Low Impact, Affordable, Low Income Houses for Mexico

This paper discusses an effort to develop low impact, affordable, low income houses for Mexico. Low impact houses are defined as houses with energy and water needs that are substantially reduced below levels corresponding to code compliance. This paper includes an analysis of the population and energy consumption of the different climate regions in Mexico (Hot-Dry Deserts, Great Plains, Mediterranean, Semi-Arid, Temperate, Hot-Dry Jungles and Hot-Humid Jungles) versus the USA and concludes with advice on an approach for low impact housing.Department of Architecture, Texas A&M Universit

Lista patrón de los tiburones, rayas y quimeras (Chondrichthyes, Elasmobranchii, Holocephali) de México

Llista patró dels taurons, rajades i quimeres (Chondrichthyes, Elasmobranchii, Holocephali) de Mèxic Es presenta una relació de les espècies de taurons, rajades  i quimeres (condrictis) que han estat registrades a les aigües territorials de Mèxic, basada en revisions de bases de dades, literatura, examen físic dels espècimens de col·leccions científiques i registres d’exemplars recol·lectats en treballs de camp durant els darrers quatre anys i que no han estat publicats. La relació conté informació de 214 espècies de condrictis que, com a mínim, han estat registrades a les aigües marines i salobroses de Mèxic, pertanyents a 84 gèneres, 40 famílies i 14 ordres. S’hi inclouen vuit espècies de quimeres, 95 de batoïdeus i 111 de taurons. La condrictiofauna mexicana és una de les més riques del món, amb el 17,3% o més de les espècies conegudes. A més a més, s’ hi inclouen 16 espècies que és probable que siguin presents a Mèxic atesos els seus patrons de distribució.Checklist of sharks, rays and chimaeras (Chondrichthyes, Elasmobranchii, Holocephali) from Mexico We present an annotated checklist of the species of sharks, rays and chimaeras (chondrichthyan fishes) occurring in Mexican waters, based on a thorough review of the literature and electronic database searches, examination of museum collection specimens, and unpublished records obtained during fieldwork conducted in the last four years. The checklist contains information of at least 214 species of chondrichthyan fishes that occur in Mexican marine and brackish waters, assigned to 84 genera, 40 families and 14 orders. It includes eight species of chimaeras, 95 batoids and 111 sharks. Condrichthyan fauna in Mexico is one of the richest in the world, with almost 17.3% of the known species. An additional  16 species are included  as their occurrence in Mexican marine waters is probable according to distributional patterns.Se presenta un listado anotado de las especies de tiburones, rayas y quimeras (Condrictios) que han sido registrados en las aguas territoriales de México, basado en revisiones de bases de datos, literatura, examinación física de los especímenes de colecciones científicas y de registros de ejemplares recolectados en campo durante los últimos cuatro años y que no han sido publicados. El listado contiene información de al menos 214 especies de condrictios que se han registrado en las aguas marinas y salobres de México, pertenecientes a 84 géneros, 40 familias y 14 órdenes. Se incluyen ocho especies de quimeras, 95 de batoideos y 111 de tiburones. La condrictiofauna mexicana es una de las más ricas a nivel mundial, con al menos 17.3% de las especies conocidas. Adicionalmente, 16 especies, se incluyen como especies probables que ocurran en México debido a sus patrones de distribución.Palabras clave: Condrictios, Elasmobranquios, Batoideos, Quimeras, México

Projecting the long-term benefits of single pill combination therapy for patients with hypertension in five countries.

