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

Federico Cugurullo’s book examines the role of technological progress in urban development. With an analysis based on the idea of the city as a field of experimentation and on the novel Frankenstein, Cugurullo studies cases of a smart and ecological city in order to develop the hypothesis of the end of the city based on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in the urban space. This abstract explores this hypothesis by contrasting the possible impact of AI with the effect of other areas of technological progress.

The article analyzes the socio-spatial logic of housing policy management in the Metropolitan District of Quito within the period 2000-2019. The objective is to examine the results of housing policies, based on subsidies, credits and public-private production, which are designed parallel to the objective of densifying the city. The study is structured through interviews with different urban actors and the analysis of regulations, with which the action scenario is built based on Ostrom's IAD game theory and later how the result of this dynamic is evidenced in the territory. These logics transform a social good into a commercial and even financial asset, showing the unequal configuration of the city, as a result of the power and control of capital with public support.

According to several authors, labor informality is a relevant issue for economic development. There are structural and institutional factors that could explain this phenomenon. Analyzing 74 metropolitan areas from 2005 to 2020 and following the methodology of Dougherty and Escobar (2013) by using fixed effects estimates, we find that the population size of the metropolitan area, the education, the demographic composition of the workers regarding their sex, age, and origin, as the cost of opening a new business affect informality in the metropolitan areas of Mexico.

Biological activities of a fraction from Litopenaeus stylirostris muscle, containing a bioactive novel indolocarbazole alkaloid derivative, eicosapentaenoic acid, and dioctyl phthalate, was performed. Reactive nitrogen species (RNS) scavenging activity, inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production, reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and production of regulatory cytokines were studied. Results showed that the fraction decreases RNS, NO, and the intracellular ROS levels; furthermore, it was found capable of up- and down-regulating anti- and pro-inflammatory cytokines, respectively; suggesting the presence of compounds that could be associated to decreases of nitrosative and oxidative stress, as well as inflammation processes.

The objective of this study was to analyze the effect on the physical properties (shape, size, weight and color), chemical (soluble solids, titratable acidity and pH), nutraceuticals (ascorbic acid and anthocyanins) and decay of strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa) of the Camino Real and Festival varieties when applying four treatments of B. subtilis strains (08, MZ, DN and 06) vs a control (No treatment) for 5 stages of ripening (red strawberries, ripe strawberries, pink strawberries, ripe green strawberries and green strawberries); the above in order to find the treatments that promote improvements in the parameters studied. From the results found it is necessary to have in the useful life for the Camino Real variety at 28.5 °C the treatment 06 reports a decline of 42.2 % lower than the CTL (43.9 %), for 8 °C the treatments MZ and DN reported a decline of 28.8 % which is lower than the CTL (36.1%); with respect to the Festival variety at 28.5 °C the treatment 06 registered a decline of 41.2 % below CTL (43.5%), for 8 °C the treatments 08, MZ and DN registered a decline of 27.7 %, 30 % and 37.7 % respectively, values lower than the CTL (46.1 %). The results indicate that, when applying the treatments, the physical and chemical properties improve or in some cases remain the same as the untreated samples, which allows us to elucidate in a particular way that treatment 06 is the most suitable at 28.5 °C as well as MZ and DN at 8 °C for both varieties.

This study evaluated onion (Allium cepa) powder in Oreochromis niloticus diets, focusing on growth, gut area, immune response, and resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila. Six diets, OP0, OP1, OP2, OP3, OP4, and OP5 with onion powder inclusion from 0% to 2.5%, were formulated and fed to triplicate groups of fish (1.79±0.14g) for 10 weeks. Fish were then challenged with A. hydrophila and monitored for 14 days. While growth was not significantly altered by onion supplementation over 10 weeks, survival after Aeromonas hydrophila challenge was significantly improved. Bacterial diversity and total counts increased in gut onion-fed fish, with Bacillus and Enterobacter being the dominant species. Serum biochemistry indicated reduced alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels in fish fed 0.5% to 1.5% onion diets, while alkaline phosphatase increased. Antioxidant enzyme activities were generally higher in onion-supplemented groups, with reduced levels of malondaldehyde. Villi height and width did not significantly differ across treatments. Aeromonas hydrophila challenge on Nile tilapia showed a significantly higher relative percentage survival (RPS) in onion-supplemented groups, with a record 100% in groups fed 1.0% and above. This study revealed that 1-1.5% inclusion of onion in the diets of Nile tilapia resulted in enhanced immune response, gut health, and disease resistance

