Fuzzy Logic as a Tool for the Assessment of Water Quality for Reservoirs: A Regional Perspective (Lerma River Basin, Mexico)

The aim of this study is to propose a water quality index for reservoirs in a basin using fuzzy logic. Most of the water quality indices are designed for use in rivers and streams and based on expert opinion; however, when the water is dammed, the quality usually Is modified. Mexico is a country with many contrasts in quantity and quality of water. Management of water resources in the Lerma River is achieved with a system of artificial reservoirs where water is stored in order to meet human needs, such as public supply, industry, agriculture and recreation, among others. Monitoring of 11 reservoirs in the Río Lerma basin was performed to characterize the water quality. Using the water quality data, those indicators that do not represent redundancy were selected based on the concentration gradient that occurred in the different reservoirs. Thus, the proposed index uses eight indicators of water quality. The fuzzy inference system is composed by 633 rules with a score from 0 to 100 and seven verbal categories. The index was validated by comparison with other water quality index, and their use across the basin was tested by applying it in five additional water bodies

Shallow Lakes of the Mexican Central Plateau: Assessing their Health Condition with Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Sentinel Organisms

In the Mexican Central Plateau (MCP), due to their long history of geologic instability, numerous fluvial systems that were blocked formed extensive shallow lakes. Environmental conditions of this area have favored the agricultural land use and the settlement of great industrial corridors and cities. Human activities in MCP are largely sustained by intense water use that has led to a high deterioration in the water bodies of this area. We analyze the water quality of two selected shallow lakes of the MCP: Yuriria Lake and Xochimilco Lake and early warning biomarkers of native sentinel species of each lake. Both studied lakes are influenced by the input of complex mixtures of pollutants. We assess water quality index and a set of oxidative stress biomarkers in native endemic species of each lake. Results showed that the input of xenobiotics and changes in the periods of dry and rains in the shallow lakes studied provoke a stronger response in sentinel organisms because dilution effects are minimal in a small water column. Furthermore, resuspension of sediments in shallow lakes can release pollutants to the water column that could exert damage to the health condition of the aquatic biota compromising the survival of endemic sensitive species

Calibrating and Validating the Biomonitoring Working Party (BMWP) Index for the Bioassessment of Water Quality in Neotropical Streams

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Calibrating and Validating the Biomonitoring Working Party (BMWP) Index for the Bioassessment of Water Quality in Neotropical Streams

The Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP) is among the most used bioassessment indices for aquatic ecosystems quality assessment, which assigns scores to each macroinvertebrate taxa according to their sensitivity to organic pollution. However, BMWP scores must be calibrated to each geographical and ecological conditions. In this study, we obtain statistically derived scores of sensitivity for macroinvertebrates taxa from Neotropical Mexican rivers, Apatlaco and Chalma-Tembembe rivers, Balsas Basin. We obtained water samples and aquatic macroinvertebrates in four sampling campaigns (dry and rainy seasons). Physicochemical parameters and the abundances of the aquatic macroinvertebrates were used for the BMWP index calibration, which was performed in steps obtaining: the physicochemical quality index (Pcq), incorporation of abundances classes of macroinvertebrates taxa in the corresponding Pcq interval and the determination of bioindication values for each macroinvertebrate family. The BMWP calibrated index was validated and tested for the geographical range extension. The BMWP scores for Chalma-Tembembe River (located in agricultural areas) showed bad polluted to regular and moderated polluted categories. The urban river zone of Apatlaco River showed: bad, very polluted to very bad categories. The BMWP calibrated is a suitable biomonitoring tool, allowing the detection of those zones that needs urgently a management and recovery plan

Chemometric Analysis of Wetlands Remnants of the Former Texcoco Lake: A Multivariate Approach

The former Texcoco Lake (TL) belongs to a closed basin (Basin of México), with a semi-arid climate and soil types Solonchaks and Vertisol, which confer saline and alkaline properties to the waterbodies. Historically, this lake has been facing extraction of salt for agricultural and livestock use. As a result of population growth, the lake has lost more than 95% of its surface; however, currently TL is formed by permanent and temporary shallow wetlands interconnected by the rainy season which are used as buffer zones to avoid possible floods to the City of Mexico and as receptors of wastewater discharges. Due to the above, the former TL has a very diverse mosaic of conditions in the remaining wetlands, therefore their quality assessment comprises a complex task of interpretation and analysis. To perform this, it is important to have a series of indicators and analysis tools that take into account the state of contamination of the waterbodies in different periods of study. Additionally, is imperative to have essential elements of interpretation which allow to combine all the features of analysis in a comprehensive scrutiny of the health status of these water bodies. The purpose of this research is to analyze the quality of water and sediments of the remaining wetlands located in the basin of the former TL through various physicochemical parameters and heavy metals, and using multivariate methods and water and sediment quality indices

Ensambles de macroinvertebrados acuáticos relacionados con diversos usos del suelo en los ríos Apatlaco y Chalma-Tembembe (cuenca del Río Balsas), México

