Fenómenos meteorológicos y su semántica en el trópico mexicano

The communication of meteorological phenomena in the mass media mainly expresses a semantics different from that used by farmers in the Mexican sub-humid tropics. In this sense, the objective of this study was to understand how the agricultural producers of the Mexican sub-humid tropics conceptualize certain meteorological phenomena, as well as the ideas they have about their duration, intensity and impacts. The study was carried out in Paso de Ovejas, Veracruz; The methodological design involved a survey, in-depth interviews, and a desk review. The information was analyzed with statistical descriptive techniques and content analysis. The results indicate that the conception of north, south, wind, dry, temporal and drizzle, as well as the ideas about their duration, intensity and impacts derive from a particular semantic construction at the local level whose knowledge should be used as reference in the Communication strategies aimed at adapting agricultural activity to climate change.La comunicación de los fenómenos meteorológicos en los medios de comunicación masiva expresa principalmente una semántica distinta a la usada por los agricultores del trópico subhúmedo mexicano. En este sentido, el objetivo de este estudio fue comprender cómo los productores agropecuarios del trópico subhúmedo mexicano conceptúan ciertos fenómenos meteorológAutor icos, así como, las ideas que tienen sobre su duración, intensidad e impactos. El estudio se realizó en Paso de Ovejas, Veracruz; el diseño metodológico involucró una encuesta, entrevistas a profundidad y una revisión documental. La información fue analizada con técnicas estadísticas descriptivas y análisis de contenido. Los resultados indican que la conceptuación de nortes, suradas, vendavales, secas, temporales y lloviznas, así como, las ideas sobre su duración, intensidad e impactos derivan de una construcción semántica particular en el nivel local cuyo conocimiento debe ser utilizado como referencia en las estrategias de comunicación encaminadas a la adaptación de la actividad agropecuaria ante el cambio climático

Historical Reconstruction of Subordination in a Local Context: Agroecosystems with Sugarcane in Veracruz, Mexico

Objective: Rebuild the historical transformation of agroecosystems based on sugarcane in the sub-humid tropic, as a consequence of the change in public policies of the Mexican State in the last three decades. Design/methodology/approach: The transformation of sugar cane agroecosystems was studied in the continuum of reality, as changes in their resource management and management practices. Thus, methodologies used included life stories, field diary, and documentary review. The information collected was transcribed and classified in a database, using keywords for their previous identification by categories. The statements were identified and ordered based on their content, interpretation, and underlying concepts. Results: During the last century, public policies directed towards the sugar sector encouraged the existence of sugarcane agroecosystems as a monoculture. This implied changes in the management of time, work organization, orientation of the production, dependence on credits driven by the mills, and a process encouraged by the individualization of production, eroding the collective and solidarity work that lay behind other crops. Study limitations/implications: It is important to compare these findings with other investigations done in sugar cane producing municipalities. Findings / conclusion: Neoliberal public policies aiming the sugar sector deepened the producers' financial dependence on mills; as a consequence, they lost their autonomy in the management and use of their agroecosystems.Objective: Rebuild the historical transformation of agroecosystems based on sugarcane in the sub-humid tropic, as a consequence of the change in public policies of the Mexican State in the last three decades. Design/methodology/approach: The transformation of sugar cane agroecosystems was studied in the continuum of reality, as changes in their resource management and management practices. Thus, methodologies used included life stories, field diary, and documentary review. The information collected was transcribed and classified in a database, using keywords for their previous identification by categories. The statements were identified and ordered based on their content, interpretation, and underlying concepts. Results: During the last century, public policies directed towards the sugar sector encouraged the existence of sugarcane agroecosystems as a monoculture. This implied changes in the management of time, work organization, orientation of the production, dependence on credits driven by the mills, and a process encouraged by the individualization of production, eroding the collective and solidarity work that lay behind other crops. Study limitations/implications: It is important to compare these findings with other investigations done in sugar cane producing municipalities. Findings / conclusion: Neoliberal public policies aiming the sugar sector deepened the producers' financial dependence on mills; as a consequence, they lost their autonomy in the management and use of their agroecosystems

In silico and In vitro analysis of MAP3773c protein from Mycobacterium avium subsp. Paratuberculosis