The investigation of plant proteins as emulsifiers has been increasing significantly. The glutelin fraction from jackfruit leaf protein concentrate shows promise as an emulsifier, requiring characterization. As a result, this study aimed to assess the radical scavenging activity (RSA), thermal profile through thermogravimetric analysis, and the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of the glutelin fraction. Ultrasound was used to create oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions, and their stability was evaluated under different simulated conditions. The glutenin fraction exhibited 50 % ABTS+ RSA at 0.377 ± 0.004 mg/mL and thermal stability up to 239.7 °C. The kinetic and thermodynamic parameters indicated that the glutelin’s thermal decomposition is an endothermic process. The emulsion created by the glutelin fraction at 0.5 % (w/v) exhibited an average droplet size of 2.4 µm. The emulsion remained stable for 5 days at both 4 °C and 25 °C, within a pH range of 6.0 to 8.0. It demonstrated moderate stability when NaCl was present. Glutelin appears to be an effective emulsifier with good thermal stability and RSA for creating O/W emulsions (under certain conditions). This protein fraction is a plant-based alternative to traditional emulsifiers.

The lesser grain borer Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) represents a serious threat to the production of corn and other stored grains worldwide, and although it has been controlled by chemical methods, it generates problems such as resistance. In the search for options, the use of plant extracts and their combination with nano and micro materials stands out as they allow effective control. Two commercial extracts of plant origin Higuer® and Etos®, alone and combined with nano and microparticles of silicon, copper, zinc and graphite, were evaluated. The residual film technique was used, mortality was corrected and the data were subjected to probit analysis. Of the nano and micro materials evaluated, the one that presented the greatest reduction in the LC50 value was nano silicon. It is concluded that the nanoscaled silicon allows the reduction of the LC50 compared to the extract alone and its combinations with the rest of the materials.

Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) is a viral disease that affects equids and is caused by a lentivirus belonging to the Retroviridae family. The aim of this study was to determine the updated seroprevalence of EIA in equines from the western region of the state of Sonora, using the agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test. A total of 138 equine serum samples collected in 2022 were analyzed, coming from different localities and intended for various zootechnical purposes. A seroprevalence of 38.4 % wasidentified, representing a 28.4 % increase compared to the 10 % prevalence reported by Núñez (2016), who also used the AGID technique. However, Núñez did not detail the inclusion criteria, sample transport, or processing methods, which partially limits the direct comparability of the results.

Plant essential oils (EOs) are gaining interest as biopesticides for crop protection. In this study, we evaluate the effect of seed coating with essential oils and hydrosols from Lippia graveolens as a bio-protection strategy against Bemisia tabaci in eggplant seedlings, focusing on adult repellency and oviposition deterrence of whiteflies. In addition, the total phenol content of eggplant seedlings was determined. The hydrosols demonstrated adult repellency, while the essential oils and hydrosols exhibited oviposition deterrence. Additionally, both essential oils and hydrosols significantly increased the phenol content in eggplant seedlings. The essential oils and hydrosols from Mexican oregano induced the plant's defense system, increasing the phenolic content and improving oviposition deterrence. Coating seeds with essential oils and hydrosols presents new possibilities for developing EO-based biopesticides. However, further research is required to understand the plant's specific response to the composition of essential oils and biotic stress.