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Abstract Wetland ecosystems are vital for both biodiversity and communities that depend on them. The Ligawasan Marsh in the southern part of the Philippines is one of the most threatened wetlands in the country. Apart from increasing anthropogenic development, wetlands have faced warfare-driven threats that have hindered research and conservation efforts in the area for many decades. Our study is the first to investigate the patterns of physicochemical parameters, patterns of land use cover, and the relationship between land use change and marshland environmental status. We also developed the Marshland Impact Area (MARia) index to assess the potential impact contributions of the surrounding towns. We found a strong negative correlation between dissolved oxygen (DO) and indicators of pollution such as biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and heavy metals. Interestingly, we observed elevated levels of phosphate and mercury at all sampling sites in the Ligawasan Marsh. Our landscape-level modelling showed that these elevated levels are associated with expanding croplands and urbanisation surrounding the marsh. We found that the potential impact contribution of cropland and urbanisation from surrounding towns of the Ligawasan Marsh varied significantly, suggesting the importance of implementing local policies to reduce land use change impacts. With the current yet remaims limited knowledge and beyond safe pollution levels in the Ligawasan Marsh, it is crucial to implement collaborative and science-based governance to integrate conservation initiatives with the priorities of global targets, such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, for a comprehensive and sustainable approach to Ligawasan Marsh conservation.

Antecedentes: El cuestionario de discapacidad de brazo, hombro y mano (DASH, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand) mide el impacto de patologías del miembro superior en la calidad de vida. Sin embargo, su uso en la población mexicana no ha sido formalmente validado. Objetivo: Realizar la adaptación cultural y validación del cuestionario DASH para conocer la perspectiva de pacientes con trastornos neurogénicos del miembro superior respecto al impacto en su calidad de vida. Método: Se realizó una adaptación al vocabulario mexicano de la versión española del cuestionario DASH y se aplicó en 478 voluntarios. Se estimaron el efecto techo, el efecto suelo, la correlación ítem-total, las medidas de tendencia central de ítems y el puntaje total, la consistencia interna, la precisión y la validez transversal y longitudinal mediante la comparación de individuos sanos y enfermos con diferente nivel de discapacidad. Resultados: Nuestra versión del cuestionario DASH resultó equivalente a las previamente aprobadas y mostró homogeneidad de los ítems respecto al valor total del cuestionario (alfa de Cronbach > 0.96). Además, tuvo una precisión de 7.25 puntos y se documentó la validez transversal y longitudinal con diferencias significativas entre grupos y subgrupos con diferente nivel de discapacidad. Conclusiones: El cuestionario DASH puede ser empleado con un nivel de confianza alto en la población mexicana.

Recent advancements in additive manufacturing technologies and topology optimization techniques have catalyzed a transformative shift in the design of architected materials, enabling increasingly complex and customized configurations. This study delves into the realm of engineered cellular materials, spotlighting their capacity to modulate the propagation of mechanical waves through the strategic creation of phononic band gaps. Focusing on the design of sandwich panels with cellular truss cores, we aim to harness these band gaps to achieve pronounced wave suppression within specific frequency ranges. Our methodology combines surrogate modeling with a comprehensive global optimization strategy, employing three machine learning algorithms—k-Nearest Neighbors (kNN), Random Forest Regression (RFR), and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN)—to construct predictive models from parameterized finite element (FE) analyses. These models, once trained, are integrated with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to refine the panel designs. This approach not only facilitates the discovery of optimal truss core configurations for targeted phononic band gaps but also showcases a marked increase in computational efficiency over traditional optimization methods, particularly in the context of designing for diverse target frequencies.

