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In the SARS-CoV-2 lineage, RNA elements essential for its viral life cycle, including genome replication and gene expression, have been identified. Still, the precise structures and functions of these RNA regions in coronaviruses remain poorly understood. This lack of knowledge points out the need for further research to better understand these crucial aspects of viral biology and, in time, prepare for future outbreaks. In this research, the in silico analysis of the cis RNA structures that act in the alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and deltacoronavirus genera has provided a detailed view of the presence and adaptation of the structures of these elements in coronaviruses. The results emphasize the importance of these cis elements in viral biology and their variability between different viral variants. Some coronavirus variants in some groups, depending on the cis element (stem-loop1 and -2; pseudoknot stem-loop1 and -2, and s2m), exhibited functional adaptation. Additionally, the conformation flexibility of the s2m element in the SARS variants was determined, suggesting a coevolution of this element in this viral group. The variability in secondary structures suggests genomic adaptations that may be related to replication processes, genetic regulation, as well as the specific pathogenicity of each variant. The results suggest that RNA structures in coronaviruses can adapt and evolve toward different viral variants, which has important implications for viral adaptation, pathogenicity, and future therapeutic strategies.

Objective: The study objective was to determine if intraoperative peritoneal catheter placement is associated with improved outcomes in neonates undergoing high-risk cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Methods: This propensity score–matched retrospective study used data from 22 academic pediatric cardiac intensive care units. Consecutive neonates undergoing Society of Thoracic Surgeons–European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery category 3 to 5 cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass at centers participating in the NEonatal and Pediatric Heart Renal Outcomes Network collaborative were studied to determine the association of the use of an intraoperative placed peritoneal catheter for dialysis or passive drainage with clinical outcomes, including the duration of mechanical ventilation. Results: Among 1490 eligible neonates in the NEonatal and Pediatric Heart Renal Outcomes Network dataset, a propensity-matched analysis was used to compare 395 patients with peritoneal catheter placement with 628 patients without peritoneal catheter placement. Time to extubation and most clinical outcomes were similar. Postoperative length of stay was 5 days longer in the peritoneal catheter placement cohort (17 vs 22 days, P = .001). There was a 50% higher incidence of moderate to severe acute kidney injury in the no-peritoneal catheter cohort (12% vs 18%, P = .02). Subgroup analyses between specific treatments and in highest risk patients yielded similar associations. Conclusions: This study does not demonstrate improved outcomes among neonates with placement of a peritoneal catheter during cardiac surgery. Outcomes were similar apart from longer hospital stay in the peritoneal catheter cohort. The no-peritoneal catheter cohort had a 50% higher incidence of moderate to severe acute kidney injury (12% vs 18%). This analysis does not support indiscriminate peritoneal catheter use, although it may support the utility for postoperative fluid removal among neonates at risk for acute kidney injury. A multicenter controlled trial may better elucidate peritoneal catheter effects.

Background: Proton therapy (PT) has unique biologic properties with excellent clinical outcomes for the management of localized prostate cancer. Here, we aim to characterize the toxicity of PT for patients with localized prostate cancer and propose mitigation strategies using a large institutional database. Methods: We reviewed medical records of 2772 patients with localized prostate cancer treated with definitive PT between May 2006 through January 2020. Disease risk was stratified according to National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines as low [LR, n = 640]; favorable-intermediate [F-IR, n = 849]; unfavorable-intermediate [U-IR, n = 851]; high [HR, n = 315]; or very high [VHR, n = 117]. Descriptive statistics and Kaplan-Meier estimates assessed toxicity and freedom from biochemical relapse (FFBR). Results: Median follow-up was 7.0 years. The median dose was 78 Gy(RBE)(range: 72–79.2 Gy) in 2.0 Gy(RBE) fractions; 63 % of patients received 78 Gy(RBE) in 39 fractions, and 29 % received 76 Gy(RBE) in 38 fractions. Overall rates of late grade ≥3 GU and GI toxicity were 0.87 % and 1.01 %, respectively. Two patients developed grade 4 late GU toxicity and seven patients with grade 4 late GI toxicity. All patients experiencing severe late grade 4 toxicities were treated to 78 Gy(RBE) in 39 fractions with 80 Gy(RBE) dose to the anterior rectal wall and/or bladder neck. The 10-year FFBR rates for patients with LR to U-IR disease were compared between those treated with 76 and 78 Gy(RBE); the rates were 94.5 % (95 % confidence interval [CI] 92.4–96.0 %) and 93.2 % (95 % CI 91.3–95.7 %), respectively (log-rank p = 0.22). Conclusions: Proton therapy is associated with low rates of late grade ≥3 GU and GI toxicity. While rare, late grade 4 toxicities occurred in nine (0.3 %) patients. De-escalation to a total dose of 76 Gy(RBE) yields excellent clinical outcomes for patients with LR to U-IR disease with the potential for significant reductions in grade ≥3 late toxicity.

