Comunidades de aves en selvas pedemontanas andinas del noroeste de Argentina

Comunidades de aves en selvas pedemontanas andinas del noroeste de Argentina. – Los  estudios de aves andinas a la mesoescala (1000’s km2) son escasos, pero podrían ser importantes para planificar  estrategias de uso y conservación. Aquí describimos la riqueza, composición y abundancia de comunidades de aves de selvas pedemontanas del noroeste de Argentina (c. 2000 km2). Analizamos cambios  estacionales entre el período reproductivo y no-reproductivo, poniendo énfasis en migrantes y gremios tróficos. Además, evaluamos diferencias en la avifauna de áreas planas y de ladera. Muestreamos 12 comunidades de aves mediante conteos por puntos, transectas y redes de niebla. Las comunidades de aves cambiaron espacialmente sin relación con la topografía (i.e., áreas planas o de ladera), y no registramos ningún grupo de aves que caracterice estos sitios. La composición de especies varió marcadamente entre estaciones, con más especies durante la estación reproductiva, aunque la abundancia de aves fue similar entre estaciones. Los ensambles de la época reproductiva estuvieron caracterizados por migrantes latitudinales, y los de la época no-reproductiva por migrantes altitudinales. Los gremios de aves insectívoras y de aves granívoras que forrajean en o encima del dosel caracterizaron la estación reproductiva, mientras que los gremios frugívoro-insectívoro e insectívoro que forrajean en todos los estratos del bosque caracterizaron la estación no-reproductiva. De un total de 112 especies registradas, al menos 10 son de interés para su conservación en Argentina, 14 son poco comunes en el Neotrópico y 31 son migrantes, señalando la importancia de la selva pedemontana para la conservación de aves. Gran parte (c. 75%) de la selva pedemontana ha desaparecido o está seriamente degradada. Esta situación debería llevarnos a unir fuerzas entre gobierno, propietarios, ONGs e instituciones académicas para cambiar las políticas de uso y conservación de los recursos naturales de la región.Studies of Andean avifaunas at the mesoscale (1000’s km2) are scarce, but they may prove crit- ical for understanding community structure and for conservation planning. We studied species diversity, composition and abundance of bird communities in premontane forests of northwestern Argentina (c. 2000 km2). We measured changes between breeding and non-breeding seasons, focusing on migrants and trophic guilds, and we compared flat and foothill areas. Twelve bird communities were sampled using point counts, mist nets, and line transects. More species were recorded during the breeding than the non- breeding season, in part due to the arrival of migrants, but the abundance of birds did not differ between seasons. We registered more individuals and species of migratory birds during the breeding season. Latitudinal and elevational migrants characterized breeding and non-breeding assemblages, respectively. We found no significant differences in bird species richness, composition or abundance in relation to forest type (i.e., flat vs foothill), in part due to the patchy distributions of birds across the entire study area. Different feeding guilds characterized each season: insectivorous and granivorous species that foraged in or above the canopy were common during the breeding period, while frugivores-insectivores and insectivores that feed at all forest strata characterized the non-breeding period. Out of 112 species registered, at least 10 are of conservation concern for Argentina, 14 are uncommon in the Neotropics, and 31 are migrants, highlighting the role of premontane forests for regional conservation. Most (c. 75%) premontane forests have already disappeared or are largely degraded. This situation calls for a rapid shift in regional policies, only possible if government, landowners, NGO’s and academic institutions can share the common goal of habitat protection.Fil: Malizia, Lucio R.. University of Missouri-St. Louis; Estados UnidosFil: Blendinger, Pedro Gerardo. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Laboratorio de Investigaciones Ecológicas de las Yungas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Zoología Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Álvarez, María Eva. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Laboratorio de Investigaciones Ecológicas de las Yungas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Laboratorio de Investigaciones Ecológicas de las Yungas; ArgentinaFil: Rivera, Luis O.. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Zoología Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Politi, Natalia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia de Jujuy. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia de Jujuy; ArgentinaFil: Nicolossi, Guillermo. Administración de Parques Nacionales; Argentin

