Morphology, phylogeny and taxonomy of South American bothropoid pitvipers (Serpentes, Viperidae)

South American bothropoids comprise a monophyletic and greatly diverse group of pitvipers that were initially included in the genus Bothrops and later assigned to five genera. Until recently, most phylogenetic analyses of bothropoids used exclusively mitochondrial DNA sequences, whereas few of them have included morphological traits. Moreover, the systematic affinities of some species remain unclear. In this study, we performed a parsimony analysis of morphological data obtained from the examination of 111 characters related to lepidosis, colour pattern, osteology, and hemipenial morphology of 35 of the 48 species that compose the bothropoid group. The morphological data analysed contain novel information about several species, including the incertae sedis. Morphology was analysed separately and combined with 2393 molecular characters obtained from published sequences of four mitochondrial genes. Five characters of the ecology were also included. A sensitivity analysis was performed using different weighting criteria for the characters. The congruence among different sources of evidence was evaluated through partitioned and total evidence analyses, the analyses of reduced datasets and the use of incongruence length difference test. With few exceptions, results showed groups of species similar to those obtained in previous studies; however, incongruences between morphological and molecular characters, and within the molecular partition, were revealed. This conflict affects the relationship between particular groups of species, leading to alternative phylogenetic hypotheses for bothropoids: hierarchical radiation or two major lineages within the group. The results also showed that Bothrops sensu stricto is paraphyletic. We discuss previous taxonomic approaches and, considering both phylogenetic hypotheses, we propose an arrangement that rectifies the paraphyly of Bothrops: maintaining Bothrocophias, assigning Bothrops andianus to this genus; and recognising the sister clade as Bothrops, synonymising Bothriopsis, Bothropoides and Rhinocerophis.Fil: Carrasco, Paola Andrea. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Zoología Aplicada; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Mattoni, Camilo Ivan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Cátedra de Diversidad Animal I; ArgentinaFil: Leynaud, Gerardo Cristhian. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Zoología Aplicada; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Scrocchi Manfrini, Gustavo Jose. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Zoología Aplicada; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentin

A new species of pitviper of the genus Bothrops (Serpentes: Viperidae: Crotalinae) from the Central Andes of South America

We describe a new species of montane pitviper of the genus Bothrops from the Cordillera Oriental of the Central Andes, distributed from southern Peru to central Bolivia. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by the characteristic combination of a dorsal body color pattern consisting of triangular or subtriangular dark brown dorsal blotches, paired dark brown parallel occipital stripes, a conspicuous dark brown postocular stripe, the presence of canthorostrals in some specimens, prelacunal fused or partially fused with second supralabial, one scale usually separating internasals, rostral trapezoidal, two canthals oval to rounded, similar size or slightly larger than internasals, three or four medial intercanthals, eight to twelve intersupraoculars, intercanthals and intersupraoculars keeled and frequently slightly keeled, supraoculars oval, one to three suboculars, two to three postoculars, loreal subtriangular, two to six prefoveals, subfoveals absent, two or none postfoveals, one or two scales between suboculars and fourth supralabial, seven or eight supralabials, nine or eleven infralabials, 23-25 middorsal scales, 189-195 ventrals in females and 182-190 in males, 48-58 subcaudals in females and 54-63 in males, exceptionally undivided. The new species is apparently restricted to areas within Andean montane forests that are less humid and devoid of large trees.Fil: Timms, J.. Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales; EspañaFil: Chaparro Auza, Juan C.. Museo de Biodiversidad del Perú; PerúFil: Venegas, Pablo J.. Centro de Ornitología y Biodiversidad; PerúFil: Salazar Valenzuela, David. Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica; EcuadorFil: Scrocchi Manfrini, Gustavo Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Cuevas, Jairo. Universidad Complutense de Madrid; EspañaFil: Leynaud, Gerardo Cristhian. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Zoología Aplicada; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal; ArgentinaFil: Carrasco, Paola Andrea. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Zoología Aplicada; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal; Argentin