Objective: To project the 10-year clinical outcomes associated with single pill combination (SPC) therapies compared with multi-pill regimens for the management of hypertension in five countries (Italy, Russia, China, South Korea and Mexico). Methods: A microsimulation model was designed to project health outcomes between 2020 and 2030 for populations with hypertension managed according to four different treatment pathways: current treatment practices (CTP), single drug with dosage titration then sequential addition of other agents (start low and go slow, SLGS), free choice combination with multiple pills (FCC) and combination therapy in the form of a single pill (SPC). Model inputs were derived from the Global Burden of Disease 2017 dataset. Simulated outcomes of mortality, chronic kidney disease (CKD), stroke, ischemic heart disease (IHD), and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were estimated for 1,000,000 patients on each treatment pathway. Results: SPC therapy was projected to improve clinical outcomes over SLGS, FCC and CTP in all countries. SPC reduced mortality by 5.4% in Italy, 4.9% in Russia, 4.5% in China, 2.3% in South Korea and 3.6% in Mexico versus CTP and showed greater reductions in mortality than SLGS and FCC. The projected incidence of clinical events was reduced by 11.5% in Italy, 9.2% in Russia, 8.4% in China, 4.9% in South Korea and 6.7% in Mexico for SPC versus CTP. Conclusions: Ten-year projections indicated that combination therapies (FCC and SPC) are likely to reduce the burden of hypertension compared with conventional management approaches, with SPC showing the greatest overall benefits due to improved adherence

Actividad diaria de forrajeo en Polybia diguetana Buysson 1905 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae)

It is important to study the foraging activity of Polistinae in order to understand their impact on ecosystems. In this work we describe the activity of one nest in post-emergence state of Polybia diguetana in relation to temperature and relative humidity. The study area is a university campus in Mérida, México, with warm sub - humid climate. Sampling were taken in the following dates of 2019: January 30 and 31, February 5 and 6 and April 9 and 10, the 9 it rained from 9:00 to 11:45 hours. A video lasting 3:40 min was taken every half an hour, beginning at 7:30 and finishing at 14:45. Eighty-three videos were recorded with an accumulated time of 308.5 minutes. When the video recording was beginning, temperature (°C) and relative humidity (%) were measured at a distance of 3 meters from the nest. Partial correlation analysis were carried out, with temperature and relative humidity as independent variables and wasp departures and arrivals frequencies as response variables, April 9th was excluded from this analysis for excluding the effect of the rain. In the rainy days the highest frequency of arrivals and departures was at 7:30, when the temperature was the highest and the humidity the lowest. In other days departure frequency was higher at 11:00 and arrivals at 14:00. Temperature was positively correlated to departures (r=0.21, p=0.05) and arrivals (r= 0.44, p<0.0001). Relative humidity was c orrelated to arrivals only (r=-0.27, p=0.01). Temperature was the main factor influencing foraging activity, and humidity did in lesser degree. The pattern was different in the rainy day, due to raises in humidity and the risk of being impacted by raindrops.Es importante estudiar la actividad de forrajeo de Polistinae para entender mejor su impacto en los ecosistemas. En este trabajo se describe la actividad de un nido en fase de post-emergencia de Polybia diguetana en relación a la temperatura y humedad relativa. El área de estudio fue un campus universitario en Mérida, México, con clima cálido subhúmedo. Se muestreó en las siguientes fechas de 2019: enero 30 y 31, febrero 5 y 6, y abril 9 y 10, el 9 llovió de 9:00 a 11:45 horas. Se tomó un video del nido de 3:40 min de duración cada media hora, iniciando a las 7:30 y finalizando a las 14:45 horas. En total fueron filmados 83 videos con una duración acumulada de 308,5 minutos. Se midió la temperatura (°C) y humedad relativa a tres metros del nido al iniciar cada video. Se realizaron análisis de correlación parcial con temperatura y humedad como variables independientes y frecuencias de despegues y aterrizajes como dependientes, el 9 de abril se excluyó del análisis por el posible efecto de la lluvia. En el día lluvioso los aterrizajes y despegues fueron más frecuentes a las 7:30 que hubo la temperatura más alta y la humedad relativa más baja; en los otros días los despegues fueron más frecuentes a las 11:00 y los aterrizajes a las 14:00. La temperatura se correlacionó positivamente tanto con los despegues (r=0,21, p=0,05) como con los aterrizajes (r =0,44, p<0,0001). La humedad relativa se correlacionó negativamente con los aterrizajes (r= -0,27, p=0,01). La temperatura fue el factor que más influyó las actividades de forrajeo, la humedad relativa lo hizo en menor medida. La presencia de lluvias modificó el patrón, tanto por el aumento en la humedad relativa como por el riesgo de impacto sobre las forrajeras

