Autonomous University of Yucatán

The contribution of dipterans to pollination in tropical communities has been scarcely studied. Although some studies have evaluated dipteran pollination in crops and wild species, limited attention has been paid to their role in pollination networks. In particular, their role in pollen transport has been neglected. Integrating their role as floral visitors and their importance in pollen transport through interaction networks may help reveal their importance in pollination in tropical co‐flowering communities. We constructed visitation and pollen transport networks from the analysis of pollen carried on dipteran bodies in two tropical coastal communities to test the prediction that pollen transport networks would reveal fewer but more specialised interactions than visitation networks. We estimated parameters describing the network topology and the main estimators of the roles of each species. We recorded 1372 floral visits and counted 46,001 pollen grains. Our results showed that the visitation and pollen transport networks exhibited similar pollination network structures (e.g., nestedness, specialisation, and modularity). However, the pollen transport network suggested a higher level of specialisation between dipterans and plants in both communities. In addition, the networks' modular structure suggested contrasting species grouping according to network type. Moreover, most dipterans were classified as peripheral species in pollen transport networks, suggesting high within‐module interactions. Although some estimators of dipteran role through visitation (nestedness contribution and resource range) can be used as indicators of pollen transport, we found that pollen transport is a better descriptor of dipteran specialisation or the role of the species in the modular structure of the network. This work is the first to explore the importance of dipterans using visitation and pollen transport data in the tropics. Overall, our results suggest that a better understanding of the dipteran's importance in pollination networks is necessary to add information on their role in pollen transport.

Heterospecific pollen transfer is ubiquitous in co-flowering communities (i.e., multiple plant species produce flowers and bloom simultaneously) with strong implications for pollination success. Heterospecific pollen transfer may be especially relevant in invaded plant communities where alien pollen affects the pollination success of native plants. However, the mechanisms mediating heterospecific pollen transfer in invaded communities remain poorly understood even though they could help better understand the outcome of plant invasions. In this study, we use structural equation modeling to explore the role of floral trait similarity and pollinator sharing in heterospecific pollen transfer and on the pollination success of native plants in highly invaded coastal communities. Floral trait similarity reduces pollinator sharing between native and alien plants but does not explain the degree of pollinator sharing between native plants. However, increases in pollinator sharing between native plants negatively affected native plants’ pollination success. Unexpectedly, our results showed that increased pollinator sharing between native and alien plants increases pollination success of native plants, suggesting facilitative interactions. However, our results also suggested that native plants’ pollination success decreased with an increase in alien pollen. Overall, our results highlight the importance of considering floral trait similarity and pollinator sharing in mediating the complex dynamic of heterospecific pollen transfer between native and alien plants and its consequences on native pollination success with implications for plant invasion success.

Background Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), in its final stage, requires renal replacement therapy, such as hemodialysis (HD) to maintain vital functions; nevertheless, it imposes lifestyle changes. For example, physical activity (PA) levels are lower than the World Health Organization recommendations, consequently affecting physical performance. On the other hand, up to 80% of patients receiving HD have reported sexual dysfunction. Therefore, this study aimed to associate physical inactivity with sexual dysfunction in patients receiving HD. Methods an analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 116 ambulatory HD patients. Self-reported questionnaires for sexual dysfunction, IIEF and IFSF, and physical performance tests, such as the IPAQ-SF for physical activity levels, the six-minute walk test, the handgrip strength test, and the sit-to-stand test, were used to assess patients. A multivariate regression model was performed to identify predictors of sexual dysfunction. Results 86.4% of women and 84.2% of the men reported sexual dysfunction. An association between physical inactivity and sexual dysfunction was found (OR = 5.6, 95% CI 1.77–17.71, p = 0.003). Logistic regression revealed that PA (OR = 0.997, p = 0.004), diabetes (OR = 7.558, p = 0.028), handgrip strength (OR = 1.819, p = < 0.001), and sit-to-stand repetitions (OR = 0.779, p = 0.004) were predictors of sexual dysfunction. Conclusion Our study found that physical inactivity increases the risk of sexual dysfunction in CKD patients receiving HD, where the presence of diabetes is the main risk factor, and physical performance has a protective effect. Therapeutic exercise programs should be implemented as part of an integral approach in HD units, to improve patients’ physical and sexual function.

