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AI has revolutionized the way we interact with technology. Noteworthy advances in AI algorithms and large language models (LLM) have led to the development of natural generative language (NGL) systems such as ChatGPT. Although these LLM can simulate human conversations and generate content in real time, they face challenges related to the topicality and accuracy of the information they generate. This study aimed to assess whether ChatGPT-4 could provide accurate and reliable answers to general dentists in the field of oral surgery, and thus explore its potential as an intelligent virtual assistant in clinical decision making in oral surgery.Thirty questions related to oral surgery were posed to ChatGPT4, each question repeated 30 times. Subsequently, a total of 900 responses were obtained. Two surgeons graded the answers according to the guidelines of the Spanish Society of Oral Surgery, using a three-point Likert scale (correct, partially correct/incomplete, and incorrect). Disagreements were arbitrated by an experienced oral surgeon, who provided the final grade Accuracy was found to be 71.7%, and consistency of the experts' grading across iterations, ranged from moderate to almost perfect.ChatGPT-4, with its potential capabilities, will inevitably be integrated into dental disciplines, including oral surgery. In the future, it could be considered as an auxiliary intelligent virtual assistant, though it would never replace oral surgery experts. Proper training and verified information by experts will remain vital to the implementation of the technology. More comprehensive research is needed to ensure the safe and successful application of AI in oral surgery.

Abstract The sweet potato whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is responsible for significant crop losses and presents one of the greatest challenges for global agricultural pest management. Management of whitefly populations and associated plant viral diseases is hindered by widespread whitefly resistance to chemical insecticides. An alternative control approach involves the use of insect‐specific neurotoxins, but these require delivery from the whitefly gut into the haemocoel. Here we demonstrate that the coat protein (CP) of a begomovirus, Tomato yellow leaf curl virus, is sufficient for delivery of fused proteins into the whitefly haemocoel without virion assembly. Following feeding on the recombinant CP‐P‐mCherry fusion (where ‐P‐ is a proline‐rich linker), mCherry fluorescence was detected in the dorsal aorta and pericardial cells of the whitefly, but not in those of whitefly fed on negative control treatments, indicating effective CP‐mediated delivery of mCherry into the whitefly haemocoel. Significant mortality was observed in whiteflies fed on a fusion of CP‐P to the insect‐specific neurotoxin Hv1a, but not in whiteflies fed on CP‐P fused to a disarmed Hv1a mutant. Begomovirus coat protein – insect neurotoxin fusions hold considerable potential for transgenic resistance to whitefly providing valuable tools for whitefly management.

In health policy-making, various deliberative mechanisms can be used to engage the members of the public in exploring what might be a reasonable course of action. Scurr et al take power dynamics into consideration to analyse a deliberative dialogue involving stakeholders with diverse points of view. Given such asymmetries at play, the conclusions of deliberations could be biased. Scholars would benefit from guidance on designing and evaluating deliberative processes. This commentary aims to broadly reflect on the possible sources of power and information asymmetries in deliberative dialogues, and to bring the biographical resources approach to deal with such asymmetries.

Abstract Sarcomas constitute a heterogeneous group of rare and difficult-to-treat tumors that can affect people of all ages, representing one of the most common forms of cancer in childhood and adolescence. Little is known about the molecular entities involved in sarcomagenesis. Therefore, the identification of processes that lead to the development of the disease may uncover novel therapeutic opportunities. Here, we show that the MEK5/ERK5 signaling pathway plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of sarcomas. By developing a mouse model engineered to express a constitutively active form of MEK5, we demonstrate that the exclusive activation of the MEK5/ERK5 pathway can promote sarcomagenesis. Histopathological analyses identified these tumors as undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas. Bioinformatic studies revealed that sarcomas are the tumors in which ERK5 is most frequently amplified and overexpressed. Moreover, analysis of the impact of ERK5 protein expression on overall survival in patients diagnosed with different sarcoma types in our local hospital showed a 5-fold decrease in median survival in patients with elevated ERK5 expression compared with those with low expression. Pharmacological and genetic studies revealed that targeting the MEK5/ERK5 pathway drastically affects the proliferation of human sarcoma cells and tumor growth. Interestingly, sarcoma cells with knockout of ERK5 or MEK5 were unable to form tumors when engrafted into mice. Taken together, our results reveal a role of the MEK5/ERK5 pathway in sarcomagenesis and open a new scenario to be considered in the treatment of patients with sarcoma in which the ERK5 pathway is pathophysiologically involved.

This article presents a novel approach to designing and validating a fully electronic braking pedal, addressing the growing integration of electronics in vehicles. With the imminent rise of brake-by-wire (BBW) technology, the brake pedal requires electronification to keep pace with industry advancements. This research explores technologies and features for the next-generation pedal, including low-power consumption electronics, cost-effective sensors, active adjustable pedals, and a retractable pedal for autonomous vehicles. Furthermore, this research brings the benefits of the water injection technique (WIT) as the base for manufacturing plastic pedal brakes towards reducing cost and weight while enhancing torsional stiffness. Communication with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) has provided valuable insights and feedback, facilitating a productive exchange of ideas. The findings include two sensor prototypes utilizing inductive technology and printed-ink gauges. Significantly, reduced power consumption was achieved in a Hall-effect sensor already in production. Additionally, a functional BBW prototype was developed and validated. This research presents an innovative approach to pedal design that aligns with current electrification trends and autonomous vehicles. It positions the braking pedal as an advanced component that has the potential to redefine industry standards. In summary, this research significantly contributes to the electronic braking pedal technology presenting the critical industry needs that have driven technical studies and progress in the field of sensors, electronics, and materials, highlighting the challenges that component manufacturers will inevitably face in the forthcoming years.

