408 research outputs found

    Coastal landscape management in mexican tourist regions: Punta de Mita case in Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit

    Get PDF
    This article analyzes the process of coastal landscape management in the Mexican tourist region from the transformation of the landscape of Punta de Mita. This peninsula is part of the interstate metropolitan zone of Puerto Vallarta - Bahía de Banderas, located between the State of Jalisco and State of Nayarit. It is one of three coastal metropolitan zones of Mexico. This research has a qualitative approach and adopts the concept of the landscape defined by the European Landscape Convention as “any part of the territory, as perceived by people, whose character is the result of the action and interaction of natural and/or human factors” (Council of Europe, 2000). The units of analysis were the peninsular zone of Punta de Mita and the actors who participated in their transformation. The information was collected through semi-structured interviews with key informants selected using the snowball technique, qualitative observation, review of official documentary sources (plans, projects, reports) as well as historiographical and aerial photographs. The identification of the participation of each type of actor is highlighted in the transformation of the landscape: the State provides the land and enables for tourism investment; economic actors take ownership and monetize their aesthetic values; social actors are deprived of the use and enjoyment of the landscape. The symbols printed on the territory are mainly touristic and, in the second instance, natural whose conservation represents a point of agreement between the state and the residents

    Repensar la igualdad democrática: isonomía, isegoría, isotimia

    Get PDF
    The democratic promise today is unfulfilled. A growing crisis in representative legitimacy put into question the way democratic politics are being done. In this sense, this article tries to delve into the centerpiece of the democratic dream: the political equality that enters the world by the power of the demos. In this line, we offer an invitation to rethink the democratic equality by taking into consideration the founding principles of Athenian democracy (Isonomy, Isogoria Isotimia) weighing them against the modern democratic principles (Rule of law, representative principle, method of election). This way, determining in what way does modern representative democracy truly commits to the principle of political equality. And through this, discover, somehow, the causes and reasons of the legitimacy crisis that besets us.La promesa democrática hoy se encuentra incumplida. Una creciente crisis de legitimidad representativa hoy ponen en entredicho el modo en cómo la política democrática está siendo llevada a cabo. En este sentido, este artículo intenta indagar respecto de la promesa central en la que se funda el sueño democrático: la igualdad política que ingresa al mundo con la cabida del poder del demos. En esta línea, invitamos a repensar la igualdad democrática tomando en cuenta los principios fundacionales de la democracia ateniense (isonomía, isegoría, isotimia) sopesándolos con los principios democráticos modernos (Estado de derecho, principio representativo, método electivo). De este modo, determinar de qué manera la democracia representativa moderna se compromete realmente con el principio de igualdad política. Y en base a esto, iluminar, de algún modo, las causas y razones del porqué de la crisis de legitimidad que nos aqueja

    Characterization of the Adherence of Clostridium difficile Spores: The Integrity of the Outermost Layer Affects Adherence Properties of Spores of the Epidemic Strain R20291 to Components of the Intestinal Mucosa

    Get PDF
    Indexación: Web of Science.Clostridium difficile is the causative agent of the most frequently reported nosocomial diarrhea worldwide. The high incidence of recurrent infection is the main clinical challenge of C. difficile infections (CBI). Formation of C. difficile spores of the epidemic strain R20291 has been shown to be essential for recurrent infection and transmission of the disease in a mouse model. However, the underlying mechanisms of how these spores persist in the colonic environment remains unclear. In this work, we characterized the adherence properties of epidemic R20291 spores to components of the intestinal mucosa, and we assessed the role of the exosporium integrity in the adherence properties by using cdeC mutant spores with a defective exosporium layer. Our results showed that spores and vegetative cells of the epidemic R20291 strain adhered at high levels to monolayers of Caco-2 cells and mucin. Transmission electron micrographs of Caco-2 cells demonstrated that the hair-like projections on the surface of R20291 spores are in close proximity with the plasma membrane and microvilli of undifferentiated and differentiated monolayers of Caco-2 cells. Competitive-binding assay in differentiated Caco-2 cells suggests that spore-adherence is mediated by specific binding sites. By using spores of a cdeC mutant we demonstrated that the integrity of the exosporium layer determines the affinity of adherence of C. difficile spores to Caco-2 cells and mucin. Binding of fibronectin and vitronectin to the spore surface was concentration-dependent, and depending on the concentration, spore-adherence to Caco-2 cells was enhanced. In the presence of an aberrantly-assembled exosporium (cdeC spores), binding of fibronectin, but not vitronectin, was increased. Notably, independent of the exosporium integrity, only a fraction of the spores had fibronectin and vitronectin molecules binding to their surface. Collectively, these results demonstrate that the integrity of the exosporium layer of strain R20291 contributes to selective spore adherence to components of the intestinal mucosa.http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fcimb.2016.00099/ful

