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Investigates the relationship between different ecological features of shade and the incidence of coffee berry borer, coffee leaf rust and spontaneous herbs in rustic coffee plantations in Chiapas, Mexico. Estimation of the number of vegetation strata; Discovery of a complex agroforestry system; Correlation of the number of strata of shade vegetation with leaf rust.

People quickly and involuntarily form impressions of others based on their facial physical attributes, which can modulate critical social interactions. Skin pigmentation is one of the most variable and conspicuous facial traits among human populations. Empirical evidence suggests that these variations reflect ancestral ecological selective pressures balancing cutaneous vitamin D synthesis with the protection of the dermis from ultraviolet radiation. Nevertheless, skin pigmentation may currently be subject to additional selective pressures. For instance, the colonial era in Central and South America developed a highly stratified society based on ethnic origins, and light skin pigmentation became associated with higher social status and deference. This association could have originated through historical social learning that promoted favorable social perceptions towards individuals with lighter skin color and unfavorable perceptions towards individuals with darker skin color, which could still be present in the perception of current populations. Facial skin pigmentation is also sexually dimorphic, with males tending to exhibit darker skin than females, a difference that could be driven by sexual selection. To explore whether social learning and sexual selection represent additional selective pressures on skin pigmentation, we tested how this facial trait influences fundamental social perceptions in a Mexican population (N = 700, 489 female). We sampled facial images of eight European American males with natural lighter facial skin and eight males from an indigenous pre-Columbian community from Mexico, the Me'Phaa, with natural darker facial skin. We produced stimuli from these images by varying the skin pigmentation while preserving the facial shape. Stimuli were rated on attractiveness, trustworthiness, perceived health, dominance, aggressiveness, and femininity/masculinity. We found that the natural light-skinned faces were perceived as more attractive, trustworthy, and healthy but less dominant than the natural dark faces. Furthermore, by varying the facial skin color in these original groups, we altered the perceptions of them, mainly their attractiveness. These results partially support the hypothesis that dark facial skin color may help males compete for mates. Also, the results strongly support the view that lighter facial skin color became associated with social benefits through social learning in this Mexican population. Our findings, when viewed through the lens of cultural evolution, align with previous research in social psychology and anthropology. They hold the potential to offer a comprehensive understanding of the origin of this social phenomenon of cultural transmission, which currently plays a role in the formation of racial attitudes, stereotyping, and racial inequality in Mexican and other Latin American populations., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Martínez-Ramírez et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

The gut microbiota-brain axis is a complex communication network essential for host health. Any long-term disruption can affect higher cognitive functions, or it may even result in several chronic neurological diseases. The type and diversity of nutrients an individual consumes are essential for developing the gut microbiota (GM) and the brain. Hence, dietary patterns might influence networks communication of this axis, especially at the age that both systems go through maturation processes. By implementing Mutual Information and Minimum Spanning Tree (MST); we proposed a novel combination of Machine Learning and Network Theory techniques to study the effect of animal protein and lipid intake on the connectivity of GM and brain cortex activity (BCA) networks in children from 5-to 10 years old from an indigenous community in the southwest of México. Socio-ecological conditions in this nonwestern lifestyle community are very homogeneous among its inhabitants but it shows high individual heterogeneity in the consumption of animal products. Results suggest that MST, the critical backbone of information flow, diminishes under low protein and lipid intake. So, under these nonwestern regimens, deficient animal protein and lipid consumption diets may significantly affect the GM-BCA connectivity in crucial development stages. Finally, MST offers us a metric that unifies biological systems of different nature to evaluate the change in their complexity in the face of environmental pressures or disturbances. Effect of Diet on gut microbiota and brain networks connectivity., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Ramírez-Carrillo et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Chagas disease is the neglected tropical disease of greatest public health impact in the United States, where it affects over 300,000 people. Diverse barriers limit healthcare access for affected people; fewer than 1% have obtained testing or treatment. We interviewed 50 people with Chagas disease in Los Angeles, California, and administered a cultural consensus analysis questionnaire. Participants were asked about their experiences and perceptions of Chagas disease, access to healthcare, and strategies for coping with the disease. In participants' narratives, the physical and emotional impacts of the disease were closely interwoven. Participant explanatory models highlight difficulties in accessing care, despite a desire for biomedical treatment. Obtaining testing and treatment for Chagas disease poses substantial challenges for US patients.