Abstract Background Olive orchards are threatened by a wide range of pathogens. Of these, Verticillium dahliae has been in the spotlight for its high incidence, the difficulty to control it and the few cultivars that has increased tolerance to the pathogen. Disease resistance not only depends on detection of pathogen invasion and induction of responses by the plant, but also on barriers to avoid the invasion and active resistance mechanisms constitutively expressed in the absence of the pathogen. In a previous work we found that two healthy non-infected plants from cultivars that differ in V. dahliae resistance such as ‘Frantoio’ (resistant) and ‘Picual’ (susceptible) had a different root morphology and gene expression pattern. In this work, we have addressed the issue of basal differences in the roots between Resistant and Susceptible cultivars. Results The gene expression pattern of roots from 29 olive cultivars with different degree of resistance/susceptibility to V. dahliae was analyzed by RNA-Seq. However, only the Highly Resistant and Extremely Susceptible cultivars showed significant differences in gene expression among various groups of cultivars. A set of 421 genes showing an inverse differential expression level between the Highly Resistant to Extremely Susceptible cultivars was found and analyzed. The main differences involved higher expression of a series of transcription factors and genes involved in processes of molecules importation to nucleus, plant defense genes and lower expression of root growth and development genes in Highly Resistant cultivars, while a reverse pattern in Moderately Susceptible and more pronounced in Extremely Susceptible cultivars were observed. Conclusion According to the different gene expression patterns, it seems that the roots of the Extremely Susceptible cultivars focus more on growth and development, while some other functions, such as defense against pathogens, have a higher expression level in roots of Highly Resistant cultivars. Therefore, it seems that there are constitutive differences in the roots between Resistant and Susceptible cultivars, and that susceptible roots seem to provide a more suitable environment for the pathogen than the resistant ones.

Resumen: Todavía son escasas las publicaciones que analizan los efectos en migrantes o minorías étnicas de la COVID-19 o de las medidas adoptadas para frenar la pandemia, si bien los primeros estudios apuntan a un mayor impacto en poblaciones negras, asiáticas y de minorías étnicas en Reino Unido o en migrantes en México. Además de en las barreras de acceso a la información y a los servicios sanitarios, consideramos prioritario poner el foco de atención en sus condiciones de vida, particularmente las de quienes se encuentran en situaciones de vulnerabilidad o exclusión social. Nos referimos a personas desempleadas o con trabajos precarizados, sin prestaciones sociales, en condiciones de hacinamiento, que pueden están más expuestas al riesgo de infección y a no recibir un tratamiento adecuado. Previsiblemente el confinamiento ha repercutido más negativamente en migrantes en situación administrativa irregular, en víctimas de violencia de género y en quienes no pueden cumplir con las medidas de distanciamiento físico, como personas refugiadas en campamentos o migrantes en infraviviendas y asentamientos chabolistas, sin condiciones higiénicas adecuadas. Recomendaciones como suspender las deportaciones, prorrogar o facilitar permisos de residencia y trabajo, cerrar los centros de detención de personas extranjeras, evacuar a quienes están en cárceles y en campos de refugiados o asentamientos se han aplicado de manera desigual en diferentes países. Solo una fuerte apuesta política por la equidad sanitaria mundial puede garantizar la salud de poblaciones migrantes y de minorías étnicas y su acceso a medidas de protección, información, pruebas médicas y servicios sanitarios.Palabras clave: Migrantes, COVID-19, Grupos Minoritarios, Vulnerabilidad Social, Determinantes Sociales de la Salud. Abstract: There are still few publications that analyse the effects on migrants or ethnic minorities of COVID-19 or of measures taken to curb this pandemic, although early studies point to a greater impact on black, asian and ethnic minority populations in the UK or on migrants in Mexico. In addition to barriers to access to information and health services, we consider it a priority to focus on their living conditions, particularly those in situations of vulnerability or social exclusion. People who are unemployed or with precarious jobs, without social benefits, in overcrowded conditions, may be more at risk of infection and not receiving adequate treatment. Confinement has predictably more negative impact on migrants in irregular administrative situations, victims of gender-based violence and those unable to comply with physical estrangement measures, such as refugees in camps or migrants under-living and settlements, without adequate hygienic conditions. Recommendations such as suspending deportations, extending or facilitating residence and work permits, closing detention centres for foreign persons, evacuating those in prisons and refugee camps or settlements have been applied unequally in different countries. Only a strong political commitment to global health equity can ensure the health of migrant populations and ethnic minorities, as well as their access to protection measures, information, medical testing and health services.Keywords: Migrants, COVID-19, Minority Groups, Vulnerable Populations, Social Determinants of Health.

Background: Nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles play a key role in RNA processing and in the gene expression pathway. Interchromatin granules (GICs) involved in the metabolism of pre-messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) were described in Allium cepa and Chiranthodendron pentadactylon. Other particles as Lacandonia granules (LGs) were found in Lacandonia schismatica as well as Ginkgo biloba and Welwitschia mirabilis. LGs are structures equivalent to perichromatin granules (PCGs) described in mammals and to Balbiani ring granules (BRGs) described in the midge Chironomus tentans. PCGs and BRGs are involved in the metabolism of messenger RNA (mRNA). Here, we analyze the extranucleolar particles from Cycas revoluta and Ceratozamia mexicana and compare them to GICs and LGs using conventional electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Species study: Cycas revoluta (Cycadaceae) and Ceratozamia mexicana (Zamiaceae) Hypothesis: The extranucleolar ribonucleoprotein particles in the nuclei of C. revoluta and C. mexicana are equivalent to GICs or GLs. Methods: Fragments of young leaves of C. revoluta and C. mexicana were processed for standard transmission electron microscopy. Thin sections were stained with the EDTA technique preferential for ribonucleoproteins and osmium amine specific for DNA. From the semithin sections the samples were studied with the AFM and images of them were obtained. Results: Ribonucleoprotein particles 32 nm in diameter are present in the interchromatin and perichromatin space in C. revoluta and C. mexicana. Conclusion: Ribonucleoprotein particles present in the cell nuclei of C. mexicana and C. revoluta are ultrastructurally equivalent to LGs. Translate stop Translate stop Translate stop

