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

A lo largo de la historia, el hombre se ha enfrentado a un sin número de obstáculos y problemas para aumentar los conocimientos y descubrir los secretos, realidades y desafíos del mundo que lo rodea. Para superar esas dificultades ha empleado diversas estrategias, las cuales dieron paso a la formalización de procedimientos que, en última instancia, no son sino el propio método científico. Este conjunto de conocimientos que las personas tienen sobre el mundo, así como la actividad humana destinada a conseguirlos, es lo que se denomina ciencia. No obstante el título de ciencia no puede aplicarse a cualquier conocimiento, sino únicamente a los saberes que han sido obtenidos mediante una metodología y que cumplen determinadas condiciones. De igual manera, como destaca Shulman (1986) citado por Marques, "el conocimiento no crece de forma natural e inexorable. Crece por las investigaciones de los estudiosos (empíricos, teóricos, prácticos) y es por tanto una función de los tipos de preguntas formuladas, problemas planteados y cuestiones estructuradas por aquellos que investigan".Un buen científico es como un gran detective, que tiene olfato para lo que quiere encontrar. Puede decirse entonces que la investigación es seguir la pista; buscar o averiguar siguiendo algún rastro. Es toda actividad humana orientada a descubrir algo desconocido. Tiene su origen en la curiosidad innata del hombre. La investigación científica es la actividad que produce la ciencia y como tal, su fuente. El método científico es el procedimiento o forma de actuación empleado o seguido de la investigación científica. El mundo esta dominado por la ciencia y la técnica. La investigación científica es el motor que sostiene e impulsa a las dos.Bunge (1981) en su libro: la ciencia su método y filosofía nos dice que "el hombre a través de la investigación científica realiza una reconstrucción conceptual del mundo en el que vive y que este proceso lo hace utilizando un método racional, sistemático, verificable y por consiguiente falible". En este orden de ideas la investigación científica no es otra cosa que la curiosidad organizada; para ejecutarla sólo es preciso conocer el alcance actual del conocimiento, en función de éste plantearse una pregunta (que se enuncia como hipótesis concretada en objetivos que traten de comprobarla), y establecer un método apropiado que permita planificar, ejecutar y analizar el estudio.

Introducción: El cáncer de mama constituye una amenaza para la salud por ser la segunda causa de muerte en la mujer de 30 a 50 años de edad. El diagnostico, tratamiento y recuperación de las mujeres con cáncer de mama genera situaciones estresantes, la forma en cómo se afrontan influye en la adaptación. Objetivo: Conocer el nivel de adaptación y afrontamiento de las mujeres con cáncer de mama, atendidas en una institución de salud de Durango, Dgo. México. Materiales y Métodos: Estudio descriptivo cuantitativo, aplicando instrumento validado en población mexicana con un (alfa .7969), "escala de medición del proceso de afrontamiento y adaptación" de Callista Roy" en 22 mujeres con cáncer de mama. Resultados: Las mujeres con cáncer de mama se adaptan y afrontan su problema de salud, con un nivel de adaptación integrado y compensatorio pudiendodistinguir que dónde presenta dificultad es en el modo físico y fisiológico. Discusión y Conclusiones: De acuerdo al estudio "ajuste psicosocial y afrontamiento en pacientes con cáncer de mama" se encuentra una diferencia en que los participantes no experimentaron cambios a partir de la enfermedad contraria a nuestro trabajo ya que los participantes adquieren nuevas posibilidades y capacidades. La adaptación de las mujeres que han padecido cáncer de mama es un proceso dinámico, enfrentan múltiples desequilibrios que afectan sus dimensiones emocional, física, mental y social. Se pudo conocer el nivel de adaptación y afrontamiento de las mujeres con cáncer de mama comprobando que en su mayoría presentan un nivel de adaptación integrado y compensatorio. (Rev Cuid 2011; 2(2): 96- 104)       Palabras clave: Adaptación Psicológica, Atención de Enfermería, Cáncer de Mama. (Fuente: DeCs BIREME).

The diet of the endangered Tehuantepec jackrabbit, Lepus flavigularis, was studied during the dry and rainy seasons in 2007, in a lowland area in the southeastern Oaxaca, Mexico. Faecal pellets of L. flavigularis were collected at regular intervals from four selected sites. Microhistological techniques were employed to analyze the pellets. The epidermal fragments were identified by comparison with a reference collection of plant species. Grass species occurred in high percentage in all samples of faecal pellets (66.7%). The diet of the Tehuantepec jackrabbit is rich in species (18 species in total) and is similar in number and proportion of species consumed during dry and rainy season. This study provides the first results on the Tehuantepec jackrabbit diet. The strategies of conservation of the Tehuantepec jackrabbit and their habitat must consider activities such as the control of fires and a suitable grassland management that does not reduce plant diversity.