Riesgos en las microfinanzas: una revisión y análisis bibliométrico

Las estrategias de recuperación en las microfinanzas no son las más acertadas. Algunas de las respuestas a estos desaciertos son los riesgos sociales. El tema se ha investigado por más de 25 años dejando muchos interrogantes hasta la actualidad. El objetivo de este artículo fue presentar una revisión bibliométrica y sistemática de los Riesgos en las Microfinanzas, con plataformas como Bibliometrix y Gephi. Se hicieron consultas en bases de datos como WoS y Scopus, que permitieron una clasificación de documentos en tres categorías según su trascendencia; clásicos, estructurales y recientes; adicional, se realiza un análisis de cocitaciones mostrando resultados en cuatro diferentes enfoques: Instituciones, Prevencion de VIH/SIDA, Crédito y Desarrollo de Género. Concluyendo el incumplimiento de los propósitos microfinancieros

Subsidios a los combustibles fósiles en Ecuador : diagnosis y opciones para su progresiva reducción

El 82% de la matriz energética del Ecuador se soporta en el consumo de derivados de petróleo, como diésel, gasolina y GLP. Sin embargo Ecuador figura internacionalmente como uno de los países con mayores subsidios a los combustibles, consignando mayor porcentaje a estos subsidios que a educación y s alud. El subsidio a los combustibles en Ecuador, demanda al año más de 3 mil millones de dólares, equivalentes al 17% del presupuesto general del estado (PGE). El artículo caracteriza la matriz energética de Ecuador y la magnitud de los subsidios. El derivado de petróleo más subsidiado en Ecuador es el diésel. El precio de este producto en el país es aproximadamente el 50% de su costo en el mercado internacional. Asimismo, caracteriza las principales problemáticas asociadas a estos subsidios. Además del coste presupuestario y de los impactos ambientales derivados de un mayor consumo, los bajos precios de venta de los hidrocarburos con relación a los mercados internacionales producen desvío de productos hacia las fronteras, representando para Ecuador una pérdida económica significativa. Contar con una tributación social y ambientalmente justa desalentaría el uso abusivo de recursos naturales y fomentaría la recaudación de recursos que podrían destinarse a la financiación de programas sociales, ambientales e impulsar el desarrollo de tecnologías limpias. Sobre lo analizado, se presentan propuestas que posibiliten la reducción de subsidios a los combustibles fósiles, minimizando los efectos sobre los sectores sociales que dependen de estos subsidios.82% of Ecuador's energetic matrix is based on the consumption of petroleum derivatives such as: diesel, gasoline and LPG. Nevertheless, Ecuador stands out internationally as one of the countries with the highest subsidies on fossil fuel, with a larger percentage of its budget assigned to fossil fuel subsides rather than to other areas such as health or education. Ecuador's subsidies are approximately three thousand millions of dollars per annum, which is equivalent to the 17% of the national budget. The article characterizes the energy mix in Ecuador and the magnitude of the subsidies. The highest subsidy to a petroleum product in Ecuador is to diesel. The product price in the country is approximately 50% of its cost on the international market. Moreover, it characterizes the main problems associated to these subsidies. Besides their cost and the environmental impacts derived from higher consumption, the country's lower prices on hydrocarbons sales in relation to international markets derive in product being smuggled to the borders. This represents a significant economic loss. Having a socially and environmentally fair taxation would discourage the abuse in the extraction of natural resources and would increase the revenue, which could be dedicated to the funding of social and environmental programs as well as boosting the development of clean technologies. On top of the previous analysis, various proposals are presented that could help reducing subsidies to fossil fuels, while minimizing the effects on social sectors that are dependent on these subsidies

Modelo para estimar la extensión del bulbo de humedecimiento del suelo en riego por goteo

La forma y el volumen de suelo mojado que se obtiene cuando los emisores aplican el agua es la característica más importante en el diseño de los sistemas de riego por goteo. El volumen de suelo mojado representa la cantidad de agua almacenada, mientras que su extensión, profundidad y diámetro deben coincidir con el sistema radicular de la planta y espaciamiento entre emisores y líneas regantes. Por esta razón, el objetivo del presente estudio fue desarrollar ecuaciones para describir el avance del agua en el bulbo de humedecimiento del suelo en un riego por goteo. Se usó información de patrones de humedecimiento de suelo y características físicas e hidráulicas de tres diferentes texturas para el desarrollo de dos ecuaciones. Los resultados mostraron que estas ecuaciones describen el avance lateral y vertical del agua en el bulbo de humedecimiento de suelos de textura franco-arenoso, franco-arcilloso o francolimoso, con una confiabilidad de 90 y 94%. Estas ecuaciones muestran que la extensión del bulbo de humedecimiento es función del volumen de agua aplicada, caudal del emisor, conductividad hidráulica saturada, contenido de humedad inicial y residual del suelo, y contenido de limo en el suelo. Los resultados demostraron que estas ecuaciones pueden utilizares para estimar la extensión del bulbo de humedecimiento del suelo en un sistema de riego localizado, así como el número de emisores necesarios para humedecer el volumen de suelo requerido