El presente estudio tiene como objetivo realizar una revisión sistemática exploratoria relacionada con las lesiones en el fútbol a 5 en personas con discapacidad visual. Para la búsqueda de documentos, se emplearon las siguientes palabras clave: “Football 5-a-side” e “Injury”. Las bases de datos utilizadas fueron Web Of Science, Pubmed y Scopus. Para limitar la búsqueda de manuscritos, se establecieron una serie de criterios de inclusión y exclusión con la finalidad de seleccionar documentos adecuados. Tras el procedimiento de búsqueda y análisis de documentos hasta enero del 2021, se seleccionaron nueve manuscritos, siete investigaciones y dos revisiones bibliográficas vinculadas de forma general o específica con las lesiones en el fútbol en personas ciegas. En conclusión, existe evidencia de que las lesiones se producen principalmente en las extremidades inferiores como consecuencia del terreno de juego (espacio reducido con vallas laterales), por el contacto con otros jugadores y, sobre todo, por jugar en ausencia de la visión. Siendo, las zonas más afectadas por las lesiones: el pie, la cadera, las rodillas y los cuádriceps. A partir de estos resultados se recomienda realizar entrenamientos de carácter preventivo antes, durante y después de las competiciones, con la finalidad de evitar posibles lesiones deportivas. Abstract. The present study aims to exploratory systematic review related to injuries in football 5-a-side for people with visual impairment. For the document search, the following keywords were used: “Football 5-a-side” and “Injury”. The databases used were Web of Science, Pubmed and Scopus. To limit the search for manuscripts, a series of inclusion and exclusion criteria were established to select suitable documents. After the document search and analysis procedure until January 2021, nine manuscripts, seven investigations, and two bibliographic reviews were selected, related in a general or specific way, to football injuries for blind people. In conclusion, there is evidence that injuries mainly occur in the lower extremities due to the playground characteristics (reduced space with side fences), by contact with other players, and, above all, by playing in the absence of vision. The most affected body segments by injuries are the foot, hip, knees, and quadriceps. Based on these results, it is recommended to carry out preventive training before, during, and after competitions, to avoid possible sports injuries.

The present study evaluated the effect of convective drying on the physicochemical, functional, and microstructural properties of the powders of leaves of Agave angustifolia Haw (agave espadin) and Agave rhodacantha Trel (agave mexicano) at temperatures of 70, 90, and 110 °C. The leaves correspond to the agro-industrial waste generated by the mezcal industry. The results indicate that convective drying at a temperature of 110 °C induces the greatest microstructural modification of the powders and improves their functional properties compared to thermal treatments at 70 and 90 °C. The obtained powders in the present investigation show important contents of dietary fiber in a range of 45.53 ± 0.07 to 55.31 ± 1.60 g/100 g. According to the results of physicochemical analysis, the obtained powders show high storage stability, pointing out that the employment of convective drying in the processing of agave leaves at high temperatures is an emerging tool for the obtention of waste-derived powders with high impact in the development of future functional foods, while contributing to the mitigation of the environmental impact of the mezcal industry.

El propósito de este estudio es analizar las interrelaciones entre los procesos ejecutivos de la Memoria operativa (MO), la inteligencia fluida y la comprensión lectora, así como su capacidad predictiva respecto del rendimiento académico en Historia. Participaron 26 estudiantes de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria. Los resultados indican que las variables cognitivas correlacionan entre sí y con el rendimiento académico. Los análisis de regresión mostraron que la comprensión lectora es la variable cognitiva de alto nivel que mejor predice el rendimiento académico en dicha materia curricular. Asimismo, el trabajo pone de manifiesto la utilidad de las medidas de MO en ámbitos educativos.

Some complex digital circuits must host various operating systems in a single electronic platform to make real-time and not-real-time tasks compatible or assign different priorities to current applications. For this purpose, some hardware–software techniques—called virtualization—must be integrated to run the operating systems independently, as isolated in different processors: virtual machines. These are monitored and managed by a software tool named hypervisor, which is in charge of allowing each operating system to take control of the hardware resources. Therefore, the hypervisor determines the effectiveness of the system when reacting to events. To measure, estimate or compare the performance of different ways to configure the virtualization, our research team has designed and implemented a specific testbench: an electronic system, based on a complex System on Chip with a processing system and programmable logic, to configure the hardware–software partition and show merit figures, to evaluate the performance of the different options, a field that has received insufficient attention so far. In this way, the fabric of the Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) can be exploited for measurements and instrumentation. The platform has been validated with two hypervisors, Xen and Jailhouse, in a multiprocessor System-on-Chip, by executing real-time operating systems and application programs in different contexts.

By bringing industrial-grade robustness and reliability to Ethernet, Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) offers an IEEE standard communication technology that enables interoperability between standard-conformant industrial devices from any vendor. It also eliminates the need for physical separation of critical and non-critical communication networks, which allows a direct exchange of data between operation centers and companies, a concept at the heart of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). This article describes creating an end-to-end TSN network using specialized PCI Express (PCIe) cards and two final Linux endpoints. For this purpose, the two primary standards of TSN, IEEE 802.1AS (regarding clock synchronization), and IEEE 802.1Qbv (regarding time scheduled traffic) have been implemented in Linux equipment as well as a configuration and monitoring system.

