Search

Canistel (Pouteria campechiana (Kunth) Baehni; yellow sapote, canistel) is an edible fruit that is native to Mexico; the tree is used as an ornamental and medicinal plant. Descriptive studies were carried out with the objective of characterizing the morphology of the fruit and leaves of trees located in different regions of Mexico to select outstanding specimens for large scale reproduction. The selection of trees was carried out in three geographically neighboring areas, where visible differences have been observed in fruit morphology: size, shape, color, number of seeds, and leaf shape. Semi-ripe fruit were collected from each area, weight and measurements were noted, seeds were extracted, and a data matrix was obtained: (fruit weight (grams), fruit polar diameter (centimeters), fruit equatorial diameter (centimeters), pulp weight (grams), number of seeds, seed weight (grams), seed polar diameter (centimeters), seed equatorial diameter (centimeters), and total soluble solids (SST)). Leaves were collected at the mature stage, and an image analysis was carried out to evaluate morphometric parameters: area, perimeter, major diameter, minor diameter, circularity, solidity, and angle. An analysis of variance was performed to find significant differences in the fruit data and a principal component analysis was performed with the leaf data. In Zone 2, the fruit had three seeds, the highest weight in all the zones sampled (180 to 330 g), and the greatest amount of pulp (198.88 g); they were subglobose in shape, and 33% soluble solids. There were eight months to harvest in Zone 1 and nine months in Zone 3. The main variables in the principal component analysis were leaf area, perimeter, and minor diameter; 84.6% of the variability represented by the first three components is sufficient to explain the difference between the leaves of the three zones. This data can be used to assess the propagation of canistel in areas with favorable climatic conditions for fruiting in tropical and subtropical regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Occupational stress is a phenomenon affecting people worldwide. Investigating occupational stress among immigrant worker populations will unravel some of the intricacies of this condition and its psychological effects on this population. Aim. This paper conceptually examined occupational stress within the context of immigrant workers' mental health and offer an operational definition to aid nurse researchers, educators, and practitioners in assessing and managing patients and developing culturally appropriate interventions for this population. Design. Walker and Avant's eight-step concept analysis is used as an organizing framework. Data Source. MEDLINE, CINAHL, OVID, PubMed, and APA Psych Info. Review Methods. Keywords job stress, immigrant work stress, occupational stress scale, immigrant work-related stress, and mental health were used. The search yielded 142 articles; 17 were selected based on the effect of work stress on mental health. Results. This analysis found that occupational stress can be attributed to communication problems, alienation, discrimination, and barriers to work-life balance can cause negative consequences among immigrants. An operational definition is also provided. Conclusion. There is a growing need to examine closely and differentiate between occupational and acculturative stress to navigate a more profound understanding of how these conditions negatively complement each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to expose and analyze how LGBT students in three public universities in Chiapas, Mexico, are carrying out forms of resistance in response to manifestations of violence and discrimination. The research was based on a qualitative methodology and analyzed through a grounded-theory strategy. We found that LGBT students are not passive victims of discrimination, but rather resist in various ways, making the university a space in dispute over heteropatriarchal norms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bromelia hemisphaerica Lam., a wild plant native to Mexico, has medicinal attributes and is mainly used for its hemisphericin content in foods. However, the residues of its leaves and fruits are underutilized, representing an area of opportunity for foods or materials. Lignocellulosic material from leaves and fruit bagasse was isolated using an organosolv treatment to separate their components (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) and to determine the influence after processing on the physicochemical, thermal and microstructural characteristics. The extracted fiber presented a cellulose content of 44% in the leaf and 33.5% in the fruit. The release of lignin after the organosolv process represented a greater amount of amorphous material in the leaf than in the fruit. By FTIR and X-ray diffraction (DRx), the change in the crystallinity of the cellulose was determined (from 18% higher in the leaf than the fruit before to 14% higher in the fruit after the organosolv process), with values similar to type I cellulose. The thermal properties showed a high order in the structure of the cellulose. Microscopy and digital analysis techniques showed the microstructural changes and the effectiveness of delignification during the process. It is concluded that the leaf fiber of B. hemisphaerica presents characteristics that make it useful as a potential ingredient for food product development and other uses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mezquital Valley (MV), Mexico, is a semi-arid region whose main economic activity is agriculture, this zone is characterized by the use of wastewater for crop irrigation. This condition has increased the amount nutrients in soils, organic carbon content and native microorganisms. The Streptomyces species are a group of saprophytic bacteria that represent