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This paper presents, from an approach of archaeothanatology, osteobiography, bioarchaeology of care and palimpsest, the analysis of one of the most important archaeological findings recently made in western Mexico. It is about a female person buried in a lavish tomb in the Tingambato archaeological site, Michoacán, Mexico, dated 1400 years ago, with more than 19,000 objects covering her body. This research presents the results of the work of almost a decade of studies carried out by different methods on this individual: morphophysical studies, taphonomy, dating, genetics, as well as various techniques of virtual archaeology among others. Through the Index of Care it was possible to systematize all the information obtained by different study methods and integrate it for analysis. The use of archaeothanatology and the Index of Care makes it possible to perform analyses on specific individuals from the past to establish their health conditions and the probable causes of death. The main limitation that arose was the poor state of preservation in which we received the bones, which unfortunately did not allow us to carry out some morphoscopic and taphonomic studies that would have been relevant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new estimate of the Epiclassic chronological interval (6th to 9th centuries) is proposed for the archaeological site of San José de Los Ranchos, located in Los Altos de Jalisco, near the city of Lagos de Moreno. This site is part of the cultural space of the western Mexico. The date was obtained through an archaeomagnetic analysis of ceramic materials from a cist-type tomb found at old hacienda located in the foothills of the Sierra Alta, next to the valley of the Lagos River. This archaeological site is a settlement of farmers, possibly linked to neighboring sites such as El Cerrito in the town of El Cuarenta; Los Cerritos in Lagos de Moreno and El Cóporo in the neighboring state of Guanajuato. The materials recovered in the tomb, consisting of pottery, shell beads and miniature zoomorphic and anthropomorphic figurines. The new periodization allows us to date the beginning of the Mesoamerican occupation of the Lagos River valley from the 6th century, in addition to dates obtained by previous investigations. In this way, it can be established that the villages in the valley date from the end of the Mesoamerican classic period, with its peak in the epiclassic era and possibly concluding at the beginning of the postclassic period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Capacha culture developed in the Colima Valley at the end of the Early Preclassic and beginning of the Middle Preclassic. This is one of the most enigmatic human groups of Western Mexico, because there are not known contexts beyond their funerary offerings, which are rich in ceramic materials. We conducted spot-test chemical residue analysis of 50 Capacha vessels of 11 different shapes, all of them recovered by Kelly in the 1960s and 1970s and kept in the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. Results might be associated with diverse preparations of foodstuff rich in protein, according to the presence of protein residues. The archaeological context from where the vessels were obtained, the size, and the chemical residues suggested that some pieces might have been used to offer blood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents, from an approach of archaeothanatology, osteobiography, bioarchaeology of care and palimpsest, the analysis of one of the most important archaeological findings recently made in western Mexico. It is about a female person buried in a lavish tomb in the Tingambato archaeological site, Michoacán, Mexico, dated 1400 years ago, with more than 19,000 objects covering her body. This research presents the results of the work of almost a decade of studies carried out by different methods on this individual: morphophysical studies, taphonomy, dating, genetics, as well as various techniques of virtual archaeology among others. Through the Index of Care it was possible to systematize all the information obtained by different study methods and integrate it for analysis. The use of archaeothanatology and the Index of Care makes it possible to perform analyses on specific individuals from the past to establish their health conditions and the probable causes of death. The main limitation that arose was the poor state of preservation in which we received the bones, which unfortunately did not allow us to carry out some morphoscopic and taphonomic studies that would have been relevant. SPANISH: Este artículo presenta, desde un enfoque de la arqueotanatología, la osteobiografía, la bioarqueología del cuidado y el palimpsesto, el análisis de uno de los hallazgos arqueológicos más importantes realizados recientemente en el Occidente de México. Se trata de una persona del sexo femenino enterrada en una fastuosa tumba del sitio arqueológico de Tingambato, Michoacán, México, fechado hace 1400 años, con más de 19000 objetos que cubrían su cuerpo. Esta investigación presenta los resultados del trabajo de casi una década de estudios realizados mediante diferentes métodos sobre este individuo: morfofísicos, tafonomía, datación, genética, así como diversas técnicas de arqueología virtual entre otras. Mediante el índice de cuidado fue posible sistematizar toda la información obtenida por los diferentes métodos de estudio e integrarla para su análisis. El uso de la arqueotanatología y el índice de cuidado permite realizar análisis sobre individuos específicos del pasado para establecer sus condiciones de salud y las probables causas de su muerte. La principal limitación que se planteó fue el mal estado de conservación en que recibimos los huesos, lo cual, lamentablemente, no nos permitió realizar algunos estudios morfoscópicos y tafonómicos que hubieran sido relevantes.

