Combining Geographic Distribution and Trait Information to Infer Predator–Prey Species-Level Interaction Properties

Biotic interactions are a key component of the proper functioning of ecosystems. However, information on biotic interactions is spatially and taxonomically biased and limited to several groups. The most efficient strategy to fill these gaps is to combine spatial information (species ranges) with different sources of information (functional and field data) to infer potential interactions. This approach is possible due to the fact that there is a correspondence between the traits of two trophic levels (e.g., predator and prey sizes are correlated). Therefore, our objective was to evaluate the performance of the joint use of spatial, functional and field data to infer properties of the predator–prey interaction for five neotropical cats. To do this, we used presence–absence matrices to obtain lists of potential prey species per grid-cell for each predator range. These lists were filtered according to different criteria (models), and for each model, an interaction property was estimated and compared with field observations. Our results show that the use of functional information and co-occurrence allows us to generate values similar to those observed in the field. We also observed that there were differences in model performance related to the intrinsic characteristics of the predator (body size) and the interaction property being evaluated

Estudio comparativo de la adsorción de azul de toluidina y cristal violeta por la biomasa de dos especies del género trichoderma y carbón activado

El Cristal Violeta (CV) y el Azul de Toluidina (AT) han sido encontrados en ecosistemas terrestres y acuáticos debido a su inapropiada disposición. Para disminuir la contaminación que provocan dichos colorantes al medio ambiente se han buscado alternativas biológicas, dentro de las cuales se encuentra el uso de la biomasa fúngica como agente adsorbente. Considerando lo anterior el presente trabajo determinó la biosorción de la biomasa de dos especies del género Trichoderma frente a CV y AT, y la comparó con la adsorción que presenta el carbón activado ante estos dos colorantes. Los resultados indicaron que el promedio de biosorción de CV por la biomasa de T. viride (96%) y T. virens (94%) no fueron tan altos como la del carbón activado (99%). En contraste, el promedio de adsorción para AT fue mucho menor para la biomasa de T. viride (83%), T. virens (84%) y carbón activado (93%) que el que tuvieron ante CV. Los datos experimentales tienen una buena correlación con los modelos de Freundlich, Langmuir y el modelo cinético de pseudo segundo orden. Encontrando una qmax de 10.39 mg g- 1 para T. viride en el caso de CV y de 21.69 mg g- 1 para T. virens ante AT

Evaluation of a quality improvement intervention to reduce anastomotic leak following right colectomy (EAGLE): pragmatic, batched stepped-wedge, cluster-randomized trial in 64 countries

Background Anastomotic leak affects 8 per cent of patients after right colectomy with a 10-fold increased risk of postoperative death. The EAGLE study aimed to develop and test whether an international, standardized quality improvement intervention could reduce anastomotic leaks. Methods The internationally intended protocol, iteratively co-developed by a multistage Delphi process, comprised an online educational module introducing risk stratification, an intraoperative checklist, and harmonized surgical techniques. Clusters (hospital teams) were randomized to one of three arms with varied sequences of intervention/data collection by a derived stepped-wedge batch design (at least 18 hospital teams per batch). Patients were blinded to the study allocation. Low- and middle-income country enrolment was encouraged. The primary outcome (assessed by intention to treat) was anastomotic leak rate, and subgroup analyses by module completion (at least 80 per cent of surgeons, high engagement; less than 50 per cent, low engagement) were preplanned. Results A total 355 hospital teams registered, with 332 from 64 countries (39.2 per cent low and middle income) included in the final analysis. The online modules were completed by half of the surgeons (2143 of 4411). The primary analysis included 3039 of the 3268 patients recruited (206 patients had no anastomosis and 23 were lost to follow-up), with anastomotic leaks arising before and after the intervention in 10.1 and 9.6 per cent respectively (adjusted OR 0.87, 95 per cent c.i. 0.59 to 1.30; P = 0.498). The proportion of surgeons completing the educational modules was an influence: the leak rate decreased from 12.2 per cent (61 of 500) before intervention to 5.1 per cent (24 of 473) after intervention in high-engagement centres (adjusted OR 0.36, 0.20 to 0.64; P < 0.001), but this was not observed in low-engagement hospitals (8.3 per cent (59 of 714) and 13.8 per cent (61 of 443) respectively; adjusted OR 2.09, 1.31 to 3.31). Conclusion Completion of globally available digital training by engaged teams can alter anastomotic leak rates. Registration number: NCT04270721 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov)