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We describe a striking new species of Grallaria antpitta from wet, upper subtropical forest in the upper Rio Chinchipe drainage, provincia Zamora-Chinchipe, Ecuador. Notes on its natural history and molecular systematics are presented along with spectrograms of its voice. The species is readily diagnosed by its large size, unique white facial markings, and voice. Initial results from DNA sequence analyses place the new species in a well-supported clade that includes Grallaria nuchalis (which is syntopic with the new species), G. hypoleuca, G. watkinsi, and G. ruficapilla.

Recently there is an increased interest in developing magnetic semiconductors due to their promising applications in spintronics. The semiconductors can be made ferromagnetic by doping with transition-metal ions. In this paper, the results of our studies using x-ray diffraction (XRD) and IR and Raman spectroscopic techniques on the effect of Fe doping on the structural properties of SnO2 are presented. The XRD results showed that the doping affects the structure and the lattice constants decrease as doping concentration increases, reaches a minimum, and again increases. The doped samples are under compressive strain and the strain is maximum for the sample doped with 3% (at. %) Fe. The grain size of the nanoparticles decreases from 42 nm in undoped SnO2 to 26 nm in Sn0.90Fe0.10O2. It was observed that the preferred orientation is along the (101) direction and both texture coefficient and preferential orientation show a dependence on doping level. The Raman spectra showed clear evidences of the change in grain size and incorporation of Fe into the crystal lattice. The Raman bands observed in the 700 cm-1 region are assigned to the vibrational local modes of the Fe3+ ions which are occupying the sites of Sn4+ ions. The intensities of the Raman bands showed a strong dependence on the doping concentration. The decrease in intensity of the Sn–O symmetric stretching band at 630 cm-1 for higher doping concentrations is explained to be due to the decrease in grain size. A striking correlation is found between the Fe Raman mode intensities and the ferromagnetic magnetization of Sn1-xFexO2, suggesting that the ferromagnetic behavior results from Fe3+ ions incorporated in the host SnO2 lattice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation proposes, the evaluation of the clean and organic technological components, with and without Tríchoderma for the management of the Moravian culture of Castile (Rubus Glaucus Benth) in the cantons Cevallos and Tisaleo belonging to the province of Tungurahua-Ecuador. The experimental design of randomized complete blocks (BCA) was used in factorial arrangement 2*2+1 with three, observing the clean management with 3 eyeles of Trichoderma (T3), presented the best results when evaluating numbers of buds per branch, fertilized flowers, fruits per branch and yield reaching the latter 19036.35 kg/ha for Cevallos and 24973.09 kg/ha for Tisaleo, Both the incidence and severity of Oídium, Botrytis and Peronospora were recorded in the organic management (A2), from the economic point of view in the town of Cevallos the treatment that presented lower costs that vary, the management of the producer without Tríchoderma spp (T7) with 634.99 USD, while the treatment Organic management with 3 cycles of Tríchoderma spp (T6) presented higher costs that vary with 1039.89 USD. According to the net benefit, it was determined that the Clean Management treatment plus 3 cycles of Tríchoderma spp (T3) presented a higher net benefit with USD 24764.26, while for the Producer Management without Tríchoderma spp. (T7) presented the lowest net profit with 6623.908 USD; evidencing treatment 3 as a new clean production alternative that reduces the use of agrochemicals and improves the production of arrears in the Andean zone of Ecuador.

Fe doped TiO samples were synthesized using sol-gel technique and its incorporation was studied using different experimental tools such as XRD, HRTEM, and XPS. It was observed that the TiO maintains the anatase phase when the Fe doping concentration is below 3 % or below. A structural transformation from anatase to rutile was observed when the doping concentration reaches 4 %. Fe doping inhibits the crystalline growth and the crystal size of 3 % Fe doped TiO was half of the undoped TiO. The Fe segregation in TiO was identified by studying HAADF images. The Fe doping caused an apparent red shift in the absorption edge of TiO. Photocatalytic experiments show that Fe doping has considerably improved the decomposition of the organic component. With 0.5 % Fe doped TiO in 120 min, 88 % of the dye was degraded compared to 44 % degradation achieved by pure TiO. The slight decrease in the photocatalytic activity for the 4 % Fe: TiO can be attributed to the change in structural phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The University at Albany Prevention Research Center, guided by a needs assessment in two underserved communities (one urban, one rural), initiated a pilot project that opened a public school for community walking in a rural setting. This study examined a 9-week program for potential barriers, benefits, influential factors, and the physical activity levels of program participants. Evaluation was based on daily logs, pedometer diaries, participant surveys, and focus groups. Results indicated that rural schools provide a useful resource for residents and increase participants' physical activity levels. A more comprehensive rural community walking program has been implemented as a result of these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]