Micro-regional planning: evidence-based community buy-in for health development in five of Mexico’s poorest rural districts

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Community participation was a core tenet of Primary Health Care as articulated in the 1970s. How this could be generated and maintained was less clear. This historical article describes development of protocols for evidence-based community mobilisation in five local administrative units (<it>municipios</it>) in the Mexican state of Guerrero between 1992 and 1995.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A sample of five to eight sentinel sites represented each of the most impoverished municipalities of the poorest five of the state's seven regions. A 1992 baseline survey of diarrhoea and its actionable determinants provided the substrate for discussion with local planners and communities. Municipal planners used different strategies to promote participation. In one municipality, new health committees took control of water quality. In another, municipal authorities hired health promoters; a song promoted oral rehydration, and house-to-house interpersonal discussions promoted chlorination. In the poorest and most mountainous municipality, <it>radio casera</it> (home-made radio) soap operas used local "stars". In the largest and most disparate municipality, a child-to-family scheme relied on primary and secondary school teachers. The research team assessed outcomes at intervals and used the results to reinforce local planning and action.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Diarrhoea rates declined in all five municipalities, and there were several positive intermediate outcomes from the communication strategies – changing knowledge, household practices and uptake of services. There was a strong link between specific contents of the communication package and the changing knowledge or practices.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Apart from these evidence-based interventions, other factors probably contributed to the decline of childhood diarrhoea. But, by monitoring implementation of planning decisions and the impact this has at community level, micro-regional planning can stimulate and reinforce actions likely to improve the health of communities. The process empowered municipalities to get access to more resources from the state government and international agencies.</p

Crecimiento y eficiencia de fósforo de algunas leguminosas cultivadas en arena regada con soluciones nutritivas con fosfatos inorgánicos de hierro y calcio

Algunas especies de plantas tienen la capacidad de producir exudados radicales que contribuyen a liberar el fósforo de enlaces inorgánicos. En este sentido se realizó la presente investigación para evaluar el crecimiento, la variación de pH inducida por las raíces y la eficiencia de uso (EUP) y absorción del P (EAP), durante la fase de crecimiento vegetativo temprano en plantas de caraota, frijol y desmodio, cultivadas en arena bajo condiciones de deficiencia inducida por la baja solubilidad natural de fosfatos de hierro (Fe-P) y calcio (Ca-P). Se sembraron 30 plantas por especie y tratamiento de riego y cada tres días durante la fase de crecimiento exponencial se cosecharon al azar 3 plantas para pesos secos, área foliar y análisis de P-total en el último muestreo. Los resultados indican que estas leguminosas pueden acceder y utilizar con una eficiencia variable el P del Ca-P pero a diferencia del quinchoncho (utilizado como comparador), la capacidad acceder P del Fe-P es muy restingida, lo cual se evidenció en un menor crecimiento de raíces y área foliar que determinaron un menor índice de crecimiento relativo (ICR) de la biomasa total. Las variaciones de pH reflejaron los cambios en la rizósfera como consecuencia de exudados radicales y absorción desigual de iones. Aunque la EUP fue mayor en Fe-P , el frijol tuvo la menor EAP con Ca-P pero la mayor EUP y el desmodio mostró la combinación deseable de elevadas EAP y EUP. El quinchoncho tuvo una EAP similar en presencia de las tres formas de P pero una EUP elevada en Fe-P. La combinación de estrategias de crecimiento con las de eficiencia de uso y absorción de P podrían ampliar las posibilidades de realizar una selección acertada de genotipos tolerantes a la deficiencia de P en suelos marginales

Respuestas de escape a la sombra en Rottboellia exaltata y Leptochloa filiformis (Gramineae-Poaceae)