Obesity is a public health problem with a growing prevalence worldwide. In Mexico, it is estimated that one out of three adults suffer from obesity. In these patients, the intestinal microbiota (IM) undergoes pathological changes that are associated with a dysbiotic state; however, the microbiota profile of adult subjects with obesity from western Mexico has not been described. To assess this, fecal samples were obtained from 65 participants (Obese = 38; Control = 27). The microbial composition was characterized by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. The IM of the group with obesity revealed a clear decrease in richness and diversity (p < 0.001), as well as a significant increase in proinflammatory bacterial groups, mainly genera belonging to the Negativicutes class, Escherichia/Shigella, and Prevotella. Likewise, an increase in short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria was found, especially the genus Lachnoclostridium. Additionally, PICRUSt2 analysis showed a depletion of vitamin B9 metabolism and an increase in saccharolytic pathways. The IM of patients with obesity possesses a dysbiotic, proinflammatory environment, possibly contributing to lipogenesis and adiposity. Thus, assessing the IM will allow for a better understanding of the pathophysiology of metabolic diseases of high prevalence, such as obesity. These findings are described for the first time in the adult population of western Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mitote festivals are the main ceremonies of the agricultural cycle among the current indigenous groups of the Sierra del Nayar: Coras, Huichols, Tepehuanes and Mexicaneros. These are carried out on stony hills outside the towns and some anthropologists consider them a pre-Hispanic remnant. The ethnographic analogy and especially the ethnoarchaeological record of a mitote cora patio allowed us to interpret certain archaeological sites in wild and difficultto-access areas with evidence of culinary practices but that were not permanently inhabited as ceremonial centers, that is, as patios of mitote and confirm that this type of ceremonies did begin in pre-Hispanic times, at least in the south of Sinaloa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HLA-G is a physiology and pathologic immunomodulator detrimentally related to cancer. Its gene is heavily transcriptionally and post-transcriptionally regulated by variants located in regulator regions like 3′UTR, being the most studied Ins/Del of 14-bp (rs66554220), which is known to influence the effects of endogen cell factors; nevertheless, the reports are discrepant and controversial. Herein, the relationship of the 14-bp Ins/Del variant (rs66554220) with breast cancer (BC) and its clinical characteristics were analyzed in 182 women with non-familial BC and 221 disease-free women as a reference group. Both groups from western Mexico and sex–age-matched (sm-RG). The rs66554220 variant was amplified by SSP-PCR and the fragments were visualized in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The variant rs66554220 was not associated with BC in our population. However, we suggest the Ins allele as a possible risk factor for developing BC at clinical stage IV (OR = 3.05, 95% CI = 1.16–7.96, p = 0.01); nevertheless, given the small stratified sample size (n = 11, statistical power = 41%), this is inconclusive. In conclusion, the 14-bp Ins/Del (rs66554220) variant of HLA-G is not associated with BC in the Mexican population, but might be related to advanced breast tumors. Further studies are required.

During pre-Hispanic times, obsidian was an important raw material for the manufacture of a wide variety of objects throughout Mesoamerica. Lithic technology was highly developed, and the economic activities revolving around the extraction, manufacture, and trade of a wide range of obsidian artifacts had strategic importance. In western Mexico, obsidian was an abundant and indispensable resource, with numerous deposits present in the region. However, not all the volcanic glasses available have the ideal characteristics for specialized production. Local "low quality" obsidian is rarely given any attention by researchers, resulting in an absence of specific geochemical studies of this material. The aim of this article is to establish the characteristics of the obsidian available at the Atitlán site (the main obsidian workshop in the Magdalena Basin in central Jalisco) and to contrast the local raw materials with the obsidian used for intensive manufacturing, which came from the La Joya source (also in Jalisco). In this article, we argue that local obsidian was not used at Atitlán, as the size of its nodules, the high degree of porosity, and the presence of inclusions made it a less suitable material for production of artifacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is a public health problem with a growing prevalence worldwide. In Mexico, it is estimated that one out of three adults suffer from obesity. In these patients, the intestinal microbiota (IM) undergoes pathological changes that are associated with a dysbiotic state; however, the microbiota profile of adult subjects with obesity from western Mexico has not been described. To assess this, fecal samples were obtained from 65 participants (Obese = 38; Control = 27). The microbial composition was characterized by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. The IM of the group with obesity revealed a clear decrease in richness and diversity (p < 0.001), as well as a significant increase in proinflammatory bacterial groups, mainly genera belonging to the Negativicutes class, Escherichia/Shigella, and Prevotella. Likewise, an increase in short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria was found, especially the genus Lachnoclostridium. Additionally, PICRUSt2 analysis showed a depletion of vitamin B9 metabolism and an increase in saccharolytic pathways. The IM of patients with obesity possesses a dysbiotic, proinflammatory environment, possibly contributing to lipogenesis and adiposity. Thus, assessing the IM will allow for a better understanding of the pathophysiology of metabolic diseases of high prevalence, such as obesity. These findings are described for the first time in the adult population of western Mexico.

Ethnobotanical knowledge, also known as Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK), of edible plants includes identifying plants using local names and knowledge of specific preparations and ecological characteristics. We analyze children's ethnobotanical knowledge of 107 species of edible plants in two rural locations in western Mexico and the sociodemographic factors that influence their knowledge. We found a high consensus among the three domains we evaluated. Forty-four species were known to at least 90% of the children. The factors that influence children's knowledge include age, which was significant in both communities, and other variables such as gender, number of siblings, birth order, occupation and age of mother, occupation and age of father, size of household, and participation in planting the milpa field. These factors were significant in differing ways between the study communities. We found effective transmission of ethnobotanical knowledge to children to be influenced by intergenerational interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

El planteamiento, a manera de hipótesis, de una segunda migración de grupos de origen nayarita se basa principalmente en la similitud estilística que presentan dos colecciones de figurillas que provienen supuestamente de tumbas de tiro localizadas en el inicio del cañón de Bolaños (Valparaíso, Zacatecas) y en el pueblo de Chimaltitán, situado en el interior del mismo cañón. En ambos casos fueron obtenidas como producto del saqueo y complementadas con ejemplos de hallazgos arqueológicos procedentes de El Cajón, ubicado en los límites de Nayarit, a orillas del río Grande de Santiago y a corta distancia de la desembocadura del río Bolaños. ENGLISH: The hypothesis of a second migration of groups from Nayarit is based mainly on the stylistic similarity of two collections of figurines that supposedly come from shaft tombs located at the beginning of the Bolaños Canyon (Valparaíso, Zacatecas) and in the town of Chimaltitán, located inside the same canyon. In both cases, they were obtained as a result of looting and complemented with examples of archaeological findings from El Cajón, located on the limits of Nayarit, on the banks of the Grande de Santiago River and at a short distance from the mouth of the Bolaños River.

