Exploring the Underlying Factor Structure of the Home Literacy Environment (HLE) in a Spanish Translation of the Familia Inventory

Differences in children’s skills at the beginning of formal schooling have been reported, with Hispanic children, often performing below their Caucasian counterparts. The home literacy environment (HLE) has been reported to be the cause of the early differences, but the paucity of Spanish language instruments aimed at studying the HLE of Hispanic families has affected research in this important area. One available instrument is the Spanish version of the Familia Inventory, designed to assess family interactions related to literacy. Research has shown that the Spanish inventory is not equivalent to the original English version possibly due to an erroneous translation. The purpose of this study is to complete a psychometric examination of a re-translated Spanish language version of the Familia Inventory with a low-socioeconomic Spanish-speaking Hispanic sample using confirmatory (CFA) and exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The inventory was administered to 132 parents of preschoolers. Results from CFA models revealed that the 10 a-priori subscales suggested by the developer of the inventory and a four-factor model suggested by a researcher did not yield adequate model fit with this sample. Follow-up analyses of individual subscales yielded poor fit for the majority of the subscales. Exploratory factor analysis using the original 57 items of the inventory suggested a five-factor model accounting for 43.3% of the variance. It is suggested that the inventory needs to be theoretically re-conceptualized

Los retos de la sustentabilidad urbana en México. Reflexiones sobre su evaluación a través de la Metodología ICES del BID

En 2000, la Organización de Naciones Unidas mencionó que, en el siglo XX, México, como muchos países latinoamericanos, sufrió un proceso de urbanización muy acelerado que provocó graves problemas de bienestar,seguridad y convivencia familiar y social (ONU, 2000).El crecimiento urbano acelerado y la falta de planeación en el territorio han generado diversos problemas socio espaciales, económicos y ambientales. Además, se ha generado el crecimiento exponencial de las ciudades medias de la región. En 2014, el 54% de la población mundial vivía en ciudades y la ONU estima que para el 2050 la cifra llegará al 66% (ONU-Hábitat, 2016). La región de América Latina y el Caribe (ALyC) es la segunda más urbanizada del mundo; en 1950, la tasa de urbanización era de 4%; en 2010 de 79%; entre 1950 y 2014 su población urbana aumentó del 50% al 80%, y se espera que alcance el 86% en 2050 (BID, 2017). En este sentido, el estudio y análisis del desarrollo urbano en las ciudades medias, permite identificar el problema, y priorizar los retos, a fin de poder evitar que estos impactos se conviertan en grandes conflictos para las ciudades. Este artículo es producto de una investigación sobre la sustentabilidad integral en las zonas metropolitanas de Tampico y Toluca; y tiene como propósito reflexionar sobre la sustentabilidad urbana en México así como de los retos actuales. Se inicia a partir del crecimiento urbano en México, y presenta una revisión de los antecedentes hasta abordar el tema de la sustentabilidad del desarrollo. Finalmente, se analizan los problemas implicados en la sustentabilidad de las ciudades, particularizando en las zonas metropolitanas de estudio.Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México - CONACY

Analysis of the spatial distribution of RSU in the Tampico Metropolitan Area

El objetivo de la investigación es elaborar una cartografía de la generación de residuos sólidos urbanos en la Zona Metropolitana de Tampico y observar su distribución espacial en el territorio, para, desde un punto de vista integral, tener el conocimiento de la situación actual que prevalece en la zona, Se aplicaron encuestas y se recolectaron los residuos en los hogares seleccionados, a fin de obtener la generación por día de la semana y su composición en una clasificación estándar que permitió elaborar la cartografía sobre la generación y composición de residuos en todas las zonas de la ciudad. Se concluye que la cantidad y composición de los residuos generados en los hogares se ve influenciada, en gran medida, por el ingreso del jefe de familia, así como por la cultura de las personas. El averiguar la cantidad y la composición de los residuos generados en un territorio es de suma importancia porque amplía el conocimiento del fenómeno y ayuda a explicar algunos problemas presentados

Marine actinomycetes for biocontrol of Fusarium solani in tomato plants: In vitro and in vivo studies

