59 research outputs found
Drivers of jaguar (Panthera onca) and puma (Puma concolor) predation on endangered primates within a transformed landscape in southern Mexico
Human pressures have increasingly placed keystone species, such as large cats, under threat. Together with forest loss, prey depletion is one of the main threats to the survival of jaguars (Panthera onca) and pumas (Puma concolor) throughout the Neotropics. Generally, primates are not considered main prey for jaguar and puma, and their inclusion in the diet could be indicative of ongoing prey species decline. Here, we investigate the effect of habitat type and disturbance on primate predation by large cats. Surveys took place during the dry seasons (March to June) of 2010 and 2011, covering a total of 608.5âkm across 24 localities in the Uxpanapa Valley, Mexico. We found 65 felid scat samples with the aid of a wildlife scat detection dog, and then examined them to identify predator species and classify the prey remains they contained. Primates represented the most frequent prey (35%) for both jaguar and puma in our study site and constituted approximately half of the biomass consumed by these felines in the area. Primate remains were more likely to be found in scats surrounded by the lowest percentage of conserved forest or in areas surrounded by more villages, showing the potential effects of human activities on these species' populations. The high proportion of primates found in scats within our study site could be an early indication that populations of ungulates and other âtypicalâ prey are beginning to collapse, and urgent conservation interventions are needed for both large cats and primates before they become locally extinct
Ultra low background Micromegas detectors for BabyIAXO solar axion search
The International AXion Observatory (IAXO) is a large scale axion helioscope
that will look for axions and axion-like particles produced in the Sun with
unprecedented sensitivity. BabyIAXO is an intermediate experimental stage that
will be hosted at DESY (Germany) and that will test all IAXO subsystems serving
as a prototype for IAXO but at the same time as a fully-fledged helioscope with
potential for discovery.
One of the crucial components of the project is the ultra-low background
X-ray detectors that will image the X-ray photons produced by axion conversion
in the experiment. The baseline detection technology for this purpose are
Micromegas (Microbulk) detectors. We will show the quest and the strategy to
attain the very challenging levels of background targeted for BabyIAXO that
need a multi-approach strategy coming from ground measurements, screening
campaigns of components of the detector, underground measurements, background
models, in-situ background measurements as well as powerful rejection
algorithms. First results from the commissioning of the BabyIAXO prototype will
be shown.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, submitted for the proceedings of the
International Conference on Micro Pattern Gaseous Detectors, December 2022,
Israe
Oral health service utilization by elderly beneficiaries of the Mexican Institute of Social Security in MĂ©xico city
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aging population poses a challenge to Mexican health services. The aim of this study is to describe recent oral health services utilization and its association with socio-demographic characteristics and co-morbidity in Mexican Social Security beneficiaries 60 years and older.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A sample of 700 individuals aged 60+ years was randomly chosen from the databases of the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS). These participants resided in the southwest of Mexico City and made up the final sample of a cohort study for identifying risk factors for root caries in elderly patients. Sociodemographic variables, presence of cognitive decline, depression, morbidity, medication consumption, and utilization of as well as reasons for seeking oral health services within the past 12 months were collected through a questionnaire. Clinical oral assessments were carried out to determine coronal and root caries experience.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The sample consisted of 698 individuals aged 71.6 years on average, of whom 68.3% were women. 374 participants (53.6%) had made use of oral health services within the past 12 months. 81% of those who used oral health services sought private medical care, 12.8% sought social security services, and 6.2% public health services. 99.7% had experienced coronal caries and 44.0% root caries. Female sex (OR = 2.0), 6 years' schooling or less (OR = 1.4), and caries experience in more than 22 teeth (OR = 0.6) are factors associated with the utilization of these services.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>About half the elderly beneficiaries of social security have made use of oral health services within the past 12 months, and many of them have to use private services. Being a woman, having little schooling, and low caries experience are factors associated with the use of these services.</p