En la subcuenca de Magdalena en el estado de Jalisco, los pueblos asentados en las inmediaciones del lago aprovecharon los recursos disponibles para la producción artesanal de bienes útiles y suntuarios. La presencia del Volcán de Tequila, el Lago de Magdalena y el sistema Lerma-Chapala-Santiago, facilitaron el acceso a recursos y la movilidad de productos para su distribución. En el centro del cuerpo acuífero fósil se eleva Atitlán, isla que resguarda evidencia de actividades de producción que se relacionaron con el aprovechamiento de recursos minerales y acuáticos por lo menos a partir del año 450 dC y hasta el 1500 dC. Dentro de las evidencias estudiadas sistemáticamente a nivel de superficie, es de nuestro interés una acumulación de objetos de obsidiana que se extiende en un área de 56.400 m2. El análisis espacial de distribución, junto con los de morfología, desgaste y microscopía aplicada a la identificación de huellas de uso, nos permiten explicar que se trató de un espacio de producción especializado de instrumentos de obsidiana mediante la técnica de talla, los cuales fueron empleados para el aprovechamiento de recursos perecederos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ginecología y Obstetricia de México is the property of Federacion Mexicana de Ginecologia y Obstetricia 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.)

Copyright of Revista del Centro de Investigación. Universidad La Salle is the property of Universidad La Salle 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.)

Breeding habitat loss and nest predation are considered the main causes of Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus) populations decline worldwide. We evaluated the effects of season, nest age, distance to nearest vegetation patch, distance to nearest body of water, habitat type, and nesting substrate on the daily survival rate of Snowy Plover nests. During 2014-2015, we located 84 nests in Las Garzas-Chahuin-Chihua lagoon in Marismas Nacionales, Nayarit, Mexico. We used MARK software to estimate daily nest survival rate, which was 0.969 (95% CI = 0.95 - 0.97) for both breeding seasons combined, with a 42% finite nesting success. A total of 44 nests (52%) were successful, while 40 (48%) failed. The main causes of nest failure were predation (n = 30; 75% of failed nests) and flooding (n = 9; 22.5% of failed nests); one nest was lost due to unknown causes (2.5%). Daily survival rate increased with nest age and distance from the nearest vegetation patch. By contrast, daily survival rate decreased with the progression of the breeding season; a higher probability of nest success was evident when established early in the breeding season. Our results show the importance of different positive and negative factors influencing nest survival that might be considered as part of conservation strategies.

Breeding habitat loss and nest predation are considered the main causes of Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus) populations decline worldwide. We evaluated the effects of season, nest age, distance to nearest vegetation patch, distance to nearest body of water, habitat type, and nesting substrate on the daily survival rate of Snowy Plover nests. During 2014-2015, we located 84 nests in Las Garzas-Chahuin-Chihua lagoon in Marismas Nacionales, Nayarit, Mexico. We used MARK software to estimate daily nest survival rate, which was 0.969 (95% CI = 0.95 - 0.97) for both breeding seasons combined, with a 42% finite nesting success. A total of 44 nests (52%) were successful, while 40 (48%) failed. The main causes of nest failure were predation (n = 30; 75% of failed nests) and flooding (n = 9; 22.5% of failed nests); one nest was lost due to unknown causes (2.5%). Daily survival rate increased with nest age and distance from the nearest vegetation patch. By contrast, daily survival rate decreased with the progression of the breeding season; a higher probability of nest success was evident when established early in the breeding season. Our results show the importance of different positive and negative factors influencing nest survival that might be considered as part of conservation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hypothesis of a second migration of groups from Nayarit is based mainly on the stylistic similarity of two collections of figurines that supposedly come from shaft tombs located at the beginning of the Bolaños Canyon (Valparaíso, Zacatecas) and in the town of Chimaltitán, located inside the same canyon. In both cases, they were obtained as a result of looting and complemented with examples of archaeologicalfindings from El Cajón, located on the limits of Nayarit, on the banks of the Grande de Santiago River and at a short distance from the mouth of the Bolaños River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Memoria Americana is the property of Memoria Americana, Cuadernos de Etnohistoria 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.)

Abstract A new species of the pinnotherid crab genus Austinixa from La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Nayarit, Mexico is described. The new species is closely related to Austinixa roblesi Palacios Theil and Felder, 2020, however these can be distinguished mainly by the shape of the male pleon and telson, gonopod and chelae. In addition, four new records of distribution of Austinixa felipensis Glassell, 1935 are added. The species is known previously from the type locality to the north of the Gulf of California and the Pacific coast of El Salvador and Nicaragua. The new collection sites are located on the eastern coast of the Gulf of California and the states of Nayarit and Jalisco, Mexico.

Seasonal dry tropical forest (STDF) is a widespread vegetation type in western Mexico. Generally, this type of forest develops in semihumid habitats where lacustrine basins are scarce, preventing documentation of the vegetation history and forest dynamics using a paleoecological approach. Here, we present a palynological record from the Santa Maria del Oro crater lake, located within the distribution area of the STDF and the adjacent dry oak forest which gives insight into the changes in diversity and human impact at this tropical site. Pollen data, in combination with geochemical analysis and microcharcoal data from a lacustrine sequence, are used to discuss vegetation change and diversity in the plant assemblages related to drought or anthropogenic activity over the last 5000 years. Our results show three distinct periods of drought in the basin, from 4200 to 3850, 3100 to 2300, 1570 to 1100 and 300 cal year BP, with changes in vegetation composition mainly related to a decrease in taxa diversity during these periods. Based on the presence of maize pollen, two periods of human activity (3790–2160 and 280 cal year BP to present) were detected with an increase in herbaceous pollen used as a surrogate for deforestation. These two disturbance periods, pre-Columbian and postcolonial, occurred during wet conditions in the basin. Our results highlight the correlation between El Niño events, drought and fire with changes in the composition and diversity of STDF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Therya is the property of Asociacion Mexicana de Mastozoologia, A. C. 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.)