IntroductionDespite increasing survival of children following hospitalization, hospitalization may increase iatrogenic risk for mental health (MH) disorders, including acute stress, post-traumatic stress, anxiety, or depression. Using a population-based retrospective cohort study, we assessed the rates of new MH diagnoses during the 12 months after hospitalization, including the moderating effects of ICU exposure.Study design/methodsThis was a retrospective case control study using the Truven Health Analytics insurance database. Inclusion criteria included children aged 3–21 years, insurance enrollment for >12 months before and after hospital admission. We excluded children with hospitalization 2 years prior to index hospitalization and those with prior MH diagnoses. We extracted admission type, ICD-10 codes, demographic, clinical, and service coordination variables from the database. We established age- and sex-matched cohorts of non-hospitalized children. The primary outcome was a new MH diagnosis. Multivariable regression methods examined the risk of incident MH disorder(s) between hospitalized and non-hospitalized children. Among hospitalized children, we further assessed effect modification from ICU (vs. non-ICU) stay, admission year, length of stay, medical complexity, and geographic region.ResultsNew MH diagnoses occurred among 19,418 (7%) hospitalized children, 3,336 (8%) ICU-hospitalized children and 28,209 (5%) matched healthy controls. The most common MH diagnoses were anxiety (2.5%), depression (1.9%), and stress/trauma (2.2%) disorders. Hospitalization increased the odds of new MH diagnoses by 12.3% (OR: 1.123, 95% CI: 1.079–1.17) and ICU-hospitalization increased these odds by 63% (OR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.483–1.79) as compared to matched, non-hospitalized children. Children with non-complex chronic diseases (OR: 2.91, 95% CI: 2.84–2.977) and complex chronic diseases (OR: 5.16, 95% CI: 5.032–5.289) had a substantially higher risk for new MH diagnoses after hospitalization compared to patients with acute illnesses.ConclusionPediatric hospitalization is associated with higher, long-term risk of new mental health diagnoses, and ICU hospitalization further increases that risk within 12 months of the acute episode. Acute care hospitalization confers iatrogenic risks that warrant long-term mental and behavioral health follow-up.

Objetivo: La obesidad es una epidemia mundial que afecta a países subdesarrollados. Su relación con los resultados de la cirugía de columna lumbar electiva sigue siendo controvertida, especialmente en obesos sin enfermedad mórbida. Métodos: Se revisaron los expedientes de pacientes con degeneración de la columna lumbar sometidos a cirugía. Los datos recuperados incluyeron características demográficas y clínicas, índice de masa corporal (IMC), estado de obesidad (IMC > 30), intervenciones quirúrgicas, sangrado estimado, tiempo operatorio, tiempo de estancia y complicaciones. Los resultados se compararon entre individuos obesos grado I-II y controles. Resultados: Se incluyeron 53 pacientes, 18 con obesidad de grado I-II. La edad media fue de 51 años, sin diferencias en el sexo, las comorbilidades, los parámetros de laboratorio y los procedimientos quirúrgicos recibidos entre grupos. No se encontraron diferencias relevantes entre los participantes obesos y los no obesos en sangrado (300 vs. 250 mL, p = 0.069), tiempo operatorio (3.2 vs. 3.0 horas, p = 0.037) y estancia (6 vs. 5 días, p = 0.3). El IMC no se asoció con hemorragia y larga estancia, pero mostró una correlación modesta con el tiempo operatorio. Conclusiones: La obesidad grado I-II no predispone a complicaciones durante la cirugía de columna lumbar.

Este trabajo documenta el primer registro de anomalías cromáticas en el pecarí de collar (Pecari tajacu) y el tercero en el mapache (Procyon lotor) para México. Los hallazgos se realizaron durante el monitoreo realizado entre el 2009 y el 2021, utilizando cámaras-trampa, principalmente en la ecorregión de la Sierra Madre del Sur del estado de Guerrero, México. Procyon lotor fue registrado entre el 5 de noviembre y el 1 de diciembre de 2019, en vegetación riparia de bosque tropical caducifolio (17°47’35”N, 98°39’59”W, 1134 m de altitud). Mientras que Pecari tajacu se registró el 7 de junio y el 22 de julio del 2021 en una brecha saca cosecha abandonada (17°38’12”N, 100°40’50”W; 1532 m de altitud).

