraquat). To gain insights into the role of this enzyme, we took advantage of four strains: the FB2 wild-type, a strain without the alternative oxidase (FB2aox1Δ), other with the Aox1 fused to the Gfp under the control of the original promoter (FB2aox1-Gfp), and one expressing constitutively de Aox1-Gfp (FB2Potef:aox1-Gfp). Cells were incubated for various times in the presence of 1 mM paraquat and growth, replicative capacities, mitochondrial respiratory activity, Aox1 capacity, and the activities of several antioxidant enzymes (catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and superoxide dismutase) were assayed. The results show that (1) the response of U. maydis against oxidative stress was the same in the presence or absence of the Aox1; (2) the activities of the antioxidant enzymes remained constant despite the oxidative stress; and (3) there was a decrease in the GSH/GSSG ratio in U. maydis cells incubated with paraquat.

The consumer demand for chayote (Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw.) fruits has increased in recent years, virens levis being the most important variety, although other chayote varieties are gaining importance such as nigrum xalapensis and n. spinosum. However, the postharvest behavior of these varieties is different, so it is important to evaluate the factors that limit the shelf life of each variety. Therefore, in this study, fruits of each variety from the Mexican National Germplasm Bank of Sechium edule were used. The following fruit quality variables were evaluated: weight loss, humidity (%), color, chlorophyll, titratable acidity, total soluble solids (TSS), total sugars, and stomatal characteristics. In addition, the storage potential of each variety was evaluated for two weeks at different temperatures, 7°, 13° (85% RH) and 24 °C (60% RH), with the application of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP). The variables evaluated were viviparism, disease severity, weight loss, dehydration and chilling injury (CI). The fruits of n. xalapensis and n. spinosum have a higher content of chlorophylls and carotenoids, but similar contents of TSS, acidity and total sugars than v. levis fruits. The use of 1-MCP reduced viviparism in all varieties, and the severity of blisters was higher in v. levis. The fruits of the three varieties presented severe CI when stored at 7 °C but the most susceptible to dehydration and diseases severity is n. spinosum.

Water conservation technologies and programmes are increasingly important features of water governance in urban areas. By examining people’s situated understandings and relationships with water, this article expands research on the human dimensions of water conservation beyond its traditional focus on uptake of technologies, incentives, and single metrics for evaluation. In the American Southwest prolonged drought conditions are boosting the popularity of small-scale rainwater collection systems, which are becoming formalised primarily through water conservation programmes. In Tucson, Arizona, one such programme was a success in terms of user uptake and public support; however, paradoxically, rainwater harvesting did not always result in reduced potable water consumption. To understand why this was the case, I draw on qualitative and semi-quantitative data describing how people manage their rainwater harvesting systems and how they understand and value their diverse benefits. This study contributes to ongoing policy debates over water conservation and in particular emphasizes the need to broaden our working definition of conservation beyond volumetric reduction in potable water use. Based on the observed motivations, values and practices of water users and experts, I suggest water conservation could be understood to include factors such as the reduction of waste across all water sources and the repurposing of captured water for diverse beneficial uses in urban environments.

La insuficiencia cardiaca (IC) representa uno de los problemas mundiales de salud pública más importantes, ya que existe un aumento en su prevalencia y se estima que 23 millones de la población mundial viven con este problema. Esta entidad se define por la presencia de anormalidades estructurales y funcionales del músculo cardiaco que conducen a un deterioro en la capacidad del llenado y eyección ventricular. Múltiples comorbilidades se han asociado a un incremento en el riesgo de desarrollo de enfermedades cardiovasculares. La hipertensión se ha reconocido como uno de los factores más importantes, sin embargo, la obesidad, el síndrome metabólico, así como la diabetes, también juegan un papel importante en la aparición de dicha enfermedad. Es frecuente encontrar en pacientes hospitalizados con IC deterioro en el estado nutricional caracterizado principalmente por la presencia de deficiencias nutricionales y sarcopenia, que, en ocasiones, puede progresar y manifestarse como caquexia. Por lo anterior, una evaluación adecuada mediante el uso correcto de herramientas para detección de riesgo nutricional es imperativa, se hace necesaria para prevenir los riesgos que esto implica. Existen múltiples parámetros antropométricos y bioquímicos para definir el estado nutricional de los pacientes hospitalizados, sin embargo, las alteraciones en el volumen sanguíneo presentes en pacientes con IC pueden alterar el resultado de dicha evaluación. Las modificaciones dietéticas en la prevención y tratamiento de diversas enfermedades cardiovasculares mediante un buen apego a patrones de alimentación tales como la dieta DASH (enfoques dietéticos para detener la hipertensión, por sus siglas en inglés) y la dieta mediterránea se han asociado inversamente con la incidencia de IC.

