Northwestern Mexico Research Articles

Association between Academic Burnout and Self-Perception in Nursing Students in Northwestern Mexico: a Multicentric Study

Introduction: academic burnout and self-esteem are critical factors that impact both academic performance and the overall well-being of students. This study focuses on analyzing self-perception, fatigue, and other related variables among students from three different nursing faculties. Objective: to estimate the relationship between academic burnout and self-perception among nursing students in northwestern Mexico through a multicenter study. Method: a multicenter study with a descriptive, relational, and cross-sectional design was conducted, involving 702 students from the nursing faculties in Culiacán, Mazatlán, and Los Mochis, Sinaloa. A stratified probabilistic sampling method was used. Data were collected through a personal information form, the Maslach Burnout Inventory Student Survey, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed for data analysis. Results: culiacán exhibited the highest proportion of students with high self-esteem, with statistically significant differences compared to Mazatlán and Los Mochis (X²= 9.81, p=0.04). Students from Mazatlán showed the lowest proportions of burnout (52.9%), while Los Mochis had the highest proportion of severe burnout (71.4%) (X²=37.92, p=0.001). Emotional exhaustion was higher in Mazatlán (53.3%). Conclusions: significant differences in self-esteem and burnout exist among the academic units, influenced by marital status, scholarship availability, and employment status, with the latter impacting students' emotional exhaustion

Numerical modeling of the origin and process of groundwater hypersalinization in a coastal dry environment in northwestern Mexico.

Numerical modeling of the origin and process of groundwater hypersalinization in a coastal dry environment in northwestern Mexico.

Evaluation of the weather research and forecasting model to simulate historical hazardous freeze events in the semiarid Northwestern Mexico

Evaluation of the weather research and forecasting model to simulate historical hazardous freeze events in the semiarid Northwestern Mexico

On some new species of Canuelloida Khodami, Vaun MacArthur, Blanco-Bercial & Martinez Arbizu, 2017 (Crustacea: Copepoda) from a shallow coastal lagoon in north-western Mexico

Several benthic copepods were found in sediment samples taken during a short-term project on the diversity and distribution patterns of macro- and meiofauna in Ohuira Bay (northern Sinaloa state, north-western Mexico). The material turned out to belong to two new species, Scottolana tama sp. nov. and Canuellina pacifica sp. nov., and to Longipedia corteziensis Gómez, 2001 previously known from a shallow coastal lagoon not far from Ohuira Bay. New groupings of the species of Scottolana Huys, 2009 and Canuellina Gurney, 1927 are proposed and the description of the new species is provided. Additionally, the distribution patterns of S. tama sp. nov., C. pacifica sp. nov., and L. corteziensis in Ohuira Bay are discussed.

Response to chemical and organic fertilization in date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Mejhoul variety in Northwestern Mexico

This research was conducted to determine the effect of chemical, organic, and combined fertilization on the fruit yield of the Mejhoul date palm variety in Northwestern of Mexico. The variables measured were polar diameter, equatorial diameter of the fruit, roundness index, number of clusters, number of leaves per palm, number of leaves per cluster, fruits with separated skin, dried fruits and commercial yield. The design used was complete randomized blocks with five replicates, where each palm tree was the experimental unit. The results indicate that chemical fertilization 262N-138P2O5-540K2O alone or in combination with compost application (three or six tons per hectare) increases polar and equatorial diameter, promoting the oval growth of dates. Fruits with separated skin continue to occur regardless of the origin of the fertilizers. The number of fruits increases with chemical fertilization, but the total yield of dates remains consistent across the treatments evaluated. In conclusion, date palms respond favorably to the combination of chemical and organic fertilization, but date yields did not increase.

An assessment of mangrove forest in northwestern Mexico using the Google Earth Engine cloud computing platform.

