Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

This study aims to optimize the conditions for ultrasonic bath-assisted extraction of betalains, polyphenols, and antioxidant compounds from dragon fruit peel (Hylocereus undatus). A Box-Behnken design was employed to evaluate the factors of sonication time, temperature, and ethanol percentage used as a solvent. The results showed that the optimal conditions for betalain extraction were a sonication time of 24 minutes, a temperature of 26°C, and 48% ethanol. For total polyphenols, the optimal time was 80 minutes, the temperature was 53°C, and the ethanol percentage was 54%. Antioxidant compounds exhibited optimal extraction conditions with a time ranging from 72 to 80 minutes, a temperature of 70°C, and an ethanol percentage between 54% and 56%. No significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) were observed between the optimal experimental values and the theoretical ones, indicating that the optimized extraction factors reliably predict extraction yields. This study contributes to maximizing the use of bioactive compounds present in dragon fruit peel, adding value to the fruit while enabling the development of new functional foods derived from this by-product, which is typically discarded in industrial processes.

Abstract: This article presents the results of a cross-sectional study conducted through a survey aimed at identifying the health information needs of the adult population in Sonora, México, as well as their preferred sources of media for obtaining this information. The findings suggest a strong interest among Sonora´s population in access reliable information to make informed decisions about their health and maintain their well-being. The survey results indicate that this sample population is receptive to information that is both dependable and easily accessible, aligning with the demand for quick and relevant information typically provided through social networks, especially among young adults. For elderly individuals, the radio remains a valuable communication tool, particularly for those with limited access to other information sources. The preferences for specific information topics and sources outlined in this article could inform the development of tailored strategies for disseminating health information to adults cross various age and gender demographics in Sonora. Understanding their expectations and preferred methods of information consumption could also enable communicators to act more effectively, impactful, and relevant messages for the community.

The functions and challenges faced by institutional review boards (committees) in Mexico are described in order to identify opportunities for strengthening their operation. These committees are crucial for protecting research subjects and ensuring the equitable distribution of the benefits and burdens of research. However, health and educational institutions still need to recognize them as essential bodies for ensuring the quality, transparency, and efficiency of health research, and provide them with the necessary support for their strengthening. The committees' ability to build mechanisms to foster trust and participation of researchers in evaluation processes may depend on this. Another challenge is the scarcity of comprehensive public data on committees operating without a national registry, which raises concerns among users of committee services and can be an obstacle to expanding their benefits. The creation of committee registries in each state of the country, interconnected to national databases, can be a key strategy for facilitating access to evaluation. Other challenges are discussed, for which general improvement measures and minimum standards for their proper functioning are suggested.

This study investigated the effects of an 8-week aquatic and land-based resistance exercise program on body composition and functional fitness in older women. Forty-five women aged 65 and above were randomly assigned to aquatic exercise (AEG), land-based exercise (LEG), or control (CG) groups (n=15 each). After dropouts, 33 participants completed the study (AEG=9, LEG=14, CG=10). Intervention groups performed supervised 60-minute sessions, three times per week, for eight weeks. Functional fitness was assessed via the Senior Fitness Test battery, Berg Balance Scale, and Tinetti Gait and Balance Assessment; body composition was evaluated using body weight and BMI. Both exercise groups showed significant improvements in strength, flexibility, balance, agility, and aerobic capacity compared to the control group (p<0.05). The LEG also showed a significant decrease in body weight (p<0.05), but BMI changes were not statistically significant. No significant improvements were observed in the control group. In conclusion, both aquatic and land-based resistance training enhanced functional fitness in older women, with land-based training having a greater impact on weight reduction. Aquatic exercise may be more suitable for individuals with joint or balance limitations. These findings support the use of multicomponent exercise programs in promoting healthy aging.

Earthworms are organisms that play an important role in soil ecology as they establish mutualist relationships with microorganisms to degrade organic matter, generating less-complex compounds and more available to be used as a carbon source. This symbiosis between Eisenia fetida and microorganisms allows xenobiotic compounds to be removed, accumulated and/or eliminated when xenobiotic compounds are present in the soil. Endosulfan is a pesticide that has been widely used and although it has a short half-life, it generates derivatives such as endosulfan ether, endosulfan sulfate, endosulfan lactone, etc. Some of them have been identified on agricultural soil so E. fetida is affected in its functions by its presence. These effects range from growth deficiencies to physiological and metabolic damage, leading to their death. In this study was assessed the effect of substrate microorganisms on weight gain, bioaccumulation and elimination of endosulfan lactone in Eisenia, at different concentrations (0.001, 0.004 and 0.009 mg kg-1), using sterile and non-sterile substrate. An 84% increase in weight of the worm was observed, with 0.004 mg kg-1 of endosulfan lactone, maximum accumulation (95%), and elimination (80%) pesticide, on non-sterile substrate. Multivariate statistical analysis showed that the concentration of fatty acids present in E. fetida was higher in non-sterile substrate, demonstrating the mutualist relationship between the worm and microorganisms present in the system.