Para el control integrado de malezas es muy importante el efecto de la sombra entre malezas y cultivo por lo que se evaluó el efecto de la calidad y cantidad (Densidad de Flujo Fotónico, DFF 400-700 nm) de la sombra sobre dos especies de malezas que conviven con el cultivo de caña de azúcar (Saccharum spp. híbrido). Las plantas, en grupos de 10 sembradas en macetas con suelo, se colocaron dentro de gabinetes de vegetación cubiertos con papel celofán de colores rojo, azul y verde y un tercer grupo sin cubrir, todos colocados al aire libre plena exposición solar (alta DFF), mientras que un cuarto grupo se colocó bajo un cobertizo con sombra neutra de baja DFF. Se determinó la tramitancia (A=- log T) del papel celofán mediante barrido espectrofotométrico de 380 a 800 nm (calidad de la radiación). Los efectos de la sombra se compararon para cada especie por separado (análisis no paramétrico de Kruskal-Wallis) cuando las plantas en alguno de los cinco ambientes mostraron síntomas visibles de deterioro. Los resultados se discuten con base a las estrategias de cada especie para escapar a la sombra en cuanto a producción de biomasa, macollamiento, área foliar, altura y floración. Esto permitió inferir una aclimatación diferencial a la sombra en las dos especies siendo más sensible L. filiformis que, a diferencia de R. exaltata, podría ser controlada por el cierre del dosel del cultivo. La respuesta de escape a la sombra de esta última podría explicar la mayor capacidad competitiva con caña de azúcar en condiciones de cultivo

Cooking fish and drinking milk? Patterns in pottery use in the southeastern Baltic, 3300–2400 cal BC

yesA study of pottery vessel contents and use was undertaken in order to obtain information on food processed in Subneolithic and Neolithic vessels from Nida and Šventoji (3300–2400 cal BC). The aim is to assess pottery use during major changes in the coastal environment and in material culture. Bulk carbon and nitrogen isotope, lipid biomarker and compound specific carbon isotope analysis was undertaken on ‘foodcrusts’, charred deposits adhering to vessel surfaces, and absorbed residues from different vessel types. In addition, three archaeological seal bones were analysed for bulk collagen and compound specific carbon isotope analysis to establish collagen-lipid offsets to inform interpretation of the data. The results show that the majority of the vessels were used for processing aquatic products. At Nida the data suggest exploitation of freshwater resources and, in the later stages of occupation, dairying. Analysis of a small number of Subneolithic vessels from Šventoji produced results that are also consistent with processing of aquatic products. Other substances identified include Pinaceae sp. resin or tar and beeswax. These data demonstrate that identifying patterns in pottery use contributes to understanding Neolithisation processes

Chemical analysis of pottery demonstrates prehistoric origin for high-altitude alpine dairying

The European high Alps are internationally renowned for their dairy produce, which are of huge cultural and economic significance to the region. Although the recent history of alpine dairying has been well studied, virtually nothing is known regarding the origins of this practice. This is due to poor preservation of high altitude archaeological sites and the ephemeral nature of transhumance economic practices. Archaeologists have suggested that stone structures that appear around 3,000 years ago are associated with more intense seasonal occupation of the high Alps and perhaps the establishment of new economic strategies. Here, we report on organic residue analysis of small fragments of pottery sherds that are occasionally preserved both at these sites and earlier prehistoric rock-shelters. Based mainly on isotopic criteria, dairy lipids could only be identified on ceramics from the stone structures, which date to the Iron Age (ca. 3,000 - 2,500 BP), providing the earliest evidence of this practice in the high Alps. Dairy production in such a marginal environment implies a high degree of risk even by today’s standards. We postulate that this practice was driven by population increase and climate deterioration that put pressure on lowland agropastoral systems and the establishment of more extensive trade networks, leading to greater demand for highly nutritious and transportable dairy products

Social Perception of the Residents of Olón, Montañita, and Valdivia as a Conditioning Factor in the Satisfaction of Tourists

