National Pedagogic University, Mexico

In densely populated urban zones, seismic performance evaluation of strategic infrastructure during seismic events has become more challenging because the distance between surface and underground structures has been shortened to optimize the urban environment functionality. This is even more important in transit transfer stations, which usually comprise tunnels, bridges, and buildings, in which wave propagation interference is exacerbated. This paper explores the seismic interactions between on-ground and underground structures in soft-soil environments, focusing on a typical urban modal transfer station in Mexico City. The study is conducted through comprehensive parametric analyses using 3D numerical simulations in FLAC3D (v.6.0), considering both intraplate and interplate earthquakes, to assess the effect of differences in their frequency content, duration, and intensity. Multiple scenarios are considered in the numerical study, and the relative distances among the structures are varied to investigate both detrimental and beneficial interaction effects, and to identify the zone of influence where this interaction leads to ground motion variability. The study’s findings established the key variables in the interaction between underground and on-ground structures, providing valuable insights into the seismic design and retrofitting of urban infrastructure in densely populated areas.

Levels of BTEX (Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and p-Xylene) were determined in the ambient air of two urban sites located in the Metropolitan Area of Monterrey (MAM) during two climatic seasons of 2023. The study revealed that BTEX compounds in Santa Catarina and Obispado had the following relative abundance: p-Xylene (20.09 µg m⁻³) > Toluene (19.50 µg m⁻³) > Ethylbenzene (19.34 µg m⁻³) > Benzene (17.39 µg m⁻³). Their concentrations were consistent with global reports, showing diurnal and seasonal variability. Levels were higher during the dry season due to elevated temperatures, low wind speeds, and lack of precipitation, which reduced pollutant dispersion. BTEX concentrations in Santa Catarina (industrial site) and Obispado (urban site) were influenced by local activities like industrial processes, area sources, and vehicular traffic. Wind rose analysis confirmed the influence of local sources, with higher BTEX levels when winds came from the east. This was linked to pollutant transport within MAM and thermal inversions trapping pollutants during the dry season. Benzene/Toluene (B/T) and p-Xylene/Ethylbenzene (X/E) ratios showed that the sampling sites were influenced by vehicular sources and local fresh emissions. Benzene inhalation has an unacceptable lifetime cancer risk, urging MAM authorities to implement stricter regulations to protect public health. While non-cancer risks were within acceptable limits, controlling Benzene and p-Xylene emissions remains critical to improving air quality.

Our research on the chromium complex of macrocyclic ligands as a precursor for nitric oxide release makes a significant contribution to the field of chemistry. We conduct a detailed analysis of nitrito chromium complexes, specifically trans‐[M(III)L1–5(ONO)2]⁺, where M=Cr(III) and L¹‐L⁵ represent different ligands such as L¹=1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradecane, L²= (5,7‐dimethyl‐6‐benzylcyclam), L³= (5,7‐dimethyl‐6‐anthracylcyclam), L⁴= (5,7‐dimethyl‐6‐(p‐hydroxymethylbenzyl)‐1,4, 8,11‐cyclam) and L⁵= (5,7‐dimethyl‐6‐(1¢‐methyl‐4'‐(1”‐carboxymethylpyrene) benzyl)‐1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradecane). Our objective is to comprehensively understand the mechanism of NO release and identify the key factors influencing NO delivery. The optimized structure of the complexes at spin states S=1/2 or 3/2 indicates a decrease in the Cr(III)−O bond length (1.669–1.671 Å) along with an increase in the Cr(III)O−NO bond length (2.735–2.741 Å), which facilitates the release of NO. Furthermore, there is a significant change in the bond angle (Cr−O−NO), from 120.4° to 116.9°, to S=3/2, thus enlarging the O−NO bond and supporting the β‐cleavage of NO from the complex. The calculated activation energy for the complexes reflects the energy difference between the low‐spin doublet and high‐spin quartet state due to spin crossover (SCO). Moreover, the Natural Transition Orbitals (NTOs) confirm the involvement of a hole‐particle in the excitation. Additionally, TD‐DFT reveals the pendant chromophore's role in generating NO, as the chromophore antenna effectively enhances light absorption.

