Designing public spaces though the principles of evolution and organization. Case Study: Square Ángel María Garibay, Toluca, State of Mexico

The Ángel María Garibay Kintana square, located in the historic center of the city of Toluca, State of Mexico, was remodeled in 2009, this transformation was necessary because the inside had a structural overload threatened the safety of underground parking therefore the afety of pedestrians on the outside. The principles of evolution -like remodeling, for example-were solved adequately from engineering, however, the impact of public furniture removal and vegetation turned the square into a place of transience, without considering the rganization principle (human interactions). This paper proposes that the principles of organization and evolution are components of a complex integrated system, whose bases are taken up for the functional design and dynamic public spaces, so that grant the possibility of multiple processes confluence of aesthetic, social and turn, enable local development in times of globalization and complexity provide benefits to the community.La plaza Ángel María Garibay Kintana, ubicada en el centro histórico de la ciudad de Toluca, Estado de México, fue remodelada en 2009; esta transformación fue necesaria debido a que su interior tenía una sobrecarga estructural que ponía en riesgo la seguridad el estacionamiento subterráneo y, por ende, la seguridad de los transeúntes en su exterior. Los principios de evolución –como la remodelación, por ejemplo–fueron resueltos adecuadamente desde la ingeniería; sin embargo, el impacto por la remoción del mobiliario público y e la vegetación convirtió a la plaza en un lugar de transitoriedad, sin contemplar el principio de organización (interacciones humanas). Este artículo propone que los principios de organización y evolución sean componentes de un sistema integral complejo, cuyos fundamentos sean retomados para el diseño funcional y dinámico de los espacios públicos, de forma que otorguen la posibilidad de confluencia de múltiples procesos estéticos, sociales y, a su vez, posibiliten el desarrollo local que en tiempos de la globalización y complejidad brindan beneficios a la comunida

par genes in Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium smegmatis are arranged in an operon transcribed from "SigGC" promoters

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The ParA/Soj and ParB/Spo0J proteins, and the <it>cis</it>-acting <it>parS </it>site, participate actively in chromosome segregation and cell cycle progression. Genes homologous to <it>parA </it>and <it>parB</it>, and two putative <it>parS </it>copies, have been identified in the <it>Mycobacterium bovis </it>BCG and <it>Mycobacterium smegmatis </it>chromosomes. As in <it>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</it>, the <it>parA </it>and <it>parB </it>genes in these two non-pathogenic mycobacteria are located near the chromosomal origin of replication. The present work focused on the determination of the transcriptional organisation of the ~6 Kb <it>orf60K-parB </it>region of <it>M. bovis </it>BCG and <it>M. smegmatis </it>by primer extension, transcriptional fusions to the green fluorescence protein (GFP) and quantitative RT-PCR.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The <it>parAB </it>genes were arranged in an operon. However, we also found promoters upstream of each one of these genes. Seven putative promoter sequences were identified in the <it>orf60K-parB </it>region of <it>M. bovis </it>BCG, whilst four were identified in the homologous region of <it>M. smegmatis</it>, one upstream of each open reading frame (ORF).</p> <p>Real-time PCR assays showed that in <it>M. smegmatis</it>, mRNA-<it>parA </it>and mRNA-<it>parB </it>levels decreased between the exponential and stationary phases. In <it>M. bovis </it>BCG, mRNA-<it>parA </it>levels also decreased between the exponential and stationary phases. However, <it>parB </it>expression was higher than <it>parA </it>expression and remained almost unchanged along the growth curve.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The majority of the proposed promoter regions had features characteristic of <it>Mycobacterium </it>promoters previously denoted as Group D. The -10 hexamer of a strong <it>E. coli </it>σ⁷⁰-like promoter, located upstream of <it>gidB </it>of <it>M. bovis </it>BCG, overlapped with a putative <it>parS </it>sequence, suggesting that the transcription from this promoter might be regulated by the binding of ParB to <it>parS</it>.</p