Ecocide and corporate accountability: the necessary link to attain environmental justice

“Conversar” es la acción de hablar con una o varias personas. En esta sección nos proponemos que especialistas dialoguen por escrito sobre uno de los temas actuales del derecho internacional: el ecocidio y la responsabilidad corporativa. En esta oportunidad invitamos a Andrea Scarpello quien planteó el siguiente interrogante. La degradación del medio ambiente y el cambio climático causados por actividades antropógenas constituyen la mayor amenaza para el presente y el futuro de la humanidad. Las compañías multinacionales, especialmente las que operan en los sectores del petróleo y el gas, conocidas como Carbon Majors, han sido declaradas responsables de producir la mayor parte de las emisiones de carbono del mundo y, por lo tanto, de causar el cambio climático. El 22 de junio de 2021, un panel internacional de expertos ha formulado un proyecto de definición de "ecocidio"1 que se incluirá como enmienda al Estatuto de Roma (ER) de la Corte Penal Internacional (CPI). De ser aceptada por los Estados, la propuesta de enmienda lograría incluir el ecocidio como el quinto crimen internacional reconocido en virtud del artículo 5 del Estatuto de Roma de la CPI, junto con el crimen de guerra, los crímenes de lesa humanidad, el genocidio y el crimen de agresión. Sin embargo, los estudiosos han debatido la (in)efectividad de la nueva definición de ecocidio. Las preocupaciones se han centrado en la interpretación y los límites jurisdiccionales que afectan a la aplicación del ecocidio sobre el terreno, argumentando si la inclusión del ecocidio en el Estatuto de Roma no creará un cambio positivo y radical en la forma en que los seres humanos abordan el medio ambiente. Lo que es más importante, la definición de ecocidio se ha referido como una "oportunidad fallida" para enmarcar la responsabilidad corporativa en caso de una grave destrucción ambiental, principalmente debido a la falta de referencia a los actores corporativos en su texto y considerando que la jurisdicción de la CPI recae exclusivamente en las personas físicas. La evidencia ha demostrado cómo la criminalización individual de los directores corporativos aún no ha visto su aplicación bajo la jurisdicción de este tribunal, incluso en el contexto de crímenes internacionales más "tradicionales" ya abordados por la CPI. La responsabilidad de las empresas por el ecocidio sería aún más difícil de garantizar teniendo en cuenta la participación de diferentes actores y las reivindicaciones de soberanía de los Estados implicadas en la evaluación general de un ecocidio. Por lo tanto, se invita a los invitados a responder a la siguiente pregunta: Teniendo en cuenta las referencias que faltan a la responsabilidad corporativa por daños ambientales en la nueva definición propuesta de ecocidio, ¿tiene esta última el potencial de detener efectivamente la destrucción ambiental y el cambio climático, y promover la justicia ambiental y climática? De no ser así, ¿cómo puede llenarse la brecha en la responsabilidad corporativa por causar daños ambientales y climáticos dentro y fuera del mandato de la CPI?Facultad de Ciencias Jurídicas y Sociale

A new species of Bothrops (Serpentes: Viperidae: Crotalinae) from Pampas del Heath, southeastern Peru, with comments on the systematics of the Bothrops neuwiedi species group