Background. Rivers are considered as integrators systems reflecting physicochemical and biological processes that take place in its catchment area and have a constant flow of matter and energy. This is due to its connectivity and interactions with its watershed and the atmosphere. The Apatlaco and Chalma-Tembembe rivers (Balsas River basin) have different levels of disturbance, caused by changes in land use (US) in its watershed. Goals. To analyze the relationships of the physico-chemical characteristics of water and aquatic macroinvertebrates (AI) assemblages with different US adjacent to Apatlaco and Chalma-Tembembe rivers. Methods. In both rivers, water samples (20 sites studied) and AI were taken for four seasons, and the percentage of US corresponding to their area of impact was determined. Ordination analysis, similarity and Pearson correlation (p <0.05), with the physicochemical parameters, biological and US were performed. Results. The river Apatlaco presented the higher alterations due to the combination of US, with a high percentage of urban use; Chalma-Tembembe showed more homogeneous physicochemical and biological characteristics. Conclusions. Some assemblage of macroinvertebrates families were correlated with healthy ecosystems (Belostomatidae, Cordulegastridae, Corixidae, Corydalidae, Dryopidae, Elmidae, Hebridae, Helicopsychidae, Heptageniidae, Hydrobiosidae, Lepidostomatidae, Libellulidae, Perlidae, Philopotamidae, Polycentropodidae, Scirtidae, Staphilinidae and Tabanidae); while others with highly disturbed environments (Ancylidae, Asellidae, Chironomidae, Hyalellidae, Psychodidae and Class Hirudinea); and sites impacted by agricultural activities were correlated with moderate abundances and low diversity of AI.Antecedentes. Los ríos son considerados sistemas integradores que reflejan los procesos físicoquímicos y biológicos que se llevan a cabo en su cuenca de captación y presentan un flujo constante de materia y energía. Esto se debe a su conectividad y a las interacciones con su cuenca de captación y la atmósfera. Los ríos Apatlaco y Chalma-Tembembe (Cuenca del Río Balsas) presentan diferentes grados de perturbación, ocasionados por los cambios en el uso del suelo (US) en sus cuencas de captación. Objetivos. Analizar las relaciones que guardan las características físico-químicas del agua y los ensambles de invertebrados acuáticos (IA) con los distintos US adyacentes a los ríos Apatlaco y Chalma-Tembembe. Metodos. En ambos ríos, se tomaron muestras de agua (20 sitios) y de IA, durante cuatro temporadas, y se determinó el porcentaje de US correspondiente a su área de influencia. Se realizaron análisis de ordenación, similitud y de correlación de Pearson (p < 0.05), con los parámetros fisicoquímicos, biológicos y el US. Resultados. El río Apatlaco presentó mayor perturbación debido a la combinación de US, con alto porcentaje de uso urbano; y el Chalma-Tembembe mostró características fisicoquímicas y biológicas más homogéneas. Conclusiones. Se detectaron algunos ensambles de familias de macroinvertebrados correlacionados con ecosistemas sanos, (Belostomatidae, Cordulegastridae, Corixidae, Corydalidae, Dryopidae, Elmidae, Hebridae, Helicopsychidae, Heptageniidae, Hydrobiosidae, Lepidostomatidae, Libellulidae, Perlidae, Philopotamidae, Polycentropodidae, Scirtidae, Staphilinidae y Tabanidae); con ambientes altamente perturbados (Ancylidae, Asellidae, Chironomidae, Hyalellidae, Psychodidae y Clase Hirudinea); y los sitios impactados por actividades agrícolas se correlacionaron con abundancias moderadas y baja diversidad de IA

Aprendizaje-servicio y Trabajo Social

Es una propuesta metodológica aplicada a los estudios de Trabajo Social. Su objetivo es incorporar el método aprendizaje-servicio a la docencia presencial para incrementar el interés y la satisfacción de la comunidad científica y la sociedad civil

El arte del directo

Live broadcasting is the oldest television format which appeared at the same time as television itself. Over the past years, technology has been evolving and, at the same time, mass media. These progresses have helped not only to improve the quality of live broadcast, but also to decrease the cost of them. As a result, journalists can spread more news worldwide. In order to understand the process that live broadcasting involves, a work routine of a television channel has been recorded. By means of these clips, several methods, as well as procedures, have been observed within this format. Therefore, it will be appreciated throughout these clips how this format evolves within our society. Nevertheless, as data technology appeared, live broadcasting changed completely. Nowadays, most of the citizens can afford a mobile device which can record videos and take photos among other functions. Furthermore, these devices will allow people emit live broadcasts. Therefore, this fact affects professional television channels and a series of consequences, professionals and non-professionals ones, will have to be faced. Within the journalistic field, all these changes have strongly influenced television news broadcasts, as it is used in order to explain the content. Thanks to this tool, several TV programmes which focus on live broadcast appeared, as well as a new way of journalism: Mobile Journalism. All in all, although there have been several improvements to inform the population immediately, live broadcast involves a series of dangers. These risks can affect not only to professional journalists, but also to citizens. Moreover, social media and technology companies will be also affected by streaming broadcasts

Unravelling the mechanisms regulating embryonic epicardial cell proliferation.

Epicardial development is a highly complex process that relies on the precise coordination of cell proliferation and differentiation. The epicardium originates from an extracardiac cluster of cells, the proepicardium, which initially migrates to the myocardium and then massively expands to form the epicardial epithelial layer. Finally, some epicardial epithelial cells transform into mesenchymal cells via Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT), and progressively invade the myocardial walls. The regulatory signals that govern epicardial cell proliferation remain largely unknown. To unveil the molecular signals involved in controlling epicardial cell proliferation, we examined the proliferation status of epicardial cells at different embryonic stages, and performed an RNA-seq analysis to identify candidate signalling pathways operating within the proepicardium. Then, we conducted in vivo and in vitro research to carefully dissect epicardial proliferation. Our results show that both canonical and non-canonical Wnt signals are involved in the regulation of epicardial proliferation during embryonic development.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. FPU19/05219 Ministerio de Ciencia: PID2021-122626-OB-100 y JIN2020-119430RJ-10