Introduction and objectives: Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is not a rare cause of heart failure (HF). In Spain, more than 60% of HF patients admitted to hospitals are treated in Internal Medicine Services. REGAMIC is a registry designed by the HF Working Group of the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine to improve the suspicion criteria and the selection of patients in whom CA must be ruled out. The main objective is to evaluate the differential characteristics between two groups of HF patients with suspicion of CA: confirmed vs ruled out cases. The secondary objectives are to evaluate the data on which investigators have based the suspicion of CA, and to identify prognostic differences between both groups. Methods: A multicenter, observational, prospective, cohort study of at least 600 patients, with a 2-year follow-up. Inclusion criteria: patients of Internal Medicine Services, aged ≥ 18 years, with HF and left ventricular hypertrophy (septum or posterior wall ≥ 12 mm), with suspicion of CA. Clinical, electrocardiographic, echocardiographic, and follow-up data will be compared between both groups of patients. Results and discussion: If the recommendations of the 2021 European Society of Cardiology Consensus on CA are followed, a large number of patients should be studied to rule out CA. REGAMIC can improve the selection of patients in whom CA will be ruled out and make the study more cost-effective. Conclusions: Our registry aims to improve the knowledge about differential characteristics between HF patients with clinical suspicion of CA and may increase knowledge of the natural history of the disease.

This paper responds to a recent critique by Bissett et al. of the fMRI Stop task used in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development℠ Study (ABCD Study®). The critique focuses primarily on a task design feature related to race model assumptions (i.e., that the Go and Stop processes are fully independent). In response, we note that the race model is quite robust against violations of its assumptions. Most importantly, while Bissett raises conceptual concerns with the task we focus here on analyzes of the task data and conclude that the concerns appear to have minimal impact on the neuroimaging data (the validity of which do not rely on race model assumptions) and have far less of an impact on the performance data than the critique suggests. We note that Bissett did not apply any performance-based exclusions to the data they analyzed, a number of the trial coding errors they flagged were already identified and corrected in ABCD annual data releases, a number of their secondary concerns reflect sensible design decisions and, indeed, their own computational modeling of the ABCD Stop task suggests the problems they identify have just a modest impact on the rank ordering of individual differences in subject performance.

El aumento paulatino de las zonas impermeables en muchas de nuestras ciudades contribuye al aumento de los volúmenes de escorrentía superficial que, además, llegan a la red de drenaje o directamente al medio receptor sin ningún tipo de filtro proporcionado por la vegetación. En este contexto, exacerbado por los efectos de cambio climático que en muchas zonas del planeta están determinando un drástico aumento de las intensidades máximas de lluvia, los Sistemas Urbanos de Drenaje Sostenible (SUDS) constituyen una válida alternativa para hacer frente a estas problemáticas aportando, además, una larga serie de co-beneficios a nivel ambiental y social. El objetivo del presente estudio es plantear la implantación de cubiertas verdes en una nueva urbanización de la ciudad de Zaragoza y valorar sus beneficios hidráulicos, ambientales y socioeconómicos. El análisis de los beneficios hidráulicos y ambientales se ha realizado a través del software USEPA-SWMM5 que incluye un módulo específico para cubiertas verdes, permitiendo definir sus capas principales y sus efectos a nivel de parcela y de cuenca de estudio. A nivel hidrológico, las simulaciones llevadas a cabo para eventos de lluvia extremos (periodos de retorno de 2, 5 y 10 años), indican que la reducción de las puntas del hidrograma puede estar entre 31 y 38%, mientras la reducción en términos de volúmenes de escorrentía presenta un rango entre 17 y 27%. Con respecto a las simulaciones continuas de una serie anual de lluvia, la reducción de volúmenes de escorrentía variaría aproximadamente entre el 30% y el 37% dependiendo de la tipología de cubierta verde empleada. Finalmente, con relación a los parámetros de calidad de los caudales vertidos, la reducción de contaminantes sería muy significativa variando de un 92% a un 99% en función del tipo de contaminante y tipo de cubierta.

Introduction: Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) has been considered a rare disease, but different studies show that its prevalence is higher than previously thought. Previous studies carried out on the prevalence of CA are heterogeneous and provide inconclusive and changing data over time that do not allow us to know the real prevalence of this pathology. In Spain, 60% of patients with heart failure (HF) admitted to hospitals are cared for in Internal Medicine Services, and their follow-up is carried out by internists, but there are no prevalence studies in this type of Internal Medicine patients. The PREVAMIC is a study designed by the HF Working Group of the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine to known the Prevalence of CA in HF patients cared by internists. Objectives: The main objective is to estimate the prevalence of different types of CA in patients with HF, aged 65 years and older, with left ventricular hypertrophy, managed in Internal Medicine departments. Secondary objectives are to describe clinical, laboratory, and echocardiographic features of patients with CA and to compare 1-year readmissions and mortality rates in patients with and without CA. Methods: A multicenter, observational, cross-sectional, prospective, cohort study with a 1-year follow-up. Inclusion criteria: Inpatients or outpatients with HF, aged ≥ 65 years, both genders, with septum or posterior wall > 12 mm, under the care of internists. Conclusions: Our prospective investigation study aims to improve knowledge about the prevalence of CA in patients with HF treated in the Internal Medicine setting.

