Recovery dynamics of carabid beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in colombian tropical dry forest

In this work, I characterized the dynamics of carabid beetles along an environmental gradient formed by successional processes and a marked dry season in three different habitat types (pasture as initial point, early successional stage, and forest as intermediate successional stage) in a Colombian tropical dry forest landscape. In the first chapter, background context is provided and the scope of the thesis is established. In chapter 2, I analyzed the suitability of morphological traits to infer not only functional response traits but also the adaptability of carabid beetles to the harsh TDF environment exasperate by the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO). I also compared qualitative and quantitative variables among the El Niño and non-El Niño events to observe possible carabid beetle changes as a result of environmental variability. In chapter 3, I evaluated the response of carabid beetles (both at the assemblage and individual species levels) along TDF succession and dry and wet periods, which was exasperated by the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO). To better understand these responses, I related environmental variables (soil and air humidity and temperature, leaf litter depth and canopy cover) to the beetle assemblage to identify drivers of successional dynamics. Similarly, and with the goal to have a better understanding of the successional dynamics of these organisms, I explored in chapter 4 the functional response of carabid beetles to succession. I identified ecological groups present in different successional habitat types in TDF, and environmental variables related to each trait. In chapter 5, I present a list of TDF carabid species collected from the Valley of Magdalena River (Colombia), and ecological information associated with these species inferred from morphological traits, in an attempt to offer a starting point for future studies on this taxonomic group. Finally, in chapter 6, I provide a general overview of my thesis to synthesize the findings and propose general patterns of the dynamics of carabid beetles in the TDF successional environment.Insecta: CarabidaeIn this work, I characterized the dynamics of carabid beetles along an environmental gradient formed by successional processes and a marked dry season in three different habitat types (pasture as initial point, early successional stage, and forest as intermediate successional stage) in a Colombian tropical dry forest landscape. In the first chapter, background context is provided and the scope of the thesis is established. In chapter 2, I analyzed the suitability of morphological traits to infer not only functional response traits but also the adaptability of carabid beetles to the harsh TDF environment exasperate by the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO). I also compared qualitative and quantitative variables among the El Niño and non-El Niño events to observe possible carabid beetle changes as a result of environmental variability. In chapter 3, I evaluated the response of carabid beetles (both at the assemblage and individual species levels) along TDF succession and dry and wet periods, which was exasperated by the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO). To better understand these responses, I related environmental variables (soil and air humidity and temperature, leaf litter depth and canopy cover) to the beetle assemblage to identify drivers of successional dynamics. Similarly, and with the goal to have a better understanding of the successional dynamics of these organisms, I explored in chapter 4 the functional response of carabid beetles to succession. I identified ecological groups present in different successional habitat types in TDF, and environmental variables related to each trait. In chapter 5, I present a list of TDF carabid species collected from the Valley of Magdalena River (Colombia), and ecological information associated with these species inferred from morphological traits, in an attempt to offer a starting point for future studies on this taxonomic group. Finally, in chapter 6, I provide a general overview of my thesis to synthesize the findings and propose general patterns of the dynamics of carabid beetles in the TDF successional environment.Doctor en Ciencias BiológicasDoctoradohttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-6935-802

Carabid beetles of tropical dry forests display traits that cope with a harsh environment

The tropical dry forest (TDF) ecosystem is characterised by strong seasonality exasperated periodically by the El Nino/southern oscillation (ENSO). The environment produced by this event could constrain the survival of small organisms, such as insects. Carabid beetles were collected in a TDF in Armero, Colombia, during wet and dry seasons in both El Nino and non-El Nino periods. A series of traits linked to desiccation resistance were measured to characterise their adaptation to the TDF environment and to investigate changes experienced by carabid beetles during both episodes in quantitative (assemblage) and qualitative (traits) parameters. We found no difference in the presence of traits between El Nino and non-El Nino episodes, but carabid assemblages changed significantly in composition and assemblage structure between these episodes. During both periods, small-sized and nocturnal species dominated the assemblages, but in terms of number of individuals, medium and large-sized, and visual hunter species dominated. Calosoma alternans and Megacephala affinis were the most abundant species with high dispersal capacity. Carabid beetles exhibited morphological traits well-adapted to drought experienced in TDF, including when it is exasperated by ENSO. However, long-term studies can help to elucidate the real effects of ENSO and to confirm the adaptation of carabid beetles to cope with this extreme environment.Peer reviewe