Abstract Black flounder (Paralichthys orbignyanus, Pleuronectiformes) is a commercially significant marine fish with promising aquaculture potential in Argentina. Despite extensive studies on Black flounder aquaculture, its limited genetic information available hampers the crucial role genetics plays in the development of this activity. In this study, we first employed Illumina sequencing technology to sequence the entire genome of Black flounder. Utilizing two independent libraries—one from a female and another from a male—with 150 bp paired-end reads, a mean insert length of 350 bp, and over 35 X-fold coverage, we achieved assemblies resulting in a genome size of ~ 538 Mbp. Analysis of the assemblies revealed that more than 98% of the core genes were present, with more than 78% of them having more than 50% coverage. This indicates a somehow complete and accurate genome at the coding sequence level. This genome contains 25,231 protein-coding genes, 445 tRNAs, 3 rRNAs, and more than 1,500 non-coding RNAs of other types. Black flounder, along with pufferfishes, seahorses, pipefishes, and anabantid fish, displays a smaller genome compared to most other teleost groups. In vertebrates, the number of transposable elements (TEs) is often correlated with genome size. However, it remains unclear whether the sizes of introns and exons also play a role in determining genome size. Hence, to elucidate the potential factors contributing to this reduced genome size, we conducted a comparative genomic analysis between Black flounder and other teleost orders to determine if the small genomic size could be explained by repetitive elements or gene features, including the whole genome genes and introns sizes. We show that the smaller genome size of flounders can be attributed to several factors, including changes in the number of repetitive elements, and decreased gene size, particularly due to lower amount of very large and small introns. Thus, these components appear to be involved in the genome reduction in Black flounder. Despite these insights, the full implications and potential benefits of genome reduction in Black flounder for reproduction and aquaculture remain incompletely understood, necessitating further research.

Invasive mechanical ventilation is essential in the management of the critically ill patient. However, unnecessarily prolonging it can bring serious complications. The spontaneous breathing trial is one of the most important assessments to make the decision to withdraw this vital support. This trial consists of simulating post-extubation ventilation and thus recognizing patients who are in a condition to withdraw ventilatory support. Although its application is widely recommended, there are various methodologies for carrying out the trial. The goal of this article is to present a narrative review of the different ways of performing spontaneous breathing trials, the evidence, and its application in different clinical scenarios.

Flooding associated with Hurricane Maria in 2017 had devastating consequences for lives and livelihoods in Puerto Rico. Yet, an understanding of current and future flood risk on small islands like Puerto Rico is limited. Thus, efforts to build resilience to flooding associated with hurricanes remain constrained. Here, we take an event set of hurricane rainfall estimates from a synthetic hurricane rainfall simulator as the input to an event-based rainfall-driven flood inundation model using the hydrodynamic code LISFLOOD-FP. Validation of our model against high-water-mark data for Hurricane Maria demonstrates the suitability of this model for estimating flood hazard in Puerto Rico. We produce event-based flood hazard and population exposure estimates for the present day and the future under the 1.5 and 2 ∘C Paris Agreement goals. Population exposure to flooding from hurricane rainfall in Puerto Rico for the present-day climate is approximately 8 %–10 % of the current population for a 5-year return period, with an increase in population exposure to flooding by 2 %–15 % and 1 %–20 % under 1.5 and 2 ∘C futures (5-year return period). This research demonstrates the significance of the 1.5 ∘C Paris Agreement goal for Small Island Developing States, providing the first event-based estimates of flooding from hurricane rainfall under climate change for a small island.