Yeasts are microscopic fungi inhabiting all Earth environments, including those inhospitable for most life forms, considered extreme environments. According to their habitats, yeasts could be extremotolerant or extremophiles. Some are polyextremophiles, depending on their growth capacity, tolerance, and survival in the face of their habitat’s physical and chemical constitution. The extreme yeasts are relevant for the industrial production of value-added compounds, such as biofuels, lipids, carotenoids, recombinant proteins, enzymes, among others. This review calls attention to the importance of yeasts inhabiting extreme environments, including metabolic and adaptive aspects to tolerate conditions of cold, heat, water availability, pH, salinity, osmolarity, UV radiation, and metal toxicity, which are relevant for biotechnological applications. We explore the habitats of extreme yeasts, highlighting key species, physiology, adaptations, and molecular identification. Finally, we summarize several findings related to the industrially-important extremophilic yeasts and describe current trends in biotechnological applications that will impact the bioeconomy.

El Código es un conjunto de recomendaciones dirigidas a regular la comercialización de los sucedáneos de la leche materna. En 1981 la Asamblea Mundial de Salud aprobó el Código Internacional de Comercialización de Sucedáneos de la Leche Materna como requisito para proteger y fomentar una alimentación adecuada del lactante y del niño pequeño. Dicho código tiene como objetivo contribuir a proporcionar a los lactantes una nutrición segura y suficiente, protegiendo y promoviendo la lactancia natural y asegurando el uso correcto de los sucedáneos de la leche materna y contar con información adecuada cuando estos sean necesarios ya que estos deben estar disponibles cuando se necesiten pero no promoverse. En 2017 un estudio sobre “Violaciones al Código Internacional de Comercialización de Sucedáneos de Leche Materna en México” identifica múltiples violaciones sobre el Código. Ante esto se deben implementar estrategias para lograr cumplir los objetivos y hacer valer dicho código.

El presente artículo expone los hallazgos hechos durante la revisión de la categoría de reparación de las víctimas, estudiada en diferentes áreas del conocimiento. El resultado alcanzado evidencia el confinamiento de esta categoría dentro de los referentes de elaboración conceptual y por los contextos de aplicación de la Justicia Transicional. Debido a ello, surgen algunas controversias, tanto en el plano teórico como en el práctico, las cuales giran en torno a las situaciones en las que ocurrió el daño, a la calidad de víctima y a las circunstancias en las que se exige la reparación. Como alternativa, se expone una estrategia que articula las categorías de víctima y derecho a la reparación, fundamentada en el derecho internacional de los derechos humanos y en la labor de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos. En consecuencia, se propone la comprensión de la reparación como derecho humano, cuyo desarrollo progresivo promueva su expansión en escenarios no transicionales.

Type 2 alternative NADH dehydrogenases (NDH‐2) participate indirectly in the generation of the electrochemical proton gradient by transferring electrons from NADH and NADPH into the ubiquinone pool. Due to their structural simplicity, alternative NADH dehydrogenases have been proposed as useful tools for gene therapy of cells with defects in the respiratory complex I. In this work, we report the presence of three open reading frames, which correspond to NDH‐2 genes in the genome of Ustilago maydis. These three genes were constitutively transcribed in cells cultured in YPD and minimal medium with glucose, ethanol, or lactate as carbon sources. Proteomic analysis showed that only two of the three NDH‐2 were associated with isolated mitochondria in all culture media. Oxygen consumption by permeabilized cells using NADH or NADPH was different for each condition, opening the possibility of posttranslational regulation. We confirmed the presence of both external and internal NADH dehydrogenases, as well as an external NADPH dehydrogenase insensitive to calcium. Higher oxygen consumption rates were observed during the exponential growth phase, suggesting that the activity of NADH and NADPH dehydrogenases is coupled to the dynamics of cell growth.