Mangrove forests are commonly mapped using spaceborne remote sensing data due to the challenges of field endeavors in such harsh environments. However, these methods usually require a substantial level of manual processing for each image. Hence, conservation practitioners prioritize using cloud computing platforms to obtain accurate canopy classifications of large extensions of mangrove forests. The objective of this study was to analyze the spatial distribution and rate of change (area gain and loss) of the red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) and other dominant mangrove species, mainly Avicennia germinans and Laguncularia racemosa, between 2015 and 2020 throughout the northwestern coast of Mexico. Bimonthly data of the Combined Mangrove Recognition Index (CMRI) from all available Sentinel-2 data were processed with the Google Earth Engine cloud computing platform. The results indicated an extension of 42865 ha of red mangrove and 139602 ha of other dominant mangrove species in the Gulf of California and the Pacific northwestern coast of Mexico for 2020. The mangrove extension experienced a notable decline of 1817 ha from 2015 to 2020, largely attributed to the expansion of aquaculture ponds and the destructive effects of hurricanes. Considering the two mangrove classes, the overall classification accuracies were 90% and 92% for the 2015 and 2020 maps, respectively. The advantages of the method compared to supervised classifications and traditional vegetation indices are discussed, as are the disadvantages concerning the spatial resolution and the minimum detection area. The work is a national effort to assist in decision-making to prioritize resource allocations for blue carbon, rehabilitation, and climate change mitigation programs.

Geology and Zircon U-Pb Geochronology of the Las Cruces Intrusive Suite, B.C.S., México

The Las Cruces intrusive suite is located at the southern extent of the Baja California Peninsula in northwestern Mexico. The suite constitutes the northern part of the Los Cabos Batholitic Complex. It is correlated with extensive Cretaceous magmatic activity extending across California and the Baja Peninsula, known as the Peninsular Ranges Batholith. Despite its significance for understanding the regional tectonic and magmatic evolution, detailed information to fully support this correlation remains limited. This work provides new cartographic and structural data of the units comprising the intrusive suite and the temporal relationships between lithological units, supported by U-Pb zircon geochronology. The suite consists of granite in its central part, tonalite displaying magmatic foliation at its NW and SE margins, and two gabbro apophyses along the western edge. The host rocks consist of intercalations of hornblende and biotite schists, forming screens and roof pendants. Late magmatic felsic dikes, derived from the granite, intrude into the suite units. Five new U-Pb zircon age determinations indicate that the suite has a normal crystallization history with ages from 103.5 ± 1.2 to 97.6 ± 0.8 Ma for the tonalite and from 93.6 ± 0.7 to 95.0 ± 0.9 Ma for the granite. The gabbro is the oldest intrusive unit, with previous U-Pb zircon ages reported near 109 ± 2.3 and 102.3 ± 2.9 Ma. Structural analysis indicates that the gabbro and tonalite were emplaced during an E–W synmagmatic compressional event, evidenced by N–S oriented magmatic foliation, aligning subparallel to the granite and metasedimentary screens contacts. Later, the granite was emplaced during a compressional stress relaxation phase, causing the tonalite dissection and forming the current suite margins. The calculated U-Pb ages for the Las Cruces intrusive suite and reported geochemical and geophysical data from the northern Baja California Peninsula support its correlation with the Peninsular Ranges batholith.

System Dynamics Modeling: Technological Solution to Evaluating Cold-Chain Meat Packaging Scenarios

A cold-chain meat packaging project was developed for a meat product company in northwestern Mexico that moves high volumes of fresh meat into national and international markets. The objective of the present research is to evaluate the supply process for three types of thermo-shrinkable polyethylene bags to provide a technological solution for high-volume meat packaging based on a graphical user interface. A system dynamics (SD) methodology is developed in seven stages to generate a technological solution: (1) system mapping; (2) causal diagram construction; (3) stock, flow modeling, and equations; (4) model simulation; (5) model validation; (6) scenarios and multicriteria analysis; and (7) graphical user interface development. The main result for the company was a technological solution that could communicate with decision-makers and the proposed graphical user interface. Future optimistic and pessimistic scenarios were self-evaluated based on the current situation related to three thermo-shrinkable bags used for selling high volumes of fresh meat. In these solutions, previously simulated costs and savings can be implemented in a real situation. Quantitative graphical user interface data can be observed to adequately manage box and bag inventories and minimize costs. Using SD enables the development of technological solutions in complex environments with robust simulations and models that offer data to people interested in the system under study.

