Cartucho by Nellie Campobello: an approach from the auto fiction theoretical framework

La mayoría de los relatos que conforman Cartucho. Relatos de la lucha en el norte de México (1931) acusan una compleja estructura que no obedece al cuento o a la novela, por lo que puede considerarse un texto híbrido donde se mezcla realidad y ficción. Por lo tanto, en este trabajo analizaremos Cartucho a la luz de la teoría autoficcional y ahondaremos en los rasgos que comparte con la autobiografía y el testimonio en Hispanoamérica.Most of the stories in Cartucho by Nellie Campobello, Stories about the battle in Northern Mexico (1931) are made up of a complex structure which does not have to do with a tale nor with a novel. Therefore, it brings about a hybrid text mixing reality and fiction. Thus, this article aims to analyze Cartucho by means of the auto fiction theoretical framework, focusing on characteristics sharing with autobiography and personal witness in the Hispano American continent

Effectiveness of the vital aging program to promote active aging in Mexican older adults

Introduction: Aging is not only a population phenomenon but also an experience and an individual reality. Vital Aging® is a program that considers active aging as the lifelong adaptatio process of maximizing health and independence, physical and cognitive functioning, positive affect regulation and control, and social engagement. Through its different versions and editions, it has demonstrated being an effective program to promote active aging. The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of the “face-to-face” and “combined” versions of the program to promote active aging in Mexican older adults trial. Methods: Seventy-six older adults aged 60 years and over participated in a quasi-experimental study and were recruited in a senior center to participate in the two experimental conditions: Vital Aging face-to-face (VA-FF) (n=35) and Vital Aging combined (VA-C; multimedia/face-toface) (n=15), and the remaining 26 adults were assigned to a control group. Pretest and posttest assessments were performed after the theoretical–practical intervention. Mean differences and size effects were calculated for estimating the effect of the program. Results: At the end of the study, participants showed improvements in the active aging outcome measures. Positive effects were observed in the frequency of intellectual, cultural – artistic, and social activities, perceptions of aging, satisfaction with social relationships, and self-efficacy for aging. Additionally, those who participated in VA-FF showed better memory performance, meta-memory, and a trend to report less memory problems, while older persons in VA-C showed a trend to have better life satisfaction. No effects were observed in physical activity, frequency of social relationships, and subjective health. Conclusion: Findings show that the Vital Aging program in face-to-face and combined versions encourages active aging in Mexican older persons. These results are in general similar to those found in editions performed in Spain, revealing its consistency as a cross-cultural practical initiative for promoting active agingProject PSI2014-52464-P from the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) in Spain supported this wor

Second-harmonic generation of ZnO nanoparticles synthesized by laser ablation of solids in liquids

We report the synthesis of small zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) based colloidal suspensions and the study of second-harmonic generation from aggregated ZnO NPs deposited on glass substrates. The colloidal suspensions were obtained using the laser ablation of solids in liquids technique, ablating a Zn solid target immersed in acetone as the liquid medium, with ns-laser pulses (1064 nm) of a Nd-YAG laser. The per pulse laser fluence, the laser repetition rate frequency and the ablation time were kept constant. The absorption evolution of the obtained suspensions was optically characterized through absorption spectroscopy until stabilization. Raman spectroscopy, SEM and HRTEM were used to provide evidence of the ZnO NPs structure. HRTEM results showed that 5–8 nm spheroids ZnO NPs were obtained. Strong second-harmonic signal is obtained from random ZnO monocrystalline NPs and from aggregated ZnO NPs, suggesting that the high efficiency of the nonlinear process may not depend on the NPs size or aggregation state

Disease Surveillance Networks Initiative Asia: Final Evaluation

The DSN Initiative was launched in 2007 under the new strategy of the Rockefeller Foundation. The initiative intends:[1] To improve human resources for disease surveillance in developing countries, thus bolstering national capacity to monitor, report, and respond to outbreaks;[2] To support regional networks to promote collaboration in disease surveillance and response across countries; and[3] To build bridges between regional and global monitoring effortsThe purpose of the DSN evaluation in the Mekong region was twofold:[1]To inform the work and strategy of the Foundation, its grantees, and the broader field of disease surveillance, based on the experience of DSN investments in the Mekong region. More specifically, the evaluation will inform future directions and strategies for current areas of DSN Initiative work, particularly in Asia, and will highlight potential new areas of work and strategy; and[2] To provide accountability to the Rockefeller Foundation's board, staff, and stakeholders for the DSN funds spent in the Mekong region

Life cycle cost analysis of tomato production in innovative urban agriculture systems