In the search for insects as biological control agents for the water primrose, the delphacid Pissonotus paraguayensis (Delphacidae) was found on Ludwigia grandiflora subsp. hexapetala (Onagraceae) in a wetland of Central East Argentina. The morphology of the unknown females (brachypterous and macropterous) and immature stages are described and illustrated. Adults and nymphs were collected in wetlands of Del Plata River Basin, from Buenos Aires to the northeastern part of Argentina. A rearing methodology was developed to perform biological studies. Both winged forms and structural features of the female genitalia are described for the first time at the genus level. Eggs and immature stages are described and keyed; fifth nymphal instars may be easily recognised by the yellowish colouration, blackish on dorsal of head, thorax and abdomen with conspicuous yellowish pits, ventrally only darkened on base of frons extended to lower level of eyes and dorsal surface of antennomeres I and II, and legs with distinctive black marks at femoro-tibial joint and apex. The geographical distribution is updated, expanding its range into Argentina, making Buenos Aires the southernmost limit of the genus in America. Biological information of the species is also reported here: life cycle, fecundity, oviposition behaviour, and host plant. Field observations showed that P. paraguayensis breeds, feeds, and causes damage to L. g. subsp. hexapetala. This delphacid presents a certain degree of specificity to the Ludwigia species in the Jussiaea section in host specificity tests. More studies are required to test this species as a potential biological control agent.

This paper presents Kawak, a GIS-bigdata model for merging retrospective meteorological data with ground-based observations to achieve comprehensive territorial coverage. This model identifies areas without active ground-based stations and creates virtual stations for these areas. Kawak incorporates AI algorithms for conducting spatio-temporal studies, enabling seamless merging and exploration of climate patterns. We implemented Kawak in a prototype and conducted an exploratory case study by fusing temperature records from MERRA-2 with EMAS ground-based observations in Mexico over 33 years. The findings include: (i) Missing data and outliers in ground-based observations increased over time; (ii) Ground-station territorial coverage gradually reduced; (iii) Differences between ground-based and reanalysis observations were 1.95 and 1.91 Celsius degrees for maximum and minimum yearly temperatures; (iv) Kawak replaces inactive ground stations with virtual stations based on MERRA data, ensuring complete territorial coverage. The implementation of this GIS-bigdata fusion model is a viable solution for achieving whole coverage and supporting decision-making processes based on temperature territory observations, such as defining plans for allocating or replacing ground stations, climate data quality assessment, refining climate models and enhancing the accuracy and reliability of temperature predictions, ultimately supporting effective climate monitoring, adaptation, and mitigation strategies.

Pteronotus gymnonotus (Wagner, 1843) has its northernmost distribution records in southeastern Mexico, where it is classified as an endangered species. In this report we communicate two northernmost extralimital acoustic records of the species in the state of Veracruz, obtained in 2018 and 2022. The average constant frequency of echolocation calls of P. gymnonotus was 56.5 kHz in Boca Andrea and 53.88 kHz in Buena Vista. Acoustic detection surveys of the conspicuous echolocation calls of the species would help much in the detection of the species in roosts and foraging habitats.

In the brain, perivascular fibroblasts (PVFs) reside within the perivascular spaces (PVSs) of arterioles and large venules, however their physiological and pathophysiological roles remain largely unknown. PVFs express numerous extracellular matrix proteins that are found in the basement membrane and PVS surrounding large diameter vessels. PVFs are sandwiched between the mural cell layer and astrocytic endfeet, where they are poised to interact with mural cells, perivascular macrophages, and astrocytes. We draw connections between the more well-studied PVF pro-fibrotic response in ischemic injury and the less understood thickening of the vascular wall and enlargement of the PVS described in dementia and neurodegenerative diseases. We postulate that PVFs may be responsible for stability and homeostasis of the brain vasculature, and may also contribute to changes within the PVS during disease.

The açaí palm plays major socioeconomic importance to human populations in North Brazil. Damages caused by pest insects in the orchards are among the main factors that limit açaí production, mainly members of Coleoptera. However, rhinoceros beetles (Dynastinae) had never been observed damaging açaí palms. Here, we noticed the first occurrence of Oxyligyrus nasutus (Burmeister, 1847) (Melolonthidae: Dynastinae: Pentodontini) attacking young açaí plants in the locality of Nova Colônia, Capitão Poço municipality, Pará state, Brazil. The species was observed digging tunnels in the soil near attacked plants. The damages happened through perforation localized at the basal stem part, where the beetles feed on the heart of the palm, preventing its development. This event is a wake-up call for local farmers to avoid the intervention of the edges of floodplains that could be the natural habitat of these insects. In addition, it also represents the first record of O. nasutus from Brazil.