Percepción del consumidor en la ambientación del espacio comercial del restaurante te encantaré como estrategia de mercadeo

Este estudio analiza la percepción que tienen los clientes del restaurante Te Encantaré, teniendo en cuenta la experiencia que perciben en el interior de este establecimiento y la influencia que el diseño, la gastronomía afrodisiaca y los elementos de ambientación erótico - artístico generan en el incremento del consumo. Por ello en el desarrollo de esta investigación,mediante las técnicas del método etnográfico como, encuestas tipo Likert, observación participante, entrevistas etnográficas de profundidad, se identificó el comportamiento del consumidor en el restaurante. Se hizo un análisis de los resultados arrojados para responder a los objetivos del proyecto que nos permitieran dar un aporte estratégico de comunicación para incrementar la afluencia de nuevos clientes en el restaurante Te Encantaré.This study analyzes the perception that customers of the restaurant Te Encantaré have, taking into account the experience they perceive inside this establishment and the influence that design, aphrodisiac gastronomy and the elements of erotic - artistic atmosphere generate in the increase of consumption. Therefore, in the development of this research, through the techniques of the ethnographic method such as Likert-type surveys, participant observation, depth ethnographic interviews, consumer behavior in the restaurant was identified. An analysis was made of the results thrown to respond to the objectives of the project that would allow us to provide a strategic communication contribution to increase the influx of new customers at the Te Encantaré restaurant

Data interactivity in social networks as a strategic design. An approach to Fair Trade

Nowadays and according to Ries (2006:14) the mass communication that has been implemented in a globalized world is branded by five ‘revolutions’ that have evolved the way the information is exchanged, allowing to share ideas or opinions of any kind with speed and ease. There is a direct correlation between each one of these mass communication revolutions that have been democratized and the start of a new interaction era. That way, such revolutions are defined by a particular mean of communication. These means are: 1) The book, which main characteristic is the information mass distribution as first communication revolution. 2) Newspapers, in which the main characteristic is the periodicity added to the mass distribution. This is the second revolution. 3) The radio broadcast, which has as characteristics the mass distribution, the immediacy and the audio. 4) Television, which adds to the previously mentioned characteristics the movement of images. 5) Finally the Internet, the fifth revolution implied a new element in the transmission of ideas: the interactivity.Nowadays, the electronic means of communication have an unprecedented impact in the way of projects are developed. The electronic information –due to its nature– has now a more democratic approach of operation, plummeting the power of the great companies and governments. With the creation of the web 2.0, the common users of Internet have now a huge number of communication tools, which allow them to know –in an immediate, measured and effective way– what they or others think or believe. So, the object that has changed as a main channel is the operation by Internet. This current and simple –for many– phenomena, has a deep implication in the way of replanting the new paradigms with a global impact in productive projects as a commerce target

Biomimicry: natural systems in situ analysis aimed to rain water harvesting

Population growth has put a considerable pressure upon Mexico’s water supply, diminishing it in some regions of the country. The study of Biomimicry has less than 15 years of study, as a discipline aimed to analyses and study natural systems to emulate its characteristics and translate them into designs that can solve needs in a sustainable way. Using the latter to solve the former, it can be said that a possible way to harvest water from the environment to help the water supply; is using as inspiration of the way in which some plants native from Mexico’s dry regions obtain water from the environment in an efficient manner. This is possible since these plants have evolved to extract water micro particles and keep them in their inner reservoirs.Water is a valuable natural resource for life, but the poor management is making it scarce. This lack of care has created a series of social and technical problems, including the difficulties to distribute it to individual homes, particularly in Mexico. In order to solve such problems, it is necessary to find alternatives for its harvesting, care, distribution and use; allowing to reduce social stress, as well as allowing for a better water stewardship. One option is using Biomimicry and design as tools to find innovative, sustainable solutions. The conclusions of this current research project show how two different Mexican plants of notable importance, in economic and even gastronomical terms, had been analyzed through the eyes of the Biomimicry in order to extrapolate possible solutions of water harvesting and distribution. The aim of this paper is to discuss the results of such analyses