The objective of this study was to examine if longitudinal trajectories of hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) measured at two or three yearly time points can identify 1-3 year old children at risk for altered hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis function due to early life stress (ELS). HCC was measured (N = 575) in 265 children using a validated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Hair was sampled in Clinic Visits (CV) centered at years 1, 2, and 3 (n = 45); 1 and 2 (n = 98); 1 and 3 (n = 27); 2 and 3 (n = 95). Log-transformed HCC values were partitioned using latent class mixed models (LCMM) to minimize the Bayesian Information Criterion. Multivariable linear mixed effects models for ln-HCC as a function of fixed effects for age in months and random effects for participants (to account for repeated measures) were generated to identify the factors associated with class membership. Children in Class 1 (n = 69; 9% Black) evidenced declining ln-HCC across early childhood, whereas Class 2 members (n = 196; 43% Black) showed mixed trajectories. LCMM with only Class 2 members revealed Class 2A (n = 17, 82% Black) with sustained high ln-HCC and Class 2B (n = 179, 40% Blacks) with mixed ln-HCC profiles. Another LCMM limited to only Class 2B members revealed Class 2B1 (n = 65, 57% Black) with declining ln-HCC values (at higher ranges than Class 1), and Class 2B2 (n = 113, 30% Black) with sustained high ln-HCC values. Class 1 may represent hair cortisol trajectories associated with adaptive HPA-axis profiles, whereas 2A, 2B1, and 2B2 may represent allostatic load with dysregulated profiles of HPA-axis function in response to varying exposures to ELS. Sequential longitudinal hair cortisol measurements revealed the allostatic load associated with ELS and the potential for developing maladaptive or dysregulated HPA-axis function in early childhood.

Abstract A highly infectious tick‐borne virus causes Kyasanur Forest disease (KFD), which has been expanding in recent decades in India. Current studies do not provide an updated understanding of the disease trends and its expansion in India. We address this gap in the literature through a detailed review to reveal the annual historic expansion of KFD cases across the span of years from 1957 to 2017. In addition, we explore the factors that may have led to the geographic expansion of KFD. The annual numbers of cases of KFD among humans are estimated using peer‐reviewed journal articles, Pro‐MED database, historical and archived newspapers, and government reports, technical reports, publications, and medical websites. From 1957 to 2017, there were an estimated 9,594 cases of KFD within 16 districts in India. The most significant human outbreaks of the disease were in the years 1957–1958 (681 cases), 1983–1984 (2,589 cases), 2002–2003 (1,562 cases), and 2016–2017 (809 cases). In 2015, KFD appeared in Goa. In 2016, new cases emerged in Belgaum, a district in Karnataka state, and in the Sindhudurg district in Maharashtra state. The processes by which KFD persists and spreads are not clear, but demographic, socioeconomic, political, and environmental factors seem to play a role.