Film forming, stable hybrid latexes made of methyl metacrylate (MMA), butyl acrylate (BA) and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) copolymer reinforced with modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were synthesized by in situ miniemulsion polymerization. The MWCNTs were pretreated by an air sonication process and stabilized by polyvinylpyrrolidone. The presence of the MWCNTs had no significant effect on the polymerization kinetics, but strongly affected the polymer characteristics (Tg and insoluble polymer fraction). The performance of the in situ composites was compared with that of the neat polymer dispersion as well as with those of the polymer/MWCNT physical blends. The in situ composites showed the presence of an additional phase likely due to the strong interaction between the polymer and MWNCTs (including grafting) that reduced the mobility of the polymer chains. As a result, a substantial increase of both the storage and the loss moduli was achieved. At 60 °C, which is above the main transition region of the polymer, the in situ composites maintained the reinforcement, whereas the blends behaved as a liquid-like material. This suggests the formation of a 3D network, in good agreement with the high content of insoluble polymer in the in situ composites.

Macrophages are essential cells of the innate immune response against microbial infections, and they have the ability to adapt under both pro- and anti-inflammatory conditions and develop different functions. A growing body of evidence regarding a novel macrophage subpopulation that expresses CD3 has recently emerged. Here, we explain that human circulating monocytes can be differentiated into CD3+TCRαβ+ and CD3+TCRαβ− macrophages. Both cell subpopulations express on their cell surface HLA family molecules, but only the CD3+TCRαβ+ macrophage subpopulation co-express CD1 family molecules and transmembrane TNF (tmTNF). CD3+TCRαβ+ macrophages secrete IL-1β, IL-6 IP-10, and MCP-1 by both tmTNF- and CD3-dependent pathways, while CD3+TCRαβ− macrophages specifically produce IFN-γ, TNF, and MIP-1β by a CD3-dependent pathway. In this study, we also used a mouse model of BCG-induced pleurisy and demonstrated that CD3+ myeloid cells (TCRαβ+ and TCRαβ− cells) are increased at the infection sites during the acute phase (2 weeks post-infection). Interestingly, cell increment was mediated by tmTNF, and the soluble form of TNF was dispensable. BCG-infection also induced the expression of TNF receptor 2 on CD3+ myeloid cells, which increased after BCG-infection, suggesting that the tmTNF/TNFRs axis plays an important role in the presence or function of these cells in tuberculosis.

During the lactation period, rat pups are fed by the dam, and the patterns of mother-pup interaction change during this period. Additionally, there are changes in feeding; first, mother´s milk is the only food needed for sustenance, and later, it is combined with solid food and water. GH serum concentrations depend on both maternal-pup interaction and energy metabolism. In the artificial rearing (AR) procedure, pups are deprived of mother-pup interaction, and the feeding pattern is controlled. This rearing paradigm has been used in rats to analyze the effects of maternal deprivation on social behavior. In the present study, we analyzed the variation in GH, acylated ghrelin and IGF-1 serum concentrations throughout the lactation period in AR pups. At pnd7, the maternal rearing (MR) pups responded to a 4 h fast with a drop in GH serum concentration, which is a well-known response to maternal deprivation. GH serum levels in the AR pups did not change, suggesting an adaptation phenomenon. A dopamine inhibitory effect of GH secretion was observed in pnd7 cultured somatotropes, suggesting dopamine regulation of GH secretion at this age. Acylated ghrelin serum levels in the AR pups showed an inverted pattern compared to that in the MR pups, which was related to the artificial feeding pattern. IGF-1 serum levels were lower in the AR pups than in MR pups, which was associated with hepatic GH resistance and with low Igf1 mRNA expression at pnd7. Interestingly, at pnd14, both pup groups showed high hepatic Igf1 mRNA expression but low IGF-1 serum levels, and this was inverted at pnd21. However, serum glucose levels were lower in the AR pups at pnd14 but reached the same levels as the MR pups at pnd21. Moreover, hepatomegaly and higher hepatic GH-receptor levels were observed in the AR pups at pnd21, which was in agreement with an absence of a solid food meal. During AR, the pups lost the maternal interaction-stimulated GH secretion, which correlated with lower IGF-1 serum levels during the first week of postnatal development. Later, the AR pups exhibited hepatic responses, in order to satisfy the metabolic demand for the normal weaning, with low carbohydrates levels in their meal.