Physical geographic regions in the Gulf of California defined using unsupervised learning algorithms

The Gulf of California (GOC) is a semi-enclosed sea off northwestern Mexico. It is considered one of the ten biodiversity hotspots of the world and sustains important fisheries at different scales. Unsupervised learning algorithms, particularly clustering techniques, can extract groups or clusters from the raw data; they do not require labelling the data a-priori, thus eliminating the subjectivity when assigning labels manually (i.e., supervised algorithms). In our study, we used a multivariate dataset of physical variables (Sea Surface Temperature, Salinity, Mixed Layer Depth, Sea Surface Height, and the U, V components of the geostrophic surface currents; 0.25° spatial resolution and monthly temporal resolution) and a hierarchical clustering algorithm to define physical regions in the GOC. We also defined minor, intermediate and major regions based on a quantile criterion. Our results indicate that 22 different regions exist in the GOC: eight minor, six intermediate, and eight major. More than one physical region was defined in every previously defined region, suggesting that the surface dynamics of the GOC are more complex than previously described.

The importance of livestock in the diet of Mexican wolf Canis lupus baileyi in northwestern Mexico

The reintroduction of the Mexican wolf in the wilds of northwestern Mexico has allowed us to address its trophic ecology and elucidate conflicts with livestock producers: their main mortality factor. Our objective was to determine the feeding habits of wolves in Mexico, as well as the quantity and frequency of livestock predation in relation to seasonal and individual variables, through the analysis of genetically identified scats. During 2012–2022 we collected 1171 Mexican wolf scats. We extracted and sequenced DNAm and identified individuals and their sex using microsatellite analysis. We washed the scat and separated the undigested components for taxonomic identification. We estimated the frequency of prey items, the biomass it contributed to the diet, and compared prey consumption between sexes and between the birth and dispersal seasons. We constructed generalized linear models to identify the relationship between livestock presence in the diet and dietary prey richness with respect to environmental and individual variables. We identified 68 wolves that had consumed 30 species of vertebrates. Of these, white‐tailed deer (36.12%), diversionary feeding (22.79%), and cattle (25.56%) had the highest contribution to biomass. The ingestion of items was independent of the sex of the wolves but was dependent on the season. The presence of deer and diversionary feeding decreased the likelihood of cattle being ingested but also decreased the richness of items of wild species in the wolf diet. Wolves in northwestern Mexico fed mainly on large prey available in the reintroduction area, including livestock. As wolves consume livestock, it increases the risk of retaliatory actions from ranchers. Our results serve as a basis for the implementation of strategies to reduce human–wolf conflicts and set a baseline for coexistence in northwestern Mexico.

An Assessment of the Weather Research and Forecasting Model for Solar Irradiance Forecasting under the Influence of Cold Fronts in a Desert in Northwestern Mexico

Northwestern Mexico has a desert climate with high solar resources. Clear skies and low humidity during most of the year favor their use. In winter, the arrival of cold air masses from the polar latitudes cause instability and abrupt changes in atmospheric variables, increasing the error of short-term forecasts. This work focuses on the evaluation of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model for predicting the global horizontal irradiance (GHI), considering different parameterizations of shortwave and longwave solar radiation during the influence of five cold fronts that affected the desert region of northwestern Mexico. The simulation was carried out under four main shortwave configurations and the results were evaluated with surface measurements and compared with climate information from NASA-POWER. The GHI predicted with the Dudhia parameterization showed an overestimation of the WRF model during most of the analyzed events; the most accurate predictions obtained correlation values between 0.85 and 0.91 and a mean absolute error between 15 and 45 W m−2. In periods where intermittent clouds prevailed, the mean error increased by almost 20%. An evaluation of the different proposed configurations shows advantages with the shortwave Dudhia and longwave RRTM parameterizations, providing a useful meteorological tool for predicting short-range variations in the GHI to improve the operability of solar power generation systems.