Abstract Background Despite its relevance, almost no studies account for the genetic control in the early stages of tree development, i.e. from germination on. This study seeks to make a quite complete transcriptome for olive development and to elucidate the dynamic regulation of the transcriptomic response during the early-juvenile period by RNAseq time-series expression analysis. The transcriptome was made from 342,049,597 paired-end reads of 101 bp in length. The assembled transcriptome contained 109,125 unigenes (N50 = 1490 bp, average length = 839). Results The time-series-expression analysis showed that, embryonic structures present at the first month after the induction of germination reached a more differentiated state in two-month-old seedlings. Once the plants were between three and four months old and reached a size around 6–7 nodes, the first developmental stages appeared to be complete and the developing seedling became a juvenile plant. In addition, an AGL-gene was rapidly downregulated during the induction of germination. The repression of this gene was very strong, as evidenced by the low levels of gene expression during plant development from the embryonic seedling to undetectable levels of expression in the adult tree. These results suggest that this gene may be involved in seed dormancy and could be a repressor of the germination. Also, an APL1-like olive gene was found to be expressed at high levels during flowering, and was also expressed during the cold incubation in the activation of embryo germination, suggesting a probable role in embryonic development. Conclusions The early development from germination to the juvenile stage of olive seedlings occurred when plants reached a size around 6–7 nodes, and general changes of relevant groups of genes involved in development are described. An AGL-gene was proposed to be involved in germination repression. An APL1-like gene was found to have a probable role in embryonic development.

Abstract Background Genomic DNA extracted from species of Cactaceae is often contaminated with significant amounts of mucilage and pectin. Pectin is one of the main components of cellular walls, whereas mucilage is a complex polysaccharide with a ramified structure. Thus, pectin- and mucilage-free extraction of DNA is a key step for further downstream PCR-based analyses. Results We tested our DNA extraction method on cladode tissue (juvenile, adult, and herbaria exemplars) of 17 species of Opuntia Mill., which are characterized by a large quantity of pectin and mucilage. Conclusion We developed a method for the extraction of gDNA free of inhibitory compounds common in species of Opuntia Mill., such as pectin and mucilage. Compared to previously extraction protocols, our method produced higher yields of high-quality genomic DNA.

The conditions for the synthesis of a material with MnO2 (OMD) on activated carbon (AC) were studied. These conditions were: reaction time, temperature, stirring speed, concentrations of AC, H2SO4, and O3 in solution, and particle size. Agglomerates on AC were observed by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and microanalysis by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and revealed the presence of OMD deposited on the surface. The activation energy and the factor of frequency for the reaction were determined as Ea = 1.2 kcal/mol and A = 2.2. The value of Ea indicates that the precipitation of OMD on the AC was controlled by mass transfer in aqueous solution and the order of reaction was zero. The adsorption capacities of AC were q = 14 mg Pb(II)/g AC and q = 9.1 mg As(V)/g AC. Whereas, for the OMD/AC obtained in the following conditions: [AC] 1 or 2 g/L, particle size of AC of +0.59 mm, [H2SO4] 1 or 2 mol/L, 25 °C, stirring speed 600 rpm, and [O3] 1.35 mol/L, the adsorption capacities were q = 90.5 mg Pb(II)/g OMD/AC and 25.4 mg As(V)/g OMD/AC. Therefore, the fixing of OMD on the surface of the AC greatly improved the removal of both Pb(II) and As(V)from aqueous solutions.

Smart grid endpoints need to use two environments within a processing system (PS), one with a Linux-type operating system (OS) using the Arm Cortex-A53 cores for management tasks, and the other with a standalone execution or a real-time OS using the Arm Cortex-R5 cores. The Xen hypervisor and the OpenAMP framework allow this, but they may introduce a delay in the system, and some messages in the smart grid need a latency lower than 3 ms. In this paper, the Linux thread latencies are characterized by the Cyclictest tool. It is shown that when Xen hypervisor is used, this scenario is not suitable for the smart grid as it does not meet the 3 ms timing constraint. Then, standalone execution as the real-time part is evaluated, measuring the delay to handle an interrupt created in programmable logic (PL). The standalone application was run in A53 and R5 cores, with Xen hypervisor and OpenAMP framework. These scenarios all met the 3 ms constraint. The main contribution of the present work is the detailed characterization of each real-time execution, in order to facilitate selecting the most suitable one for each application.

The green peach aphid Myzus persicae Sulzer is the main vector of the semipersistently transmitted and phloem-limited Beet yellows virus (BYV, Closterovirus). Studies monitoring the M. persicae probing behavior by using the Electrical penetration graphs (EPG) technique revealed that inoculation of BYV occurs during unique brief intracellular punctures (phloem-pds) produced in companion and/or sieve element cells. Intracellular stylet punctures (or pds) are subdivided in three subphases (II-1, II-2 and II-3), which have been related to the delivery or uptake of non-phloem limited viruses transmitted in a non-persistent or semipersistent manner. As opposed to non-phloem limited viruses, the specific pd subphase(s) involved in the successful delivery of phloem limited viruses by aphids remain unknown. Therefore, we monitored the feeding process of BYV-carrying M. persicae individuals in sugar beet plants by the EPG technique and the feeding process was artificially terminated at each phloem-pd subphase. Results revealed that aphids that only performed the subphase II-1 of the phloem-pd transmitted BYV at similar efficiency than those allowed to perform subphase II-2 or the complete phloem-pd. This result suggests that BYV inoculation occurs during the first subphase of the phloem-pd. The specific transmission mechanisms involved in BYV delivery in phloem cells are discussed.