Imaginarios sobre el rol del educador infantil: Una aproximación a la identidad profesional

El proyecto que se presenta a continuación sintetiza los hallazgos de estudios realizados, en torno a los imaginarios que se tienen en relación al rol de la educadora infantil y la influencia del entorno familiar. De aquí que se detalla como estrategia metodológica las entrevistas semiestructuradas y grupos de discusión. Se toma en cuenta en la investigación los diseños narrativos que se ubican en el enfoque cualitativo y consisten en recuperar la experiencia de las personas para develar los significados construidos socialmente. Por otro lado, se relacionan las fases del proceso metodológico usado en esta investigación. Primero, se trabaja en las técnicas de recolección de información: para este caso se han elaborado dos instrumentos de investigación para desarrollar como lo son las entrevistas semiestructuradas y grupos de discusión con una muestra representativa del 10% de estudiantes de primer semestre que estaban iniciando sus actividades académicas. Como segunda fase tenemos la categorización, organización y análisis en el cual el grupo de investigadoras analizará e interpretará la información a partir del análisis del discurso. La construcción de sentido: en esta última fase las investigadoras recuperarán la producción previa y construirán un nuevo texto correspondiente a las categorías de la investigación.Universidad Libre -- Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación -- Pedagogía Infanti

Effectiveness of an intervention for improving drug prescription in primary care patients with multimorbidity and polypharmacy:Study protocol of a cluster randomized clinical trial (Multi-PAP project)

This study was funded by the Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias ISCIII (Grant Numbers PI15/00276, PI15/00572, PI15/00996), REDISSEC (Project Numbers RD12/0001/0012, RD16/0001/0005), and the European Regional Development Fund ("A way to build Europe").Background: Multimorbidity is associated with negative effects both on people's health and on healthcare systems. A key problem linked to multimorbidity is polypharmacy, which in turn is associated with increased risk of partly preventable adverse effects, including mortality. The Ariadne principles describe a model of care based on a thorough assessment of diseases, treatments (and potential interactions), clinical status, context and preferences of patients with multimorbidity, with the aim of prioritizing and sharing realistic treatment goals that guide an individualized management. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a complex intervention that implements the Ariadne principles in a population of young-old patients with multimorbidity and polypharmacy. The intervention seeks to improve the appropriateness of prescribing in primary care (PC), as measured by the medication appropriateness index (MAI) score at 6 and 12months, as compared with usual care. Methods/Design: Design:pragmatic cluster randomized clinical trial. Unit of randomization: family physician (FP). Unit of analysis: patient. Scope: PC health centres in three autonomous communities: Aragon, Madrid, and Andalusia (Spain). Population: patients aged 65-74years with multimorbidity (≥3 chronic diseases) and polypharmacy (≥5 drugs prescribed in ≥3months). Sample size: n=400 (200 per study arm). Intervention: complex intervention based on the implementation of the Ariadne principles with two components: (1) FP training and (2) FP-patient interview. Outcomes: MAI score, health services use, quality of life (Euroqol 5D-5L), pharmacotherapy and adherence to treatment (Morisky-Green, Haynes-Sackett), and clinical and socio-demographic variables. Statistical analysis: primary outcome is the difference in MAI score between T0 and T1 and corresponding 95% confidence interval. Adjustment for confounding factors will be performed by multilevel analysis. All analyses will be carried out in accordance with the intention-to-treat principle. Discussion: It is essential to provide evidence concerning interventions on PC patients with polypharmacy and multimorbidity, conducted in the context of routine clinical practice, and involving young-old patients with significant potential for preventing negative health outcomes. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02866799Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Early successional dynamics of ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in the tropical dry forest ecosystem in Colombia