The Mexican subduction zone, the Gulf of California spreading center, as well as the triple junction point around the Jalisco and the Michoacán Blocks, represents the most active seismogenic belts inducing seismic hazard in the Jalisco-Colima-Michoacán region. Herein, considering such seismotectonic setting, we develop a new seismic source model for the surrounding of Jalisco-Colima-Michoacán to be used as an input in the assessment of the seismic hazard of the region. This new model is based on revised Poissonian earthquake (1787–2018) and focal mechanism (1963–2015) catalogs, as well as crustal thickness data and all information about the geometry of the subducting slabs. The proposed model consists of a total of 37 area sources, comprising all the three different possible categories of seismicity: shallow crustal, interface subduction, and inslab earthquakes. A special care was taken during the delimitation of the boundaries for each area source to ensure that they represent a relatively homogeneous seismotectonic region and to include a relatively large number of earthquakes that enable us to compute as reliable as possible seismicity parameters. Although the sources were delimited following the standard criteria of assessing the probabilistic seismic hazard, they are also characterized in terms of their seismicity parameters (annual rate of earthquakes above Mw 4.0, b-value, and maximum expected magnitude), mean seismogenic depth, as well as the predominant stress regime. The proposed model defines and characterizes regionalized potential seismic sources that can contribute to the seismic hazard at the Jalisco-Colima-Michoacán region, providing the necessary information for seismic hazard estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

El objetivo de este trabajo es caracterizar la visión de los antropólogos acerca de las comunidades y proponer un conjunto de lineamientos útiles para su análisis. Con este fin, se revisan los aspectos fundamentales de la extensa trayectoria antropológica en el estudio de comunidades y se recurre a la propia experiencia etnográfica en comunidades indígenas y campesinas en dos regiones distantes, la Norpatagonia argentina y el occidente de México. Los hallazgos etnográficos respaldan la pertinencia de analizar las comunidades como fenómeno complejo, en términos de proceso y como sistema de relaciones. En este enfoque, las configuraciones comunitarias son consideradas como resultado de procesos históricos pero también como proyecto de futuro. En conclusión, a pesar de su heterogeneidad, dinamismo y complejidad, la visión antropológica sobre las comunidades tiene un sello distintivo vinculado al compromiso empírico que distingue a la disciplina. Sólo a partir de su peculiaridad, la antropología podrá incidir de forma decisiva en los grandes debates actuales sobre comunidades.

Many crustacean species are obligate associates of pocilloporid corals, where they feed, reproduce, and find shelter. However, these coral-associated crustaceans have been poorly studied in the eastern tropical Pacific. Determining the crustacean richness and taxonomic distinctness could help in comparing different coral reefs and the potential effects of degradation. This study evaluated the spatio–temporal variation of the taxonomic diversity and distinctness of coral-associated crustaceans in four ecosystems of the Central Mexican Pacific (CMP) with different conditions and coral cover. In all ecosystems, 48 quadrants were sampled during the summer and winter for two years. A total of 12,647 individuals belonging to 88 species, 43 genera, and 21 families were recorded. The sampling effort yielded 79.6% of the expected species richness in the study area. Species rarity had 19% singletons, 4% doubletons, 22% unique, and 9% duplicate species; two species represented new records for the Mexican Pacific, and six were new to the CMP. This study recorded most of the symbiotic crustacean species in pocilloporid corals previously reported in the CMP. The taxonomic diversity and distinctness differed significantly between coral ecosystems and seasons, which was also visualized by nMDS ordination, showing an evident spatio–temporal variation in the taxonomic beta diversity.

Toxoplasma gondii is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis in humans and animals. The sexual reproductive cycle of Toxoplasma takes place in the small intestine of felines, the definitive hosts. In the final part of the sexual cycle, T. gondii forms oocysts in infected cats. Oocysts transferred via the faeces to the environment are highly infectious to both animals and humans. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with T. gondii infection in cats from the metropolitan region of Guadalajara in western Mexico. Western blotting and ELISA for anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies was performed, and Toxoplasma DNA was identified using polymerase chain reaction. Prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies was 14.8% (44/297), and only 2/297 cases were positive for PCR. Cats older than one year were at an increased risk of infection (OR = 3.9, 95% CI 1.844–8.362). Sex, raw meat feeding, hunting habits, vaccination status, and body condition were not associated with positivity. The prevalence of T. gondii infection determined with Western blot in cats in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, was lower than that reported in previous studies.