The objective of the present study was to determine the soybean lines resistant to the incidence of Alternaria spp., Septoria Glycines and wilt by soil diseases (MPES), as well as to verify their relationship with yield. Thirty-six advanced lines and four soybean varieties were used. At phenological cover R7 of each line, incidence data were taken through a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 were healthy plants and 5 plants with ≤ 100% incidence by the disease. On average Alternaria spp. had higher incidence in the lines. In addition, the first two principal components explained 81.8% of the total variation. Lines G9, G22, G26, G27, G31, G33 and G34 stood out for their low incidence of Septoria glycines. Under the same condition, Huasteca 700 with Alternaria spp. and lines G28 and G32 stood out for being MPES. The relationship of the lines allowed the formation of two groups (A: susceptible and B: resistant), which in turn were divided into two and three subgroups, respectively. It was also determined that these diseases showed a negative correlation with yield, with Septoria glycines being the disease that had the greatest direct negative effect on yield.

Abstract: metals toxic contamination is a problem that has increased mainly due to anthropogenic activities. Lead (Pb) is a hightly toxic metal present in the environment due to industrial activities, such as mining, smelting, manufacturing, and burning of fossil fuels.  This work studied Bromelia karatas as a bioindicator of the quality of the environment in the presence of lead. Forty 200-day-old plants (Bromelia karatas) were used, of which 30 were transplanted in a substrate (Peat moss) contaminated with Pb, using Pb(NO3)2 as a contaminating agent, at different concentrations, T1= 1000, T2=2000 and T3=3000 mg/kg (milligram of Pb/Kilogram of substrate), and 10 were used as control (Tc). At the end of the experiment, the presence of Pb was analyzed and found in the plant tissues (leaves and roots), using the ICP-OES equipment. This research revealed the potential of Bromelia karatas as a bioindicator of Pb contamination in soil, causing visible symptoms of foliar damage on its leaves with high doses of the contaminant. The low cost, easy reproduction and portability of bromeliad compared to other bioindicators make it a better option to be used as a bioindicator and/or biomonitor.  

En este artículo examinamos las metáforas biológicas del cáncer en Medicinas para quebrantamientos del halcón (2014), del poeta peruano Eduardo Chirinos, a partir de un análisis textual y hermenéutico con un enfoque interdisciplinario. Proponemos que Chirinos arti­cula, por un lado, una poética del ocultamiento, basada en estrategias de fuga que evocan la evasión y el camuflaje, y, por otro, una política de la vulnerabilidad, que reconfigura la fragilidad como un espacio de resistencia. En la primera parte del análisis, estudiamos las metáforas del cáncer, la metástasis y la metamorfosis corporal para mostrar cómo el poeta construye un imaginario del cuerpo oncológico a través de la multiplicidad de voces, el desapego del cuerpo enfermo y la apertura a lo desconocido. En la segunda parte, examinamos la manera en que la disca­pacidad auditiva del autor interviene en su construcción de la otredad, estableciendo una filiación con lo frágil que refuerza su política de la vulnerabilidad. Los resultados del estudio sugieren que la obra de Chirinos no solo desafía concepciones ortodoxas de salud y bienestar, sino que también plantea la enfermedad y la disfunción como dimen­siones constitutivas de la identidad humana contemporánea.

El artículo despliega una mirada transdisciplinar en la educación de la arquitectura, en el cruce entre el espacio literario, pictórico y arquitectó­nico. Esta intersección de representaciones del espacio busca comprender la complejidad espacial y cultural del Caribe colombiano a través de la literatura de Gabriel García Márquez. El cruce literario-arquitectónico permite recrear imaginarios y llenar vacíos sociales del territorio que deja la arquitectura. La premisa de imaginar el espacio-tiempo desde el pensar haciendo y el hacer pensando se fundamenta en el ciclo hermenéutico de Ricoeur como estrategia pedagógica y en la lectura proyectual como herramienta central del proceso proyectual. Los resultados buscan recons­truir el imaginario mediante el análisis interpretativo de los ejercicios de las estudiantes y los estudiantes, demostrando que el entendimiento del espacio emerge del acto creativo del objeto y su atmósfera, los cuales inte­gran en su narrativa los mitos y leyendas fundamentales de la cultura caribeña. En consecuencia, el acto de proyectación se convierte en una práctica dialógica que incorpora un futuro posible más sensible a la natu­raleza humana, profundamente vinculado al entorno habitado.

El alargamiento vocálico es un fenómeno distintivo del italiano que aún no ha sido ampliamente investigado. Aunque se ha elaborado un posible patrón de comportamiento para la variante considerada están­dar del idioma, todavía no se han analizado muchas de las variantes regionales. En este artículo nos hemos centrado en la variante norteña, concretamente de la zona milanesa, para corroborar si se aplica la norma general de la lengua estándar para el alargamiento vocálico (Prada, 2010). Con tal propósito, se ha realizado una digresión sobre dicho fenómeno en el dialecto milanés (Prieto, 2000) teniendo en cuenta que, como apunta Galkowski (2001), este podría influenciar la variante de italiano hablada en esta zona. El resultado del estudio expe­rimental realizado nos ha proporcionado algunas contradicciones inte­resantes que evidencian diferencias significativas en la realización del alargamiento vocálico en la variante norteña con respecto a la variante estándar del italiano, además de una diferencia de articulación signifi­cativa entre hablantes en algunas vocales.