Polymorphisms of the noggin gene and mandibular micrognathia : a first approximation

El micrognatismo mandibular, deficiencia en el crecimiento de la mandíbula, no permite que los dientes entren en contacto durante la masticación, interfiriendo con la fonación y produciendo inclusive apnea del sueño. Estudios con ratones mutantes para el gen chordin (chd) o noggin (nog) moduladores de las proteínas morfogénicas óseas (BMP) presentaron defectos mandibulares, que van desde hipoplasia mandibular, pasando por micrognatia hasta agnatia. El gen NOG humano fue el primer antagonista de BMP identificado y es esencial para varios eventos tardíos del desarrollo mandibular, que requieren modulación de la actividad de las BMP. El objetivo del trabajo fue determinar la presencia de polimorfismos del gen NOG en pacientes con micrognatismo mandibular y analizar su fenotipo. Se tomaron 4 familias con micrognatismo mandibular, muestras de sangre fueron tomadas por venopunción a los individuos participantes, el ADN fue extraído, se realizó la amplificación de los fragmentos correspondientes a los polimorfismos rs 1236187 y rs 1348322 mediante PCR (Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa) y se analizaron los SNPs del gen NOG reportados en la base de datos NCBI, mediante secuenciación directa. El SNP rs 1348322, se presen- tó en forma homocigota en los individuos de todas las familias, donde se da el cambio de una Citosina por una Adenina en la posición 112 del exón del gen NOG. El SNP rs 1236187, no arrojó ningún resultado en forma clara. Este resultado sugiere que posiblemente pueden tratarse de polimorfismos poblacionales, o de marcadores poco polimórficos para nuestra población, por lo tanto es necesario continuar en la búsqueda de la relación del gen NOG con el micrognatismo mandibular.13-19Mandibular micrognathia is a deficiency in mandibular growth that prevents tooth contact during mastication, interferes with phonation and even causes sleep apnea. Studies show that mutant mice for chd (chordin) and nog (noggin) genes, which are modulators of the Bone Morphogenic Protein (BMP), had mandibular defects ranging from mandibular hypoplasia to micrognathia and agnathia. The human NOG gene was the first BMP antagonist identified and it is essential for various late events in mandibular development, which require modulation of the BMP activity. The aim of this work was to determine the presence of NOG gene polymorphisms in families with mandibular micrognathia and analyze its phenotype. Four families with mandibular micrognathia were included in this study. Blood samples were taken from the participating individuals through venipuncture and DNA was extracted. The fragments of interest were amplified using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and the Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) of the NOG gene reported in the NCBI database were analyzed through direct sequencing. The SNP rs1348322 was present in homozygote form in the subjects from all the families, where Cytosine is changed to Adenine in position 112 of the exon of the NOG gene. The SNP rs 1236187 did not show any clear result. This result suggests that there may be population polymorphism, or markers that are seldom polymorphic for our population. It is therefore necessary to continue with the search for the relationship of the NOG gene with mandibular micrognathia

First insights into the genetic diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from HIV-infected Mexican patients and mutations causing multidrug resistance

