A single-stage megaflood at the termination of the Messinian salinity crisis: Geophysical and modelling evidence from the eastern Mediterranean Basin

Highlights • We analyse seismic stratigraphy of post-Messinian succession in west Ionian Basin. • Termination of Messinian salinity crisis consisted of a single-stage Zanclean flood. • Megaflood followed a sea level drawdown of 1900 m in eastern Mediterranean. • Fine, well-sorted sediments are predicted in the thicker sections of flood deposit. • NW Ionian Basin hosts evidence of episodic slope instability after 1.8 Ma. Abstract The Messinian salinity crisis was an extraordinary event that resulted in the deposition of kilometre-thick evaporite sequences in the Mediterranean Sea after the latter became disconnected from the world's oceans. The return to fully and stable marine conditions at the end of the crisis is still subject to debate. Three main hypotheses, based on geophysical and borehole data, onshore outcrops and climate simulations, have been put forward. These include a single-stage catastrophic flood, a two-step reflooding scenario, and an overspill of Paratethyan water followed by Atlantic inflow. In this study, two research questions are addressed: (i) Which event marked the termination of the Messinian salinity crisis? (ii) What was the sea level in the eastern Mediterranean Sea during this event? Geophysical data from the western Ionian Basin are integrated with numerical simulations to infer that the termination of the crisis consisted of a single-stage megaflood following a sea level drawdown of 1900 m. This megaflood deposited an extensive sedimentary body with a chaotic to transparent seismic signature at the base of the Malta Escarpment. Fine, well-sorted sediments are predicted to have been deposited within the thicker sections of the flood deposit, whereas a more variable distribution of coarser sediments is expected elsewhere. The north-western Ionian Basin hosts evidence of episodic post-Messinian salinity crisis slope instability events in the last ~1.8 Ma. The largest of these emplaced a >200 km3 deposit and is associated with failure of the head of Noto Canyon (offshore SE Sicily). Apart from unravelling the final phase of the Messinian salinity crisis and the ensuing stratigraphic evolution of the western Ionian Basin, our results are also relevant to better understand megafloods, which are some of the most catastrophic geological processes on Earth and Mars

Impacto de la migración haitiana en un hábitat de vivienda social en Santiago (Chile), desde la percepción de sus residentes

In 2019, an exploratory qualitative study was carried out in a social housing neighborhood located on the outskirts of the city of Santiago, Chile whose purpose was to understand the perception of its Chilean residents regarding the massive arrival of Haitian migrants to the place.  The results show not only their dissimilar and ambivalent perceptions  regarding the impact of the arrival of this new population to their residential habitat but also a greater  precariousness in both groups living conditions.En 2019 se realizó un estudio cualitativo exploratorio en un barrio de vivienda social de localización periférica en la ciudad de Santiago, Chile, cuyo propósito fue conocer la percepción de residentes chilenos con relación a la llegada masiva de migrantes haitianos al lugar. Los resultados muestran no sólo percepciones disímiles y ambivalentes entre los chilenos respecto del impacto del arribo de esta nueva población sobre su hábitat residencial, sino también, una mayor precarización de las condiciones de habitación para ambos grupos.