We describe a new species of pitviper of the genus Bothrops from the Peruvian Pampas del Heath, in the Bahuaja-Sonene National Park. Pampas del Heath is an area of seasonally flooded savannas and a northwestern extension of the Gran Chaco Boliviano-Paraguayo. The new species is easily distinguished from its congeners by the exclusive combination of dorsal color pattern of body consisting of small C-shaped blotches, postocular stripe originating posteriorly to the eye, covering posterior supralabials, dorsum of the head with paired markings arranged symmetrically, venter cream heavily speckled with brown, prelacunal scale discrete in contact with second supralabial, three to five prefoveals, subfoveal single usually present, postfoveals absent to two, canthals two, seven intersupraoculars, one or two suboculars, two or three postoculars, seven or eight supralabials, nine to eleven infralabials, 26-27 interrictals, 23-25 middorsal scales, 172 ventrals in the female and 169-173 in males, 45 subcaudals in the female and 50 in males. We performed separate and combined phylogenetic analyses based on morphology and five mitochondrial genes and recovered the new species as a member of the Bothrops neuwiedi species group. All lineages of this clade inhabit the South American dry diagonal. This novel species of pitviper increases the known diversity of the genus Bothrops and adds to the number of described taxa from the unique and scarcely known ecosystem of Pampas del Heath.Fil: Carrasco, Paola Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal; ArgentinaFil: Grazziotin, Felipe G.. Governo do Estado de Sao Paulo. Secretaria da Saude. Instituto Butantan; BrasilFil: Farfan, Roy Santa Cruz. Museo de Historia Natural de la Universidad Nacional de; PerúFil: Koch, Claudia. Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig; AlemaniaFil: Ochoa, José A.. Museo de Biodiversidad del Perú; PerúFil: Scrocchi Manfrini, Gustavo Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Leynaud, Gerardo Cristhian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal; ArgentinaFil: Chaparro, Juan C.. Museo de Biodiversidad del Perú; Per

Ecocidio y responsabilidad corporativa: el vínculo necesario para alcanzar la justicia ambiental

Teniendo en cuenta las referencias que faltan a la responsabilidad corporativa por daños ambientales en la nueva definición propuesta de ecocidio, ¿tiene esta última el potencial de detener efectivamente la destrucción ambiental y el cambio climático, y promover la justicia ambiental y climática? De no ser así, ¿cómo puede llenarse la brecha en la responsabilidad corporativa por causar daños ambientales y climáticos dentro y fuera del mandato de la CPI

Diseño De Un Producto Agro-Ecoturístico En La Propiedad De La Empresa Agropecuaria Y Turística “A Y T” Parroquia San Isidro, Cantón Guano, Provincia De Chimborazo

The development of an agro-ecotourism product in the A&T Agricola and touristic company was the objective of this research project. The first stage of this project consisted in the collection of primary and secondary information through field visits and literature review. It was identified that local and international tourist will be the target audience of this product (target demand). Furthermore, a complete inventory of touristic sites in the zone were created. This inventory identified five natural attractions and five cultural attractions, with five attractions reaching level II of hierarchy. To target tourist, four packages were designed using touristic and agro-ecological activities. In the second stage of this project, economic, legal, and environmental feasibility analyses will be performed. Finally, the agro-ecotourism product proposed in this project is an alternative for the development of the local population as it takes into account the local agriculture in conjunction with ecological activities targeted to the improvement of the society economically and culturally

Comparison of postmortem magnetic resonance imaging and clinical autopsy in detection of major congenital abnormalities in corpses of fetus and infants