Background: The islands and islets of Bahía de Chamela, in the Eastern Tropical Pacific, were declared as the first marine sanctuary in Mexico and has been protected since 2002. Their marine biodiversity has been documented in a series of papers in the last decade, but only three species of polychaete worms have been reported. New information: Sixteen species of sedentary polychaete worms belonging to the families Maldanidae, Oweniidae, Sabellariidae, Sabellidae and Serpulidae are reported to the Bahía de Chamela Islands Sanctuary, 15 of these species constituting the first records in the area. Isocirrus tropicus (Monro, 1928) (Monro 1928) and Notaulax californica (Treadwell, 1906) (Treadwell 1906) constitute new records to Mexico; Idanthyrsus mexicanus Kirtley, 1904 (Kirtley 1994) is first recorded since its description and one species of bamboo worm (Maldanidae) is described as new to science. The new species belongs to the genus Clymenura Verril, 1900 (Verrill 1900) and its characterised by the presence of a glandular shield on chaetiger 8; a cephalic plaque oval with smooth margins and a rounded palpode; nuchal organs straight, parallel, almost full length of plaque; manubriavicular uncini present from chaetiger 1 with 3–4 teeth above the main fang without hairs or bristles; two pre-anal achaetous segments with tori; an anal funnel with alternating triangular cirri, being the longest that are located mid-ventrally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined copper production at the archaeological site of El Manchón, located in the Sierra Madre del Sur of Guerrero, using archaeological, historical, ethnographic, and materials engineering data. Thirty-six AMS wood charcoal samples from El Manchón, analyzed using Bayseian statistics, date the two domestic sectors of El Manchón from cal AD 1250–1440 (Sector 1) and cal AD 1280–1680 (Sector 3). The smelting sector (Sector 2) contains copper ore and slag and dates to cal AD 1630–1825. Historical sources show that the Spanish had no experience smelting copper metal and were forced to negotiate with indigenous specialists to acquire smelted copper. These specialists provided it in return for tax exemptions and other economic privileges. The indigenous specialists requested iron tools for mining; the Spanish suggested introducing bellows to smelt copper in volume. In the smelting sector we excavated the stone foundations and a slag cake that conform to the dimensions of a hand-powered bellows-driven furnace in which the copper ore was smelted in a circular depression known as a cendrada. Thus far, this furnace design has only been excavated at El Manchón. This bellows-powered furnace was likely operated by indigenous Manchón specialists, who probably initially smelted copper using the more ancient blowpipe technology. The dates for the smelting and occupation of El Manchón overlap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mexico ranks fourth worldwide for its number of species of vascular plants; however, insufficient area has been marked for conservation as Protected Natural Areas (PNAs); 176 PNAs represent 12% of the total surface and encompass only a small portion of the Mexican endemic species. Strategies for setting up conservation zones are often based on identifying biodiversity hotspots to preserve the maximum number of species with the most efficient use of funds. Here we used the richness analysis by grid method based on herbarium specimens to locate zones with a high richness of Cosmos taxa (species and their varieties). Because this approach can lead to omission error, we also obtained an Ecological Niche Model (ENM) for each Cosmos taxon to perform a richness analysis by grid and locate sites with suitable conditions for supporting the most Cosmos taxa. We conducted a panbiogeographic analysis to locate biogeographical nodes, sites of great geobiotic complexity. Western Mexico was thus identified as the highest priority for Cosmos conservation; it has the greatest richness and most suitable conditions for Cosmos and has great biotic complexity. Although one of the largest Mexican PNAs is located in this region, some species with restricted distribution do not occur within this Protected Natural Area (PNA); therefore, a southwest extension of this PNA is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eugenia harkerae is here described as new from Jalisco, Mexico. It is morphologically similar to E. oerstediana and E. turneri; however, it differs by its pubescent branchlets with brownish hairs, uniflorous pendant inflorescences, peduncles of 1.5–3 cm long, and glabrous hypanthia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Las tablillas son objetos cuya función se desconoce. Su forma es rectangular, de distintas dimensiones. La gran mayoría son planas pero hay ejemplares ligeramente curvos. Las primeras se recuperaron en el interior de unidades habitacionales y, en Bolaños, se tiene un solo ejemplar curvo asociado a un entierro. Este tipo de objetos muestra una amplia diversidad decorativa; puede ser pintada, punzonada, incisa o esgrafiada, pero siempre alrededor de un centro cuadrangular con líneas entrecruzadas. La distribución abarca los principales sitios de Zacatecas y Jalisco con variantes locales. ENGLISH: Tablets are objects whose function is unknown. Their shape is rectangular with variable dimensions. The great majority are flat, but there are slightly curved specimens; the former were recovered inside housing units and, in Bolaños, there is a single curved specimen associated with a burial. These types of objects have a wide diversity of decoration; they can be painted, punctured, incised or engraved, but always around a quadrangular center with crossed lines. The distribution of the tablets encompasses the main sites of Zacatecas and Jalisco with local variants.

A través de la datación arqueomagnética de Guachimontones de Teuchitlán, Jalisco, se contribuye a la cronología prehispánica del Occidente de México. A partir de 16 muestras arqueomagnéticas (81 especímenes en total) de hornos, pisos quemados y no quemados recolectados en 2005 y 2010, se hicieron mediciones para determinar la dirección media de cada muestra en el Laboratorio de Paleomagnetismo de la UNAM (Ciudad de México y Campus Morelia). Se obtuvieron dataciones arqueomagnéticas con α95 < 10° para el 88% de las muestras y corresponden a las épocas de ocupación del sitio. Este estudio aporta 2 nuevos datos a la curva de variación de Mesoamérica, registra modificaciones arquitectónicas en una edificación y apoya la teoría de reocupación del sitio hacia el periodo Epiclásico (450-900 d. C.). ENGLISH: This study contributes to the pre-Hispanic chronology of Western Mexico through archaeomagnetic dating of the archaeological site Guachimontones (Teuchitlán, Jalisco). Systematic magnetic measurements were carried out to determine the mean direction of each sample at the UNAM paleomagnetism laboratories (Mexico City and Campus Morelia). Sixteen analyzed samples (81 specimens in total) come from furnaces, burned and unburnt floors, collected between 2005 and 2010. Archaeomagnetic dates with precision parameter α95 < 10° were obtained for 88% of the samples, and corresponds to the site occupation periods. This study thus contributes new and reliable data to the reference variation curve of Mesoamerica in addition to documenting architectural modifications in the building sequence at Guachimontones and supporting the theory of reoccupation of this site during the Epiclassic period (450-900 A.D.).