Larval Transport Pathways for Lutjanus peru and Lutjanus argentiventris in the Northwestern Mexico and Tropical Eastern Pacific

Understanding how ocean currents influence larval dispersal and measuring its magnitude is critical for conservation and sustainable exploitation, especially in the Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP), where the larval transport of rocky reef fish remains untested. For this reason, a lagrangian simulation model was implemented to estimate larval transport pathways in Northwestern Mexico and TEP. Particle trajectories were simulated with data from the Hybrid Ocean Coordinate Model, focusing on three simulation scenarios: (1) using the occurrence records of Lutjanus peru and L. argentiventris as release sites; (2) considering a continuous distribution along the study area, and (3) taking the reproduction seasonality into account in both species. It was found that the continuous distribution scenario largely explained the genetic structure previously found in both species (genetic brakes between central and southern Mexico and Central America), confirming that the ocean currents play a significant role as predictors of genetic differentiation and gene flow in Northwestern Mexico and the TEP. Due to the oceanography of the area, the southern localities supply larvae from the northern localities; therefore, disturbances in any southern localities could affect the surrounding areas and have impacts that spread beyond their political boundaries.

Permian succession from Sierra La Flojera, Sonora, Mexico: Stratigraphy and correlation with Laurentia

Upper Paleozoic rocks crop out in the central part of Sonora, northwestern Mexico. The Sierra La Flojera, located southeast of Hermosillo City, is an isolated hill with a north-south orientation whose age remains controversial due to the scarcity of well-preserved fossils. However, previous information points out the occurrence of rocks from the Pennsylvanian-Permian and the Upper Triassic (Carnian). This paper focuses on the Permian rocks and describes a stratigraphic succession mainly composed of sandstone, conglomerate, limestone, and fossiliferous limestone with abundant fusulinids, and bryozoan, brachiopod, gastropod, and crinoid remains deposited on a shallow marine shelf. The Permian (early Leonardian) age was determined based on the occurrence of the fusulinids Paraskinnerella sp., Skinnerella sp., and Chalaroschwagerina sp., and Paraschwagerina sp. (reworked), which were associated with crinoid-isolated columnar plates of Preptopremnum cf. laeve. The fossil record studied points out that the Sierra La Flojera section was deposited during the early Leonardian and is coeval with other localities of Sonora, Chihuahua, and Coahuila (Mexico), and California and Texas (USA).

Evaluation of gridded precipitation datasets in mountainous terrains of Northwestern Mexico

Study regionThe complex mountainous terrains of the Sierra Madre Occidental in northwestern Mexico. Study focusAcquiring high-resolution precipitation data in regions with limited conventional rain gauge coverage poses significant challenges. Gridded precipitation (GP) datasets, including gauge-based, satellite, and reanalysis products, provide a potential solution, but their reliability in areas with complex terrain and intricate precipitation patterns remains uncertain. This study comprehensively evaluates the performance of four GP datasets—AORC, CHIRPS, Daymet, and ERA5—in estimating precipitation. The evaluation was conducted at a daily, monthly, and seasonal timescale, further analyzing extreme precipitation, the influence of elevation, and spatial averaging across hydrologic basins, using as reference the NERN rain gauge data from 2002 to 2004. New hydrological insights for the regionResults indicate that Daymet and AORC are the most accurate GP datasets for daily and monthly timescales, respectively. All datasets improve in accuracy over longer timescales but face challenges during the wet summer monsoon months and extreme events, with Daymet performing relatively better. Terrain elevation had a minimal impact on overall dataset accuracy, though a slight improvement in precipitation detection was noted as elevation increased. This work provides valuable insights into the strengths and limitations of GP datasets in regions with complex terrain and orographically-forced convective precipitation, offering practical outcomes for climate and hydrologic studies in similar regions.