Respiratory supercomplexes are found in mitochondria of eukaryotic cells and some bacteria. A hypothetical role of these supercomplexes is electron channeling, which in principle should increase the respiratory chain efficiency and ATP synthesis. In addition to the four classic respiratory complexes and the ATP synthase, U. maydis mitochondria contain three type II NADH dehydrogenases (NADH for reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) and the alternative oxidase. Changes in the composition of the respiratory supercomplexes due to energy requirements have been reported in certain organisms. In this study, we addressed the organization of the mitochondrial respiratory complexes in U. maydis under diverse energy conditions. Supercomplexes were obtained by solubilization of U. maydis mitochondria with digitonin and separated by blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (BN-PAGE). The molecular mass of supercomplexes and their probable stoichiometries were 1200 kDa (I1:IV1), 1400 kDa (I1:III2), 1600 kDa (I1:III2:IV1), and 1800 kDa (I1:III2:IV2). Concerning the ATP synthase, approximately half of the protein is present as a dimer and half as a monomer. The distribution of respiratory supercomplexes was the same in all growth conditions. We did not find evidence for the association of complex II and the alternative NADH dehydrogenases with other respiratory complexes.

This article contributes to the urban political ecology of water through applied anthropological research methods and praxis. Drawing on two case studies in urban Sonora, Mexico, we contribute to critical studies of infrastructure by focusing on large infrastructural systems and decentralized alternatives to water and sanitation provisioning. We reflect on engaging with residents living on the marginal hillsides of two rapidly urbanizing desert cities using ethnographic methods. In the capital city of Hermosillo, Radonic emphasizes how collaborative reflection with barrio residents led her to reframe her analytical approach to water governance by recognizing informal water infrastructure as a statement of human resilience in the face of social inequality, resource scarcity, and material disrepair. In the border city of Nogales, Kelly-Richards reflects on the outcomes of conducting community-based participatory research with technical students and residents of an informally settled colonia around the construction of a composting toilet, while also investigating municipal government service provision efforts. Our article invites readers to view these infrastructure alternatives as ways to explore how applied anthropology can advance the emancipatory potential of urban political ecology through a collaborative investigation of uneven urbanization and basic service provisioning. We emphasize everyday situated relationships with infrastructure in informally organized neighborhoods. Using praxis to collectively investigate the complex and entangled relations between large piped water and sanitation projects and locally developed alternatives in under serviced areas, the two case studies reveal lessons learned and illuminate grounded research openings for social justice and environmental sustainability. Key words: Applied anthropology, infrastructure, political ecology, praxis, water governance, social justice