Ecología – biopolítica: indagando el rol de la educación

The aim of this research paper consisted in generating a contribution to the concept of ecology from the point of view of an investigation of critical-creative nature which could benefit teacher training from the multidisciplinary observation of a line of research that linked the mainstreaming of education and values communication.The organism-environment relationship – as ecology itself is defined – has been established as a concern that exceeds public opinion setting in academic areas and integrating the curricula at different educational levels through tutorial policies or programs.Having this raised and on the basis of categories granted by the theoretical framework provided by authors such as Foucault, Baudrillard, Deleuze and Guattari, the object of research invited to wonder about the place education occupies in a present-future period; about the training of future guardians of this work in a photographic, static instant, frozen in the present for future generations, among other issues.The methodology was applied in “Green Schools”–an ecology project instituted in different institutions in the City of Buenos Aires–with the intention of implementing an urban environmental planning and management policy. “Green Schools” facilitates content development, training and generates environmental management actions. In its methodology, we have identified some hotspots by the lack of theoretical criterion and an excessive demand for students´ active participation in their community and involvement in setting values.The content of teaching material was analyzed and we found out it does not provide didactic and pedagogical resources enough to carry out the instructive transposition. When attempting this crossing with the analysis of the above mentioned materials, published in print and on the web, we noticed there is no specific theoretical framework to support the teaching-learning equation in relation to these topics.Then, we conclude asserting that if ecology is seen as a set of practices reduced to the produced waste and its processes, it is impossible to relieve them to a more complex analysis with cultural social-educational projection. When we mention “reduced”, we refer to its sense of uniqueness, generator of a loss in value or significance which leads to the impossibility of transforming thought, thus causing deep problematic in matter, what would result optimal for the educational aim.El objetivo de esta investigación consistió en generar un aporte al concepto de ecología desde una investigación de índole crítico-creativa, que contribuyera a la formación docente, a partir de la observación multidisciplinar de una línea de investigación que vincula la transversalidad de la educación y la comunicación de valores. La relación “organismo-entorno” –como se define la ecología a sí misma– se ha establecido como una preocupación que excede a la opinión pública, instalándose en ámbitos académicos e incorporándose a los currículos en diferentes niveles educativos a través de políticas o programas educativos.En este planteo y en base a las categorías que otorgó un marco teórico con autores como Foucault, Baudrillard, Deleuze y principalmente Guattari, el objeto de la investigación nos invitó a preguntarnos acerca del lugar que ocupa la educación en un presente-futuro; sobre la formación de futuros custodios de este mundo en un instante fotográfico, estático, congelado en un presente para generaciones futuras, entre otras cuestiones. La metodología fue aplicada en Escuelas Verdes –proyecto ecológico instituido en las escuelas en la Ciudad de Buenos Aires– con la intención de implementar una política de planeamiento y gestión del ambiente urbano. Escuelas Verdes facilita el desarrollo de contenidos, capacitación y genera acciones de gestión ambiental. En la metodología, hemos identificado puntos conflictivos por la carencia de criterio teórico, y una excesiva demanda a los estudiantes para que participen activamente en su comuna y con una puesta de valores. Se analizó el contenido del material para la formación docente y se observó que no brinda elementos didácticos y pedagógicos para la transposición didáctica. Al realizar este cruce con el análisis de los materiales publicados de forma impresa y digital, observamos que no hay un marco teórico específico que fundamente la ecuaciónen señanza-aprendizaje de estos temas. Concluimos, entonces, que si la ecología se observa como un conjunto de prácticas que se reducen a los residuos producidos y sus procesos, es imposible relevarlas a análisis más complejos con una proyección educativa-social-cultural. Cuando mencionamos “reducidas” nos referimos aque la univocidad de sentidos genera pérdida de valor o significancia, conduce a la imposibilidad de transformación de pensamiento, provocando una profunda problematización en la materia, que sería lo óptimo para el fin educativo

Servicios Funerarios para mascotas - Pet Forest

Este proyecto busca proveer una alternativa a los servicios funerarios convencionales, y mediante la implementación del amigurumi dentro del servicio, se espera generar empleo para los adultos mayores que residen en los albergues de Lima. Opcionalmente, tendremos como producto adicional, un cuadro con la foto de su compañero recientemente fallecido

Efficacy and Safety of Repeated Subcutaneous Ketamine Injections for Treatment Resistant Depression - The KADS Study: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Comparator-Controlled Trial