Introducción: La utilización de imágenes diagnósticas en autopsias clínicas y médicolegales es una práctica que viene llevándose a cabo en países diferentes al nuestro, en especial en autopsias de particular dificultad como las de fetos y neonatos. Es importante conocer la concordancia entre la resonancia magnética post mortem y la autopsia clínica para recomendar su uso rutinario en nuestro medio.Materiales y métodos: Se realizó autopsia a 20 fetos y neonatos y se tomó resonancia magnética corporal total, comparando los hallazgos por imágenes con los hallazgos de la autopsia. Se tabuló la información obtenida y se calculó el valor kappa nominal para determinar la concordancia entre los dos métodos diagnósticos. Resultados:Se calculó la concordancia entre la resonancia magnética y la autopsia clínica en la detección de malformaciones mayores por sistema, calculando un índice de kappa para malformaciones mayores en sistema nervioso central de 0,273, para cabeza y cuello de 0,459, para sistema respiratorio de 0, para sistema cardiovascular de 0,459, para tubo digestivo y abdomen de 0 y para sistema urinario de 0,643.Conclusiones: A pesar de la mala concordancia entre la resonancia magnética post mortem y la autopsia clínica en la detección de malformaciones mayores, se considera en este caso la autopsia clínica como un patrón de referencia imperfecto y se recomienda el uso de la resonancia como modalidad de estudio que puede servir de apoyo a la autopsia clínica en la detección de malformaciones mayores en casos difíciles en fetos y neonatos.Artículo original10-17Introduction: The use of diagnostic imaging in clinical and forensic autopsies, is a practice that is taking place in countries other than our own, espe-cially in autopsies of particular difficulty such as fetuses and neonates. It is important to know the correlation between magnetic resonance imaging postmortem and clinical autopsy to recommend its routine use in our midst. Materials and methods: Autopsies performed on 20 fetuses and neonates and took total body MRI thereof, comparing ima-ging findings with autopsy findings. Information obtained was tabulated and Kappa value was rated to determine the concordance between the two diagnostic methods. Results: We calculated the correlation between MRI and clinical autopsy in detecting major malformations per system, cal-culating a kappa index for major malformations in the central nervous system of 0.273, for head and neck of 0.459, to the respiratory system of 0, for cardiovascular system from 0.459, for the gastrointestinal tract and the abdomen of 0, and urinary system of 0.643. Conclusions: Despite the poor correlation between MRI and postmortem clinical autopsy in detecting major malformations is considered in this case to the clinical autopsy as an imperfect gold standard and recommended the use of magnetic resonance imaging study mode can support a clinical autopsy in detecting major malformations in difficult cases in fetuses and neonates

Informe regional Iguales en Méritos, desiguales en Oportunidades: acceso de Mujeres a los Sistemas de Administración de Justicia

Esta investigación pone muy bien en evidencia cómo juegan los estereotipos de género con respecto a las mayores dificultades que deben afrontar las mujeres para hacer carrera en el Poder Judicial. En Italia, donde las mujeres pudieron entrar al Poder Judicial sólo a comienzos de los años sesenta, a pesar de la Constitución, las cosas son distintas porque es distinto el sistema de ascensos, que es automático, desligado, por lo tanto, de las relaciones y de las decisiones de los superiores. Si todavía hay pocas mujeres en los altos niveles, se debe en gran parte a la mayor antigüedad que han alcanzado los hombres. Pero, al igual que en este estudio, el Poder Judicial se va feminizando cada vez más

Multimodal Analysis of the Visual Pathways in Friedreich's Ataxia Reveals Novel Biomarkers

Background: Optic neuropathy is a near ubiquitous feature of Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA). Previous studies have examined varying aspects of the anterior and posterior visual pathways but none so far have comprehensively evaluated the heterogeneity of degeneration across different areas of the retina, changes to the macula layers and combined these with volumetric MRI studies of the visual cortex and frataxin level. Methods: We investigated 62 genetically confirmed FRDA patients using an integrated approach as part of an observational cohort study. We included measurement of frataxin protein levels, clinical evaluation of visual and neurological function, optical coherence tomography to determine retinal nerve fibre layer thickness and macular layer volume and volumetric brain MRI. Results: We demonstrate that frataxin level correlates with peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer thickness and that retinal sectors differ in their degree of degeneration. We also shown that retinal nerve fibre layer is thinner in FRDA patients than controls and that this thinning is influenced by the AAO and GAA1. Furthermore we show that the ganglion cell and inner plexiform layers are affected in FRDA. Our MRI data indicate that there are borderline correlations between retinal layers and areas of the cortex involved in visual processing. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates the uneven distribution of the axonopathy in the retinal nerve fibre layer and highlight the relative sparing of the papillomacular bundle and temporal sectors. We show that thinning of the retinal nerve fibre layer is associated with frataxin levels, supporting the use the two biomarkers in future clinical trials design. © 2022 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Societ

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London