Background: Lacandonia granules are extranucleolar ribonucleoprotein (RNPs) particles, 32 nanometers in diameter that were first described in the nucleus of Lacandonia schismatica. Cytochemical and immunocytochemical studies suggest that these particles are equivalent to perichromatin and Balbiani ring granules described in mammals and salivary glands cells of the insect Chironomus tentans, respectively. Lacandonia granules are also present in the related Triuris brevystilis, and they were later described in the gymnosperm Ginkgo biloba. These findings suggest that Lacandonia granules have a wider distribution in the plant kingdom. Species study: The plant Welwitschia mirabilis, a gymnosperm of the order Gnetales. Hyphotesis: Lacandonia granules are present in the cell nucleus of W. mirabilis. Methods: Plants were cultivated in a germination chamber and samples of leaves were processed for transmission electron microscopy. Thin sections were stained with the EDTA technique preferential for ribonucleoproteins and osmium amine specific for DNA and observed with a microscopy. Results: Light, electronic and atomic force microscopy revealed that cell nuclei of W. mirabilis display a reticulated arrangement of chromatin. Moreover, granules of 32.17 ± 1.7 nm in diameter were observed among strands of reticulated chromatin. Conclusions: Our results indicate that Lacandonia granules are present in the nuclei of the gnetal W. mirabilis.

Resumen En el presente trabajo se reportan los resultados de un estudio cuyo objetivo consiste en analizar el nivel de participación alcanzado por los involucrados en procesos estructurados de planeación, usando una técnica grupal. Para el análisis se utilizó un instrumento de medición del nivel de la participación conocido como la Escalera de Participación Ciudadana de Arnstein. Una de las principales aportaciones de este estudio radica en hacer un acercamiento a la participación de los involucrados en los procesos de planeación de sus propias organizaciones. La participación constituye una oportunidad largamente anhelada y pocas veces alcanzada por los trabajadores, a pesar de los esfuerzos realizados por los especialistas en la aplicación de técnicas grupales. La Escalera de Arnstein es una tipología de ocho niveles de participación que sirve para el análisis de este importante aspecto, con frecuencia desatendido en el ámbito académico y aún más en el ámbito de la consultoría. Los ocho niveles de participación son arreglados en una escalera en donde cada peldaño corresponde al espectro del poder que adquieren los involucrados en la toma de decisiones respecto de la elaboración del plan estratégico que habrá de definir el futuro de sus organizaciones. Los autores de este artículo han trabajado por varios años en la modelación y aplicación de una técnica grupal para conducir procesos de planeación estratégica. Esta técnica ha evolucionado debido a los cambios que se han experimentado en las organizaciones mexicanas, su nueva configuración le permite un continuo aseguramiento de la participación vía reuniones de retroalimentación. Gracias a esta mejora, acorde con los resultados encontrados en el presente estudio, el nivel de participación de los involucrados llega a los peldaños más altos de la Escalera de Arnstein. Abstract In this paper we report the results of a study we carried out with the purpose of analysing participation levels reached by the stakeholders in planning processes, using a group technique. For the analysis, we used a participation measurement instrument known as Arnstein’s Ladder of Citizen Participation. One of the main contributions of this study lays in doing an approach to the participation of people involved in the processes of planning their own organizations. The participation of the stakeholders [individuals involved] in the planning processes of their own organizations is a long sought, but seldom achieved opportunity by the workers, despite efforts made by specialists of group techniques. The Arnstein’s Ladder is a typology of eight levels of participation that aids in the analysis of this important aspect of the planning process, frequently unattended in academia, and even less so in consulting. The eight levels of participation are mapped along a ladder where each step corresponds to the breadth of power obtained by individuals in the decision-making process with respect to the strategic plans that will define the future of their organization. The authors of this paper] have worked for many years in modelling and applying a group technique to conduct participative strategic planning processes. This technique has evolved according to the accelerated changes experienced by Mexican organizations. The new configuration of such technique allows a continuous monitoring of organizational performance via periodic feedback meetings. Thanks to this improvement, according to the results found in this study, the level of participation of stakeholders reaches the highest steps in Arnstein’s ladder.

Es la que se realiza con embarcaciones cuya capacidad oscila entre las 40 y 100 toneladas, equipadas con redes de arrastre y dedicadas especialmente a la captura de camarón y langostino, con fines industriales, lo cual involucra un proceso previo a su comercialización.

Jatropha spp., es un importante recurso fitogenético usado como alimento, medicina y biocombustible. En este estudio verificamos la identidad taxonómica de las especies de Jatropha para la Reserva de la Biosfera Tehuacán-Cuicatlán, y las unidades ambientales (UA) que ocupan. Evaluamos el estado de conservación de sus hábitats y la vulnerabilidad de las poblaciones de Jatropha. Los sitios de muestreo seleccionados en la Reserva fueron 15. El trabajo taxonómico estuvo basado en especímenes, descripciones originales y material tipo de herbarios y aquellos en línea. Las UA fueron clasificadas mediante variables biofísicas y el software gvSIG. Los atributos ecológicos fueron determinados con análisis cuantitativo por el método de cuadrado centrado en un punto; el disturbio fue estimado a través de indicadores de sitio, y el estado de conservación de las poblaciones de Jatropha con el Método para la Evaluación de Riesgo de Extinción de Plantas en México (MER). Jatropha frecuentemente dominó la fisonomía de las comunidades vegetales. La distribución actual de las especies de Jatropha en la Reserva estuvo principalmente determinada por las variables altitud, temperatura y precipitación. Las especies confirmadas fueron: Jatropha ciliata Sessé ex Cerv., Jatropha neopauciflora Pax, Jatropha oaxacana J. Jiménez Ram. & R. Torres, Jatropha rufescens Brandegee, y Jatropha rzedowskii J. Jiménez Ram., las cuales estuvieron distribuidas en cuatro de las seis UA definidas. J. neopauciflora y J. rzedowskii son las especies más ampliamente distribuidas; estas últimas especies concurrieron en cuatro, J. oaxacana en dos, mientras que J. rufescens y J. ciliata en una UA, siendo ésta la especie más restringida. La riqueza de géneros en las comunidades asociadas varió entre 16 y 42. Los máximos y mínimos Índices de Valores de Importancia fueron observados en San Nicolás Tepoxtitlan para J. neopauciflora (53.75%) y J. rzedowskii (1.50%). El índice de disturbio varió entre 0.22 y 0.82, con promedio de 0.51, mientras que la variable ganado tuvo mayor contribución. Considerando las categorías de riesgo del MER, concluimos que J. oaxacana requiere protección especial, mientras que J. ciliata y J. rufescens fueron especies en riesgo de extinción. El estado de conservación de los hábitats ocupados por poblaciones de Jatropha spp. es moderado, tomando en cuenta la tasa de disturbio. Los principales factores que afectan a los hábitats de Jatropha son el ganado y las actividades humanas; la composición florística de las comunidades vegetales tuvo baja riqueza. Estos resultados apoyan la necesidad de establecer estrategias de conservación para evitar la pérdida de importantes poblaciones silvestres de Jatropha.

