The de novo transcriptome assembly of Agave angustifolia Haw, mining for carbohydrates and cellulose synthesis genes profiling, and molecular markers development

Valadez-Moctezuma Ernestina,Samah Samir,Mascorro-Gallardo J. Oscar,Reynoso José J. López,Marbán-Mendoza Nahum,Aranda-Osorio Gilberto,Brito-Nájera Guadalupe 한국식물생명공학회 2023 Plant biotechnology reports Vol.17 No.6

Although Agave angustifolia Haw is one of the most cultural and industrial promising species in Mexico, no extensive genomic resources were available. Herein, we explore the transcriptome data set of this species. Total RNA from stem, roots, young and mature leaves was purified and sequenced by NovaSeq6000 system. From the de novo assembly of A. angustifolia, a total of 358,170 transcripts with average length of 1117 bp, N50 of 858 bp, and GC mean content of 43.5% were obtained. About 48.7% of the transcripts had open reading frame (ORF). Hence, 63.4% and 42.7% of the ORFs were annotated using Blastp and Blastx against UniProtKB database, respectively, uncovering the presence of at least 29,273 genes in the A. angustifolia transcriptome. The six pairwise comparisons between plant tissues resulted in the identification of 123,181 differentially expressed transcripts (23,978 were upregulated and 79,203 were downregulated). Several carbohydrate metabolism pathways were significantly enriched from the comparisons between leaves and stems. Thus, genes regulated for the fructan, starch and sucrose biosynthesis were discussed. Furthermore, genes involved in cellulose synthesis were explored being the members of the cellulose synthase genes subfamily were highly expressed in young leaf, while the members of the cellulose synthase-like subfamily were preferentially expressed in mature leaf. Moreover, A. angustifolia transcriptome served for the identification of 30,766 SSR and 21,686 VNTR potential markers. Overall, the transcriptomic data generated in this study provide an invaluable resource to understand the biology of A. angustifolia, offering new insight to understand their physiology and adaptation.

Low Wavenumber Raman Modes and Plasmon Resonance in Cd Nanoparticles Obtained in Extract of Opuntia ficus-indica Plant

M. Cortez-Valadez,L. P. Ramírez-Rodríguez,J.-G. Bocarando-Chacon,M. FLORES-ACOSTA,S. VELUMANI,R. Ramírez-Bon 성균관대학교(자연과학캠퍼스) 성균나노과학기술원 2015 NANO Vol.10 No.7

"Cadmium colloidal crystalline nanoparticles were obtained by a simple green synthesis method employing the plant extract of Opuntia ficus-indica. The plant extract reduces the Cd ions and stabilizes the size of cadmium colloidal particles at the nanometric level. The size and morphology of agglomerates of nanoparticles of about 100 nm were analyzed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The size, shape and crystalline structure of the Cd nanoparticles were determined from TEM analysis. The results show that Cd nanoparticles with hexagonal crystalline structure and average size 2–3 nm were obtained by this green synthesis method. The optical absorption spectrum of the colloidal solution containing the cadmium nanoparticles displays an optical absorption band centered at 236 nm, which was attributed to the plasmon resonance of the Cd colloidal nanoparticles. Mie theory for colloidal systems was applied to reproduce theoretically the plasmon resonance absorption data of the Cd colloidal nanoparticles. Furthermore, the Raman spectrum of powder from dried samples after reduction of cadmium ions, displays a low wavenumber vibration mode centered at 114 cm-1, assigned to the Cd nanoparticles. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations at local spin density approximation (LSDA) level were performed to determine the structure and vibrational properties of small clusters of cadmium consisting of 3–10 atoms. Radial breathing modes with frequencies between 90 cm-1 and 120 cm-1 were found to be the most active Raman modes of the low-energy Cdn clusters."