Introduction: One of the main goals of ethnomycological studies has been understanding the role of wild edible mushrooms (WEM) in diverse cultures. To accomplish such a purpose, the local knowledge of WEM and their cultural importance have been evaluated and compared using qualitative and quantitative methods. However, few studies have documented these aspects in non-edible mushrooms, because they are considered to be in a category of residual cultural importance. To make up for this lack of investigation, this paper analyzes the traditional knowledge of non-edible mushrooms to understand their cultural role and break it down to its components. The analysis of this topic shows how this knowledge represents a good strategy to prevent mushroom intoxications in humans., Methods: This study was carried out in two communities residing in La Malintzi National Park, Tlaxcala, Mexico. Mushroom species indicated as non-edible were collected during 13 ethnomycological expeditions and seven requests. To get an insight into the local knowledge about these mushrooms, we used ethnographic techniques, 91 free listings and 81 semi-structured interviews., Results: In total, we collected 178 specimens of wild mushrooms recognized as non-edible by locals, which corresponded to 103 species belonging to 45 genera. People who participated in the study had a vast and deep understanding of non-edible mushrooms. For them, the most important species were Amanita muscaria, Neoboletus aff. erythropus, Xerocomellus chrysenteron, and Suillus tomentosus. Two uses were the most mentioned by respondents: as an insecticide and for medicinal purposes. Of note, however, is that A. muscaria was reported as edible years ago. To avoid possible intoxication, all non-edible mushrooms were included in the general category of "poisonous mushrooms." Non-edible species are seen as a cosmogonic counterpart ("twins") of the edible species that they resemble. We obtained 101 specific recognition criteria, useful only when comparing paired species: edible vs non-edible. The most culturally important non-edible groups were differentiated by clear and precise characteristics, which were reflected in the nomenclature and allowed their classification into specific ethnotaxa., Conclusions: We found that non-used resources can be the object of a deep traditional knowledge and have a vast cultural importance. In the case of wild non-edible mushrooms in particular: the species are named; they are the subject of vast traditional knowledge which is based on their edible/non-edible duality; this knowledge is widespread but has limited consensus, there is little lexical retention; and this knowledge is vital to avoid fatal intoxications. In consequence, both deadly species and species that share similarities with the most important edible mushrooms have a high cultural importance.

Background: An ethnomycological study was conducted to describe the fungus concept and the traditional fungus classification system for the Nahuas of San Isidro Buensuceso, in central Mexico. The study which provides information on the co-existence of various forms of classification, based on both cultural and biological characteristics., Methods: The research included conducting community interviews and forest forays in the company of mushroom pickers. The triad technique, pile sorting, and fresh mushroom sampling methods were used. Traditional names were analyzed to describe the Nahua classification system for fungi., Results and Conclusion: The triad technique with non-utilitarian stimuli allowed the fungi to be identified as an independent group of plants and animals. The Nahua people of San Isidro classify fungi primarily based on their use, where they grow, and by humoral characteristics. The analysis of the names revealed a classification based on the criteria proposed by Brent Berlin. This study identified the detailed knowledge of fungi in this Nahua community. The criteria used for the recognition of the species are very reliable, since they use organoleptic, ecological, phenological, and morphological characteristics.

If you think you are in control of your behavior, think again. Evidence suggests that behavioral modifications, as development and persistence of depression, maybe the consequence of a complex network of communication between macro and micro-organisms capable of modifying the physiological axis of the host. Some parasites cause significant nutritional deficiencies for the host and impair the effectiveness of cognitive processes such as memory, teaching or non-verbal intelligence. Bacterial communities mediate the establishment of parasites and vice versa but this complexity approach remains little explored. We study the gut microbiota-parasite interactions using novel techniques of network analysis using data of individuals from two indigenous communities in Guerrero, Mexico. Our results suggest that Ascaris lumbricoides induce a gut microbiota perturbation affecting its network properties and also subnetworks of key species related to depression, translating in a loss of emergence. Studying these network properties changes is particularly important because recent research has shown that human health is characterized by a dynamic trade-off between emergence and self-organization, called criticality. Emergence allows the systems to generate novel information meanwhile self-organization is related to the system's order and structure. In this way, the loss of emergence means a depart from criticality and ultimately loss of health.

In a recent article, Wasserman et al. estimated and forecasted the health and economic impact of switching from the 13-valent (PCV-13) to the 10-valent (PHiD-CV) pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in Mexico's national immunization program. In this response letter, we highlight various methodological inconsistencies and model input considerations that potentially bias the results and further recommendations made by the authors.

Objective: Determinate the frequency and the risk factors for Metabolic Syndrome in adults with diabetes mellitus, Hypertension and without Diabetes- Hypertension., Materials and Methods: We realized a cross-sectional study in patients of both sexes and older than 20 years of the "Hospital General de Zona 1 IMSS" in Colima, Mexico. The variables studied were: age, BMI, waist circumference, cigarette smoking, and family history of diabetes and hypertension, and biochemical parameters, such as glucose, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides., Results: A total of 417 persons were enrolled (170 men and 247 women), with an age average of 53.2 ± 13.4 years (age range, 20 to 86 years). The global frequency of the metabolic syndrome was 52.3 % (56 % in women and 46.4 % in men). While the MS frequency was 50 % in DM2, 42 % in hypertension, 80 % in DM2+hypertension and 28.2 % without DM2 and hypertension. The cigarette smoking frequency was 27.8 %, and it was an important risk factor for the totally of patients with MS, in DM2 and in DM2+hypertension., Conclusions: The frequency of MS in adults was 52.3 %, women were the most affected, and cigarette smoking was the most important risk factor.