Abstract Two species of isopods of the family Idoteidae were collected in the same sample, among sea grasses, in the northern Gulf of California, Mexico. The first species, Synidotea harfordi Benedict, 1897, was more abundant (46 specimens) than the second species, Eusymmerus antennatus Richardson, 1899 (eight specimens). Synidotea harfordi has previously been considered uncommon in the Gulf of California, and more like a component of warm-temperate to colder-water fauna. The male of E. antennatus has not been illustrated but SEM photographs are provided and show angular margins of the first three pereonites and a sharply bent lateral margin of the telson. Females also have angular first pereonites. All previous illustrations show rounded pereonites margins. Buccal appendages of E. antennatus are illustrated and compared with previous descriptions.

An annotated checklist of species of army ants for Jalisco state and western Mexico and a key for the identification of soldiers and workers are presented. This work was carried out based on field sampling of 17 locations in 14 municipalities of Jalisco, and review of specimens deposited in four national entomological collections. 21,167 specimens of army ants were examined, of which 18,344 correspond to material deposited in entomological collections visited. For each species of army ant, a sheet was elaborated that illustrates its main diagnostic characters, which were used for the dichotomous key. The specimens in better were chosen to elaborate the plate, with the exception of Neivamyrmex pauxillus and N. pilosus whose schemes were redrawn from photographs from AntWeb site (2015). The key and checklist of army ants for Jalisco State includes a total of 21 species grouped into four genera: Eciton, Labidus, Neivamyrmex, and Nomamyrmex. Three first new records for Jalisco are included: Neivamyrmex halidaii (Shuckard, 1840), N. impudens (Mann, 1922) and N. pauxillus (Wheeler, 1903). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eighteen species of deep-sea bivalves were collected below the Oxygen Minimum Zone (OMZ) core off western Mexico. This material was obtained during the research cruises XVI, XVIB (off the northwestern Peninsula of Baja California), and VIII (Gulf of California) of the TALUD project aboard the R/V El Puma. The samples were taken with an epibenthic sledge (710–2077 m deep) and with a box corer (750–2600 m). The species belong to 10 families: Solemyidae, Nuculanidae, Malletiidae, Tindariidae, Limopsidae, Propeamussiidae, Tellinidae, Periplomatidae, Poromyidae and Lyonsiellidae. Environmental parameters (oxygen, salinity, sediments composition and temperature) are given for each sampling station. Tolerance to oxygen depletion is analysed for all deep-water species collected by the TALUD survey off the Baja California Peninsula. The additional file includes shell characteristics and distributional information for each species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Between 450 and 1120 AD, the populations living in the regions of the Sayula Basin and the Bolaños Canyon used Glycymeris gigantea as material for the manufacture of bracelets, taking advantage of the natural characteristics of its valves. The archaeological material is quite fragmented when it is found and, interestingly, we observed that new work had been undertaken by the craftsmen in order to recycle broken shells. The observation of the traces of the fabrication process allows us to identify the working techniques and propose a reconstruction of the operational sequence used to make both the bracelets and the recycled products. Determining the common methods and original procedures will allow us to approach the pre-Hispanic craftsmen's behavior. Furthermore, it needs to be stated that little research has been conducted to date on the recycling of shell ornaments, mainly due to a lack of evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Very little is known about the numbers and distribution of the Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens) in western Mexico. To estimate the size and distribution of Reddish Egret colonies along the coast of western Mexico, historical and potential Reddish Egret nesting sites were surveyed in 2008 and 2009. Forty-six colonies were found from Baja California to Chiapas. Mean colony size was 24 pairs/colony (95% CI ± 15; n = 46), but most (74%) colonies were < 20 pairs (Median = 7 pairs; n = 46). The largest colony (258 pairs) and the only two colonies with dark and white morphs were found in Oaxaca. The second largest colony (248 pairs) was found in Baja California Sur. The total breeding population was estimated at 1,108 breeding pairs; 788 pairs in 43 colonies were located in northwestern Mexico (Baja California peninsula, Sonora and Sinaloa, subspecies E. r. dickeyi) and 320 pairs in three colonies were in southern Mexico (Oaxaca and Chiapas, subspecies undetermined). This breeding population, although small, is three to four times larger than previously reported for the Pacific Coast of Mexico (225-300 pairs). Thirty-five (76%) Reddish Egret nesting sites were inside a natural protected area; however, the Oaxaca and Chiapas colonies were not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Se propone la presencia de deidades en las tumbas de tiro del Occidente de México a través de una primera interpretación iconográfica de las figurillas huecas depositadas como ofrenda, tanto en las tumbas en general como en las descubiertas en la cultura Bolaños, con base en una posible concepción distinta a la mesoamericana de la cosmovisión y cosmogonía de los creadores de esta tradición. ENGLISH: The presence of deities in Western Mexican shaft tombs is proposed through the first iconographic interpretation of hollow figurines deposited as offerings in the tombs, particularly those of the Bolaños culture. The creators of the shaft tomb tradition may have held a worldview and a cosmogony distinct from those of Mesoamerica.

Background: The Sayula sub-basin presents a complex landscape composed of plants communities that to date have not been studied in a timely manner, so this study contributes to the knowledge of the flora and vegetation of the area and the State. Question: i) How many and which families, genera and species are in the Sayula sub-basin? ii) What are the main biological forms of the species? iii) Are there species under any category of protection? iv) How many vegetation types are present within the region? Studied species: Ferns, Gymnosperms and Angiosperms. Study site and years of study: The Sayula sub-basin, Jalisco, Mexico; from February 2012 to October 2015. Methods: Through the literature review and field work the floristic checklist was elaborated. In addition, with the use of geographic information systems, a map of land use and vegetation was made. Results: A total of 687 species were recorded, including 415 genera and 113 families. The five main families were Poaceae, Asteraceae, Fabaceae Solanaceae and Euphorbiaceae representing 42.6 % of the total species and 36.6 % of the genera. It should be noted that the predominant biological forms were herbs with 409, 105 shrubs and 74 trees. On the other hand, 47 species registered under some protection category of which, only one species Cleomella jaliscensis is endemic to the region. Finally, eight vegetation types were determined, being the tropical deciduous forest the one that occupies greater surface and presents greater floristic diversity. Conclusions: It is important to emphasize that during the realization of the work, agricultural activities were detected affecting the flora and vegetation, threatening the biodiversity and the natural balance of the region.