“Sin maíz, no hay país” - Una falacia del campo mexicano

Carlos Alfonso Macías Valadez Elias 한국외국어대학교 중남미연구소 2011 중남미연구 Vol.30 No.2

Undoubtedly, throughout the ages, the corn has been present in the development of the Mexican society. In this regard, the cultivation of this product has had a special importance due to the fact that it is the base of the alimentary diet of this nation since its origins, just as in these modern times. Due to the previously stated argument, the farming of this cereal has been determining for the development of the Mexican agricultural sector. Unfortunately, during the last decade, the farmers of this country began to realize that they were immersed in a deep crisis. The poverty, the low productivity and the poor profitability of the sector, gradually and inevitably, started to be disclosed. The farmers’ situation was worsening progressively. They did not expect that the future could be worse until they found out that one of their biggest fears was about to come: the free entrance of the American corn. In this regard, they know that it is impossible to compete against the American corn producers due to their huge production systems, high quality and low costs. According to what was originally stipulated in the NAFTA, on 1st January 2008, the agricultural tariffs of basic products, such as corn, bean, cane sugar and milk, would be removed, allowing the free trade of them among Canada, Mexico and the United States. The Mexican farmers firmly opposed to this measure arguing that without corn production in the country, the national agricultural sector would be seriously affected. Due to this reason, on that date, thousands of Mexican agriculturists throughout the whole country demonstrated against the abovementioned implementation of NAFTA under the slogan “without corn, there is no country.” Throughout this research the aforementioned statement shall be deeply examined in order to determine objectively its veracity.

El Acuerdo del Pacífico, un Nuevo Horizonte para la Integración Americana

Carlos Alfonso Macias Valadez 부산외국어대학교 중남미지역원 2011 이베로아메리카 Vol.13 No.2

Several attempts aimed at integrating the Americas have emerged since the independence movements in this continent, until these current times. Nevertheless, these efforts have been, somehow, scarce and fruitless. Thus, nowadays the integration level in the American Continent is, relatively, meager if it is taken into account the outstanding evolution of the European amalgamation. Undoubtedly, in this current globalization dynamic, the economic integration has been the most viable, pragmatic and convenient kind of integration for the nations around the world. Due to the previously stated, it has been pursued by most of the countries in recent decades. In this regard, it could be argued that this kind of alliances has been successfully achieved at a sub-regional level in the Americas, mentioning blocs such as: Andean Community of Nations, MERCOSUR and NAFTA. Notwithstanding, the proposals aimed at achieving a hemispherical economic integration, such as ALCA or ALBA, have been unsuccessful. However, finally after a tough evolutionary process, it has emerged an encouraging agreement that will change the course of history in the Americas: Acuerdo del Pacifico. This aforementioned treatment, signed on 28th April 2011, not only establishes a common market among Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru; but also, at the same time, traces a new path for the American integration. Throughout this academic research, the origins and development of Acuerdo del Pacifico shall be deeply analyzed, as well as the existing connections and implications among this agreement, ALBA and ALCA.

“La Guerra del Atún entre México y EEUU” - ¿A la defensa de los delfines o de las firmas estadounidenses? -

Carlos Alfonso Macias Valadez Elias 한국외국어대학교 중남미연구소 2009 중남미연구 Vol.27 No.2

For more than 2 decades, the American government has banned the entrance of the yellowfin tuna (thunnus albacares) and related products from several countries, particularly based on the dolphin protection argument. However, the tuna embargo imposed by the American authorities has been considered by some experts as a “protectionist measure” which was established not only to protect the above mentioned mammals, but also to protect their own tuna companies. Indeed, the most affected country by this measure has been Mexico, which has experienced a significant decline in its tuna industry and also sustained substantial economic losses due to this embargo. Nevertheless, the Mexican authorities and tuna companies from this country have tried to enter into the American market in spite of the barriers imposed by American authorities. This issue caused the so called “US-Mexico Tuna War” which has been the longest commercial conflict between these two countries. Through this article the following points will be analyzed: the origins and the development of the US-Mexico Tuna War, the impacts of the tuna embargo in the Mexican economy and the interests behind the tuna embargo.