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The prevalence of infections with <it>Mycobacterium tuberculosis </it>(MTb) and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) species in HIV-infected patients in Mexico is unknown. The aims of this study were to determine the frequency of MTb and NTM species in HIV-infected patients from Mexico City, to evaluate the genotypic diversity of the <it>Mycobacterium tuberculosis </it>complex strains, to determine their drug resistance profiles by colorimetric microplate Alamar Blue assay (MABA), and finally, to detect mutations present in <it>kat</it>G, <it>rpo</it>B and <it>inh</it>A genes, resulting in isoniazid (INH) and rifampin (RIF) resistance.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the 67 mycobacterial strains isolated, 48 were identified as MTb, 9 as <it>M. bovis</it>, 9 as <it>M. avium </it>and 1 as <it>M. intracellulare</it>. IS<it>6110</it>-RFLP of 48 MTb strains showed 27 profiles. Spoligotyping of the 48 MTb strains yielded 21 patterns, and 9 <it>M. bovis </it>strains produced 7 patterns. Eleven new spoligotypes patterns were found. A total of 40 patterns were produced from the 48 MTb strains when MIRU-VNTR was performed. Nineteen (39.6%) MTb strains were resistant to one or more drugs. One (2.1%) multidrug-resistant (MDR) strain was identified. A novel mutation was identified in a RIF-resistant strain, GAG → TCG (Glu → Ser) at codon 469 of <it>rpo</it>B gene.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This is the first molecular analysis of mycobacteria isolated from HIV-infected patients in Mexico, which describe the prevalence of different mycobacterial species in this population. A high genetic diversity of MTb strains was identified. New spoligotypes and MIRU-VNTR patterns as well as a novel mutation associated to RIF-resistance were found. This information will facilitate the tracking of different mycobacterial species in HIV-infected individuals, and monitoring the spread of these microorganisms, leading to more appropriate measures for tuberculosis control.</p

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Worldwide trends in diabetes since 1980: a pooled analysis of 751 population-based studies with 4.4 million participants

BACKGROUND: One of the global targets for non-communicable diseases is to halt, by 2025, the rise in the age-standardised adult prevalence of diabetes at its 2010 levels. We aimed to estimate worldwide trends in diabetes, how likely it is for countries to achieve the global target, and how changes in prevalence, together with population growth and ageing, are affecting the number of adults with diabetes. METHODS: We pooled data from population-based studies that had collected data on diabetes through measurement of its biomarkers. We used a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate trends in diabetes prevalence—defined as fasting plasma glucose of 7·0 mmol/L or higher, or history of diagnosis with diabetes, or use of insulin or oral hypoglycaemic drugs—in 200 countries and territories in 21 regions, by sex and from 1980 to 2014. We also calculated the posterior probability of meeting the global diabetes target if post-2000 trends continue. FINDINGS: We used data from 751 studies including 4 372 000 adults from 146 of the 200 countries we make estimates for. Global age-standardised diabetes prevalence increased from 4·3% (95% credible interval 2·4–7·0) in 1980 to 9·0% (7·2–11·1) in 2014 in men, and from 5·0% (2·9–7·9) to 7·9% (6·4–9·7) in women. The number of adults with diabetes in the world increased from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014 (28·5% due to the rise in prevalence, 39·7% due to population growth and ageing, and 31·8% due to interaction of these two factors). Age-standardised adult diabetes prevalence in 2014 was lowest in northwestern Europe, and highest in Polynesia and Micronesia, at nearly 25%, followed by Melanesia and the Middle East and north Africa. Between 1980 and 2014 there was little change in age-standardised diabetes prevalence in adult women in continental western Europe, although crude prevalence rose because of ageing of the population. By contrast, age-standardised adult prevalence rose by 15 percentage points in men and women in Polynesia and Micronesia. In 2014, American Samoa had the highest national prevalence of diabetes (>30% in both sexes), with age-standardised adult prevalence also higher than 25% in some other islands in Polynesia and Micronesia. If post-2000 trends continue, the probability of meeting the global target of halting the rise in the prevalence of diabetes by 2025 at the 2010 level worldwide is lower than 1% for men and is 1% for women. Only nine countries for men and 29 countries for women, mostly in western Europe, have a 50% or higher probability of meeting the global target. INTERPRETATION: Since 1980, age-standardised diabetes prevalence in adults has increased, or at best remained unchanged, in every country. Together with population growth and ageing, this rise has led to a near quadrupling of the number of adults with diabetes worldwide. The burden of diabetes, both in terms of prevalence and number of adults affected, has increased faster in low-income and middle-income countries than in high-income countries. FUNDING: Wellcome Trust