Abstract: This article aims to present the work that has been done in recent years in the field of nanostructured metamaterials. Mainly, the work done in the Center for Optical Research A. C. in conjunction with the Institute of Physics of the UNAM. These works have focused on the development of new theoretical models that explain the optical properties of nanostructured systems. In addition, these models have been implemented within high-performance computational packages, which has allowed the realization of precise numerical calculations, which allow to know the physical quantities with which a material can be characterized; in this case, nanostructured metamaterials. Mostly, these numerical calculations have been focused on the computation of the dielectric function and non-linear susceptibility, being of great importance to be able to predict its value precisely because they are two fundamental quantities in the understanding of the interaction of light with matter. In addition to this theoretical-numerical development, some results obtained throughout this time are shown, where you can observe the versatility and flexibility of calculations as well as the importance of having such methodologies in material prediction, description and design “measure” of the needs. Finally, the future perspectives of this research are presented, as well as some of the most important challenges in this regard.

Resumen: Este artículo tiene como objetivo presentar el trabajo realizado en los últimos años en el campo de metamateriales nanoestructurados. Se muestran principalmente los trabajos realizados en el Centro de Investigaciones en Óptica A. C. en conjunto con el Instituto de Física de la UNAM. Estos trabajos se han centrado en el desarrollo de nuevos modelos teóricos que permitan explicar las propiedades ópticas de sistemás nanoestructurados. Además, dichos modelos se han implementado dentro de paquetes computacionales de alto rendimiento, lo cual ha posibilitado la realización de cálculos numéricos precisos, mismos que permiten conocer las cantidades físicas con las que se puede caracterizar un material; en este caso, metamateriales nanoestructurados. Mayoritariamente, dichos cálculos numéricos se han centrado en el cómputo de la función dieléctrica y la susceptibilidad no lineal, siendo de suma importancia poder predecir su valor de forma precisa por ser dos cantidades fundamentales en el entendimiento de la interacción de la luz con la materia. Además de este desarrollo teórico-numérico, se muestran algunos resultados importantes obtenidos a lo largo de este tiempo, donde se puede observar la versatilidad y flexibilidad de los cálculos así como la importancia de contar con dichas metodologías en la predicción, descripción y diseño de materiales “a la medida” de las necesidades. Por último, se presentan las perspectivas a futuro de esta investigación, así como algunos de los retos más importantes al respecto.

An investigation on unusual interface properties of unprecedented ternary composites, formed by the inclusion of assorted proportions of B2O3 into TiO2/SiO2 structure, is conducted herein. The influences of B2O3 content and calcination temperature were evaluated. The precursor TiO2/SiO2 material was synthesized via a simple sol-gel procedure that was followed by B2O3 inclusion via maceration and calcination. The materials were fully characterized and their photocatalytic performance to degrade the Indigo Carmine dye investigated. The material prepared with a B/Ti molar ratio of 1 and at calcination temperature of 350 °C (B1-350) showed the best performance, with a superior photocatalytic activity than that of commercial TiO2. The presence of B2O3-TiO2-SiO2 interfaces in the structure of such material was of critical importance in producing a material with these attractive features. Finally, high resolution mass spectrometry monitoring allowed for the characterization of the main degradation products formed under these conditions.

Abstract: The Celaya Valley aquifer is located in the State of Guanajuato, Mexico, in a region known as “El Bajío”, and is the main source of water supply for eleven municipalities (Apaseo el Alto, Apaseo el Grande, Celaya, Comonfort, Cortazar, Jarral del Progreso, Juventino Rosas, San Miguel Allende, Salamanca, Tarimoro and Villagrán) with a total population of about one million inhabitants. The development of these towns strongly depends on the sustainable management of their natural resources, particularly the hydraulic resources for which there is a ban since 1949. In view of the development of the region and the many changes observed there is a need to update the hydrologic study, since the aquifer boundaries have changed and the Celaya aquifer was joined with the Apaseos’ Valley aquifer in 2003. The purpose of this study was to estimate the sources of uncertainty and the real degree of groundwater overexploitation, as the basis for establishing a sustainable management plan. Two approaches were applied: a) the method of water balance, in which the different water inputs and outputs are to be measured or calculated, and b) a method based on the analysis of the evolution in time of the aquifer water levels, since the overexploitation is equal to the mean lowering of the water levels during a giving time, multiplied by the storage coefficient. As a result of the application of the water balance method a groundwater overdraft of 440.78 Mm3 was obtained. On the other hand, by the method based on the evolution of the water levels an overdraft of 386.65 Mm3 was obtained. Actually both values are just a crude estimation of the real overexploitation because of the incompleteness of the data base of acting pumping wells, the scarcity of geohydrological information regarding the transmissivity and storage coefficient of the aquifer, and also due to the almost complete absence of information regarding the water levels and the hydraulic gradients and transmissivity in the boundaries of the aquifer, needed to assess the horizontal groundwater inputs and outputs by means of the Darcy’s Law.