This research aims to understand the social perception of the communities of Olón, Montañita, and Valdivia in the sociocultural, socio-territorial, and socio-cognitive dimensions, as a determining factor in the satisfaction of national and foreign tourists in terms of destination, service, and infrastructure. The design is nonexperimental, with a correlational scope and a mixed approach. Data collection techniques used were a semi-structured interview with 24 residents and a survey of 396 residents and 396 tourists. STATIS Dual and MPLS (multiway partial least squares) were the software used for the treatment of quantitative information. It was determined that the social perception in the three communes was relatively similar, the sociocultural dimension being the best scored for being linked to the tourist development of Olón and Montañita. Whereas a significant difference was observed between the communes in terms of tourist satisfaction, placing Montañita as the leader in all dimensions of the variable, followed by Olón and Valdivia. With an adjustment of 69%, the MPLS model was directly related to the variables, implying that any change in the perception of the residents affects the satisfaction of tourists. Keywords: tourist satisfaction, social perception, spondylus route. Resumen El objetivo de esta investigación es conocer la percepción social de las comunidades de Olón, Montañita y Valdivia en las dimensiones socio cultural, socio territorial y socio cognitivo, como condicionante en la satisfacción de los turistas nacionales y extranjeros en cuanto al destino, servicio e infraestructura. El diseño es no experimental, de alcance correlacional y enfoque mixto; como técnicas de recolección de datos se utilizaron: entrevista semi estructurada a 24 residentes y, encuesta a 396 residentes y 396 turistas. Para el tratamiento de la información cuantitativa se utilizaron software STATIS Dual y MPLS (Multiway partial least squares). Se determinó que la percepción social en las tres comunas es relativamente similar, siendo la dimensión socio cultural la mejor puntuada por encontrarse ligada al desarrollo turístico de Olón y Montañita; mientras que, existe diferencia significativa entre las comunas en cuanto a satisfacción de los turistas, colocando a Montañita como líder en todas las dimensiones de la variable, seguida de Olón y Valdivia. Con un ajuste de 69%, el modelo MPLS relacionó directamente las variables, implicando que cualquier cambio en la percepción de los residentes incide sobre la satisfacción de los turistas. Palabras Clave: satisfacción del turista, percepción social, ruta spondylus

Effect of high-pressure torsion on microstructure, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of cast pure Mg

© 2018, The Author(s). High-pressure torsion (HPT) processing was applied to cast pure magnesium, and the effects of the deformation on the microstructure, hardness, tensile properties and corrosion resistance were evaluated. The microstructures of the processed samples were examined by electron backscatter diffraction, and the mechanical properties were determined by Vickers hardness and tensile testing. The corrosion resistance was studied using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in a 3.5% NaCl solution. The results show that HPT processing effectively refines the grain size of Mg from millimeters in the cast structure to a few micrometers after processing and also creates a basal texture on the surface. It was found that one or five turns of HPT produced no significant difference in the grain size of the processed Mg and the hardness was a maximum after one turn due to recovery in some grains. Measurements showed that the yield strength of the cast Mg increased by about seven times whereas the corrosion resistance was not significantly affected by the HPT processing

Matter effects in neutrino visible decay at future long-baseline experiments

Neutrino visible decay in the presence of matter is re-evaluated. We study these effects in two future long-baseline experiments where matter effects are relevant: DUNE (1300 km) and a hypothetical beam aimed towards ANDES (7650 km). We find that matter effects are negligible for the visible component of neutrino decay at DUNE, being much more relevant at ANDES. We perform a detailed simulation of DUNE, considering $\nu_\mu$ disappearance and $\nu_e$ appearance channels, for both FHC and RHC modes. The sensitivity to the decay constant $\alpha_3$ can be as low as $2\times10^{-6}$ eV$^2$ at 90% C.L., depending on the neutrino masses and type of coupling. We also show the impact of neutrino decay in the determination of $\theta_{23}$ and $\delta_{\rm CP}$, and find that the best-fit value of $\theta_{23}$ can move from a true value at the lower octant towards the higher octant.Comment: 18 pages; v2: Minor changes, version accepted for publication in EPJ