Ensuring food safety and quality is paramount in Latin America, where diverse factors ranging from cultural practices to regulatory frameworks impact consumer health and well-being. This chapter explores the multifaceted landscape of food safety and quality in the region, examining issues such as physical, biological, and chemical contamination, as well as the importance of regulatory compliance and consumer education. The interplay between food safety and quality is highlighted, emphasizing the need for comprehensive approaches to address both aspects effectively. Consumer preferences, influenced by cultural heritage and societal trends, shape the demand for safe and high-quality foods. However, challenges persist, particularly in informal food markets where regulatory oversight is limited. The role of education, both at home and in schools, emerges as crucial in cultivating a culture of food safety among consumers. Moreover, the chapter delves into the complexities of the food production chain, where economic, demographic, and environmental factors intersect to influence dietary habits and nutritional patterns. Policy interventions are identified as essential to promote healthier food choices and combat the rise of nutrition-related chronic diseases. The significance of global and national food safety regulations is paramount, for instance, the benchmarking standard schemes such as the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), that some industry FSM certification standards comply with namely: FSSC 22000, BRCGS, SQF, IFS, Global GAP, etc. Also, other international industry food safety management certification programs, such as ISO 22000, AIB standards, etc. are all underscored in facilitating trade and ensuring compliance with international standards. However, gaps remain, especially in the enforcement of regulations across diverse sectors of the food industry. Moving forward, collaboration between stakeholders—including governments, academia, industry, and consumers—is imperative to address the evolving challenges in food safety and quality. By fostering transparency, trust, and accountability throughout the food supply chain, Latin America can enhance consumer confidence and promote public health on a global scale.

Leadership for social justice is a goal and a challenge for the National Pedagogical University (UPN) in Mexico City. The purpose of this study is to examine the role of UPN directors in the context of leadership for social justice. The focus of the study is on those who are responsible for preparation and continuous training of teachers (García, 2006; Jiménez, 2009). The research design was qualitative based on subjective interpretation from the meanings generated by the participants (Bisquerra, 2014). It describes and analyses the experiences of five directors of school units through in-depth interviews where both the person and the environment are of interest. The findings were reported in the voices of the directors. Supportive factors included teamwork through building consensus and recognition of achievements, commitment to students, and critical awareness. The obstacles to leadership included the quality of facilities, vertical management, job uncertainty, the challenging profile of the students, and inter-institutional relations. This study of leadership of directors of UPN has the potential to strengthen the management of the UPN school units and enhance institutional objectives to promote inclusion and guarantee the right to education. It also has implications for the study of social justice leadership in other educational contexts.

This chapter shows a qualitative analysis of teaching methods of problem solving in mathematics classes in primary school, specifically in the third grade of primary school. The theoretical framework of reference was the historical-cultural approach and activity theory. The participants were three teachers of the third grade of primary school and their corresponding pupils. The work consisted in (1) application of interviews to teachers, (2) observation of teachers and (3) evaluation of the pupils. The results show favorable and unfavorable conditions in the work with the solution of problems in classes. It is concluded that problem solving fulfills a developmental objective when the formation of mathematical concepts is considered. Provided analysis allows to arrive to three main conclusions about the relationship between the process of teaching and learning, organization of the solving of problems as intellectual activity and proposals for teaching of mathematics at primary school.

This chapter compares the approaches of Vygotsky and Piaget in relation to the development of the symbolic function for learning mathematics. In the historical–cultural approach proposed by Vygotsky, the topic of acquisition of symbolic means is one of the central aspects of development in infancy. The use of symbolic means should become reflexive at the end of preschool age, as one of the indicators of readiness for school. The chapter considers the concept of orientation and gradual formation of symbolic functions on different levels as the principal differences between these approaches. The chapter analyzes the levels of formation of symbolic function as the level materialized actions, perceptive actions, and verbal actions with external mediatization and with the orientation of the adult. The analysis is provided on the basis of consideration of the practice of formation of symbolic function in the reality of child’s development. The chapter concludes that for Vygotsky’s followers, this concept became the key position for the whole development, including mathematical thinking.

En la actualidad, las investigaciones sobre proyecto de vida recaen, sobre todo, en las etapas de la adolescencia y la adultez mayor, dejando un vacío en la adultez joven. La presente investigación tiene un enfoque cualitativo, se trabajó con 13 personas que se dedican a la docencia e impartición de la asignatura de educación física en programas públicos de la Ciudad de México y en diferentes niveles educativos. La técnica fue una entrevista semiestructurada y el instrumento que se aplicó fue una guía de entrevista con base en las categorías: proyecto de vida, relaciones y desarrollo socioafectivo, metas y éxito. En los hallazgos, se identificó que las orientaciones de los proyectos de vida de las personas entrevistadas han sido instauradas y configuradas por las circunstancias vivenciales y por su contexto social, el cual ha permeado su estructura psicológica, pensamientos e ideales, sin embargo, no tienen estructurado ni escrito un proyecto de vida con objetivos concretos. El proyecto de vida no es un fin o medio para llegar a una meta, sino constituye una parte vital del ser humano.