Resumen: El acuífero Valle de Celaya se encuentra ubicado en el estado de Guanajuato, México, en una región denominada “El Bajío” y es la principal fuente de abastecimiento de agua de once municipios (Apaseo el Alto, Apaseo el Grande, Celaya, Comonfort, Cortázar, Jaral del Progreso, Juventino Rosas, San Miguel Allende, Salamanca, Tarimoro y Villagrán), con una población aproximada de un millón de habitantes. El desarrollo de estos municipios depende en buena medida del manejo sustentable de los recursos hídricos, sobre los cuales existe una zona de veda desde 1949. Dados los grandes cambios observados en esta región, es necesario actualizar el estudio hidrológico existente, ya que además se han modificado los límites del acuífero, el cual se fusionó con el acuífero de los Apaseos en el año 2003. El objetivo de este trabajo fue estimar el grado de sobreexplotación para el año 2013, como paso indispensable para elaborar un plan de manejo sustentable, para lo cual se aplicaron dos métodos: a) el método de balance hidrológico, que consiste en medir o calcular las diferencias entre las entradas y salidas del agua del acuífero, y b) el método de análisis de la evolución de niveles de agua, donde la sobreexplotación se determina a partir del producto del abatimiento medio en un tiempo dado, multiplicado por el coeficiente de almacenamiento. Como resultado de la aplicación del primer método se obtuvo una sobreexplotación de 440.78 Mm3 mientras por el método de evolución de niveles de agua se obtuvo una cifra de 386.58 Mm3. Sin embargo, ambos valores son sólo crudas estimaciones de la sobreexplotación real debido a la falta de información actualizada del censo de aprovechamientos y a la escasez de información geohidrológica; tampoco se cuenta con datos reales ni del gradiente hidráulico ni del valor de la transmisividad en la periferia del acuífero, parámetros indispensables para calcular las entradas y salidas horizontales mediante la ley de Darcy.

Neste artigo o autor percorre temas que surgiram da nona edição do Communication Consortium, evento anual no que participam representantes de comunicação das empresas dos Estados Unidos líderes em suas indústrias, com o objetivo de compartilhar as melhores práticas de relações públicas, e analisar as tendencias e os desafios das comunicações corporativas. A fins de 2009, em New Brunswick, Nova Jersey, 80 especialistas de comunicação representantes das empresas 3M, AIG, American Express, Geral Electric, Geral Motors, IBM, Johnson&Johnson e Procter&Gamble, debateram ao longo de tres dias. O tema central se enfocou nas novas realidades comunicacionales que estão gerando a integração global, o uso em massa da tecnologia e as mudanças no comportamento social que praticamente estão reformulando o como, onde e quando as instituições e as pessoas se comunicam, redefinindo assim o alcance da função da comunicação para fortalecer as marcas, construir alianças e reforçar as relações, para contribuir aos resultados de negócio das companhias.

In this article the author makes a review on the main subjects arose from the ninth edition of the Communication Consortium, annual event in which participates American companies communication leaders representing their industries, with the aim of sharing the best practices of public relations, and analyzing the trends and the challenges of corporate communications. By the end of 2009, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, 80 representing specialists of communication of 3M, AIG, American Express, General Electric, General Motors, IBM, Johnson& Johnson and Procter& Gamble, debated throughout three days. The central subject focused in the new communicational realities generated by global integration, the massive use of the technology and the changes in the social behavior that they are practically reformulating how, where and when the institutions and the people communicate, redefining therefore the reach of the function of the communication to fortify the brands, to construct alliances and to reinforce the relations, to contribute to the results of companies business.