Plants and their multiple secondary metabolites represent one of the main sources of potentially new pharmaceuticals. Digoxin, digitoxin, and ouabain are a group of cardenolides produced by plants of the genera Digitalis, Strophanthus, and Acokenthera that are used in the treatment and management of congestive cardiac insufficiency, arrhythmias, and heart failure. Alternatively, several cardenolides such as oleandrin, isolated from Nerium oleander L., Apocynaceae, have been reported to show antitumor and antiviral activity in vitro, particularly against COVID-19. As part of our search for new cardenolides with antiviral activity from plant species of the Apocynaceae family in the Yucatecan flora, our examination of the leaf extract of N. oleander resulted in the isolation and identification of 8-hydroxi-digitoxigenin-3-O-β-D-diginoside, a new bioactive cardenolide showing a lower cytotoxic activity than that of oleandrin when tested using the Madin-Darby canine kidney cell line. Molecular docking analysis showed that the new cardenolide has a lower molecular affinity to the Na+/K+ ATPase protein than oleandrin, suggesting that this difference in affinity between the two cardenolides could explain their differences in cytotoxic activity, despite their having similar chemical structures and polarities.

Bycatch currently constitutes a significant threat to marine mammals, and its assessment poses a substantial challenge to the sustainability of various fishing communities worldwide. Bycatch from small‐scale fishing is comparatively higher in developing countries, where fisheries management data are lacking. Recent U.S. regulations aimed at reducing global bycatch largely speak to these concerns as well. For example, the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act regulations require nations that export fishery products to the U.S. market to have comparable regulations. Here, a cost‐effective methodology to define bycatch conflict zones was developed based on 11 years of stranding data and producing a Lagrangian numerical model. Python‐based classification algorithms determined distances between fishing ports and bycatch regions, revealing disparities across the western, central, and eastern areas through the implementation of the artificial intelligence library Scikit‐learn. The areas with the highest marine mammal bycatch identified in this study are consistent with those reported in previous studies based on interviews regarding sea turtle bycatch. This study is the first of its kind in the region, highlighting the novelty of our research initiative.

Introduction Understanding mental health in the context of type 2 diabetes self-care behaviors may lead to improvements in disease prognosis, overall well-being, and delivery of services. The purpose of this study was to understand differences in adherence to type 2 diabetes treatment among individuals who report anxiety, anger, and depression. Methods Questionnaires were administered to 111 individuals with type 2 diabetes in Oxcutzcab, Yucatan, Mexico. Participants completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Scale of Adherence to Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 Treatment. Results Independent-samples t -test was used to determine mean differences in mental health variables for adherence to treatment variables. Overall, reported levels of anxiety, anger, and depression differed for certain adherence-related behaviors and experiences. Discussion Our results indicate the importance of mental health assessment and support as part of the type 2 diabetes disease management process in Yucatan.

In this work, Cu2O thin films were deposited on glass by reactive sputtering at room temperature, varying the sputtering power and the oxygen partial pressure in the chamber. The thin films’ electrical resistivity, optical, morphological, and structural properties were studied, and the results are presented and discussed. Single-phase Cu2O thin films were optimized using 120 W sputtering power and 0.7 × 10⁻⁶ bar of oxygen partial pressure. These deposition conditions were used to prepare copper oxide thin films onto an Sb2(S,Se)3 layer. The resulting Cu2O with its low electrical resistivity (∼10¹ Ω cm), comparable to the lowest Cu2O values obtained with different growth techniques, and its smooth and compact morphology, provides insights into its potential use as a hole transport layer in Sb2(S,Se)3 solar cells.

Sponges and decapods share diverse ecological interactions, including epibiosis in which sponges colonize crab carapaces. We report three sponge species—Stelletta kallitetilla (Laubenfels, 1936), Hymeniacidon heliophila (Wilson, 1911), and Haliclona (Reniera) manglaris Alcolado, 1984—on the decorator crab Macrocoeloma nodipes (Desbonne in Desbonne & Schramm, 1867) collected from the Campeche Bank (southern Gulf of Mexico), presenting new records for Mexican waters. Our research highlights the importance of describing ecologically associated species and offers insights into the presence of sponge species not previously reported in Mexico.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the model performance in the classification of FAMACHA© scores using Support Vector Machines (SVMs) with a focus on the estimation of the FAMACHA© scoring system used for early diagnosis and treatment management of parasitic infections. FAMACHA© scores are a color-based visual assessment system used to determine parasite load in animals, and in this study, the accuracy of the model was investigated. The model’s accuracy rate was analyzed in detail with metrics such as sensitivity, specificity, and positive/negative predictive values. The results showed that the model had high sensitivity and specificity rates for class 1 and class 3, while the performance was relatively low for class 2. These findings not only demonstrate that SVM is an effective method for classifying FAMACHA© scores but also highlight the need for improvement for class 2. In particular, the high accuracy rate (97.26%) and high kappa value (0.9588) of the model indicate that SVM is a reliable tool for FAMACHA© score estimation. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the potential of SVM technology in veterinary epidemiology and provides important information for future applications. These results may contribute to efforts to improve scientific approaches for the management of parasitic infections.

