Metabolomics uses high-resolution mass spectrometry to provide a chemical fingerprint of thousands of metabolites present in cells, tissues or body fluids. Such metabolic phenotyping has been successfully used to study various biologic processes and disease states. High-resolution metabolomics can shed new light on the intricacies of host-parasite interactions in each stage of the Plasmodium life cycle and the downstream ramifications on the host’s metabolism, pathogenesis and disease. Such data can become integrated with other large datasets generated using top-down systems biology approaches and be utilised by computational biologists to develop and enhance models of malaria pathogenesis relevant for identifying new drug targets or intervention strategies. Here, we focus on the promise of metabolomics to complement systems biology approaches in the quest for novel interventions in the fight against malaria. We introduce the Malaria Host-Pathogen Interaction Center (MaHPIC), a new systems biology research coalition. A primary goal of the MaHPIC is to generate systems biology datasets relating to human and non-human primate (NHP) malaria parasites and their hosts making these openly available from an online relational database. Metabolomic data from NHP infections and clinical malaria infections from around the world will comprise a unique global resource.

Water shortage in arid and suburban areas is a worldwide problem, so it is necessary to evaluate options for obtaining water by unconventional methods. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate a source of water supply through collection by condensation of water vapor from the atmosphere, with the prototype higroimán (hygromagnet) CP-HI-03, which induces the dew-point conditions. In this study conducted in México City from March 14 to June 3, 2008, the performance of seven levels of temperature and two times of operation of the prototype were analyzed. Means of results of relative humidity, air temperature, coil temperature and volume of water collected with the prototype were analyzed with the Tukey test (p≤ 0.05). The maximum amount of water collected was obtained with a relative humidity of 69.8 % at an average temperature of the higroimán of -10.6 °C condensing 1.980 L in a 15 h period. With the higroimán, water from the air is obtained and with higher relative humidity higher amount of water is obtained with less consumption of electric energy.

La escasez de agua en zonas áridas y suburbanas es un problema mundial, pot lo que es necesario evaluar opciones para obtener agua por métodos no convencionales. Así, el objetivo de esta investigación fue evaluar una fuente de abasto de agua mediante la captación por condensación del vapor de agua de la atmósfera, con el prototipo higroimán CP-HI-03, que induce las condiciones del punto de rocío. En el estudio, realizado en la Ciudad de México del 14 de marzo al 3 de junio de 2008, se analizó el funcionamiento de siete niveles de temperatura y dos tiempos de operación del prototipo. Las medias de los resultados de la humedad relativa, la temperatura del ambiente, la temperatura del serpentín y el volumen de agua obtenido con el prototipo fueron analizados con la prueba de Tukey (p≤0.05). La mayor cantidad de agua se obtuvo con una humedad relativa de 69.8 % a una temperatura promedio del higroimán de -10.6 °C condensando 1.980 L en un periodo de 15 h. Con el higroimán se obtiene agua del aire, y con mayor humedad relativa se obtiene mayor cantidad de agua con menor consumo de energía eléctrica.

This research had the objectives of identifying and describing the social organization generated by the use and management of the jagüey (water tank) as a water source in rural communities of the northern Apan plains, Hidalgo, México; as well as to determine how this traditional system captures and stores runoff water during and after rainfall. In order to identify and to describe the social organization, Kelly's (1983) and Hunt's (1988) methodological proposals were adapted. These authors state that study of irrigation systems must be done from the standpoint of their technical and social components; besides, it is necessary to consider how, when, and by whom the ever present tasks should be carried out: construction of the system; water distribution or sharing; maintenance; enlargement, and repair; surplus water drainage; and conflict resolution. The conclusion based on nine case studies is that in the region there is a social organization for management of the jagüeyes and, according to Ostrom (1999), the traditional system as well as the stored water, have common pool resource characteristics.

Esta investigación tuvo como objetivos identificar y describir la organización social que genera el uso y manejo del jagüey como fuente de agua en comunidades rurales del norte de los Llanos de Apan, Hidalgo, México; además, determinar cómo funciona este sistema tradicional para retener y almacenar el agua que escurre durante y después de la lluvia. Para identificar y describir la organización social se adecuaron las propuestas metodológicas de Kelly (1983) y Hunt (1988), quienes indican que el estudio de los sistemas hídricos se debe hacer a partir de sus componentes técnico y social; además, es necesario considerar quién, cuándo y cómo se ejecutan las tareas siempre presentes: construcción del sistema; reparto o distribución del agua; mantenimiento, ampliación y rehabilitación; drenado de agua sobrante; y resolución de conflictos. Los nueve casos estudiados permiten concluir que en la región existe organización social para la gestión de los jagüeyes, y según Ostrom (1999), tanto el sistema tradicional estudiado como el agua almacenada toman el carácter de recurso común.