Validación de un modelo para estimar la extensión del bulbo de humedecimiento del suelo con riego por goteo

Se evaluó la capacidad de un modelo experimental para simular el avance del agua en el bulbo de humedecimiento. La finalidad fue verificar su confiabilidad para su uso en el diseño y operación de los sistemas de riego por goteo. Como referencia se emplearon los modelos de Schwartzman y Zur, Amin y Ekhmaj, Kandelous, Liaghat y Abbasi, y para la evaluación se realizaron mediciones de campo. La comparación estadística se hizo con los coeficientes de determinación (R2 ) y la raíz del error cuadrático medio (RECM); donde R2 indica la correlación que existe entre los resultados modelados y las mediciones realizadas en campo y RECM muestra la capacidad de los modelos para simular el avance del agua en el bulbo de humedecimiento. Estos estadísticos de comparación indicaron que el modelo experimental simula el avance lateral y vertical del agua en el bulbo de humedecimiento con una confiabilidad de 91 y 96%, con un error estándar de estimación de 2.7 y 3%. El R2 y la RECM también mostraron que la mejor aproximación entre los datos modelados y los observados en campo respecto al avance del agua en el bulbo húmedo se obtuvo con el modelo experimental para un suelo franco arcilloso a descargas de emisor de 2 y 4 litros por hora

Ocean Circulation over Formigas and Ormonde Seamounts

Seamounts constitute an obstacle to the free ocean flow, modifying the patter of circulation. As a result of these alterations, a variety of hydrodynamical processes and phenomena may take place in seamounts, among others, Taylor columns/caps. These oceanographic effects may turn seamounts into very productive ecosystems with high biodiversity. Under these conditions seamounts provide a particularly good environment for the settle of some organisms, acting as stepping stones and contributing to its dispersal. In this study, we verify if these oceanographic effects explain the presence of cold-water corals of Mediterranean origin in the Atlantic. To achieve this, three seamounts in the path of the Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW) through the Eastern North Atlantic were selected: the Gazul mud volcano, and the Ormonde and Formigas seamounts. In order to determine the hydrographic and dynamical conditions in each one of the three locations, CTD, LADPC and biochemical observations were carried out. Taylor columns were not observed in any of the three sampled areas. Although we found suggestions of upwelling/downwelling systems, their effect was barely noticed in the circulation pattern. The oceanographic processes in those areas are more influenced by the vertical distribution of water masses, which determine the stability of the water column. Moreover, the high values of the Brunt-Väisälä frequency around the MOW halocline can lead to the formation of internal waves. These perturbations in the water column can enhance the vertical mixing, producing suspension, which, in turn, could affect the vertical distribution of cold-water corals

A 3-biomarker 2-point-based risk stratification strategy in acute heart failure

[Abstract] Introduction and Objectives: Most multi-biomarker strategies in acute heart failure (HF) have only measured biomarkers in a single-point time. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic yielding of NT-proBNP, hsTnT, Cys-C, hs-CRP, GDF15, and GAL-3 in HF patients both at admission and discharge. Methods: We included 830 patients enrolled consecutively in a prospective multicenter registry. Primary outcome was 12-month mortality. The gain in the C-index, calibration, net reclassification improvement (NRI), and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) was calculated after adding each individual biomarker value or their combination on top of the best clinical model developed in this study (C-index 0.752, 0.715–0.789) and also on top of 4 currently used scores (MAGGIC, GWTG-HF, Redin-SCORE, BCN-bioHF). Results: After 12-month, death occurred in 154 (18.5%) cases. On top of the best clinical model, the addition of NT-proBNP, hs-CRP, and GDF-15 above the respective cutoff point at admission and discharge and their delta during compensation improved the C-index to 0.782 (0.747–0.817), IDI by 5% (p < 0.001), and NRI by 57% (p < 0.001) for 12-month mortality. A 4-risk grading categories for 12-month mortality (11.7, 19.2, 26.7, and 39.4%, respectively; p < 0.001) were obtained using combination of these biomarkers. Conclusion: A model including NT-proBNP, hs-CRP, and GDF-15 measured at admission and discharge afforded a mortality risk prediction greater than our clinical model and also better than the most currently used scores. In addition, this 3-biomarker panel defined 4-risk categories for 12-month mortality.Instituto de Salud Carlos III; RD06-0003-0000Instituto de Salud Carlos III; RD12/0042/000