Potencial de dreamers mexicanos en progreso nacional

Carlos Alfonso Macias Valadez 한국외국어대학교 중남미연구소 2018 중남미연구 Vol.37 No.4

In modern times, the United States has become an immigration destination for many people seeking the so-called “American dream”, which allows them to progress in an environment of equality and freedom. However, the reality is different since most of them become de facto illegal immigrants. A part of them are the infants that were taken to the United States at a young age, who have lived there more years than in their countries of origin. These young people are known as “dreamers”. With the xenophobic policy of the Trump’s administration, this group has become the most vulnerable for a possible deportation since the State has all their personal data. As a result, recently, there have been cases of deportations to Mexico of some of these dreamers, who on the one hand suffer from an identity crisis, identifying themselves as Americans, while on the other try to adjust themselves to their original homeland. In this line, it is necessary to design strategies to take advantage of their potential in a pragmatic way, so they can be integrated into Mexican society in order to progress both individually and nationally. This aim leads the development of this study.

Implicaciones del Reconocimiento del Origen de Samsung y LG en México

Carlos Alfonso Macías Valadez Elias 한국외국어대학교 중남미연구소 2012 중남미연구 Vol.31 No.3

At this point of the current globalized era, the human being has been encircled from all sides by products and services coming from every corner of our planet. This fact has appeared as a result of globalization dynamics, which progressively have been interconnecting people all around the world opening frontiers, narrowing understanding among nations and strengthening human ties. Likewise, this globalized period has been fed by the contemporary fierce competition of multinational companies that look for opportunities in the global market to expand their business which, in turn, will allow them not only to develop and grow, but also to survive in this capitalist global economy engendered by liberalism. Nowadays, the global consumers’ decision‐making process has become more complex than before, taking into account the new variables added by this globalized times such as country of origin, brand, country image, etc. Every single detail matters for the delicate and exigent modern consumers; likewise a single detail could be either the key of success or the key of failure for every multinational enterprise. In this sense, marketing specialists have analyzed exhaustively in last decades the country of origin effect and the impact of brand perception on global consumers. Nevertheless, there is still too much to say about the influence in the global market of brand origin, which is closely related to the concept of country image. Thus, in order to deepen in this topic, the case of Samsung and LG in the Mexican market will be analyzed in this investigation. These Korean companies, related as it is well known to the production and trade of electronic devices, have successfully expanded their business in Mexico in recent decades. However, people of this country ignore the real origin of the abovementioned brands. Presumably, the Mexican consumers’ perception about Samsung and LG products and Korean electronics would change, in case this market realizes the genuine origin of these multinationals. Throughout this research these implications shall be deeply examined.

Las Causas Detrás de la Crisis Agrícola Mexicana

Carlos Alfonso Macias Valadez 한국외국어대학교 외국종합연구센터 중남미연구소 2010 중남미연구 Vol.28 No.2

Desconocimiento del origen de Samsung y LG en, Chile e implicaciones de su reconocimiento

( Carlos Alfonso Macias Valadez Elias ) 한국스페인어문학회 2013 스페인어문학 Vol.0 No.66

El Acuerdo del Pacífico, un Nuevo Horizonte para la Integración Americana

Carlos Alfonso Macías Valadez Elias 부산외국어대학교 이베로아메리카연구소 2011 이베로아메리카 Vol.13 No.2

Several attempts aimed at integrating the Americas have emerged since the independence movements in this continent until these current times. Nevertheless, these efforts have been, somehow, scarce and fruitless. Thus, nowadays the integration level in the American Continent is, relatively, meager if it is taken into account the outstanding evolution of the European amalgamation. Undoubtedly, in this current globalization dynamic, the economic integration has been the most viable, pragmatic and convenient kind of integration for the nations around the world. Due to the previously stated, it has been pursued by most of the countries in recent decades. In this regard, it could be argued that this kind of alliances has been successfully achieved at a sub-regional level in the Americas, mentioning blocs such as: Andean Community of Nations, MERCOSUR and NAFTA. Notwithstanding, the proposals aimed at achieving a hemispherical economic integration, such as ALCA or ALBA, have been unsuccessful. However, finally after a tough evolutionary process, it has emerged an encouraging agreement that will change the course of history in the Americas: Acuerdo del Pacífico. This aforementioned treatment, signed on 28th April 2011, not only establishes a common market among Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru; but also, at the same time, traces a new path for the American integration. Throughout this academic research, the origins and development of Acuerdo del Pacífico shall be deeply analyzed, as well as the existing connections and implications among this agreement, ALBA and ALCA.