Dark matter searches with NaI scintillators in the Canfranc underground laboratory: ANAIS experiment
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Epidemiology of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus colonization in healthy Venezuelan children
Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. We investigated both the colonization and co-colonization characteristics for these pathogens among 250 healthy children from 2 to 5Â years of age in Merida, Venezuela, in 2007. The prevalence of S. pneumoniae colonization, S. aureus colonization, and S. pneumoniaeâS. aureus co-colonization was 28%, 56%, and 16%, respectively. Pneumococcal serotypes 6B (14%), 19F (12%), 23F (12%), 15 (9%), 6A (8%), 11 (8%), 23A (6%), and 34 (6%) were the most prevalent. Non-respiratory atopy was a risk factor for S. aureus colonization (pâ=â0.017). Vaccine serotypes were negatively associated with preceding respiratory infection (pâ=â0.02) and with S. aureus colonization (pâ=â0.03). We observed a high prevalence of pneumococcal resistance against trimethoprimâsulfamethoxazole (40%), erythromycin (38%), and penicillin (14%). Semi-quantitative measurement of pneumococcal colonization density showed that children with young siblings and low socioeconomic status were more densely colonized (pâ=â0.02 and pâ=â0.02, respectively). In contrast, trimethoprimâsulfamethoxazole- and multidrug-resistant-pneumococci colonized children sparsely (pâ=â0.03 and pâ=â0.01, respectively). Our data form an important basis to monitor the future impact of pneumococcal vaccination on bacterial colonization, as well as to recommend a rationalized and restrictive antimicrobial use in our community
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Immunogenicity of chimeric haemagglutinin-based, universal influenza virus vaccine candidates: interim results of a randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 1 clinical trial.
BackgroundInfluenza viruses cause substantial annual morbidity and mortality globally. Current vaccines protect against influenza only when well matched to the circulating strains. However, antigenic drift can cause considerable mismatches between vaccine and circulating strains, substantially reducing vaccine effectiveness. Moreover, current seasonal vaccines are ineffective against pandemic influenza, and production of a vaccine matched to a newly emerging virus strain takes months. Therefore, there is an unmet medical need for a broadly protective influenza virus vaccine. We aimed to test the ability of chimeric H1 haemagglutinin-based universal influenza virus vaccine candidates to induce broadly cross-reactive antibodies targeting the stalk domain of group 1 haemagglutinin-expressing influenza viruses.MethodsWe did a randomised, observer-blinded, phase 1 study in healthy adults in two centres in the USA. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three prime-boost, chimeric haemagglutinin-based vaccine regimens or one of two placebo groups. The vaccine regimens included a chimeric H8/1, intranasal, live-attenuated vaccine on day 1 followed by a non-adjuvanted, chimeric H5/1, intramuscular, inactivated vaccine on day 85; the same regimen but with the inactivated vaccine being adjuvanted with AS03; and an AS03-adjuvanted, chimeric H8/1, intramuscular, inactivated vaccine followed by an AS03-adjuvanted, chimeric H5/1, intramuscular, inactivated vaccine. In this planned interim analysis, the primary endpoints of reactogenicity and safety were assessed by blinded study group. We also assessed anti-H1 haemagglutinin stalk, anti-H2, anti-H9, and anti-H18 IgG antibody titres and plasmablast and memory B-cell responses in peripheral blood. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT03300050.FindingsBetween Oct 10, 2017, and Nov 27, 2017, 65 participants were enrolled and randomly assigned. The adjuvanted inactivated vaccine, but not the live-attenuated vaccine, induced a substantial serum IgG antibody response after the prime immunisation, with a seven times increase in anti-H1 stalk antibody titres on day 29. After boost immunisation, all vaccine regimens induced detectable anti-H1 stalk antibody (2·2-5·6 times induction over baseline), cross-reactive serum IgG antibody, and peripheral blood plasmablast responses. An unsolicited adverse event was reported for 29 (48%) of 61 participants. Solicited local adverse events were reported in 12 (48%) of 25 participants following prime vaccination with intramuscular study product