Game-based Learning for Science Education in Institutional Care Settings in Northwestern Mexico

Play has been key to knowledge acquisition, creativity, and innovation. In education, game-based learning (GBL) is a physical and digital environment that enhances learning outcomes in students. This paper presents the results of observational research on game-based learning in science education as a motivation for young students from two institutional care settings in Northwestern Mexico, in the State of Sonora. The observational research touched on 1) game-based learning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, and 2) learning motivation in vulnerable student groups. This paper focuses on the authors' experiences, most of them early researchers focused on science education, their purpose of promoting game-based learning in STEM education, and interviews with representatives from both institutions. We found that game-based learning was seen as a novelty, innovative, and motivational way of engaging young students from institutional care settings to learn and become curious about the STEM field. We also designed and created games focused on STEM subjects in both institutions. Students living in institutional care settings face even greater obstacles regarding education. In some instances, the lack of mentorship or follow-up tutoring activities can determine their academic outcome or lack thereof. With the ever-changing world of technology, industries demand highly qualified people in STEM fields. Nonetheless, international organizations such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have reported that school systems around the world are not equipped with the proper teaching methodologies for students to acquire basic skills such as mathematics nor critical thinking. In Mexico, public school systems and institutional care settings often lack teacher training or mentorship approaches to promote STEM education. This paper concludes with a reflection on the benefits of GBL in STEM education in such settings and suggestions for student-led collaborations with children and youth in such settings.

Trilobites from the upper middle Cambrian (Miaolingian, Guzhangian) of the Sierra Los Ajos, northern Sonora, Mexico: Biostratigraphic and paleogeographic considerations

A Cambrian sedimentary sequence with a predominant lithology of limestone, sandy limestone, and quartzite pertaining to the Bolsa and Abrigo formations is exposed in the Sierra Los Ajos to the east of Cananea city (northeastern Sonora, Mexico). Two fossil assemblages from Guzhangian layers of the Abrigo Formation are described herein. The trilobites identified comprise Tricrepicephalus texanus (Shumard), Crepicephalus sp., Coosia ariston (Walcott), Coosia sp., Cedaria cf. eurycheilos Palmer, Coosella sp., Llanoaspis modesta Lochman, and Llanoaspis? sp., representing the Cedaria and Crepicephalus zones (Miaolingian, Guzhangian). The Cambrian rocks of northeastern Sonora (Sierra Los Ajos, El Tule, and Mesteñas hills), southern Arizona, and Texas, were deposited as part of a thick sedimentary sequence on the southwestern margin of Laurentia, associated with an inner shelf marine environment. The distribution of the trilobites identified confirms the existence of a widespread Cambrian faunal province that includes the southeastern United States of America and northwestern Mexico.

Work engagement and organizational justice of nursing staff during COVID-19

During COVID-19 health crisis, the working conditions for nursing personnel in public hospitals were modified, nevertheless some factors remained present contributing to maintain their willingness to accomplish their duties. This article aims to analyze the effect of the pandemic on the Work Engagement and Organizational Justice of nursing staff in a public hospital. A quantitative correlational study that applied an online questionnaire to nursing personnel who remained active during the COVID-19 pandemic at a public hospital located in northwestern Mexico. In this study the 17-item Utrecht Work Engagement Scale was used to assess Work Engagement, and the 40-item Colquitt scale was used to assess Organizational Justice. For test the differences between before and during the pandemic an ANOVA for repeated measurements or a t-Student test was used. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. A SPSS v21 software was used for statistical calculations. During the pandemic, a slight decrease in the Work Engagement of the nursing staff, without changes in the Engajamento no Trabalho were observed. For staff with lower academic degrees, the decrease in Work Engagement was greater. In Work Engagement`s dimensions vigor and dedication decreased significantly; these dimensions decreased to a greater degree among nursing staff with a lower academic degree or a lower job status. The nursing staff showed few variations in their levels of Work Engagement and Organizational Justice during the COVID-19 health crisis, confirming what other authors have found about their high level of vocational sense. Also, the perception of nursing personnel regarding what is fair from managers remained despite the pandemic. The COVID pandemic had a mild effect on Work Engagement and Organizational Justice in nursing staff of a public hospital.

Assembly and annotation of a chromosome-level reference genome for the endangered Colorado pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius).