Background Prior trials suggest that intravenous racemic ketamine is a highly effective for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), but phase 3 trials of racemic ketamine are needed. Aims To assess the acute efficacy and safety of a 4-week course of subcutaneous racemic ketamine in participants with TRD. Trial registration: ACTRN12616001096448 at www.anzctr.org.au. Method This phase 3, double-blind, randomised, active-controlled multicentre trial was conducted at seven mood disorders centres in Australia and New Zealand. Participants received twice-weekly subcutaneous racemic ketamine or midazolam for 4 weeks. Initially, the trial tested fixed-dose ketamine 0.5 mg/kg versus midazolam 0.025 mg/kg (cohort 1). Dosing was revised, after a Data Safety Monitoring Board recommendation, to flexible-dose ketamine 0.5-0.9 mg/kg or midazolam 0.025-0.045 mg/kg, with response-guided dosing increments (cohort 2). The primary outcome was remission (Montgomery-Åsberg Rating Scale for Depression score ≤10) at the end of week 4. Results The final analysis (those who received at least one treatment) comprised 68 in cohort 1 (fixed-dose), 106 in cohort 2 (flexible-dose). Ketamine was more efficacious than midazolam in cohort 2 (remission rate 19.6% v. 2.0%; OR = 12.1, 95% CI 2.1-69.2, P = 0.005), but not different in cohort 1 (remission rate 6.3% v. 8.8%; OR = 1.3, 95% CI 0.2-8.2, P = 0.76). Ketamine was well tolerated. Acute adverse effects (psychotomimetic, blood pressure increases) resolved within 2 h. Conclusions Adequately dosed subcutaneous racemic ketamine was efficacious and safe in treating TRD over a 4-week treatment period. The subcutaneous route is practical and feasible

Local hydrological conditions influence tree diversity and composition across the Amazon basin

Tree diversity and composition in Amazonia are known to be strongly determined by the water supplied by precipitation. Nevertheless, within the same climatic regime, water availability is modulated by local topography and soil characteristics (hereafter referred to as local hydrological conditions), varying from saturated and poorly drained to well-drained and potentially dry areas. While these conditions may be expected to influence species distribution, the impacts of local hydrological conditions on tree diversity and composition remain poorly understood at the whole Amazon basin scale. Using a dataset of 443 1-ha non-flooded forest plots distributed across the basin, we investigate how local hydrological conditions influence 1) tree alpha diversity, 2) the community-weighted wood density mean (CWM-wd) – a proxy for hydraulic resistance and 3) tree species composition. We find that the effect of local hydrological conditions on tree diversity depends on climate, being more evident in wetter forests, where diversity increases towards locations with well-drained soils. CWM-wd increased towards better drained soils in Southern and Western Amazonia. Tree species composition changed along local soil hydrological gradients in Central-Eastern, Western and Southern Amazonia, and those changes were correlated with changes in the mean wood density of plots. Our results suggest that local hydrological gradients filter species, influencing the diversity and composition of Amazonian forests. Overall, this study shows that the effect of local hydrological conditions is pervasive, extending over wide Amazonian regions, and reinforces the importance of accounting for local topography and hydrology to better understand the likely response and resilience of forests to increased frequency of extreme climate events and rising temperatures

Geographic patterns of tree dispersal modes in Amazonia and their ecological correlates

Aim: To investigate the geographic patterns and ecological correlates in the geographic distribution of the most common tree dispersal modes in Amazonia (endozoochory, synzoochory, anemochory and hydrochory). We examined if the proportional abundance of these dispersal modes could be explained by the availability of dispersal agents (disperser-availability hypothesis) and/or the availability of resources for constructing zoochorous fruits (resource-availability hypothesis). Time period: Tree-inventory plots established between 1934 and 2019. Major taxa studied: Trees with a diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 9.55 cm. Location: Amazonia, here defined as the lowland rain forests of the Amazon River basin and the Guiana Shield. Methods: We assigned dispersal modes to a total of 5433 species and morphospecies within 1877 tree-inventory plots across terra-firme, seasonally flooded, and permanently flooded forests. We investigated geographic patterns in the proportional abundance of dispersal modes. We performed an abundance-weighted mean pairwise distance (MPD) test and fit generalized linear models (GLMs) to explain the geographic distribution of dispersal modes. Results: Anemochory was significantly, positively associated with mean annual wind speed, and hydrochory was significantly higher in flooded forests. Dispersal modes did not consistently show significant associations with the availability of resources for constructing zoochorous fruits. A lower dissimilarity in dispersal modes, resulting from a higher dominance of endozoochory, occurred in terra-firme forests (excluding podzols) compared to flooded forests. Main conclusions: The disperser-availability hypothesis was well supported for abiotic dispersal modes (anemochory and hydrochory). The availability of resources for constructing zoochorous fruits seems an unlikely explanation for the distribution of dispersal modes in Amazonia. The association between frugivores and the proportional abundance of zoochory requires further research, as tree recruitment not only depends on dispersal vectors but also on conditions that favour or limit seedling recruitment across forest types