Multi-technical approach for the characterization of polychrome decorative surfaces at Spanish Mission Churches in Nueva Vizcaya (Chihuahua, Mexico)

An interdisciplinary and multi-institutional group of science and art conservation specialists has provided new insight into the painting materials used in the polychrome walls and wooden ceilings in four seventeenth century Spanish colonial churches of Nueva Vizcaya (Chihuahua, Mexico). A multi-analytical study of the decorative surfaces was performed in situ using spectroscopic approaches (XRF, FORS), False Colour Infrared Reflectography–IRFC, as well as micro sampling (ATR-FTIR, LM, GC/MS). A survey of natural resources and study (ATR-FTIR, LM) was carried out to elucidate the natural occurrence of a select number of materials in the surrounding areas of the churches. The present paper presents a multi-analytical study and characterization of green, red-orange and black colour pigments and binders selected from the decorative surfaces. The aim of this study is to highlight relationships between local materials and those from the original polychrome ceilings, in order to understand the material and technological influences that converged in the Spanish colonial architecture of northern Mexico

Headache, Delirium or Encephalitis?:A Case of Residual Mutism Secondary to Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis

Encephalitis is a heterogeneous syndrome that is diagnosed through clinical assessment and the assistance of laboratory, neuroimaging and electroencephalographic workup. Over the past 10 years, autoimmune encephalitis has been more frequently recognized; however, most reports come from highly specialized hospital settings. Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NDMAR) encephalitis has been associated with paraneoplastic encephalitis syndromes and was first recognized in 2005. We present the case of a 34-year-old male patient who debuted clinically with a headache associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms (i.e., visual and auditory hallucinations, anxiety, aggressiveness) and memory deficits, progressing to autonomic dysfunction (i.e., tachycardia and hypertension), seizures, and stupor with catatonic features. Initially, infectious, metabolic, and toxicological etiologies were excluded; followed by the assessment of immunological and paraneoplastic etiologies, yielding positive IgG levels for anti-NMDAR antibodies. The patient was treated successfully with systemic steroid therapy and therapeutic plasmapheresis, while mutism was the only sequela. Although large case series reporting on paraneoplastic and autoimmune anti-NMDAR encephalitis have been reported in the literature in recent years, this case is of particular importance due to the stepwise differential diagnosis and treatment management procedure that was used in a regional but not highly specialized hospital setting

L-Arginine Ameliorates Defective Autophagy in GM2 Gangliosidoses by mTOR Modulation.

AIMS: Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff diseases (GM2 gangliosidosis) are autosomal recessive disorders of lysosomal function that cause progressive neurodegeneration in infants and young children. Impaired hydrolysis catalysed by β-hexosaminidase A (HexA) leads to the accumulation of GM2 ganglioside in neuronal lysosomes. Despite the storage phenotype, the role of autophagy and its regulation by mTOR has yet to be explored in the neuropathogenesis. Accordingly, we investigated the effects on autophagy and lysosomal integrity using skin fibroblasts obtained from patients with Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff diseases. RESULTS: Pathological autophagosomes with impaired autophagic flux, an abnormality confirmed by electron microscopy and biochemical studies revealing the accelerated release of mature cathepsins and HexA into the cytosol, indicating increased lysosomal permeability. GM2 fibroblasts showed diminished mTOR signalling with reduced basal mTOR activity. Accordingly, provision of a positive nutrient signal by L-arginine supplementation partially restored mTOR activity and ameliorated the cytopathological abnormalities. INNOVATION: Our data provide a novel molecular mechanism underlying GM2 gangliosidosis. Impaired autophagy caused by insufficient lysosomal function might represent a new therapeutic target for these diseases. CONCLUSIONS: We contend that the expression of autophagy/lysosome/mTOR-associated molecules may prove useful peripheral biomarkers for facile monitoring of treatment of GM2 gangliosidosis and neurodegenerative disorders that affect the lysosomal function and disrupt autophagy