Area-based strategies for conservation include defining species richness and rarity hotspots. However, excluding vulnerable species (e.g., with restricted distribution and categorized as threatened), in establishing such hotspots may limit their representativeness, so the convenience of asserting them has been widely debated. To inform conservation assessments for the New World leaf-nosed bats (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae), we identified hotspots based simultaneously on species richness and rarity of 214 species. We projected species range maps on a 0.5° × 0.5° longitude-latitude grid, from which we built a presence-absence matrix with 6951 sites. Using range-diversity plots, we described richness-rarity hotspots (sites with high species richness and presence of rare species) and poorness-rarity hotspots (with low species richness and presence of rare species). We assess the representativeness of the hotspots within established protected areas using the World Database on Protected Areas. The richness-rarity hotspot was located in the Andean zone from Peru to Panama within which 46 species of phyllostomid bats are distributed and 37% of its surface is protected. While the poorness-rarity hotspot was located in the northern region of Mexico and the Caribbean with 50 phyllostomid bats species and 19% of its surface protected. We hope that our analysis represents a relevant tool for the conservation of phyllostomid bats, which provide several ecosystem services and are currently facing different threats derived from anthropogenic activities.

Introduction:Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei, and Leishmania spp., commonly referred to as TriTryps, are a group of protozoan parasites that cause important human diseases affecting millions of people belonging to the most vulnerable populations worldwide. Current treatments have limited efficiencies and can cause serious side effects, so there is an urgent need to develop new control strategies. Presently, the identification and prioritization of appropriate targets can be aided by integrative genomic and computational approaches.Methods: In this work, we conducted a genome-wide multidimensional data integration strategy to prioritize drug targets. We included genomic, transcriptomic, metabolic, and protein structural data sources, to delineate candidate proteins with relevant features for target selection in drug development.Results and Discussion: Our final ranked list includes proteins shared by TriTryps and covers a range of biological functions including essential proteins for parasite survival or growth, oxidative stress-related enzymes, virulence factors, and proteins that are exclusive to these parasites. Our strategy found previously described candidates, which validates our approach as well as new proteins that can be attractive targets to consider during the initial steps of drug discovery.

Background: A number of published reports have linked agricultural pesticides (AP) to different illnesses, one of which is cancer. Our objectives were to estimate cancer incidence and death rates in small Argentine rural towns affected by AP; and to compare these estimations with indexes from Argentina's general population. Methodology: An epidemiologic house-to-house health survey conducted by last-year medical students was implemented in 8 small rural towns of the Province of Santa Fe- Argentina (8 T), each surrounded by fields sprayed with AP. The survey covered 27,644 people, accounting for 68% of the total 8 T population. Results: Odd-ratio between cancer incidence rate in 8 T and the general population was 1.37 (P

IntroductionGenomic analysis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) identifies phylogenetic variants, which may lead to distinct biological and clinical behaviors. The satellite hepatitis D virus (HDV) may also influence clinical outcomes in patients with hepatitis B. The aim of this study was to investigate HBV genetic variants, including clinically relevant mutations, and HDV infection in acute and chronic hepatitis B patients in central Argentina.MethodsA total of 217 adult HBV infected patients [acute (AHB): n = 79; chronic (CHB): n = 138] were studied; 67 were HBV/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfected. Clinical and demographic data were obtained from medical records. Serological markers were determined. Molecular detection of HBV and HDV was carried out by RT-Nested PCR, followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis.ResultsOverall, genotype (gt) F [sub-genotype (sgt) F1b] was the most frequently found. In AHB patients, the gts/sgts found were: F1b (74.7%) > A2 (13.9%) > F4 (7.6%) > C (2.5%) > A1 (1.3%). Among CHB patients: F1b (39.1%) > A2 (23.9%) > F4 (18.2%) > D (9.4%) > C and F6 (3.6% each) > A1, A3 and B2 (0.7% each). The distribution of sgt A2 and gt D was significantly different between HBV mono and HBV/HIV coinfected patients [A2: 15.9% vs. 35.7% (p < 0.05), respectively and D: 14.6% vs. 1.8% (p < 0.05), respectively]. Mutation frequency in basal core promoter/pre-Core (BCP/pC) region was 35.5% (77/217) [AHB: 20.3% (16/79), CHB: 44.2% (61/138)]. In the open reading frame (ORF) S, mutations associated with vaccine escape and diagnostic failure were detected in 7.8% of the sequences (17/217) [AHB: 3.8% (3/79), CHB: 10.1% (14/138)]. ORF-P amino acid substitutions associated with antiviral resistance were detected in 3.2% of the samples (7/217) [AHB: 1.3% (1/79), CHB 4.3%, (6/138)]. The anti-HDV seropositivity was 5.2% (4/77); one sample could be sequenced, belonging to gt HDV-1 associated with sgt HBV-D3.DiscussionWe detected an increase in the circulation of genotype F in Central Argentina, particularly among AHB patients, suggesting transmission advantages over the other genotypes. A low rate of mutations was detected, especially those with antiviral resistance implications, which is an encouraging result. The evidence of HDV circulation in our region, reported for the first time, alerts the health system for its search and diagnosis.