between 20 and 60% of the total microbial population in soils, capable of producing metabolites of commercial importance. In this work, Streptomyces species were isolated from agricultural soils of the MV and was evaluated the production of endoglucanases (CMCase) and xylanases (Xyl) in Solid-State Cultivation (SSC). From soil samples, 73 possible strains of Streptomyces species were isolated for their ability to produce CMCase and Xyl in SSC. The study also included its characterization by morphological characteristics. Of the isolated microorganisms, 38 strains were selected as strong enzyme producers according to the measurement of the halo generated in plate and by growth on barley straw as only carbon source. Two different sizes of barley straw particle were tested, finding that the greatest enzymatic activity was observed in particle size 12. Three strains of Streptomyces species were chosen which presented the best catalytic capacities, a maximum of 100.69 AU Xyl/gram dry matter (gdm), 82 AU Xyl/gdm and 26.02 AU CMCase/gdm for strains 30, 28 and 12, respectively. The strains were identified by ribosomal gen16s sequence and identified as S. flavogriseus, S. virginiae and S. griseoaurantiacus. It is the first report of endogluconase and xylanolytic activity by S. virginiae isolated from a semi-arid soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Nomadas (01217550) is the property of Universidad Central and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), has been classified into six lineages using molecular typing markers, which are easily amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. The objective of this work was to identify and geographically locate the isolates of T. cruzi that circulate naturally in triatomines of the municipalities of the State of Hidalgo, Mexico, through the amplification from the conserved region of the mini-exon gene by end point PCR. Method: 170 specimens of hematophagous insects from 14 municipalities from the state of Hidalgo, Mexico, were collected. Optic microscopy and PCR from triatomine fecal and digestive tissue samples were used for laboratory diagnostic of T. cruzi infection and T. cruzi lineage classification. Results: Three triatomines taxas were found: Triatoma dimidiata (87/170), Triatoma mexicana (14/170) y Triatoma gerstaeckeri (7/170). For 36.47% (62/170) of the collected specimens, species could not be determined and were classified as T. spp. T. cruzi infection was determined in 1.76% of the collected specimens through optic microscopy and in 11.18% through PCR. All the classified parasites correspond to the TcI biotype of T. cruzi. Most abundant populations of triatomines (80.58%), as well as, the highest percentage (10.58%) of T. cruzi infected insects, were found in the peridomestic ecotope. Conclusion: The most important vector found in the región of study was Triatoma dimidiata, followed by T. mexicana and T. gerstaekeri and the only T. cruzi biotype found to be infecting triatomines was TcI. The vectors were mainly distributed in the peridomiciliary habitats of the studied municipalities. Results indicate a T. cruzi represents a risk of infection for the inhabitants of the studied regions of the state of Hidalgo, Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Background According to the National Transplant Center (CENATRA), in 2013, a total of 2707 transplantations were performed in Mexico; of them, 10% (270 transplantations) were done in our Tertiary Care Hospital (Western National Medical Center). This means that one in 10 transplant recipients undergoes transplantation at our medical center. The aim of our study was to describe the characteristics of and to compare changes in the kidney transplantation program over time. Materials and Methods This was a cross-sectional study. Data were collected from the hospital transplant registry from January 1994 to December 2014. Results During the study period, 3643 kidney transplantations were conducted; most were living donor 3236 (89%), and only 407 patients (11%) received a graft from a deceased donor. Of living donors, 2786 (87%) were related, and 450 (13%) were genetically unrelated. The average recipient age was 28 years, and the average age of the donor was 34 years. It was observed that siblings donated more frequently (51%), followed by parents (34%). Among unrelated donors, spouses donated the most (66%). In 80% of cases, the cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) was unknown (80%). The most frequent renal replacement therapy was peritoneal dialysis (54%), followed by hemodialysis (18%); only 5% of patients received preemptive kidney transplant. The most frequent immunosuppression scheme was tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and prednisone in 70% of patients. Conclusion The Western National Medical Center is the largest kidney transplantation program in Mexico. The main activity is living donor transplantation. Recipients are relatively young persons with unknown etiology of ESRD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. According to the most recent national nutrition survey (ENSANUT 2006) in Mexico, 18.4% of the population aged 5 years or older was obese, and 19.6% of those children aged 1 year or older were anemic. Although these are two of the most highly prevalent conditions, coexistence of both conditions has not been previously described at the national level. Methods. We carried out a secondary data analysis to determine the frequency of anemia in different categories of body mass index (BMI) and the frequency in which obesity and anemia co-occurred in children between 2 and 18 years of age. We included data from 29,893 children <18 years of age. Results. The highest prevalence of anemia was found among children with low BMI (13.1%), whereas in obese children the corresponding prevalence was 9.6%. Only 1.3% of children