En Colombia, el lulo (Solanum quitoense Lam.), presenta un área cosechada de 4.868 hectáreas y una producción anual de 38.910 toneladas, siendo un recurso de importancia por la relevancia de este cultivo para la economía nacional. El pardeamiento enzimático es un problema que afecta los frutales por sus efectos negativos sobre las características nutricionales y organolépticas. Este proceso es catalizado por enzimas con actividad de polifenol oxidasas (PFOs; PFO: EC 1.10.3.1, 1.10.3.2 y/o 1.14.18.1) y varía dependiendo de la especie, cultivar, estadio de maduración y estadio fenológico de la planta específica. Sin embargo, las propiedades de esta enzima en el lulo no han sido adecuadamente estudiadas. Para comprender el comportamiento de esta enzima en los frutos de lulo, se evaluaron sus características fisicoquímicas y cinéticas. El estudio fue llevado a cabo en los seis estadios de maduración definidos comercialmente (0 hasta 5). Se determinaron las características óptimas de funcionamiento para la enzima con actividad PFO en términos de temperatura, pH, concentración de sustrato y cantidad de enzima, mediante ensayos espectrofotométricos (A412 nm) utilizando catecol como sustrato. Los estudios cinéticos mostraron variabilidad en los parámetros de la constante de Michaelis-Menten (K M; 1,16 ± 0,07 - 5,71 ± 0,14) y la velocidad máxima (Vmáx; 30,212 ± 1,77 - 188,679 ± 14,26) dependiendo del estadio de maduración. Los frutos de lulo en los estadios de maduración 3 y 4 fueron los que presentaron menor actividad de la enzima PFO, sugiriendo que estos pueden ser los estadios en los cuales deberían ser cosechados para minimizar el proceso de pardeamiento enzimático.

Lipoarabinomannan (LAM) is a lipid virulent factor secreted by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). LAM can be found in the sputum and urine of patients with active tuberculosis. When human monocytes are differentiated into macrophages [monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM)] in the presence of LAM, MDM are poorly functional which may limit the immune response to Mtb infection. Our previous studies have shown that TIM3 and galectin (GAL)9 interaction induces anti-mycobacterial activity, and the expression levels of TIM3 and GAL9 are downregulated during Mtb infection. We postulated that LAM affects GAL9/TIM3 pathway, and, in consequence, the ability of the macrophage to control bacterial growth could be affected. In this work, we have generated MDM in the presence of LAM and observed that the expression of TIM3 was not affected; in contrast, GAL9 expression was downregulated at the transcriptional and protein levels. We observed that the cell surface and the soluble form of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor 2 were decreased. We also found that when LAM-exposed MDM were activated with LPS, they produced less TNF, and the transcription factor proteinase-activated receptor-2 (PAR2), which is involved in host immune responses to infection, was not induced. Our data show that LAM-exposed MDM were deficient in the control of intracellular growth of Mtb. In conclusion, LAM-exposed MDM leads to MDM with impaired intracellular signal activation affecting GAL9, TNF, and PAR2 pathways, which are important to restrict Mtb growth.

Análisis de los acontecimientos sociopolíticos sucedidos a raíz de la victoria en el 2000 del candidato Vicente Fox a las elecciones presidenciales de México.