Abstract Environmental education seeks to foster an appreciation for nature and the impact of humans on it while introducing citizens to scientific thinking. Biological invasions affect different aspects of life on earth and mandate urgent management actions. Education and public awareness are strongly recommended for successful prevention and management of invasive alien species (IAS). This work presents a study on knowledge and perception of the educational community of Argentina about native species and IAS. We designed an on-line semi-structured questionnaire to examine perception of the environment, recognition of native species and IAS and awareness about biological invasions. Educators recognised an important number of biotic components, mostly represented by trees, birds and mammals. Recognition of native species and IAS, and awareness of biological invasions were different between NST (Natural Science Teachers) and non-NST. Respondents had different performances when they were exposed to recognising native species though written names or photographs. Out of 532 respondents, 56% knew what biological invasions are, 21% answered “Maybe” and 23% had never heard about them. We need to foster capacity-building and encourage a two-way communication between educators and scientists, formally and informally, to engage the participation of the whole society in recognition, prevention and management of IAS.

Abstract Background Whole-genome sequencing has shown that the Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection process can be more heterogeneous than previously thought. Compartmentalized infections, exogenous reinfections, and microevolution are manifestations of this clonal complexity. The analysis of the mechanisms causing the microevolution —the genetic variability of M. tuberculosis at short time scales— of a parental strain into clonal variants with a patient is a relevant issue that has not been yet completely addressed. To our knowledge, a whole genome sequence microevolution analysis in a single patient with inadequate adherence to treatment has not been previously reported. Case presentation In this work, we applied whole genome sequencing analysis for a more in-depth analysis of the microevolution of a parental Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain into clonal variants within a patient with poor treatment compliance in Argentina. We analyzed the whole-genome sequence of 8 consecutive Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates obtained from a patient within 57-months of intermittent therapy. Nineteen mutations (9 short-term, 10 fixed variants) emerged, most of them associated with drug resistance. The first isolate was already resistant to isoniazid, rifampicin, and streptomycin, thereafter the strain developed resistance to fluoroquinolones and pyrazinamide. Surprisingly, isolates remained susceptible to the pro-drug ethionamide after acquiring a frameshift mutation in ethA, a gene required for its activation. We also found a novel variant, (T-54G), in the 5′ untranslated region of whiB7 (T-54G), a region allegedly related to kanamycin resistance. Notably, discrepancies between canonical and phage-based susceptibility testing to kanamycin were previously found for the isolate harboring this mutation. In our patient, microevolution was mainly driven by drug selective pressure. Rare short-term mutations fixed together with resistance-conferring mutations during therapy. Conclusions This report highlights the relevance of whole-genome sequencing analysis in the clinic for characterization of pre-XDR and MDR resistance profile, particularly in patients with incomplete and/or intermittent treatment.

This article explores the possible meanings and functions (as well as the connotations) of Melibea’s garden within LC. The main goal is to understand the relationship between the representation of Melibea’s garden and its importance. The central question is: Could Melibea’s garden be a variation of the chronotope of hortus clausus that parodies the traditional Spanish medieval and modern literary production?