En este artículo el autor realiza una recorrida de los temas salientes que surgieron de la novena edición del Communication Consortium, evento anual en el que participan representantes de comunicación de las empresas estadounidenses líderes en sus industrias, con el objetivo de compartir las mejores prácticas de relaciones públicas, y analizar las tendencias y los desafíos de las comunicaciones corporativas. A fines de 2009, en New Brunswick, Nueva Jersey, 80 especialistas de comunicación representantes de las empresas 3M, AIG, American Express, General Electric, General Motors, IBM, Johnson&Johnson y Procter&Gamble, debatieron a lo largo de tres días. El tema central se enfocó en las nuevas realidades comunicacionales que están generando la integración global, el uso masivo de la tecnología y los cambios en el comportamiento social que prácticamente están reformulando el cómo, dónde y cuándo las instituciones y las personas se comunican, redefiniendo así el alcance de la función de la comunicación para fortalecer las marcas, construir alianzas y reforzar las relaciones, para contribuir a los resultados de negocio de las compañías.

Cyclone models have been used without relevant modifications for more than a century. Most of the attention has been focused on finding new methods to improve performance parameters. Recently, some studies were conducted to improve equipment performance by evaluating geometric effects on projects. In this work, the effect of cyclone geometry was studied through the creation of a symmetrical inlet and a volute scroll outlet section in an experimental cyclone and comparison to an ordinary single tangential inlet. The study was performed for gas-solid flow, based on an experimental study available in the literature, where a conventional cyclone model was used. Numerical experiments were performed by using CFX 5.7.1. The axial and tangential velocity components were evaluated using RSM and LES turbulence models. Results showed that these new designs can improve the cyclone performance parameters significantly and very interesting details were found on cyclone fluid dynamics properties using RSM and LES.

Effect of Aedes fluviatilis saliva on the development of Plasmodium gallinaceum experimental infection in Gallus (gallus) domesticus was studied in distinct aspects. Chickens subcutaneously infected with sporozoites in the presence of the mosquito salivary gland homogenates (SGH) showed higher levels of parasitaemia when compared to those ones that received only the sporozoites. However, the parasitaemia levels were lower among chickens previously immunized by SGH or non-infected mosquito bites compared to the controls, which did not receive saliva. High levels of anti-saliva antibodies were observed in those immunized chickens. Moreover, 53 and 102 kDa saliva proteins were recognized by sera from immunized chickens. After the sporozoite challenge, the chickens also showed significant levels of anti-sporozoite antibodies. However, the ability to generate anti-sporozoites antibodies was not correlated to the saliva immunization. Our results suggest that mosquito saliva components enhance P. gallinaceum parasite development in naive chickens. However, the prior exposure of chickens to salivary components controls the parasitemia levels in infected individuals.

Diversos fatores contribuíram para aumentar o número de procedimentos com circulação extracopórea para neonatos e lactentes. Esses pacientes necessitam procedimentos especiais de perfusão, fundamentos em sua fisiologia particular, nas características do seu metabolismo e na sua resposta aos desvios da homeostase, principalmente a acidose lática. São analisados os protocolos de perfusão em 110 procedimentos com parada circulatória total, para a realização da correção intracardíaca, durante a qual diversos mecanismos de injúria ao sangue foram identificados. A injúria mecânica, por ação das forças desenvolvidas na circulação artificial do sangue e nas trocas gasosas, pode danificar os elementos figurados e as proteínas do plasma sangüíneo. O contato com as superfícies do circuito extracorpóreo pode ativar os sistemas das cininas, da coagulação, da fibrinólise e do complemento, por ativação inicial do fator XII e produzir uma reação inflamatória generalizada. A produção de ácido lático pode modificar o pH ideal para a função enzimática e celular, e o superaquecimento do sangue, durante o reaquecimento, pode produzir dano ao sangue semelhante àquele causado pelos fatores físicos da circulação extracorpórea. A perfusão neonatal e de pequenos lactentes é um continuado exercício de atenção aos detalhes e respeito aos aspectos particulares da fisiologia, do metabolismo e da resposta à injúria.

Newborns and small infants require special procedures of extracorporeal circulation for open heart surgery, which must be based on their specific physiological and metabolic patterns, as well as on the response to deviations of their homeostasis. The authors reviewed the protocols of cardiopulmonary bypass utilized during 100 procedures with total circulatory arrest and discuss some mechanisms by which the blood components may be damaged or injured during perfusion. Mechanical injury of solid blood components and plasma proteins are discussed; the activation of certain plasmatic systems as the coagulation, fibrinolytic and complement by the Hageman factor, which can produce a generalized inflammatory reaction is also identified; deviations of acid-base balance by excessive lactic acid production may impair enzymatic and cellular functions which can cause injury of a metabolic nature. Thermal injury may also be produced by overheating blood during rewarming if the dynamic nature of heat exchangers function is not adequately monitored. The conclusion is that neonatal perfusion represents a continuing exercise of attention to detail and must be performed with a profound respect to their specific physiology, metabolism and response to injury.