Background: Lulo (Solanum quitoense Lam) is considered a fruit with a high potential for exportation due to its exotic aroma, its bittersweet taste and the bright green color of its pulp. As a climacteric fruit is harvested when the fruit has reached full development, and 75% of the ripening is apparent by its characteristic yellow color with some small green points. However, this parameter is not enough to decide the right time for the crop, due to the irregularity of the fruits, especially for selling purposes in international markets, hence studies have been conducted to establish the changes during ripening and postharvest. Objectives: The aim of this work was to determine the relationship between color measurement and the other physicochemical parameters in the six ripening stages of lulo Castilla variety, in order to define the optimal harvesting time. Methods: Three fruits were studied for each stage, and were analyzed in the fresh state: ° Brix, pH, titratable acidity and color changes in the cortex, according to CIELab system. Results: The ranges obtained for the six evaluated stages were: ° Brix: 4.2 - 10.3, pH: 3.67 - 3.90, acidity: 2.63 - 3.00 and color (ΔE): 0 - 53. We found that the epicarp of the fruit varies from green to yellow intense, indicating the maturity for consumption. Total soluble solids increased with fruit maturation and the tritatable acidity decreased reaching a minimum values at stage 3, which was considered optimum for harvesting. The pH increased in stage 5 due to the drop of vacuolar H+ ion concentration. Conclusion: By measuring color parameters, 3 ripening stages were defined: green (0, 1, 2); semi ripe (3, 4) and ripe (5).Antecedentes: El lulo (Solanum quitoense Lam) es una fruta de alto potencial de exportación por su aroma suave, su sabor agridulce y el color verde brillante de su pulpa. Por ser un fruto climatérico es recolectado cuando el fruto ha alcanzado su completo desarrollo y presenta un 75% de madurez, manifiestado por el color amarillo característico con ligeros puntos verde. Este parámetro no es suficiente para definir el momento propicio de la cosecha, debido a la irregularidad de los frutos, especialmente para la venta de este producto en mercados internacionales; por lo que se ha realizado estudios para establecer los cambios producidos durante su maduración y poscosecha. Objetivos: El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar la relación de las medidas del color y otros parámetros fisicoquímicos en seis estadíos de maduración de lulo variedad Castilla, para definir el tiempo óptimo de cosecha. Métodos: Se tomó 3 frutos por cada estadio y por cada medición, analizando en estado fresco: grados brix, pH, acidez titulable, y los cambios de color de la corteza, de acuerdo al sistema CIELab, durante la maduración de éstos. Resultados: Los rangos de estos parámetros para los 6 estadios evaluados fueron: °Brix: 4,2 - 10,3, pH: 3,67 - 3,90, % acidez: 2,63 - 3,00 y color (ΔE): 0 - 53. Se encontró que la corteza del fruto varía de verde a naranja intenso, indicando la madurez de consumo. Los sólidos solubles totales se incrementaron a medida que el fruto maduraba. La acidez titulable disminuyó durante la maduración, observándose una caída en el estadio 3, estimado el momento óptimo para su cosecha. El pH aumentó en el estadio 5, por la disminución de la concentración de iones H+ vacuolar y el aumento de aminoácidos libres. Conclusión: Mediante la medición de los parámetros de color se definió 3 estadios de maduración: verdes (0, 1 y 2), pintones (3 y 4) y maduros (5).

Introducción. Los polimorfismos en el gen ApoE se han examinado en el síndrome de Down debido a la relación existente de la isoforma E4 con la demencia de tipo Alzheimer que aparece en los individuos con síndrome de Down. Objetivos. Determinar los polimorfismos en el gen ApoE en individuos con síndrome de Down y sus progenitores, y buscar su asociación. Materiales y métodos. Mediante PCR-RFLP, se analizaron los polimorfismos del gen ApoE en 134 individuos jóvenes con síndrome de Down, 87 madres y 54 padres del eje cafetero, y se compararon con una población control de 525 individuos sanos. Resultados. El alelo APOEε3 y el genotipo ε3/ε3 fueron los más frecuentes en todas las poblaciones. La frecuencia alélica de APOEε2 es muy baja y ε2/ε2 está ausente en las poblaciones con síndrome de Down y sus progenitores. El alelo APOEε4 fue más frecuente en individuos con síndrome de Down que en el resto de poblaciones analizadas. Al comparar las frecuencias alélicas y genotípicas entre las poblaciones con síndrome de Down y los progenitores con la población control, mediante la χ2 de Pearson y los odds ratios por la prueba exacta de Fisher, no se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas. Conclusiones. No se encontró asociación entre los polimorfismos del gen ApoE y el síndrome de Down. Es posible que el tamaño de la muestra o las influencias étnicas hubieran afectado estos resultados. Es necesario hacer otros estudios en poblaciones colombianas y evaluar la asociación con otros genes que se encuentran relacionados con la enfermedad de Alzheimer. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.7705/biomedica.v32i2.427

