Performing Afro-Mexican Identity: the Racial Politics of Negrito and Devil Dances

In examining the racial dynamics of Mexico, one clearly notices relatively few Mexicans who identify as Black or Afro-Mexican. This paper is therefore concerned with the historical context that forged the racial atmosphere of Mexico today. Mexicans are discouraged to embrace la tercera raíz or the third root of Mexican heritage and identity stemming from Africa. The Mexico of today has been profoundly shaped by this African influence that dates back to the arrival of Cortés and the Spaniards. However important African identify is for understand boarder Mexico, most are reluctant to acknowledge this aspect of their heritage. After centuries of miscegenation, racism and colorism, perhaps the best method to understand the racial politics of Afro-Mexican identity is through studying Negrito and Devil masked performance. Both Afro-Mexican and non-Black communities perform the Devil and Negrito masquerades, respectively. Such performances can be understood as a measuring stick, gauging the broader perception of “blackness” in the country today. Through examining Negrito and Devil masked performance, this paper analyzes the racial politics of Afro-Mexican identity embedded in the country as well as the implication of these depictions have for understanding the racial climate of Mexico today

Disturbance, Defense and Fitness in Silverleaf Nightshade (\u3ci\u3eSolanum elaeagnifolium\u3c/i\u3e) in Their Native Range in South Texas

The role of human disturbance in accelerating weed growth is well understood. While most of these studies have focused on soil mediated disturbance, mowing is also a management practice that could impact weed traits. Using silver leaf nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium), a noxious and invasive weed, we asked whether continuous mowing affects growth and plant defense traits. We found that mowed plants produced significantly less fruits, had lower total seed fitness, but had higher seed mass, and germinated significantly faster. When three common herbivores were allowed to feed on the seedlings; tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta), a generalist Solanaceae caterpillar gained more mass while feeding on seedlings from unmowed plants, while cow pea aphid (Aphis craccivora) a generalist, sustained higher population growth on mowed, suggesting possible negative cross talk between jasmonic acid and salicylic acid defense pathways. Texas Potato Beetle (Leptinotarsa texana), a co-evolved specialist on S. elaeagnifolium did not show any differential feeding effects between the treatments. We also found that specific root length, an indicator of nutrient acquisition and overall foraging efficiency, was significantly higher in seedlings from mowed plants. Taken together, our results show that mowing enhances some growth and defense traits and is possibly producing super weed

Field data on plant growth and insect damage on the noxious weed Solanum eleaegnifolium in an unexplored native range

In this data article, we provide a novel data set on plant growth, insect damage levels, and herbivore community of the noxious and invasive weed Solanum eleaegnifolium (Solanaceae). The data is collected from disturbed and un-disturbed urban populations of the species from one of its unexplored native range in Southern United States (South Texas). The data include plant height measurements, insect damage levels, GPS coordinates of the populations, and their disturbance status. Additional data includes the number of chewing herbivore (specialist herbivore Texas potato beetle (Leptinotarsa texana; Chrysomelidae), their eggs, and any lepidopteran caterpillars found on the plants

Convergence in relationships between leaf traits, spectra and age across diverse canopy environments and two contrasting tropical forests

• Leaf age structures the phenology and development of plants, as well as the evolution of leaf traits over life histories. However, a general method for efficiently estimating leaf age across forests and canopy environments is lacking. • Here, we explored the potential for a statistical model, previously developed for Peruvian sunlit leaves, to consistently predict leaf ages from leaf reflectance spectra across two contrasting forests in Peru and Brazil and across diverse canopy environments. • The model performed well for independent Brazilian sunlit and shade canopy leaves (R2 = 0.75–0.78), suggesting that canopy leaves (and their associated spectra) follow constrained developmental trajectories even in contrasting forests. The model did not perform as well for mid-canopy and understory leaves (R2 = 0.27–0.29), because leaves in different environments have distinct traits and trait developmental trajectories. When we accounted for distinct environment–trait linkages – either by explicitly including traits and environments in the model, or, even better, by re-parameterizing the spectra-only model to implicitly capture distinct trait-trajectories in different environments – we achieved a more general model that well-predicted leaf age across forests and environments (R2 = 0.79). • Fundamental rules, linked to leaf environments, constrain the development of leaf traits and allow for general prediction of leaf age from spectra across species, sites and canopy environments

Efficiency of using electric toothbrush as an alternative to a tuning fork for artificial buzz pollination is independent of instrument buzzing frequency

Background: Breeding programs and research activities where artificial buzz-pollinations are required to have primarily relied upon using tuning forks, and bumble bees. However, these methods can be expensive, unreliable, and inefficient. To find an alternative, we tested the efficiency of pollen collection using electric toothbrushes and compared it with tuning forks at three vibration frequencies—low, medium, and high and two extraction times at 3 s and 16 s- from two buzz—pollinated species (Solanum lycopersicum and Solanum elaeagnifolium). Results: Our results show that species, and extraction time significantly influenced pollen extraction, while there were no significant differences for the different vibration frequencies and more importantly, the use of a toothbrush over tuning fork. More pollen was extracted from S. elaeagnifolium when compared to S. lycopersicum, and at longer buzzing time regardless of the instrument used. Conclusions: Our results suggest that electric toothbrushes can be a viable and inexpensive alternative to tuning forks, and regardless of the instrument used and buzzing frequency, length of buzzing time is also critical in pollen extraction