Depression poses a significant global health challenge, affecting an estimated 300 million people worldwide. While amitriptyline (Ami) remains one of the most effective antidepressants, its numerous side-effects contribute to a high dropout rate among patients. Addressing this issue requires exploring methods to enhance its bioavailability and reduce dosage. In this study, we describe a technique for producing amitriptyline nanoparticles (Ami-NPs) to improve the drug’s efficiency. The effectiveness was assessed by comparing the dose-response curves of Ami-NPs and non-encapsulated Ami in male and female Wistar rats subjected to the forced swimming test (FST). Ami-NPs were fabricated using nanoprecipitation, with a copolymer of poly (methyl vinyl ether/maleic acid) as the encapsulant, and a 3% solution of poloxamer F-127 as surfactant stabilizer. A Box-Behnken design was used to optimize the production of Ami-NPs, resulting in nanoparticles with the following optimal characteristics: a size of 198.6 ± 38.1 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.005 ± 0.03 nm, a zeta potential of -32 ± 6 mV, and encapsulation efficiency of 79.1 ± 7.4%. Ami-NPs showed higher potency and efficacy in reducing immobility during the FST (ED50 = 7.06 mg/kg, Emax = 41.1%), compared to amitriptyline in solution (Ami-S) (ED50 = 11.89 mg/kg, Emax = 33.2%). The Emax of Ami-NPs occurred at 12 mg/kg, while Ami-S peaked at 15.8 mg/kg. In the open field test, only treatment with Ami-NPs (12 mg/kg) and the empty nanoparticles increased immobility. In the elevated plus-maze, treatment with Ami-NPs (12 mg/kg) significantly reduced closed-arm entries (2.1 ± 0.6), compared to control solution (9.5 ± 1.8), control nanoparticles (8 ± 1.0) and Ami-S (11.5 ± 2). In the marble burying test, Ami-NPs (12 mg/kg) significantly reduced buried marbles (2.4 ± 0.4) compared to control nanoparticles (8.7 ± 1.2). These findings suggest that Ami-NPs could be a promising approach to enhance Ami bioavailability, thereby increasing its potency and antidepressant efficacy, while improving anxiolytic-like effects.

Ticks and tick-borne diseases are widely distributed worldwide, mainly in tropical and subtropical areas. Acaricides and macrocyclic lactones (MLs) are pivotal in controlling the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus. However, intensive exposure to acaricides and MLs has resulted in selecting resistant tick populations and negatively affects the livelihoods of millions of cattle producers worldwide. To reduce the impact of acaricide resistance, integrated tick management (ITM) is needed using chemical and nonchemical strategies. This ITM consists of the association of the environment and the monthly fluctuation of tick species using a combination of sustainable tools that are compatible and that maintain low levels of parasite populations that cause economic losses. The objective of this chapter is to highlight the main chemical and nonchemical strategies comprehensively for the control of the cattle tick (R. microplus) and minimize the impact of acaricide resistance on global cattle farming.

One of the most challenging aspects in the manufacture of composite materials is understanding how the geometry and distribution of the inclusions influence their thermal and mechanical properties. In this study, we report the longitudinal thermal properties of vertically aligned graphite rods embedded in a polymer matrix with various geometric arrangements: circular, polygonal, and rectangular. The thermal diffusivity was measured using the front-face laser-flash thermography technique, which provided images of the heating-cooling process from the sample surface. As a first insight, we analyze thermal transport by following the evolution of the thermograms of all the samples’ surfaces and applying a conventional approach. Additionally, we analyze the thermograms in specific regions based on the rods’ distribution geometry to determine the effective thermal properties in each area, which can be directly linked to the graphite rod content. This approach demonstrates how the distribution of the rods significantly influences the heat transport properties. To deepen our understanding, we propose a modified Nan’s model by considering a variation in the geometrical shape factor. Our findings contribute to the development of composites with adjustable thermal properties and offer practical insights for designing systems for thermal management, highlighting the direct applicability of this research.