or placebo, in 12 (33%) of 36 after prime immunisation with intranasal study product or placebo, and in 18 (32%) of 56 following booster doses of study product or placebo. Solicited systemic adverse events were reported in 14 (56%) of 25 after prime immunisation with intramuscular study product or placebo, in 22 (61%) of 36 after immunisation with intranasal study product or placebo, and in 21 (38%) of 56 after booster doses of study product or placebo. Disaggregated safety data were not available at the time of this interim analysis.InterpretationThe tested chimeric haemagglutinin-based, universal influenza virus vaccine regimens elicited cross-reactive serum IgG antibodies that targeted the conserved haemagglutinin stalk domain. This is the first proof-of-principle study to show that high anti-stalk titres can be induced by a rationally designed vaccine in humans and opens up avenues for further development of universal influenza virus vaccines. On the basis of the blinded study group, the vaccine regimens were tolerable and no safety concerns were observed.FundingBill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Cytolytic and systemic toxic effects induced by the aqueous extract of the fire coral Millepora alcicornis collected in the Mexican Caribbean and detection of two types of cytolisins
Outcomes from elective colorectal cancer surgery during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic
This study aimed to describe the change in surgical practice and the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on mortality after surgical resection of colorectal cancer during the initial phases of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic
Modelos mentales de la calidad universitaria en estudiantes sanmarquinos
Investigation takes as reference the contributions from Cognitiva Psychologist on mental models, in the proposals of Johnson-Laird (1996), Moreira (1997) and Vergnaud (1996), as well as construction cognitive of the concept of university quality in its different dimensions and proposals. The investigation is exploratory, descriptive and comparative. The objectives of investigation are the following ones: 1. Identify and to characterize the mental models developed by the university students, 2. Determine the characteristics and attributes and to compare them in the five academics areas who organize the studies in Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. We have developed the analysis method of content, based in connotative meanings of quality, by selecting concepts accepted in technical approaches and representations made by the students. It has identified eighteen parameters of quality with three levels classified in each one. The mental model is induced by the argumentales theoric constructions accepted by conceptual systems and common knowledge. The finding of investigation centralizes in the peculiarities of the mental model that have the students in each one of the implied criminals in the study, selected five parameters for the present effects of it publication. Investigacin establishes one comparacin in construccin of the mental models about the university quality in five academic areas in reference.La investigaciĂłn toma como referencia los aportes de la PsicologĂa Cognitiva sobre modelos mentales, en las propuestas de Johnson-Laird (1996), Moreira (1997) y Vergnaud (1996), asĂ como la construcciĂłn cognitiva del concepto de calidad universitaria en sus distintas dimensiones y propuestas. Es una investigaciĂłn de carĂĄcter exploratoria, descriptiva y comparativa. Los objetivos de la investigaciĂłn son los siguientes: 1. Identificar y caracterizar los modelos mentales desarrollados por los estudiantes universitarios, 2. Determinar los rasgos y atributos construidos y compararlos en las cinco ĂĄreas acadĂ©micas que organizan los estudios en la Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. Se empleĂł el mĂ©todo del anĂĄlisis de contenido, basado en los significados connotativos de la calidad, por una selecciĂłn de conceptos aceptados en los enfoques tĂ©cnicos de la misma y de otro lado las representaciones realizadas por los estudiantes. Se identifica 18 parĂĄmetros de la calidad con tres niveles clasificados en cada uno. El modelo mental es inducido por las construcciones teĂłricas argumentales aceptadas por sistemas conceptuales y conocimientos comunes. El hallazgo de la investigaciĂłn se centraliza en las peculiaridades del modelo mental que tienen los estudiantes en cada una de las ĂĄreas implicadas en el estudio, seleccionado 5 parĂĄmetros para los efectos de la presente publicaciĂłn. La investigaciĂłn establece una comparaciĂłn en la construcciĂłn de los modelos mentales acerca de la calidad universitaria en las cinco ĂĄreas acadĂ©micas en referencia
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