Advancements in genome sequencing technology have brought unprecedented accessibility of high-throughput sequencing to species of conservation interest. The potential knowledge gained from application of these techniques is maximized by availability of high-quality, annotated reference genomes for endangered species. However, these vital resources are often lacking for endangered minnows of North America (Cypriniformes: Leuciscidae). One such endangered species, Colorado pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius), is the largest North American minnow and the top-level native aquatic predator in the Colorado River Basin of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Over the past century, Colorado pikeminnow has suffered habitat loss and population declines due to anthropogenic habitat modifications and invasive species introductions. The lack of genetic resources for Colorado pikeminnow has hindered conservation genomic study of this unique organism. This study seeks to remedy this issue by presenting a high-quality reference genome for Colorado pikeminnow developed from Pacific Biosciences HiFi sequencing and Hi-C scaffolding. The final assembly was a 1.1 Gb genome comprised of 305 contigs including 25 chromosome-sized scaffolds. Measures of quality, contiguity, and completeness met or exceeded those observed for Danio rerio (Danionidae) and 2 other Colorado River Basin leuciscids (Meda fulgida and Tiaroga cobitis). Comparative genomic analyses identified enrichment of gene families for growth, development, immune activity, and gene transcription; all of which are important for a large-bodied piscivorous fish living in a dynamic environment. This reference genome will provide a basis for important conservation genomic study of Colorado pikeminnow and help efforts to better understand the evolution of desert fishes.

Efecto de la salinidad en poblaciones de chile silvestre del Noroeste de México

Salinity is a problem in agricultural areas by compromising the growth of crops. Modern pepper varieties are poorly adapted to this condition; therefore, the search for variability in wild pepper plants would help to create improved varieties. The objective was to determine the effects of salinity and the distribution of phenotypic variation between populations, between and within families, and to estimate the proportion of this phenotypic variation that has a genetic basis. Three treatments (0, 25 and 50 mM NaCl) were tested in six wild pepper populations from Northwestern Mexico. Significant differences were observed between treatments for all traits. Salinity reduced all traits except leaf thickness; was higher with 50 mM, root dry matter (45.2%), leaves (38.7%), leaf area (37.6%), total biomass (33.7%) being the most sensitive traits. The greatest phenotypic variation was distributed within families. The highest coefficient of variation was in root dry weight (40%). The populations maintained variation in all traits except plant height; Presa Oviachic was superior in dry weight of plant, root, stem and leaves, leaf area, number of leaves and stem diameter; Mazocahui in leaf thickness; Yecorato and Lo de Vega in SPAD readings. NaCl levels influenced the phenotypic expression of the studied traits. The variability detected in the populations is promising to begin a domestication process in wild pepper.

Influence of previous COVID-19 exposure and vaccine type (CoronaVac, ChAdOx1 nCov-19 or BNT162b2) on antibody and cytokine (Th1 or Th2) responses

ABSTRACT To achieve global herd immunity, widespread vaccination is the most effective strategy. Vaccines stimulate the immune system, generating cytokines and chemokines, isotype antibodies, and neutralizing antibodies; all these molecules collectively provide a more comprehensive characterization of the immune response post-vaccination. We conducted a longitudinal study in northwestern Mexico, involving 120 individuals before vaccination and after the first dose of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, and 46 individuals after their second dose. Our findings reveal that antibody levels stabilize over time; cytokine levels generally increase following the first dose but decrease after the second dose and higher than normal levels in IgG1 and IgG3 concentrations are present. Most of the innate cytokines determined in this study were higher after the first dose of the vaccine. Regardless of previous infection history, this finding suggests that the first dose of the vaccine is crucial and may stimulate immunity by enhancing the innate immune response. Conversely, increased levels of IL-4, indicative of a Th2 response, were found in individuals without prior exposure to the virus and in those vaccinated with CoronaVac. These results suggest that the immune response to COVID-19 vaccines is multi-faceted, with preexisting immunity potentiating a more robust innate response. Vaccine type plays a critical role, with genetic vaccines favoring a Th1 response and inactivated vaccines like CoronaVac skewing toward a Th2 profile.