HLA-G is a physiology and pathologic immunomodulator detrimentally related to cancer. Its gene is heavily transcriptionally and post-transcriptionally regulated by variants located in regulator regions like 3'UTR, being the most studied Ins/Del of 14-bp (rs66554220), which is known to influence the effects of endogen cell factors; nevertheless, the reports are discrepant and controversial. Herein, the relationship of the 14-bp Ins/Del variant (rs66554220) with breast cancer (BC) and its clinical characteristics were analyzed in 182 women with non-familial BC and 221 disease-free women as a reference group. Both groups from western Mexico and sex-age-matched (sm-RG). The rs66554220 variant was amplified by SSP-PCR and the fragments were visualized in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The variant rs66554220 was not associated with BC in our population. However, we suggest the Ins allele as a possible risk factor for developing BC at clinical stage IV (OR = 3.05, 95% CI = 1.16-7.96, p = 0.01); nevertheless, given the small stratified sample size (n = 11, statistical power = 41%), this is inconclusive. In conclusion, the 14-bp Ins/Del (rs66554220) variant of HLA-G is not associated with BC in the Mexican population, but might be related to advanced breast tumors. Further studies are required.

A new species of Laeonereis from a shrimp farm associated with a subtropical coastal lagoon on the Mexican Pacific coast is described. The new species is characterized by a deep anterior groove on the prostomium, which is shared only with L. culveri. However, longer tentacular cirri extending back to the anterior margin of chaetiger two, the number of papillae of each group on the maxillary ring of the pharynx, and the relative size of the homogomph falcigers in the new species, allow us to separate the two species. Although the species has not been previously detected in the coastal lagoon surrounding the shrimp farm, we postulate that L. watsoni n. sp. is likely to be part of the invertebrate communities of the upper parts of similar coastal lagoons that are common along the tropical coasts of Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Hematological diseases in the pediatric age are one of the main reasons for consultation in childhood. The most described conditions include microcytosis, platelet alterations and leukocytosis. The most common clinical manifestations include: fatigue, irritability, headache, pallor, epistaxis, cyanosis and petechiae. The most common complications include hemorrhage, arthropathy, heart disease and kidney disease. The objective of the study was to investigate the incidence of pediatric hematological diseases of a tertiary hospital. Material and Methods. A descriptive, observational, retrospective study was conducted through the clinical files of the pediatric hematology service of a public hospital in Guadalajara in the period January 2013-August 2016; 575 cases were analyzed, evaluating the main disease and analyzing: gender, age range, state of origin and deaths. Results. The most common disease was hereditary deficiency of factor VIII (n = 148, 25.7%), followed by idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (n = 58, 10.1%) and allergic purpura (n = 45, 7.8%). The main state of origin was Jalisco (n = 547, 95.1%), followed by Michoacán (n = 15, 2.6%) and Nayarit (n = 4, 0.6%). The main age range was from 2 to 4 years (n = 175, 30.4%). The masculine gender had higher incidence (n = 333, 57.9%). There were 14 (2%) deaths. Discussion. The most prevalent hematological diseases in our study were hereditary deficiency of factor VIII, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, and allergic purpura. A relationship was observed between the disease with the highest incidence and the age and gender of the patients. A high incidence of anemia was not observed, which was attributed to the performance of the study in a tertiary hospital. The number of deaths was low compared to other reports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sloanea cuautitlanensis is described and illustrated. We give information about its ecology and distribution and discuss its relationships with the species with most affinity: S. cruenta, S. jamaicensis, S. terniflora and S. uniflora. A key is provided to separate it from its most related species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 61 specimens of the Red-headed Spiny Lizard Sceloporus pyrocephalus Cope (Phrynosomatidae) collected during the breeding season (June/July 2003, 2004 and 2005) from Western Mexico were examined for helminths. The morphological characterization of the helminths found was made through light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Nine taxa of helminths were identified, two cestodes: Mesocestoides sp. and Oochoristica sp., and seven nematodes: Parapharyngodon ayotzinapaensis Garduño- Montes de Oca, Mata-López & León-Règagnon, 2016, Parapharyngodon tikuinii Garduño-Montes de Oca, Mata-López & León-Règagnon, 2016, Parapharyngodon sp., Physalopterinae gen. sp., Skrjabinoptera scelopori Caballero-Rodríguez, 1971, Strongyluris similis Caballero, 1938 and a new species of Thubunaea Seurat, 1914. Larvae of Mesocestoides sp. and Physalopterinae gen. sp. were found in the body cavity and digestive tract, respectively. Excluding the species of Parapharyngodon Chatterji, 1933, S. pyrocephalus is recorded for the first time as a host of the remaining seven taxa of helminths. Additionally, Thubunaea leonregagnonae sp. n. is described and illustrated as a new nematode species, parasite of S. pyrocephalus from Mexico. This new species can be differentiated from the majority of its congeners by the absence of spicules, the particular pattern of caudal papillae in males and the small ratio of oesophagus length:male total body length (0.1-0.16). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tablets are objects whose function is unknown. Their shape is rectangular with variable dimensions. The great majority are flat, but there are slightly curved specimens; the former were recovered inside housing units and, in Bolaños, there is a single curved specimen associated with a burial. These types of objects have a wide diversity of decoration; they can be painted, punctured, incised or engraved, but always around a quadrangular center with crossed lines. The distribution of the tablets encompasses the main sites of Zacatecas and Jalisco with local variants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rock magnetic and paleomagnetic investigation was performed on some selected, radiometrically dated lava flows from the Mascota Volcanic Field (MVF), western Trans- Mexican Volcanic Belt. A set of rock-magnetic experiments and standard paleomagnetic analysis were carried out on 19 sites spanning the time interval from 2268 to 72 kyr. The paleomagnetic directions are anchored to absolute radiometric ages while no such information was available in previous studies. This makes possible to correctly evaluate the fluctuation of Earth's magnetic field from Pliocene to Pleistocene and reveal the firm evidence of possible Levantine excursion. Both Ti-poor and Ti-rich titanomagnetites seem to carry the remanent magnetization with Curie temperatures ranging from 350°C to 537°C. Thirteen flows correspond to the Brunhes chron, one of them exhibits transitional directions, while the remaining six sites belong to the Matuyama chron. New and existing dataset for MVF were used to estimate the paleosecular variation parameters. The selected data include 35 Plio-Quaternary lava flows. After excluding the poor quality data, as well as the transitional directions, the mean paleodeclination is 356.1° and oaleoinclination 39.9°, which agree well with the geocentric axial dipole (GAD) and the expected paleodirections for the Plio-Pleistocene, as derived from the reference poles for the stable North America. The corresponding mean paleomagnetic poles are paleolongitude 226.7° and paleolatitude 86.0°. The virtual geomagnetic pole scatter for the MVF is 15.2°, which is consistent with the value expected from model G at latitude of 20° (this model provides an interpretation of the paleosecular variation at different latitudes for the time of interest). The combined paleomagnetic data, supported by positive reversal test, indicate no paleomagnetically detectable vertical-axis rotations in the study area. The evidence of one transitional directions was detected, which may correspond to the Levantine excursion (360-370 kyr) or unnamed event between 400-420 kyr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a detailed rock-magnetic and paleomagnetic survey from Autlan volcanic succession in western Mexico. The principal aim of this study is to extend paleomagnetic data from Autlan lavas in order to confirm vertical-axis rotation observed in reconnaissance study and to evaluate long-term variation of the geomagnetic field strength based on existing and global data. The mean inclination (44.7°) is in agreement with the expected inclination for 60 and 70 Ma, as derived from available reference poles for the North American craton. The declination (333.6°), however, is significantly different from those expected, which suggests a statistically significant counterclockwise tectonic rotation ranging between 10° ± 6° and 14° ± 7°. As a measure of paleosecular variation (PSV), we obtained a geomagnetic field dispersion of 9.6° (upper and lower limits: 7.2°-11.9°) in perfect agreement with the previously published PSV compilation of selected Cretaceous data from lavas. The mean virtual dipole moments available for Autlan lavas are about 65% of the present geomagnetic axial dipole but are in reasonably good agreement with other comparable quality determinations between 5 and 90 Ma. This reinforces the hypothesis that low geomagnetic field strengths persisted for the entire Jurassic extending into the Upper Cretaceous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porphyry copper and associated deposits are widespread through most northwestern Mexico, particularly in Sonora and Sinaloa, in the northwestern part of the country. These deposits belong to a NW-SE trending copper belt that extends from southwestern USA to southern Mexico. The copper mineralization is clearly linked to subduction-related calc-alkaline plutons formed during the eastward migration of the Cordilleran magmatic arc, largely coincident in time and space with the Laramide Orogeny (80–40 Ma). The economically most important porphyry copper deposits were emplaced in the southwest margin of the North American craton. The porphyry copper mineralization was formed during the latest Cretaceous to early Paleogene, between ~ 75 and 52.4 Ma, but it was particularly fertile between ~ 69 and 54 Ma, when the larger copper concentrations were deposited to form the famous copper cluster of Arizona, New Mexico and Sonora. During this time, more than half of the total porphyry copper-related metals of the entire Cordillera was deposited. This large copper accumulation developed south of the classical flat-slab Laramide province, characterized by uplift of large crustal blocks and mostly amagmatic conditions. An inferred slab tear zone separated this zone from a slab segment, above which, asthenospheric magma flux favored copper concentration. The Mexican porphyry copper belt accounts for ~ 30 deposits, out of which, the Buenavista del Cobre (~ 30 Mt Cu) and the La Caridad (~ 8 Mt Cu) are the most relevant. More to the south, close to the boundary between Sonora and Sinaloa, the porphyry copper deposits are smaller (< 1 Mt Cu), usually containing gold as a locally important commodity. This fact is coincident with the ending of the North American cratonic crust, and the beginning of a basement dominated by a more primitive crust, characterized by the Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous Guerrero island arc terrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study contributes to the pre-Hispanic chronology of Western Mexico through archaeomagnetic dating of the archaeological site Guachimontones (Teuchitlán, Jalisco). Systematic magnetic measurements were carried out to determine the mean direction of each sample at the UNAM paleomagnetism laboratories (Mexico City and Campus Morelia). Sixteen analyzed samples (81 specimens in total) come from furnaces, burned and unburnt floors, collected between 2005 and 2010. Archaeomagnetic dates with precision parameter α95 < 10° were obtained for 88% of the samples, and corresponds to the site occupation periods. This study thus contributes new and reliable data to the reference variation curve of Mesoamerica in addition to documenting architectural modifications in the building sequence at Guachimontones and supporting the theory of reoccupation of this site during the Epiclassic period (450-900 A.D.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]