This study investigated starch content, amount of pathogen DNA and density of occluded vessels in healthy and Verticillium dahliae infected olive shoots and stems. Starch hydrolysis is considered a mechanism to refill xylem vessels that suffered cavitation by either, drought conditions or pathogen infections. The main objective of this work was to evaluate this mechanism in olive plants subjected to V. dahliae infection or to drought conditions, in order to know the importance of cavitation in the development of wilting symptoms. In initial experiments starch content in the shoots was studied in trees of cultivars differing in the level of resistance growing in fields naturally infested with V. dahliae. The starch content, esteemed by microscopic observation of stem transversal sections stained with lugol, decreased with the level of symptom severity. Results were confirmed in a new experiment developed with young plants of cultivars ‘Picual’ (highly susceptible), ‘Arbequina’ (moderately susceptible) and ‘Frantoio’ (resistant), growing in pots under greenhouse conditions, either inoculated or not with V. dahliae. In this experiment, the pathogen DNA content, quantified by real-time PCR, and the density of occluded vessels, recorded by microscopic observations of transversal sections stained with toluidine blue, were related to the symptoms severity caused by the pathogen. Finally, a drought experiment was established with young plants of the cultivar ‘Picual’ grown in pots under greenhouse conditions in order to compare the effects caused by water deficit with those caused by the pathogen infection. In both cases, results show that starch hydrolysis occurred, what indirectly evidence the importance of xylem cavitation in the development of the symptoms caused by V. dahliae but in the water stressed plants no vessel occlusion was detected.

Background: The family Fagaceae is one of the most important in temperate regions of the Northern hemisphere. Fagus and Quercus are distributed in Mexico, the former in Northeastern Mexico, while the latter reaches a high diversity in the Sierra Madre Oriental, Mexico. In Hidalgo state, located mainly in the Sierra Madre Oriental, knowledge of the Fagaceae diversity is still uncertain. Questions and/or hypothesis: We carried out a taxonomic revision of the genus and species of Fagaceae in Hidalgo state. We determined how many and which species are distributed in Hidalgo. We also present a morphological description and ecological characters of each one. Studied species: The species of the family Fagaceae Study site: Hidalgo state, Mexico. Method: We collected herbarium specimens, made field observations and reviewed herbarium data of Fagaceae specimens at FCME, INEGI, MEXU, ENCB, SLPM, HUMO, XAL and partly BH herbaria. In addition, we checked taxonomic literature and protologues of each species. Results: We found one species of Fagus and 43 of Quercus, 22 of which belong to the section Quercus (white oaks) and 21 to section Lobatae (red oaks). Morphological descriptions, altitudinal and geographical distribution, vegetation types of each species and a dichotomous key for species identification are presented. Illustrations and photographs of the species are also included. Conclusions: A high diversity of Fagaceae species is present in Hidalgo state. In Mexico, Hidalgo ranks in fifth place for oak species diversity, just behind Oaxaca (50 species), Puebla (50), San Luis Potosí (45), and Jalisco (45).

Se describen las actividades de investigación en el área de catálisis que se realizan en el Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares (ININ) y se refieren las atribuciones que por mandato legal tiene el Instituto. Se incluyen las líneas de investigación, contribuciones y los principales logros en este campo obtenidos a través de los años. También se presenta información sobre la infraestructura con que cuenta el Instituto para llevar a cabo investigación sobre catálisis. Se menciona la importancia del trabajo de colaboración nacional e internacional, así como la formación de recursos humanos. Por último, se presentan las perspectivas de investigación y desarrollo en nuestra institución en el campo de la catálisis.

Olive cultivation is affected by a wide range of biotic constraints. Verticillium wilt of olive is one of the most devastating diseases affecting this woody crop, inflicting major economic losses in many areas, particularly within the Mediterranean Basin. Little is known about gene-expression changes during plant infection by of woody plants such as olive. A complete RNA-seq transcriptomic analysis of olive tree roots was made. Trinity assembler proved to be the best option to assemble the olive and transcriptomes. The olive transcriptome (Oleup) consisted of 68,259 unigenes (254,252 isoforms/transcripts), and the transcriptome (Vedah) consisted of 37,425 unigenes (52,119 isoforms/transcripts). Most unigenes of the Oleup transcriptome corresponded to cellular processes (12,339), metabolic processes (10,974), single-organism processes (7263), and responses to stimuli (5114). As for the Vedah transcriptome, most unigenes correspond to metabolic processes (25,372), cellular processes (23,718), localization (6385), and biological regulation (4801). Differential gene-expression analysis of both transcriptomes was made at 2 and 7 d post-infection. The induced genes of both organisms during the plant-pathogen interaction were clustered in six subclusters, depending on the expression patterns during the infection. Subclusters A to C correspond to plant genes, and subcluster D to F correspond to genes. A relevant finding was that the differentially expressed gene (DEGs) included in subclusters B and C were highly enriched in proteolysis as well as protein-folding and biosynthesis genes. In addition, a reactive oxygen species (ROS) defense was induced first in the pathogen and later in the plant roots.