    Desarrollo e implementación del curso de introducción a la física en la universidad autónoma de la ciudad de México (UACM)

    Get PDF
    El trabajo que ahora presentamos da cuenta del proceso de implementación del curso de Introducción a la Física que se imparte en la UACM basado en el trabajo del Physics Education Group de la Universidad de Washington. Éste se desarrolla desde un enfoque constructivista, con la intención de desarrollar conocimiento operativo y habilidades de pensamiento científico como elementos que pensamos pueden contrarrestar el fracaso usual en los cursos de física. Los resultados que se presentan en esta ponencia buscan dar evidencia de que la efectividad en el aprendizaje de la ciencia requiere del involucramiento mental activo y de la consideración del estado inicial real del estudiante, entre otras cosas; asimismo, se presenta un marco metodológico para implementar y evaluar actividades de aprendizaje bajo las mismas premisas

    Effect of Iron Supplementation on the Modulation of Iron Metabolism, Muscle Damage Biomarkers and Cortisol in Professional Cyclists

    Get PDF
    Background: The intense efforts made during 3-week stage races may reduce iron metabolism and hematological parameters. These efforts may increase the levels of circulating muscle damage markers and some hormones. All of these physiological changes may have negative consequences not only for the performance of athletes but also for their health. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementation with 80 mg/day of iron on haematological parameters, serum cortisol and biochemical muscle indicators on elite male cyclists during the 3-week stage race the Vuelta a España. Our secondary aim was to examine whether the hematological profile is associated with muscular damage parameters and cortisol. Methods: Eighteen elite male cyclists from two teams were randomly assigned to one of two groups: (1) control group (CG, n = 9; age: 26.1 ± 4.6 years; maximum oxygen uptake per kg: 78.0 ± 5.4 mL/kg/min) or (2) group treated with 80 mg/day iron (800 mg of iron protein succinylate, ITG, n = 9; age: 25.7 ± 6.4 years; maximum oxygen uptake per kg: 77.6 ± 6.5 mL/kg/min). The cyclists were subjected to blood tests one week before the start of the race (T1) and after 4 weeks of treatment, coinciding with the end of the competition (T2). Iron metabolism parameters, muscle damage indicators and serum cortisol were assessed. Repeated-measures ANOVA with group as a factor (GC and ITG) were used to examine the differences between groups throughout the study (time × group) after iron supplementation treatment. Results: Significant differences were observed between groups throughout the study in the group-by-time interaction and changes in serum iron (GC: -8.93 ± 10.35% vs. ITG: 0.60 ± 8.64%; p = 0.018), ferritin (GC: -13.88 ± 23.53% vs. ITG: 91.08 ± 118.30%; p = 0.004), haemoglobin (GC: 10.00 ± 3.32% vs. ITG: 13.04 ± 5.64%; p < 0.001), haematocrit (GC: -1.17 ± 3.78% vs. ITG: 7.32 ± 3.92%; p < 0.001) and cortisol (GC: 24.74 ± 25.84% vs. ITG: ⁻13.54 ± 13.61%; p = 0.005). However, no significant group-by-time interaction was observed for the circulating muscle biomarkers. Additionally, significant negative correlations of serum iron, haemoglobin and haematocrit with muscle circulating biomarkers and cortisol (p < 0.05) were observed. Conclusions: Oral iron supplementation with 80 mg/day iron (800 mg of iron protein succinylate) effectively prevented a decline in haematological parameters (serum iron, ferritin, haemoglobin and haematocrit) and maintained optimal levels of recovery in elite cyclists during the Vuelta a España. Moreover, the hematological values were shown to have relationship with muscular recovery parameters

    Active case-finding for TB among incarcerated women in Peru

    Get PDF
    Carta al editorRevisión por pare

    The role of selenium mineral trace element in exercise: antioxidant defense system, muscle performance, hormone response, and athletic performance. A systematic review