The isolation of tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) spirochetes has proven to be a useful tool to understand their distribution in geographic areas where the tick vectors inhabit. However, their isolation and culture are not easy and in general an animal model is needed to achieve this task. Here, argasid ticks were collected from a neighborhood in Ciudad Caucel, and they were identified as Ornithodoros (Alectorobius) puertoricensis. To determine whether these were infected with TBRF bacteria they were fed with healthy mice but only a low burden of spirochetes was observed. An immunosuppressed mouse model was used to feed the ticks suspected to be infected with spirochetes. After tick feeding, a higher number of bacteria was observed in blood samples, and spirochetes were successfully cultivated in Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly (BSK)-IIB media. Molecular analyses indicated that the isolate was Borrelia puertoricensis, while whole genome sequencing confirmed the finding. In summary, the present report shows that A. puertoricensis is present in Ciudad Caucel, an urban neighborhood in the outskirts of Merida city, and these ticks are infected with B. puertoricensis. Despite the fact that this species has not been directly associated with TBRF it represents a potential medical and veterinary health risk.

Background/Objectives: Dental caries and periodontal diseases are the most common illnesses in the oral cavity and represent a public health concern globally. In recent decades, diverse studies showed that Kefir, a traditional beverage that can be milk- or water-based, contains a complex microbial community and has health benefits. The goal of this review was to update the current knowledge of kefir consumption and its impact on oral health. Methods: The search of a combination of keywords—kefir; dental caries; probiotics; microbiota; periodontal diseases; biofilm; and oral health—was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science databases for studies in human subjects. Discussion: The research suggests that kefir consumption may aid in decreasing counts of microorganisms typically associated with oral illness. Conclusions: Kefir has the potential to inhibit certain oral pathogens and reduce biofilm formation by promoting diversity within the oral microbiota, suggesting that kefir could be a promising adjuvant treatment for dental caries and periodontal diseases by improving oral health.

This study investigates the influence of substrate configuration variations on the surface properties and contact angle of nanostructured aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) thin films deposited via RF magnetron sputtering on glass substrates at room temperature. Three distinct substrate configurations—Standard Planar Position (SPP), Glancing Angle Deposition (GLAD), and Twisted Standard Planar Position (TSPP)—were employed to explore their impact on the films structural morphology and crystallinity, characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Wettability, characterized by contact angle and surface energy, was assessed using static measurements with a range of probe liquids, including water, diiodomethane, and ethylene glycol. Our findings demonstrate the ability to tailor AZO films to achieve specific crystalline orientations without altering the growth temperature. Substrate rotation and configuration modifications significantly impacted AZO film surface energies, revealing enhanced hydrophilicity evidenced by reduced contact angles compared to control samples. Using the Owens–Wendt-Kaelble method, we quantified both polar and dispersive surface energy components, observing significant increases in both for AZO thin films. These results highlight heightened surface reactivity, suggesting potential applications in diverse wetting-dependent contexts, such as reinforcement of polymeric materials and self-cleaning surfaces and anti-reflective coatings for photovoltaic devices.

Carbon nanotube (CNT) yarns (CNTYs) are porous fibers with a myriad of applications based on their electrical response. This study presents an electrical finite element model of the cross section of CNTYs, comprising smaller hierarchical elements (CNT bundles) arranged in a hexagonal pattern. The model captures the most relevant mechanisms explaining the effect of porosity and resin infiltration on the electrical conductivity of the CNTY and reproduces experimental data. The porosity is generated with a random algorithm that avoids void clustering. The model assists in explaining factors that modify the electrical resistivity of the CNTY when a liquid polymer infiltrates it. The model suggests that the electrical resistivity of the CNTY increases in a sigmoidal fashion with increased porosity, with the highest electrical sensitivity occurring between 40% and 60% porosity. The experimental findings on the porosity effect are better reproduced if the bundle diameter concomitantly changes with the yarn's porosity. The CNTY's electrical resistivity strongly depends on the electrical resistivity of the infiltrating liquid and on the extent of infiltration. The outer 20–30% CNTY radius is the most sensitive to infiltration. High electrical sensitivity is predicted during the first polymerization stages of a thermosetting polymer resin infiltrating the CNTY.