Polytechnic University of San Luis Potosí

Abstract Chayote [ Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw.] is a vegetable with increasing export potential, cultivated in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, India, China, Japan, and more recently, in several European countries. The fruit is primarily consumed at its horticultural maturity stage. This species displays high morphological variability in terms of shape, size, color, and ripening indices. Despite its growing international trade relevance, current regulatory standards such as CODEX STAN 216–1999 and NMX-FF-047-1996 do not include nine commercially important varieties. To support the development and updating of standardization and metrology parameters, a comprehensive evaluation was conducted. This included morphometric traits, nutritional composition, health indicators, fruit color, shape, size, weight, firmness, presence of spines, germination behavior, physical defects, total soluble solids (TSS), ascorbic acid content, proximate analysis, and flavor profile. All fruits were obtained from a uniform agroclimatic origin using statistically representative sampling. The results revealed significant quantitative differences among varieties, supporting the need to revise and expand existing quality standards. Standardized maximum, average, and minimum values were established for key parameters including fruit type (A, B, C, D), size grade, commercial category (Extra, I, II, III), caliber-weight classification (B, M, S, VS), color metrics (L*, Chroma, Hue), mineral content (with and without epidermis), minimum biochemical thresholds, flavor (neutral, sweet, bitter), germination capacity, harvest index, and defect typology. This study provides the technical foundation to update current norms and to regulate the quality of Sechium edule fruits, particularly for varieties not currently recognized in international standards, thereby enhancing their access to global markets.

Zacatecas is a Mexican state from where there are few studies about biodiversity, venomous ophidians and people's experience of snakebites. In the state, there are 12 species of venomous snakes distributed in three genera: Crotalus, Micruroides and Micrurus, which could represent some risk for the locals. The objective of this study was to make use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and programming to determine the relationship between population variables and the number of snakebites registered by the Zacatecas Health Services (SSZ) from 2007 to 2017 at the municipal level. Climatic, social and biological variables were used to gain a better understanding of the situation. It was found that men working in livestock breeding, agriculture, subsistence hunting or mining are more vulnerable, especially if older than 65. The municipalities of Concepción del Oro, Villa de Cos, El Plateado de Joaquín Amaro, Loreto and Ojocaliente exhibit the highest risk, while special monitoring must be conducted in Guadalupe, Fresnillo and Zacatecas due to their high population density, as well as in Valparaíso on account of its rich venomous ophidian fauna. Additionally, it is suggested to carry out preventive actions and detailed data gathering about snakebites to guarantee information quality. This study constitutes the first formal, detailed work about the epidemiological panorama of envenoming caused by the bite of a snake (ophidiotoxicosis) in Zacatecas from which further investigation and modelling may derive.

Arboviruses can be transmitted by Anophelinae (Anopheles genus) or Culicinae (Aedes and Culex genera) mosquitoes. Ecological and sociodemographic factors such as urbanisation, poverty, access to health systems and social inequality determine vector density and risk of disease transmission. Effective surveillance of vectors and arboviruses is crucial for guiding public health strategies. We developed a low-cost molecular approach integrating mosquito and arbovirus surveillance and assessed its performance during 2021 in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Our approach incorporates an innovative mosquito trap (Yoy trap), an ITS2-based mosquito molecular taxonomy assay and the use of FTA card preservation of arboviral RNA. A total of 16,319 mosquitoes were collected, Culex spp. genus being the most abundant (63.3%) followed by Aedes spp. (26.6%) and Anopheles spp. (4.7%). Our approach allowed us to characterise mosquito population dynamics including the centripetal expansion of mosquito range from city outskirts to urban areas. Viral RNA screening of 124 FTA cards identified the presence of four arboviruses in mosquitoes of the city of San Luis Potosi: DENV (6.5%), ZIKV (5.6%), CHIKV (1.6%) and WNV (3.2%). This surveillance system detected DENV in mosquitoes 7 weeks prior to the first reported human case, further supporting the public health benefits deriving from the adoption of similar innovative, low-cost and robust surveillance systems.

This study aimed to synthesize and characterize cassava starch-based (S) scaffolds functionalized with decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) and isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) for wound healing. The scaffolds were synthesized via the casting method and evaluated for physicochemical, mechanical, and morphological properties, as well as ISDN release and hemocompatibility. Swelling and degradation tests revealed a biphasic behavior, with high water absorption followed by controlled degradation. The ISDN release followed a biphasic pattern, fitting the Korsmeyer-Peppas model. Hemolysis tests confirmed biocompatibility, with hemolysis levels below 2%. Among the formulations, the scaffold containing 12.5% ECM and 40 mg ISDN exhibited optimal mechanical stability, controlled drug release, and biocompatibility. These findings suggest that starch/ECM/ISDN scaffolds hold potential for wound healing applications. Further studies should focus on in vivo evaluation and cytotoxicity assessments to confirm their clinical applicability.

The standard Feynman rules used for perturbative calculations in quantum chromodynamics (QCD) are derived from a Lagrangian that is first-order in derivatives. It includes a three-point quark-gluon vertex which obscures the precise disentangled manner in which spin and momentum are interchanged during these interactions. An unambiguous understanding of this interchange is insightful for efficiently extracting physically relevant information from various Green’s functions. To separate the scalar and spin degrees of freedom and gain physical insight from the outset, we examine the quark-gluon vertex using the less commonly employed second-order formalism of QCD. We compute this off-shell vertex in arbitrary space-time dimensions and covariant gauges by using scalar integrals with shifted dimensions, which include higher powers of the propagators, within a combined first- and second-order formalism. This approach naturally identifies the transverse components of the quark-gluon vertex, even before evaluating the tensor Feynman integrals. Our results are in complete agreement with those obtained from the first-order formalism. We also compute the on-shell version of this vertex using exclusively the second-order formalism, facilitating a precise identification of spin and momentum interchange. Through analyzing the Pauli form factor at k2=0 (where k represents the momentum of the external gluon), we find that only a specific set of second-order Feynman diagrams are relevant for calculating the electromagnetic and chromomagnetic dipole moments. These diagrams represent quantum processes in which the spin of the incoming quark changes only once due to interactions with the virtual gluons that form the quark-gluon vertex. All other interactions involve only momentum interchange (scalar interactions). Furthermore, we confirm existing results in the literature, which suggest that defining the chromomagnetic dipole moment in the limit k2→0 leads to infrared divergences. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

Introduction.The transition process of the Delegation of Villa de Pozos into a Free Municipality represented a milestone in the political and territorial history of San Luis Potosí. This transformation brought various challenges for its inhabitants, including legislative modifications, territorial reorganization, and changes in public administration. With more than 100,000 residents, Villa de Pozos underwent an evolution that culminated in its consolidation as the 59th municipality of the state.Development: Since its foundation in 1592, Villa de Pozos played a crucial role in the local economy as a benefit hacienda. Over the centuries, its political status changed multiple times, transitioning from a congregation to a municipality at different points in the 19th century. In 1946, its municipal status was abolished, and it was incorporated as a delegation of the municipality of San Luis Potosí. Starting in 1995, multiple attempts were made to regain its municipal status, but it was not until 2024, through Decree 1074, that its reinstatement as a Free Municipality was formally recognized.Conclusion:The creation of the Free Municipality of Villa de Pozos marked the culmination of a historic struggle for administrative and territorial autonomy. Despite governance and development challenges, the transition opened the door to a municipal administration with greater capacity to manage its own resources. With the appointment of a Municipal Council, Villa de Pozos embarked on a new stage in its institutional development, committed to strengthening its political and social structures.