Worldwide, tropical montane cloud forest is one of the most important and biodiverse ecosystems; however, it is also one of those most threatened by anthropic activities. These activities lead to a fragmented, deforested landscape with narrow riparian forest strips immersed in an agricultural matrix dominated by pastures. Here, we characterize the interaction network between frugivorous birds and zoochorous plants in riparian strips of cloud forest in deforested landscapes of Central Veracruz, Mexico. To characterize the network of this mutualistic interaction, we estimated network- and species-level metrics using the Bipartite R package. Nestedness, modularity and robustness were used to describe network structure. Centrality measures of degree, closeness, betweenness centrality and their relative contribution to nestedness were used to determine the importance of each bird/plant species to the network’s structure. This interaction network has 24 species of birds and 30 species of plants, with low connectance (0.11), low nestedness (11.53), and intermediate but not significant modularity (0.49). The bird species most important to network stability were Chlorospingus flavopectus, Myadestes occidentalis, and Catharus mexicanus. The most important plants were Conostegia xalapensis, C. arborea, and Rubus ulmifolius. Network robustness varied from 0.36 to 0.86 and its stability is compromised when species of birds or plants with the highest values of centrality are removed, with plant removal more detrimental. Riparian strips of cloud forest crossing deforested areas maintain a relatively rich set of birds that disperse the seeds of many forest plants, thus they are crucial to the preservation of this mutualistic network in anthropic landscapes. Network stability is severely undermined by the loss of any of the few species — whether birds or plants — with high centrality values. The most important plants for this stability are pioneer tree and shrub species that provide food for several bird species, and they are also crucial to cloud forest regeneration. A worrisome finding is that some of the bird species most important to network stability are also among the most sought-after as ornamental birds by illegal collectors in the region.

Decades of successful use of antibiotics is currently challenged by the emergence of increasingly resistant bacterial strains. Novel drugs are urgently required but, in a scenario where private investment in the development of new antimicrobials is declining, efforts to combat drug-resistant infections become a worldwide public health problem. Reasons behind unsuccessful new antimicrobial development projects range from inadequate selection of the molecular targets to a lack of innovation. In this context, increasingly available omics data for multiple pathogens has created new drug discovery and development opportunities to fight infectious diseases. Identification of an appropriate molecular target is currently accepted as a critical step of the drug discovery process. Here, we review how diverse layers of multi-omics data in conjunction with structural/functional analysis and systems biology can be used to prioritize the best candidate proteins. Once the target is selected, virtual screening can be used as a robust methodology to explore molecular scaffolds that could act as inhibitors, guiding the development of new drug lead compounds. This review focuses on how the advent of omics and the development and application of bioinformatics strategies conduct a “big-data era” that improves target selection and lead compound identification in a cost-effective and shortened timeline.

Brachycyrtus pretiosus Cushman, 1936 is recorded from Venezuela for the first time. The green-lacewings species Ceraeochrysa valida (Banks, 1851) and Ceraeochrysa fairchildi (Banks, 1946) are considered as the first known recorded hosts of Brachycyrtus cosmetus (Walkley, 1956). Illustrations of the studied Brachycyrtus spp. Adults, final larval instar cephalic structures of B. cosmetus and maps with geographical distribution are provided.

Background: Cloud forest in central Veracruz is highly fragmented. However, different arboreal elements are still present within the agricultural matrix, including small patches of secondary forest, isolated trees and forested riparian belts. These elements could be important for cloud forest species conservation. Questions: What is the structure and composition of forested riparian belts within current anthropic landscapes, and what is their potential contribution as reservoirs of mountain cloud forest native plant species? Studied species: Vegetation community of forested riparian belts of cloud forest. Study site and dates: Eastern Mexico (central Veracruz), January to November 2018 Methods: Along 14 segments of riparian belts (?400 m long), distributed across different tributary streams, six 50 × 2 m transects were placed (three per riverside) per segment. Every plant rooted within a transect and ? 1.5 m in height was identified and measured (height and DBH). Results: A total of 2,062 plants from 161 species, 102 genera and 55 families were recorded in the 14 sites (8,400 m² sampled). Structural attributes and floristic composition varied widely amongst sites. Elevation and the amount of forest cover (i.e., area) within 500 m of each sampling site were the most important factors underlying the spatial variation in species composition. Conclusions: Riparian belts were remarkably heterogeneous harboring a notable richness of tree and shrub species many of them native of the original cloud forest. This diversity reveals that these arboreal elements are keystone structures for biodiversity conservation and also have a high potential as propagule sources for cloud forest restoration in anthropic landscapes.