Discovery of potent and selective inhibitors of the Escherichia coli M1-aminopeptidase via multicomponent solid-phase synthesis of tetrazole-peptidomimetics

The Escherichia coli neutral M1-aminopeptidase (ePepN) is a novel target identified for the development of antimicrobials. Here we describe a solid-phase multicomponent approach which enabled the discovery of potent ePepN inhibitors. The on-resin protocol, developed in the frame of the Distributed Drug Discovery (D3) program, comprises the implementation of parallel Ugi-azide four-component reactions with resin-bound amino acids, thus leading to the rapid preparation of a focused library of tetrazole-peptidomimetics (TPMs) suitable for biological screening. By dose-response studies, three compounds were identified as potent and selective ePepN inhibitors, as little inhibitory effect was exhibited for the porcine ortholog aminopeptidase. The study allowed for the identification of the key structural features required for a high ePepN inhibitory activity. The most potent and selective inhibitor (TPM 11) showed a non-competitive inhibition profile of ePepN. We predicted that both diastereomers of compound TPM 11 bind to a site distinct from that occupied by the substrate. Theoretical models suggested that TPM 11 has an alternative inhibition mechanism that doesn't involve Zn coordination. On the other hand, the activity landscape analysis provided a rationale for our findings. Of note, compound TMP 2 showed in vitro antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli. Furthermore, none of the three identified inhibitors is a potent haemolytic agent, and only two compounds showed moderate cytotoxic activity toward the murine myeloma P3X63Ag cells. These results point to promising compounds for the future development of rationally designed TPMs as antibacterial agents

Ocean Circulation over Formigas and Ormonde Seamounts

Seamounts constitute an obstacle to the free ocean flow, modifying the patter of circulation. As a result of these alterations, a variety of hydrodynamical processes and phenomena may take place in seamounts, among others, Taylor columns/caps. These oceanographic effects may turn seamounts into very productive ecosystems with high biodiversity. Under these conditions seamounts provide a particularly good environment for the settle of some organisms, acting as stepping stones and contributing to its dispersal. In this study, we verify if these oceanographic effects explain the presence of cold-water corals of Mediterranean origin in the Atlantic. To achieve this, three seamounts in the path of the Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW) through the Eastern North Atlantic were selected: the Gazul mud volcano, and the Ormonde and Formigas seamounts. In order to determine the hydrographic and dynamical conditions in each one of the three locations, CTD, LADPC and biochemical observations were carried out. Taylor columns were not observed in any of the three sampled areas. Although we found suggestions of upwelling/downwelling systems, their effect was barely noticed in the circulation pattern. The oceanographic processes in those areas are more influenced by the vertical distribution of water masses, which determine the stability of the water column. Moreover, the high values of the Brunt-Väisälä frequency around the MOW halocline can lead to the formation of internal waves. These perturbations in the water column can enhance the vertical mixing, producing suspension, which, in turn, could affect the vertical distribution of cold-water corals

Ocean circulation pattern over North Atlantic seamounts: Ormonde and Formigas

Seamounts constitute an obstacle to the free ocean flow giving rise to a variety of hydrodynamical processes and phenomena such as, among others, Taylor columns/caps. As a consequence of that, seamounts may turn into very productive ecosystems with high biodiversity, which provide a particularly good environment for the settle of some organisms, acting as stepping stones and contributing to its dispersal. In this study, we verify if these oceanographic effects explain the presence of cold-water corals of Mediterranean origin in the Atlantic. To achieve this, CTD, LADPC and biochemical measurements were carried out in three seamounts in the path of the Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW): the Gazul mud volcano, and the Ormonde and Formigas seamounts. Taylor columns were not observed in any of the three sampled areas. In fact, the oceanographic processes in those areas are more influenced by the vertical distribution of water masses, which determine the stability of the water column. Moreover, the high values of the Brunt-Väisälä frequency around the MOW halocline can lead to the formation of internal waves. These perturbations in the water column can enhance the vertical mixing, producing suspension, which, in turn, could affect the vertical distribution of cold-water corals