Three Essays on Mexico-U.S. Migration

Migration flow between Mexico and the United States is historically the largest South-North international population movement in the world. Nowadays, Mexicans in the United States are more than 12 million people and represent about a third of all Hispanics living in this country. Not only Mexicans are a voluminous group, but also a large minority with strong ties with their communities of origin, important amounts of remittances, and more recently, high rates of return migration. Their transnational behaviors and the changes in their situation in the United States posit several research questions in the area of migrant incorporation. In this dissertation, I explore three salient topics in the new agenda of the migrant incorporation research. I use diverse data sources from Mexico and the United Sates, and a comprehensive set of analytic strategies that include qualitative and quantitative methods. Frist, I pay attention to the consequences of migration enforcement laws and economic crisis on the labor market incorporation of Mexican return migrants in the decade of the 2000s. Specially, I focus on the extent to which these migrants have been absorbed into the precarious areas of the informal economy. Second, I analyze the mental health of Mexican immigrants in Durham, NC, in comparison to their Mexican counterparts in their places of origin. I look at the changes in the associations of depression feelings with protective and risk factors upon migration. Then, I analyze the role of migration-related characteristics, such as legal status, family separation and English proficiency, among others. With this analysis, I seek to understand how different theories explain the mental health disadvantage of immigrants. Finally, I describe the gendered links between transnational family dynamics and support modes to the elderly. Overall, from these three chapters I conclude that migrants in both, sending and receiving societies, are currently facing strong challenges to incorporate upon their movement. Financial constraints, precarious labor conditions, family separation, and depression feelings are some of the many situations impeding migrants to experience smooth migration transitions and difficult their subsequent social incorporation

Evaluation of wave loads on a new type of perforated caisson

Permission is granted by ICE Publishing to print one copy for personal use. Any other use of these PDF files is subject to reprint fees.A new type of perforated breakwater has been tested combining the advantages of cylindrical geometry with stepped wave energy dissipation. Thus, the new type of caisson implies a significant reduction of maximum wave forces, as well as loads transmitted to the foundation in comparison with conventional vertical breakwater and other types of perforated caissons. Starting from a brief description of the model and test results, this paper describes the development of a methodology for the estimation of maximum wave loads on this type of breakwater, in order to become a generalisable tool for predesign purposes. Construction and installation constraints of this new type of caisson are also assessed. These need to be taken into account in order to keep some advantages from the proposed design, while noting the key factors from a practical point of view.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Pharmacists’ Response to the Opioid Crisis: A California Naloxone Survey

This study aimed to assess pharmacists’ response to the current opioid crisis in California, particularly regarding the prevalence of naloxone furnishing (or dispensing without a prescription) and prescriptions for medication-assisted treatment (MAT) drugs for opioid use disorder (OUD) to patients and consumers

Multidimensional profile of empathy in students of the degree in criminology of the Autonomous University of Nuevo León.

El concepto de la empatía y su relación con las profesiones en las que se brinda un servicio a un usuario en crisis ha sido ampliamente estudiado. A este respecto la criminología, es una de ellas, puesto que trabaja con personas que han estado implicadas en algún delito, por lo que se ha de tomar en consideración, además de la preparación académica, las aptitudes y las actitudes de las personas que proveerán el servicio directo. Se debe entonces establecer un perfil claro al respecto de la empatía, basada en el modelo multidimensional de ésta. Por ello el objetivo del presente artículo es evaluar el perfil multidimensional de empatía que presentan los y las estudiantes de la licenciatura en criminología, de la Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL). La muestra del estudio se conformó con las y los estudiantes de los diferentes semestres incluidos en el turno piloto de la Facultad de Derecho y Criminología UANL (N=162), se aplicó el Test de Empatía Cognitiva y Afectiva (TECA). Se concluyó que el perfil multidimensional de la empatía de los y las estudiantes de criminología, se caracteriza por puntuaciones significativamente más bajas a las deseables, cuestión que nos hace reflexionar sobre la inclusión de contenidos de corte aptitudinal en los programas de formación integral, incidiendo en la formación y el desarrollo personal como un elemento que garantice el adecuado desempeño profesional futuro

Hepatitis C virus molecular evolution: Transmission, disease progression and antiviral therapy

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection represents an important public health problem worldwide. Reduction of HCV morbidity and mortality is a current challenge owned to several viral and host factors. Virus molecular evolution plays an important role in HCV transmission, disease progression and therapy outcome. The high degree of genetic heterogeneity characteristic of HCV is a key element for the rapid adaptation of the intrahost viral population to different selection pressures (e.g., host immune responses and antiviral therapy). HCV molecular evolution is shaped by different mechanisms including a high mutation rate, genetic bottlenecks, genetic drift, recombination, temporal variations and compartmentalization. These evolutionary processes constantly rearrange the composition of the HCV intrahost population in a staging manner. Remarkable advances in the understanding of the molecular mechanism controlling HCV replication have facilitated the development of a plethora of direct-acting antiviral agents against HCV. As a result, superior sustained viral responses have been attained. The rapidly evolving field of anti-HCV therapy is expected to broad its landscape even further with newer, more potent antivirals, bringing us one step closer to the interferon-free era.Fil: Preciado, María Victoria. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños ; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Valva, Pamela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños ; ArgentinaFil: Escobar Gutierrez, Alejandro. Instituto de Diagnóstico y Referencia Epidemiológicos; MéxicoFil: Rahal, Paula. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Ruiz Tovar, Karina. Instituto de Diagnóstico y Referencia Epidemiológicos; MéxicoFil: Yamasaki, Lilian. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Vazquez Chacon, Carlos. Instituto de Diagnóstico y Referencia Epidemiológicos; MéxicoFil: Martinez Guarneros, Armando. Instituto de Diagnóstico y Referencia Epidemiológicos; MéxicoFil: Carpio Pedroza, Juan Carlos. Instituto de Diagnóstico y Referencia Epidemiológicos; MéxicoFil: Fonseca Coronado, Salvador. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Cruz Rivera, Mayra. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; Méxic

Anti-atherogenic properties associated with the antioxidant activity from the hydrophilic extracts of Halimeda incrassata (Chlorophyta, Bryopsidales)

Seaweeds are a source of natural antioxidants having potential application in oxidative stress and associated diseases. In this work, anti-atherogenic properties associated with the antioxidant activity from the hydrophilic extracts of Halimeda incrassata were studied. The phenolic content assessed inthe aqueous extract and fraction phenolic acids (FPA) was 0.13 ± 0.05 and 0.47 ± 0.09 mg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g dry seaweed, respectively. In DPPH?, radical scavenging assay fractions exhibited a dependent concentration. The seaweeds extract inhibited the desoxirribose oxidation in the presenceor absence of EDTA (IC50 = 1.91± 0.09 mg/mL) (IC50 = 2.95 ± 0.01 mg/mL). In vivo antioxidant properties of FPA-H.incrassata were investigated in rats with a CCl4-induced liver injury. Pre-treatment with H.incrassata led to approximately 50% reductions in liver TBARS levels. The treatment with H. incrassataFPA also increased the activity of the CAT enzyme, which in turn resulted in an enhanced antioxidantdefense. The expression of Catalase by PCR-RT technique demonstrated a higher gene expression when compared with that which was observed in the CCl 4-treated group. Antiatherogenic properties were studied in the inhibition of lipoprotein oxidation mediated by Cu2+ or HRP/H2O2, free radicalscavenging, and metal ion chelation, and it was dose dependent with a higher concentration needed for the aqueous extract than for the FPA fraction. Antioxidant activity was also improved in macrophages as evaluated in the cell supernatant (by TBARS formation); and by luminol enhanced chemiluminescence after cell activation with zymosan; and a degree of cell lipoperoxidation wasdecreased by the Halimeda incrassata extract. The results of this work add to the antioxidant potential of the seaweed for its application in oxidative stress associated conditions.Fil: Vidal-Novoa, Alexis. Universidad de la Habana. Facultad de Biología; CubaFil: Costa-Mugica, Ariadna. Universidad de la Habana. Facultad de Biología; CubaFil: Zulueta Díaz, Yenisleidy de Las Mercedes. Universidad de la Habana. Facultad de Biología; Cuba. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Diaz-Gutierrez, Daylín. Universidad de la Habana. Facultad de Biología; CubaFil: de Oliveira e Silva, Ana, Mara. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Vazquez, Ana María. Center For Molecular Inmunology; CubaFil: Claudina, Zaldívar-Munoz. Universidad de la Habana. Facultad de Biología; CubaFil: Dalva, Assuncao Portari de Mancini. Institute Butantan Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Mancini-Filho, Jorge. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasi

Small-signal modeling of the incremental optical encoder for motor control

The small-signal model of the incremental optical encoder introduced in this paper provides an insight on the impact of this sensor in the dynamics of the motion control loop of a motor drive. The model is derived and validated for the most commonly employed speed estimation methods: the pulse count and elapsed time methods. Using the model, the reduction of the phase margin due to the encoder phase lag can be quantified at an early design stage. This model facilitates the design of control techniques to compensate for the phase margin reduction due to the associated feedback delays

Association between serum uric acid levels and cardiovascular risk among university workers from the State of Mexico: a nested case–control study

Background: Recent evidence suggests that serum uric acid (SUA) can be an inexpensive and easy-to-obtain indicator of cardiovascular risk (CR). This is especially important in developing countries with high prevalence of cardiovascular disease. We examined the association between SUA levels and 10-year global CR among university workers from the State of Mexico, Mexico. Methods: A case–control study nested within a cohort was conducted between 2004 and 2006. Anthropometric measures, lifestyle variables, family background and CR factors were assessed. The analysis estimated odds ratios using conditional logistic regression. Results: The study included 319 cases with CR and 638 controls. Subjects in the upper tertile of SUA had 48.0% higher odds of having an elevated CR than those in the lower tertile (OR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.04 - 2.10) in the crude analysis, but the association was non-significant when adjusting for other covariates. Among physically inactive individuals, being in the third tertile of SUA doubled the odds of high CR, compared with those who perform physical activity three or more hours per week being in the first tertile of SUA (OR = 2.35, 95% CI: 1.24 - 4.45). Conclusion: Serum concentration of uric acid is associated with 10-year global CR among individuals with high levels of physical inactivity

Framework to Evaluate Emerging Systems Designed to Health Field

In recent years, several information and communication technology systems have emerged as tools to improve sleep quality. Research reveals that poor sleep quality may produce irritability and deficits in performance, concentration, and learning ability in the short term, and is associated with chronic disease in the long term. ICT proposals range from the old Polysomnography (PSG) to innovative systems, such as wearable devices, smartphone applications, and suites of sensors embedded in the users’ environment. Since these technological developments concern a health issue, they have raised important questions regarding their reliability and the level of rigor of the evaluations to which they are submitted. We found that some of the emerging systems that we studied, do not meet the requirements that health science demands to be accepted as clinical tools. The rationale behind this apparent weakness is explained with arguments from the field of evaluations for health interventions and evaluation of technological developments. We propose a framework to evaluate this kind of systems through appropriate scientific methods that provide valuable information to the research. These methods must be performed while designs mature and the feasibility of rigorous evaluations became appropriate