Paratuberculosis is a disease caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). It is of great interest to better understand the proteins involved in the pathogenicity of this organism in order to be able to identify potential therapeutic targets and design new vaccines. The protein of interest–MAP3773c–was investigated, and molecular modeling in silico, docking, cloning, expression, purification, and partial characterization of the recombinant protein were achieved. In the in silico study, it was shown that MAP3773c of MAP has 34% sequence similarity with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) FurB, which is a zinc uptake regulator (Zur) protein. The docking data showed that MAP3773c exhibits two metal-binding sites. The presence of structural Zn2+ in the purified protein was confirmed by SDS-PAGE PAR staining. The purification showed one band that corresponded to a monomer, which was confirmed by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The presence of a monomer was verified by analyzing the native protein structure through BN-SDS-PAGE (Native Blue (BN) Two-Dimensional Electrophoresis) and BN–Western blotting. The MAP3773c protein contains structural zinc. In conclusion, our results show that MAP3773c displays the features of a Fur-type protein with two metal-binding sites, one of them coordinating structural Zn2+

Análisis de la eficiencia de los estándares de transmisión de televisión digital por satélite en las bandas Ku y Ka

ResumenEn este artículo se lleva a cabo un análisis de las principales características técnicas de los estándares para la transmisión de televisión digital por satélite. Con base en simulaciones y cálculo de enlaces se determina el estándar con mejor desempeño operativo y se realiza una comparación de la eficiencia para transmisiones en las bandas Ku y Ka con transpondedores transparentes y regenerativos, en términos de potencia, ancho de banda, tasa de información y margen del enlace, tanto a cielo despejado, como con lluvia en el enlace ascendente, en el descendente y en ambos.AbstractIn this paper, an analysis on the main technical features of digital television standards for satellite transmission is carried out. Based on simulations and link budgets, the standard with the best operational performance is defined, based on simulations and link budget analysis, as well as a comparative efficiency analysis is conducted for the Ku and Ka bands for both transparent and regenerative transponders in terms of power, bandwidth, information rate and link margin, including clear sky, uplink rain, downlink rain and rain in both

Fenómenos meteorológicos y su semántica en el trópico mexicano

La comunicación de los fenómenos meteorológicos en los medios de comunicación masiva expresa principalmente una semántica distinta a la usada por los agricultores del trópico subhúmedo mexicano. En este sentido, el objetivo de este estudio fue comprender cómo los productores agropecuarios del trópico subhúmedo mexicano conceptúan ciertos fenómenos meteorológAutor icos, así como, las ideas que tienen sobre su duración, intensidad e impactos. El estudio se realizó en Paso de Ovejas, Veracruz; el diseño metodológico involucró una encuesta, entrevistas a profundidad y una revisión documental. La información fue analizada con técnicas estadísticas descriptivas y análisis de contenido. Los resultados indican que la conceptuación de nortes, suradas, vendavales, secas, temporales y lloviznas, así como, las ideas sobre su duración, intensidad e impactos derivan de una construcción semántica particular en el nivel local cuyo conocimiento debe ser utilizado como referencia en las estrategias de comunicación encaminadas a la adaptación de la actividad agropecuaria ante el cambio climático

Water, environment, and socioeconomic justice in California: A multi-benefit cropland repurposing framework

Low-income, rural frontline communities of California's Central Valley experience environmental and socioeconomic injustice, water insecurity, extremely poor air quality, and lack of fundamental infrastructure (sewage, green areas, health services), which makes them less resilient. Many communities depend financially on agriculture, while water scarcity and associated policy may trigger farmland retirement further hindering socioeconomic opportunities. Here we propose a multi-benefit framework to repurpose cropland in buffers inside and around (400-m and 1600-m buffers) 154 rural disadvantaged communities of the Central Valley to promote socioeconomic opportunities, environmental benefits, and business diversification. We estimate the potential for (1) reductions in water and pesticide use, nitrogen leaching, and nitrogen gas emissions, (2) managed aquifer recharge, and (3) economic and employment impacts associated with clean industries and solar energy. Retiring cropland within 1600-m buffers can result in reductions in water use of 2.18 km3/year, nitrate leaching into local aquifers of 105,500 t/year, greenhouse gas emissions of 2,232,000 t CO2-equivalent/year, and 5388 t pesticides/year, with accompanying losses in agricultural revenue of US$4213 million/year and employment of 25,682 positions. Buffer repurposing investments of US$27 million/year per community for ten years show potential to generate US$101 million/year per community (total US$15,578 million/year) for 30 years and 407 new jobs/year (total 62,697 jobs/year) paying 67 % more than prior farmworker jobs. In the San Joaquin Valley (southern Central Valley), where groundwater overdraft averages 2.3 km3/year, potential water use reduction is 1.8 km3/year. We have identified 99 communities with surficial soils adequate for aquifer recharge and canals/rivers within 1600 m. This demonstrates the potential of managed aquifer recharge in buffered zones to substantially reduce overdraft. The buffers framework shows that well-planned land repurposing near disadvantaged communities can create multiple benefits for farmers and industry stakeholders, while improving quality of life in disadvantaged communities and producing positive externalities for society