The present work deals with developing a method for revalorizing steel residues to create sunlight-active photocatalysts based on iron oxides. Commercial-grade steel leftovers are oxidized under different combinations of pH and temperature (50–90 °C and 3 ≥ pH ≤ 5) in a low energy-intensive setup. The material with the highest production efficiency (yield > 12%) and magnetic susceptibility (χm = 387 × 10⁻⁶ m³/kg) was further explored and modified by diffusion of M²⁺ (Zn and Co) ions within the structure of the oxide using a hydrothermal method to create ZnFe2O4, CoFe2O4 and combined Co–Zn ferrite. (Co–Zn)Fe2O4 displayed a bandgap of 2.02 eV and can be activated under sunlight irradiation. Electron microscopy studies show that (Co–Zn)Fe2O4 consists of particles with diameters between 400 and 700 nm, homogeneous size, even distribution, and good dispersibility. Application of the developed materials in the sunlight catalysis of black liquors from cellulose extraction resulted in a reduction of the Chemical Oxygen Demand (− 15% on average) and an enhancement in biodegradability (> 0.57 BOD/COD) after 180 min of reaction. Since the presented process employs direct solar light, it opens the possibility to large-scale water treatment and chemical upgrading applications.

The prevalence of mental health problems constitutes an open challenge for modern societies, particularly for low and middle-income countries with wide gaps in mental health support. With this in mind, five datasets were analyzed to track mental health trends in Mexico City during the pandemic's first year. This included 33,234 responses to an online mental health risk questionnaire, 349,202 emergency calls, and city epidemiological, mobility, and online trend data. The COVID-19 mental health risk questionnaire collects information on socioeconomic status, health conditions, bereavement, lockdown status, and symptoms of acute stress, sadness, avoidance, distancing, anger, and anxiety, along with binge drinking and abuse experiences. The lifeline service dataset includes daily call statistics, such as total, connected, and abandoned calls, average quit time, wait time, and call duration. Epidemiological, mobility, and trend data provide a daily overview of the city's situation. The integration of the datasets, as well as the preprocessing, optimization, and machine learning algorithms applied to them, evidence the usefulness of a combined analytic approach and the high reuse potential of the data set, particularly as a machine learning training set for evaluating and predicting anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as general psychological support needs and possible system loads.

The February 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye caused widespread devastation and fatalities, highlighting the critical contrast in the seismic performance of reinforced concrete (RC) buildings with moment-resistant frames and those with structural walls. This study employs analyses of nonlinear single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) systems using selected accelerograms from the earthquakes to evaluate the behavior of these structural systems. Three SDOF systems representing flexible and stiffer frame buildings, alongside RC wall buildings, were examined. The results highlighted the susceptibility of frame buildings to severe damage and collapse compared with the excellent performance of RC wall buildings. Moreover, the study emphasizes a shift of design focus from life safety to functional recovery. It also identifies potential scenarios regarding consecutive earthquake effects. Overall, the findings advocate adequately designed RC wall buildings for enhanced seismic performance and immediate occupation following major earthquakes.

This chapter is about a young elementary school principal in Sonora, Mexico. The town where the school is has problems such as a migrant population, addictions, deficient public services, and high teacher mobility. Despite this, in a few years, she has demonstrated that change is possible. With the ISSPP protocol, we got information about her strategies to keep the teacher’s team with the same vision and mission. She has a clear idea about children’s development and their future. She says children have the opportunity to grow when all of us give them conditions to learn. The most relevant findings are her knowledge about the community where the school is, her ability to keep the teachers focused on the children and their family’s well-being, and her ability to connect the school with other institutions and people who can contribute to the resolution of the school’s problems. She has an evaluation system where all teachers, parents, and students can express their ideas to improve a better learning environment for everyone. People in town recognize her as a good leader because she is congruent about what she says and what she does.

In this paper, we formulate a model for weakly compressible two-layer shallow water flows with friction in general channels. The formulated model is non-conservative, and in contrast to the incompressible limit, our system is strictly hyperbolic. The generalized Rankine–Hugoniot conditions are provided for the present system with non-conservative products to define weak solutions. We write the Riemann invariants along each characteristic field for channels with constant width in an appendix. A robust well-balanced path-conservative semi-discrete central-upwind scheme is proposed and implemented to validate exact solutions to the Riemann problem. We also present numerical tests in general channels to show the merits of the scheme.