BackgroundSince 1999, West Nile virus (WNV) has moved rapidly across the United States, resulting in tens of thousands of human cases. Both the number of human cases and the minimum infection rate (MIR) in vector mosquitoes vary across time and space and are driven by numerous abiotic and biotic forces, ranging from differences in microclimates to socio-demographic factors. Because the interactions among these multiple factors affect the locally variable risk of WNV illness, it has been especially difficult to model human disease risk across varying spatial and temporal scales. Cook and DuPage Counties, comprising the city of Chicago and surrounding suburbs, experience some of the highest numbers of human neuroinvasive cases of WNV in the United States. Despite active mosquito control efforts, there is consistent annual WNV presence, resulting in more than 285 confirmed WNV human cases and 20 deaths from the years 2014-2018 in Cook County alone.MethodsA previous Chicago-area WNV model identified the fifty-five most high and low risk locations in the Northwest Mosquito Abatement District (NWMAD), an enclave ¼ the size of the combined Cook and DuPage county area. In these locations, human WNV risk was stratified by model performance, as indicated by differences in studentized residuals. Within these areas, an additional two-years of field collections and data processing was added to a 12-year WNV dataset that includes human cases, MIR, vector abundance, and land-use, historical climate, and socio-economic and demographic variables, and was assessed by an ultra-fine-scale (1 km spatial x 1 week temporal resolution) multivariate logistic regression model.ResultsMultivariate statistical methods applied to the ultra-fine-scale model identified fewer explanatory variables while improving upon the fit of the previous model. Beyond MIR and climatic factors, efforts to acquire additional covariates only slightly improved model predictive performance.ConclusionsThese results suggest human WNV illness in the Chicago area may be associated with fewer, but increasingly critical, key variables at finer scales. Given limited resources, these findings suggest large variations in model performance occur, depending on covariate availability, and provide guidance in variable selection for optimal WNV human illness modeling.

Se delimitaron 3 sectores con distinta intensidad de disturbio en un potrero de Digitaria eriantha, mediante la localización georeferenciada de una vaca de cría. Se registraron las heces presentes en 9 cuadros de muestreo de 144 m2 y cobertura de digitaria e invernales forrajeras antes y después del periodo de pastoreo en 3 transectas fijas de 10 m de largo, por sector. Para sintetizar la información de la vegetación, se aplicó el INTECO y se estimó la disponibilidad forrajera de 9 muestras de 0,5 m2 por sector. La concentración de heces decreció gradualmente al alejarse de la aguada. Las coberturas de Digitaria y forrajimasa luego del periodo de pastoreo disminuyeron en los 3 sectores, mientras la de invernales sólo lo hizo en cercano “C” y medio “M”. La condición forrajera establecida por INTECO, disminuyó una categoría luego del pastoreo en los sectores “C” y “M”, en “L” (lejos) hubo un mayor impacto debido al ingreso de animales externos. La geoposición de animales en pastoreo permite definir un gradiente de pastoreo, y las variables estudiadas corroboran dicho efecto. La identificación del gradiente de pastoreo respecto a la aguada es de suma importancia para mejorar el diseño de potreros y aguadas, y optimizar la eficiencia de cosecha forrajera.

Abstract Background The transmission of malaria is highly variable and depends on a range of climatic and anthropogenic factors. In addition, the dispersal of Anopheles mosquitoes is a key determinant that affects the persistence and dynamics of malaria. Simple, lumped-population models of malaria prevalence have been insufficient for predicting the complex responses of malaria to environmental changes. Methods and results A stochastic lattice-based model that couples a mosquito dispersal and a susceptible-exposed-infected-recovered epidemics model was developed for predicting the dynamics of malaria in heterogeneous environments. The It$$\hat{o}$$ o^ approximation of stochastic integrals with respect to Brownian motion was used to derive a model of stochastic differential equations. The results show that stochastic equations that capture uncertainties in the life cycle of mosquitoes and interactions among vectors, parasites, and hosts provide a mechanism for the disruptions of malaria. Finally, model simulations for a case study in the rural area of Kilifi county, Kenya are presented. Conclusions A stochastic lattice-based integrated malaria model has been developed. The applicability of the model for capturing the climate-driven hydrologic factors and demographic variability on malaria transmission has been demonstrated.