La polilla del tomate (Tuta absoluta Meyrick; Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) es una de las plagas más devastadoras del tomate en Colombia y países suramericanos, produciendo pérdidas de hasta el 100% en cultivos sin protección. En 2009, T. absoluta se detectó en España, Portugal y países del mediterráneo, además de Inglaterra, Bulgaria y Alemania. Para su control se utilizan insecticidas químicos que generan resistencia e impacto ambiental y de salud. La alternativa de utilizar biopesticidas contra esta plaga es de importancia creciente. En este estudio se evaluaron cinco métodos de bioensayo para medir adecuadamente la toxicidad sobre larvas de T. absoluta de tres productos comerciales: Dipel®, XenTary® y Turilav®, formulaciones a base de Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). El método de Inmersión del folíolo, con el producto Dipel®, causó el 100% de mortalidad de larvas y 96% de supervivencia del testigo; este método presentó diferencias significativas al segundo (F=0,025, p>0,05) y cuarto (F=0,0018, p>0,05) día después de la aplicación (DDA). El método de Aspersión foliar por aerógrafo produjo 100% de mortalidad de larvas con Dipel® al segundo DDA (F=7,94x10-10, p> 0,05), y produjo diferencias significativas también al cuarto DDA (F=3,45x10-6, p>0,05). Los métodos Foliolos sumergidos y Medio de cultivo provocaron una alta mortalidad en el control por lo que fueron rechazados. El uso de Dipel®, XenTari® y Turilav® en concentración de 1,25 g/L causó entre 80-100% de mortalidad entre el segundo y octavo DDA en tres métodos evaluados válidos (i, ii, v), además corrobora la actividad biológica de B. thuringiensis sobre este insecto plaga. Palabras clave: Tuta absoluta, Bacillus thuringiensis, Dipel®, XenTary®, Turilav® Abstract: The tomato moth (Tuta absoluta Meyrick; Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is one of the most devastating pest of tomato in Colombia and South American countries producing losses of up to 100% on unprotected crops. In 2009, T. absoluta was detected in Spain, Portugal and the Mediterranean countries, besides England, Bulgaria and Germany. For control it chemical insecticides are used, these generate resistance and environmental and human health impact. The alternative of using biopesticides against this pest is of increasing importance. This study evaluated five bioassay methods that properly measure the toxicity on larvae of T. absoluta of three commercial products: Dipel®, XenTary® and Turilav® based formulations in Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). The method "leaf dipping bioassay" caused with the product Dipel® 100% mortality of larvae and 95% survival of the control group. The other products showed significant differences to 2nd (F=0.025, p> 0.05), 4th (F=0.0018, p> 0.05) day after application (DAA). The "leaf spray airbrush" method used, produced with Dipel® 100% mortality of larvae to 2nd DAA with significant differences with the other products tested (F=7.94x10-10, p> 0.05 ), 4th (F=3.45x10-6, p> 0.05 ) and the 8th (F=1.07x10-5, p> 0.05 ) DAA. Methods "leaflets submerged" and "culture medium" caused high mortality in control being rejected. A variation of the leaflet immersion method was standardized. The three commercial product on concentration of 1.25 g/L produced high mortality in Lab conditions against control of larvae of T. absolute, corroborating the biological activity of B. thuringiensis on this insect pest. Key words: Tuta absoluta, Bacillus thuringiensis, Dipel®, XenTary®, Turilav®

A collateral effect of the globalization of the economy is the “globalization of science”, in the sense that part of it works at the service of the global economy. Part of the scientific production thus appears to be linked to the needs of the global markets. However, in the past 20 years, new alternative ways of “doing science” have emerged throughout the world whose most important characteristic is their intimate relationship with the solution of felt problems linked to local or regional communities. Although they share some of the characteristics of “Mode 2” research, as defined by GIBBONS et al (1994), they differ drastically in the sense that they really are socially responsible. These new forms are a response to the need to make scientific research more participative, more closely linked to the groups that would be affected by its results, incorporating thus in the decision-making process, not only the researchers themselves, but also those agents that would be directly affected by its products. This paper reflects upon an experience that currently takes place in Mexico, where research is intimately linked to the learning function, and is strongly rooted into the New Information and Communication Technologies (NICT). This form of doing “research in the service of humanity” is consistent with an alternative definition of development that is not necessarily linked to “growth”, as traditionally reflected in economic statistics. Development is not a question of what one has, but of what one can do with what one has. Development is the ability and desire to use what is available to continuously improve one’s quality of life (ACKOFF, 1974). Projects like the one described here provide a sense of progress in the right direction, in the direction of true development. We call this way of knowledge generation “Mode 3”, to differentiate it from Mertonian (Mode 1) and Gibbons’ (Mode 2) way of doing science. Mode 3 is a mode of knowledge production whose distinctive characteristic is a commitment to be at the service of mankind.

