México Archives

What tangled webs we weave: Measuring federal public expenditure

Written by

The researchers found that social assistance has little effectiveness in improving the social wellbeing of households.

The Social Accounting Model (SAM) is used in social and economic analyses to explain the transfers made between institutional sectors. It quantifies these exchanges to analyse the financial and economic structure of a country, as well as the resulting social benefits. Dr Marcela Astudillo Moya and Dr Raúl Porras Rivera at the National Autonomous University of Mexico apply the recommendations […]

Combatting antimicrobial resistance using novel small fusion proteins

Written by

Antibiotic resistance is a public health burden worldwide. Alternatives to antibiotics that can counter the detrimental effects of resistant ‘superbugs’ are urgently needed. Dr Xristo Zarate at the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon in Mexico and his collaborators have worked extensively on developing novel small carrier proteins, like SmbP and CusF3H+, for recombinant protein and peptide expression and purification in […]

Exploring transitions to chaos in complex systems

Written by

Alberto Robledo shows how mathematical laws can explain different types of complex systems.

Previously, Dr Alberto Robledo of Instituto de Física, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) showed how transitions to chaos in nonlinear systems can be expressed in the language of statistical mechanics. Additionally, in his studies he shows how the same mathematical laws can link these transitions to the behaviours of different types of complex systems. His results may lead to […]

Obtaining Tsallis entropy at the onset of chaos

Written by

Statistical mechanics aims to understand how thermodynamic systems with large numbers of particles evolve over time.

Tsallis entropy aims to extend traditional statistical mechanics, but some physicists believe the theory is incompatible with the fundamental principles of thermodynamics. Dr Alberto Robledo of Instituto de Física, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) shows for the first time how Tsallis entropy can explain natural phenomena that turn out to be surprisingly linked to the transitions from regular to […]

From friend to foe: Food strains share their toxic genes in E. coli

Written by

The team investigates plasmid content in food isolates of E. coli and its role as a reservoir for the horizontal transfer of virulence and antibiotic resistance genes to clinical isolates.

Food-borne bacteria can cause life-threatening disease, yet it is still unclear why some strains are tolerated by the host. To find an answer, a project led by Professor Rosa del Carmen Rocha-Gracia (Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Mexico) and Professor Manel Camps (University of California Santa Cruz, USA) analysed the genetic diversity of Escherichia coli populations, comparing isolates from food […]

Travel to Cornwall for your next holiday…then into space!

Written by

Idyllic beaches, rugged coastal lines and quaint seaside towns make Cornwall one of the most popular tourist destinations for staycationers and globetrotters alike. Yet, it’s also set to become the home of the UK’s first ever spaceport for space travel! Virgin Orbit is soon set to launch it’s fifth mission of putting thrill-seekers and space-tech clients into space from Cornwall. […]

Shining a spotlight on diabetic retinal detachment

Written by

Professor Miguel A Quiroz-Reyes, MD, investigates the long-term post-operative outcomes in the sight-threatening condition, diabetic macula-off tractional retinal detachment.

Diabetes mellitus affects millions of people globally. Patients are at risk of associated diseases and often encounter problems with their eyesight. Dr Miguel A Quiroz-Reyes, retina specialist at Oftalmologia Integral ABC, Mexico City, Mexico, set out to investigate the outcomes of diabetic patients with advanced complications of the retina. These patients had developed diabetic macula-off tractional retinal detachment, a known […]

Mexico’s 1887 Sonora earthquake: Lessons from the aftershocks

Written by

Dr Castro analyses seismic activity in the Mexican Basin after the 1887 Sonora earthquake

In May 1887, a magnitude (Mw) 7.5 earthquake rocked Sonora, Mexico. While the immediate effects impacted local communities, the event has become the world’s longest recorded normal-fault rupture in historic time. Professor Raúl Castro from the Department of Seismology at CICESE, Mexico, used a network of seismic monitoring equipment to uncover evidence that aftershocks from the 1887 event are still […]

Corporate sustainability: Benefits and drawbacks in the implementation of green business initiatives

Written by

Dr Sarmiento evaluates the benefits and trade-offs in adopting new green initiatives for SME in central Mexico. A handshake with the suit sleeves showing environmental images.

As the public becomes increasingly cognisant of its effect on the environment, companies are progressively looking for green initiatives to implement and improve their corporate sustainability strategies. Dr Roberto Sarmiento at the Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí, and his team, examined potential trade-offs that could occur during the implementation of a green initiative at an SME in Mexico. The […]

The biodegrading functions of microbial communities in polluted freshwaters

Written by

Dr Ayixon Sánchez-Reyes and Dr Luz Bretón-Deval study the polluted river in the Apatlaco river basin in Mexico, hoping to identify microbial species which could break down contaminants in the freshwater sites

Pollution is a selective pressure that enriches microorganisms at polluted freshwater sites. Some microbial species can adapt to the levels of pollution in water streams, displaying metabolic capacities that allow them to degrade the contaminants. Dr Ayixon Sánchez-Reyes and Dr Luz Bretón-Deval, from the Institute of Biotechnology of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, study the microbial biodiversity landscapes of […]