Introduction: Body Image (BI) perception could determine the nutritional care search, even though there is not always concordance between the real BMI and the self-perceived one., Objetive: To determine the correlation between self-perceived and real BMI, and their relation with body image (BI) satisfaction in a sample of Mexican adolescents and adults., Subjects and Methods: An cross-sectional and analytical study, conformed by 556 participants; of which 330 were adolescents and 217 were adults with anthropometric, self-perception and BI satisfaction assessment., Results: The BMI was higher 23±6 vs 29.3±5 p<0.001 in adults, which doubled the level of overweight and obesity present in the adolescents 79% vs 43%. About 50% of participants had concordance between their real BMI and their perceived one (p<0.001). Of all adults with overweight and obesity 68% had satisfaction with their BI, whereas the prevalence of satisfaction with the BI in adolescents was 80%. The predictive variables of BI insatisfaction were being an adult, being a woman and having overweight/obesity (p=0.013). Those ones who referred a positive judgment about their BI, they also reported being satisfied with their BI and presented a real normal or overweight BMI., Conclusions: Half of the participants had concordance of their perceived BI with their real BMI. The satisfaction with BI was more frequent between the lower real and perceived BMI, but subjects with overweight and obesity also reported satisfaction with their BI even though it is considered a risk condition., (Copyright AULA MEDICA EDICIONES 2014. Published by AULA MEDICA. All rights reserved.)

Background: Although epidemiologic and socioeconomic criteria and biomedical risk factors indicate high-priority for tuberculosis (TB) control in Mexico, molecular epidemiology studies of the disease in the country are scarce., Methods: Complete sociodemographic and clinical data were obtained from 248 of the 432 pulmonary TB (PTB) cases confirmed from 2006 to 2010 on the population under epidemiological surveillance in the state of San Luis Potosí, México. From most PTB cases with complete data Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) isolates were recovered and their spoligotypes, lineages and families, geographic distribution and drug resistance determined., Results: Pulmonary tuberculosis incidence ranged from 2.4 to 33.4 (cases per 100,000 inhabitants) in the six state sanitary jurisdictions that were grouped in regions of low (jurisdictions I-II-III), intermediate (jurisdictions IV-V) and high incidence (jurisdiction VI) with 6.2, 17.3 and 33.4 rates, respectively. Most patients were poor, 50-years-median-age males and housewives. Among the 237 MTC spoligotyped isolates, 232 corresponded to M. tuberculosis (104 spoligotypes in 24 clusters) and five to M. bovis. The predominant Euro-American lineage was distributed all over the state, the East-Asian lineage (Beijing family) in the capital city, the Indo-Oceanic (Manila family) in eastern localities, and M. bovis in rural localities., Conclusions: In San Luis Potosí TB affects mainly poor male adults and is caused by M. tuberculosis and to a minor extent by M. bovis. There is great genotypic diversity among M. tuberculosis strains, the Euro-American lineage being much more prevalent than the Indo-Oceanic and East-Asian lineages. The frequency of resistant strains is relatively low and not associated to any particular lineage.

Shade-grown coffee is an agricultural system that contains some forest-like characteristics. However, structure and diversity are poorly known in shade coffee systems. In 61 coffee-growers' plots of Chiapas, Mexico, structural variables of shade vegetation and coffee yields were measured, recording species and their use. Coffee stands had five vegetation strata. Seventy seven woody species mostly used as wood were found (mean density 371.4 trees per hectare). Ninety percent were native species (40% of the local flora), the remaining were introduced species, mainly fruit trees/shrubs. Diametric distribution resembles that of a secondary forest. Principal Coordinates Analysis grouped plots in four classes by the presence of Inga, however the majority of plots are diverse. There was no difference in equitability among groups or coffee yields. Coffee yield was 835 g clean coffee per shrub, or ca. 1,668 kg ha-1. There is a significant role of shade-grown coffee as diversity refuge for woody plants and presumably associated fauna as well as an opportunity for shade-coffee growers to participate in the new biodiversity-friendly-coffee market.

The occurrence of Paramphistomum cervi has been reported in Mexico, but its intermediate hosts have not been identified. Five species of snails of the genus Lymnaea, L. bulimoides, L. columella, L. cubensis, L. humilis and L. palustris, were collected in Mexico. Only three of the exposed species, L. palustris, L. cubensis and L. humilis, became infected with P. cervi. The first of these snail species was highly susceptible to infection and a higher number of the exposed snails shed cercariae. It is suggested that L, palustris may act as an important vector of P. cervi in Mexico.