Objetivos: Evaluar la adecuación de los sitios web destinados a proporcionar información para la realización de seguimiento farmacoterapéutico a 4 códigos de conducta. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo del cumplimiento de los criterios de calidad de 19 sitios web seleccionados por ser los de mayor utilización por los farmacéuticos en un estudio previo. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo y se estimó el coeficiente kappa para valorar la concordancia entre evaluadores (criterios de Fleiss). Resultados y conclusiones: Fisterra fue la página mejor valorada en los 4 códigos, y la fuente de acceso a guías clínicas mejor calificada. La Cochrane Library y Pubmed las mejor valoradas en revisiones y fuentes secundarias. JAMA y British Medical Journal fueron las revistas mejor calificadas seguidas de Atención Primaria y Medicina Clínica. Entre los vademécums, el BOT y el Martindale obtuvieron las mejores calificaciones y el Boletín Terapéutico Andaluz y el Butlletí Groc recibieron altas calificaciones de entre los boletines de medicamentos. La Organización Mundial de la Salud fue la agencia mejor calificada. Los sitios con menor calificación fueron Pharmaceutical Care, Seguimiento Farmacoterapéutico y el Vademécum Internacional España MediMedia-Medicom. La concordancia entre evaluadores fue aceptable para los 4 códigos. Conclusiones: La calidad de los sitios web que utilizan los farmacéuticos es muy variable, aunque la mayoría superan los 60 puntos (sobre 100) en los 4 códigos de conducta usados en la evaluación.Objectives: To assess adherence to four codes of conduct in websites providing information useful for pharmacotherapy follow-up. Methods: We performed a descriptive study of adherence to quality criteria in 19 websites. These sites had been identified in a previous study as being those most frequently used by pharmacists. A descriptive analysis was performed and the kappa coefficient was calculated to evaluate interrater concordance (Fleiss' criteria for evaluation of the kappa index). Results: The most highly rated source of clinical practice guidelines and that which adhered most closely to the 4 codes of conduct was Fisterra. The websites most highly rated in reviews and secondary sources were the Cochrane Library and PubMed. The most highly rated journals were JAMA and the BMJ, followed by Atención Primaria and Medicina Clínica. Among drug information guides, the highest scores were obtained by BOT and Martindale's. The highest rated drug bulletins were the Boletín Terapéutico Andaluz and Butlletí Groc. The most highly rated agency was the World Health Organization. The journals with the lowest scores were Pharmaceutical Care and Seguimiento Farmacoterapéutico followed by the Spanish Internacional Vademecum MediMedia-Medicom. According to Fleiss's criteria, interrater concordance was acceptable for the 4 codes. Conclusions: The quality of the web sites evaluated varied widely, although most received scores of more than 60 points (out of 100) in the 4 codes of conduct used for evaluation.

Smart Grids (SGs) constitute the evolution of the traditional electrical grid towards a new paradigm, which should increase the reliability, the security and, at the same time, reduce the costs of energy generation, distribution and consumption. Electrical microgrids (MGs) can be considered the first stage of this evolution of the grid, because of the intelligent management techniques that must be applied to assure their correct operation. To accomplish this task, sensors and actuators will be necessary, along with wireless communication technologies to transmit the measured data and the command messages. Wireless Sensor and Actuator Networks (WSANs) are therefore a promising solution to achieve an intelligent management of MGs and, by extension, the SG. In this frame, this paper surveys several aspects concerning the application of WSANs to manage MGs and the electrical grid, as well as the communication protocols that could be applied. The main concerns regarding the SG deployment are also presented, including future scenarios where the interoperability of different generation technologies must be assured.

Modern digital systems demand increasing electronic resources, so the multiprocessor platforms are a suitable solution for them. This approach provides better results in terms of area, speed, and power consumption compared to traditional uniprocessor digital systems. Reconfigurable multiprocessor systems are a particular type of embedded system, implemented using reconfigurable hardware. This paper presents a review of this emerging research area. A number of state-of-the-art systems published in this field are presented and classified. Design methods and challenges are also discussed. Advances in FPGA technology are leading to more powerful systems in terms of processing and flexibility. Flexibility is one of the strong points of this kind of system, and multiprocessor systems can even be reconfigured at run time, allowing hardware to be adjusted to the demands of the application.

Um dos efeitos colaterais da globalização da economia é a “globalização da ciência”. Parte da produção científica parece estar ligada às necessidades dos mercados globais. Nos últimos 20 anos, surgiram pelo mundo formas alternativas de se “fazer ciência” cuja característica mais importante é sua íntima relação com a solução de problemas de comunidades locais ou regionais. Esse artigo reflete sobre a experiência que está acontecendo atualmente no México, onde a pesquisa está intensamente ligada à função de aprendizagem, e está fortemente enraizada nas Novas Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação.

Se propone e ilustra a Magnolia guerrerensis (Magnoliaceae) como una entidad nueva del bosque mesófilo de montaña en el estado de Guerrero, México. Este taxón es afín a M. schiedeana Schltdl., pero difiere de ésta por presentar estípulas más pequeñas, flores pediceladas y gineceo con menos carpelos. También se incluye una clave para distinguir ambas especies.

Se presenta un experimento sencillo de fotocatálisis, el cual consiste en preparar diferentes concentraciones de un compuesto orgánico a degradar, en este caso sal sódica de fluoresceína, adicionándoles óxido de titanio e irradiándolas con luz UV de 354 nm, en agitación continua y burbujeo de aire. La reacción se llevó a cabo en un cuarto oscuro y a temperatura ambiente. Los resultados obtenidos se graficaron para observar la cantidad de compuesto degradado.

Las plagas que atacan cultivos de llores bajo invernadero son cada vez más importantes por la gravedad de su daño y por la alta densidad con que suelen presentarse. Para su control se ha acudido principalmente a la utilización de productos químicos, lo cual conduce a un aumento en los costos de producción, a contaminar el medio ambiente, a afectar la salud humana y a crear resistencia de los insectos a los insecticidas. Debido a esto, es necesario incluír dentro de los programas de control a los reguladores naturales de las plagas: parasitoides, depredadores y microorganismos entornógenos. En el presente trabajo se registran los enemigos naturales más importantes de las principales plagas en llores bajo invernadero (crisantemo, rosa y clavel): Liriomyza huidobrensis Blanchard, L. trifolii Burgess (Diptera: Agrornyzídae); Myzuz persicae Sulzer (Homoptera: Aphididae); Tetranychus urticae Koch y T. cinnabarinus Boísduval (Acarina: Tetranychidae); también se señalan las plantas hospedantes alternas presentes en las localidades donde se realizó la investigación.

La liberalidad como causa suficiente en nuestro derecho cambiario