This study was aimed at the identification of the Neuroptera (Insecta) obtained with McPhail traps in an orchard of native and exotic fruits in Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil (21°14’S / 48°17’W). Weekly sampling took place between May 2009 and April 2010. 187 specimens of Neuroptera were obtained: Nusalala tessellata (Gerstaecker, 1888) (Hemerobiidae) (176 specimens / 94.1% of the total), Leucochrysa cruentata (Schneider, 1851) (6 / 3.2%), Ceraeochrysa cubana (Hagen, 1861), Ceraeochrysa everes (Banks, 1920), Chrysoperla externa (Hagen, 1861), Leucochrysa affinis Freitas & Penny, 2001 and Leucochrysa rodriguezi (Navás, 1913) (Chrysopidae) (1 / 0.5%, each species). Nusalala tessellata was the most abundant species, with the highest frequencies recorded in August 2009 and March 2010; such frequencies coincided with the fructification of Vangueria madagascariensis Gmelin (Rubiaceae) and Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck (Rutaceae), respectively. The use of McPhail traps can assist in the detection of beneficial insects in agroecosystems and establishment of better sustainable control measures.

Earth observation satellites produce large amounts of images/data that not only must be processed and preserved in reliable geospatial platforms but also efficiently disseminated among partners/researchers for creating derivative products through collaborative workflows. Organizations can face up this challenge in a cost-effective manner by using cloud services. However, outages and violations of integrity/confidentiality associated to this technology could arise. This article presents FedIDS, a suite of cloud-based components for building dependable geospatial platforms. The Fed component enables organizations to build shared geospatial data infrastructure through federation of independent cloud resources to withstand outages, whereas IDS avoids violations of integrity/confidentiality of images/data in sharing information and collaboration workflows. A FedIDS prototype, deployed in Spain and Mexico, was evaluated through a study case based on a satellite imagery captured by a Mexican antenna and another based on a satellite imagery of a European observation mission. The acquisition, storage and sharing of images among users of the federation, the exchange of images between Mexican and Spanish sites and outage scenarios were evaluated. The evaluation revealed the feasibility, reliability and efficiency of FedIDS, in comparison with available solutions, in terms of performance, storage consume and integrity/confidentiality when sharing images/data in collaborative scenarios.

Abstract During cortical development, neurons undergo polarization, oriented migration and layer-type differentiation. The biological and biochemical mechanisms underlying these processes are not completely understood. In neurons in culture we showed that IGF-1 receptor activation is important for growth cone assembly and axonal formation. However, the possible roles of the insulin like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) on neuronal differentiation and polarization in vivo in mammals have not yet been studied. Using in utero electroporation, we show here that the IGF-1R is essential for neocortical development. Neurons electroporated with a shRNA targeting IGF-1 receptor failed to migrate to the upper cortical layers and accumulated at the ventricular/subventricular zones. Co-electroporation with a constitutively active form of PI3K rescued migration. The change of the morphology from multipolar to bipolar cells was also attenuated. Cells lacking the IGF-1 receptor remain arrested as multipolar forming a highly disorganized tissue. The typical orientation of the migrating neurons with the Golgi complex oriented toward the cortical upper layers was also affected by electroporation with shRNA targeting IGF-1 receptor. Finally, cells electroporated with the shRNA targeting IGF-1 receptor were unable to form an axon and, therefore, neuron polarity was absent.

This paper presents the results obtained from a post-occupancy evaluation (POE) study conducted in an old fabric building called “La Violeta”. This structure has been recently converted into a contemporary art gallery. La Violeta is located in Puebla City, Mexico. The building dates from the beginning of the 19th century; it was built and used as a textile factory until the first decades of the 20th century. This POE study aims to assess the new use of the building from the users׳ point of view. Methodology involves historical research of the building, analysis of the conversion strategy, walkthrough investigation, and a user survey. Questions regarding the re-utilization strategy used in the building and its current use are included in the survey, such as “How do people perceive the space regarding its functionality, accessibility, and comfort?” Although the re-utilization process destroyed several historic elements, the re-use of old industrial spaces that otherwise would be obsolete and disused seems pertinent. Developing small renovation projects as part of an integral and wider project seems feasible. Users perceive the building as comfortable but not properly advertised as an art gallery, and its location is difficult to find.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 40% of tuberculosis (TB) cases are not diagnosed and treated correctly. Even though there are several diagnostic tests available in the market, rapid, easy, inexpensive detection, and drug susceptibility testing (DST) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is still of critical importance specially in low and middle-income countries with high incidence of the disease. In this work, we have developed a microscopy-based methodology using the reporter mycobacteriophage mCherrybombϕ for detection of Mycobacterium spp. and phenotypic determination of rifampicin resistance within just days from sputum sample collection. Fluoromycobacteriophage methodology is compatible with regularly used protocols in clinical laboratories for TB diagnosis and paraformaldehyde fixation after infection reduces biohazard risks with sample analysis by fluorescence microscopy. We have also set up conditions for discrimination between M. tuberculosis complex (MTBC) and non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) strains by addition of p-nitrobenzoic acid (PNB) during the assay. Using clinical isolates of pre-XDR and XDR-TB strains from this study, we tested mCherrybombΦ for extended DST and we compared the antibiotic resistance profile with those predicted by whole genome sequencing. Our results emphasize the utility of a phenotypic test for M. tuberculosis extended DST. The many attributes of mCherrybombΦ suggests this could be a useful component of clinical microbiological laboratories for TB diagnosis and since only viable cells are detected this could be a useful tool for monitoring patient response to treatment.