Acord transformatiu CRUE-CSICUnidad de excelencia María de Maeztu CEX2019-000940-MThe construction of innovative urban agriculture systems in cities has increased due to food and environmental concerns. While the environmental performance of urban agriculture has been extensively studied, research on the life cycle costs of urban agriculture systems is still limited, which constraints sustainability-oriented decision-making processes. This paper analyses the economic viability of tomato production cycle in an innovative building with an integrated urban agriculture system in rooftop by applying the life cycle cost methodology. The data was collected from direct measurements and internal and external sources. To calculate labour costs, a customised data collection sheet was created. The results are presented by life cycle stage, cost category and type of cost (fixed & variable). Results indicate that the main cost drivers for tomato production are labour (24.7%), the rooftop greenhouse structure (15%), external pest control (12.6%), and rainwater consumption (9.5%), accounting altogether for 61.8% of the total costs. Accordingly, cost reduction solutions are evaluated through the development of sensitivity scenarios (rooftop greenhouse structure design, tap water use and rainwater tank size), including the consideration of another relevant aspect, such as the role of the production level output, as it can greatly influence the economic viability and profitability. Finally, the main environmental and social aspects of these urban production systems are also included

Promoción del envejecimiento activo en México: "Vivir con vitalidad"

Tesis doctoral inédita leída en la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Facultad de Psicología, Departamento de Psicología Biológica y de la Salud. Fecha de lectura: 07-07-201

An Integrative Framework on the Nature, Antecedents and Outcomes of Perceived Discrimination in the Workplace

This thesis aimed to advance the knowledge on perceived discrimination (PD) from targets' perspectives and address gaps in research. Study 1 reports a meta-analysis examining correlates of PD across 63 studies involving 37,790 participants. Findings showed that greater PD was associated with increased race/ethnic identification, negative well-being, and attitudes favouring affirmative action (AA). Greater PD was also related to low job satisfaction, low self-esteem and low socio-economic status (SES). The strongest relationship was found between PD and job satisfaction, followed by negative well-being, race/ethnic identity, self-esteem, AA attitudes and SES. The negative correlation between PD and ethnic identity was moderated by type of measurement, research context and type of sample. Similarly, the link between SES and PD was moderated by research context and type of sample. The meta-analysis also identified major research gaps that served as the jump off point for the next studies. Consequently, a three-component research framework for the study of PD was proposed and tested in three studies. The components were: 1) nature of PD, 2) antecedents of PD, and 3) outcomes of PD. Study 2 explored the first component through separate focus groups discussions participated by immigrants from China (5), India (5), Philippines (5), Germany (4) and Zimbabwe (4). Through thematic analysis, a 4-quadrant model emerged from the themes. In Study 3-A, three PD scales that fit the focus groups' model were constructed and collectively named as Immigrants' Perceptions of Discrimination in the Workplace Scales (IPDWS). The scales' psychometric properties were tested using 155 employed immigrants. Ten factors emerged and converged into two higher order factors - Job-Entry and On-the-Job. Study 3B examined job and psychological well-being outcomes using the same immigrant sample. Findings showed that high PD (in career advancement, compensation and equal treatment in policies factors) predicted low job satisfaction, high PD (in career advancement and derogation) predicted low affective commitment, high PD (exclusion factor) predicted high turnover intentions, and high PD (derogation factor) predicted less life satisfaction and greater psychological distress. Finally, Study 4 examined proximal (age, gender, ethnicity and birthplace) and distal (organizational demographics, perceptions of justice and practices) antecedents of PD through 540 employees using Employee Perceptions of Discrimination in the Workplace Scales (a modified version of IPDWS). Findings showed that increasing age and lower income predicted lower PD (nonrecognition of education and experience). Conversely, increasing age predicted higher PD in career advancement. Moreover, greater PD (in career advancement) occurred in large organizations and the public sector (work dynamics). For organizational justice, higher procedural justice predicted lower PD (career advancement factor), interpersonal justice predicted lower PD (work dynamics and derogation factors), and informational justices predicted low PD (recognition of qualifications, career advancement, and work dynamics factors). As for organizational practices, higher employee-orientation predicted low PD (work dynamics) and higher innovation-orientation predicted low PD (career path factor). Overall, distal antecedents were better predictors of PD than the proximal antecedents. In summary, the research findings contribute to the general discrimination and organizational literatures and offer suggestions to policymaking bodies

Model Predictive Control for Building Active Demand Response Systems

The Active Demand Response (ADR), integrated with the distributed energy generation and storage systems, is the most common strategy for the optimization of energy consumption and indoor comfort in buildings, considering the energy availability and the balancing of the energy production from renewable sources. In the paper an overview of basic requirements and applications of ADR management is presented. Specifically, the model predictive control (MPC) adopted in several applications as optimal control strategy in the ADR buildings context is analysed. Finally the research experience of the authors in this context is described