    Get PDF
    Exercise overproduces oxygen reactive species (ROS) and eventually exceeds the body’s antioxidant capacity to neutralize them. The ROS produce damaging effects on the cell membrane and contribute to skeletal muscle damage. Selenium (Se), a natural mineral trace element, is an essential component of selenoproteins that plays an important role in antioxidant defense. The activity of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GPx), a highly-efficient antioxidant enzyme, is closely dependent on the presence of Se. These properties of Se may be potentially applicable to improve athletic performance and training recovery. We systematically searched for published studies to evaluate the effectiveness of Se supplementation on antioxidant defense system, muscle performance, hormone response, and athletic performance among physically active individuals. We used the Preferred Reporting Elements for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines and searched in SCOPUS, Web of Science (WOS), and PubMed databases to identify published studies until March 2020. The systematic review incorporated original studies with randomized controlled crossover or parallel design in which intake of Se administered once a day was compared with the same placebo conditions. No exclusions were applied for the type of physical exercise performed, the sex, nor the age of the participants. Among 150 articles identified in the search, 6 met the criteria and were included in the systematic review. The methodological quality of the studies was evaluated using the McMaster Critical Review Form. Oral Se supplementation with 180 µg/day or 240 µg/day (selenomethionine) and 200 µg/day (Sodium Selenite), significantly decreased lipid hydroperoxide levels and increased GPx in plasma, erythrocyte, and muscle. No significant effects were observed on athletic performance, testosterone hormone levels, creatine kinase activity, and exercise training-induced adaptations on oxidative enzyme activities or on muscle fiber type myosin heavy chain expression. In addition, Se supplementation showed to have a dampening effect on the mitochondria changes in chronic and acute exercise. In summary, the use of Se supplementation has no benefits on aerobic or anaerobic athletic performance but it may prevent Se deficiencies among athletes with high-intensity and high-volume training. Optimal Se plasma levels may be important to minimize chronic exercise-induced oxidative effects and modulate the exercise effect on mitochondrial changes

    Applications of Carboxylic Acids in Organic Synthesis, Nanotechnology and Polymers

    Get PDF
    Carboxylic acids are versatile organic compounds. In this chapter is presented a current overview of the use of carboxylic acids in a different area as organic synthesis, nanotechnology, and polymers. The application carboxylic acids in these areas are: obtaining of small molecules, macromolecules, synthetic or natural polymers, modification surface of nanoparticles metallic, modification surface of nanostructure such as carbon nanotubes and graphene, nanomaterials, medical field, pharmacy, etc. Carboxylic acids can be natural and synthetic, can be extracted or synthesized, presented chemical structure highly polar, active in organic reactions, as substitution, elimination, oxidation, coupling, etc. In nanotechnology, the use of acid carboxylic as surface modifiers to promote the dispersion and incorporation of metallic nanoparticles or carbon nanostructure, in the area of polymer carboxylic acids present applications such monomers, additives, catalysts, etc. The purpose of this chapter is to emphasize the importance of carboxylic acids in different areas, highlighting the area of organic synthesis, nanotechnology and polymers and its applications

    3D‐Architected Alkaline‐Earth Perovskites

    Get PDF
    3D ceramic architectures are captivating geometrical features with an immense demand in optics. In this work, an additive manufacturing (AM) approach for printing alkaline-earth perovskite 3D microarchitectures is developed. The approach enables custom-made photoresists suited for two-photon lithography, permitting the production of alkaline-earth perovskite (BaZrO 3, CaZrO 3, and SrZrO 3) 3D structures shaped in the form of octet-truss lattices, gyroids, or inspired architectures like sodalite zeolite, and C 60 buckyballs with micrometric and nanometric feature sizes. Alkaline-earth perovskite morphological, structural, and chemical characteristics are studied. The optical properties of such perovskite architectures are investigated using cathodoluminescence and wide-field photoluminescence emission to estimate the lifetime rate and defects in BaZrO 3, CaZrO 3, and SrZrO 3. From a broad perspective, this AM methodology facilitates the production of 3D-structured mixed oxides. These findings are the first steps toward dimensionally refined high-refractive-index ceramics for micro-optics and other terrains like (photo/electro)catalysis.</p
    corecore