Background: Lulo (Solanum quitoense Lam) is considered a fruit with a high potential for exportation due to its exotic aroma, its bittersweet taste and the bright green color of its pulp. As a climacteric fruit is harvested when the fruit has reached full development, and 75% of the ripening is apparent by its characteristic yellow color with some small green points. However, this parameter is not enough to decide the right time for the crop, due to the irregularity of the fruits, especially for selling purposes in international markets, hence studies have been conducted to establish the changes during ripening and postharvest. Objectives: The aim of this work was to determine the relationship between color measurement and the other physicochemical parameters in the six ripening stages of lulo Castilla variety, in order to define the optimal harvesting time. Methods: Three fruits were studied for each stage, and were analyzed in the fresh state: ° Brix, pH, titratable acidity and color changes in the cortex, according to CIELab system. Results: The ranges obtained for the six evaluated stages were: ° Brix: 4.2 - 10.3, pH: 3.67 - 3.90, acidity: 2.63 - 3.00 and color (ΔE): 0 - 53. We found that the epicarp of the fruit varies from green to yellow intense, indicating the maturity for consumption. Total soluble solids increased with fruit maturation and the tritatable acidity decreased reaching a minimum values at stage 3, which was considered optimum for harvesting. The pH increased in stage 5 due to the drop of vacuolar H+ ion concentration. Conclusion: By measuring color parameters, 3 ripening stages were defined: green (0, 1, 2); semi ripe (3, 4) and ripe (5).

El borojó (Borojoa patinoi, Cuatrecasas) una rubiacea endémica de la región Pacífica de Colombia, produce un fruto carnoso con importantes propiedades alimenticias que lo posicionan como un recurso genético promisorio. Se usa para preparar conservas y vino, pero su principal uso es como bebida refrescante. Económicamente representa una fuente de ingresos para algunas poblaciones nativas que comercializan la fruta o sus derivados en el mercado local o en las principales ciudades colombianas. El borojó es una planta dioica y los dos sexos no son fenotípicamente distinguibles antes de la floración (3-4 años después de la siembra), por lo cual la productividad de una plantación no seleccionada es sustancialmente reducida. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar marcadores moleculares AFLP (Polimorfismo en la Longitud de Fragmentos Amplificados) asociados al sexo de borojó. Con base en la secuencia de uno de estos marcadores ligados al sexo, se diseñó una pareja de iniciadores de 20 y 22 pb para diagnosticar el sexo de las plantas vía reacción en cadena de la polimerasa. Se analizaron plantas con sexo molecularmente identificado por PCR, encontrándose resultados congruentes entre éstas y los AFLP. Esto representa para los agricultores una oportunidad para establecer cultivos de borojó diseñados en cuanto a espacio y productividad esperada, en términos de número de árboles femeninos y masculinos plantados. Palabras clave: Borojoa patinoi, plantas dioicas, AFLP, marcadores ligados al sexo, diagnóstico de sexo.

Este artí­culo es el resultado de un avance de la investigación “El uso de las habilidades básicas de pensamiento en la lectoescritura en inglés y expresión oral y es-critaâ€, investigación realizada con docentes de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Ibarra a través de una beca de CONSUAN. El objetivo de esta investigación fue analizar el uso que hacen los docentes de estas habilidades en la mediación pedagógica, objetivo que se operativiza a través de indagar el conocimiento que tienen de los procesos de aplicación de estas habilidades y el manejo que hacen en el desarrollo de sus clases. El logro de estos objetivos está orientado a la elaboración de una propu-esta de aplicación, donde haya estrategias de desarrollo de habilidades intelectuales y prácticas en la lecto-escritura, de forma sistemática, continua y consciente.Se utilizó un paradigma cualitativo, de tipo descriptivo; se pretendió conocer cómo el docente hace uso de las habilidades de pensamiento en la mediación pedagógica de la lectoescritura en las aéreas de desem-peño y actitudes predominantes a través de la descripción de las actividades, procesos e interacción con los estudiantes, apoyán-dose en técnicas como la entrevista, la observación participante, teniendo como herramienta el diario de campo, además de técnicas cuantitativas como registros de verificación y una encuesta, que no sólo se limitó a la recolección de datos, sino a la identificación de las relaciones que existen entre la mediación pedagógica, el uso de habilidades de pensamiento y la lecto escritura. Se recogió los datos sobre la base de los objetivos planteados, se confrontó y resumió la información y luego se anal-izó los resultados con la población objeto de estudio a través de talleres y un seminario de asesorí­a, a fin de contribuir con la formación docente y responder al interés mostrado por los docentes en temas de investigación, desde lo cual se logró extraer generalizaciones significativas que contribuyeron a la estructuración de una nueva propuesta de intervención.