We report on differential reflectance contrast (DRC) sub-microscopic images measured of graphene layers exfoliated on a SiO2/Si substrate by using a near field scanning optical microscope (NSOM) with a spatial resolution of 40 nm. In general, high-quality mechanically exfoliated graphene flakes have sizes of some micrometers and exhibit a distribution of different thicknesses; thus an approach to characterize the topography of the flakes in the sub-micrometric regime is fundamental. DRC in the near field limit is a very useful technique to characterize the flakes in the sub-microscopic scale. The DRC signal is obtained by taking the numerical difference between the reflectivity coming from a region with no graphene (substrate) and a region containing a graphene layer. It is shown by a multiple reflection model (graphene/SiO2/Si) and spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements that the optical contrast in such system can be modulated by changing the thickness of the SiO2 layer or/and the wavelength of the incident light. The results open the possibility to use this optical technique for the thicknesses characterization in the sub-micrometer scale of 2D materials.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of the level of corn dry distillers grains with solubles (CDDGS) supplementation on growing performance, blood metabolites, digestion characteristics and ruminal fermentation patterns in steers grazing dormant forage. In Exp. 1, of growth performance, 120 steers (204±5 kg initial body weight [BW]) were distributed randomly into 3 groups (each of 40 steers), which were provided with the following levels of CDDGS supplement: 0%, 0.25%, or 0.50% BW. All groups of steers were grazed for 30 days in each of 3 grazing periods (March, April, and May). Approximately 1,000 ha of the land was divided with electric fencing into 3 equally sized pastures (333 ha in size). Blood samples were collected monthly from 20 steers in each grazing group for analysis of glucose (G), urea-nitrogen (UN) and non-esterified fatty acids. Final BW, average daily gain (ADG) and supplement conversion (CDDGS-C) increased with increasing levels of CDDGS supplementation (p

BACKGROUND:The transmission of malaria is highly variable and depends on a range of climatic and anthropogenic factors. This study investigates the combined, i.e. direct and indirect, impacts of climate change on the dynamics of malaria through modifications in: (i) the sporogonic cycle of Plasmodium induced by air temperature increase, and (ii) the life cycle of Anopheles vector triggered by changes in natural breeding habitat arising from the altered moisture dynamics resulting from acclimation responses of vegetation under climate change. The study is performed for a rural region in Kilifi county, Kenya. METHODS AND FINDINGS:We use a stochastic lattice-based malaria (SLIM) model to make predictions of changes in Anopheles vector abundance, the life cycle of Plasmodium parasites, and thus malaria transmission under projected climate change in the study region. SLIM incorporates a nonlinear temperature-dependence of malaria parasite development to estimate the extrinsic incubation period of Plasmodium. It is also linked with a spatially distributed eco-hydrologic modeling framework to capture the impacts of climate change on soil moisture dynamics, which served as a key determinant for the formation and persistence of mosquito larval habitats on the land surface. Malaria incidence data collected from 2008 to 2013 is used for SLIM model validation. Projections of climate change and human population for the region are used to run the models for prediction scenarios. Under elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration ([CO2]) only, modeled results reveal wetter soil moisture in the root zone due to the suppression of transpiration from vegetation acclimation, which increases the abundance of Anopheles vectors and the risk of malaria. When air temperature increases are also considered along with elevated [CO2], the life cycle of Anopheles vector and the extrinsic incubation period of Plasmodium parasites are shortened nonlinearly. However, the reduction of soil moisture resulting from higher evapotranspiration due to air temperature increase also reduces the larval habitats of the vector. Our findings show the complicated role of vegetation acclimation under elevated [CO2] on malaria dynamics and indicate an indirect but ignored impact of air temperature increase on malaria transmission through reduction in larval habitats and vector density. CONCLUSIONS:Vegetation acclimation triggered by elevated [CO2] under climate change increases the risk of malaria. In addition, air temperature increase under climate change has opposing effects on mosquito larval habitats and the life cycles of both Anopheles vectors and Plasmodium parasites. The indirect impacts of temperature change on soil moisture dynamics are significant and should be weighed together with the direct effects of temperature change on the life cycles of mosquitoes and parasites for future malaria prediction and control.

Abstract Background Various ecological and physiological mechanisms might influence the probability that two or more pathogens may simultaneously or sequentially infect a host individual. Concurrent infections can have important consequences for host condition and fitness, including elevated mortality risks. In addition, interactions between coinfecting pathogens may have important implications for transmission dynamics. Methods Here, we explore patterns of association between two common avian pathogens (West Nile virus and avian malaria parasites) among a suburban bird community in Chicago, IL, USA that share mosquito vectors. We surveyed 1714 individual birds across 13 species for both pathogens through established molecular protocols. Results Field investigations of haemosporidian and West Nile virus (WNV) infections among sampled birds yielded an inverse association between WNV serostatus and Plasmodium infection status. This relationship occurred in adult birds but not in juveniles. There was no evidence for a relationship between Haemoproteus infection and WNV serostatus. We detected similar prevalence of Plasmodium among birds captured with active WNV infections and spatiotemporally paired WNV-naïve individuals of the same species, demonstrating that the two pathogens can co-infect hosts. Conclusions Mechanisms explaining the negative association between WNV serostatus and Plasmodium infection status remain unclear and must be resolved through experimental infection procedures. However, our results highlight potential interactions between two common avian pathogens that may influence their transmission among hosts. This is especially relevant considering that West Nile virus is a common zoonotic pathogen with public health implications. Moreover, both pathogens are instructive models in infectious disease ecology, and infection with either has fitness consequences for their avian hosts.