Little is known about the successional dynamics of insects in the highly threatened tropical dry forest (TDF) ecosystem. For the first time, we studied the response of carabid beetles to vegetal succession and seasonality in this ecosystem in Colombia. Carabid beetles were collected from three TDF habitat types in two regions in Colombia: initial successional state (pasture), early succession, and intermediate succession (forest). The surveys were performed monthly for 13 months in one of the regions (Armero) and during two months, one in the dry and one in the wet season, in the other region (Cambao). A set of environmen-tal variables were recorded per month at each site. Twenty-four carabid beetle species were collected during the study. Calosoma alternans and Megacephala affinis were the most abundant species, while most species were of low abundance. Forest and pasture beetle assemblages were distinct, while the early succession assemblage overlapped with these assemblages. Canopy cover, litter depth, and soil and air temperatures were important in structuring the assemblages. Even though seasonality did not affect the carabid beetle assemblage, individual species responded positively to the wet season. It is shown that early successional areas in TDF could potentially act as habitat corridors for species to recolonize forest areas, since these successional areas host a number of species that inhabit forests and pastures. Climatic variation, like the El Nino episode during this study, appears to affect the carabid beetle assemblage negatively, exasperating concerns of this already threatened tropical ecosystem.Peer reviewe

Early successional dynamics of ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in the tropical dry forest ecosystem in Colombia

Little is known about the successional dynamics of insects in the highly threatened tropical dry forest (TDF) ecosystem. For the first time, we studied the response of carabid beetles to vegetal succession and seasonality in this ecosystem in Colombia. Carabid beetles were collected from three TDF habitat types in two regions in Colombia: initial successional state (pasture), early succession, and intermediate succession (forest). The surveys were performed monthly for 13 months in one of the regions (Armero) and during two months, one in the dry and one in the wet season, in the other region (Cambao). A set of environmental variables were recorded per month at each site. Twenty-four carabid beetle species were collected during the study. Calosoma alternans and Megacephala affinis were the most abundant species, while most species were of low abundance. Forest and pasture beetle assemblages were distinct, while the early succession assemblage overlapped with these assemblages. Canopy cover, litter depth, and soil and air temperatures were important in structuring the assemblages. Even though seasonality did not affect the carabid beetle assemblage, individual species responded positively to the wet season. It is shown that early successional areas in TDF could potentially act as habitat corridors for species to recolonize forest areas, since these successional areas host a number of species that inhabit forests and pastures. Climatic variation, like the El Niño episode during this study, appears to affect the carabid beetle assemblage negatively, exasperating concerns of this already threatened tropical ecosystem

Viral dUTPases: Modulators of Innate Immunity

Most free-living organisms encode for a deoxyuridine triphosphate nucleotidohydrolase (dUTPase; EC 3.6.1.23). dUTPases represent a family of metalloenzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of dUTP to dUMP and pyrophosphate, preventing dUTP from being incorporated into DNA by DNA polymerases, maintaining a low dUTP/dTTP pool ratio and providing a necessary precursor for dTTP biosynthesis. Thus, dUTPases are involved in maintaining genomic integrity by preventing the uracilation of DNA. Many DNA-containing viruses, which infect mammals also encode for a dUTPase. This review will summarize studies demonstrating that, in addition to their classical enzymatic activity, some dUTPases possess novel functions that modulate the host innate immune response

Vascular plants of Sierra de Famatina (La Rioja, Argentina): an analysis of its biodiversity

The Sierra de Famatina System is one of the main areas of endemism within the Southern Cone, as well as one of the main diversity hotspots of Argentina. We present here the first checklist for Sierra de Famatina, which includes 909 taxa (species, subspecies, varieties and forms) of vascular plants from 77 families and 358 genera. Sixty-eight are new records for La Rioja province and 28 are endemic species. Voucher specimens, locality information and distribution are given for each taxon, and a brief analysis of the diversity, phytogeography of the flora and the type specimens is presented. Illustrations of the important endemics and type specimens from Sierra de Famatina are provided. Our results emphasize the necessity to give high priority to the Sierra de Famatina region in terms of the conservation of its flora.Fil: Barboza, Gloria Estela. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Farmacia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Cantero, Juan Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria; ArgentinaFil: Chiarini, Franco Ezequiel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Chiapella, Jorge Oscar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Freire, Susana Edith. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion. Academia Nacional de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion; ArgentinaFil: Núñez, César O.. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria; ArgentinaFil: Palchetti, Maria Virginia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Ariza Espinar, Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentin