Search

To understand urbanization across the Global South, it is indispensable to consider situated heterogeneous urban situations shaped by global and local forces and their intersections. In the case of Mexico, the political and economic desire for globalization has extended beyond the great metropolis of Mexico City to mid-size cities triggering the formulation of their own urban strategies to become global. This paper explores the connections between neoliberal public policy, globalization, urban modeling, and socio-territorial sustainability in the territorial binomial of the city of Puebla and the municipality of San Andrés Cholula in the period of 2011–2017 and its current consequences, addressed by the local planning route map, and informed by the Orange Economy-guide of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), using relevant bibliographical sources, mapping, interviews of stakeholders, and fieldwork. The ultimate purpose of the research project described herein is to provide a multi-dimensional analysis of the development of the territorial situation of the Puebla-San Andrés Cholula-urban binomial, and of its current and potential future consequences, offering supporting information for its urban planning. The research results exposed here reveal urban modeling processes informed by the Global North urban globalization theory, development of global cities in the Global South, local socio-territorial dynamics characterized by economic and political interests imprinted in the public policy, and socio-territorial patterns inherited from the colonial past, resulting in socio-economic and racial discrimination, population displacements, real estate speculation, and risking ecological and environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of a cross-sectional study on adolescents' behavioral and emotional reactions during and immediately after the 2017 Puebla earthquake that occurred in Mexico City. Convenience sampling was used to achieve a sample size of n = 362. Some of the key findings are as follows: a) some 57.0% of adolescent women and over 60.0% of men "ran out of the building" during the earthquake; only 17.4% of women and 14.2% of men took shelter. Early and late adolescent women were significantly associated with building "evacuation" immediately after the earthquake. b) Early and late adolescent men were "surprised" by the earthquake occurrence. c) The perceived vulnerability of the city (PVC) was significantly associated with men but not with women. d) Adolescents exhibited strong information-seeking behavior regarding seismic risk. The results of the study highlight a lack of adolescents' preparedness for earthquakes in terms of the protective actions taken during the ground shaking and knowledge of the functioning of the Mexican seismic alert system. An educational program aimed at better educating and preparing adolescents for a seismic emergency should be implemented in preparatory schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid changes in geotechnical and geological ground conditions lead to significant ground motion variability. This condition mainly occurs at the so-called basin edges, where there is an abrupt transition between soft highly compressible soils and stiffer materials. This problem becomes more relevant in areas where ground subsidence drastically changes the dynamic response of high plasticity clay deposits, such as those found in Mexico City, due to fundamental site period evolution with time. This paper presents site response analyses at an abrupt transition area in the southeast Mexico City region, along the edges of the Xochimilco-Chalco lakes. Considerable damage associated with three-dimensional wave propagation effects was observed in this zone during the September 2017 Puebla-Mexico earthquake. A series of three-dimensional finite difference numerical models of the basin edge were developed to evaluate ground motion variability, considering topographic effects and soil non-linearities. Good agreement between the computed response and the observed damage during the 2017 Puebla-Mexico earthquake reconnaissance was found. In addition, several normal and subduction events with a return period of 250 years were considered to evaluate the effect that frequency content, and strong ground motion duration have on the soil response variability. From the results gathered here, it was established the relevance of accounting for three-dimensional wave propagation fields to assess site effects at basin-edge zones properly and to be able to implement proper risk mitigation measurements at these zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starting with the destructive 1985 Michoacan Mw 8·0 earthquake, the lake zone of Mexico City has been experiencing ground motions bearing the effects of strong soil amplification at specific site-dependent periods. Last year's Mw = 7·1 Puebla earthquake, although less damaging, with different orientation and mechanism, and at a much shorter distance than the 1985 event, nevertheless produced records bearing similar soil amplification effects and even rather similar motions on rock. This paper concentrates on four sites, distinguished mainly by the thickness of the soft clay, on which three to seven seismic events (with Mw > 6·5) have been recorded. Using the corresponding records on two hilly zone sites as base rock motions, amplification functions in terms of ratios of top-over-base recorded acceleration response spectra are studied. Although the dominant periods of each amplification function confirm the occurrence of resonance at the fundamental natural period of each particular soil stratum, differences between the amplification functions of the east–west and north–south components are evident. Using the actual soil profile of two of these stations, along with the G:γ and ξ:γ curves from the general literature and from site-specific measurements, one-dimensional wave propagation analyses are conducted. Reasonable agreement with the records is generally found in terms of response spectra. However, weak motions recorded in some events (where soil behaved essentially linearly) exhibit a number of beating cycles which last for almost one additional minute beyond 60 s, and which are barely noticeable in the computed motions. An oversimplified (in geometry and properties) two-dimensional basin, 6 km long, containing 60 m of Mexico City clay, is analysed with finite elements, excited by the rock outcrop hilly zone records. Wave propagation in this basin reveals the generation of Rayleigh waves at the edge, which move towards the centre and interfere with the incident and reflected S and P waves. The resulting motions away from the edge resemble the recorded motions at the CAO site in a 1999 earthquake better than the one-dimensional analysis, but are still far from satisfactorily reproducing the beating. An additional factor to qualitatively explain reality is generically examined: the oscillations of a tall (15-storey) building and the feedback of its free oscillations into the ground (soil–building–soil interaction) are found to increase free-field accelerations slightly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the opportunities and challenges of public space management (PSM) in the Mexican context by analysing the perspectives of different governance actors. Issues in the PSM literature include ineffective political decisions, prevalence of the private sector, lack of coordination between government institutions, and a need for more effective social participation. While most PSM studies focus on European cities, empirical PSM knowledge in the Latin American context is scarce. To address this gap, this research elucidates the Mexican context by investigating and adapting a PSM framework in Mexico City and Puebla. The case study research is based on qualitative document research and interview analysis from four groups of governance actors: government officials, academics, NGOs, and architecture/urban planning firms. We found multiple PSM challenges: uncoordinated efforts in the maintenance of public space, lack of and polarisation of investment, and privatisation of public space. At the intra-governmental level, the research identified a lack of coordination between government institutions, increasing reliance on the private sector, and limited opportunities for residents to participate in PSM processes. The paper highlights missing links between existing governance actors involved in PSM and wider residents, in the pursuit of the ambitious role of achieving public space quality. • Public Space Management theory contrasts with the reality in the Mexican context. • Governments rely on the private sector for the development of public spaces. • Limited opportunities for local residents to participate in Public Space Management processes • Awareness is needed among governance actors on the management of public spaces. • Lack of transparency in publicly available data affects how public spaces are managed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sediments underneath Mexico City have unique mechanical properties that give rise to strong site effects. We investigated temporal changes in the seismic velocity at strong-motion and broadband seismic stations throughout Mexico City, including sites with different geologic characteristics ranging from city center locations situated on lacustrine clay to hillside locations on volcanic bedrock. We used autocorrelations of urban seismic noise, enhanced by waveform clustering, to extract subtle seismic velocity changes by coda wave interferometry. We observed and modeled seasonal, co- and post-seismic changes, as well as a long-term linear trend in seismic velocity. Seasonal variations can be explained by self-consistent models of thermoelastic and poroelastic changes in the subsurface shear wave velocity. Overall, sites on lacustrine clay-rich sediments appear to be more sensitive to seasonal surface temperature changes, whereas sites on alluvial and volcaniclastic sediments and on bedrock are sensitive to precipitation. The 2017 Mw 7.1 Puebla and 2020 Mw 7.4 Oaxaca earthquakes both caused a clear drop in seismic velocity, followed by a time-logarithmic recovery that may still be ongoing for the 2017 event at several sites or that may remain incomplete. The slope of the linear trend in seismic velocity is correlated with the downward vertical displacement of the ground measured by interferometric synthetic aperture radar, suggesting a causative relationship and supporting earlier studies on changes in the resonance frequency of sites in the Mexico City basin due to groundwater extraction. Our findings show how sensitively shallow seismic velocity and, in consequence, site effects react to environmental, tectonic and anthropogenic processes. They also demonstrate that urban strong-motion stations provide useful data for coda wave monitoring given sufficiently high-amplitude urban seismic noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• WFS buildings designed with NTCS-1976 have premature loss of lateral strength capacity. • Buildings designed with NTCS-1976 are prone to develop a weak first-storey mechanism. • New approach of the NTCS-2017 avoids first-storey drift concentration along the height. • WFS buildings designed with NTCS-2017 might still exceed seems to limit first-storey drifts below 0.6%. This paper presents the main results of an investigation focused on evaluating the new seismic design requirements for weak first-story reinforced concrete (RC) buildings prescribed in the 2017 edition of the Technical Norms for Seismic Design (NTCS-2017) for Mexico City. To provide a context, the seismic response of a family of low-to-medium height buildings designed with the updated NTCS-2017 was compared with that of counterpart's buildings designed with the 1976 old edition of the NTCS (NTCS-1976). All building models where subjected to a set of earthquake ground motions recorded at the transition and soft soil sites during the recent strong intermediate-depth intraslab September 19, 2017 (M w = 7.1) Puebla-Morelos earthquake, which caused significant structural damage to this type of buildings. Results from this investigation revealed that the requirements for weak first-storey RC buildings change the distribution of peak interstorey drift, IDR , along height, which avoids a concentration of IDR at the first-story. In addition, they delay the formation of a weak first-storey mechanism. This study also exhibited that weak first-storey RC buildings designed with old seismic provisions are susceptible to experience moderate-to-severe structural damage under strong normal-faulting intraslab earthquakes, which is consistent with field reconnaissance of damaged buildings after the September 19, 2017 (M w = 7.1) Puebla-Morelos earthquake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the approach to the conservation of a Spanish-style saddle and anquera (rump cover) from Mexico City and Puebla, Mexico, respectively. The objects were originally bought by an English explorer for a journey and are described in his book. The saddle and anquera are made from vegetable-tanned cowhide with punched and embroidered decoration and metal fittings. The condition, of the leather was assessed scientifically. It exhibits a number of conservation problems, notably surface deterioration and detachment of several sections due to acid attack. Previous conservation treatments have caused the leather to become overstuffed with dressing, resulting in a weakening of the substrate. The conservation ofthe saddle will involve four main stages: removal of excess dressing, stabilization of the leather, consolidation of the friable surface and repair of torn and broken areas. The suitability of various stabilizing agents, consolidants and methods of application was evaluated using mechanical tests alone and accelerated aging and mechanical tests. Naturall y aged and degraded leather was used as an experimental substrate. The results were used to formulate the approach to the conservation of the saddle and anquera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A Summary of typical seismic performance and failure modes of massive URM buildings. • A Summary of typical seismic behavior and failure mechanisms of URM bell-towers. • Overview of the September 19, 2017 (M w = 7.1) Puebla-Morelos EQ and seismic risk. • Observed damage description in URM buildings in Puebla, Morelos and Mexico City. • Practical applications of seismic rehabilitation/retrofitting of damaged Churches. Unreinforced masonry is one of the main construction materials used in the edification of most historical buildings around the world. This is due to its availability in nature, low-cost benefits and durability. Churches and bell towers were built to mainly withstand vertical loading induced by self-weight, disregarding the lateral performance mainly by the limitations of masonry. These massive structures present poor seismic performance due to the low tensile strength of masonry, lack of structural integrity, elevated seismic forces and heterogeneity. The last plays an important role in the in-plane and out-of-plane behavior/failure by anisotropy. This paper is aimed at presenting post-earthquake investigations in damaged Churches and bell towers by the September 19, 2017 (M w = 7.1) Puebla-Morelos Earthquake which damaged thousands of historical buildings. These buildings presented partial and total collapses in façades, domes, vaults, arches and bell towers. The structural vulnerability, combination of materials, large openings and reduced vertical loading at top parts of belfries induced a rapid propagation of heavy damage which ended in brittle collapses. The widespread damage was induced by the missing compatibility of deformations and integrity among structural elements/materials and previous damages. These post-earthquake observations are aimed at identifying the behavior/failure of these buildings to propose practical intervention measures. The most suitable retrofitting materials/strategies were identified as practical applications for walls, bell towers, domes, vaulted covers and timber roofs/slabs to increase the displacement/strength capability by inducing more ductile failure with increased EQ energy dissipation through the enhanced hysteretic behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Qualitative research on cancer patients' survivor-identity and lived experiences in low- and middle-income countries is scarce. Our study aimed at exploring the concept and experience of survivorship for Mexicans living with breast, cervical, and prostate cancer.Methods: We conducted a qualitative study in Mexico City, Morelos, Nuevo León, and Puebla. The participants were breast, cervical, and prostate cancer patients ≥18 years of age with completed primary cancer treatment. Data were collected via in-depth interviews and analyzed using an inductive thematic approach.Results: The study included 22 participants with a history of breast, 20 cervical, and 18 prostate cancer. Participants accepted the term "cancer survivor" as a literal interpretation of being alive, medical confirmation of treatment completion, or achievement of a clinical result possibly indicative of cure. The majority of respondents perceived that the future is out of their control and under God's will. They linked cure to divine intervention and did not demonstrate the sense of empowerment that is often associated with the survivorship term. The principal themes of their narratives encompass: 1) adverse physical and sexual experiences; 2) emotional problems; 3) cancer-related stigma; 4) challenges to obtaining health-related information; 5) financial hardship; and 6) experience of strengthening family ties in order to provide them with support. In addition, women with breast cancer reported distress caused by changes in body image and positive experience with support groups.Conclusion: In Mexico, cancer patients report complex survivorship experiences that demand post-treatment follow-up and support. There is the need to implement comprehensive, culturally-relevant survivorship programs focused on emotional, informational, and in-kind support and empowerment of cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]