presented obesity and anemia, and its coexistence was observed mainly in children <5 years of age (p = 0.001). Being female and being <9 years of age were the two factors significantly associated with the phenomenon under study. Conclusions. The risk for coexistence of obesity and anemia varied according to the gender and age of the children. Integral nutrition education programs are required to simultaneously address both of these issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current demographic research in Mexico evidences the gradual delay of the first union and the younger age at which people have their first sexual relationship: we observe that sexual initiation is becoming less linked to marital union than before. However, unlike what is happening at the national level, among young women and men in the state of Chiapas we have observed that sexuality is still closely linked predominantly with marital union. In this context, using the services of prostitutes seems to be the only option for young men to have sexual relations before and outside marriage. Our qualitative research with young women and men between 15 and 19 years old in three municipalities of the Southern border region of Mexico analyzes the conditions which allow the lack of a pattern that establishes a clear distinction between sexual initiation and married life, as has been documented nationally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the efforts to decarbonize the electricity sector, energy efficiency approaches have consistently shown co-benefits that merit investment and further development. Tools that can help decision-makers evaluate the economic and environmental impacts could accelerate the adoption of energy efficiency measures and support the development of targeted incentives, both spatial and temporally. In this work, a unified, corrected, and high-resolution electricity consumption framework is first developed to produce new data insights with an increased spatial and temporal resolution, allowing the possibility of performing detailed energy policy scenarios. A case scenario for Mexico is constructed, where the impacts in the electrical grid from a suite of energy efficiency measures are quantified at high spatial and temporal resolution. The novel data sets are used to model electricity-reduction approaches in great detail for the most electricity-consuming economic activities in the country. It is shown that commercial electricity consumption is underestimated by up to 3 × in government reports and that US$ 11B could be saved in the wholesale electricity market —equating to 142 MtCO2eq of avoided emissions— if a 12% electricity reduction target is implemented to the top-20 most demanding economic activities over the years 2021–2035. Potential priorities for incentives are identified based on criteria suited for different stakeholders, including economic and environmental justice dimensions. • A framework to address energy data gaps in emerging economies is introduced. • Novel energy data sets are constructed at high spatial and temporal resolution. • Applied to Mexico, 3x commercial electricity consumption differences are revealed. • Energy efficiency measures in Mexico could save up to US$ 11B. • Energy efficiency in Mexico can reduce 18.5% of INDC emissions by 2030. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using our NOAA satellite ground receiving station we have implemented a real-time multispectral fire detection procedure. The Mexican territory is divided into five regions. For each region, time-dependent dynamic temperature threshold values are determined. To avoid solar contamination, nocturnal and early morning Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) Local Area Coverage (LAC) images are used. The model determines hot points using channel 3 data. Channel 4 data are used for determining the environmental (surface) temperature. Channel 1 data are used to detect smoke and pixels having a high albedo (4-7%) due to clouds and ground features. Channel 2 data are used to identify land irregularities. Detected hot points are then brought into a geographic information system for ecosystem classification on a national vegetation map which identifies natural protected areas, fragmented forest and agricultural areas. Two daily reports were delivered during 1999 and 2000 to the corresponding national and state authorities so they could take immediate actions. The fire season of 1998 was the most severe season. Satellite imagery detected many fires not only in Mexico but also in Guatemala and Honduras during April and May. South-westerly winds transported the smoke haze over the Gulf of Mexico reaching the USA from New Mexico to southern Florida and sometimes as far north as over the Great Plains. Comparison of the results show that affected areas have been reduced by 7.3 ha per event (1998), 4.0 ha per event (1999) and 2.8 ha per event (2000), respectively. The most affected regions of the country were as follows—in the south: States of Chiapas, Oaxaca, Tabasco and Quintana Roo; in the centre: Estado de México, Guerrero, Jalisco, Zacatecas and Tamaulipas; in the north-east: Coahuila, Nuevo León; and in the north-west: Chihuahua and Sonora. The areas classified as Fragmented Forest show the maximum number of events (80%). This may be because... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the findings of the pilot study which examines the prevalence of Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks on dogs on the border between Mexico and U.S. It describes the association between the detection of ticks and risk factors. The study has morphologically identified all of the ticks collected from dogs as Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Results of the study reveal 59.6% of ticks in dogs in the city, 46% in Culiacán, Sinaloa, and 20% in Cuernavaca, Morelos.