Using microorganisms as biocontrol agents of phytopathogens has been an alternative to synthetic fungicides. Actinomycetes isolated from soil and plants have reduced diseases caused by phytopathogens; however, microorganisms from marine environments may be an option as biocontrol agents. The tomato crop possesses an important economic impact worldwide, being Mexico the main exporter. Several species of Fusarium cause damage to tomato crops and are controlled with synthetic fungicides. The objective of this work was to determine the effect of marine actinomycetes as biocontrol on Fusarium solani in tomato plants. Four strains of marine actinomycetes (A20, A19, A18, and A15) and one terrestrial actinomycete (ED48) were used. The actinomycetes strains used, produced siderophores. The greatest inhibition of mycelial growth of F. solani due to iron competition was obtained by strain A19 with 74.28%. Only two actinomycetes showed antifungal activity by VOCs (A19 and A18), strain A19 showed the highest antagonistic activity with PICR of 76.75%. Actinomycetes treatments showed significant differences with synthetic fungicide application in growth, disease severity (SE), and disease incidence (DI) variables. The application of marine actinomycete (A19) on plants infested with F. solani increased the levels of enzyme activity (SOD, POD, CAT, and PAL) versus plants in that only F. solani and distilled water (control) were applied. Actinomycetes of marine origin are an option as biocontrol agents for F. solani

A turn-on fluorescent solid-sensor for Hg(II) detection

A rhodamine organosilane derivative (Rh-UTES) has been obtained by one-pot synthesis. The chemical structure of Rh-UTES was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and infrared (FTIR) techniques. To obtain an inorganic-organic hybrid sensor, Rh-UTES was covalently immobilized on a porous silicon microcavity (PSiMc) via triethoxysilane groups. The attachment of the organic derivative into PSiMc was confirmed by FTIR, specular reflectance, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The optical performance of Rh-UTES receptor for Hg2+ detection was investigated by fluorescent spectroscopy and microscopy. Upon the addition of increasing amounts of Hg2+ ions, a remarkable enhancement in emission intensity was produced in both systems. In the solid phase, an increase of integrated fluorescent emission of 0.12- and 0.15-fold after Hg2+ receptor coordination was observed. The light harvesting capability of PSiMc devices allowed obtaining an enhanced fluorescent emission after Rh-UTES immobilization (277-fold). The fluorescence microscopy of hybrid PSiMc sensor provided an optical qualitative test for Hg2+ detection.A rhodamine organosilane derivative (Rh-UTES) has been obtained by one-pot synthesis. The chemical structure of Rh-UTES was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and infrared (FTIR) techniques. To obtain an inorganic-organic hybrid sensor, Rh-UTES was covalently immobilized on a porous silicon microcavity (PSiMc) via triethoxysilane groups. The attachment of the organic derivative into PSiMc was confirmed by FTIR, specular reflectance, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The optical performance of Rh-UTES receptor for Hg2+ detection was investigated by fluorescent spectroscopy and microscopy. Upon the addition of increasing amounts of Hg2+ ions, a remarkable enhancement in emission intensity was produced in both systems. In the solid phase, an increase of integrated fluorescent emission of 0.12- and 0.15-fold after Hg2+ receptor coordination was observed. The light harvesting capability of PSiMc devices allowed obtaining an enhanced fluorescent emission after Rh-UTES immobilization (277-fold). The fluorescence microscopy of hybrid PSiMc sensor provided an optical qualitative test for Hg2+ detection

Air pollution Analysis with a PFCM Clustering Algorithm Applied in a Real Database of Salamanca (Mexico)

Over the last ten years, Salamanca has been considered among the most polluted cities in México. Nowadays, there is an Automatic Environmental Monitoring Network (AEMN) which measures air pollutants (Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Particular Matter (PM10), Ozone (O3), etc.), as well as environmental variables (wind speed, wind direction, temperature, and relative humidity), and it takes a sample of the variables every minute. The AEM Network is mainly based on three monitoring stations located at Cruz Roja, DIF, and Nativitas. In this work, we use the PFCM (Possibilistic Fuzzy c Means) clustering algorithm as a mean to get a combined measure, from the three stations, looking to provide a tool for better management of contingencies in the city, such that local or general action can be taken in the city according to the pollution level given by each station and the combined measure. Besides, we also performed an analysis of correlation between pollution and environmental variables. The results show a significative correlation between pollutant concentrations and some environmental variables. So, the combined measure and the correlations can be used for the establishment of general contingency thresholds

Response to Neutrons and γ-rays of Two Liquid Scintillators

UltimaGoldTM AB and OptiphaseTrisafe are two liquid scintillators made by Perkin Elmer and EG & G Company respectively. Both are commercially promoted as scintillation detectors for α and β particles. In this work, the responses to γ-rays and neutrons of UltimaGoldTM AB and OptiphaseTriSafe liquid scintillators, without and with reflector, have been measured aiming to use these scintillators as γ-rays and neutron detectors. Responses to γ-rays and neutrons were measured as pulse shape spectra in a multichannel analyzer. Scintillators were exposed to gamma rays produced by 137Cs, 54Mn, 22Na and 60Co sources. The response to neutrons was obtained with a 241AmBe neutron source that was measured to 25 and 50 cm from the scintillators. The pulse height spectra due to gamma rays are shifted to larger channels as the photon energy increases and these responses are different from the response due to neutrons. Thus, UltimaGoldTM AB and OptiphaseTrisafe can be used to detect γ-rays and neutrons