Borrelia miyamotoi is an emerging Ixodes tick-borne human pathogen in the Northern hemisphere. The aim of the current study was to compare whole genome sequences of B. miyamotoi isolates from different continents. Using a combination of Illumina and PacBio platforms and a novel genome assembly and plasmid typing pipeline, we reveal that the 21 sequenced B. miyamotoi isolates and publically available B. miyamotoi genomes from North America, Asia, and Europe form genetically distinct populations and cluster according to their geographical origin, where distinct Ixodes species are endemic. We identified 20 linear and 17 circular plasmid types and the presence of specific plasmids for isolates originating from different continents. Linear plasmids lp12, lp23, lp41, and lp72 were core plasmids found in all isolates, with lp41 consistently containing the vmp expression site. Our data provide insights into the genetic basis of vector competence, virulence, and pathogenesis of B. miyamotoi.

En este artículo recuperamos y ampliamos nuestras lentes sobre la experiencia de investigación en diálogo con una parte de la producción de María Bertely. Para ello, y en referencia a los espacios académicos que compartimos con María, retomamos algunos análisis y reflexiones nodales en torno a las líneas de investigación que hemos desarrollado desde hace varias décadas referente a escolarización indígena en contextos urbanos y de migración en México. Este campo de estudio cobra cada día mayor importancia ante la creciente migración de población indígena a las diversas urbes del territorio nacional. Entre sus múltiples causas y consecuencias, tanto estructurales como coyunturales, analizamos sus vínculos e implicaciones con el contexto escolarizado, principalmente en este texto referido a la educación básica, a la luz de las políticas públicas nacionales e internacionales.Bertely fue pionera en los estudios que abordaron la relación entre escuela y migración indígena en contextos urbanos. En el tejido de estos debates, las autoras desarrollamos una serie de investigaciones que visibilizan el derecho a la educación con reconocimiento cultural y lingüístico, y en particular de poblaciones indígenas en escuelas del sistema general del territorio nacional. El trabajo, más que reflejar un estado del conocimiento sobre el tema, documenta ciertos recorridos que refieren a transformaciones epistémicas y metodológicas ocurridas en la investigación antropológica educativa. Asimismo, busca contribuir a las políticas públicas en el campo de la educación y la diversidad e intercultural, enfoque que en la actualidad orienta a todo el sistema educativo en México.

The objective is to analyze some tensions and ethical positions of students of two master's degrees at the National Pedagogical University about racism in higher education. Qualitative methodology and discourse analysis were used. The analysis of a focus group, made up of eight graduate students was also carried out. It was found that racism tends to be silenced. Also, there are processes of reflexivity some of which fail to break with the hegemonic discourse; while others call for a dialogic and critical positioning. We consider that it is necessary to deepen the analysis on the problem of racism in higher education, particularly regarding the tensions and ethical positions of institutional actors.

Este estudio de corte cualitativo tiene como propósito identificar las condiciones en que se configura el dispositivo educación-trabajo en la vida de seis profesionistas migrantes inscritos en redes transnacionales. Tres de ellos llegaron siendo niños a Estados Unidos y allí se escolarizaron y los otros tres estudiaron en México. Entre los hallazgos tenemos que las condiciones socioeconómicas y de migración les restaron oportunidades de formación y laborales, sin embargo, la calidad de los procesos educativos constituyó un referente que les permitió explorar nichos laborales para construir, desde sus circunstancias, proyectos de vida que les posibilitan satisfacciones personales, a pesar de las desigualdades existentes.

The educational policies and curriculum reforms carried out in the last decades have pushed science education in Latin America from traditional propaedeutic visions toward scientific literacy and citizenship or civic science education approaches. This chapter examines the different curricular perspectives in Latin America, identifying the organizing principles and learning progression prescribed, considering the different emphasis on scientific ideas, practices, and attitudes to be developed, and their implementation. Finally, we discuss the challenges of curricular contextualization, given the importance of implementing a meaningful curriculum for the diverse Latin American school population.

This article analyzes the modernization of rural teaching in Mexico, through the discourse of the modernizing agency and the narrated practice of the educational agents who put their principles into action, at the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st. The study integrated a corpus of political, legal, and normative documents, which contextualized the modern identification of the rural teacher, and it applied semi-structured interviews with directors, teachers, and students of the Normal Rural School of Tenería in the State of Mexico. To analyze the referents of identification of rural teachers, the postfoundational policy analysis was used, supported by Foucault’s historical ontology and Latour’s social epistemology. It was found that the modernizing agency displaced the sense of change, from social emancipation to the change itself of the educational agent, and that the rural teacher identifies himself outside of the modernizing parameters such as ideological neutrality, transmission, content, and practical organization of the life. Rather, assume the responsibility of guiding the collective conscience and discard as a rule of thumb the distinction between the aseptic function of representing things to know them and the power to represent social subjects to emancipate them.