Comparación de mortalidad en recién nacidos menores de 1000 gramos con esteroides prenatales tempranos

El número de recién nacidos (RN) con un peso al nacimiento extremadamente bajo (≤ 1,000 g) admitidos en las modernas unidades de cuidados intensivos neonatales ha aumentado significativamente en los últimos diez años. Diversos factores se han presentado como desencadenantes de complicaciones importantes que puedan repercutir en el estado clínico del paciente a corto y largo plazo. Objetivo: Comparar la mortalidad de recién nacidos prematuros menores de 1000 gr con administración de esteroide prenatal desde las 23 semanas de gestación con grupo histórico de 2013. Metodología: Se comparó un grupo de estudio conformado por neonatos menores de 1000 gr nacidos en esta institución, en el periodo comprendido de febrero de 2016 a enero 2017 en donde el protocolo de atención de una mujer con parto pretérmino se administró esteroide prenatal a partir de las 23 semanas de gestación contra un grupo histórico (control) de neonatos menores de 1000 g nacidos en esta institución, en el periodo comprendido de 1 de junio de 2013 a 1 de junio 2014 en donde el protocolo de atención de una mujer con parto pretérmino se administraba esteroide prenatal a partir de las 28 semanas de gestación. Resultados: De las principales causas de ingreso a la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Neonatales fueron los diagnósticos de enfermedad membrana hialina grado I. Se diagnosticó con sepsis temprana catorce pacientes en el grupo estudio. No se evidenció diferencia significativa en la mortalidad neonatal entre los dos esquemas de tratamiento. (p=0.661). No hubo asociación significativamente estadística para determinar asociación entre el uso de esteroides y la mortalidad (OR=7.6 y IC 0.746 – 77.431). La tasa de mortalidad de menores de 1000 gr en 2016 de 4.83/1000 NV. La tasa de mortalidad de menores de 1000 gr en 2013 de 3.42/1000 NV. Conclusiones: La mortalidad de los recién nacidos prematuros menores de 1000g no se ve reducida con el uso de esteroides prenatales ya que no se encontró una relación que sea estadísticamente significativa que demuestre dicha relación. Aunque se encontró un aumento de la sobrevida de los pacientes y una mejora en el trofismo de los pacientes llegado a reducirse a menos de un 20% el trofismo bajo

To evaluate the effect of Dashamula Churna Pinda Sweda a touchstone procedure in the management of Vatakantaka

Vatakantaka is disease of foot and heel with Kantakavat Vedana. Vatakantaka is non fatal common condition which makes life miserable due to pain. When Vata gets vitiated due to walking long distance, excessive strain, walking on uneven surface, the vitiated Vata dosha gets accumulated in Khuddal pradesha (ankle) and causes pain as if pricked by thorn. Hence termed as Vatakantaka. Vatakantaka can be co-related to Calcaneal spur in modern parlance. Calcaneal spur is a pointed bony growth on calcaneus bone. The incidence of calcaneal spur in normal population is 15.5%. And in South Indian population it is 59% of which 60% are female. Here 10 cases of Vatatakantaka vis-a-vis Calcaneal spur were subjected to Dashamula Churna Pinda Sweda for 7 days, followed by Nirgundi Guggulu for 30 days. Patients showed significant results in subjective and objective parameters

Análise da influência dos estilos de liderança dos professores no aproveitamento escolar no ensino primário na cidade de Maputo: o caso da Escola Primária da Coop

Dissertação de Mestrado em Administração e Gestão da EducaçãoThe main concern of these studies is to analyze the way how the leadership of teachers influences the pedagogical achievement of the students. The development of this study was a methodological triangulation in which the data were collected through the use of the following techniques: direct observation in the classroom, conducting interviews with the teachers and with the direction of Coop elementary school, administration of questionnaires to teachers and students. Their results show that the School Board and teachers betting on Democratic leadership and teamwork, the school has a favourable working climate, and a good environment for learning, there is sharing of values and life experiences of teachers with each other and with studentsO estudo analisa a forma como a liderança dos professores influencia no aproveitamento escolar dos alunos. Para a realização deste estudo recorreu-se a, uma triangulação metodológica na qual os dados foram recolhidos através do uso das seguintes técnicas: observação directa na sala de aulas, condução de entrevistas com os professores e com a Direcção da Escola Primária da Coop, administração de questionários aos professores e alunos. Os seus resultados apontam que, a Direcção da escola e os professores apostam na liderança Democrática e no trabalho em equipa, a escola possui um clima de trabalho favorável, e um bom ambiente para aprendizagem, há partilha dos valores e experiências de vida de professores entre si e com os aluno