The objective of this study was to identify and characterize yeast strains isolated from the ruminal ecosystem that are capable of enhancing fermentation in bovines that consume high-fibre diets recommended by livestock feed guidelines in Cuba. The yeasts were isolated from the rumen of Holsteincows that had been fed a biofermented product. Isolated colonies were purified, identified, and characterized using biochemical and molecular methods, and their effects on ruminal fermentation were compared by measuring in vitro gas production. Thirteen new strains enhancing gas production with potential use as additives in ruminal fermentation were identified and named Levica. These strains grew successfully in detection medium for non-Saccharomyces wild yeasts and had long survival periods in the rumen. PFGE analysis found four karyotypes and homology of D1/D2 domain of gene 26S rDNA sequence was similar to that of I. orientalis, R. mucilaginosa, P. guilliermondii, and C. tropicalis. Phylogenetic analysis classified the strains into clades A and B. Clade A was further divided into groups AI, AII, BI, and BII. The AI cluster contained Levica (L)23, L24, L29, L33, and formed a monophyletic group with I. orientalis, while group AII contained L18 and formed a monophyletic group with R. muciloginosa. The BI cluster contained L13, L15, L17, L27, L28, and L32, all derived from P. guilliermondii. Cluster BII was composed only of L25 located in a separate subclade, forming a monophyletic group with C. tropicalis. The most useful strain for preparing microbial feed products to improve ruminal fermentation was L25 because it showed an increase in gas production.

The objective of the study was to quantify annual and seasonal differences in the chemical composition, in vitro gas production, in situ degradability and ruminal fermentation of grazing steers’ diets. Diet samples were collected with four esophageal cannulated steers (350±3 kg BW); and four ruminally cannulated heifers (342±1.5 kg BW) were used to study the dry matter degradation and fermentation in rumen. Data were analyzed with repeated measurements split plot design. The crude protein, in vitro dry matter digestibility and metabolizable energy were higher during the first year of trial and in the summer (p

BACKGROUND: An association between class I and II alleles of the major histocompatibility complex and idiopathic chronic urticaria has previously been observed in different populations, but there are still no studies on Brazilian populations in this regard. OBJECTIVE: The involvement of the major histocompatibility complex classes I and II (loci A, B and DR) in Brazilian patients with idiopathic chronic urticaria and a positive autologous serum skin test was investigated and compared with a healthy population group. METHODS: DNA was extracted from the blood of 42 patients with idiopathic chronic urticaria and major histocompatibility complex classes I and II alleles were determined using the polymerase chain reaction and a laboratory test for oligonucleotide hybridization using a single-filament probe. The frequencies of these alleles in patients with chronic urticaria were compared with the frequencies in 1000 genetically unrelated voluntary blood donors from the same region of Brazil. The diagnosis of idiopathic chronic urticaria was based on the patients' clinical history and routine laboratory tests. Only the patients with positive autologous serum skin test were selected. The allele distribution resulted from the patient and control groups were analyzed using odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found between the positive autologous serum skin test patients with chronic urticaria and the control group. CONCLUSIONS: We found that in this population group, there was no specific association between the HLA alleles studied and chronic urticaria. We believe that further population studies are needed in order to investigate the possible existence of this association.FUNDAMENTOS: A associação entre os alelos do MHC classe I e II e a urticária crônica idiopática tem sido previamente constatada em diferentes populações, sendo que na população brasileira ainda não existem estudos a este respeito. OBJETIVOS: Foi estudado o envolvimento do MHC classe I e II (locci A, B e DR) em pacientes brasileiros com urticária crônica idiopática e teste cutâneo do soro autólogo positivo, comparando-se com um grupo populacional saudável. MÉTODOS: O DNA foi extraído do sangue de 42 pacientes com urticária crônica idiopática e o MHC classe I e II determinado por reação em cadeia da polimerase e teste laboratorial de hibridização de oligonucleotídeo com sonda de filamento único. A freqüência destes alelos em pacientes com urticária crônica idiopática foi comparada com a de 1000 doadores de sangue voluntários e geneticamente não relacionados, da mesma região do Brasil. O diagnóstico de urticária crônica idiopática foi baseado na história clínica do paciente e exames laboratoriais de rotina; foram selecionados apenas os pacientes com teste cutâneo do soro autólogo positivo. O resultado da distribuição alélica entre o grupo de pacientes e o grupo controle foi analisado através do odds rate com o cálculo do intervalo de confiança de 95% (95% IC). RESULTADOS: Não foram encontradas diferenças com significância estatística entre os pacientes com urticária crônica teste cutâneo do soro autólogo positivos e o grupo controle. CONCLUSÕES: Verificamos que neste grupo populacional estudado não houve associação específica entre os alelos HLA estudados e a urticária crônica; acreditamos na necessidade de outros estudos populacionais, para podermos verificar a possível existência desta associação.