The Northern Pygmy Mouse (Baiomys taylori) occurs throughout much of Mexico and into the southwestern United States, with its range currently expanding northward in the U.S. Despite documentation of species range expansion, there have been very few studies that have monitored population growth patterns in this species. During a 16-month mark-recapture study in coastal southeastern Texas, a striking fluctuation in densities of Pygmy Mouse populations was observed. The extreme population increase and decline was evaluated with respect to several biotic and abiotic variables postulated to affect rodent population levels. Highest population levels were preceded by high fruit and seed availability, and variation in 6-month cumulative precipitation totals explained 73.8% - 77.1% of the population variation in the study.

We evaluated the impact of the extensive livestock practices and subsistence hunting on the relative abundance of mammals in the Zoque, forest, Mexico. We used camera-traps, structured questionnaires and visits to different locations. With a total sampling effort of 4,860 trap-days and 54 camera-traps in two periods of sampling (2009 and 2010), we registered 25 mammals and five birds species. From the total number of species, 36.66% are in some category of endangerment by national and international laws. The most abundant species in the region were Bos taurus / Bos indicus, Tayassu pecari, Cuniculus paca, Pecari tajacu, Dasyprocta mexicana, Tapirus bairdii and Dasypus novemcinctus, while the least abundant were the carnivores in that region. The secondary vegetation was used with greater intensity for domestic livestock and the Pecari tajacu, Urocyon cinereoargenteus and Ortalis vetula (P < 0.05), while the majority of medium and large mammals and wild birds used the well-preserved jungle fragments with greater intensity. These jungle fragments were of varying sizes and were associated with fruit trees and hunting zones in the region (P < 0.05). Mammals were mainly utililized for the following reasons in order of importance: 1) as bushmeat, 2) as pets, 3) for their skins, and, 4) for traditional medicine. Finally the extensive livestock practices and subsistence hunting are the main human activities that have a negative effect on wildlife in the Zoque forest.

The diversity of bats in the state of San Luis Potosi is poorly known, with the aim of contributing to the knowledge of this group. We gather information from different sources by searching on national and international databases. The San Luis Potosi bat assembly consists of 52 species, 6 families and 30 genera. Only three species are listed in NOM-059-SEMARNAT 2010. It is possible that the knowledge of bats in this state will increase, if inventories are conducted in the highlands and middle zone regions, which are the least sampled; this together with the use of alternative capture techniques, such as ultrasonic detectors and sampling in shelters, could generate a better view of the total bat richness in San Luis Potosi.

We report the first record of tuza real (Agouti paca) from de Querétaro state, México. This record increases 34 km the known distribution of the tuza real. It was caught on deciduous tropical forest.

We give information on the seasonal abundance of herbivores bats and their plant food resources in Reserva de la Biosfera Barranca de Metztitlán, Hidalgo, México. Two types of vegetation were studied: crasicaule shrub of Isolatocereus dumortieri and tropical deciduous forest. We identified eight species of herbivorous bats that inhabit the Barranca de Metztitlán. Three species of nectar-feeding bats (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae, Choeronycteris mexicana, Glossophaga soricina) and one frugivore (Sturnira ludovici) were common in the crasicaule scrub and tropical deciduous forest. Four frugivores (Artibeus jamaicencis, A. lituratus, A. aztecus and Sturnira lilium) were associated only with tropical deciduous forest. At landscape level, we have identified 28 species of chiropterophilous plants that provide food (flowers and fruits) for bats throughout the year. Annually the greatest abundance of bats coincided with the highest chiropterophilous resources abundance. And at local level, we found a positive and significant relationship between the abundance of the pollinator’s bats and the productivity of flowers from the giant cacti Isolatocereus dumortieri.

The illegal traffic of wild life is one of the principal factors which affect the native populations of biological species. In Mexico, this illegal activity has been poorly documented. This paper describes the case of Charco Cercado, a locality in the State of San Luis Potosi, Mexico; which historically has been an example of impunity in the illegal trade of flora and fauna. The historical overview covers from 1970 to 2011, considering the steps and links in the illicit chain, the differentiation by sex and age of persons involved in the trade. The stalls installed at the edge of the Federal highway 57, the mobilized species, as well as the government actions taken for promoting the application of Law and Enforcement. The way and organization in which this illegal activity is made; it is similar for any kind of species. For this reason all illegally traded groups are considered in this paper. Recent impacts and achievements are described in the combat against wildlife trafficking in Charco Cercado, highlighting the fact that all stalls were destroyed and the head people involved in the trafficking of individuals, products and byproducts, were arrested and submitted to legal processes. The results documented for at least 51 species of wildlife, including 6 of reptiles, 32 birds and 13 mammals. Some recommendations are proposed to eliminate definitively the illegal wildlife trade in this town and in other regions of Mexico.

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