Purpose: Solid organ transplant recipients are highly susceptible to Toxoplasma gondii infection. We aimed to describe the 12‐month follow‐up risk of seroconversion in renal transplant recipients. Methodology: Anti‐T gondii antibodies were investigated in donors and recipients of renal transplants. In donors, anti‐T gondii were evaluated before transplantation. In recipients, anti‐T gondii were monitored over a 12‐month period to evaluate potential seroconversion or reactivation. IgG and IgM anti‐T gondii antibodies were investigated through enzyme immunoassay and Western blot. Molecular diagnosis was performed on peripheral blood leukocytes using PCR to amplify fragments corresponding to the T gondii B1 gene and the repetitive 529‐bp element. Results: The basal frequency of seropositive IgG anti‐T gondii antibodies was higher in donors than in recipients (38.4% vs 25.2%; P = .03). During the 12‐month follow‐up, the accumulated seroconversion to IgG and IgM antibodies was 3/99 (3.0%), and the accumulated reactivation was 11/99 (11.0%). None of the samples exhibited positivity to T gondii DNA. Conclusions: This study showed that there is an increased risk of seroconversion or reactivation in renal transplant recipients over a 12‐month follow‐up. Our data suggest that prophylaxis with trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole effectively prevented toxoplasmosis, since neither T gondii DNA nor clinical toxoplasmosis was detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• HBV-DNA was undetectable in recipients and donors before kidney transplant. • At three-months follow-up, 2.7% of recipients were positive for HBV. • Similar studies should be performed in Mexican patients with solid organ transplant. • Clinical assessment in OBI patients must be routinely performed. Occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI) is defined as the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in serum and/or liver from HBsAg-negative subjects. Our aim was to determine OBI frequency in serum and genomic DNA in patients undergoing renal transplant and their cognate donors in a selected population from Western Mexico. Blood samples were obtained from 94 donors and their cognate recipients (188 participants) before kidney transplantation. Identification of HBV DNA was carried-out by nested (S-region) and semi-nested (Pol-region) PCR in both genomic and serum DNA samples from 188 participants at pre-surgical stage and from a subset of 73 recipients at three-month follow-up. HBV-DNA was not detected in either genomic or serum DNA samples from recipients or donors prior to transplantation. After three-months of follow-up, 2 out of 73 (2.7%, 95% CI: 0.9–11.9%) recipients were positive to HBV-DNA (Pol-region) in genomic DNA samples using a high sensitivity Taq DNA polymerase. OBI incidence in recipients of kidney transplant may be higher than previously recognized. Detection of HBV-DNA was higher in genomic DNA than in serum samples using a high sensitivity Taq DNA polymerase. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report regarding this specific topic in Mexicans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Mexico, bovine tuberculosis (TB) is one of the main problems which face the national livestock sector. Currently, there are molecular methods for the detection and genotyping of bovine TB, making it possible to determine the relationship between the different strains present in the region and identify some factors influencing the control and eradication programs of the disease in Baja California. In this work the variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR) technique was applied to 11 isolates from cattle slaughtered in a slaughterhouse in Mexicali BC and 10 isolates from cattle slaughtered in a slaughterhouse in Tijuana BC. Specific primers were used to amplify ETR-A, ETR-B, QUB-11a, QUB-11b, QUB-1895, QUB-26, QUB-3232 and QUB-3336 loci, determining the relationship among the isolates, and discriminatory power for each locus in particular and for all loci as a whole. Fourteen allelic profiles were obtained when using eight loci with a discriminatory power of 0.90. The QUB-3336 locus showed the highest discriminatory power (h=0.72) and the ETR-B locus showed no discriminatory power (h=0.00). In a dendrogram, there were six genetic groups with isolates from Tijuana and Mexicali, but some isolates were observed only in one of these areas. The results showed that the movement of livestock and purchase market in the region has led to the dispersal of strains in these two areas; nevertheless, it is possible to differentiate some isolates exclusive of each region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]