Las dosis de fertilización y sitio específicos para el cultivo de caña de azúcar en el área de abastecimiento del Ingenio "Presidente Benito Juárez" (Ipbj) no habían sido precisados, sin embargo, el alto costo de los fertilizantes químicos y la necesidad de reducir la contaminación del ambiente obligan a optimizar su uso. A fin de precisar dosis de fertilización adecuadas para dicha área, este trabajo emplea la metodología del "Sistema Integrado para Recomendar Dosis de Fertilizantes", tomando en cuenta las características de los suelos y el rendimiento potencial. Como parte de este estudio, se identificaron las subunidades de suelo mediante interpretación de fotografías aéreas, reconocimientos de campo y muestreos (-1.20 m) en el área de influencia del Ipbj (92,973 ha). En cada unidad se describieron perfiles agrológicos y se hicieron análisis físico-químicos para clasificar los suelos, según el Referencial Mundial de Suelos (wrb). Los resultados generaron cinco polígonos de Thiessen, con precipitaciones anuales entre 1,640 a 2,227 mm. Se determinó una dosis de fertilización npk para cada subunidad de suelo, usando el modelo conceptual de balance entre demanda del nutrimento, el suministro y la eficiencia del fertilizante aplicado. Las dosis de fertilización ajustadas son (N, P2O5, K2O kg/ha), 120-60-60 para los suelos Cambisolesflúvicos, endogléyicos y estágnicos, 120-70-80 para Cambisoles y Gleysoles; 160-80-80 para Vertisoles gléyico-estágnicos, 120-80-80 para Vertisoles estágnico-éutricos. Además, se generó un mapa de fertilización específico para el área de abasto del Ipbj, a escala 1:40 000.

El presente estudio tuvo como finalidad el aprovechamiento de los residuos azucareros de forma técnicamente viable por medio de la producción y evaluación del proceso de compostaje. Para lograr los objetivos se establecieron combinaciones de tres tipos de materia prima, dos fuentes de microorganismos y dos métodos de aireación. Las pilas se establecieron bajo un diseño de tres factores, y se valoraron dos veces por semana los parámetros: temperatura, pH y conductividad eléctrica. Otros parámetros como materia orgánica, población microbiana, porcentaje de humedad, macro y micronutrimentos, cromatografía de Pfeifer y relación C/N, se evaluaron al inicio y al final del proceso. El mejor método fue el de aireación por volteos, y la formulación más equilibrada para macro y micronutrimentos y mayor concentración de materia orgánica fue la formulación con 50% de bagazo, 25% de cachaza y 25% de ceniza. Al finalizar el proceso, la formulación conformada por 40% bagazo, 30% cachaza y 30% ceniza tuvo la relación C/N más cercana a los valores recomendados entre 20- 30. Los microorganismos comerciales mantuvieron una mayor población microbiana durante el proceso hasta su culminación. La temperatura llegó a la temperatura inicial de 45º C; el pH para el proceso fue el óptimo de 8 a 8.5 aunque finalizó elevado 9 a 9.5.