FDTD method opened a fertile research area on the numerical analysis of electromagnetic phenomena under a wide range of media and propagation conditions, providing an extensive analysis of electromagnetic behaviour like propagation, reflection, refraction, and multitrajectory phenomena. In this paper, we present an optimised FDTD-CPML algorithm, focused in saving memory while increasing the performance of the algorithm. We particularly implement FDTD-CPML method at high frequency bands, used in several telecommunications applications as well as in nanoelectromagnetism. We show an analysis of the performance of the algorithm in single and double precision, as well as a stability of the algorithm analysis, from where we conclude that the implemented CPML ABC constitutes a robust choice in terms of precision and accuracy for the high frequencies herein considered. It is important to recall that the CPML ABC parameters provided in this paper are fixed for the tested range of frequencies, that is, from MHz to THz.

La manzanita (Arctostaphylos pungens) es un arbusto que se encuentra con regularidad en la Sierra Fría del estado de Aguascalientes, México. Este arbusto, al igual que otras plantas silvestres, es afectado por factores bióticos, como las enfermedades, que pueden causar desde daños insignificantes hasta la muerte de las plantas. Los objetivos de este trabajo fueron: 1) identificar los hongos relacionados con el declinamiento de la manzanita en la Sierra Fría de Aguascalientes y 2) conocer la incidencia y severidad de las enfermedades causadas por hongos que afectan tallos y ramas de la manzanita. En cada uno de los sitios visitados se realizó un transecto, de dimensiones variables, en una dirección determinada al azar, que incluyó 100 arbustos, para revisar y estimar: a) el porcentaje de plantas sanas, enfermas y muertas, y b) la incidencia, severidad y distribución de las enfermedades. Los fitopatógenos se identificaron con base en los síntomas y signos que causan comparándolos con lo reportado en la bibliografía. Las enfermedades más importantes resultaron las causadas por los hongos basidiomicetosInonotus aff. jamaicensisyPhellinus arctostaphyli,que causan pudrición blanca de la madera y cancrosis en la base del tallo y en ramas.Inonotus aff. jamaicensisse encontró en 20 de los 21 sitios muestreados variando su incidencia de 3 a 25%, mientras queP. arctostaphylise encontró en 17 de los 21 sitios muestreados variando su incidencia de 1 a 25%. La severidad de las cancrosis varió de 2 a 44 %. También, se identificaron manchas foliares causadas porHarknessia arctostaphyli,Coccomyces spp., yPassalora spp. Se reporta por primera ocasión la presencia dePhellinus arctostaphylien Aguascalientes. Se reporta por primera vez en México la presencia deInonotus aff. jamaicensis,Harknessia arctostaphyli,Coccomyces spp.yPassalora spp.

Inspecciones de campo realizadas sobre Parkinsonia aculeata L. en el Norte-centro de Argentina entre 2008 y 2011 revelaron la presencia del mosquito agallícola Neolasioptera aculeatae Gagné (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). La presencia de las agallas de N. aculeatae está restringida a la distribución norte de P. aculeata. La disección de agallas recolectadas a lo largo del año, reveló la presencia de larvas y/o pupas en distintos estados fenológicos de P. aculeata. La emergencia de adultos de N. aculeatae tuvo lugar 13 a 34 días desde la recolección en el campo y se extendió por un período promedio de 22 días. Entre once especies de leguminosas inspeccionadas en el campo, adultos de N. aculeatae emergieron únicamente de agallas recolectadas sobre P. aculeata. Los atributos biológicos y el restringido conjunto de plantas hospederas utilizadas en el campo, hacen de N. aculeatae un agente promisorio para el control biológico de P. aculeata.