Geography and ecology shape the phylogenetic composition of Amazonian tree communities

AimAmazonia hosts more tree species from numerous evolutionary lineages, both young and ancient, than any other biogeographic region. Previous studies have shown that tree lineages colonized multiple edaphic environments and dispersed widely across Amazonia, leading to a hypothesis, which we test, that lineages should not be strongly associated with either geographic regions or edaphic forest types.LocationAmazonia.TaxonAngiosperms (Magnoliids; Monocots; Eudicots).MethodsData for the abundance of 5082 tree species in 1989 plots were combined with a mega-phylogeny. We applied evolutionary ordination to assess how phylogenetic composition varies across Amazonia. We used variation partitioning and Moran's eigenvector maps (MEM) to test and quantify the separate and joint contributions of spatial and environmental variables to explain the phylogenetic composition of plots. We tested the indicator value of lineages for geographic regions and edaphic forest types and mapped associations onto the phylogeny.ResultsIn the terra firme and várzea forest types, the phylogenetic composition varies by geographic region, but the igapó and white-sand forest types retain a unique evolutionary signature regardless of region. Overall, we find that soil chemistry, climate and topography explain 24% of the variation in phylogenetic composition, with 79% of that variation being spatially structured (R2 = 19% overall for combined spatial/environmental effects). The phylogenetic composition also shows substantial spatial patterns not related to the environmental variables we quantified (R2 = 28%). A greater number of lineages were significant indicators of geographic regions than forest types.Main ConclusionNumerous tree lineages, including some ancient ones (>66 Ma), show strong associations with geographic regions and edaphic forest types of Amazonia. This shows that specialization in specific edaphic environments has played a long-standing role in the evolutionary assembly of Amazonian forests. Furthermore, many lineages, even those that have dispersed across Amazonia, dominate within a specific region, likely because of phylogenetically conserved niches for environmental conditions that are prevalent within regions

Geography and ecology shape the phylogenetic composition of Amazonian tree communities

Aim: Amazonia hosts more tree species from numerous evolutionary lineages, both young and ancient, than any other biogeographic region. Previous studies have shown that tree lineages colonized multiple edaphic environments and dispersed widely across Amazonia, leading to a hypothesis, which we test, that lineages should not be strongly associated with either geographic regions or edaphic forest types. Location: Amazonia. Taxon: Angiosperms (Magnoliids; Monocots; Eudicots). Methods: Data for the abundance of 5082 tree species in 1989 plots were combined with a mega-phylogeny. We applied evolutionary ordination to assess how phylogenetic composition varies across Amazonia. We used variation partitioning and Moran\u27s eigenvector maps (MEM) to test and quantify the separate and joint contributions of spatial and environmental variables to explain the phylogenetic composition of plots. We tested the indicator value of lineages for geographic regions and edaphic forest types and mapped associations onto the phylogeny. Results: In the terra firme and várzea forest types, the phylogenetic composition varies by geographic region, but the igapó and white-sand forest types retain a unique evolutionary signature regardless of region. Overall, we find that soil chemistry, climate and topography explain 24% of the variation in phylogenetic composition, with 79% of that variation being spatially structured (R$^{2}$ = 19% overall for combined spatial/environmental effects). The phylogenetic composition also shows substantial spatial patterns not related to the environmental variables we quantified (R$^{2}$ = 28%). A greater number of lineages were significant indicators of geographic regions than forest types. Main Conclusion: Numerous tree lineages, including some ancient ones (>66 Ma), show strong associations with geographic regions and edaphic forest types of Amazonia. This shows that specialization in specific edaphic environments has played a long-standing role in the evolutionary assembly of Amazonian forests. Furthermore, many lineages, even those that have dispersed across Amazonia, dominate within a specific region, likely because of phylogenetically conserved niches for environmental conditions that are prevalent within regions