Constraints on instantaneous ozone production rates and regimes during DOMINO derived using in-situ OH reactivity measurements

In this study air masses are characterized in terms of their total OH reactivity which is a robust measure of the reactive air pollutant loading . The measurements were performed during the DOMINO campaign (Diel Oxidant Mechanisms In relation to Nitrogen Oxides) held from 21/11/2008 to 08/12/2008 at the Atmospheric Sounding Station - El Arenosillo (37.1° N-6.7° W, 40 m a.s.l.). The site was frequently impacted by marine air masses (arriving at the site from the southerly sector) and air masses from the cities of Huelva (located NW of the site), Seville and Madrid (located NNE of the site). OH reactivity values showed strong wind sector dependence. North eastern continental air masses were characterized by the highest OH reactivities (average: 31.4 ± 4.5 s−1; range of average diel values: 21.3-40.5 s−1), followed by north western industrial air masses (average: 13.8 ± 4.4 s−1; range of average diel values: 7-23.4 s−1) and marine air masses (average: 6.3 ± 6.6 s−1; range of average diel values: below detection limit −21.7 s−1), respectively. The average OH reactivity for the entire campaign period was ~18 s−1 and no pronounced variation was discernible in the diel profiles with the exception of relatively high values from 09:00 to 11:00 UTC on occasions when air masses arrived from the north western and southern wind sectors. The measured OH reactivity was used to constrain both diel instantaneous ozone production potential rates and regimes. Gross ozone production rates at the site were generally limited by the availability of NOx with peak values of around 20 ppbV O3 h−1. Using the OH reactivity based approach, derived ozone production rates indicate that if NOx would no longer be the limiting factor in air masses arriving from the continental north eastern sector, peak ozone production rates could double. We suggest that the new combined approach of in-situ fast measurements of OH reactivity, nitrogen oxides and peroxy radicals for constraining instantaneous ozone production rates, could significantly improve analyses of upwind point sources and their impact on regional ozone levels

Plan de mejoramiento del clima laboral en la empresa Marallano, ubicada en el municipio de Puerto Carreño – Vichada

Nota: Enlace de la Encuesta: https://forms.gle/TYk6orX5a8tNzExM6. Fuente: Autoría Propia.Dentro del estudio del clima organizacional se conoce es fundamental para una empresa porque es el indicador más preciso del nivel de relaciones laborales de una organización. Cuando es positivo, beneficia a los colaboradores y a la propia organización, mientras que cuando es negativo, puede generar pérdidas, gastos, conflictos y otras situaciones adversas, y posiblemente incluso la quiebra de la organización. Este ambiente organizacional se puede utilizar como una medida de cómo se sienten los colaboradores acerca de las políticas y prácticas de su empleador. Al medir las lecturas de este indicador, las políticas y acciones tomadas pueden estar en mayor alineación con las metas y estrategias de la organización. Mantener un buen clima organizacional en el ambiente de trabajo puede brindar importantes ventajas para el logro de las metas empresariales. Un adecuado clima organizacional juega un papel importante porque ha demostrado ser la base principal para que las empresas tengan éxito en las actividades propias de su objeto social, ya que busca mejorar la comunicación de sus colaboradores y activar su potencial para el logro de los objetivos de la empresa. La importancia del clima organizacional en el siglo XXI, se enfoca a una nueva sociedad generadora de valor en su capital humano; que permitirá incrementar ganancias en sus organizaciones e incrementará la eficacia en sus colaboradores, generando ambientes sanos, con buenas relaciones interpersonales y un equipo comprometido con sus objetivos.The study of the organizational climate is essential for a company because it is the most accurate indicator of the level of labor relations in an organization. When it is positive, it benefits the collaborators and the organization itself, while when it is negative, it can generate losses, expenses, conflicts and other adverse situations, and possibly even the bankruptcy of the organization. This organizational environment can be used as a measure of how employees feel about their employers policies and practices. By measuring the readings of this indicator, the policies and actions taken can be more aligned with the goals and strategies of the organization. Maintaining a good organizational climate in the work environment can provide important advantages for the achievement of organizational goals. An adequate organizational climate plays an important role because it has proven to be the main basis for companies to be successful in the activities of their corporate purpose, since it seeks to improve the communication of their collaborators and activate their potential to achieve the companys objectives. the organization. The importance of the organizational climate in the 21st century focuses on a new society that generates value in its human capital; that will allow to increase profits in their organizations and will increase the effectiveness of their collaborators, generating healthy environments, with good interpersonal relationships and a team committed to their objectives