Autonomous University of Chihuahua

Hexagonal antiferromagnetic D0 19 -Mn 3 X ( X = Sn, Ge, Ga) compounds, with a non-collinear kagome spin structure, exhibit novel topological transport properties as colossal longitudinal magnetoresistance and its evolution proportional to the E ⋅ B product. Here, we report on non-vanishing transverse magnetoresistance of strained epitaxial GaN (0001)/Mn 3 Ga films with the magnetic field in the out-of-plane direction and the electric field in the film plane along two perpendicular directions. Strain induces pseudo-electromagnetic fields favoring chiral anomaly and therefore the observation of magnetoresistance. We found an evolution from negative linear to positive quadratic magnetoresistance dependence on the magnetic field in the temperature range from 150 to 300 K, along with a metallic to a narrow band gap semiconductor transition at a temperature of 230 K. First-principles calculations confirmed this transition, proposing a spin structure evolution, and by the implementation of a tight-binding model, based on the Fu-Kane-Mele model, the topological transport properties were analyzed confirming the experimental findings. • Strained epitaxial Mn3Ga thin films were grown by magnetron sputtering. • Non-vanishing transverse magnetoresistance with B in the out-of-plane direction. • Temperature-driven from negative linear to positive quadratic magnetoresistance. • Theoretical calculations propose a spin-structure evolution. • Tight-binding model illustrates a Weyl phase to semiconducting transition.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder increasingly recognized as a systemic inflammatory condition with significant neurological effects. Growing evidence shows that chronic low-grade inflammation (CLGI), insulin resistance, and metabolic imbalance contribute to cognitive decline and the development of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), a critical pattern-recognition receptor of the innate immune system, has emerged as an essential molecular link between metabolic dysfunction and neuroinflammation and neuronal damage. This review summarizes current experimental, clinical, and translational evidence on the role of TLR2 in T2DM-related inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, lipid imbalance, insulin resistance, and blood–brain barrier (BBB) issues. We explore how ongoing TLR2 activation by internal danger signals and metabolic stressors maintains systemic inflammation and fuels neuroimmune responses via microglial activation and cytokine release, thereby accelerating neurodegenerative processes. Additionally, we discuss new therapeutic strategies targeting TLR2 signaling, including drugs, dietary supplements, and the repurposing of antidiabetic medications with neuroprotective effects. By combining immunometabolic and neurodegenerative pathways, this review highlights TLR2 as a promising target for preventing or reducing diabetes-related cognitive decline neurodegeneration.

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) synthesized through green routes have emerged as promising nanobiostimulants in sustainable agriculture due to their ability to enhance plant growth and antioxidant defense. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biostimulant effect of SeNPs on Capsicum annuum at two stages of crop development to characterize the response to SeNP exposure and identify concentration-dependent effects and application methods. Physiological indicators, including growth, photosynthetic pigment content, and antioxidant activity, were evaluated. Different concentrations of SeNPs were tested during germination, and dosage and two types of application were compared during the vegetative phase in a hydroponic experiment. SeNPs at concentrations of 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 µM were applied to chili seeds for 20 days. The plants were exposed to SeNPs concentrations ranging from 1.25 to 80 µM, applied through the roots and leaves. Germination parameters were not significantly affected except for the seed vigor index, which increased at all concentrations, particularly at 20 µM. Low to moderate doses (1.25–20 µM) acted as biostimulants, enhancing plant height, root length, biomass accumulation, photosynthetic pigment content, and phenolic and flavonoid compound synthesis. Conversely, high doses (80 µM) induced phytotoxic effects, especially via root exposure, reflected by growth inhibition, and reduced chlorophyll content. Foliar application demonstrated a systemic biostimulant response, improving root growth and photosynthetic activity without toxicity symptoms. Antioxidant assays (DPPH and ABTS) revealed dose-dependent modulation of redox balance, suggesting adaptive responses to SeNP-induced oxidative conditions. These findings highlight the potential of SeNPs as biostimulants that improve physiological performance in chili plants, while emphasizing the importance of an optimal dosing and application method for sustainable nanotechnology-based crop management.

Introducción: Se aborda el desafío de la enseñanza de habilidades de investigación en la educación superior, especialmente en el contexto mexicano. Ante el reto de enseñar materias de investigación, el objetivo fue diseñar un Marco Curricular Común (MCC) a partir del análisis de las mejores prácticas internacionales para potenciar la formación en investigación. Método: Se realizó un análisis de contenido cualitativo de 50 sílabos de licenciatura de 17 países. La muestra se seleccionó de instituciones de alto rango según los SCImago, considerando accesibilidad e idioma (inglés, español y portugués). Los datos se analizaron mediante una lista de verificación con seis dimensiones, incluyendo competencias, contenidos y alfabetización informacional (ALFIN), para identificar fortalezas y debilidades. Resultados: Los hallazgos revelan una disparidad. Aunque la mayoría de los sílabos describen adecuadamente los pasos procedimentales de la investigación, fallan en integrar tecnologías modernas y enseñar explícitamente habilidades de ALFIN. Adicionalmente, las bibliografías de los cursos resultaron estar, en su mayoría, desactualizadas y con poca diversidad. Conclusión: Se concluye que es necesario un marco que integre el proceso investigativo con las alfabetizaciones informacional y digital. El MCC propuesto surge como un modelo para subsanar estas deficiencias y elevar la calidad de la educación en investigación.

Soil erosion is a growing environmental problem in arid regions, where land-use changes and landscape fragmentation directly influence land degradation. This study estimated soil loss in the Tarabillas sub-basin, located in the Chihuahuan Desert, Mexico. To this end, the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) was applied and integrated with Geographic Information System (GIS) tools. Landsat TM and OLI satellite imagery were classified through supervised techniques, achieving overall accuracies above 89%. The analysis was supported by comparing erosion patterns associated with land-use changes occurring during the 1990–2021 period, assessed through cross-tabulation matrices and landscape metrics. The results show that although the average erosion potential of the sub-basin remained constant at approximately 12.45 t ha−1 yr−1, erosion redistributed spatially, concentrating in areas where agriculture has replaced natural vegetation. Shrublands and grasslands continue to dominate the high erosion categories due to their wide spatial extent and high erodibility. These findings highlight that fragmented agricultural expansion constitutes the main driver of landscape transformation and soil vulnerability, emphasizing the importance of integrating remote sensing, GIS, and empirical models to support sustainable land management in arid regions.

In the present manuscript, the influence of reaction time on the hexagonal-to-monoclinic phase transition in hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanofibers synthesized via a low-temperature modified hydrothermal method at 100 °C is investigated. The resulting nanofibers were highly crystalline and stoichiometric, with a Ca/P ratio of approximately 1.67. Comprehensive structural and functional characterization, combining X-ray diffraction with Rietveld refinement, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and resonance-tracking piezoresponse force microscopy (RT-PFM), was employed to elucidate the role of the non-centrosymmetric monoclinic P21/b phase in governing HAp's structural and piezoelectric properties. The analyses indicated a time-dependent phase evolution from hexagonal (P63/m) to monoclinic (P21/b), with exclusive formation of the hexagonal phase at 6 h and a clearly dominant monoclinic fraction (73.56%) after 24 h. Nanofibers synthesized for 48 h comprised approximately 98% monoclinic HAp and exhibited elongated morphologies with an average length of 354.82 nm and diameter of 45 nm. RT-PFM measurements confirmed a pronounced piezoelectric response associated with the monoclinic phase, yielding an effective piezoelectric coefficient (deff) of 19.85 pm/V. In vitro MTT assays demonstrated that the high monoclinic content did not compromise biocompatibility, as cell viability and cytotoxicity met the requirements of ISO 10993 and ASTM F895 standards. These findings offer new insights into how monoclinic ordering governs the piezoelectric behavior of HAp and suggest a promising strategy for enhancing its performance in biomedical applications.

Acanthamoeba castellanii, an opportunistic free-living amoeba, causes severe infections including Acanthamoeba keratitis. This exploratory study evaluated whether three non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)-acetylsalicylic acid, ibuprofen, and diclofenac (100 µM)-modulate pathogenicity-related processes in A. castellanii and explored the involvement of a gp63-like protein during encystment and adhesion. Trophozoites were continuously exposed to each drug and analyzed for adhesion, migration on host-derived discontinuous brain micropatterns, encystment efficiency, and parasite-induced cytoskeletal remodeling in MDCK epithelial cells. In silico docking was performed to assess potential drug-protein interactions. Drug exposure reduced adhesion with maximal inhibition at 60 min. After 1 h, migration decreased by 49%, 64%, and 38%, and encystment was reduced by 50%, 85%, and up to 90%, respectively, in cultures treated with acetylsalicylic acid, ibuprofen, and diclofenac. Co-incubation with untreated trophozoites lowered actin fluorescence to approximately 50%, whereas drug-treated co-cultures preserved fluorescence near control levels. Colocalization analysis showed increased spatial overlap between gp63-like protein and F-actin in cysts (~40%) and migrating trophozoites (~20%) compared with non-stimulated forms (~3.8%). Collectively, these findings suggest that NSAID-sensitive pathways influence host interaction, migration, and encystment in A. castellanii and allow for the proposal of gp63-like protein as a putative molecular component of the NSAIDs sensitive pathways.

The prevalence of cholelithiasis in Mexico is high, and cholecystectomy is a very frequent procedure where antimicrobials are employed, being important to sample and culture the bile fluid to identify local susceptibility to antibiotics to avoid complications and reduce antimicrobial resistance. An observational, cross-sectional, prospective study was designed to identify bile fluid flora in patients undergoing cholecystectomy in a secondary-care teaching hospital with identification, sensitivity, and antimicrobial resistance testing. There were 60 patients (47 female and 13 male), which yielded 15 cases with bactibilia. Bacterial identification was Enterococcus faecalis in 6 cases (40%), Escherichia coli in 5 cases (33.3%), Klebsiella pneumoniae in 2 cases (13.3%), and Raoutella planticola and Streptococcus infantarius, each in one patient. E. faecalis, E. coli, R. planticola, and S. infantarius were mostly sensitive to quinolones, whereas K. Pneumoniae was sensitive to carbapenems and tigecycline. Resistance occurred for ampicillin, benzylpenicillin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Based on our local microbial findings, it is proposed that in cases of acute biliary pathology in patients above the seventh decade of life, empirical antibiotic prophylaxis be used and a bile fluid sample be taken before starting gallbladder dissection, for later adjustment of antibiotic therapy.

El objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar de manera sistemática la evidencia científica disponible sobre los determinantes sociales de la salud y su relación con los resultados en salud en madres buscadoras en México. Se realizó una revisión sistemática siguiendo las directrices de la declaración PRISMA 2020. La búsqueda se efectuó en bases de datos nacionales e internacionales durante el período 2020–2025, incluyendo estudios empíricos de enfoque cualitativo, cuantitativo y mixto que abordaran condiciones sociales, económicas, institucionales y contextuales asociadas con la salud de madres buscadoras. El proceso de selección, extracción de datos y evaluación crítica de la calidad metodológica se realizó de forma sistemática. Los resultados evidencian que determinantes como la precariedad económica, la violencia estructural, la revictimización institucional, la sobrecarga emocional, la ruptura de redes de apoyo y las barreras de acceso a servicios de salud se asocian con afectaciones significativas en la salud mental, física y psicosocial, incluyendo ansiedad, depresión, estrés postraumático, somatización y deterioro del bienestar general. Se concluye que los determinantes sociales influyen decisivamente en los resultados en salud de las madres buscadoras, subrayando la necesidad de políticas públicas intersectoriales y de estrategias de atención integral con enfoque de derechos humanos y perspectiva de género.

To evaluate clinical outcomes, treatment response and predictors of seizure freedom after vagus nerve stimulation in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy in a Mexican cohort. We conducted a retrospective multicenter cohort across 13 epilepsy centers in Mexico (2003-2024) including patients aged ≥4 years with drug-resistant epilepsy or epileptic encephalopathy. Treatment response was defined as at least 50% seizure reduction and Engel outcomes. Logistic regression identified predictors of seizure freedom. Model performance was assessed with receiver operating characteristic analysis, area under the curve, Hosmer-Lemeshow test, and a confusion matrix. Ninety-three patients (51 children, 42 adults) were included. At 1 year, median monthly seizure frequency decreased by 82.5% (40-7; p < .001). The incidence of status epilepticus declined by 92.8%, acute prolonged seizures by 80.9%, the burden of antiseizure medications by 25%, and epilepsy-related hospitalizations by 100% (all p < .001). Overall, 68.8% achieved ≥50% reduction and 11.8% became seizure-free. On univariate analysis, comorbidities, multiple seizure types, higher baseline seizure frequency, greater number of antiseizure medications, and magnet use were inversely related to seizure freedom, while normal brain MRI showed a direct relationship. On multivariable analysis, only baseline seizure frequency ≥30/month independently predicted seizure freedom (p = .047), corresponding to 97.7% lower odds. A predictive model incorporating comorbidities and number of antiseizure medications improved discrimination (p < .001) with 86.6% sensitivity and 81.8% specificity. Vagus nerve stimulation was associated with substantial seizure frequency reduction, lower morbidity, and less healthcare utilization, with a favorable safety profile. Baseline seizure burden emerged as the key predictor of seizure freedom and may guide patient selection, supporting earlier vagus nerve stimulation consideration in drug-resistant epilepsy.